Aya Gold & Silver (TSX: AYA) produced 1.68 million silver equivalent ounces on a consolidated basis in the second quarter of 2026, up 12% from the prior quarter and 61% higher than a year earlier.
The bulk of that output came from the Zgounder silver mine, which delivered 1.49 million ounces of silver, an 18% increase over the first quarter. Roughly 0.19 million silver equivalent ounces came from the company’s recently launched pyrite reclaiming operation at Boumadine.
Zgounder’s mill processed 353,888 tonnes of ore during the quarter at an average rate of 3,889 tonnes per day, 7% above the prior period. Feed grade averaged 141 grams per tonne of silver, with silver recoveries of 91.2% and mill availability holding at 97%.
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Mining rates also stepped up, averaging 4,880 tonnes per day across the combined open pit and underground operations at a grade of 137 g/t silver. The open pit ran at 3,437 tonnes per day with a strip ratio of 10, while underground work contributed the remainder. Throughput benefited from a temporary crushing contractor mobilized late in the first quarter, which will stay on site until a planned crusher expansion is complete.
“We are pleased with our second quarter performance, as our team delivered both record production and mining rates through disciplined execution,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Benoit La Salle, adding that the results position the company to meet its 2026 targets.
Those targets call for consolidated output of 6.2 million to 6.8 million silver equivalent ounces this year. Zgounder is guided to produce 5.2 million to 5.8 million ounces of silver at a cash cost of about $21.50 an ounce, with Boumadine expected to add roughly 1.0 million silver equivalent ounces at a substantially lower cost.
Aya Gold & Silver last traded at $26.67 on the TSX.
