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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of September, 2023

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Galena-sphalerite-Ag sulfosalts in a quartz vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 38th week of the year (September 18th to September 24th, 2023), at least 18 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 4 news published by the media, with ten disclosing deals and corporate issues, three commenting on Mexican issues, three announcing financing issues, two reporting resources and development of their properties, two informing on exploration results, and two discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, According to El Financiero, there has been a 69% increase in the number of suspended projects during the López Obrador administration. According to information from the US Geological Survey, there are 82 lithium deposits in 18 states of the Republic, which can represent 1.7 million tons. ON EXPLORATION, In Chihuahua, Southern Empire received permitting from the Mexico´s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) for 30 drill hole sites at its Centauro project.  In Zacatecas, Radius provided an update on drilling at its Tropico project.  ON MINING, no relevant news.  ON FINANCING, Equinox announced and completed a bought deal offering of convertible senior notes (Mina Los Filos, Guerrero). Excellon announced debenture restructuring to reduce the outstanding principal amount to CAD $7.5M (La Negra Mine, Queretaro). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Golden Tag announced the commencement of a 7,000m drilling campaign at its La Parrilla Mine Complex in Durango. Tocvan provided an update on the acquisition of Pilar project in Sonora and outlined target areas for the next phase of drilling. Silver Valley provided a corporate update on its MexiCan lithium-potassium projects located in Zacatecas-San Luis Potosi. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Luca Mining announced the appointment of its Director of Corporate Development (Tahuehueto project, Durango). Santacruz reported fatality at its Zimapan Mine, Hidalgo. GR Silver reported results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Plomosas project, Sinaloa). Sierra Metals placed Cusi Mine in Chihuahua on care and maintenance and initiated sale process. Radius announced that it proposes to issue 500K common shares of the company to Bruce Smith (Tropico project, Zacatecas). Angel Wing announced the consolidation of its common shares (La Reyna project, Nayarit). Bear Creek announced results from its special meeting of shareholders (Mercedes Mine, Sonora). Colibri announced the retirement of its President and CEO, and its replacement (Evelyn project, Sonora). Orex announced a consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares at a ratio of ten pre-consolidation shares to one post-consolidation share (Coneto project, Sonora). Pan American announced that it will host a conference call to discuss the company´s environmental, social, and governance efforts and development (La Colorada, Zacatecas). Silver Viper announced that it will present a live virtual corporate update hosted by Red Cloud Financial Services on September 28th, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET (La Virginia project, Sonora).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, MAG Silver published its second annual sustainability report (Juanicipio, Zacatecas).  Ternium completed the restoration of the Cerro Náhuatl Mine and Jala Station Closure Plan in Coquimatlán, Colima, which covers a period from 2012 to 2022 in which reforestation works and programs were implemented.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • According to El Financiero, the mining sector has experienced a series of obstacles set by the current administration. The number of suspended projects stood at 439 in 2018, while the current figure is 837, representing a 69% increase in the number of suspended projects during the López Obrador administration. Likewise, the Fraser Institute of Canada placed Mexico in 37th place out of 83 countries evaluated, a drop of three places compared to 2021 and 17 positions compared to 2010. The sector is worried that the USD $77.2M budget assigned to Mexican Geological Survey (SGM) for 2024 is 95.47% below the USD $1.7 B private companies invested just in exploration. “With this lack of budget for exploration, they are condemning the country and the mining sector, because mining will be halted for another six years. If the modifications to the Mining Law remain as they are, we will witness Mexico’s mining sector entering a clear decline,” said Alfredo Phillips, Vice President, Argonaut Gold, in an interview with El Financiero.  In an interview with Mexico Business News (MBN), Ramón Luna, Director General of Servicios y Proyectos Mineros de Mexico (SPM), acknowledged that SGM has talented geologists and manages the most comprehensive database in Mexico. However, the public body does not match the infrastructure of a private company. “(The reform) would either force the more than 100 exploration companies in the country to work with the SGM or make the latter the only operator. This is not feasible because it lacks the necessary infrastructure,” he added.  Similarly, Raúl García, President of College of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico (CIMMGM), said that we could see the first impacts of lacking exploration by 2025 and a drop in production within the next five years, if SGM does not maintain the current levels of exploration. According to data from the Secretariat of Economy (SE), in 1Q23, the total foreign direct Investment (FDI) in the mining sector amounted to USD $419M. In contrast, during the same period in 2013, this figure reached USD $2.036 B, reflecting a decline of 79.4%. During Enrique Peña Nieto’s initial five-year term, from 2012 to 2017, the country received mining FDI totaling USD $2.8 B and USD $1.9 B, respectively, representing a decrease of 32.1%. Meanwhile, during the first five years of López Obrador’s administration, covering the period from 2018 to 2023, FDI amounted to USD $1.9 B and USD $419M, marking a significant 78% decrease. However, it is important to note that data for 2023 is not fully available, which means that the percentages provided could vary.
  • According to information from the US Geological Survey, there are 82 lithium deposits in 18 states of the Republic, which can represent 1.7 million tons. A few days ago, Héctor Usla, Economist and Reporter of the El Financiero Newspaper, reported that the 2024 Expenditure Law project plans to allocate MXP $9.77M to Litio para México (LitioMx), the entity created in August 2022, for the exploration, exploitation, benefit and use of lithium found in national territory. This is an amount that allows the administrative operation of the decentralized organization, but that seems insufficient to reliably establish the total amount of probable lithium reserves and initiate exploration and production in the most promising deposits. (Note of the writer.- Are you serious?…Obviously, it would be vastly insufficient to have a budget like that reported above to carry out exploration, exploitation, etc.).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Southern Empire Resources Corp., received permitting from the Mexico´s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) for 30 drill hole sites at its Centauro project in Chihuahua. “The Centauro Gold Project exhibits significant potential to host “Carlin-style” and/or epithermal precious metal mineralization based on extensive brecciation, silicification and argillization of the Tertiary-age Ahuichila Formation conglomerate, a strongly coincident gold (“Au”), arsenic (“As”), antimony (“Sb”), mercury (“Hg”), thallium, silver, barium soil geochemical signature associated with a silicified mesa “cap” covering 2.5 km along the strike of the main zone, outcrops containing arsenopyrite, realgar, orpiment and stibnite, and low to non- anomalous base metal values”. 
  • Radius Gold Inc., provided an update on drilling at its Tropico project in Zacatecas. The initial hole TDD-001 plan for 300m to intersect the Tropico breccia pipe encountered difficult ground conditions and was abandoned at 56m. “The hole from 19m to 56m is intensely altered with clay, silicification, variable zones of hydrothermal breccias and repeated sets of banded silica veins with fine sulphides and stockwork veining. Banded veining had not previously been seen on the property”. “The drill rig has been stepped back from the target an additional 25m and a new hole drilled deeper under hole TDD-001, this time using large diameter PQ sized core and casing which is expected to alleviate the drilling difficulties”.

ON MINING

  • No relevant news.

