Quartz vein displaying boiling texture.
By Miguel A Heredia
During the 34th week of the year (August 22nd to August 28th, 2022), at least 16 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 7 news published by the media with seven commenting on Mexican issues, four communicating production and financial results, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, three reporting resources and developments of their properties, three announcing financial issues, and two informing on exploration results. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Colibri and Oroco reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of August, 2022. The government of Mexico announced, through a decree in the Official Gazette of the Federation, the creation of the state company Litio para Mexico (LitioMx). According to the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), a total of 822 mining projects remain on hold and represent an amount of USD $959M. Jaime Gutierrez Núñez, president of CAMIMEX stated that small-scale coal mining is like “the blood diamonds” of Africa. Mexico’s mining industry plans to invest USD $5.5B in 2022, 15.2% more than in 2021. Mining in Mexico grew by 7.1% in 2021 despite friction with the government. The governor of Durango, José Rosas Aispuro, considered unfair that the mining-metallurgical sector is one of the economic sectors with the highest tax burden in the country. In Mexico there are more than 1,209 mining projects that have been developed in 26 states of the Republic. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Colibri reported results from the second half of its Phase 1 drill program completed on its Evelyn project, and Tocvan announced latest drill results from its Pilar project. ON MINING, Guanajuato Silver, Discovery Silver, Minera Alamos, and Orogen reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Canasil announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $550K (Nora project, Durango). Minera Alamos arranged a USD $3M working capital facility and announced a closed a USD $4.35M equity raise (Cerro de Oro project, Zacatecas). Eric Sprott announced holdings in Orex Minerals Inc. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Discovery Silver reported Q2, 2022 results from its flagship Cordero project, Chihuahua. Minera Alamos provided an update on its Cerro de Oro project, Zacatecas. Oroco successfully tested the western side of the North Zone at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Monumental announced that its common shares are now trading on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol MNMRF (Jemi project, Coahuila). Argonaut announced the appointment of its Vice President, Canadian Operations (La Colorada mine, Sonora). Aztec purchased 35% interest in the Cervantes property in Sonora from Kootenay. Colibri announced reinstatement of trading on the TSX Venture Exchange and the appointment of its CFO. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUE
- Colibri Resource Corporation and Oroco Resource Corp., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of August, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:
· According to the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), a total of 822 mining projects remain on hold and represent an amount of USD $959M, which are still waiting for better conditions to be able to reactivate. Jaime Núñez, president of CAMIMEX stated that is essential to encourage exploration since unfortunately in the last seven years we have seen a decrease in investments in exploration, leaving several projects on standby.
· Jaime Gutierrez Núñez, president of CAMIMEX stated that small-scale coal mining is like “the blood diamonds” of Africa, and that the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) should certify where the mineral it buys comes from and its conditions.
· Mexico’s mining industry plans to invest USD $5.5B in 2022, 15.2% more than in 2021, but according to the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), it will remain below the record figure of USD $8.04B seen in 2012 amid difficult conditions. Growing security problems, a high tax burden and the government’s decision to stop granting concessions for projects have prevented investments in the sector from increasing faster, said CAMIMEX head Jaime Gutiérrez.
· Mining in Mexico grew by 7.1% in 2021 despite friction with the government. According to CAMIMEX’s annual report, this increase positioned it as the only productive activity that recovered and even exceeded the fall of 2020, when the covid-19 pandemic initially stopped its operations because the government did not consider it “essential activity”. Even without tax incentives, the mining sector presented an increase in its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) going from 2.3% in 2020 to 2.5% in 2021, and an annual advance in the proportion of industrial GDP from 8.3% to 8.6% in the same period.
· The Governor of Durango, José Rosas Aispuro, considered unfair that the mining-metallurgical sector is one of the economic sectors with the highest tax burden in the country, even though it is an enabler that prevents the migration of people in the communities where it develops its production processes, for job creation and social benefits. Mining Entrepreneurs stated that mining generates jobs and is one of the industries that pays the most taxes, since in 7 years it has contributed more than MXP $240,000M (approximately USD $12B) in taxes and other rights.
