UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
____________________________
FORM 20-F/A
Amendment No. 1
____________________________
o | REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
or
x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 |
or
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| For the transition period from _______________ to ________________ |
or
o | SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| Date of event requiring this shell company report ______________ |
Commission File Number 0-9266
AVINO SILVER & GOLD MINES LTD.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
British Columbia, Canada
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
570 Granville Street, Suite 900 Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1, Canada
(Address of principal executive offices)
David Wolfin, 570 Granville Street, Suite 900 Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1, Canada,
Tel: 604-682-3701, Email: dwolfin@avino.com
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common Shares, without Par Value | | NYSE Mkt |
Title of Each Class | | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Not Applicable
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
Not Applicable
(Title of Class)
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
There were 27,127,416 common shares, without par value, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2012.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
o Yes x No
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
o Yes x No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
o Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated File o Accelerated Filer o Non-Accelerated Filer x
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP o | International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board x | Other o |
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
Item 17 o Item 18 o
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No x
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS.)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.
Yes o No o
INTRODUCTION
We are filing this Amendment Number 1 to our Annual Report on Form 20-F to update certain Risk Factors contained in Item 3. D and information regarding our material properties contained in Item 4.D. This Amendment Number 1 (“Amendment”) should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012, and unless otherwise amended in this Amendment, the information regarding the Company shall remain the same as in our Annual Report. All information is as of December 31, 2012 unless otherwise indicated. Further, unless otherwise indicated or as the context otherwise requires, the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “us” refers to Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.
PART I
Item 3. Key Information
A. Selected Financial Data
The selected historical consolidated financial information set forth below has been derived from our annual audited consolidated financial statements for each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2012.
For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010 we have prepared our consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS, as issued by the IASB. Our December 31, 2010 consolidated financial statements were initially prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP, consistent with the prior years and the periods ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007. We have adjusted our consolidated financial information at and for the year ended December 31, 2010, in accordance with IFRS 1, and therefore the financial information set forth in this annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2010 may differ from information previously published. We adopted IFRS with a transition date of January 1, 2010.
The selected historical consolidated financial information presented below is condensed and may not contain all of the information that you should consider. This selected financial data should be read in conjunction with our annual audited consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto and the section entitled ‘‘Item 5 — Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.’’
In accordance with IFRS
The tables below set forth selected consolidated financial data under IFRS for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 and as at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010. The information has been derived from our annual audited consolidated financial statements set forth in ‘‘Item 17 — Financial Statements.’’
| | Years Ended December 31, | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2010 | |
Summary of Operations: | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue | | $ | 2,255,376 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | |
Cost of sales | | | 1,434,569 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Interest Income | | | 21,760 | | | | 78,857 | | | | 14,206 | |
Other Income | | | 23,464 | | | | 10,499 | | | | - | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating and administrative | | | 1,929,746 | | | | 4,042,647 | | | | 1,110,643 | |
Unrealized (loss) gain in investments in related companies | | | (110,021 | ) | | | (212,966 | ) | | | 313,323 | |
Foreign exchange gain | | | 116,562 | | | | 68,404 | | | | 19,951 | |
Deferred income tax expense | | | (260,321 | ) | | | (86,498 | ) | | | (27,677 | ) |
Net loss | | | (1,263,178 | ) | | | (4,184,351 | ) | | | (790,840 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss per share | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.16 | ) | | | (0.04 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average number of shares outstanding | | | 27,072,053 | | | | 26,795,632 | | | | 21,059,008 | |
| | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2010 | |
Balance Sheet Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 26,191,608 | | | $ | 26,136,355 | | | $ | 26,578,517 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 4,035,985 | | | | 5,282,464 | | | | 9,051,848 | |
Total liabilities | | $ | 4,244,230 | | | | 3,202,096 | | | | 2,662,727 | |
Shareholders’ equity | | | 21,947,378 | | | | 22,934,259 | | | | 23,915,790 | |
In accordance with Canadian GAAP
The tables below for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 contain selected financial data prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP, which have been derived from our previously audited consolidated financial statements for the periods ending on such dates. The financial data presented below for 2009 and 2008 presented in accordance with Canadian GAAP and reconciled to United States GAAP, is not comparable to information prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Canadian GAAP | | | |
| | Years Ended December 31, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Summary of Operations: | | | | | | |
Revenue | | $ | - | | | $ | - | |
Interest Income | | | 68,224 | | | | 146,386 | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | |
Operating and administrative | | | 669,178 | | | | 1,575,913 | |
Write-down of Exploration and evaluation assets | | | 608,118 | | | | - | |
Mineral property option revenue | | | - | | | | 25,000 | |
Future income tax benefit (expense) | | | 239,562 | | | | (98,653 | ) |
Net loss | | | (987,759 | ) | | | (1,538,876 | ) |
Loss per share | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.07 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Weighted average number of shares outstanding | | | 20,584,727 | | | | 20,584,727 | |
| | As at December 31, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Balance Sheet Data: | | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 19,206,278 | | | $ | 20,126,230 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 2,829,605 | | | | 3,575,241 | |
Total liabilities | | | 2,241,179 | | | | 2,508,776 | |
Shareholders’ equity | | | 16,965,099 | | | | 17,617,454 | |
United States GAAP | | | | | | |
| | Years Ended December 31, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Summary of Operations: | | | | | | |
Net loss per Canadian GAAP | | $ | (987,759 | ) | | $ | (1,538,876 | ) |
Adjustments | | | (95,108 | ) | | | (1,851,231 | ) |
Net loss per US GAAP | | | (1,082,867 | ) | | | (3,390,107 | ) |
Loss per share per US GAAP | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.17 | ) |
| | As at December 31, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Balance Sheet Data: | | | | | | |
Total assets under Canadian GAAP | | | 19,206,278 | | | | 20,126,230 | |
Adjustments | | | (14,573,506 | ) | | | (14,861,524 | ) |
Total assets under US GAAP | | | 4,632,772 | | | | 5,264,706 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total equity under Canadian GAAP | | | 16,965,099 | | | | 17,617,454 | |
Adjustments | | | (12,879,499 | ) | | | (12,927,955 | ) |
Total equity under US GAAP | | | 4,085,600 | | | | 4,689,499 | |
Exchange Rates
The following table sets forth information as to the period end, average, the high and the low exchange rate for Canadian Dollars and U.S. Dollars for the periods indicated based on the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in Canadian Dollars as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (Canadian dollar = US$1).
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2008 | | | | 1.0660 | | | | 1.2246 | | | | 1.2969 | | | | 0.9719 | |
2009 | | | | 1.1420 | | | | 1.0466 | | | | 1.3000 | | | | 1.0292 | |
2010 | | | | 1.0299 | | | | 0.9946 | | | | 1.0778 | | | | 0.9946 | |
2011 | | | | 0.9891 | | | | 1.0170 | | | | 1.0630 | | | | 0.9383 | |
2012 | | | | 0.9996 | | | | 0.9958 | | | | 1.0299 | | | | 0.9600 | |
The following table sets forth the high and low exchange rate for the past six months based on the noon buying rate. As of April 30, 2013, the exchange rate was CDN$0.9929 for each US$1.
| | | | | | | |
November 2012 | | | | 1.0074 | | | | 0.9971 | |
December 2012 | | | | 1.0162 | | | | 1.0042 | |
January 2013 | | | | 1.0164 | | | | 0.9923 | |
February 2013 | | | | 1.0041 | | | | 0.9722 | |
March 2013 | | | | 0.9847 | | | | 0.9696 | |
April 2013 | | | | 0.9929 | | | | 0.9737 | |
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not Applicable.
C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not Applicable.
D. Risk Factors
In addition to the other information presented in this Annual Report, the following should be considered carefully in evaluating the Company and its business. This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report.
We will be required to raise additional capital to mine our properties. The Company is currently focusing on further defining an effective plan to mine its San Gonzalo ore body. Although the Company recently began mining operations at the San Gonzalo mine, the Company will still be required to raise capital to further develop the San Gonzalo mine. Our ability to raise funds will depend on several factors, including, but not limited to, current economic conditions, our perceived value for our properties, our prospects, metal prices, businesses competing for financing and our financial condition. There can be no assurance that we will be able to raise funds, or to raise funds on commercially reasonable terms. Historically, the Company has raised funds through equity financing and the exercise of options and warrants. The raising of capital may have a dilutive effect on the Company’s per share book value.
We have incurred net losses since our inception and expect losses to continue. We have not been profitable since our inception. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we had a net loss of $1,263,178 and an accumulated deficit at December 31, 2012 of $29,458,319. On October 1, 2012, the Company began to generate net income its operations at the San Gonzalo mine however there is no assurance that any of the Company’s operations will be profitable in the future.
As of December 31, 2012, our internal control over financial reporting were ineffective, and if we continue to fail to improve such controls and procedures, investors could lose confidence in our financial and other reports, the price of our shares of common stock may decline, and we may be subject to increased risks and liabilities.
As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual reports with respect to our business and financial condition. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we include a report of our management on our internal control over financial reporting. We are also required to include certifications of our management regarding the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. For the year ended December 31, 2012, our management has concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting were ineffective due to the following material weaknesses: (i) inadequate segregation of duties and effective risk assessment; (ii) insufficient written policies and procedures for accounting, financial reporting and corporate governance; and (iii) insufficient disaster recovery plans. To remediate such weaknesses, we plan to implement the following changes: (i) address inadequate segregation of duties and ineffective risk management; (ii) adopt sufficient written policies and procedures for accounting, financial reporting and corporate governance; and (iii) implement a disaster recovery plan. If we cannot effectively and efficiently improve our controls and procedures, we could suffer material misstatements in our financial statements and other information we report and fail to meet our reporting obligations, which would likely cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial and other information. This could lead to a decline in the trading price of our common shares.
We have no proven or probable reserves and our decision to commence commercial production is not based on a study demonstrating economic recovery of any mineral reserves and is therefore inherently risky. Any funds spent by us on exploration or development could be lost.
We have not established the presence of any proven or probable mineral reserves, as defined by the SEC, at any of our properties. Under Guide 7, the SEC has defined a “reserve” as that part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Any mineralized material discovered or produced by us should not be considered proven or probable reserves.
In order to demonstrate the existence of proven or probable reserves, it would be necessary for us to perform additional exploration to demonstrate the existence of sufficient mineralized material with satisfactory continuity and obtain a positive feasibility study which demonstrates with reasonable certainty that the deposit can be economically and legally extracted and produced. We have not completed a feasibility study with regard to all or a portion of any of our properties to date. Since we commenced commercial production of mineralized material at the San Gonzalo Mine without a feasibility study, there is inherent uncertainty as to whether the mineralized material can be economically produced or if so, for what period of time. The absence of proven or probable reserves makes it more likely that our properties may cease to be profitable and that the money we spend on exploration and development may never be recovered.
We have decided to begin production at the San Gonzalo Mine without preparing a pre-feasibility study or Bankable feasibility study which may subject us to more risks.
We have decided to begin production at the San Gonzalo Mine without preparing a pre-feasibility study or bankable feasibility study which is a more common practice within the mining industry and therefore may subject us to more business risks. Our decision to begin production at the San Gonzalo Mine was based on limited prior historical information, bulk sample drilling programs, small pilot plant and bench scale testing. Therefore our decision to begin production at the San Gonzalo Mine was based on limited information which may or may not be representative of information regarding the mine had we otherwise prepare a more comprehensive study. In addition, basing our decision to begin production on limited information may make us susceptible to risks including:
· | certain difficulties in obtaining expected metallurgical recoveries when scaling up to production scale from pilot plant scale; |
· | the preliminary nature of mine plans and processing concepts and applying them to full scale production; |
· | determining operating/capital costs estimates and possible variance associated with constructing, commissioning and operating the San Gonzalo facilities based on limited information; |
· | that metallurgical flow sheets and recoveries are in development and may not be representative of results of the San Gonzalo Mine; and |
· | that we may under estimate capital and operating costs without a comprehensive bankable feasibility study. |
The mining industry is highly speculative and involves substantial risks. Even when mining is conducted on properties known to contain significant quantities of mineral deposits it is generally accepted in the mining industry that most exploration projects do not result in the discovery of mineable deposits of ore that can be extracted in a commercially economical manner. There may be limited availability of water, which is essential to milling operations, and interruptions may be caused by adverse weather conditions. Operations are subject to a variety of existing laws and regulations relating to exploration and development, permitting procedures, safety precautions, property reclamation, employee health and safety, air quality standards, pollution and other environmental protection controls. Mining activities are subject to substantial operating hazards, some of which are not insurable or may not be insured for economic reasons.
The commercial quantities of ore cannot be accurately predicted. Whether an ore body will be commercially viable depends on a number of factors including the particular attributes of the deposit, such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure, as well as mineral prices and government regulations, including regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, land use, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection. The exact effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted, but the combination of these factors may result in a mineral deposit being unprofitable.
There are no assurances that we can produce minerals on a commercially viable basis. The Company’s ability to generate revenue and profit is expected to occur through exploration of its existing properties as well as through acquisitions of interests in new properties. Substantial expenditures will be incurred in an attempt to establish the economic feasibility of mining operations by identifying mineral deposits and establishing ore reserves through drilling and other techniques, developing metallurgical processes to extract metals from ore, designing facilities and planning mining operations. The economic feasibility of a project depends on numerous factors, including the cost of mining and production facilities required to extract the desired minerals, the total mineral deposits that can be mined using a given facility, the proximity of the mineral deposits to refining facilities, and the market price of the minerals at the time of sale. There is no assurance that existing or future exploration programs or acquisitions will result in the identification of deposits that can be mined profitably.
Mining operations and exploration activities are subject to various federal, provincial and local laws and regulations. Laws and regulation govern the development, mining, production, importing and exporting of minerals, taxes, labour standards, occupational health, waste disposal, protection of the environment, mine safety, toxic substances, and other matters. In many cases, licenses and permits are required to conduct mining operations. Amendments to current laws and regulations governing operations and activities of mining companies or more stringent implementation thereof could have a substantial adverse impact on the Company. Applicable laws and regulations will require the Company to make certain capital and operating expenditures to initiate new operations. Under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to close an operation once it is started until a particular problem is remedied or to undertake other remedial actions.
Operating Hazards and Risks. The operation and development of a mine or mineral property involves many risks which even a combination of experience, knowledge and careful evaluation may not be able to overcome. These risks include:
· | industrial accidents and explosions; |
· | the encountering of unusual or unexpected geological formations; |
· | ground fall and cave-ins; |
· | periodic interruptions due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions. |
These occurrences could result in environmental damage and liabilities, work stoppages and delayed production, increased production costs, damage to, or destruction of, Exploration and evaluation assets or production facilities, personal injury or death, asset write downs, monetary losses and other liabilities. Liabilities that the Company incurs may exceed the policy limits of its insurance coverage or may not be insurable, in which event the Company could incur significant costs that could adversely impact its business, operations or profitability.
Metal Market Prices are highly speculative and volatile. The market price of metals is highly speculative and volatile. Instability in metal prices may affect the interest in mining properties and the development of and production of such properties.
Canadian Title risks. The validity and ownership of mining property holdings can be uncertain and may be contested. Although the Company owns its properties in Canada, there are currently a number of pending and potential native title or traditional land owner claims in Canada. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Company’s properties in Canada will not be affected.
Competition for mineral land. There is a limited supply of desirable mineral lands available for acquisition, claim staking or leasing in the areas where the Company contemplates expanding its operations and conducting exploration activities. Many participants are engaged in the mining business, including large, established mining companies. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully for new mining properties.
Uncertainty of exploration and development programs. The Company’s profitability is significantly affected by the costs and results of its exploration and development programs. As mines have limited lives based on proven and probable mineral reserves, the Company actively seeks to expand its mineral reserves, primarily through exploration, development and strategic acquisitions. Exploration for minerals is highly speculative in nature, involves many risks and is frequently unsuccessful. Among the many uncertainties inherent in any gold and silver exploration and development program are the location of economic ore bodies, the development of appropriate metallurgical processes, the receipt of necessary governmental permits and the construction of mining and processing facilities. Assuming the discovery of an economic deposit, depending on the type of mining operation involved, several years may elapse from the initial phases of drilling until commercial operations are commenced and, during such time, the economic feasibility of production may change. Accordingly, the Company’s exploration and development programs may not result in any new economically viable mining operations or yield new mineral reserves to expand current mineral reserves.
Licenses and permits. The operations of the Company require licenses and permits from various governmental authorities. The Company believes that it holds all necessary licenses and permits under applicable laws and regulations and believes that it is presently complying in all material respects with the terms of such licenses and permits. However, such licenses and permits are subject to change in various circumstances. There can be no guarantee that the Company will be able to obtain or maintain all necessary licenses and permits as are required to explore and develop its properties, commence construction or operation of mining facilities and properties under exploration or development or to maintain continued operations that economically justify the cost.