ON FINANCING

  • Equinox Gold Corp., announced that it has entered into an agreement to buy, on a bought deal basis, 4.75% unsecured convertible senior notes due 2028 in an aggregate principal amount of $150M.  The company has granted the initial purchasers up to an additional $22.5M aggregate principal amount of notes. The notes will be issued at par value.  Later on, the company announced that it had closed its previously announced bought deal offering of $172.5M aggregate principal amount of 4.75% unsecured convertible senior notes due 2028, which includes exercise of the full amount of the option to purchase an additional $22.5M aggregate principal amount of notes Net proceeds will be used for repayment of debt and for general corporate purposes (Mina Los Filos, Guerrero).
  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced debenture restructuring to reduce the outstanding principal amount to CAD $7.5M representing a reduction of CAD $10.4M (58% reduction), and to amend the terms of the remaining debentures to, among other things, further extend the maturity date to August 31, 2026. In exchange for CAD $10.4M aggregate principal amount of the debentures, Excellon to pay CAD $3.5M in equity, 25% interest in Silver City Project, plus additional non-dilutive contingency and royalty payments (La Negra Mine, Queretaro).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd., announced the commencement of a 7,000m drilling campaign at its La Parrilla Mine Complex in Durango. The 7,000m phase 1 drilling program will  focus on infill and step-out drilling in proximity to underground mining infrastructure and existing development in three key areas: a) Rosarios and Cuerpo 340 Veins (3,000 m of drilling to test the east, west and central down-dip extensions; b) Quebradillas Underground (3,000 m of drilling to test the strike and down-dip extensions of three key zones including Cuerpo 460, Norte-Sur, and San Nicolas; and c) San Marcos (1,000 m of drilling to test the extension of San Marcos and Cuerpo 1100 at depth.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., provided an update on the acquisition of the Pilar project in Sonora and outlined target areas for the next phase of drilling. The company has exercised notice to Colibri Resources Corp., to purchase the remaining 49%. It also is completing a due diligence expected to finalize in coming weeks to acquire over 21 square-kilometers of land surrounding the Pilar, which contain recent placer activity, historic workings, and prospective geology, indicative that the area is highly prospective for gold and silver. “Tocvan plans to restart field operations at the close of the expansion acquisition to advance new target areas already identified quickly towards drill targeting. Drilling at Pilar and within the new expansion area is planned to total 2,000-meters before year end”.
  • Silver Valley Metals provided a corporate update on its MexiCan lithium-potassium projects located in Zacatecas-San Luis Potosi. Highlights of this project include that significant grades of lithium, potassium sulphate, and boron are located on surface in unconsolidated sediments; the brine potential has not been tested to date; deep basin large aquifer brine potential defined by regional geophysics surveys, remains to be tested; he inferred resource has been tested from surface to an average 5 metres depth; the company anticipates the sediment basin could range from 40m to greater than 100m deep, so the prospect of expanding the sediment resource at depth is substantial; and 12.3M tonnes of Potassium Sulphate and 243K tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent defined thus far. The company declared that discussions are active and advancing with LitioMX and near-term plans are in place to come together to potentially finalize a partnership agreement.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Luca Mining Corp., announced the appointment of its Director of Corporate Development. The company also granted incentive stock options to its employees and consultants to purchase an aggregate 225K share in the capital stock of the company (Tahuehueto project, Durango).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported that an employee was fatality injured at its Zimapan Mine, Hidalgo. The fatality was the result of rockfall from a stope face.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., reported results from its annual general meeting of shareholders.  Incumbent director Laura Diaz chose not to stand for re-election and was not a nominee (Plomosas project, Sinaloa).
  • Sierra Metals Inc., placed Cusi Mine in Chihuahua on care and maintenance and initiated a process to sell the mine. Ernesto Balarezo Valdez, Sierra Metals’ CEO, stated that “Sierra Metals is transitioning to become a copper-focused mining company, and the planned divestiture of Cusi will allow us to focus on our two key mines, Yauricocha in Peru and Bolivar in Mexico, where we have significant potential to continue growing our copper production”.
  • Radius Gold Inc., announced that it proposes, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval, to issue 500K common shares of the company to Bruce Smith. The common shares will be issued at a deemed price of $0.24 per share, for a total deemed value of $120K (good for you Bruce!) (Tropico project, Zacatecas).
  • Angel Wing Metals Inc., announced the consolidation of its common shares on the basis of one post- consolidation common share for every two pre-consolidation shares issued and outstanding as of the close of business on September 20, 2023. (La Reyna project, Nayarit).
  • Bear Creek Mining Corporation announced results from its special meeting of shareholders (Mercedes Mine, Sonora).
  • Colibri Resource Corporation announced the retirement of its President and CEO, and its replacement (Evelyn project, Sonora).
  • Orex Minerals Inc., announced a consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares at a ratio of ten pre-consolidation shares to one post-consolidation share. The reasons for the consolidation are to increase the company’s flexibility and competitiveness in the marketplace and to attract new equity investment in the company  (Coneto project, Sonora).
  • Pan American Silver Corp., announced that it will host a conference call to discuss the company ´s environmental, social, and governance efforts, and development on October 19, 2023 at 11:00 am ET (8:00 am PT) (La Colorada, Zacatecas).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., announced that it will present a live virtual corporate update hosted by Red Cloud Financial Services on September 28th, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET (La Virginia project, Sonora).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • MAG Silver Corp., published its second annual sustainability report. , which provides a comprehensive overview of the company’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) commitments, practices, and performance for the 2022 year. Highlights of the 2022 sustainability report include zero fatalities at the Juanicipio project, Zacatecas or at MAG´s exploration projects; a lost time injury frequency rate of 1.92; over 62,000 hours dedicated to safety training; zero significant environmental incidents at the Juanicipio and other projects; 66% of MAG Silver´s workforce is hired from local communities; over 13 community engagement initiatives across 4 different project streams at the Juanicipio project: health, education, capacity buildings, and microenterprise projects; 38% of Board directors are female, surpassing the 30% target established in MAG´s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy; and Code of Conduct and Social Responsibility Policy refreshed and updated to specifically articulate the importance of engaging with Indigenous communities through meaningful dialogue, cooperation, and deepening of the shared-value approach to local development activities to promote sustainable and lasting economic and social benefits.
  • Ternium completed the restoration of the Cerro Náhuatl Mine and Jala Station Closure Plan in Coquimatlán, Colima, which covers a period from 2012 to 2022 in which reforestation works and programs were implemented. With this project, the forest area was increased by 88 hectares and the area was repopulated with 180 species of native fauna. It is a component of the company’s commitment to sustainability in the communities where it operates, according to a statement.

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, galena, sphalerite, and silver sulfosalts in a quartz vein from an intermediate sulphidation epithermal vein system in Sonora, Mexico Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of September, 2020.

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Stibnite in a fine grained quartz vein.

