OMB APPROVAL
    OMB Number: 3235-0116
    Expires: May 31, 2017
 

UNITED STATES

 Estimated average burden hours per response 8.7

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of January, 2016.

Commission File Number 001-14598

RICHMONT MINES INC.
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

161, avenue Principale, Rouyn-Noranda (Quebec) J9X 4P6
(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F [ X ] Form 40-F [   ]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): [   ]

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): [   ]

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

Exhibit  
   
99.1 News Release dated January 12, 2016

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

  Richmont Mines Inc. 
  (Registrant) 
 
Date January 12, 2016 By  Nicole Veilleux (signed) 
    (Signature)* 
      Nicole Veilleux
* Print the name and title under the signature of the signing officer.    Vice-President, Finance

 

 

SEC 1815 (04-09)
Persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

 




Exhibit 99.1

Richmont Annual Production Exceeds Guidance
Island Gold Delivers Record Production Significantly Above Revised
Guidance

TORONTO, Ontario, Canada, January 12, 2016 - Richmont Mines Inc. (TSX - NYSE MKT: RIC) (“Richmont” or the “Corporation”), delivered another solid quarter of operational results that contributed to fourth quarter production of 22,380 gold ounces and annual production of 98,031 ounces, which exceeds the increased annual production guidance of between 87,000 and 95,000 ounces that was announced on August 6. (All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.)

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER AND 2015 INCLUDE:

  • During the fourth quarter Richmont produced 22,380 ounces of gold (21,576 ounces sold), which contributed to the second best annual production level in 25 years of 98,031 gold ounces (96,895 ounces sold) in 2015 and exceeds the high end of revised guidance levels. Richmont reported fourth quarter revenues of $31.9 million and record annual revenues of $143.7 million for 2015.

  • Production for the fourth quarter was underpinned by another strong quarter from the Island Gold Mine, which reported quarterly production of 14,203 ounces of gold (13,504 ounces sold). Production for the quarter was impacted by a planned 3 week shutdown of the underground mine and 2 week shutdown of the mill facility for infrastructure and power upgrades. For 2015, Island Gold reported record production of 55,040 ounces, (52,363 ounces sold) exceeding the increased annual production guidance by 16%.

  • Richmont ended the quarter with a strong cash balance of approximately $61 million. Project capital investments for the quarter primarily related to a tailings dam expansion ($8.7 million) and accelerated underground development at the Island Gold Mine. Both initiatives will position Island Gold for significant production growth from 2017 to 2023 as reported in the Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) results that were issued on October 28, 2015.

Production Highlights:

    Q4 14 Q1 15 Q2 15 Q3 15 Q4 15 2015 2015 Guidance
Gold Produced (oz)              
  Island Gold Mine 8,974 10,764 14,997 15,076 14,203(1) 55,040 45,000-50,000
  Beaufor Mine 6,633 7,963 7,082 5,714 5,652 26,411 42,000-45,000(2)
  Monique Mine 7,324 7,132 4,235 2,688 2,525 16,580
Total Produced (oz) 22,931 25,859 26,314 23,478 22,380 98,031 87,000-95,000
(1) Fourth quarter production includes a 3 week underground mine shutdown in October.    
(2) Production guidance for combined Quebec operations: Beaufor and Monique mines.    

 

RICHMONT MINES INC. PRESS RELEASE | Page 1

 



Operational Highlights

  Q4 14 Q1 15 Q2 15 Q3 15 Q4 15 2015
Island Gold Mine
Underground tpd 399 552 759 669 657(1) 659
Mill tonnes 46,651 43,785 71,584 66,416 60,352 242,137
Mill tpd 507 487 787 722 656(2) 663
Head grade (g/t) 6.28 7.87 6.73 7.27 7.62 7.31
Recoveries (%) 95.3 97.2 96.8 97.1 96.0 96.8
Beaufor Mine
Underground tpd 327 367 360 338 306 343
Mill tonnes 30,247 29,751 36,914 30,437 28,345 125,447
Head grade (g/t) 6.96 8.44 6.05 5.93 6.30 6.64
Recoveries (%) 98.1 98.6 98.6 98.6 98.4 98.6
Monique Mine
Mill tonnes 85,447 63,938 61,826 52,987 45,922 224,673
Head grade (g/t) 2.80 3.57 2.22 1.64 1.77 2.37
Recoveries (%) 95.3 97.2 96.2 96.2 96.4 96.7
(1) Fourth quarter underground productivity includes a 3 week mine shutdown in October.
(2) Fourth quarter mill productivity includes a 2 week mill shutdown in October.