Political or economic instability or unexpected regulatory change. Certain of our properties are located in countries, provinces and states more likely to be subject to political and economic instability, or unexpected legislative change, than is usually the case in certain other countries, provinces and states. Our mineral exploration activities could be adversely effected by:
· | political instability and violence; |
· | war and civil disturbances; |
· | expropriation or nationalization; |
· | changing fiscal regimes; |
· | fluctuations in currency exchange rates; |
· | high rates of inflation; |
· | underdeveloped industrial and economic infrastructure; |
· | changes in the regulatory environment governing Exploration and evaluation assets ; and |
· | unenforceability of contractual rights, |
any of which may adversely affect our business in that country.
We may be adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. We maintain our bank accounts mainly in Canadian and U.S. Dollars. Any appreciation in the currency of Mexico or other countries where we may carryout exploration activities against the Canadian or U.S. Dollar will increase our costs of carrying out operations in such countries. In addition, any decrease in the U.S. Dollar against the Canadian Dollar will result in a loss on our books to the extent we hold funds in U.S. Dollars.
Land reclamation requirements. Although variable depending on location and the governing authority, land reclamation requirements are generally imposed on mineral exploration companies (as well as companies with mining operations) in order to minimize the long term effects of land disturbance. Reclamation may include requirements to control dispersion of potentially deleterious effluents and reasonably re-establish pre-disturbance land forms and vegetation. In order to carry out reclamation obligations imposed on us in connection with our mineral exploration we must allocate financial resources that might otherwise be spent on further exploration programs.
Acquisitions. The Company undertakes evaluations of opportunities to acquire additional gold and silver mining properties. Any resultant acquisitions may be significant in size, may change the scale of the Company’s business, and may expose the Company to new geographic, political, operating, financial and geological risks. The Company’s success in its acquisition activities depends on its ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates, acquire them on acceptable terms, and integrate their operations successfully. Any acquisitions would be accompanied by risks, such as a significant decline in the price of gold or silver, the ore body proving to be below expectations, the difficulty of assimilating the operations and personnel of any acquired companies, the potential disruption of the Company’s ongoing business, the inability of management to maximize the financial and strategic position of the Company through the successful integration of acquired assets and businesses, the maintenance of uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies, the impairment of relationships with customers and contractors as a result of any integration of new management personnel and the potential unknown liabilities associated with acquired mining properties. There can be no assurance that the Company would be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with such acquisitions.
Conflict of interest. Certain directors and officers of the Company are officers and/or directors of, or are associated with, other natural resource companies that acquire interests in Exploration and evaluation assets. Such associations may give rise to conflicts of interest from time to time. The directors are required by law, however, to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and to disclose any personal interest which they may have in any material transaction which is proposed to be entered into with the Company and to abstain from voting as a director for the approval of any such transaction.
Dependence on management. We are dependent on the services of key executives including our President and Chief Executive Officer and other highly skilled and experienced executives and personnel focused on advancing our corporate objectives as well as the identification of new opportunities for growth and funding. Due to our relatively small size, the loss of these persons or our inability to attract and retain additional highly skilled employees required for our activities may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
Competition for recruitment and retention of qualified personnel. We compete with other exploration companies, many of which have greater financial resources than us or are further in their development, for the recruitment and retention of qualified employees and other personnel. Competition for exploration resources at all levels is currently very intense, particularly affecting the availability of manpower, drill rigs and supplies. If we require and are unsuccessful in acquiring additional personnel or other exploration resources, we will not be able to grow at the rate we desire or at all
Limited and volatile trading volume. Although the Company’s common shares are listed on the NYSE Mkt, the TSX Venture Exchange, referred to as the “TSX-V” and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, referred to as the “FSE”, the volume of trading has been limited and volatile in the past and is likely to continue to be so in the future, reducing the liquidity of an investment in the Company’s common shares and making it difficult for investors to readily sell their common shares in the open market. Without a liquid market for the Company’s common shares, investors may be unable to sell their shares at favorable times and prices and may be required to hold their shares in declining markets or to sell them at unfavorable prices.
Volatility of share price. In recent years, securities markets in general have experienced a high level of price volatility. The market price of many resource companies, particularly those, like the Company, that are considered speculative exploration companies, have experienced wide fluctuations in price, resulting in substantial losses to investors who have sold their shares at a low price point. These fluctuations are based only in part on the level of progress of exploration, and can reflect general economic and market trends, world events or investor sentiment, and may sometimes bear no apparent relation to any objective factors or criteria. Significant fluctuations in the Company’s common share price is likely to continue.
Penny stock rules may make it more difficult to trade the Company’s common shares. The SEC has adopted regulations which generally define a “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price, as defined, less than US$5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than US$5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. Our common shares may be covered by the penny stock rules, which impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell to persons other than established customers and accredited investors such as institutions with assets in excess of US$5,000,000 or an individual with net worth in excess of US$1,000,000 or annual income exceeding US$200,000 or US$300,000 jointly with his or her spouse. For transactions covered by this rule, the broker-dealers must make a special suitability determination for the purchase and receive the purchaser’s written agreement of the transaction prior to the sale. Consequently, the rule may affect the ability of broker-dealers to sell our common shares and also affect the ability of our investors to sell their common shares in the secondary market.
Difficulty for United States investors to effect services of process against the Company. The Company is incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada. Consequently, it will be difficult for United States investors to affect service of process in the United States upon the directors or officers of the Company, or to realize in the United States upon judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities under the Exchange Act. The majority of the Company’s directors and officers are residents of Canada and all of the Company’s assets are located outside of the United States. A judgment of a United States court predicated solely upon such civil liabilities would probably be enforceable in Canada by a Canadian court if the United States court in which the judgment was obtained had jurisdiction, as determined by the Canadian court, in the matter. There is substantial doubt whether an original action could be brought successfully in Canada against any of such persons or the Company predicated solely upon such civil liabilities.
Item 4. Information on the Company
Cautionary Note to United States Investors
In Canada, an issuer is required to provide technical information with respect to mineralization, including reserves and resources, if any, on its mineral exploration properties in accordance with Canadian requirements, which differ significantly from the requirements of the SEC applicable to registration statements and reports filed by United States companies pursuant to the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act. As such, information contained in this annual report concerning descriptions of mineralization under Canadian standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC. In particular, this annual report on Form 20-F includes the terms “mineral resource,” “measured mineral resource,” “indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource”. Investors are advised that these terms are defined in and required to be disclosed under Canadian rules by National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”). U.S. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. However, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are not recognized in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. In addition, NI 43-101 permits disclosure of “contained ounces” of mineralization. In contrast, the SEC only permits issuers to report mineralization as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.
The definitions of proven and probable reserves used in NI 43-101 differ from the definitions in SEC Industry Guide 7. Under SEC Industry Guide 7 (under the Exchange Act), as interpreted by the staff of the SEC, mineralization may not be classified as a “reserve” for United States reporting purposes unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. Among other things, all necessary permits would be required to be in hand or issuance imminent in order to classify mineralized material as reserves under the SEC standards.
United States investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits identified as an “indicated mineral resource,” “measured mineral resource” or “inferred mineral resource” will ever be converted to reserves as defined in NI 43-101 or SEC Industry Guide 7. Further, “inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities legislation, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, or economic studies. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
A. History and Development of the Company
The Company was incorporated by Memorandum of Association under the laws of the Province of British Columbia on May 15, 1968, and on August 22, 1969, by virtue of an amalgamation with Ace Mining Company Ltd., became a public company whose common shares are registered under the Exchange Act, changing its name to Avino Mines & Resources Limited. On April 12, 1995, the Company changed its corporate name to International Avino Mines Ltd. and effected a reverse stock split of one common share for every five common shares outstanding. On August 29, 1997, the Company changed its corporate name to Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., its current name, to better reflect the business of the Company of exploring for and mining silver and gold. In January 2008, the Company announced the change of its financial year end from January 31 to December 31. The change was completed in order to align the Company’s financial statement reporting requirements with its Mexico subsidiaries which operate on a calendar fiscal year.
The Company is a reporting issuer in the Province of British Columbia and Alberta, a foreign private issuer with the SEC and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange, Tier 2 status under the symbol “ASM”, listed on the NYSE-MKT under the symbol “ASM” and on the Berlin & Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “GV6”. In July, 2012, the Company’s listing on the TSX Venture Exchange was reclassified to Tier 2 status. The principal executive office of the Company is located at Suite 900, 570 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1, and its telephone number is 604-682-3701.
The Company is a natural resource company, primarily engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of natural resource properties. The Company’s principal business activities have been the exploration and development of a mineral property located in the State of Durango, Mexico. The Company also owns other Exploration and evaluation assets in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, Canada.
Significant Acquisitions and Significant Dispositions
On July 17, 2006, the Company completed the acquisition of Compañía Minera Mexicana de Avino, S.A. de C.V. (“Avino Mexico”), a Mexican corporation, through the acquisition of an additional 39.25% interest in Avino Mexico which combined with the Company’s pre-existing 49% share of Avino Mexico, brought the Company’s ownership interest in Avino Mexico to 88.25%. The additional 39.25% interest in Avino Mexico was obtained through the acquisition of 76.88% of the common shares of Promotora Avino S.A. De C.V., referred to as “Promotora”, which in turn owns 49.75% of Avino Mexico’s common shares, and the direct acquisition of 1% of the common shares of Avino Mexico.
The July 17, 2006 acquisition was accomplished by a share exchange by which the Company issued 3,164,702 shares as consideration, which we refer to as the “Payment Shares”, for the purchase of the additional 39.25% interest in Avino Mexico. The Payment Shares were valued based on the July 17, 2006 closing market price of the Company’s shares on the TSX-V.
The Company acquired a further 1.1% interest in Avino Mexico through the acquisition from an estate subject to approval and transfer of the shares to the Company by the trustee for the estate. On December 21, 2007 approval was received and the Company obtained the 1.1% interest from the estate for no additional consideration.
On February 16, 2009 and on June 4, 2013, the Company converted existing loans advanced to Avino Mexico in to new additional shares of Avino Mexico. As a result, the Company’s ownership interest in Avino Mexico increased to 99.66%.
The Company has no other significant acquisitions or dispositions of property, except as disclosed in this Annual Report.
B. Business Overview
Operations and Principal Activities
The Company is a Canadian-based resource firm focused on silver and gold production and exploration. The Company has a long prior history of operation, beginning in 1968 with the development of the Avino Silver Mine, located in the state of Durango, Mexico (the “Avino Mine”). From 1974 to 2001, the Avino Mine produced silver, gold, copper and lead and provided hundreds of jobs for the Durango region before closing due to depressed metal prices and closing of smelter. Beginning in 2002, the Company re-directed its corporate strategy to focus almost entirely on silver and began acquiring silver properties in North America. The Company acquired the Eagle property in Canada’s Yukon Territory and the Aumax silver and gold property in British Columbia. Each property produced positive assays for silver through drilling and sampling however, in late April 2012, the Company relinquished its interest in the Aumax silver and gold property to focus on its property in Mexico. The Avino Mine in Mexico and surrounding mineral leases continue to hold silver potential. These properties, along with other silver and gold projects, will remain the Company’s principal focus for the foreseeable future.
Presently, the Company is a “production stage company”. On October 1, 2012 the Company declared commercial production for the San Gonzalo mine. The decision to declare commercial production was based on the following criteria:
· | All major capital expenditures to bring the San Gonzalo Mine into the condition necessary for it to be capable of in the manner intended by management had been completed; |
· | The Company completed testing of the mine plant for a significant period time and tuned it into a level appropriate for efficient profitable operations; |
· | The Company proved the ability to produce a saleable bulk concentrate – this was established by conducting the bulk sample program in 2010 and 2011; |
· | The mine is operated by its own operating personnel with the exception of underground mine development for which it uses a mining contractor to achieve more efficiency; |
· | The mill has reached the pre-determined percentage of design capacity which is 250 tpd for processing San Gonzalo; |
· | Mineral recoveries are at and above expected production levels; and |
· | The Company has demonstrated the ability to sustain ongoing production or ore at steady level. |
With the recent acquisition of the new equipment the Company expects production of ore to increase in the coming months.
The above factors were considered in making the decision to move to commercial production and management is confident that its decision to declare commercial production is appropriate and accurately reflects the stage the Company is in.
Avino’s Canadian properties are all at the exploration stage. In order to determine if a commercially viable mineral deposit exists in any of the Company’s Canadian properties, further geological work will need to be done and a final evaluation based upon the results obtained to conclude economic and legal feasibility. The Company is currently focusing on production at the Avino mines and its Canadian properties are not deemed to be material and are subject to care and maintenance for further development, if any.
Competition
The mining industry in which the Company is engaged is highly competitive. Competitors include well-capitalized mining companies, independent mining companies and other companies having financial and other resources far greater than those of the Company. The Company competes with other mining companies in connection with the acquisition of gold, silver and other precious metal properties. In general, properties with a higher grade of recoverable mineral and/or which are more readily mined afford the owners a competitive advantage in that the cost of production of the final mineral product is lower.
Seasonality
Certain of our operations are conducted in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. The weather during the colder seasons in these areas can be extreme and can cause interruptions or delays in our operations. As a result, the preferable time for activities in these regions is the spring and summer when costs are more reasonable and access to the properties is easier. In the summer months, however, if the weather has been unusually hot and dry, access to the Company’s properties may be limited as a result of access restrictions being imposed to monitor the risks of forest fires.
Governmental Regulation
The current and anticipated future operations of the Company, including development activities and commencement of production on its properties, require permits from various federal, territorial and local governmental authorities and such operations are and will be governed by laws and regulations governing prospecting, development, mining, production, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal, toxic substances, land use, environmental protection, mine safety and other matters. Companies engaged in the development and operation of mines and related facilities generally experience increased costs and delays in production and other schedules as a result of the need to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permits. Such operations and exploration activities are also subject to substantial regulation under these laws by governmental agencies and may require that the Company obtain permits from various governmental agencies. The Company believes it is in substantial compliance with all material laws and regulations which currently apply to its activities. There can be no assurance, however, that all permits which the Company may require for construction of mining facilities and conduct of mining operations will be obtainable on reasonable terms or that such laws and regulations, or that new legislation or modifications to existing legislation, would not have an adverse effect on any exploration or mining project which the Company might undertake.
Mineral exploration and mining in Mexico is covered under the Mining Law as first published in June 1992, and amended in April 2005. Mining operations in Mexico are administered by the Ministry of Economy. Environmental regulations are covered under “Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológio y la Protección al Ambiente” (General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection) and its regulations. Certain other environmental laws, including “Ley de Aguas Nacionales” (Law of National Waters) and “Ley Forestal” (Forestry Law) and their associated regulations may also cover certain operations. The kind of permits or authorizations required to conduct mining or mineral exploration operations in Mexico depend upon the type of operation. Common exploration activities do not require prior environmental authorization or licenses, but it is advisable to request a confirmation from the National Water Commission that planned operations will not affect the water table. It is also necessary to confirm that any planned operations will not be conducted in protected natural areas.
The Company believes it has obtained all necessary permits and authorizations required for its current exploration. The Company has had no material costs related to compliance and/or permits in recent years, and anticipates no material costs in the next year. Unfavorable amendments to current laws, regulations and permits governing operations and activities of resource exploration companies, or more stringent implementation thereof, could have a materially adverse impact on the Company and cause increases in capital expenditures which could result in a cessation of operations by the Company.
Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions thereunder, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities causing operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment or remedial actions. Parties engaged in exploration and mining operations may be required to compensate those suffering loss or damage by reason of the mining activities and may have civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violation of applicable laws or regulations.
The enactment of new laws or amendments to current laws, regulations and permits governing operations and activities of mining companies, or more stringent implementation thereof, could have a material adverse impact on the Company and cause increases in capital expenditures or production costs or reduction in levels of production at producing properties or require abandonment or delays in the development of new mining properties.
C. Organizational Structure
The Company’s Mexican subsidiaries are the wholly owned subsidiary of Oniva Silver and Gold Mines S.A. de C.V., referred to as “Oniva”, Promotora, in which the Company has direct ownership of 79.09%, and Avino Mexico in which the Company has a 98.39% direct ownership and an additional 1.27% of Avino Mexico is held through Promotora. The Company’s total effective ownership interest in Avino Mexico is 99.66%. All of the above subsidiaries are incorporated under the laws of Mexico.