By Miguel A Heredia

During the thirty seven week of the year (September 7th to September 13th, 2020), at least 24 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 13 news published by the media, with ten disclosing deals and corporate issues, seven discussing social issues, six commenting on Mexican issues, five informing on exploration results, five announcing financial rounds, two reporting on resources and developments of their mine operations, and two communicating production and financial results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Deputy Mario Delgado from MORENA party presented a reform to eliminate trust funds, including the Mining Fund. Mexico intends to lead lithium production. Federal Deputy Monica Almeida of the PRD party stated that the disappearance of the undersecretary of Mining must be re-considered. Mining companies operating in Mexico have cut their capital investment budgets by 20% on average in 2020 due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. The company Roca Fosforica Mexicana (Rofomex) seeks to expand its mining area in Baja California Sur.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Colibri received an exploration permit to begin a trench program at its Evelyn project, and Silver Tiger provided an exploration update for its El Tigre project. In Sinaloa, Brigadier provided an exploration update on its Picachos project, and Oroco initiated a 3D IP survey at its Santo Tomas project. In Durango, Canasil released results from 2 drill holes collared recently at its Nora project. ON MINING, Excellon provided an operation update on its La Platosa mine in Durango. Consolidated Zinc reported H1, 2020 production and financial results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua.  ON FINANCING, Mag Silver completed its previously announced at the market equity program for gross proceeds of USD $50M (Juanicipio property, Zacatecas). Comet Resources announced that it will be conducting a placement to raise gross proceeds of $2M (Santa Teresa project, Baja California). Excellon completed its share consolidation (La Platosa mine, Durango). Monarca completed its previously announced shares for debt transaction to settle an aggregate of $301,324 owing to certain officers, directors and services providers of the company. Sable closed its previously announced private placement for total gross proceeds of approximately $9.9M (Margarita and Vinata project, Chihuahua). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Bacanora provided an operational update of its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. Capstone provided updated proven and probable mineral reserves and positive results of an updated technical report for its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas.    ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Excellon announced that it has applied to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) American (La Platosa mine, Durango).  Mithril announced that its CEO was appointed as Managing Director (Copalquin project, Durango). Sonoro announced results of its annual general meeting of shareholders and changed its name from Sonoro Metals Corp. to Sonoro Gold Corp (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora). Alien entered into an exclusivity agreement with Capstone in respect of the potential farm out of an interest in its Donovan 2 Copper-Gold project in Zacatecas. Almaden announced the decision of the Second District Court in Puebla in respect of its environmental permit application for its Ixtaca project in Puebla.  Argonaut entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its Ana Paula property in Guerrero.  Consolidated Zinc secured an agreement with Industrias Peñoles to sale the 100% of the Zn concentrate produced by the company in 2021. Newmont appointed Susan N Story to its board of directors and achieves gender parity for non-executive directors (Peñasquito mine, Zacatecas).  Southern Silver presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Cerro Las Minitas project, Durango). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, First Majestic invested USD $3.8M in local communities where it operates.  Fresnillo plc, continued donating personal equipment to prevent infections by COVID-19 in Caborca, Sonora. The Municipal President of Fresnillo, Zacatecas delivered the first stage of the rainwater collector with an investment of MXP $6M from the Mining Fund. The Municipal President of Cuencame, Durango announced that MXP $16.6M from the Mining Fund were invested in the construction of domes and paved streets, installation of electrical network, potable water and drainage in several communities in Cuencame, Durango. Grupo Mexico offered more than 130 weekly workshops via social networks generating content for the community. Minera Media Luna (Torex) improved public spaces in the Atzcala community in Guerrero. The Peñoles nursery garden continues donating trees to people seeking to expand the green folder in their home, plaza or a larger space for the population, and continue supporting the community with other social activities.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Deputy Mario Delgado from MORENA party presented a reform to eliminate trust funds, including the Mining Fund. A period is proposed for the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit and the Welfare Bank (Banco del Bienestar, created by MORENA) to proceed to the extinction of the Public Administration and Payment Trust called “Fund for the Development of Mining Production Zones” (Mining Fund), in accordance with provided for in the Federal Budget and Fiscal Responsibility Law. Obviously, this is not the reason and the goal the Mining Fund was created for.
  • Mexico intends to lead lithium production since lithium is required to make rechargeable batteries, and the demand for this mineral has multiplied in the last decade, with the rise of laptops and smartphones. Annual sales of batteries made from lithium-ion batteries are projected to reach a value of $100B in 2029 and about $116B in 2030, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. While Mexico’s reserves are not yet certified, the size of the deposit found in Sonora (Sonora Lithium project owned by Bacanora)- which, according to Mining Technology, is the largest deposit under development in the world – placed the country on the radar of global lithium investors. The project will be the first to produce significant volumes of lithium in Mexico. Initially, production is estimated to approach 17,500 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate, which will double to 35,000 tonnes starting in 2026, after a projected expansion in its investment of USD $380M.
  • Monica Almeida, Federal Deputy of the PRD party, stated that the disappearance of the undersecretary of Mining must be re-considered and warned that neither the economic adjustments nor the so-called “republican austerity” should be a pretext for the disappearance of an undersecretary that served a sector of utmost importance for Mexico, since at the world is within the top 10 in the production of 19 minerals. This measure was not shared by the members of the country’s mining sector, among which are the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), the Association of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico (AIMMGM), the Mining Task Force of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico (CANCHAM), the Mining Clusters of Chihuahua, Guerrero, Sinaloa, Sonora and Zacatecas, the College of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico (CIMMGM) and the organization Mujeres en la Mineria – WIM Mexico; who have openly expressed their disagreement with the measure. It should be remembered that the mining-metallurgical sector in Mexico contributes 2.4% of GDP. Also this year, our country ranks first in silver production worldwide, generating 379 thousand direct jobs and 2.4 million indirect ones.
  • Mining companies operating in Mexico have cut their capital investment budgets by 20% on average in 2020 due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. Updated estimates from nine of the country’s largest gold, silver and copper producers show total spending of USD $1.95B, down USD $488M from the projected amount of USD $2.44B before the pandemic.
  • The company Roca Fosforica Mexicana (Rofomex) seeks to expand its mining area in San Juan de la Costa north of La Paz Baja California Sur. Rofomex filed an environmental permit to explore outside the boundaries of the mining project. The exploration plan established an area where the project will be carried out. It is more than 1,203 ha and contemplates the completion of works for the drilling of 7 holes.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Colibri Resource Corporation received an exploration permit to begin a trench program at its Evelyn project. The company plans to dig up to 2.2km of trenches in up to 13 separate areas on Evelyn project in order to extend mineralization at selected occurrences and to provide exposure for geological and structural mapping of veins and structures.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., provided an update on ongoing exploration at its wholly-owned El Tigre Silver project in Sonora. The company is currently conducting a drill program with two rigs focused on the Caleigh, the Protectora and the Fundadora veins, all of which outcrop on surface and are exposed in exploration drifts in the 3km north of the historic El Tigre mine.
  • Brigadier Gold Limited provided an exploration update on its Picachos project in Sinaloa. The company is preparing a fully financed 5,000m drilling program in approximately 40 holes targeting four high grade Au-Ag veins found within the Colomeca vein system, comprised of several sub-parallel veins over a 1.5km wide zone. In addition, Brigadier is also planning approximately 3 line-km of trenching across several historic sample sites to follow-up anomalies identified by the historic work to define drill targets. “Brigadier intends to have drills turning by the third week of September and look forward to providing updates as results become available.”
  • Oroco Resource Corp., initiated a 3D resistivity and IP survey at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. The survey is targeted to cover an area of approximately 10 km of the property which will encompass the mineralized South Zone, North Zone and the Brasiles Zone at Santo Tomas. The survey comprises a dipole – pole – dipole arrangement and targets the layout of some 26 Rx (receiver) lines spaced at 200m.
  • Canasil Resources Inc., released results from 2 initial drill holes collared at its Nora project in Durango. Hole NCR-20-01tested the Candy vein and intersected 1.6 g/t Au, 440 g/t Ag, 2.51% Cu, 2.1% Pb, and 0.61% Zn over 0.29m, while hole NCR-20-02 encountered 0.72 g/t Au, 21 g/t Ag, 0.1% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 4.8m, including 1.81 g/t Au, 62 g/t Ag, 0.08% Cu, 0.1% Pb, and 0.61% Zn over 0.38m. Drill hole NRC-20-03, targeted below NRC-20-02 has been completed to a depth of 302 metres, and NRC-20-04 is in progress, targeted below NRC-20-01 as planned.

