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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  May 4, 2022

 

McEWEN MINING INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Colorado
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  001-33190
(Commission File
Number)
  84-0796160
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

150 King Street West, Suite 2800

Toronto, Ontario, Canada  M5H 1J9

(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number including area code:  (866) 441-0690

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨        Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨        Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨        Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨        Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock   MUX   New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

Item 7.01Regulation FD Disclosure

 

On May 4, 2022, McEwen Mining Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release to provide a report from its majority owned subsidiary, McEwen Copper Inc., on recent and planned work at the Los Azules copper project in San Juan, Argentina. A copy of that press release is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1.

 

The information furnished under this Item 7.01, including the exhibit, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by reference to such filing.

 

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)Exhibits. The following exhibit is furnished with this report:

 

99.1Press release dated May 4, 2022

 

104Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document (contained in Exhibit 101)

 

Cautionary Statement

 

With the exception of historical matters, the matters discussed in the press release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projections or estimates contained therein. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding future production and cost estimates, exploration, development, construction and production activities. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from projections or estimates include, among others, the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental responses, metal prices, economic and market conditions, operating costs, receipt of permits, receipt of working capital, and future drilling results, as well as other factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Most of these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to predict or control. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement made in the press release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  McEWEN MINING INC.
     
Date: May 5, 2022 By: /s/ Carmen Diges
    Carmen Diges, General Counsel

 

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Exhibit 99.1 

 

McEwen Copper: Los Azules Progress Report #2

 

TORONTO, May 4, 2022 - McEwen Copper Inc., a subsidiary of McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX), is pleased to provide a progress report on recent successes and future work planned at the Los Azules copper project in San Juan, Argentina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timing is everything and now appears to be a time for copper to shine. According to Goldman Sachs’ (GS) research1, copper is the new oil. A growth sector with supply constraints, GS forecasts that copper has only two years of supply growth left, 2022 and 2023, and an open-ended supply decline starting from 2024. They see copper playing a big, critical role as an essential component in the global push to electrify transportation and to contain/reverse global warming. They are not alone in thinking about copper this way. McKinsey’s research2 is estimating that by 2030 copper demand will be outstripping supply by five to eight million tons per year.

 

Executive Summary

 

An Attractive Copper Development Story

 

As you have seen above, Los Azules compares very well to many other copper development stories, given its size, life, location and economics.

 

Designing for Positive Impact

 

Working to create a net positive impact on the world over the life of the project - McLennan Design, architects at the forefront of the green sustainable buildings movement, are assisting our team in designing systems and selecting innovative technologies and approaches for making our project regenerative. http://mclennan-design.com

 

Los Azules Is No Longer Remote!

 

The critical issue of road access to the site has been resolved! We have developed a second road at a lower altitude that will allow us year-round access to the site. Our access will be extended, making it safer, less expensive and faster to advance and complete our fieldwork.

 

Drilling Confirming Size and Grade

 

Additional drilling is confirming the mineralization size and grade compared to historic intercepts used to estimate the 2017 PEA mineral resource estimate. To date, the results from core logging and sample analysis are very encouraging. In many holes, drilling was allowed to continue beyond the planned length where visible copper mineralization was observed. Often, primary mineralization in the hole was still apparent when drilling was stopped due to drill equipment limitations. Hole AZ22142 intersected 419.1 meters of 0.79% copper including an interval 104.0 m of 1.00% copper in the supergene enriched zone and 46 m of 1.59% copper in the primary copper zone. Importantly, our updated geological model will reflect the sub-vertical structures and rock types that are thought to be key features controlling the distribution of mineralization. This points directly to the potential for significant mineralization to be discovered with additional drilling to depth.

 

McEwen Mining Inc.Page 2 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to Table of Drilling Results for January to April 2022 at Los Azules: https://mcewenmining.com/files/doc_news/archive/2022/20220500_copper/20220500_LA_results.xlsx

 

Community Engagement

 

Our sustainability efforts are currently focused on systems relating to local procurement and employment, environment, health, education, training and security. We employ a local workforce and invest in projects such as the construction of medical outposts, sponsoring education, and installing low-energy street lighting.

 

Bigger & Better

 

Whittle Consulting’s Enterprise Optimization work, which will be outlined in our forthcoming updated PEA expected in Q1 2023, suggests that both the size and value of the Los Azules project have the potential to be significantly larger than was described in the 2017 PEA. Their analysis has provided important focus and direction for the detailed work underway, including guidance for drilling programs, metallurgical test work and trade-off studies for mining, processing and infrastructure.