D. Property, Plants and Equipment
The Company is producing a bulk concentrate at the San Gonzalo Mine located on the Avino property in Durango Mexico. The Company is also working to re-open the main Avino Mine as well as exploring options to re-process a large tailings resource left from past mining on the property. In addition the Company is exploring three silver and gold projects in Canada. All of the Company’s mineral property interests in Canada are wholly-owned by the Company. In Mexico, the Company has a 99.66% interest in Avino Mexico, a Mexican company which is involved in the mining of commercial ores and resource exploration and development, including the operation of the Avino Mine. Avino Mexico is not involved with any exploration activities in Canada. The Company owns and manages these properties. Exploration in Canada has in recent years, been limited to prospecting, trenching and drill programs on the Eagle, Olympic-Kelvin, and Minto, and Aumax properties. However, as disclosed above, the Company relinquished its interest in the Aumax property to focus on its property in Mexico.
The Company uses detailed sampling to provide the basis for quality estimates and grades of its mineral discoveries. Samples are collected under the supervision of a qualified person who then follows procedures for the collection, sample preparation and chain of custody guidelines for the shipment of the samples to a certified commercial laboratory as set out in National Instrument 43-101. These commercial labs have standard Quality Assurance/Quality Control protocols in place for the various assaying methods that are being used on the samples. In addition, blanks, standards and duplicates are generally used to confirm the validity of the results before they are reported.
Avino Property, Durango, Mexico
Location
The property is located in Durango State in North Central Mexico, within the Sierra Madre Silver Belt on the eastern edge of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range. The nearest major center is the city of Durango, 82 km to the southwest of the property. The property is within the municipality of Pánuco de Coronado between the towns of Pánuco de Coronado and San José de Avino. The property is located at latitude N 24° 53', longitude W 104° 31', 14 km northwest of Highway 40D.
The property is situated as illustrated in the figures below:
General Property Location Map
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Accessibility and Local Resources
The property is accessible by road and is an important part of the local community from which skilled workers are available. Access is provided by Highway 40, a four-lane highway leading from Durango, past the airport and on to the city of Torreon in Coahuila. Successive turn-offs for the property are at Francisco I Madero, Ignacio Zaragoza, and San José de Avino (Slim 2005d). The Avino mineral concessions are covered by a network of dirt roads which provide easy transport access between all areas of interest on the Property and the mill at the main Avino Mine (Gunning 2009).
The nearest major city is Durango, with a population of approximately 465,000. Durango is a major mining center in Mexico where experienced labour and services can be obtained. The two towns nearest the mine are Pánuco de Coronado and San José de Avino, where the majority of the employees lived while working at the mine when it was in operation. Pánuco de Coronado has a population of approximately 12,000, and San José de Avino is a small center with a population of less than 1,000.
Geology and Mineralization
The property is located within the Sierra de Gamon, on the east flank of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The area is a geological window into the Lower Volcanic series and consists mainly of volcanic flows, sills, and tuffaceous layers of andesite, rhyolite, and trachyte. Individual rock units vary from 300 to 800 m in thickness. Andesitic rocks outcrop over most of the region with other rock types occurring more sparsely to the north (Slim, 2005d).
A large monzonitic intrusion is observed in the region in the form of dykes and small stocks, which appear to be linked to the onset of the Avino vein mineralization. Other post-mineralization dykes of intermediate to felsic composition outcrop in various areas and appear to cause minor structural displacements. A number of thin mafic sills are also found in various parts of the region and are related to recent volcanism.
Regionally, the Avino concession is situated within a 12 km north-south by 8.5 km caldera, which hosts numerous low sulphidation epithermal veins, breccias, stockwork and silicified zones. These zones grade into a “near porphyry” environment, particularly in the Avino Mine area. The caldera has been uplifted by regional north trending block faulting (a graben structure), exposing a window of andesitic pyroclastic rocks of the lower volcanic sequence, a favourable host rock, within the caldera. This sequence is overlain by rhyolite to trachytes with extensive ignimbrite layers forming the upper volcanic sequence and is intruded by monzonite bodies. The basal andesite-bearing conglomerate and underlying Paleozoic basement sedimentary rocks (consisting of shales, sandstones and conglomerates) have been identified on the Avino concession in the south-central portion of the caldera, covering the Guadalupe, Santiago, San Jorge, the San Gonzalo Trend, Malinche, Porterito and Yolanda areas. A northerly trending felsic dyke, probably a feeder to the upper volcanic sequence, transects the Property and many of the veins. The Aguila Mexicana low temperature vein system, with significant widths but overall low precious metal values, trends north-northwest, similar to the felsic dyke and with similar continuity across the property. The two structures may occupy deep crustal faults that controlled volcanism and mineralization, with the felsic dyke structure controlling the emplacement of the Avino, Nuestra Senora and El Fuerte-Potosina volcanic centres and the Aguila Mexicana controlling the Cerro San Jose and El Fuerte-Potosina volcanic centres (Paulter 2006).
Silver- and gold-bearing veins cross-cut the various lithologies and are generally oriented north-northwest to south-southeast and northwest to southeast. The rocks have been weathered and leached in the upper sections, as a result of contact with atmospheric waters. The oxide tailings material is primarily from this source, whereas the sulphide tailings are predominantly from material sourced at depth from the underground workings. In Mexico, these types of deposits can have large lateral extents, but can be limited in the vertical continuity of grades.
The valuable minerals found during the period of mining of the oxide zone were reported to be argentite, bromargyrite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite, galena, sphalerite, bornite, native silver, gold and native copper. The gangue minerals include hematite, chlorite, quartz, barite, pyrite, arsenopyrite and pyrrhotite. Malachite, anglesite, and limonite are common in the quartz zones of the weathered parts of the oxide material.
Property Ownership
The current Property is comprised of 23 mineral concessions, totalling 1,103.934 ha.
In 1968, Avino Mines and Resources Ltd. acquired a 49% interest in Avino Mexico and Minera San José de Avino SA, which together held mineral claims totalling 2,626 ha (6,488 ac). Avino Mines and Resources Ltd. retained Vancouver based Cannon-Hicks & Associates Ltd. (Cannon-Hicks), a mining consulting firm, to conduct the exploration and development of the Property. Cannon-Hicks exploration activities included surface and underground sampling and diamond drilling (VSE 1979).
In early 1970, Avino Mines and Resources Ltd. signed a letter of intent with Denison Mines Ltd. for the future development of the Avino Mine. However, the agreement was never signed.
In May 1970, Avino Mines and Resources Ltd. signed a formal agreement with Selco Mining and Development (Selco), a division of Selection Trust Company. Due to other commitments, Selco abandoned its interest in the Project in 1973 (VSE 1979).
In October 1973, Avino Mines and Resources Ltd. signed a new agreement with S.G.L. Ltd. and Sheridan Geophysics Ltd. Under the terms of the agreement, S.G.L. Ltd. was to provide up to $500,000 plus the management to erect a production plant. The agreement provided for the return of the capital from first cash flow, plus a management fee and interest payment together with an option to convert a portion of the advanced funds to common shares. The agreement with S.G.L. Ltd. was terminated in mid-1976.
On July 17, 2006, the Company completed the acquisition of Compañía Minera Mexicana de Avino, S.A. de C.V. (“Avino Mexico”), a Mexican corporation, through the acquisition of an additional 39.25% interest in Avino Mexico which combined with the Company’s pre-existing 49% share of Avino Mexico, brought the Company’s ownership interest in Avino Mexicoto 88.25%. The additional 39.25% interest in Avino Mexico was obtained through the acquisition of 76.88% of the common shares of Promotora Avino S.A. De C.V., referred to as “Promotora”, which in turn owns 49.75% of Avino Mexico’s common shares, and the direct acquisition of 1% of the common shares of Avino Mexico.
The July 17, 2006 acquisition was accomplished by a share exchange by which the Company issued 3,164,702 shares as consideration, which we refer to as the “Payment Shares”, for the purchase of the additional 39.25% interest in Avino Mexico. The Payment Shares were valued based on the July 17, 2006 closing market price of the Company’s shares on the TSX-V.
The Company acquired a further 1.1% interest in Avino Mexico through the acquisition from an estate subject to approval and transfer of the shares to the Company by the trustee for the estate. On December 21, 2007 approval was received and the Company obtained the 1.1% interest from the estate for no additional consideration.
On February 16, 2009, the Company converted existing loans advanced to Avino Mexico in to new additional shares of Avino Mexico. As a result, the Company’s ownership interest in Avino Mexico increased to 99.28%.
On June 4, 2013, the Company converted existing loans advanced to its subsidiary Compania Minera Mexicana de Avino, S.A. de C.V. (“Avino Mexico”) into new additional shares, resulting in the Company’s ownership increasing by 0.38% to an effective 99.66%. The inter-company loans and investments are eliminated upon consolidation of the financial statements. The Company had a pre-existing effective ownership interest of 99.28% in Cia Minera prior to the 0.38% increase. The issuance of shares to the Company by Cia Minera on June 4, 2013 resulted in a reduction in the non-controlling interest from 0.72% to 0.34%.
Summary of Property Ownership
Company | Relationship to Avino Silver and Gold Mines Ltd. | Effective Ownership of Avino Mine Property (%) |
Avino Mexico | Subsidiary | 98.39 |
Promotora Avino, S.A. de C.V. | Subsidiary | 1.27 |
Total Effective Ownership of Avino Mine Property | - | 99.66 |
Estate of Ysita | Non-controlling interest | 0.34 |
Total | - | 100.00 |
Mineral Concessions and Agreements
The current Property is comprised of 23 mineral concessions, totalling 1,103.934 ha. Of these, 22 mineral concessions totalling 1,005.104 ha, are held by Avino Mexico (Avino’s Mexican subsidiary company), Promotora Avino SA de CV, and Susesion de la Sra. Elena del Hoyo Algara de Ysita. Ownership proportions and mineral concessions are summarized in the tables below:
Claim Staking and Mineral Tenure in Mexico
In 1992, a new Mining Law was enacted and has been amended from time to time since then. In general, and for North American companies in particular, Mexican law permits direct or indirect 100% foreign ownership of exploration and mining properties. For practical purposes, most foreign companies establish Mexican subsidiaries. Mining companies are subject to the normal corporate income tax rate of 28%. There are no government royalties.
In December 2005, amendments to the mining law eliminated the distinction between "exploration" and "exploitation" concessions. Currently, the mining act and regulations provide solely for mining concessions (Concesiones Mineras), which are issued for a term of fifty years, renewable for an additional term of fifty years.
Owners of mining concessions are obliged to:
· | Execute work under the terms and conditions established in the Mining Law; |
· | Pay fees to the Secretaria de Economia on a semi-annual basis; |
· | Locate on the ground a starting point (mojonera) for the location of the concession, and maintain the mojonera in good condition; |
· | Begin work on the concession within 90 days of receiving the Mining Title; |
· | File Annual Reports describing the Work completed and the amount spent doing the Reported Work* |
· | The Direccion General de Minas has the right to Audit the receipts and verify that Reported Work was completed in the field; |
· | Failure to comply with the Obligations or assist the DGM with an Audit will result in cancellation of the Mining Concession. |
Mineral Concessions – Avino Property
Concession Name | Concession No. | Claim Type | Location | Hectares (ha) | Date Acquired | Expiration Date | Cost (US$/ha) | Payment (US$) |
Agrupamiento San Jose (Purisma Chica) | 155597 | Lode | Pánuco | 136.708 | 30/09/1971 | 29/09/2021 | 124.74 | 17,052.91 |
Agrupamiento (San Jose) | 164985 | Lode | Pánuco | 8 | 13/08/1979 | 12/8/2029 | 124.74 | 997.92 |
Agrupamiento San Jose (El Trompo) | 184397 | Lode | Pánuco | 81.547 | 13/10/1989 | 12/10/2039 | 124.74 | 10,172.12 |
Agrupamiento San Jose (Gran Lucero) | 189477 | Lode | Pánuco | 161.468 | 5/12/1990 | 4/12/2040 | 124.74 | 20,141.57 |
Agrupamiento San Jose (San Carlos) | 117411 | Lode | Pánuco | 4.451 | 5/2/1961 | 16/12/2061 | 124.74 | 555.16 |
Agrupamiento San Jose (San Pedro Y San Pablo) | 139615 | Lode | Pánuco | 12 | 22/06/1959 | 21/06/2061 | 124.74 | 1,496.88 |
Aguila Mexicana | 215733 | Lode | Pánuco | 36.768 | 12/3/2004 | 29/06/2044 | 70.88 | 2,606.12 |
Ampliacion La Malinche | 204177 | Lode | Pánuco | 6.01 | 18/12/1996 | 17/12/2046 | 124.74 | 749.72 |
Ampliacion San Gonzalo | 191837 | Lode | Pánuco | 5.85 | 19/12/1991 | 18/12/2041 | 124.74 | 729.67 |
Avino Grande Ix | 216005 | Lode | Pánuco | 19.558 | 2/4/2002 | 1/4/2052 | 70.88 | 1,386.24 |
Avino Grande Viii | 215224 | Lode | Pánuco | 22.882 | 14/02/2002 | 13/02/2052 | 70.88 | 1,621.85 |
El Caracol | 215732 | Lode | Pánuco | 102.382 | 12/3/2002 | 28/04/2044 | 70.88 | 7,256.84 |
El Potrerito | 185328 | Lode | Pánuco | 9 | 14/12/1989 | 13/12/2039 | 124.74 | 1,122.66 |
Fernando | 205401 | Lode | Pánuco | 72.129 | 29/08/1997 | 28/08/2047 | 124.74 | 8,997.33 |
La Estela | 179658 | Lode | Pánuco | 14 | 11/12/1986 | 12/12/2036 | 124.74 | 1,746.36 |
La Malinche | 203256 | Lode | Pánuco | 9 | 28/06/1996 | 27/06/2046 | 124.74 | 1,122.66 |
Los Angeles | 154410 | Lode | Pánuco | 23.713 | 25/03/1971 | 24/03/2021 | 124.74 | 2,957.96 |
Negro Jose | 218252 | Lode | Pánuco | 58 | 17/10/2002 | 16/10/2052 | 70.88 | 4,111.04 |
San Gonzalo | 190748 | Lode | Pánuco | 12 | 29/04/1991 | 28/04/2041 | 124.74 | 1,496.88 |
San Martin De Porres | 222909 | Lode | Pánuco | 30 | 15/09/2004 | 14/09/2054 | 70.88 | 2,126.40 |
Santa Ana | 195678 | Lode | Pánuco | 136.182 | 14/09/1992 | 13/09/2042 | 124.74 | 16,987.38 |
Yolanda | 191083 | Lode | Pánuco | 43.458 | 29/04/1991 | 28/04/2041 | 124.74 | 5,420.91 |
Total | - | | - | 1,005.106 | - | - | - | - |
Note: Concession “La Platosa” is not included because it is not held by Avino.
Map of Avino Mine Property Concessions
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On February 18, 2012, through its subsidiary company Avino Mexico, Avino re-entered into an agreement (the Agreement) with Minerales, whereby Minerales has indirectly granted to Avino the exclusive mining and occupation rights to the La Platosa concession. The La Platosa concession covers 98.83 ha and hosts the Avino vein and ET Zone.
Pursuant to the Agreement, Avino has the exclusive right to explore and mine the concession for an initial period of 15 years, with the option to extend the agreement for another 5 years. In consideration of the grant of these rights, Avino must pay to Minerales the sum of US$250,000, by the issuance of common shares of Avino. Avino will have a period of 24 months for the development of mining facilities.
Avino has agreed to pay to Minerales a royalty equal to 3.5% of NSRs, at the commencement of commercial production monthly processing rate of the mine facilities is less than 15,000 t, then Avino must pay to Minerales in any event a minimum royalty equal to the applicable NSR royalty based on processing at a minimum monthly rate of 15,000 t. In the event of a force majeure, Avino shall pay the minimum royalty as follows:
first quarter: payment of 100% of the minimum royalty;
second quarter: payment of 75% of the minimum royalty;
third quarter: payment of 50% of the minimum royalty;
fourth quarter: payment of 25% of the minimum royalty; and
in the case of force majeure still in place after one-year of payments, payment shall recommence at a rate of 100% of the minimum royalty and shall continue being made as per the quarterly schedule.
Minerales has also granted to Avino the exclusive right to purchase a 100% interest in the concession at any time during the term of the Agreement (or any renewal thereof), upon payment of US$8 million within 15 days of Avino's notice of election to acquire the Property. The purchase would be completed under a separate purchase agreement for the legal transfer of the concession. This agreement replaces all other previous agreements.
During the month of May of each year, Avino must file assessment work made on each concession for the immediately preceding calendar year. During the months of January and July of each year, Avino must pay in advance the mining taxes which are based on the surface of the concession and the number of years that have elapsed since it was issued.