ON MINING

  • Excellon Resources Inc., provided an operation update on its La Platosa mine in Durango. The company achieved a strong production after resuming mining and milling activities in mid-June, 2020. In July, 2020 the company mined and processed 7,044 and 7,408 tonnes respectively with grades of 528 g/t Ag, 5.8% Pb, and 7.7% Zn at metallurgical recoveries of 92.4%, 85.7%, and 77.6% respectively, to produce 116.3K Oz Ag, 972K Lb Pb, and 7K Lb Zn (198.5K Oz AgEq).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd., reported H1, 2020 production and financial results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The company mined in H1, 2020, over 12,332 tonnes of 16.4% Zn and 8.6% Pb to produce 2.25M Lb of payable Zn, 546.7K Lb of payable Pb, and 455 Oz of payable Ag sold in Zn and Pb concentrates. Consolidated Zinc reported a net loss after income tax of USD $2.19M, a profit of USD $0.56M, total assets of USD $4.14M, and total liabilities of USD $3.79M. Total cash reported was USD $0.77M and borrowings were USD $0.98M.

ON FINANCING

  • Mag Silver Corp., completed its previously announced at the market equity program for gross and net proceeds of USD $50M and USD $48.62M respectively. Net proceeds will be used to fund the completion of construction of the Juanicipio project, with any reminder to fund further exploration of Juanicipio and other projects, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.
  • Comet Resources Limited announced that it will be conducting a placement for gross proceeds of $2M. The offer under the plan will raise a maximum of $500K on the terms and conditions contained in this letter. In conjunction with the placement, this will provide the company with additional funds of up to $2.5M. Part of the funds raised will be used for ongoing exploration at Santa Teresa project in Baja California as well as for the payment of costs associated with the plan and placement and general working capital.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., completed its share consolidation in connection with its plan to trade on the NYSE American LLC, which is now effective. Excellon’s shares are expected to commence trading on the NYSE American by the end of September under the ticker symbol “EXN” (La Platosa mine, Durango).
  • Monarca Minerals Inc., completed its previously announced shares for debt transaction to settle an aggregate of $301,324 owing to certain officers, directors and services providers of the company. The amount settled includes $194K out of $342K of accrued directors, management, and consulting fees (Tejamen property, Durango).
  • Sable Resources Ltd., closed its previously announced private placement for total gross proceeds of approximately $9.9M. Net proceeds will be used for exploration and general corporate and working capital purposes (Margarita and Vinata project, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Bacanora Lithium plc., provided an operational update of its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. The pilot plant has completed the bulk sampling required for the Sonora plant, the same that were submitted to relevant partners in China and USA for optimization of the final design. GR Engineer completed its concentrator design work and will integrate this into the overall project scope, and its JV partner Ganfeng Lithium completed its flow sheet design testwork for the production of battery grade lithium from the samples provided by the pilot plant.  Bacanora therefore remains on schedule to commence initial site works at Sonora in H1 2021, subject to completion of financing, which would enable commencement of production at the plant in 2023.
  • Capstone Mining Corp., provided updated proven and probable mineral reserves and positive results of an updated technical report for its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. Proven and probable reserves as of April 30, 2020 are 10,178,000 tones of 1.79% Cu, 41 g/t Ag , o.36% Zn and 0.05% Pb for a total of 2M Lb Cu, 13.5M Oz Ag, 79.4M Lb Zn, and 11M Lb Pb. Capstone updated life of mine plan with annual average Cu and Ag production increased by 70% to 61.4M Lb Cu and 43% to 1.75M Oz Ag respectively. Average annual C1 costs (net of by-products) are expected to move 23% lower to $0.67 per payable Lb Cu. It also announced that ramp-up to 1.35 million tonnes milled per annum (“tpa”) by Q2 2021 is on time and budget, that tailings management transformation activities are progressing on schedule, and that a PFS of an underground paste backfill system is underway. Finally, it also reported that a new step-out hole drill program totalling 80 holes targeting the down dip extension to the southeast of both Vein 10 and Vein 20 is underway. Hole S499 and S503 intersected high grade polymetallic copper, zinc, lead and silver in a 650-meter step-out from the current mineral resource. A 1 km exploration drift is being considered to provide a drilling platform to target this new area.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced that it has applied to list its issued and outstanding common shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) American, LLC., under the ticker symbol “EXN” (La Platosa mine, Durango).
  • Mithril Resources Limited announced that its CEO was appointed as Managing Director (Copalquin project, Durango).
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders and announced it has changed its name from Sonoro Metals Corp., to Sonoro Gold Corp., and will commence to trade with the new ticker symbol “SGO” (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora).
  • Alien Metals Ltd., entered into an exclusivity agreement with Capstone Mining Corp., in respect of the potential farm out of an interest in its Donovan 2 Copper-Gold project in Zacatecas. The agreement provides for a 45-day period for Capstone to undertake due diligence to their satisfaction. If the parties decide to move into a definitive agreement, then Capstone could earn-in to the Donovan 2 property through a combination of carried expenditures and cash payments.
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., announced the decision of the Second District Court in Puebla in respect of its environmental permit application for its Ixtaca project in Puebla. “The company challenged an October, 2019 decision by Mexico’s environmental authority (“SEMARNAT”) to suspend its review of the Ixtaca project’s environmental permit application (“MIA”) until resolution of legal proceedings (the “Amparo”) regarding certain of the Company’s mineral concessions which encompass the area of the Ixtaca project. In its recent decision, the Court dismissed the “incident” principally on the basis that SEMARNAT is not a party to the Amparo. Furthermore, in a related communication with SEMARNAT, the Court also confirmed that the existence of the Amparo does not prevent SEMARNAT from resolving the MIA permit application and that SEMARNAT is free to act within its jurisdiction and authority in respect of the MIA review. The Ministry of the Economy, the Mining Authorities, the Congress, Senate, and the Office of the Presidency all made submissions to the Court as part of this decision. The Company awaits a response from SEMARNAT to the Court decision”.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc., entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its Ana Paula property in Guerrero. Total consideration to Argonaut includes USD $30M on closing, CAD $10M upon the announcement of commencement of construction, a 1% NSR, and 9.9% of the outstanding common shares of the acquiring company, which will be formed by a business combination of 1252201 BC Ltd (“AP Mining”) and Pinehurst Capital II Inc. (“Pinehurst”), creating a new publicly traded gold development company (the “Resulting Issuer”).
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited secured an agreement with Industrias Peñoles to sale under favorable terms the 100% of the Zn concentrate produced by the company in 2021 at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua.
  • Newmont Corporation appointed Susan N Story to its board of directors and achieves gender parity for non-executive directors (Peñasquito mine, Zacatecas).
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders. In this meeting shareholders re-elected directors and approved the purchase of Electrum Global Holdings L.P.’s 60% ownership interest in Southern Silver Holdings Limited and indirect 60% interest in the Cerro Las Minitas property in Durango.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • First Majestic Silver Corp., invested during 2019, USD $3.8M in local communities where it operates, destined to health programs, infrastructure, access to water, and youth projects. In 2019, First Majestic planted 105,730 native plants through reforestation initiatives, and also recycled more than 80% of the water used in its operations. At the end of 2019, First Majestic employed a total of 4,681 people: 3,305 employees and 1,376 contractors, distributed in the six operating mines of the company: San Dimas, and La Parrilla, in Durango; La Encantada, in Coahuila; Santa Elena, in Sonora; Del Toro, in Zacatecas, and San Martín, in Jalisco.
  • Fresnillo plc, continued donating personal equipment to prevent infections by COVID-19 in Caborca, Sonora. The company delivered 8,000 face masks as part of a social program to raise awareness among the population about the importance of health care to avoid the spread of the virus.
  • The Municipal President of Fresnillo, Zacatecas delivered the first stage of the rainwater collector with an investment of MXP $6M from the Mining Fund. This work has 180 linear meters and has favored the inhabitants of the El Vergel subdivision and neighboring colonies since it is channeled to rainwater and prevents floods.
  • The Municipal President of Cuencame, Durango announced that MXP $16.6M were invested in the construction of domes and paved street, installation of electrical networks, potable water and drainage in several communities in Cuencame, Durango. In addition, she also reported that more than two thousand direct and indirect jobs were generated.
  • Grupo Mexico S.A.B de C.V., offered more than 130 weekly workshops via social networks generating content for the community with a focus on prevention, healthy distance and stay at home, as well as implementation of workshops in the areas of education and culture, health and safety, environment and sports.
  • The Peñoles nursery garden continues donating trees to people seeking to expand the green folder in their home, plaza or a larger space for the community. Goal of the program is to reforest public spaces in order to maintain an ecological balance. The company also is carrying out cleaning and disinfection of classrooms, furniture and teaching materials at a Federal Middle School #2.
  • Minera Media Luna (Torex Gold Resource) improved public spaces in the Atzcala community in Guerrero. Among the activities carried out were the pruning of trees, painting of sidewalks and fences, construction of concrete tops, cleaning of planters, reforestation, cleaning in the elementary school and kindergarten, placement of fencing in the field, replacement of lights and other activities.

