Santa Fe Gold ships 40 tons of gold, silver concentrate to Aurubis AG

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M (Scrap Monster): Santa Fe Gold Corporation (OTCBB: SFEG) has shipped 40 tons of gold and silver concentrate under the sales contract with Aurubis AG that was announced December 23, 2010. The 40 ton shipment is valued at over $1.0 million and represents the initial delivery against 240 tons contracted for delivery in 2011.

The contract with Aurubis AG, Europe’s largest copper and precious metals smelter, will provide a sales outlet for a portion of the company’s anticipated 2011 production of high-value precious metals concentrate. The sales agreement was reached following a successful smelting trial of an initial 20 tons of concentrate shipped to Aurubus AG in October 2010. The company’s Lordsburg flotation mill is producing gold and silver concentrate from its Summit mine located in southwest New Mexico.

"We also anticipate being in a position shortly to announce an agreement with an Arizona smelter for sales of siliceous flux material. Our strategy is to establish sales of both concentrate and siliceous flux, which will enable us to develop multiple customer outlets and revenue streams."

."We are pleased to have begun shipments of concentrate under the 2011 Aurubis AG sales agreement, which we consider to be a very favourable agreement," said Pierce Carson, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We expect this initial shipment will be followed by on-going regular shipments of concentrate produced from the Summit mine.

"We also anticipate being in a position shortly to announce an agreement with an Arizona smelter for sales of siliceous flux material. Our strategy is to establish sales of both concentrate and siliceous flux, which will enable us to develop multiple customer outlets and revenue streams."

Production from the Summit mine is expected to increase in tonnage and grade and to reach full, steady production in 2011. Operations at the mine have been accelerated to two 10-hour shifts, seven days a week. Summit ore reserves average 0.143 ounces per ton gold and 10.78 ounces per ton silver (0.35 ounces per ton gold equivalent). At full production, operating costs are projected to be $340 per ounce of gold equivalent produced.

Santa Fe Gold is a U.S.-based mining and exploration enterprise focused on acquiring and developing gold, silver, copper and industrial mineral properties. Santa Fe controls: (i) the Summit mine and Lordsburg mill in southwestern New Mexico; (ii) a substantial land position at the Lordsburg mill, comprising the core of the Lordsburg Mining District; (iii) the Ortiz gold property in north-central New Mexico, estimated to contain two million ounces of gold; (iv) the Black Canyon mica mine and processing equipment near Phoenix, Arizona; and (v) a large resource of micaceous iron oxide (MIO) in western Arizona. Santa Fe Gold intends to build a portfolio of high-quality, diversified mineral assets with an emphasis on precious metals.