“We are very encouraged to report another strong quarter and annual production that exceeds our increased guidance estimates and was the second highest in 25 years, primarily driven by record production from our cornerstone Island Gold mine. During the quarter we have reported very promising exploration results from Island Gold, both east and west of the main deposit as well as from the down plunge extension below the 1,000 metre level, which demonstrates the significant potential for sustainable, low-cost production growth that will drive increased margins and significant cash flow streams.” commented Renaud Adams, President and CEO. “The operational efficiencies achieved at Island Gold during the year has positioned this core operation for production growth going forward. In 2016 we will maintain our disciplined and prudent focus on advancing the Island Gold underground mine with the goal of positioning this strategic asset to be one of the most profitable underground mines in Canada.”

Island Gold Highlights

  • Production for the quarter was 14,203 ounces (13,504 ounces sold), in-line with the prior quarter, despite the 3-week planned shutdown to complete an underground mine upgrade and 2 week mill shutdown to improve mill infrastructure and power upgrade completed in the quarter. Production for the year was a record 55,040 ounces (52,363 ounces sold) for the year, 16% above annual production guidance levels.

  • Underground productivity for the quarter averaged 657 tonnes per day (659 tonnes per day for 2015), including the 3-week planned shutdown in October, at head grades of 7.62 g/t, primarily due to high-grade development from new resources on the second mining horizon. Long-hole mining from the first mining horizon (above the 635 metre level) began in the fourth quarter. In December, the underground mine averaged 815 tonnes per day at a grade of 8.16 g/t gold.

  • The mill averaged 656 tonne per day during the quarter, including the 2-week planned shutdown, with recoveries of 96.0%. In 2015, the mill averaged 663 tonnes per day with recoveries of 96.8%. In December, the mill averaged 829 tonnes per day. As a result of the mill upgrade, mill capacity has been now increased to 900 tonnes per day.

RICHMONT MINES INC. PRESS RELEASE | Page 2

 



  • During the quarter a tailings dam upgrade was completed that increased tailings storage capacity to 2.5 million tonnes, sufficient for the estimated 2.1 million tonnes indicated in the recent PEA.

  • An initial update on the Island Gold exploration drilling program continued to demonstrate the significant potential to grow production and increase the mine life of this cornerstone asset both laterally above the 860 metre level, which could support an upgrade to 1,150 tonnes per day, as well as the vertical extension below the 1,000 metre level where two high-grade intercepts of 19.87 g/t over 3.9 metres and 25.6 g/t over 4.7 metres were obtained (estimated true width and high grade capped at 95 g/t). Drilling efforts are ongoing and it is expected that the entire drilling program will be completed by the end of April, 2016.

Beaufor Highlights

  • Production for the quarter was 5,652 ounces (5,237 ounces sold) and 26,411 ounces (26,875 ounces sold) for 2015, in line with the Quebec Division’s increased guidance. Underground productivity at the Beaufor Mine averaged 306 tonnes per day at a head grade of 6.30 g/t for the quarter, in-line with planned levels. For 2015, the mill averaged 343 tonnes per day at a head grade of 6.64 g/t.

  • Development of the Q Zone advanced during the quarter with a target of reaching the mineralized structure in early 2016.

Monique Highlights

  • Production for the quarter was 2,525 ounces (2,835 ounces sold), the operation processed the lower-grade stockpile ore during the quarter. The processing of the lower grade stockpile was essentially completed at the end of 2015. A remaining lower grade stockpile averaging 20,000 tonnes at 0.9 g/t gold will be processed in Q1 2016.

Corporate Highlights

  • On October 28, 2015, Richmont announced the completion of a PEA for the cornerstone Island Gold Mine that highlights the potential for increased production and lower all-in-sustaining costs. The PEA considers a phased approach with Phase 1 evaluating a Base Case scenario of 800 tonnes per day, as well as a potential 1,150 tonnes per day Expanded Case from 2017. A National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report containing the PEA was filed on December 11, 2015.

  • On December 7, 2015, Richmont announced the appointment of Christian Bourcier as Vice President, Operations effective January 11, 2016. Christian is a mining engineer with over 21 years of mining experience, primarily in the prolific Abitibi region of northwestern Quebec and will be responsible for all operational programs for Richmont.

  • On December 21, 2015, Richmont provided an initial update on the Island Gold exploration drilling program which continues to demonstrate the significant potential of this cornerstone asset, particularly the potential to extend mine life laterally above the 860 metre level, which could support a potential expansion to 1,150 tonnes per day, as well as at depth where the deep drilling program intersected 25.6 g/t gold over 4.7 metres in the high grade structure below the 1,000 metre level, located approximately 270 metres from a previous 19.87 g/t gold intersection.

  • On December 22, 2015, Richmont announced that René Marion was appointed as non-executive Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2016.

Upcoming News

  • 2016 Guidance (late January).

  • 2015 Reserve and Resource update (early February)

  • Exploration updates (mid-February and as required)

  • Q4 and Year-End Financial Results (February 22 pre-market).

RICHMONT MINES INC. PRESS RELEASE | Page 3