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, stibnite in a fine grained quartz vein from an epithermal vein system in a prospect in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia

 

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of June, 2020.

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tight folds

By Miguel A Heredia

During the twenty three week of the year (June 1st to June 7th, 2020), at least 49 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with fifteen commenting on Mexican issues, twelve communicating resumptions, production and financial results, six announcing financial rounds, five discussing on social issues, five reporting on resources and developments, three disclosing deals and corporate issues, and three informing on exploration results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Undersecretary of Mining and the state Governors declared that the resumption of the mining activities in the first week of June has been successful. Francisco Quiroga, the Undersecretary of Mining, stated that the mining sector will sustain part of the national economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Mexican government, in a very unfortunate statement, declared that it is analyzing the possibility to disappear the Undersecretariat of Mining. Fernando Alanís, president of the Mexican Mining Chamber (Camimex), stated that Mexico’s mining production would drop 17% this year due to coronavirus pandemic. The deputy of the PRI, Carlos Pavón Campos, will present a proposal requesting that the Mining Fund returns to be used in accordance to its original objective. Esperanza Silver de México (Alamos Gold Inc.) announced that it expects to create hundreds of direct + indirect jobs if they open its Esperanza mine in Morelos. According to Fernando Alanis, president of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), mining companies plan to invest USD $4B in 2020.  Resuming of the mining activities in Oaxaca will activate 10,000 jobs. ON EXPLORATION, In Sinaloa, Vizsla recommenced drilling at its Panuco project. In Zacatecas, Advance Gold provided an exploration update on its Tabasqueña project. In Jalisco, GoGold resumed drilling at its Los Ricos project.  ON MINING, Several mining, such as GoGold, Great Panther, Avino, Argonaut, Impact Silver, Pan American Silver, Telson, Excellon, and Sierra Metals among others, announced the restart of their Mexican mining operations after receiving approval of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS).  Mexus Gold reported its May 2020 production results from its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. US Antimony reported its Sb and zeolite production for the month of May 2020. Excellon presented Q1 2020 production and financial results (La Platosa, Durango).  ON FINANCING, Advance Gold announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $300K (Tabasqueña project, Zacatecas). Discovery Metals closed the first tranche of a CAD $35M non brokered private placement, for aggregates proceeds of CAD $17.1M (Cordero project, Chihuahua). Magna Gold closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $7M (San Francisco mine, Sonora). Silver Viper closed its previously brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $5.12M (La Virginia project, Sonora). Alamos Gold declared quarterly dividends of USD $0.015 per common share (Mulatos mine, Sonora).  Pan American Silver announced the closing of its overnight marketed secondary offering of common shares of Maverix Metals Inc., in which it raised gross proceeds of USD $45.54M (La Colorada mine, Zacatecas).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, VanGold concluded its +1,000 tonnes bulk sample and metallurgical test of mineral material from its Pinguino project in Guanajuato. Premier announced an update on its delineation core drilling program at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. US Antimony reported that a thickener circuit is being constructed on site at its Puerto Blanco mill in Guanajuato.  Endeavour released new high grade Au-Ag drill results from its Guanacevi mine in Durango. Golden Minerals President & CEO spoke about its Velardeña and Rodeo projects in Durango and its intention to bring them into production in 2021.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Canuc postponed the filing of its interim consolidated financial statement and management´s discussion and analysis for the period ended March 31, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (San Javier project, Sonora).  San Marco granted stock options to directors and officers (Chunibas project, Sonora). Newmont published its 2019 sustainability report (Peñasquito mine, Zacatecas).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Consorcio Minero Peña Colorada invested MXP $4M to refurbish health unit in Manzanillo, Colima. The Grupo Mexico Foundation delivered important donation to the Health Sector of Chihuahua and Sombrerete, Zacatecas. Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver) donated medical ventilator, pantries, medicines and cleaning kits in Oaxaca. Minera San Julián (Fresnillo plc) delivered a mechanical ventilator and personal protection equipment to medical personnel of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) of Parral, Chihuahua.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Undersecretary of Mining and the state governments, declared that the resumption of the mining activities in the first week of June has been successful. Almost 90% of the companies in the sector are already on work, thanks to the support of Francisco Quiroga, the Undersecretary of Mining of the Ministry of Economy, who established agreements with Governors of the states and with the companies, so that they could return to work safely and without risk of COVID-19 infections. The remaining 10% of mining companies are preparing sanitary protocols to resume activities in the coming days.
  • Francisco Quiroga, the Undersecretary of Mining, stated that the mining sector will sustain part of the national economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Activities derived from the mining industry serve to maintain various communities and even in some areas is the main source of economy. The mining sector is carrying out its reactivation of activities in a progressive way and with respect to health protocols. The sector has always worked with rigorous safety protocols to carry out its activities,
  • The Mexican government, in a very unfortunate statement, declared that it is analyzing the possibility to disappear the Undersecretariat of Mining. The measure would be in complete contradiction to the recent recognition of mining as an essential sector that generates 2.6 million jobs, has an impact in 10 states of the country and represents around 3% of GDP. The president AMLO has suggested the imminent disappearance, conversion, or inclusion in another agency, in order to reduce public spending. It occurs just when the Undersecretary of Mining, Francisco Quiroga, reached agreements with Governors, and the mining companies and their representatives have worked hard in a coordinated way to implement the security protocols. Entrepreneurs in this area, both Mexican and foreign, consider that the disappearance of the Undersecretariat of Mining may be negative for a sector that represents around 8% of industrial GDP. The panorama is worrying, since it seems to show the little interest of the current administration to encourage the development of the mining sector. Mining companies and their representatives see this measure as a setback for the country´s development. AMLO stated that to date, none decision has been taken so far, and recognized that mining is a fundamental economic activity that generates many jobs in the case of Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, and the rest of the mining states.
  • Fernando Alanís, president of the Mexican Mining Chamber (Camimex), stated that Mexico’s mining production would drop 17% this year and the sector´s export could decrease by around 10% due to the cessation of operations to contain the spread of the coronavirus. He also said that although activities in the industry were beginning to resume and about half of the operating personnel had returned to work, exploration work remained suspended and anticipated that the pandemic would also have ended with some 71,000 indirect jobs in the local sector.
  • The deputy of the PRI, Carlos Pavón Campos, will present a proposal in the Chamber of Deputies, requiring that the Mining Fund returns to carry out infrastructure works in the municipalities of the country where mining activity is performed, with the purpose of promoting the development of the communities, which was its original objective.
  • Esperanza Silver de México (Alamos Gold Inc.), announced that it expects to create hundreds of direct + indirect jobs if they open its Esperanza mine in Morelos. Esperanza Silver, under the scheme of a “New Model of Social and Environmentally Responsible Mining” policy, wants to bring its project to the community of Tetlama to protect the environment and generate employment that is essential for the economic reactivation of the state due to the direct + indirect jobs that will be generated, the value chains and supplies that will be activated, and the generation of taxes that will favorably impact state and municipal public finances. The company has projected an estimated investment of USD $450M to bring into production its mining project.
  • According to Fernando Alanis, president of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), mining companies plan to invest USD $4B in 2020, which represents 14% more than in 2019, despite the COVID-19 health crisis.
  • Resuming of the mining activities in Oaxaca, will activate 10,000 jobs. The mining personnel will carry out all the health and training protocols to avoid COVID-19 infections, supervised by the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Vizsla Resources Corp., announced that it has re-commenced drilling at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. It had previously announced the return of its staff to the project on May 21, 2020 to execute its exploration program at its district-scale project.
  • Advance Gold Corp., provided an update on its Tabasqueña project in Zacatecas. The CEO of the company stated that they have hit what appears to be a very large sulphide system with their recent drilling program collared into a 3.2Km continuous IP chargeability anomaly. These holes encountered promising grades in the stacked lenses of disseminated sulphides. Next step will be to drill the core of the system on the hinge zone of the IP chargeability anomaly, where it increases in width, to confirm the identified mineralization.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., resumed drilling at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. The Company is nearing completion of resource drilling at Los Ricos South for its upcoming 43-101 compliant resource calculation.

