San Bartolomé (Bolivia) – One of the World’s Largest Pure Silver Mines

Coeur’s new San Bartolomé mine in Potosi, Bolivia, is one of the world’s newest and largest pure silver mines. In 2009 – its first full year of production – the mine produced 7.5 million ounces of silver at the beginning of its expected 14 year mine life.

The mine lies at the base of the famous Cerro Rico Mountain near Potosi, a town of 200,000 people at an elevation of 14,000 feet in the Andes Mountains of Bolivia. The current 120 million ounces of silver reserves are hosted in gravel deposits at the base of the mountain which lend themselves to simple, free-digging surface mining techniques that can be extracted without drilling and blasting.

Coeur Manquiri has forged strong relationships with the Bolivian State Mining Company (COMIBOL) and with the local mining cooperatives, which lease the mining concessions for San Bartolomé and provide much of the workforce. Coeur has become and integral part of the community of Potosi by helping re-establish cultural institutions, supporting concerts and art contests for local artisans, funding civic beautification projects

First Quarter 2010 Highlights

• The Company expanded into the higher-grade Huacajchi area beginning March 11th, which had a favorable impact on production and costs
• Total tons mined increased 57% from February to March and March silver production rose 47% to 451,746 ounces compared to February.  April production increased an additional 23% to 556,000 ounces.
• Mining in the Huacajchi area is expected to have a favorable impact on production and costs throughout the remainder of the year
• First quarter production totaled 1.0 million ounces of silver at cash operating costs of $9.98 per ounce
• Full year 2010 production is expected to reach approximately 6.0 million silver ounces at cash operating costs of $8.50 per ounce

Stage Production
Location Potosi, Bolivia
Type Open Pit – Gravel deposits
Metals Produced Silver
Product Silver Doré

Coeur's Strong Latin American presence

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