Consistent with the mining regulations of Mexico, cadastral surveys have been carried out for all the listed mineral concessions as part of the field staking prior to recording (Slim 2005d). It is believed that all concessions are current and up to date. Mineral concessions in Mexico do not include surface rights. Avino has entered into agreements with communal land owners (Ejidos) of San José de Avino, for the temporary occupation and surface rights of the concessions.
A current title opinion dated March 15, 2013, has been prepared by Juan Manuel González Olguin of the Mexican law firm Bufete González Olguin SC. Based on the review of legal opinion, issued title certificates and the unhindered residence on the Property, Tetra Tech has verified that Avino owns the concessions through its Mexican subsidiary company, Avino Mexico, and that there is no indication of any encumbrances at the site. Furthermore, the legal document prepared by Jesús Bermúdez Fernández, dated February 18, 2012, delineating the terms of the agreement on the La Platosa concession has been sourced for information.
History
Avino Mine
The Avino deposit was originally discovered around 1555 by the Spanish conquistador, Don Francisco de Ibarra. In 1562, Francisco de Ibarra, was appointed governor of the newly formed province of Nueva Vizcaya, in the Viceroyalty of Nueva España (New Spain) and, in 1563, founded the town of Durango. Francisco de Ibarra led several expeditions in search of silver deposits in the region and is recognized as having established Minas de Avino, present day Avino Mine; San Martín, Durango; and Pánuco, Sinaloa. Mining operations at the Avino Mine are said to have commenced in 1562-1563 and have been in production until the early 1900s. Operations at the Avino Mine continued up to the onset of the War of Independence (1810) when operations were interrupted but continued through to the early 1900s.
In 1880, the mines were taken over by Avino Mines Ltd., a company controlled by American and English interests. With aid of new industrial technology the Avino mine developed into a more efficient mining operation. By 1908, the Avino Mine was considered one of the largest open pit mines in the world and equipped with one of the largest lixification smelters (Gallegos 1960; Bannon 1970; VSE 1977; Slim 2005d).
During the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution in 1910, proceeds from the mine supplied funds to the revolutionary forces. Since much of the fighting occurred in and around Durango and the risk posed by brigands hiding in the mountains was high, the mine was abandoned in 1912.
Between 1912 and 1968, the mine was worked intermittently on a very small scale (Avino Annual Report 1980). There is no known historical record of production from the Avino Mine during this period. The Avino Property was acquired under current ownership in 1968.
In 1968, the current operators of the Avino property acquired an initial 49% interest in the property. Initial mining was by open-cut in the oxide material from 1976 until 1992 when the stripping ratio was becoming excessive and sulphide content increasing at which date the production was transferred to underground. This necessitated a mill change from the prior lead concentrate production to one of copper carrying silver and gold. In the 1990s a larger ball mill was installed, to increase throughput to 1, 000 t/d.
During the underground mining period starting in 1992, Trackless mining was adopted, with all underground development headings sized at 4 x 4 m. Mine access from surface was by a spiral ramp from a portal on the south side of the hill and there is a secondary ramp– Rampo El Trompo – to the north side, close to the maintenance shop.
Production was by sub-level stoping with a sub-vertical increment restricted from 11 to 15 m to countermine dilution arising from an occasional, semi-incompetent hanging-wall. Stopes were started by raising, and then slashing to the designated width. Blasting was by parallel holes drilled with a traditional drill wagon. Rib and sill pillars were left but are generally considered asnon–recoverable.
Standard mine development was by using boom jumbo with waste being dumped where possible into old stopes. Ore mucking and haulage was by scoop tram and dumped on surface at the main portal. The ore was then picked up and transferred to the plant ROM hopper about 300 m away.
A surface-stacked, downstream tailings-system was adopted with cyclones on the tails discharge line to provide coarse wall-material. Decant water was recovered by a back-slope gradient and pumping, for mill re-circulation. A second, stepped-back bench was created, possibly about 1986 or 7. A third bench was started, apparently in 1990, with about two years placement of final oxide material then continued with the sulphide tails.
The Avino Mine and processing plant were serviced by a heavy equipment repair shop, mechanical and electrical shops, assay office, metallurgical laboratory, warehouse and other auxiliary facilities. Electric power was supplied by the government-owned Federal Electricity Commission.
In November 2001, delays in payments, low metals prices and the closure of the toll smelter led to the suspension of mine operations. During the 27 year production run starting in 1974, the Avino mine had produced about 497 tons of silver, three tons of gold, and 11,000 tons of copper. When mining operations stopped, level 12 of the mine had been reached.
The property was mainly dormant from 2002 to 2006, largely due to low copper and silver prices.
San Gonzalo Mine
The history of the San Gonzalo deposit is not well known. Shallow workings from an old mine are present in the San Gonzalo vein, and consist of small underground workings which were originally accessed by a five-level vertical shaft. These workings were sampled by M. Evans in 1954. The workings are accessible through a raise that was driven in 2012 which is being used for ventilation. No attempts have been made to duplicate the results of the 1954 sampling. The limits of past workings have been taken from old maps but are assumed to be reasonably accurate (Gunning 2009).
Current Condition
San Gonzalo Mine
Avino gained control of the property in July 2006 and exploration (see exploration section below) resumed that year; this led to the discovery of new mineralization at San Gonzalo.
The original underground workings extend over an area approximately 150 m along strike and 136 m in depth. In 2007-08 Avino conducted a 42-hole, 9,204 metre drill program to explore the San Gonzalo deposit. Drilling produced encouraging results which were input into a resource calculation in 2009.
Following a 2009 mineral resource estimate, independently verified preliminary metallurgical testing on a composite sample of San Gonzalo material was completed at SGS Minerals Services in Durango, Mexico. The results indicated the silver and gold minerals from the San Gonzalo vein at lower levels would respond favorably to flotation with gold recoveries of 89 to 90% and silver recoveries of 92 to 93%.
The San Gonzalo mining operation began in January 2010. DMG the mining contractor was contracted to provide this service. Their original scope of work was to drive the main haulage decline to level 2 and to intersect the vein; drift and sample to the east and the west on the vein, and to determine the extent of the mineralized zones and to extract the 10,000 tonne bulk sample for testing as per the recommendations of the Orequest Mineral Resource Estimate Report. A smaller decline to level 1 was also commissioned and its purpose was for ventilation and an escape route once the two levels were connected by raises from level 2 to level 1. This scope of work was extended with the successful completion of the bulk sample program and mining continued with the aim of developing San Gonzalo to a state whereby it could provide mill feed at the rate of 250 tonnes per day on a sustained basis.
Processing of San Gonzalo material began in late November 2010 in the newly refurbished 250 tonne per day bulk flotation circuit. Test with development material was performed initially to ensure the circuit was operating satisfactorily before the bulk sample test with material from the stopes began in January of 2011. The bulk sample test continued until early April 2011 when the limit of 10,000 tonnes was achieved for the independent verification. Processing of the remaining San Gonzalo material on stockpile continued till the middle of May. During this period of November 2010 to May 2011, the plant processed a total of 19,850 tonnes leaving approximately 14,798 tonnes remaining on stockpile in inventory by calculation.
The majority of the concentrate produced during the bulk sample test was sold and the assays from the concentrate sale were used to reconcile the mill balance as reported following the verification of the bulk sampling results. All the remaining concentrate produced from the development material was shipped and sold early in 2012.
Following the completion of the bulk sample which was comprised of material from levels 1 and 2, mine advancement at San Gonzalo has been ongoing. In 2012, the remaining material from the stopes on level 2 was mined and brought to the surface. During 2012, level 3 was the main focus of mining activities with two stopes having been developed and partially extracted by the end of the year. By the end of July, a decline from level 3 to level 4 had been completed and work on the ramp to level 5 had commenced. By year-end, level 5 had been reached and stope development on level 4 was underway. Underground advancement for 2012 totaled 2,558 metres consisting of ramp advancement, cross cuts, drifts and raises.
In 2013, production has mainly come from level 4. Development of level 5 has been ongoing. To date, drifting along the vein on level 5 has totalled 440 metres; however results from sampling have only been received for 221.23 metres. To accurately compare levels 4 and 5, sampling on level 5 must first be completed. Avino anticipates that vein length will improve on level 5 since the operation is now below the historic mine workings.
Comparison of Vein Widths and Grade (Back Samples): 4th & 5th Levels |
Width (m) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Pb % | Zn % |
4th Level: 334.34m Sampled Length |
1.72 | 2.05 | 440 | 0.64 | 1.16 |
5th Level: 221.23m Sampled Length |
1.67 | 7.39 | 663 | 0.64 | 1.05 |
At the time of this report, the ramp from level 5 to level 6 has 55 metres remaining before the elevation of level 6 is reached; another 20 metres of crosscut remain until the vein on level 6 is intersected. The larger pumps and 6 inch pipes ordered to remove the excess water inflows in the ramp have been installed and are operating. Delays in the ramp advance have now been resolved.
The extraction drift to the northwest on level 5 is almost complete with 3 draw points remaining.
Access to the underground at San Gonzalo is via a 4m by 4m decline developed at -12%. The decline is developed at about 20m to 25m from the ore. San Gonzalo is using shrinkage mining for the narrower ore, ~1.4m in width and cut and fill mining for ore wider than 2m.
The San Gonzalo Mine was subject to a mineral resource estimate which was published in July 2013; please see the section below on Mineral Resource Estimates for more details.
Avino Mine
In February 2012, a new long-term royalty agreement was signed to grant Avino mining rights to the main Avino vein. When operations resume, Avino will use the existing 1,000 TPD circuit to process the material.
To resume underground development of the Avino mine, the existing underground workings must first be dewatered. Construction of a water treatment plant and water testing have been completed, the treatment plant is operational. At the time of this report, the water level had receded down to level 8.5 of the mine. Mexican authorities have granted permission to the Company to de-water the mine without requiring a formal permit. Avino is required to submit quarterly reports logging the chemical content of the water being pumped from the underground workings. Once the water is treated it is discharged to the El Caricol dam and used for milling as well as for irrigation of local farms. Dewatering is expected to reach the bottom of the flooded area (level 11) by the second quarter 2014, with operations expected to resume in later in the year.
A review of the underground workings by mine personnel above the water level is also taking place to identify potential mining areas; this represents part of the exploration program aimed at re-opening the historic Avino mine. Equipment has been installed to rehabilitate and stabilize areas where sloughing has occurred.
The Avino Mine was subject to a mineral resource estimate which was published in July 2013, please see the section below on Mineral Resource Estimates for more details.
Tailings Resource
Avino continues to explore options for exploiting the mine's tailings resource left from past mining of the Avino Vein. The tailings are situated approximately 500 m west-southwest of the main shaft to the main Avino mine.
This asset includes oxide and sulphide tailings, each requiring separate treatment methods. The tailings resource was created during between 1976 and 2001 during Avino's previous operation from both open pit (oxide tailings) then later underground (sulphide talings) mining. Improved metals markets now potentially enable Avino to process the remaining silver and gold in the tailings.
The oxide tailings were produced between 1974 and 1993 from open pit mining of the main Avino vein. In 2012, the oxide tailings resource was the subject of a preliminary economic assessment completed by Avino’s independent engineering consultants Tetra Tech. The results of the study were published in the July 2013 Technical Report on the Avino Property, Durango, Mexico by Tetra Tech. (Please see the section below titled: Tailings Resource – Preliminary Economic Assessment). Further details the oxide tailings please see the section below titled: Mineral Resource Estimates
Project Infrastructure
The Avino Mine is connected to the local power grid with a line capacity quoted at 4 MW when the mine last operated in 2001. With the shutdown, much of this excess power has been diverted to the surrounding towns in the district. The present power line provides only 1,000 kW of power with 500 kW servicing the mill, 400 kW for San Gonzalo and the balance for the well at Galeana, employee accommodation facility and water reclaim from the tailings dam. The San Gonzalo power line was built in 2009 to replace the contractor’s diesel generator used during mine development. A C-27 CAT diesel power generator, which produces 700 kW, is being used to power the second circuit.
While water supply was found to be limiting in the past, Avino has taken the necessary steps to secure adequate supply. To supplement the 1 Mm3 dam built by Avino in 1989, a well (Galeana) was drilled to the west of the mine site in 1996 to a depth of 400 m and is reported to have a water level at 40 m below the collar. From this, a pipeline connection has been installed to the mine. Additionally, Avino Mexico, in cooperation with the government, has repaired a government dam (El Caracol) and raised the dam wall by 6 m. A pipeline to the mine has also been installed. This dam is shared with the population of Pánuco de Coronado for their irrigation needs, as 60% for the mine and 40% for the town, with government setting the annual total take to which percent sharing applies. Mine site water use is from a combination of tailings water reclaim, El Caracol, and Galeana with preference given to mine site sources for which no water conservation charge was applicable (Slim 2005).
Underground mine water at the Avino Mine is acidic. Since October 2012 dewatering of the Avino Mine began and a water treatment plant using lime to raise the pH and to precipitate the heavy metals was constructed and built. The water treatment facility is a typical Mexican design and the effluent water quality had to meet the agricultural standards for discharge. Test results to date show the results do meet the required agricultural standards and being discharged to the El Caracol Dam via gravity. The effluent is being monitored on a daily basis when the treatment plant is operational. Sludge which is considered low density is sent to the tailings dam.
Processing Plant
In September 2006, the Company conducted a review of the plant, including the condition of all equipment, capacity of each circuit, and efficiency of the plant. The review was an order of magnitude cost estimate for putting the plant back into operation at the rate of 1,000 tpd.
The Company’s processing plant was built initially in the 1970’s and was refurbished and capacity increased in 1993. Most of the infrastructure was in place for both a 250 tpd and 1,000 tpd operation. At the time of shutdown in 2001 with low commodity prices and closure of smelter, the mill was operating at an average rate of 1,130 tpd.
In order to perform the bulk sample program, major infrastructure spending and mill repairs were required. Most of these expenditures took place in 2008 and 2009 with additional spending required more recently as further needs arise to meet the demands of an operating mine.
A list of the major items purchased, installed and repaired are as follows:
· | To provide an operating 250tpd milling circuit, as much of the existing process equipment was used. The crushing plant was reconfigured for 2 stages of crushing rather than 3 by installing a smaller jaw crusher, repairing the short head cone crusher and the vibrating screen. The 8x6 ball mill was inspected and the necessary mechanical repairs were made to make the mill operational. Two smaller bank of flotation cells were fabricated and installed. In the dewatering section, the existing 20ft thickener was cleaned and the side walls and bottom were reinforced with new steel plates. New filter sectors for the existing filter and a new vacuum pump were purchased and installed. The entire mill was rewired accordingly to meet the electrical code. |
· | Infrastructure. Expenditures in this area included the following: |
1. | Water supply from Galeana, La Caricol Dam and the Tailings Reclaim. All of these items required pumps, electrical starters, cable and transformers and repairs to the existing pipelines. |
2. | Clean and reactivate the two existing water storage tanks and install a new 2” pipeline to supply water to San Gonzalo |
3. | Purchase equipment such as a new Varian AA machine for the Assay Laboratory |
4. | Two diamond drill core storage sheds |
5. | Reactivate and calibrate the existing dump truck scale |
6. | Miners Quarters for approximately 50 contract miners and related services for housing them |
7. | Mine Office and Maintenance Shop |
8. | Fuel Storage Tank and containment |
9. | Reactivate two secured explosives storage facilities and the guard house |
10. | Phone and telecommunication systems |
11. | New 400kW Power line from the vicinity of the process plant to San Gonzalo |
12. | Upgrade the road from San Gonzalo to process plant. A distance of about 1.7km. |
13. | 4 mine dewatering pumps for ET |
15. | Lime storage and feeding system for water treatment plant |
16. | 700kW CAT generator for Circuit #2 |
17. | 2 Diesel fuel storage tanks for Circuit #2 generator |
18. | Ring and puck Lab pulveriser |
20. | 4 ¼ short head cone crusher |
· | Major Surface and Underground Equipment Purchases include: |
1. | 924-H Caterpillar front end loader |
3. | 13 light service passenger vehicles |
4. | 300kW Diesel power generator |
6. | 5 yard Scoop from Remag |
7. | 3 yard Scoop from Caterpillar |
8. | LY-44 Surface and ONRAM 1000/3 Underground diamond drills |
9. | Caterpillar 320D combination backhoe and rock breaker |
10. | Oldenberg single boom jumbo from Caterpillar |
12. | Energy efficient air compressor |
13. | 2 San Gonzalo mine dewatering pumps |
14. | CAT mini loader for loading concentrate |
Starting May of 2011 when the San Gonzalo material on stockpile was depleted following the bulk sample, the process plant was used to treat old stockpiles from historic mining of the Avino Mine. These were low grade stockpiles which were originally considered marginal or waste due to low metal prices. These stock piles were treated until underground development at San Gonzalo was sufficiently advanced to provide mill feed at a sustained rate of 250 tonnes per day. On October 1, 2012, Avino made the transition to San Gonzalo mill feed and declared full commercial production at San Gonzalo
During the second quarter 2013 a second 250 tpd circuit (“circuit 2”) in the mill was commissioned and put into operation for the processing of remaining Avino Mine surface stockpiles.
