From its beginnings in 2012 until 2017, the El Gallo Mine produced 240,000 gold ounces and 125,000 silver ounces. During Q2 2018 mining and crushing activities at El Gallo ceased and contractor equipment has been demobilized from the mine site. Onsite operations are continuing through residual heap leaching.
In 2018 El Gallo produced 39,000 ounces of gold and 9,000 ounces of silver. Mine demobilization in June brought diminishing operating expenses, with gold production declining more gradually, resulting in an overall reduction in costs per ounce produced for the balance of the year. El Gallo costs per gold equivalent ounce realized in 2018 were $733 total cash costs and $771 all-in sustaining costs.
In 2019 the process plant underwent expansions that improved efficiency and enabled faster gold recovery. Q1 production was 5,400 gold equivalent ounces, with total cash cost and all-in sustaining cost of $967 and $989 per gold equivalent ounce, respectively (based on a 75:1 gold:silver ratio). Q2 production was 5,300 gold equivalent ounces, with total cash cost and all-in sustaining cost of $926 and $939 per gold equivalent ounce, respectively (based on a 88:1 gold:silver ratio). Q3 production was 3,100 gold equivalent ounces, with total cash cost and all-in sustaining cost of $1,153 and $1,177 per gold equivalent ounce, respectively (based on a 87:1 gold:silver ratio). El Gallo's 2019 residual heap leaching production was of 16,300 gold equivalent ounces, in line with the guidance of 16,000 gold equivalent ounces.
Closure and reclamation at El Gallo are ongoing and residual heap leaching activities will continue to produce gold for several years. At the same time, our team in Mexico is working on an exciting new project for the El Gallo Complex. To find out more information please visit our Fenix project page.