ON MINING

  • Several mining companies, such as GoGold, Great Panther, Avino, Argonaut, Impact Silver, Pan American Silver, Telson, Excellon, and Sierra Metals, among others, announced the restart of their Mexican mining operations following a government order adding mining to the list of essential services, and after receiving approval from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS).
  • Mexus Gold US, reported May 2020 production results from its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. It produced 102 Oz Au. The company announced that it plans to produce 150 Oz Au in June 2020. The heap leach pad at the Santa Elena mine currently holds 18,000 tons of mineralized material. Head grades are estimated at 3 to 4 g/t Au.
  • US Antimony Corporation, announced that it produced 108.9K Lb Sb and 1,129 tonnes of zeolites during the month of May 2020.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., presented Q1 2020 production and financial results from its La Platosa mine in Durango. It processed 19,042 tonnes of 542 g/t Ag, 5.4% Pb and 6.8% Zn to produce 296.3K Oz Ag, 1.89M Lb Pb, and 2.1M Lb Zn (or 523.7K Oz AgEq) with metallurgical recoveries of 89.3%, 82.8%, and 74.9% respectively.  Total cash and AISC of USD $15.35 and USD $26.52 per Oz Ag payable was reported respectively. The company had revenues of USD $6.6M, gross loss of USD $0.1M, cash and cash equivalents of USD $8.4M.

ON FINANCING

  • Advance Gold Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds for a maximum of $300K. Net proceeds will be used to advance its Tabasqueña project in Zacatecas and for general corporate purposes.
  • Discovery Metals Corp., closed the first tranche of a CAD $35M non brokered private placement, for aggregates proceeds of CAD $17.1M. Discovery intends to close a further CAD$7,9M in subscriptions in a second tranche of the private placement, for an aggregate total of CAD $25M. Net proceeds of the first tranche will be used to fund their Cordero and Coahuila projects in Chihuahua and Coahuila states respectively, and for general working capital purposes.
  • Magna Gold Corp., closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $7M. Gross proceeds will be used for working capital purposes in connection with their existing projects (San Francisco mine and Mercedes and San Judas projects, Sonora).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Inc., closed its previously announced brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $5.12M. A cash commission of CAD $218,770 was paid to the brokers, representing a 6% of the gross proceeds. Silver Viper will be used the net proceeds to fund the development of its Virginia project in Sonora, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.
  • Alamos Gold Inc., declared quarterly dividends of USD $0.015 per common share. The company has paid dividends for 11 consecutive years during which time USD $173M has been returned to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., announced the closing of its overnight marketed secondary offering of common shares of Maverix Metals Inc., in which Pan American raised gross proceeds of USD $45.54M (La Colorada mine, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • VanGold Mining , concluded its +1,000 tonnes bulk sample and metallurgical test of mineral material from its Pinguino project in Guanajuato. This bulk sample was sent to Endeavour’s Bolañitos mill, located approximately 28km from El Pinguico project. The company will report the results obtained once the information is received. On the other hand, crews are clearing the bottom of the El Pinguino shaft since approximately 30 m of debris has accumulated at the bottom. Once it is done, VanGold plans to sample the bottom of the underground stockpile in order to determine if the grades of Au and Ag obtained on the top of the stockpile extends to the bottom of it; inspecting the #7 Sangria adit since it may provide a potential safe and inexpensive haulage way to bring the underground material to surface; and sample the Colmillo stope since it was a high grade portion of the Pinguico mine during the period prior to its closure in 1913.
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited, announced an update on its delineation core drilling program at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. The 2020 delineation drilling campaign is focused on expanding and confirming higher-grade mineralization in several areas including Marianas and Diluvio West. Highlights at Diluvio West include hole UG-DI20-096 with 6.1 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag over 84.7m, and hole UG-DI20-095 with 6.38 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag over 73.5m. At Marianas, good drill intersections were encountered at hole UG-MR20-056 with 11.67 g/t Au and 56g/t Ag over 5.2m and hole UG-MR20-059 with 9.74 g/t Au and 16 g/t Ag over 11.3m. Diluvio consists of a stockwork system that is divided into Diluvio Central, hosted in felsic volcanoclastic, and Diluvio West hosted in an andesite while Marianas represents the down-plunge extension of the main Mercedes mine trend.
  • US Antimony Corporation, reported that a thickener circuit is being constructed on site at its Puerto Blanco mill in Guanajuato to increase the production rate and control the pulp density of ore to be processed. “The company is anxious to continue on the cyanide leach of the gold and silver Los Juarez ore now that they will have a thickener.”
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., released drill results of 18 holes collared in the Santa Cruz vein on the El Curso property at its Guanacevi mine in Durango, of which 12 holes reported new high grade Au-Ag values over minable widths. Drilling highlights include hole UCM-27 with 3.25 g/t Au and 1,085 g/t Ag (1,410 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 10m; hole UCM-26 with 1.87 g/t Au and 762 g/t Ag (949 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 5.1m; and hole UCM-25 with 1.43 g/t Au and 986 g/t Ag (1,129 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4.8m. This drilling program confirmed the extension of the P4 orebody, and now the extension measures 200 m long by 300 m deep, still open at depth, and discovered a new mineralized zone to the west of the P4 extension of 250 m long by 150 m deep, still open along strike and at depth.
  • Golden Minerals Company President & CEO, spoke about its Velardeña and Rodeo projects in Durango and its intention to bring them into production in 2021. The company is currently generating revenue through the lease of its oxide mill in Mexico to Hecla Mining Company, and intends to bring into production its Rodeo open pit Au project in 2021 after the lease concludes with Hecla at the end of 2020. Rodeo, according to the PEA “is capable to provide almost USD $25M in after-tax cash flow in two years of production. The goal of the company is to use the cash generated from Rodeo to finance a potential startup for its Ag-Au Velardeña project. Velardeña’s 2020 PEA shows an USD $86M NPV”.

 ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Canuc Resources Corporation, postponed the filing of its interim consolidated financial statement and management´s discussion and analysis for the period ended March 31, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (San Javier project, Sonora).
  • San Marco Resources Inc. granted stock options to directors and officers (Chunibas project, Sonora).
  • Newmont Corporation, published its 2019 sustainability report, “Beyond the Mine”, a transparent and comprehensive disclosure of the Company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Consorcio Minero Peña Colorada S.A. de C.V., invested MXP $4M to reconvert a building attached to the Manzanillo General Hospital, providing it with medical equipment and furniture for 3 medical care modules and one more for the rest of medical personnel.
  • The Grupo Mexico Foundation, delivered important donation to the Health Sector of Chihuahua, which consisted of five new mechanical ventilators, 15,000 medical equipment consisting of N-95 masks, disposable gowns, face masks, goggles, overalls, boot covers, respirators, aprons and gloves, as well as ultrasound equipment, portable X-rays and monitoring panels. The donation also included 25 non-invasive ventilators and 10,000 serological tests for COVID-19, which will allow detecting a greater number of people infected and have a broader overview of the behavior of the disease in the state. Additionally, Grupo México Foundation also joined the Chihuahua Food Program, by donating 650 pantries to support vulnerable groups in the municipalities of Aquiles Serdán and Santa Bárbara. In Sombrerete, Zacatecas, the Grupo Mexico Foundation also delivered more than 1,700 articles of medical supplies consisting of tyvek coveralls, N95 masks, face shields, disposable gowns and boot covers, and alcohol gel, and donated 700 pantries to the municipality of Sombrerete through the Municipal DIF to be distributed among the groups most at risk from this epidemic, as is the case of older adults in the Divine Providence Asylum that received 40 pantries with items from the basic food basket.
  • Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., donated MXP $1.3M to the Business Contingent Exchange and the Medical Support Program promoted by the Oaxaca Ministry of Economy to buy an equipment for ventilation and respiratory monitoring in the Intensive care unit, and delivered more than 3,300 pantries, 3,400 family cleaning packages and 4,600 medicines to the population of San José del Progreso and communities close to the operation of the San José mining unit. It is estimated that these actions have benefited more than 7,000 Oaxacans.
  • Minera San Julián (Fresnillo plc), delivered a mechanical ventilator equipment to the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) of Parral, Chihuahua and donated more than 2,000 pieces of personal protective equipment such as 50 tyvek suits, 200 N-95 face masks, 200 surgical fabric mouth masks, 600 mine-made mouth masks, 1,000 pairs of nitrile gloves and 50 safety glasses to employees of the health institution.

 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, tight folds in an orogenic Au prospect in Michoacan, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

UNITED STATES ANTIMONY REPORTS PROGRESS ON THE GOLD AND SILVER LOS JUAREZ LEACH PLANT

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usantimony_ 4 May 2020

May 4, 2020. Thompson Falls, Montana. United States Antimony Corporation (“USAC”, NYSE American “UAMY) reported progress on the gold and silver leach plant in Guanajuato, Mexico for the Los Juarez property. To date 16 test leaches have been completed in the startup process. To get the mill to its current capacity of 100 metric tons per day, a thickener is being constructed on site to control the pulp density, and one additional leach tank will be built on site.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of April, 2020.

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Cervantite crystals in jasperoids