Circuit # | Throughput (tpd) | Source of Mill feed | Online Date |
1 | 250 | San Gonzalo | Now Online |
2 | 250 | Avino Surface Stockpiles, SG, ET | Now Online |
3 | 1,000 | Avino Mine | 2014 |
· | Circuit 1 will continue to process high-grade mill feed from the San Gonzalo Mine. |
· | Circuit 2 will initially be used to process remaining historic aboveground stockpiles left from past mining of the main Avino Vein. The Company expects the stockpiles will provide enough mill feed for approximately seven months of operations. After the historic stockpiles have been depleted, the new circuit will have the ability to process additional mill feed from the San Gonzalo and Avino Mines as they are developed at depth. |
· | Circuit 3 is scheduled to begin processing new material from the main Avino Mine in 2014. |
Costs Incurred to Date
The table below for the years ended December 31, 2010 to 2012 contain selected financial data prepared in accordance with IFRS which have been derived from our previously audited consolidated financial statements for the periods ending on such dates. The financial data presented above for 2006 to 2009 are presented in accordance with US GAAP and is not comparable to information prepared in accordance with IFRS.
*Operating and administrative expenses do not reflect other income or expense or other comprehensive income or loss.
| | Exploration and Evaluation Expenditures | | | Capital Expenditures | | | *Operating and Administrative Expenses | | | Total | |
2006 | | | 72,208 | | | | 18,331 | | | | 4,014,734 | | | | 4,105,273 | |
2007 | | | 2,292,156 | | | | 777,586 | | | | 868,527 | | | | 3,938,269 | |
2008 | | | 1,764,719 | | | | 93,492 | | | | 1,575,913 | | | | 3,434,124 | |
2009 | | | 320,100 | | | | 281,461 | | | | 669,178 | | | | 1,270,739 | |
2010 | | | 1,839,096 | | | | 324,360 | | | | 1,110,643 | | | | 3,274,099 | |
2011 | | | 4,590,331 | | | | 1,483,453 | | | | 4,042,647 | | | | 10,116,431 | |
2012 | | | 2,387,771 | | | | 946,286 | | | | 1,929,746 | | | | 5,263,803 | |
Total | | | 13,266,381 | | | | 3,924,969 | | | | 14,211,388 | | | | 31,402,738 | |
Below is a table summarizing the estimated planned future costs for 2013 and 2014:
Year | Operating Expenses | Capital Expenditures | TOTAL |
2013 | $ 8,400,000 | $ 5,100,000 | $ 13,500,000 |
2014 | $ 10,800,000 | $15,800,000 | $26,600,000 |
Total | $ 19,200,000 | $20,900,000 | $40,100,000 |
Mineral Reserve Estimates
There are currently no mineral reserves on the Property.
Mineral Resource Estimates
Below is a summary of current mineral resources at the San Gonzalo and Avino Mines as well as the oxide tailings resource (as reported in the July 2013 Technical Report on the Avino Property) grouped into the measured, indicated and inferred categories. The effective dates of the resource estimates are June 10, 2013 for San Gonzalo and Avino Mines, while the effective date for the Oxide Tailings is July 24, 2012, but it is still considered current.
Resource Category | Deposit | Cut-off Ag Eq* | Tonnes | Contained Metal | Grade |
Ag_Eq | Ag | Au | Cu | Ag_Eq | Ag | Au | Cu |
(oz) | (oz) | (oz) | (t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (%) |
Measured | San Gonzalo System | 150 | 71,416 | 914,791 | 759,801 | 3,288 | N/A | 398 | 331 | 1.432 | N/A |
Total Measured -All Deposits | | 71,416 | 914,791 | 759,801 | 3,288 | N/A | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Indicated | Avino System | 100 | 4,253,968 | 23,838,629 | 10,835,338 | 72,207 | 30,914 | 174.3 | 79.2 | 0.528 | 0.727 |
Indicated | San Gonzalo System | 150 | 222,407 | 2,763,069 | 2,043,514 | 15,263 | N/A | 386 | 286 | 2.134 | N/A |
Total Indicated -All Deposits | | 4,476,375 | 26,601,698 | 12,878,852 | 87,470 | 30,914 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Inferred | Avino System | 100 | 3,220,896 | 16,262,944 | 7,068,831 | 75,858 | 17,719 | 157 | 68.3 | 0.733 | 0.55 |
Inferred | San Gonzalo System | 150 | 1,085,276 | 10,494,843 | 8,158,834 | 49,549 | N/A | 300.8 | 233.8 | 1.42 | N/A |
Inferred | Oxide Tailings | 50* | 2,340,000 | N/A | 6,660,000 | 39,530 | N/A | N/A | 91.3 | 0.54 | N/A |
Total Inferred -All Deposits | | 6,646,172 | 26,757,787 | 21,887,665 | 164,937 | 17,719 | | | | |
*Ag Eq not calculated for the oxide tailings resource; cut-off in g/tAg
Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred resources as an Indicated or Measured mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to the Indicated or Measured mineral resource category.
San Gonzalo Mine System
The San Gonzalo Mine estimate was based on data from surface diamond drill programs between 2007 and 2011 (64 holes and 14,624 metres of drilling) and underground development sampling data from levels 1, 2, 3 and 4. Modelling of this data also shows the presence of mineralization for the nearby Angelica vein and its resource estimate has been added to those of the San Gonzalo vein.
The base case scenario used in the estimation assumes a silver price of $US20 which translates into a cut-off grade of 150 g/t silver equivalent at San Gonzalo. The current silver price analysis using US$24.50 per ounce establishes a cut-off grade of 120 g/t for silver equivalent. Since commercial production began in October 2012, Avino has been using a cut-off grade of 120 g/t for silver equivalent.
A summary of the resource at the San Gonzalo mine using different cut-off grades is presented below:
| | | | | Metal | Grade |
| Ag_Eq Cut off | | Tonnes | Density | Ag_Eq (oz) | Ag (oz) | Au (oz) | Ag (g/t) | Ag (g/t) | Au (g/t) |
Measured and Indicated | 50 | 163,400 | 425,764 | 2.606 | 4,076,578 | 3,124,273 | 20,199 | 297.8 | 228.2 | 1.476 |
100 | 134,112 | 349,348 | 2.605 | 3,901,468 | 2,987,063 | 19,396 | 347.4 | 265.9 | 1.727 |
| 120 | 126,688 | 329,323 | 2.599 | 3,830,639 | 2,927,804 | 19,150 | 361.8 | 276.5 | 1.809 |
| 150 | 113,264 | 293,822 | 2.594 | 3,677,861 | 2,803,315 | 18,550 | 389.3 | 296.8 | 1.964 |
| 200 | 89,704 | 231,583 | 2.582 | 3,325,495 | 2,528,182 | 16,912 | 446.6 | 339.6 | 2.271 |
| 250 | 76,672 | 197,530 | 2.576 | 3,079,688 | 2,339,140 | 15,708 | 484.9 | 368.3 | 2.473 |
Inferred | 50 | 560,128 | 1,476,184 | 2 635 | 11,899,790 | 9,281,947 | 55,527 | 250.7 | 195.6 | 1.170 |
| 100 | 512,920 | 1,352,355 | 2.637 | 11,615,072 | 9,055,601 | 54,289 | 267.1 | 208.3 | 1.249 |
| 120 | 488,944 | 1,289,240 | 2.637 | 11,391,021 | 8,880,117 | 53,259 | 274.8 | 214.2 | 1.285 |
| 150 | 412,200 | 1,085,276 | 2.633 | 10,494,843 | 8,158,834 | 49,549 | 300.8 | 233.8 | 1.420 |
| 200 | 296,232 | 779,484 | 2.631 | 8,811,481 | 6,824,184 | 42,153 | 351.6 | 272.3 | 1.682 |
| 250 | 209,536 | 551,401 | 2.632 | 7,148,532 | 5,508,613 | 34,785 | 403.2 | 310.7 | 1.962 |
Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred resources as an Indicated or Measured mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to the Indicated or Measured mineral resource category.
San Gonzalo Mine – Resource Depletion
The mineral resource estimate at San Gonzalo does not factor in depletion from on-going mining activities. Including the bulk sample test as well as production mining during 2012 and 2013, thus far Avino has extracted 68,897 mined tonnes and 28,024 tonnes of development material for a total of 96,921 tonnes as of October 15th, 2013.
Avino Mine System
The Avino Mine estimate was based on data from surface diamond drill programs between 2006 and 2012 (34 holes and 11,523 metres of drilling). Historic mining information was also provided to assist with the modelling of the deposit for the mined out open pit and underground areas as well as to project the shape of the deposit below the 12th level. The 3D wire frame model shows the presence of another mineralization zone called the "Hanging Wall Breccia" or "Cross Cutting Vein". Its resource estimate has been included in the Avino Mine system.
As summary of the resource at the Avino mine using different cut off grades is presented below:
| | | | | Metal | Grade |
Resource Category | Cut-off Ag Eq* | Volume (m3) | | | Ag_Eq | Ag | Au | Cu | Ag_Eq | Ag | Au | Cu |
Tonnes | Density | (oz) | (oz) | (t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (%) |
Indicated | 50 | 3,156,176 | 8,485,813 | 2.689 | 33,698,095 | 14,645,088 | 105,279 | 45,384 | 123.5 | 53.7 | 0.386 | 0.535 |
| 80 | 2,113,760 | 5,673,771 | 2.684 | 27,938,365 | 12,390,900 | 86,867 | 36,874 | 153.2 | 67.9 | 0.476 | 0.650 |
| 100 | 1,584,648 | 4,253,968 | 2.684 | 23,838,629 | 10,836,338 | 72,207 | 30,914 | 174.3 | 79.2 | 0.528 | 0.727 |
| 150 | 853,528 | 2,327,430 | 2.695 | 16,205,941 | 7,697,377 | 46,408 | 20,369 | 216.6 | 102.9 | 0.620 | 0.875 |
| 200 | 405,792 | 1,105,097 | 2.723 | 9,474,178 | 4,522,283 | 27,828 | 11,718 | 266.7 | 127.3 | 0.783 | 1.060 |
| 250 | 218,048 | 596,569 | 2.736 | 5,820,374 | 2,792,304 | 16,552 | 7,243 | 303.5 | 145.6 | 0.853 | 1.214 |
Inferred | 50 | 3,316,272 | 8,982,925 | 2.709 | 29,258,352 | 12,407,216 | 130,031 | 33,978 | 101.3 | 43.0 | 0.450 | 0.378 |
| 80 | 1,742,616 | 4,710,633 | 2.703 | 20,488,097 | 8,718,189 | 97,196 | 22,668 | 135.3 | 57.6 | 0.642 | 0.481 |
| 100 | 1,193,320 | 3,220,896 | 2.699 | 16,262,944 | 7,068,831 | 75,868 | 17,719 | 157.0 | 68.3 | 0.733 | 0.550 |
| 150 | 519,704 | 1,399,366 | 2.693 | 8,967,681 | 4,229,254 | 29,878 | 10,670 | 199.3 | 94.0 | 0.664 | 0.763 |
| 200 | 204,560 | 552,562 | 2.701 | 4,338,265 | 2,289,307 | 7,375 | 5,539 | 244.2 | 128.9 | 0.415 | 1.002 |
| 250 | 71,344 | 195,258 | 2.737 | 1,802,917 | 1,022,743 | 2,284 | 2,197 | 287.2 | 162.9 | 0.364 | 1.125 |
Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred resources as an Indicated or Measured mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to the Indicated or Measured mineral resource category.
Oxide Tailings Resource
The mineral resource was estimated for the oxide tailings generated from prior historical mining operations, using ordinary kriging (OK) interpolation and uncapped grades. The assay values for this estimate are based on 28 drill holes, which were completed on the tailings by Avino Mexico in 1990, and include 407.75 m of drilling and 383 assays of both gold and silver. The entire resource is classified as an inferred mineral resource, based on the historical nature of the drilling (prior to the institution of NI 43-101 and associated quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) requirements). Verification samples collected by Tetra Tech confirmed the presence of gold and silver mineralization at grades similar to those obtained in the original tailings drilling campaign and confirmed that the Mine's lab assays are not materially different from those of external labs.
Method of Calculation
The Avino system and San Gonzalo system mineral resources were modelled and estimated using Datamine(tm) software version 3.20.6140.0. The reported mineral resource was interpolated using ordinary kriging (OK) and capped grades. Avino mineralization included the interpolation of silver, gold and copper, while San Gonzalo mineralization included the interpolation of silver and gold. Where sufficient data was available, specific gravity (SG) was estimated using OK, otherwise the average estimated value was assigned.
Reported cut-offs utilize a silver equivalent (Ag_Eq) calculation where the total metal value is converted into an in situ silver resource. For reporting purposes, a base-case Ag_Eq cut-off of 100 g/t is used for the Avino system and an Ag_Eq cut-off of 150 g/t is used for the San Gonzalo system. Current cut-offs used for financial projections by Avino, based on recent market prices, include 80 g/t for the Avino system and 120 g/t for the San Gonzalo system.
To calculate the above silver equivalent grades, Avino has assumed a price of silver of US $20 per oz., a price of copper of US $3.66 per lb. with a recovery rate of 85% for copper, and a price of gold of US $1,507 per oz., with 75% recovery rate for gold at the Avino Mine and 70% recovery rate for gold at the San Gonzalo Mine.
The oxide tailings mineral resource was estimated using Geovariance Isatis(tm) software and OK interpolation with uncapped grades. The assay values for this estimate are based on 28 drill holes which were completed on the tailings by Avino Mexico in 1990, and include 407.75 m of drilling and 383 assays of both gold and silver. A specific gravity of 1.605 was used based on the global average for the oxide tailings reported by Slim (2005d). For reporting purposes, a silver cut-off of 50 g/t was used; an Ag Eq value was not calculated for the oxide tailings. This mineral resource was estimated by Mr. Mike O'Brien, and has an effective date of July 24, 2012. It was originally disclosed by Tetra Tech (2012), but is considered current.
Exploration
Early Drilling (Prior to Mine Closure), 1968 to 2001
Avino Vein
Between 1968 and 2001, at least 25 diamond drill holes, ranging in length from 132.20 to 575.20 m, are reported to have been drilled from surface into the Avino vein. Included in this total are 10 holes that were drilled by Selco in 1970 when they were re-habilitating some of the old underground workings to provide access for sampling (Slim 2005d). No further information on these drill holes was available to Tetra Tech and they are not included in the resource estimate for the Avino vein.
Oxide Tailings, 1990 to 1991
Between November 10 and December 5, 1990 and March 8 and May 30, 1991, Avino completed six trenches and 28 vertical drill holes in the tailings along 7 fences at a spacing of roughly 50 m by 50 m (Benitez Sanchez 1991). Drilling was completed transversely to the drainage pattern of the tailings. Cut at 1 m vertical increments, 461 samples were assayed for silver and gold at the mine assay lab and occasional moisture contents were reported. Assay results from these drill holes have been previously reported (Tetra Tech 2013).