 

Link to Whittle Consulting: 

https://www.whittleconsulting.com.au

 

Link to the Whittle Enterprise Optimization Methodology: https://mcewenmining.com/files/doc_news/archive/2022/20220500_copper/20220500_whittle_methodology.pdf

 

 

McEwen Mining Inc.Page 3 

 

 

 

 

PEA to be Updated – 2017 Highlights

 

The Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) base case assumed a $3/lb copper price, and the economics were robust. Today copper is above $4/lb. Summary results of the 2017 PEA available on the Company’s website:

 

Avg. annual production 1st 13 years 415 Million lbs Cu @ $1.14/ lb cash cost
Mine life 36 years
Initial capex $2.4 Billion
Base case Cu price $3.00/ lb
Payback 3.6 years 
After-tax IRR 20.1%
After-tax NPV(8%) $2.2 Billion 

 

Timetable of Planned Events

Private placement financing – 2022

Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) - Q1 2023

Initial public offering (IPO) – post updated PEA

Prefeasibility Study (PFS) – H1 2024

 

One of our key goals is to improve the perception, and reality, of mining by employing innovative solutions to reduce our environmental impact, such as reducing our carbon footprint.

 

1 https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/podcasts/episodes/05-18-2021-nick-snowdon.html

 

2 https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/metals-and-mining/our-insights/the-raw-materials-challenge-how-the-metals-and-mining-sector-will-be-at-the-core-of-enabling-the-energy-transition

 

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

 

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Stephen McGibbon, P.Geo, SVP Exploration of McEwen Mining and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

 

All samples were collected in accordance with generally accepted industry standards. Drill core samples usually taken at 2m intervals are split and submitted to Alex Stewart International laboratory in Mendoza, Argentina for the following assays: gold determination using fire assay fusion and an atomic absorption spectroscopy finish (Au4-30); a 39 multi-element suite using ICP-OES analysis (ICP-AR 39); copper content was determined using a sequential copper analysis (Cu-Sequential). An additional 19-element analysis (ICP-ORE) was performed for samples with high sulfide content.

 

The Company carries out a Quality Assurance / Quality Control program consistent with NI 43-101 and industry best practices utilising a combination of standards and blanks approximately one in every 25 samples. Results are monitored as the final certificates are received and any re-assay requests are sent back immediately. Pulp and prep duplicate sample analyses are also taken as part of the QAQC process. Approximately 5% of sample pulps are sent to a secondary laboratory for check assays. In addition, the assay lab performs its own internal QAQC checks with results available in the certificates for review by the Company.

 

  

McEwen Mining Inc.Page 4 

 

 

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, including "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements and information expressed, as at the date of this news release, McEwen Mining Inc.'s (the "Company") estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events and results. Forward-looking statements and information are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies, and there can be no assurance that such statements and information will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and information. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results or future events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, fluctuations in the market price of precious metals, mining industry risks, political, economic, social and security risks associated with foreign operations, the ability of the corporation to receive or receive in a timely manner permits or other approvals required in connection with operations, risks associated with the construction of mining operations and commencement of production and the projected costs thereof, risks related to litigation, the state of the capital markets, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to the calculation of mineral resources and reserves, and other risks. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information included herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. See McEwen Mining's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the caption "Risk Factors", for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the forward-looking statements and information regarding the Company. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by this cautionary statement.

 

The NYSE and TSX have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release, which has been prepared by the management of McEwen Mining Inc.

 

ABOUT MCEWEN MINING

 

McEwen Mining is a diversified gold and silver producer and explorer focused in the Americas with operating mines in Nevada, Canada, and Argentina. It also has a large exposure to copper through its subsidiary McEwen Copper, owner of the Los Azules copper deposit in Argentina.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION:

 

Investor Relations:

(866)-441-0690 Toll-Free

(647)-258-0395

 

Mihaela Iancu ext. 320

[email protected]

 

Website: www.mcewenmining.com

 

Facebook: facebook.com/mcewenmining

Facebook: facebook.com/mcewenrob

 

Twitter: twitter.com/mcewenmining

Twitter: twitter.com/robmcewenmux

 

Instagram: instagram.com/mcewenmining

 

150 King Street West

Suite 2800, P.O. Box 24

Toronto, ON, Canada

M5H 1J9

 

 

McEwen Mining Inc.Page 5