AuRico Reports 35% Increase in Production From North American Assets

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[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\n\n\nTSX: AUQ / NYSE: AUQ\n\n\nTORONTO, April 11, 2012 /CNW/ - AuRico Gold Inc. (TSX:AUQ) (NYSE: AUQ), (\"AuRico\" or \"the Company\") is pleased to report preliminary operational\n results from its key North American assets for the first quarter ended\n March 31, 2012. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise\n indicated.\n\n\nFirst Quarter and Recent Highlights - AuRico North America\n\n\nProduction of 45,528 gold ounces and 1.112 million silver ounces, or\n 67,068 gold equivalent ounces using the actual gold equivalency ratio\n of 52:1, a 35% increase over 2011.\n\n\nCash costs of $601 per gold equivalent ounce, using the actual gold\n equivalency ratio of 52:1.\n\n\nRealized margins of $1,109 per ounce, or 65%.\n\n\nWet commissioning at the Young-Davidson mine has been completed and ore\n processing commenced on March 22. Leach tanks have been filled, carbon\n was added on March 5 and cyanide was added on March 7. The SO2 plant for cyanide destruction is currently in the final commissioning\n stage. Continuous operations are about to be initiated with a first\n gold pour anticipated later this month. Open pit mining rates during\n March averaged 22,870 tonnes per day of ore and waste, with a target of\n 35,000 tonnes per day by the end of the second quarter. Approximately\n 700,000 ore tonnes (approaching four months mill feed) have already\n been stockpiled as at March 31st.\n\n\nDuring the first quarter, underground re-sequencing continued at Ocampo\n with grades ramping up to targeted levels at the end of March. The\n underground mine reported a record average of 2,307 tonnes per day\n during the quarter. With the re-sequencing now complete, underground\n production is expected to remain at targeted levels during the\n remaining three quarters.\n\n\nEl Chanate reported record production for the quarter, which was\n achieved through the productivity enhancements of the Company's\n expansion program that was completed at the end of Q1. During the\n quarter, the mine reported an average crushing and stacking rate of\n 19,136 tonnes per day. With the planned expansion program completed at\n the end of Q1 2012, operations are targeting crushing and stacking\n rates of 21,000 tonnes per day over the remaining quarters in 2012.\n\n\nOn March 27, 2012, the Company announced that it had entered into a\n definitive a...

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