Summary of 1990/1991 Holes
Hole ID | Easting (m) | Northing (m) | Elevation (m) | Assay Length (m) | Measured Length (m) |
A1 | 570205 | 2712340 | 2,204 | 5.0 | 5.00 |
A2 | 570184 | 2712306 | 2,203 | 7.0 | 7.25 |
A3 | 570192 | 2712267 | 2,203 | 8.0 | 8.00 |
A4 | 570167 | 2712236 | 2,203 | 9.0 | 9.00 |
A5 | 570175 | 2712197 | 2,203 | 15.0 | 16.25 |
A6 | 570152 | 2712167 | 2,202 | 18.0 | 18.00 |
A7 | 570159 | 2712128 | 2,201 | 16.0 | 16.00 |
A8 | 570149 | 2712094 | 2,200 | 8.0 | 8.00 |
Z1* | 570197 | 2712411 | 2,218 | 9.0 | 9.50 |
Z2* | 570176 | 2712365 | 2,218 | 16.0 | 16.00 |
Z3* | 570165 | 2712317 | 2,217 | 13.0 | 13.25 |
Z4* | 570153 | 2712269 | 2,217 | 13.0 | 13.50 |
Z5* | 570142 | 2712221 | 2,216 | 13.0 | 13.00 |
Z6* | 570135 | 2712175 | 2,215 | 14.0 | 14.00 |
B1 | 570132 | 2712365 | 2,217 | 10.0 | 10.00 |
B2 | 570114 | 2712318 | 2,217 | 19.0 | 19.25 |
B3 | 570101 | 2712268 | 2,216 | 26.0 | 26.75 |
B4 | 570079 | 2712207 | 2,216 | 23.5 | 23.50 |
B5 | 570082 | 2712140 | 2,214 | 18.0 | 18.00 |
C1 | 570085 | 2712383 | 2,218 | 8.5 | 8.75 |
C3 | 570077 | 2712354 | 2,217 | 15.0 | 15.00 |
C4 | 570049 | 2712250 | 2,216 | 24.0 | 24.00 |
C5 | 570028 | 2712164 | 2,216 | 14.0 | 14.00 |
C6 | 570017 | 2712117 | 2,216 | 10.0 | 10.00 |
D1 | 570029 | 2712373 | 2,218 | 13.0 | 13.00 |
D2 | 570018 | 2712329 | 2,217 | 19.0 | 19.25 |
D3 | 570003 | 2712273 | 2,218 | 19.5 | 19.50 |
D4 | 569961 | 2712167 | 2,216 | 6.0 | 6.00 |
E1 | 569977 | 2712369 | 2,217 | 13.0 | 13.25 |
E2 | 569960 | 2712311 | 2,216 | 18.5 | 18.50 |
E3 | 569952 | 2712267 | 2,216 | 12.0 | 12.00 |
F1 | 569936 | 2712401 | 2,216 | 18.5 | 18.50 |
F2 | 569926 | 2712364 | 2,216 | 16.0 | 16.00 |
F3 | 569915 | 2712324 | 2,216 | 15.0 | 15.00 |
Plan View of 1990 Hole Locations
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/20-FA/0001477932-13-005788/img004.jpg)
Source: Slim (2005d)
Recent Drilling (Post Mine Closure), 2001 to Present
A total of 98 drill holes have been completed on the Avino and San Gonzalo veins, totalling 26,147.32 m. Additional exploration holes have been drilled elsewhere on the Property, but those drilling results are not considered material. Most holes were surveyed down hole using a Tropari single-shot magnetic instrument. Of those holes for which down hole surveys were completed, the majority contain three or fewer measurements, typically at the collar and near the end of hole, and sometimes part-way down the hole. Many holes were not surveyed to within 10 m of the end of the hole.
Geophysical Surveys: Induced Polarization (IP)
In December 2006, Avino conducted an 80 km line deep penetrating IP Survey at the property. IP geophysics helps identify drill targets. The IP Survey was completed in 2007. Avino did follow-up soil geochemical, satellite imagery and other surveys to better define targets in the covered areas.
Avino Vein (Including ET Zone) and Nearby Veins
Since 2001, Avino has drilled 34 holes below Level 12, where mining ceased, for a total of 11,523.2 m of drilling. Drilling has targeted the ET Zone in particular. There were 5 holes completed in 2006 (2,166.85 m), 12 holes in 2007 (3,906.5 m), 8 holes in 2008 (2,186.7), and 9 holes in 2012 (3,263.15 m). No drilling has been completed on the Avino Vein since 2012. Assay results from all drill holes up to and including ET-12-06 have been previously reported (Tetra Tech 2012).
Tecmin Servicios, S.A. de C.V., was contracted for the 2007 and 2008 drilling programs at the ET Zone of the Avino vein. Since the Avino deposit strikes approximately east-west and dips at 60 to 70° to the south, holes are generally oriented from south to north at various bearings and dip angles in order to intersect the structure at a target depth. Holes were drilled using Avino's Longyear 44 core rig at thin wall NQ diameter.
Drillholes Completed from 2006 to 2012 on the Avino Vein
Hole ID | Azimuth (°) | Dip (°) | Depth (m) | Easting (m) | Northing (m) | Elevation (m) |
CH-06-03 | 338 | -50 | 453.75 | 571013 | 2712796 | 2,208 |
ET-06-01 | 337 | -55 | 431.20 | 570271 | 2712262 | 2,187 |
ET-06-02 | 340 | -50 | 416.70 | 570337 | 2712309 | 2,190 |
ET-06-03 | 339 | -48 | 421.15 | 570457 | 2712361 | 2,194 |
ET-06-04 | 340 | -50 | 444.05 | 570501 | 2712468 | 2,215 |
ET-07-01 | 001 | -69 | 298.60 | 570176 | 2712453 | 2,222 |
ET-07-02 | 358 | -75 | 311.90 | 570206 | 2712467 | 2,224 |
ET-07-03 | 336 | -71 | 349.50 | 570344 | 2712498 | 2,226 |
ET-07-04 | 331 | -56 | 318.70 | 570440 | 2712511 | 2,226 |
ET-07-05 | 333 | -65.5 | 351.50 | 570440 | 2712510 | 2,226 |
ET-07-06 | 336 | -55 | 320.05 | 570520 | 2712524 | 2,225 |
ET-07-07 | 330 | -56.5 | 304.85 | 570585 | 2712569 | 2,230 |
ET-07-08 | 346 | -69 | 399.70 | 570584 | 2712569 | 2,231 |
ET-07-09 | 336 | -62 | 328.55 | 570629 | 2712604 | 2,235 |
ET-07-10 | 338 | -62 | 308.65 | 570645 | 2712650 | 2,245 |
ET-07-11 | 337 | -69 | 329.80 | 570682 | 2712654 | 2,241 |
ET-07-12 | 337 | -48 | 284.70 | 570735 | 2712654 | 2,234 |
ET-08-01 | 329 | -45 | 221.45 | 570807 | 2712712 | 2,236 |
ET-08-02 | 330 | -54 | 234.50 | 570341 | 2712549 | 2,244 |
ET-08-03 | 333 | -64 | 265.10 | 570341 | 2712549 | 2,244 |
ET-08-04 | 337 | -65 | 358.65 | 570579 | 2712568 | 2,231 |
ET-08-05 | 338 | -66 | 371.10 | 570658 | 2712629 | 2,240 |
ET-08-06 | 338 | -59 | 292.45 | 570676 | 2712654 | 2,243 |
ET-08-07 | 343 | -70 | 174.40 | 570747 | 2712656 | 2,234 |
ET-08-08 | 344 | -45 | 269.05 | 570906 | 2712766 | 2,227 |
ET-12-01 | 332 | -62 | 288.15 | 570354 | 2712501 | 2,226 |
ET-12-02 | 335 | -53 | 360.90 | 570507 | 2712472 | 2,214 |
ET-12-03 | 335 | -61 | 367.75 | 570507 | 2712471 | 2,214 |
ET-12-04 | 335 | -64 | 373.75 | 570544 | 2712497 | 2,216 |
ET-12-05 | 336 | -62 | 369.20 | 570566 | 2712508 | 2,218 |
ET-12-06 | 336 | -70 | 396.10 | 570589 | 2712523 | 2,219 |
ET-12-07 | 336 | -64 | 327.60 | 570678 | 2712594 | 2,227 |
ET-12-08 | 336 | -72 | 384.35 | 570678 | 2712594 | 2,227 |
ET-12-09 | 336 | -72 | 395.35 | 570646 | 2712555 | 2,222 |
Plan View Map Illustrating the Location of Drill Holes on the Avino Vein
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/20-FA/0001477932-13-005788/img005.jpg)
San Gonzalo and Nearby Veins
At San Gonzalo, Avino drilled 40 holes in 2007 (9,222.9 m), 6 in 2008 (1,782.65 m), and 18 in 2011 (3,618.57 m), for a total of 64 drill holes and 14,624.12 m of drilling. No drilling has been completed on the San Gonzalo vein since 2011. All holes were of thin wall NQ size core diameter and were completed using Avino’s Longyear 44 core rig. Additional holes also explored the nearby Guadalupe, San Juventino, San Lucerno, Mercedes, San Jorge, and Yolanda veins.
According to Gunning (2009), the collars for 2007 and 2008 drill holes were marked by concrete monuments and the collars have been surveyed. A check of the coordinates with a handheld global positioning system (GPS) revealed a possible 10 m constant error which may simply mean that all of the mine coordinates are not precisely Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM). However, this could also indicate the existence of a small surveying error on the Property.
In 2011, a total of 69 holes totalling 9,943 m were drilled principally in the following locations: San Gonzalo (18 holes), La Potosina (9 holes), Guadalupe (23 holes), San Juventino (3 holes), San Lucero (5 holes), Mercedes (1 hole), San Jorge (3 holes), Yolanda (2 holes). With the exception of the San Gonzalo vein, all of these locations are considered targets for further exploration.
Drill holes Completed from 2007 to 2011 on the San Gonzalo Vein
Hole ID | Azimuth (°) | Dip (°) | Depth (m) | Easting (m) | Northing (m) | Elevation (m) |
SG-07-01 | 050 | -60 | 386.80 | 571713 | 2713982 | 2297 |
SG-07-02 | 038 | -48 | 323.70 | 571714 | 2713983 | 2297 |
SG-07-03 | 074 | -43 | 315.00 | 571714 | 2713981 | 2297 |
SG-07-04 | 053 | -49 | 312.70 | 571651 | 2714059 | 2276 |
SG-07-05 | 059 | -69 | 137.00 | 571650 | 2714058 | 2276 |
SG-07-06 | 055 | -58 | 387.20 | 571650 | 2714058 | 2276 |
SG-07-07 | 044 | -44 | 281.55 | 571578 | 2714117 | 2281 |
SG-07-08 | 043 | -55 | 383.70 | 571578 | 2714116 | 2281 |
SG-07-09 | 038 | -45 | 106.60 | 571677 | 2714137 | 2277 |
SG-07-10 | 053 | -58 | 162.90 | 571677 | 2714136 | 2277 |
SG-07-11 | 015 | -49 | 158.60 | 571676 | 2714135 | 2277 |
SG-07-12 | 089 | -53 | 175.45 | 571678 | 2714133 | 2277 |
SG-07-13 | 055 | -49 | 160.55 | 571770 | 2713993 | 2315 |
SG-07-14 | 054 | -53 | 295.20 | 571716 | 2713971 | 2297 |
SG-07-15 | 218 | -49 | 96.20 | 571689 | 2714268 | 2296 |
SG-07-16 | 219 | -54 | 99.85 | 571552 | 2714354 | 2285 |
SG-07-17 | 252 | -55 | 69.80 | 571428 | 2714421 | 2268 |
SG-07-18 | 218 | -65 | 238.05 | 571765 | 2714318 | 2293 |
SG-07-19 | 257 | -66 | 344.90 | 571763 | 2714320 | 2293 |
SG-07-20 | 215 | -67 | 247.40 | 571650 | 2714345 | 2281 |
SG-07-21 | 038 | -53 | 294.00 | 571713 | 2713979 | 2297 |
SG-07-22 | 218 | -54 | 232.50 | 572007 | 2714128 | 2343 |
SG-07-23 | 216 | -70 | 303.45 | 572007 | 2714128 | 2343 |
SG-07-24 | 217 | -53 | 124.40 | 571969 | 2714077 | 2351 |
SG-07-25 | 216 | -65 | 190.45 | 571969 | 2714078 | 2351 |
Hole ID | Azimuth (°) | Dip (°) | Depth (m) | Easting (m) | Northing (m) | Elevation (m) |
SG-07-26 | 216 | -69 | 395.40 | 572033 | 2714172 | 2337 |
SG-07-27 | 218 | -55 | 237.75 | 572078 | 2714077 | 2345 |
SG-07-28 | 218 | -74 | 319.50 | 572078 | 2714078 | 2345 |
SG-07-29 | 221 | -43 | 103.55 | 572033 | 2714010 | 2356 |
SG-07-30 | 221 | -64 | 158.40 | 572034 | 2714010 | 2356 |
SG-07-31 | 218 | -43 | 71.85 | 571954 | 2714056 | 2352 |
SG-07-32 | 223 | -70 | 407.95 | 572122 | 2714135 | 2330 |
SG-07-33 | 211 | -43 | 130.60 | 572069 | 2714009 | 2353 |
SG-07-34 | 210 | -58 | 183.05 | 572069 | 2714010 | 2353 |
SG-07-35 | 211 | -68 | 272.15 | 572069 | 2714010 | 2353 |
SG-07-36 | 215 | -41 | 102.15 | 572050 | 2713959 | 2358 |
SG-07-37 | 219 | -53 | 154.35 | 572115 | 2713975 | 2351 |
SG-07-38 | 221 | -66.5 | 214.15 | 572115 | 2713975 | 2351 |
SG-07-39 | 220 | -73 | 128.05 | 572120 | 2713898 | 2353 |
SG-07-40 | 220 | -74 | 516.05 | 571899 | 2714211 | 2321 |
SG-08-01 | 035 | -51 | 210.05 | 571776 | 2713974 | 2314 |
SG-08-02 | 215 | -57 | 269.05 | 571964 | 2714167 | 2335 |
SG-08-03 | 215 | -70 | 331.95 | 571964 | 2714168 | 2335 |
SG-08-04 | 215 | -63 | 269.95 | 572029 | 2714121 | 2343 |
SG-08-05 | 035 | -55 | 475.25 | 571701 | 2713893 | 2285 |
SG-08-06 | 048 | -64 | 226.40 | 571679 | 2714137 | 2277 |
SG-11-01 | 215 | -59 | 100.95 | 571981 | 2714009 | 2357 |
SG-11-02 | 215 | -63 | 141.15 | 571995 | 2714030 | 2355 |
SG-11-03 | 215 | -44 | 98.45 | 572020 | 2713994 | 2357 |
SG-11-04 | 212 | -54 | 176.50 | 571969 | 2714079 | 2351 |
SG-11-05 | 040 | -43 | 151.40 | 571892 | 2713832 | 2317 |
SG-11-06 | 189 | -44 | 122.32 | 571732 | 2714379 | 2274 |
SG-11-07 | 030 | -68 | 74.00 | 572030 | 2713946 | 2358 |
SG-11-08 | 037 | -67 | 125.35 | 572043 | 2713888 | 2360 |
SG-11-09 | 181 | -48 | 71.10 | 571585 | 2714366 | 2278 |
SG-11-10 | 201 | -61 | 78.40 | 571240 | 2714538 | 2235 |
SG-11-11 | 201 | -61 | 91.95 | 571329 | 2714397 | 2274 |
SG-11-12 | 218 | -71 | 312.15 | 571811 | 2714288 | 2305 |
SG-11-13 | 218 | -71 | 345.40 | 571847 | 2714258 | 2310 |
SG-11-14 | 209 | -61 | 330.50 | 571939 | 2714214 | 2326 |
SG-11-15 | 211 | -68 | 363.45 | 572030 | 2714172 | 2337 |
SG-11-16 | 209 | -62 | 334.25 | 572092 | 2714173 | 2331 |
SG-11-17 | 210 | -70 | 383.10 | 571836 | 2714336 | 2306 |
SG-11-18 | 218 | -71 | 318.15 | 571765 | 2714321 | 2293 |
Plan View Map Illustrating the Location of Drill Holes on the San Gonzalo Vein
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/20-FA/0001477932-13-005788/img006.jpg)
Avino is formulating plans to continue exploration at the San Gonzalo zone as well as other high-potential targets on the property to expand known resources and the mine's output. Historic near- to-surface mining on the property has left many clues as to where mineralization hot spots are located. Using modern technology to integrate, manage and interpret more than 80 km of Induced Polarization (IP) Geophysics, 1,500 soil samples, satellite imagery, data from ongoing drilling and historic data, the company is seeking to define new high potential targets that were not visible or accessible in the past.
Drilling at San Gonzalo is planned and will shift from surface to underground drilling using the company's recently purchased underground drill. Extensive drilling is also planned on the tailings resource to provide material for metallurgical test work as well as to upgrade ounces from an inferred resource to the measured and indicated category; 1985 meters of drilling through 95 holes using a sonic drill are planned. Avino also plans to drill a further 44 holes as part of the Company's ongoing regional drill program in areas including: La Potosina, Aranguez, Gran Luccero, Guadalupe and La Estela.
San Gonzalo Bulk Sample Program
In December 2009, the Company announced that contract terms had been finalized with Desarrollo Minero Guadalupe S.A. de C.V. (“DMG”) for the mining of the 10,000 tonne bulk sample from the San Gonzalo deposit.
The mining contract included collaring of the portal, driving 1,000 meters of development consisting of a decline, crosscuts and raises and the extraction of 10,000 tonnes of mineralized vein material.
In January 2010, DMG began driving the first decline to the 2,260 m elevation for infrastructure work and extraction of the bulk sample. The San Gonzalo vein was intersected in May 2010 and a smaller splay vein was intersected two months later. A second decline was driven to the 2,306m level.