· In Mexico there are more than 1,209 mining projects that have been developed in 26 states of the Republic, in which 406,179 jobs have been generated and a production value that already exceeds MXP $334,782M (approximately USD $16.7B). Among the main minerals extracted from these deposits are gold, copper, silver, zinc, iron, molybdenum, lead, fluorite, among others. For its exploration and exploitation, in 2021 alone, investments have been made for more than USD $4,810M and more than USD $5,538M are expected by the end of 2022. Of the 1,209 mining projects that exist in Mexico, 286 are in Sonora, Chihuahua has 160 and Durango has 128, which positions them as the entities with the greatest economic benefit thanks to mining concessions. Of the total number of projects, 749 correspond to precious metals; 180 to polymetallic minerals, 167 to copper, 71 to iron ore and the remaining 42 to other metals and minerals. According to the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), there are currently a total of 263 projects in the exploration stage, 76 in production, 39 in the development stage, while 822 projects are being postponed and 9 operations are reported as closed. However, the agency assures that, since the start of the current administration, the federal government has stopped granting permits or concessions for the exploration and development of new projects, since so far more than USD $959.7M dollars have not been invested. .
ON EXPLORATION
· Colibri Resource Corporation reported results from the second half of its Phase 1 drill program completed on its Evelyn project, Sonora, and included 3,101m of RC drilling completed in 22 holes. In total, Phase 1 consisted of 6,223m of RC drilling in 42 holes. Highlights include hole EVE22-042 with 0.17 g/t Au over 86m, including 0.32 g/t Au over 22m; hole EVE 22-043 with 0.92 g/t Au over 3m; hole EVE22-046 with 1.94 g/t Au over 2m, including 3.36 g/t Au over 1m; hole EVE22-044 with 0.63 g/t Au over 6m; hole EVE22-036 with 1.3 g/t Au over 1m; hole EVE22-033 with 1.92 g/t Au over 1m; hole EVE22-030 with 0.13 g/t Au over 87m, including 0.34 g/t Au over 8m; hole EVE22-029 with 1.39 g/t Au over 5m; and hole EVE22-028 with 0.13 g/t Au over 19m. In addition to drilling, Colibri is completing the geological mapping as well as conducting soil sampling to infill the historical property wide soil surveys.
· Tocvan Ventures Corp., informed that seven holes were completed at its Pilar project in Sonora, totalling 1,382m and released results from the three first drill holes where the most significant drill intercepts was encountered in hole JES-22-67 with 0.4 g/t Au over 30.5m, including 7.6 g/t Au over 1.5m. Results are pending for the remaining four holes.
ON MINING
· Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from their El Cubo and Pinguico mines in Guanajuato (all amounts in American dollars). The company milled 94,212 tonnes to produce 155, 912 Oz Ag and 2,161 Oz Au (or 337,760 Oz AgEq) wit metallurgical recoveries of 80.91% and 82.52% respectively, at cash and all included sustaining cost (AISC) of $16.98 and $24-06 per Oz AgEq respectively. Guanajuato Silver reported revenue of $6.13M; cost of sales of $7.8M; mine operating loss of ($1.66M); net loss of ($3.5M); EBIDTA of ($1.1M); and working capital of ($2.04M). The company sold 159,840 Oz Ag, and 2,195 Oz Au (or 342, 987 Oz AgEq) at realized prices of $22.56 and $1,873 per Oz respectively.
· Discovery Silver Corp., reported Q2, 2022 financial results (all amounts in Canadian dollars). The company reported cash and cash equivalents of $63.6M; total assets of $101.8M; total current liabilities of $2.54M; working capital of $62.5M; and total shareholder´s equity of $99.2M.
· Minera Alamos Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Santana mine in Sonora (all amounts in Canadian dollars). The company reported that monthly mine production rates were approximately 300K tonnes, but with the opening of the Nicho Main Zone during Q2, the company is now in the position to ramp up production levels. Alamos sold 3,128 Oz Au and reported revenues of $7.3M; cost of goods sold of $3.26M; direct cost of production of $16 per Oz; income from operations of $2.6M; net income of $2.7M; cash and cash equivalents (including marketable securities) of $9M; and working capital of $17M.
· Orogen Royalties Inc., announced Q2, 2022 financial results (all amounts in Canadian dollars). The company reported revenue of $959.8K comprised from the Ermitaño royalty and $17.5K generated from prospect generation activities; project generation cost of $433.5K and recovered $448.9K in expense reimbursement from partners on optioned projects; general and administrative expenses of $875.2K; loss of $754.8K; net loss from operations of $648.6K; cash and cash equivalents from operating activities of $131.3K; cash from operating activities excluding changes in cash-cash working capital of $257.9K ; and working capital of $10.5M including $3.05M in cash and cash equivalents and $5.13M in short term investments and no long-term debt.
ON FINANCING
· Canasil Resources Inc., announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $550K. Gross proceeds will be used to fund the company´s exploration programs (Nora project, Durango).