By July 2010 both levels had intersected the San Gonzalo vein. The Upper Level 1 has been driven northwest along the San Gonzalo Vein and broke in to the old San Gonzalo workings. The exploration drift on the Lower Level 2 (2260 m) along the San Gonzalo vein was also advanced to the northwest towards the old San Gonzalo workings.
On October 6, 2010, the two levels were connected with the completion of the first raise allowing the start of stoping (cut and fill) for the bulk sample.By January 2011, development for the extraction of the 10,000 tonne bulk sample was completed by the mining contractor DMG; processing of the bulk sample began shortly afterwards.
In July 2012, the results from the 10,000 tonne bulk sample program at San Gonzalo were announced. The bulk sample was intended to allow the Company to assess the economics of the zone by confirming mineral grades obtained through earlier diamond drilling. The results were released after a comprehensive review of the data and discussions with engineers. The bulk sample program was completed during the first quarter of 2011 and the Company sold 188 tonnes of the San Gonzales bulk concentrate for net proceeds of US$1.83 million. In April 2012, the Company sold the balance of the San Gonzalo concentrate.
The results are based on the metallurgical balance provided below:
| Weight | Assay (g/t) | Contents (kg) | Contents (oz’s) | Recovery (%) |
| Tonnes | Au | Ag | Au | Ag | Au | Ag | Au | Ag |
Feed | 10,519* | 0.9 | 261 | 9.35 | 2,746.75 | 300.9 | 88,311.7 | 100 | 100 |
Concentrate | 232 | 23.8* | 8,998* | 5.52 | 2,087.53 | 177.5 | 67,116.9 | 59 | 76 |
Tail | 10,287 | 0.4 | 64 | 3.83 | 659.22 | 123.4 | 21,194.8 | 41 | 24 |
*These figures have been reconciled to the weighed feed tonnage and the final concentrate assays of the paid shipment. They also have been rounded for clarity.
The overall bulk sample feed grade was 261g/t Ag and 0.9g/t Au. Silver and gold recoveries were 76% and 59% respectively and 232 dry tonnes of flotation concentrate were produced of which 188 tonnes were sold for net proceeds of US$1.83 million. If the entire production were sold under the same contract terms, the net proceeds would have been US$2.26 million.
Evaluation costs relating to mining, milling, and overhead for the bulk sample program US$567,045 or US$7.62 per ounce silver equivalent. Included in these amounts are costs for the raises and stopes. Cost per tonne produced were $53.91 and proceeds on 188 tonnes of concentrate sold of US $1.83 million. (The contract prices per ounce of silver and gold were US$36.75 and US$1,511.31 respectively)
No formal feasibility study was commissioned after bulk sampling program.
Tailings Resource – Preliminary Economic Assessment
In 2013 an updated Technical Report on the Avino Property was published which focused on the oxide tailings resource. The new study factored in current metals prices (US$1,271 oz Gold, US$20.59 silver) for a base case analysis of the project as well as a spot price analysis using (US$1,622.20 Gold, US$28.36 Silver). Cyanide heap leach tests undertaken in the study produced recoveries of: 68% for silver, 82% for gold or 78% for silver, 87% for gold if the material is first re-ground at the mill and then leached in tanks. The Technical Report is a preliminary economic assessment and should not be considered a prefeasibility or feasibility study, as the economics and technical viability of the oxide tailings have not been demonstrated at this time. The above preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to apply economic considerations that would allow for categorization as mineral reserves. Furthermore, there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
This tailings mineral resource will be mined through surface methods and without blasting. A truck/front-end loader arrangement will be used and will operate one 8 hour shift per day, 365 days per year for the 4.7-year life of this Project. Initially the oxide tailings, which are at the bottom of the pile, will be processed without having to move the sulphide tailings, which covers only a portion of the oxide tailings. Not all of the sulphide tailings need to be removed to gain access to the oxide tailings. Approximately 0.5 million tonnes of oxide tailings will be sent to the heap leach pad annually.
Metal Production
Total Tonnes to Mill | 2,340,000 |
Annual Tonnes to Mill | 500,000 |
Mine Life | 5 years |
Average Silver Grade (g/t) | 91.30 g/t |
Average Gold Grade (g/t) | 0.54 g/t |
Total Silver Production (oz) | 4,814,000 |
Total Gold Production (oz) | 31,000 |
Average Annual Silver Production (oz) | 1,028,860 |
Average Annual Gold Production (oz) | 6,580 |
Economics
| Base Case | Spot Price Case |
Gold Value (US$) | $1,256 | $1,622 |
Silver Value (US$) | $20.38 | $28.36 |
IRR | 54.4% | 92% |
Payback period | 1.6 years | 1.1 years |
NPV (US$’000) 8% discount rate | $38,647 | $74,186 |
A preliminary economic assessment should not be considered a prefeasibility or feasibility study, as the economics and technical viability of the Project have not been demonstrated at this time. The above preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to apply economic considerations that would allow for categorization as mineral reserves. Furthermore, there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. This assessment is preliminary in nature as it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable to them to be categorized as mineral reserves. At this time there is no certainty that the preliminary assessment and economics will be realized.
*Data disclosed in July 25th, 2012 technical report by Tetra Tech: A Technical Report on the Avino Property. Michael O'Brian, M.Sc., Pr.Sci.Nat, FGSSA, FAusIIM, FSAIIM, Hassan Ghaffari, P.Eng., Jacques Ouellet, P.Eng., Ph.D., Monica Danon-Schaffer, Ph.D, P.Eng., Sabry Abdel Hafex, Ph.D., P.Eng and Wayne Stoyko, P.Eng., are the Qualified Persons, as defined under National Instrument 43-101, who supervised and are responsible for the Technical Report on the Avino Property.
Reclamation
An updated mine closure plan and reclamation will be required for the Project. The mine closure plan should include information; such as:
· justification for the closure plan considering technical, environmental and
· legal aspects
· objectives and how they will be met
· photo evidence and details of the environmental situation prior to
· commencing closure activities
· schedule of activities
· the progressive reclamation of the site during the life of the operation
· the design of tailings disposal areas
· the reclamation and re-vegetation of the surface disturbances wherever practicable
· a cost estimate of the work required to close and reclaim the mine
· a plan for ongoing and post-closure monitoring and reporting at the site.
No cost estimates have generated at this time to ensure the project meets the environmental requirements once the processing of the heap material has been terminated.
As per Federal regulations, under LGEEPA, both the SEMARNAT and PROFEPA ministries require Avino to present in its first semi-annual report for a General Plan to Remediate the Site dates, activities, techniques, costs that will guarantee restoration of affected areas, considering complete reforestation of impacted sites, removal of foundations and infrastructure that is no longer useful, roads that no longer have any use, remove all rubbish and properly dispose of, closing off adits that are no longer needed and restoration of the tailings facility when its operational life is finished. Avino will also need to present a reforestation program for the entire surface area affected during mining operations. This program will include caveats to safeguard flora and fauna.
Eagle Property – Not Material
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/20-FA/0001477932-13-005788/img007.jpg)
Ownership. The wholly owned Eagle property was acquired in 2003 when Avino purchased a 100% interest in 14 quartz leases by issuing 200,000 common shares at a price of $0.50 per share for total consideration of $100,000. The property was written down to a nominal value of $1 in fiscal 2006 by a charge to operations of $103,242 and currently has a deferred value of $2,504.
Property Description and Location. The 516 ha property is located in the Yukon Territory approximately kilometers west of Keno City. It is currently in its Phase I stage of exploration. The property is accessed by a road. Whitehorse, the nearest major city, is approximately 380 kilometres to the south of the village of Mayo. The village of Mayo is 60 kilometers to the southeast of Keno City. The Eagle property lies on the south-east facing slope of Galena Hill where the elevations range from about 1350 to 1540 m. Permafrost, while thin to non-existent in places, is reported to be found under accumulations of surface rubble left from glaciation.
Avaron Mining Corp. Option Agreement. In January 2012, Avino entered into an option agreement with Avaron Mining Corp. (“Avaron”), whereby Avaron can earn the exclusive right and option to acquire a 100% title and interest in the Eagle Property.
To earn a 75% interest in the Eagle Property, Avaron must:
· Incur Exploration Costs totaling $7.1 million over five years.
· Make total cash payments of $375,000 over five years to Avino.
· Issue a total 800,000 common shares of Avaron over five years to Avino.
After earning a 75% interest, Avaron may either elect to form a Joint Venture with Avino, or has the following two options to earn the remaining 25% interest:
Option 1. Avaron may elect within the next six months to place the property into production and commence commercial production within 3 years, subject to a 2.5% Net Smelter Return and a minimum $200,000 annual advance royalty payments payable for 5 years or until production begins; or
Option 2. If Avaron does not elect to place the property into production, Avaron must pay $100,000 annual advance royalty payments and 250,000 common shares to Avino on or before each of the sixth and seventh anniversaries of January 3, 2012 and at its sole expense, complete drilling of an additional 10,000 metres in depth on the Property or incur an additional $2,000,000 in exploration costs in lieu of such drilling on or before the seventh anniversary of the January 3, 2012.
In November 2012 Avino entered into an amending agreement dated November 22, 2012 to amend the option agreement dated January 3, 2012 (the “Option Agreement”) with Avaron, whereby Avaron was required to issue an extra 100,000 common shares to Avino in order to shift the first anniversary cash payment and work commitment down for a year.
Concurrently, Avino, Avaron and Benz Capital Corp. (“Benz”) entered into an Option Purchase and Assignment Agreement dated November 30, 2012 (the “Purchase Agreement”) whereby, Benz may acquire all of Avaron's interest in the Option Agreement pursuant to which Avaron has the option to acquire from Avino up to an undivided 100% interest in the Eagle Property. Avino agreed to provide the consent to the Purchase Agreement for 50,000 common shares from Benz.
Proposed Work Program. The Company does not proposed to conduct any work at the Eagle property since it is subject to an option to Avaron.
Olympic-Kelvin Property- Not Material
Ownership. The Olympic-Kelvin property is wholly owned by the Company and was acquired in 1987 when it acquired a 100% interest in 20 reverted Crown granted mineral claims, one located mineral claim and three fractions located in the Lillooet Mining Division of British Columbia. The property was written down entirely in fiscal 2002. During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2007, these original mineral claims and fractions were converted into six claims encompassing all of the original claims. The Company recommenced exploration of the property in fiscal 2004 and ceased exploration activities in fiscal 2006. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Company wrote down the value of these exploration costs to a nominal value of $1 by an impairment charge to operations of $163,466. The Company will maintain these claims in good standing and may decide to commence exploration again on the Olympic-Kelvin Property. However, the current focus of the Company is its exploration activities in Mexico.
Property Description and Location. The Olympic-Kelvin property totals approximately 662.5 hectares and is located on the south side of Carpenter Lake, five kilometers northeast of Goldbridge in the Lillooet Mining Division, British Columbia.
The Olympic-Kelvin property is easily accessible by the all-weather, publicly maintained, Gray Rock logging road which runs northeast from Goldbridge. Access on the Olympic-Kelvin property is possible on a number of cat trails built by the Company and previous operators.
The Olympic-Kelvin property covers rocks of the Pioneer Formation and Bridge River Terrane. These rocks are cut by northwest trending regional scale structures sub-parallel to the Ferguson and Cadwallader Structures. The structures on the Olympic-Kelvin property are roughly the same distance from the Upper Cretaceous-Tertiary granitic Bendor Intrusions as the Bralorne/Pioneer mines. A similar flexure is present in the northwest trending structures on the Olympic-Kelvin property. These structures on the property are mineralized with gold and silver and have received considerable past work, including at least four adits.
Proposed Work Program. No further work is proposed at this time.
Minto Property- Not Material
Ownership. The Minto Property is wholly owned by the Company and was acquired in early 1985 when it acquired its 100% interest in eight Crown granted mineral claims, eight reverted crown government granted mineral claims and one located mineral claim, situated in the Lillooet Mining Division of British Columbia. During the January 31, 2007 year end these mineral claims were converted into one claim encompassing all of the original claims. The property was written down to a nominal value of $1 in fiscal 2002. The Company recommenced exploration of the property in fiscal 2006 and ceased exploration activities in fiscal 2007 and during the 2009 year end wrote down the value to a nominal amount of $1 by an impairment charge to operations of $256,800. The Company will maintain these claims in good standing and may decide to commence exploration again on the Minto Property. However, the current focus of the Company is its exploration activities in Mexico.
Property Description and Location. The Minto Property is situated about ten kilometers east of Goldbridge in the Bridge River gold district of British Columbia and adjoins the Olympic-Kelvin Property. The property covers approximately 204 hectares. The claims occupy the lake bed and north side of Carpenter Lake. Access from Goldbridge is made via an all-weather gravel road which skirts the north shore of Carpenter Lake.
Gold Bridge can be reached from Vancouver via Hope and Lillooet, a distance of 445 kilometers, or via Pemberton using the four-wheel-drive Hurley Pass route, a distance of 225 km.
The terrain is rugged, typical of the eastern margin of the Coast Range Mountains. The claim group ranges in elevation from 650 meters on Carpenter Lake to a maximum of 1020 meters.
The climate of the Bridge River District is transitional between humid coastal belt and more arid interior plateau. Annual precipitation is modest with a significant proportion falling as snow in the winter. Summers tend to be warm to hot depending on the altitude, and winters are moderately cold.
Proposed Work Program. No further work program has been proposed.
EL Laberinto Property- Not Material
Ownership. Avino is, directly or through its wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary Compania Minera Mexicana de Avino, S.A. de C.V., the sole legal and beneficial owner of 100% of the rights, title and interest in and to the Laberinto Property located in Durango State, Mexico
Property Description and Location. The El Laberinto property is situated 60 kilometres NE of Durango, Mexico and 25 kilometres west of Avino’s main mine. It occurs in the Sierra La Silla (hills) which form part of a large volcanic caldera which also contains Avino’s main holdings. The Sierra La Silla area contains many silver, gold, lead, zinc and copper veins similar to those at Avino which are also situated in the lower volcanic Andesite sequence.
History. El Laberinto is a small property today and is a remnant of a much larger land package in the area once controlled by Avino.
During 1995 Avino mapped the La Silla area and sampled the principal veins. Avino had assembled the land package in the district in search of another Avino main vein. (Report August 1995)
Avino drove an adit on the Veta Grande (“Big Vein”) in late 1995. Values of silver and gold were sub economic. The adit was stopped at approximately 300 metres length before it reached the main shoot described in the 1995 report. Three holes were drilled below the adit, assays are unavailable.
Avino does not consider that the Big Vein has been adequately explored to date. Although the adit showed low values, it did not reach the principal shoot and was likely too high on the vein structure.
In July 2012, the Company entered into an option and joint venture agreement with Endeavour Silver Corp. ("Endeavour"), whereby Endeavour was granted the option to acquire up to a 75% interest in the El Laberinto Property, Durango State, Mexico, consisting of approximately 91.7 hectares. In order to exercise the option, Endeavour must pay up to US $200,000 in annual installments over 4 years to Avino in option payments, and incur up to US$3 million in exploration work on the El Laberinto Property over the next 4 years
Upon Endeavour acquiring its 75% interest, a joint venture will be formed, under which if any party does not contribute its proportionate share of costs, its participating interest will be diluted on a pro rata basis according to the contributions of all parties. If any party's participating interest is reduced to 10% or less, then its interest will be automatically converted into a 2.5% net smelter returns royalty.
Proposed Work Program. In light of Endeavour’s option on the El Laberinto property, the Company does not anticipate spending funds on the property.
Other Properties (Durango, Mexico) – Not Material
Avino also has mineral rights for 5 other properties in the Durango State of Mexico:
The El Hueco property, located near Silver Standard’s Pitarilla mine close to the town of Santiago Papasquiaro is comprised of 5 adjoining concessions and covers approximately 1312.42hectares. Avino assembled the land package between1999 and 2005.
The Ana Maria property, located near Gomez Palacio consists of 9 adjoining concessions and covers approximately2545hectares. Avino assembled the land package in 2001 and 2002.
The La Potosina, El Fuerte and Aranjuez concessions, used to be contiguous with the Avino Mine property where the bulk of the work has been taking place, but claims in between these mining concessions and the Avino Mine property have been dropped.
Avino considers these properties to be of merit, but has no current plans for exploration and development at this time.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the information contained in the Company’s annual audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 included in this annual report on Form 20-F. Such discussion and analysis is based upon our annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (‘‘IFRS’’) for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.
For all periods up to and including the year ended December 31, 2010, we prepared our consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (‘‘Canadian GAAP’’). The annual audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 were our first annual consolidated financial statements that were prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (‘‘IASB’’).
A. Operating Results - San Gonzalo Mine
The fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 saw Avino transition from an exploration stage to a production stage company. On October 1, 2012 the Company declared commercial production for the San Gonzalo mine.
Results from the first 4 quarters of operations are reported in the table below:
| Q3 2013 | Q2 2013 | Q1 2013 | Q4 2012 |
Total Mill Feed (dry tonnes) | 19,351 | 19,988 | 19,723 | 19,539 |
Average Daily Throughput (tpd) | 217 | 227 | 229 | 222 |
Days of Operation | 89 | 88 | 86 | 88 |
Feed Grade Silver (g/t) | 282 | 280 | 309 | 259 |
Feed Grade Gold (g/t) | 1.366 | 1.218 | 1.29 | 1.04 |
Bulk Concentrate (dry tonnes) | 610 | 636 | 568 | 538 |
Bulk Concentrate Grade Silver (kg/t) | 7.46 | 7.28 | 8.72 | 7.44 |
Bulk Concentrate Grade Gold (g/t) | 32.2 | 28.1 | 31.4 | 26.33 |
Recovery Silver (%) | 83 | 83 | 81 | 79 |
Recovery Gold (%) | 74 | 73 | 70 | 70 |
Mill Availability (%) | 95.1 | 96.4 | 95.5 | 94.4 |
Total Silver Produced (kg) | 4,548 | 4,634 | 4,960 | 4,000 |
Total Gold Produced (g) | 19,604 | 17,849 | 17,875 | 14,161 |
Total Silver Produced (oz) calculated | 146,215 | 149,004 | 159,582 | 128,607 |
Total Gold Produced (oz) calculated | 630 | 574 | 574 | 455 |
Total Silver Equivalent Produced (oz) | 187,184 | 180,567 | 191,107 | 151,372 |
During Q3 2013 silver equivalent was calculated using a 65:1 ration. Silver equivalent for Q1&Q2 2013 was calculated using a 55:1 ratio for silver to gold. For Q4 2012, a 50:1 ratio was used in the calculation. (The ratio was changed to reflect more current gold and silver prices.) Mill production figures have not been reconciled and are subject to adjustment with concentrate sales. Year-to-date and calculated figures may not add up due to rounding.
Avino Mine Stockpiles
During the first three quarters of 2012, Avino processed material left from past mining of the main Avino vein. The historic stockpiles had been left on the surface in various locations across the property making delivery for processing easy and cost efficient. The stockpiles provided Avino an opportunity to generate cash flow while tuning the mill and continuing underground advancement and mining at San Gonzalo. During this period, the Company was considered an exploration stage company, therefore the proceeds from the sale of this concentrate was charged as a reduction of Exploration and evaluation assets and exploration costs; all concentrate produced during the period was sold. Quarterly output results from this project are as follows:
2012 Quarter | Source of Mill Feed | Feed Material Processed (tonnes) | Concentrate Produced (tonnes) | Ag oz Produced (calculated) | Au oz Produced (calculated) | Ag Eq oz Produced* (calculated) |
Q1 | Historic Stockpiles | 14,600 | 176 | 17,875 | 220 | 28,875 |
Q2 | Historic Stockpiles | 16,900 | 134 | 14,129 | 180 | 23,129 |
Q3 | Historic Stockpiles | 20,015 | 323 | 31,024 | 381 | 50,074 |
Total | Historic Stockpiles | 51,515 | 633 | 63,028 | 781 | 102,078 |
Silver equivalent was calculated using a 55:1 ratio for silver to gold. Mill production figures have not been reconciled and are subject to adjustment with concentrate sales. Year-to-date and calculated figures may not add up due to rounding.
In April 2013, Avino commissioned a second 250 tpd circuit at the processing facility and began processing the remaining above ground Avino Mine stockpiles.
Results from the first 6 months of operations are presented below:
| Apr 2013 | May 2013 | June 2013 | July 2013 | Aug 2013 | Sept 2013 | YTD 2013 |
Total mill feed – (dry tonnes) | 4,040 | 5,917 | 6,324 | 5,922 | 5,774 | 6,583 | 34,560 |
Days of Operation | 19 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 165 |
Feed grade Silver - g/t | 73 | 84 | 78 | 89 | 78 | 85 | 82 |
Feed grade Gold - g/t | 0.79 | 0.70 | 0.84 | 0.83 | 0.63 | 0.85 | 0.78 |
Bulk concentrate – (dry tonnes) | 49.84 | 66.05 | 84.42 | 80.52 | 48.53 | 80.99 | 410.35 |
Bulk Concentrate Grade Silver (kg/t) | 3.977 | 4.833 | 3.509 | 4.310 | 5.865 | 4.658 | 4.442 |
Bulk Concentrate Grade Gold (g/t) | 35.30 | 32.19 | 32.20 | 32.74 | 38.11 | 36.63 | 34.25 |
Recovery Silver (%) | 67 | 64 | 60 | 66 | 63 | 67 | 65 |
Recovery Gold (%) | 55 | 51 | 51 | 54 | 51 | 53 | 52 |
Mill availability (%) | 63 | 83 | 96 | 87 | 84 | 97 | 90 |
Total Silver Produced (oz) calculated | 6,373 | 10,264 | 9,525 | 11,156 | 9,151 | 12,129 | 58,599 |
Total Gold Produced (oz) calculated | 57 | 68 | 87 | 85 | 59 | 95 | 452 |
Total Silver Eq. Produced (oz) calculated | 9,484 | 14,023 | 14,332 | 16,665 | 13,016 | 18,329 | 85,849 |
During the third quarter 2013 silver equivalent was calculated using a 65:1 ration. Silver equivalent for Q2 2013 was calculated using a 55:1 ratio for silver to gold. (The ratio was changed to reflect more current gold and silver prices.) Mill production figures have not been reconciled and are subject to adjustment with concentrate sales. Year-to-date and calculated figures may not add up due to rounding.
Developments for 2012 and 2013
Exploration - Avino Mine
In February 2012, a new long-term royalty agreement was signed to grant Avino mining rights to the main Avino vein. Mining activities were suspended on the Avino vein in 2001 due to low metals prices and the closure of a key smelter. Shortly after signing the new royalty agreement, the Company initiated an exploration program to further define remaining resources. The 2012 drill program, which totaled 3,263 metres through 9 holes used to form the basis for the current mineral resource estimate below level 12 which was published in July 2013.
Development – Avino Mine
To resume underground development of the Avino mine, the existing underground workings must first be dewatered. During the year, construction of a water treatment plant and water testing was completed. As of April 30, 2013, the water level had receded down to level 8 of the mine. Mexican authorities have granted permission to the Company to de-water the mine without requiring a formal permit. Avino is required to submit quarterly reports logging the chemical content of the water being pumped from the underground workings. Once the water is treated it will be discharged to the El Caricol dam on the property and used for milling as well as for irrigation of local farms. Dewatering is expected to reach the bottom of the flooded area in early 2014 with operations expected to resume in later in the year.
A review of the underground workings by mine personnel above the water level is also taking place to identify potential mining areas for mill feed; this represents part of the exploration program aimed at reopening the ET (Avino) mine.
Mill Expansion
In the fourth quarter 2012, Avino began to re-furbish a second 250 tpd circuit (“circuit 2”) to process remaining historic aboveground stockpiles left from past mining of the main Avino Vein. The Company expects the stockpiles will provide enough mill feed for approximately seven months of operations. During the third quarter of 2012, Circuit 1 (250 tpd) produced 50,074 ounces of silver equivalent (calculated) from the same stock piles, Avino expects output will be similar from Circuit 2 once it's activated in second quarter of this year. After the historic stockpiles have been depleted, the new circuit will have the ability to process additional mill feed from the San Gonzalo and Avino Mines as they are developed at depth.
Financing
In January 2013, the Company completed a credit facility with Caterpillar Finance for up to US $5 million. The financing will help Avino advance its current operations at San Gonzalo and reopen the old Avino Mine. The credit facility bears interest at rates ranging from 0% to 4.95% per annum. Equipment leased under the credit facility has terms of 18 months to 60 months. These terms are dependent on the Company's requirements and equipment acquired. With the credit facility in place, the Company has acquired several key pieces of mining equipment including: a new Caterpillar 420F Backhoe loader, Caterpillar R1600 Scoop tram and an Oldenburg underground rock drill. This equipment represents roughly one third of the credit facility
Results of Operations The review of the Company’s financial results is based on the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012, and 2011.
Twelve months ended December 31, 2012 compared with the twelve months ended December 31, 2011.
Revenues
On October 1, 2012, Avino achieved commercial production at the San Gonzalo mine. During the fourth quarter the San Gonzalo mine produced 561 tonnes of bulk silver/gold concentrate recognizing revenues of $2,255,376 on the sale of 368 tonnes of concentrate bulk silver/gold with a cost of sales of $1,434,569 for a gross profit of $820,807. Metal prices for revenues recognized in that period, weighted by dollar of revenue recognized averaged US$31.54 per ounce of silver, US$1,680 per ounce of silver.
Prior to commencing commercial production at San Gonzalo on October 1, 2012, the Company’s processing facility was used to treat process historic stockpiles remaining from the previous operation prior to 2001. In accordance with Company’s accounting policy, the proceeds from concentrate sales for the first nine months of 2012 was recorded as a reduction of exploration and evaluation costs. During the first nine months this activity produced 633 tonnes of concentrate generating proceeds of $3,490,581.
Operating and administrative expenses
Operating and administrative expenses were $1,929,746 for the year ended December 31, 2012 as compared with of $4,042,647 for the year ended December 31, 2011, a decrease of $2,112,901. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in share-based payments to employees, directors, and consultants which decrease by $2,511,212 during the year. The decrease in share-based payments is due to more options being granted in the year ended December 31, 2011, than for the year ended December 31, 2012. The decrease in share-based payments was partially offset by increases in office and miscellaneous of $331,322 and salaries and benefits $284,532.
Loss for the year
The loss for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $1,263,178 compared with a loss of $4,184,351 for the year ended December 31, 2011, a decrease in loss of 2,921,173. The significant differences include the recognition of mine operating income of $820,807 and a decrease of share-based payments of $2,511,212.
Twelve months ended December 31, 2011 compared with the twelve months ended December 31, 2010
Operating and administrative expenses
Operating and administrative expenses were $4,042,647 for the year ended December 31, 2011 as compared with of $1,110,643 for the year ended December 31, 2010, an increase of $2,932,004. The increase was primarily due to share-based payments to employees, directors, and consultants which increased by $2,187,872 during the year. The increase in share-based payments is due to more options being granted in the current year. Other increases include $105,786 in office and miscellaneous due to an increase in mining activity at the Company’s Mexican subsidiary and higher occupancy costs incurred by the parent company. There were also increases in management fees of $200,260 due to a one-time bonus paid to the CEO, and an increase in investor relation expenses of $195,432 due to the NYSE Mkt listing and increased promotional media.
Loss for the year
The loss for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $4,184,351 compared with a loss of $790,840 for the year ended December 31, 2010, an increase in loss of $3,393,511. The significant differences include an increase in general and administrative expenses of $2,932,004 as discussed above. This was offset by an increase in interest income of $64,651 and an increase in gain on foreign exchange of $48,453 due to fluctuations in the Mexican Peso and US Dollar. The Company incurred an unrealized loss on investments in related companies of $212,966 compared to an unrealized gain of $313,323 in the prior year which resulted in an increase in unrealized loss of $526,289.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company incurred expenditures relating to its Mexican properties of $2,392,914 which was offset by the sale of concentrate of $3,490,581. The Company had non-cash additions to Mexican properties of $250,100 relating to deferred depreciation on property, plant, and equipment and $204,334 relating to common shares issued for rights extension, and non-cash reductions of $2,661,265 and $136,511 relating to amounts transferred to mining properties and movements in foreign exchange. The net decrease to Exploration and evaluation assets at the Company’s Mexican properties was $3,441,009. The Company also acquired property, plant and equipment of $981,119, not including the amount transferred from exploration and evaluation assets, net of depreciation of $308,962 and foreign exchange movements of $26,222 The Company is now in commercial production and earned operating revenues of $2,255,376 in addition to interest and other income of $45,224 during the year ended December 31, 2012.
During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company incurred expenditures relating to its Mexican properties of $3,831,493 which was offset by the sale of concentrate of $3,114,552. The Company had non-cash additions to Mexican properties of $232,821, $292,000, and $137,749 relating to deferred depreciation on property, plant, and equipment, reclamation provision, and movements in foreign exchange respectively. The net change to exploration and evaluation assets at the Company’s Mexican properties was a decrease of $1,376,871. The Company also acquired property, plant and equipment of $1,483,453 net of depreciation of $235,566 and foreign exchange movements of $53,544.
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2012 totaled $4,035,985 compared to $5,282,464 at December 31, 2011, while working capital totaled $5,363,372 compared to $5,723,398 for the same dates respectively. At December 31, 2012, the Company had current liabilities of $1,476,681 (2011 - $804,740). Accounts payable have contractual maturities of approximately 30-90 days or are due on demand and are subject to normal trade terms. Amounts due to related parties are without stated terms of interest or repayment.
C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.
As the Company is a mineral exploration company with no research and development, the information required by this section is not applicable.
D. Trend Information
As at the time of filing this Annual Report and as otherwise disclosed in this Annual Report, the Company is not aware of any specific trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on the Company’s net sales or revenues, income from continuing operations, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause reported financial information not necessarily to be indicative of future operating results or financial condition. Many factors that are beyond the control of the Company can affect the Company’s operations, including, but not limited to, the price of minerals, the economy on a global scale, land and exploration permitting, and the appeal of investments in exploration companies. The appeal of exploration companies as investment alternatives could affect the liquidity of the Company and thus future exploration, development and financial conditions of the Company. Other factors such as retaining qualified mining personnel and contractor availability and costs could also impact the Company’s operations.
E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements.
F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
As at December 31, 2012, the Company had the following contractual obligations:
| | Payment due by period | |
| | Total | | | <1 year | | | 1-3 Years | | | 3-5 Years | | | More than 5 years | |
Trade payables and other payables | | $ | 1,145,747 | | | $ | 1,145,747 | | | | | | | - | | | | - | |
Minimum rental and lease payments | | | 922,206 | | | | 248,512 | | | | 495,788 | | | | 101,400 | | | | 76,506 | |
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities | | | 2,365,677 | | | | - | | | | | | | | - | | | | 2,365,677 | |
Total | | $ | 4,433,630 | | | $ | 1,394,259 | | | $ | 495,788 | | | $ | 101,400 | | | $ | 2,442,183 | |
G. Safe Harbor
Certain statements in this Annual Report, including those appearing under this Item 5, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Additionally, forward-looking statements may be made orally or in press releases, conferences, reports, on our website or otherwise, in the future, by us or on our behalf. Such statements are generally identifiable by the terminology used such as "plans", "expects", "estimates", "budgets", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "projects", "indicates", "targets", "objective", "could", "may", or other similar words.
The forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others: market prices for metals; the results of exploration and development drilling and related activities; economic conditions in the countries and provinces in which we carry on business, especially economic slowdown; actions by governmental authorities including increases in taxes, changes in environmental and other regulations, and renegotiations of contracts; political uncertainty, including actions by insurgent groups or other conflict; the negotiation and closing of material contracts; and the other factors discussed in Item 3 Key Information – "Risk Factors", and in other documents that we file with the SEC. The impact of any one factor on a particular forward-looking statement is not determinable with certainty as such factors are interdependent upon other factors; our course of action would depend upon our assessment of the future considering all information then available. In that regard, any statements as to future production levels; capital expenditures; the allocation of capital expenditures to exploration and development activities; sources of funding of our capital program; drilling; expenditures and allowances relating to environmental matters; dates by which certain areas will be developed or will come on-stream; expected finding and development costs; future production rates; ultimate recoverability of reserves; dates by which transactions are expected to close; cash flows; uses of cash flows; collectability of receivables; availability of trade credit; expected operating costs; expenditures and allowances relating to environmental matters; debt levels; and changes in any of the foregoing are forward-looking statements, and there can be no assurances that the expectations conveyed by such forward-looking statements will, in fact, be realized.
Although we believe that the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available to us on the date such forward-looking statements were made, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity, achievements or financial condition.
Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should recognize that the statements are predictions of future results, which may not occur as anticipated. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and from historical results, due to the risks and uncertainties described above, as well as others not now anticipated. The foregoing statements are not exclusive and further information concerning us, including factors that could materially affect our financial results, may emerge from time to time. We do not intend to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements.
SIGNATURE
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this amendment no. 1 to the annual report on its behalf.
| AVINO SILVER & GOLD MINES LTD. | |
| | | |
Date: November 19, 2013 | By: | /s/ David Wolfin | |
| | David Wolfin, Chief Executive Officer | |
| | (Principal Executive Officer) | |
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