· Minera Alamos Inc., arranged a USD $3M working capital facility and announced a closed a USD $4.35M equity raise of common shares at $0.55/share. The combination of both enhancing the company´s working capital position as development work extends to the advancement of the Cerro de Oro project in Zacatecas.
· Eric Sprott announced that 18,333,333 common share purchase warrants of Orex Minerals Inc., expired unexercised representing a decrease in holdings of approximately 7.2% of the outstanding common shares on a partially diluted basis since the date of the last early warning report. As a result of the warrants expiry, Mr. Sprott now beneficially owns and controls 36,666,666 shares representing approximately 19.6% of the outstanding shares on a noun-diluted basis.
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
· Discovery Silver Corp., reported Q2, 2022 results from its flagship Cordero project, Chihuahua. The company reported that initial results from the Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) metallurgical work had recoveries of 90-95% for Ag, Pb, and Zn. It also reported that Phase 2 drilling program intercepted excellent grades below the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) pit including hole C21-564 with 95 g/t Ag, 0.21 g/t Au, 1.9% Pb, and 4.5% Zn (337 g/t AgEq) over 33.9m, and hole C21-560 with 234 g/t Ag, 0.15 g/t Au, 3.8% Pb, and 6.5% Zn (606 g/t AgEq) over 18.1m, as well as hole C22-610 collared outside the current resource with 115 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Ag, 3.7% Pb, and 4.1% Zn (388 g/t AgEq) over 32.6m, including 187 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 6.5% Pb, and 7.2% Zn (660 g/t AgEq) over 17.8m.
· Minera Alamos Inc., provided an update on its Cerro de Oro project, Zacatecas. The company informed the sign off of the documentation for its Cerro de Oro project surface rights agreement in Zacatecas, allowing the company to move forward with the permitting process for the construction of its second gold operation in Mexico. Minera Alamos also informed that the NI 43-101 compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) is nearly to be completed and is expected to get it done by next month.
· Oroco Resource Corp., successfully tested the western side of the North Zone at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa by drilling 3,050m. Drilling has confirmed and expanded the 2009 Grade shell model of Cu > 0.30% derived from the historical drilling described in the Company’s 2019 Technical Report. A total of 26 holes (18,136 m of drilling) have now been completed in the North Zone, spanning 1,100m of strike length, with intersections of good grade mineralization returned in all holes for which the Company has received assays. Highlights of the last holes collared at the western side of the North Zone include hole N015 with 0.31% Cu, 0.009% Mo, 0.025 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.36% CuEq) over 292m; hole N016 with 0.32 g/t Cu, 0.006% Mo, 0.032 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.73% CuEq) over 95.4m, plus 0.39% Cu, 0.016%Mo, 0.022 g/t Au, and 4 g/t Ag (0.46% CuEq) over 44.7m, plus 0.26% Cu, 0.010% Mo, 0.014 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.31% CuEq) over 88.7m; hole N017 with 0.31% Cu, 0.011% Mo, 0.02 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.73% CuEq) over 63.8m, plus 0.22% Cu, 0.01% Mo, 0.02 g/t Au, and 1 g/t Ag (0.28% CuEq) over 159.2m; and hole N018 with 0.36% Cu, 0.011% Mo, 0.017 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.42% CuEq) over 21m, plus 0.65% Cu, 0.012% Mo, 0.019 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.68% CuEq) over 10m, plus 0.33% Cu, 0.012% Mo, 0.017 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.38% CuEq) over 42.3m. The Company will commence a drill program targeted at testing the South Zone in 2022.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
· Monumental Minerals Corp., announced that its common shares are now trading on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol MNMRF (Jemi project, Coahuila).
· Argonaut Gold Inc., announced the appointment of its Vice President, Canadian Operations, effective August 29, 2022 (La Colorada mine, Sonora).
· Aztec Minerals Corp., purchased indirectly from Kootenay Silver Inc., 35% interest in the Cervantes property in Sonora by issue 10M common shares at a price of CAD $0.25 per Aztec share for aggregate consideration of CAD $2.5M. Kootenay will retain a 0.5% Net Smelter Returned Royalty. Following the closing of the Transaction, Kootenay owns a total of 10.68M Aztec shares, which represents approximately 11.85% of the issued and outstanding Aztec shares on an undiluted basis.
· Colibri Resource Corporation announced reinstatement of trading of its common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange. The shares will re-open for trading on the Exchange at the opening of trading on Monday, August 29. The company also announced the appointment of its new CFO (Evelyn project, Sonora).
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
· No relevant news.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the picture above, boiling texture in a low-intermediate epithermal vein system in a project in Durango, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.