By Miguel A Heredia

During the seventeen week of the year (April 20th to April 20th, 2020), at least 41 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with ten discussing issues on social responsibility, six informing on exploration results, six, commenting on Mexican issues, six announcing financing rounds, five communicating production and financial results, four disclosing deals and corporate issues and four reporting on resources and developments.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Mexican Federal Government has ordered an extension of the suspension of non-essential activities in Mexico until May 30, 2020 in response to COVID-219 pandemic. Firms affiliated to the Mexican Mining Chamber joined to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Secretary of Economic Development of the State of Colima requested the release of the Mining Fund to face contingency caused by COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Mexico ordered to paralyze the mining sector from March 30 to May 30, not considering it an essential activity. The Secretary of Tax Administration (SAT) owes USD $1B to mining companies operating in Mexico. A senator of the MORENA party promotes that mining to be considered essential activity. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Riverside defined high-grade targets and received drill permits for its Los Cuarentas project, and Silver Viper reported high-grade drilling results from its La Virginia project. In Chihuahua, Consolidated Zinc identified widespread Au with high-grade potential at its Plomosas project. In Sinaloa, Oroco filed a revised technical report on its Santo Tomas project. In Jalisco, GoGold released results from twelve drill holes collared at its Los Ricos project. In Guanajuato, VanGold announced it is planning its 2020 campaign to advance its El Pinguino project.   ON MINING, Consolidated Zinc suspended operation since April 6, 2020 at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua due to the COVID-19 pandemic and expects to restart activities on varying dates from May 01 to May 31, based on the pandemic status in their location. Gold Resource reported Q1, 2020 production results from its El Aguila mine in Oaxaca.  Premier Gold reported Q1, 2020 production results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. Santacruz Silver suspended operations at its Zimapan mine in Hidalgo due to COVID-19 pandemic. ON FINANCING, Aloro reported the cancelation of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (Los Venados, Sonora). Golden Minerals entered into a definitive agreement with some investors to raise approximately $3M (Velardeña project, Durango). One World Lithium announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $1M (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California Norte). SilverCrest closed a non-brokered private placement with SSR Mining for gross proceeds of CAD $27M (Las Chispas, Son). SSR Mining secured CAD $0.5M gain from exercise of Silver Crest equity participation right. Consolidated Zinc announced its plan to raise funds for approximately $1.7M.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Capstone released results from five infill and twenty two step-out drill holes collared at its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. GR Silver announced historical drilling results from its Plomosas Silver project in Sinaloa. Consolidated Zinc reported high-grade drilling and channel sample results as part of its inferred to indicated category conversion resources at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. Prime Mining announced results from new surface trenches and road cuts on its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, One World Lithium renewed the agreement with its IR consulting firm and granted them with stock options.  Excellon announced the acquisition of Otis Gold (Platosas mine, Durango). Argonaut and Alio announced its plan to merge and create a diversified intermediate producer in North America (El Castillo mine, Durango). Great Panther announced changes to its board of directors and senior management team (Topia mine, Durango). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Argonaut Gold implemented a sanitation campaign in public spaces, local businesses, offices, homes and streets in the La Colorada community, in Sonora. Bylsa Drilling and SilverCrest provided support and raised awareness in the Rio Sonora community about the importance of being aware and taking the necessary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Esperanza Silver delivered pantries to local communities and protection equipment to doctors and nurses in Cuernavaca and Temixco communities in Morelos state. In Zacatecas, two new water wells were put into operation with resources from the Mining Fund. Minera Peñasquito donated supplies to local hospitals where it is operating and delivered 1,000 pantries in Mazapil to adults over 60 years of age, pregnant women and people with disabilities from 25 communities neighboring their mining operation.  Minera San Xavier (New Gold Inc.) continued the donations of medical material In the face of the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Orbia (former Mexichem) announced that it will donate 50,000 inhalers to the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), in the face of the health emergency caused by the COVID-19. Grupo México donated MXP $1.3M and equipment for Red Cross rescuers of Hermosillo, Sonora to face the health contingency experienced in the state. Pan American donated 900 pantries to the local communities around its La Colorada and Dolores mines, located in Zacatecas and Chihuahua respectively.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Mexican Federal Government, ordered an extension of the suspension of non-essential activities in Mexico until May 30, 2020 to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The directive provides for a potential re-start of operations following May 18, 2020 for operations located in municipalities exhibiting low, or no, cases of COVID-19. Mining companies operating in Mexico are aligned with this decree and will be evaluating zones with the least COVID-19 impact for potential earlier start-up.
  • The Mexican Mining Chamber, announced that their affiliated firms have jointed to fight together against the COVID-19 pandemic. The mining industry has implemented very strict Health and Prevention Protocols in each of its operations since the declaration of the pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The companies affiliated to the Mining Chamber of Mexico have communicated to the authorities that if they allowed continuity they would be unable to operate with less than 50% of the personnel in the field, under the health conditions dictated by the national authorities and applied by international good practices. Mining reaffirms its commitment to the more than 690 communities that host its operations, by implementing joint actions for the care and well-being of its inhabitants and collaborators. 110 joint actions have been carried out with authorities.
  • The Secretary of Economic Development of the State of Colima, requested the release of the Mining Fund to face the contingency caused by the CIVID-19 pandemic and strengthens companies to retain jobs. During the dialogue, the progress made on the commitments made by the State Government in the first extraordinary session was also announced, including tax benefit packages, financial support to companies and the implementation of the Emergent Food Assistance Program.
  • The Government of Mexico, ordered to paralyze the mining sector from March 30 to May 30, not considering it an essential activity. However, mining companies are working to bring health to the regions where they operate. On April 20, the Mining Chamber of Mexico(CAMIMEX) issued a report on the actions in favor of public health undertaken by 29 mining groups affiliated with the Chamber, which they represent 85% of the national mining production and generate around 379,000 direct jobs. Likewise, these mining companies have 182 paramedics, 123 doctors and 74 nurses available to the mining communities, and have a presence in 212 municipalities in Mexico, where they operate. 442 medical units, have 3,362 beds for hospital care, and have supported 10,657 people. “The mining industry reaffirms its commitment to Mexico by being essential as a supplier of raw materials for industrial chains that produce food, medicine, equipment and medical tools, telecommunications, chemicals, among others”, declared Although the mining sector has always supported health of its collaborators and neighboring communities, today, due to the pandemic coronavirus, mining companies make an extra effort to help Mexican society face this health crisis.
  • The Secretary of Tax Administration (SAT) owes USD $1B in VAT to mining companies operating in Mexico. According to the president of CAMIMEX, it is estimated that “in our sector, close to a billion dollars of VAT have been accumulated that the authority has not returned, which has put the flow of several of them at risk.” This is in addition to the economic consequences of social distancing measures and the cessation of non-essential activities, including mining.
  • A senator of the official MORENA party, has asked to the Senate board of directors to consider mining as an essential activity. He promotes to reactivate the mining sector to counteract the economic and social damages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Riverside Resources Inc., defined high-grade gold targets and received drill permits for its Los Cuarentas project in Sonora. The rock-chip sampling returned anomalous Au > 0.2 g/t on 30% of the samples, with high- grade Au samples including 18 g/t, 12.3g/t, 3 g/t, and 3 g/t.  It also identified three new prospective structures: El Sombrerito, defined by a series of old workings;  El Sombrero Norte, mostly covered  by post-mineral andesites; and Rosalia Norte, defined by  steam heated alteration mineralogy and the presence of silicified rhyolite dikes. Riverside announced that it has received the drill permits from the Sonoran Environmental Agency to support further exploration and drilling at its project.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., released results from seven drill holes collared at its La Virginia project in Sonora. Significant drill intersections were encountered in hole LV20-224 with 3.55 g/t Au and 80 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 5.20m, including 8.31 g/t Au and 453 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.74m, including 14.4 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.74m, and 0.56 g/t Au and 21 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.11m; and hole LV20-229 with 0.3 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag over a TW of 4.55m, and 1.27 g/t Au and 106 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.33m, and 0.84 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag over 11.05m, including 10.9 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.65m, and 2.47 g/t Au and 65 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.95m, including 5.16 g/t Au and 31 g/t Ag over 0.65m, and 16.8 g/t Au and 31 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.98m, including 43.7 g/t Au and 40 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.33m, including 6.12 g/t Au and 31 g/t Ag over a TW of 00.33m, and 2.73 g/t Au and 49 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.33m. Currently, al, field activities were paused and drill equipment is stored on site awaiting a restart order.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, identified widespread Au with high-grade potential at its Plomosas project. During a reconnaissance sampling. Highlighted rock chip results from the La Chona and Enrique areas include 6.21 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag on a gossan, 4.75 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag, 3.32 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag, and 2.32 and 6 g/t Ag on limestone/quartz veining, and 1.45 g/t Au, 6 g/t Ag, and 0.64% Cu and 0.82 g/t Au, 3 g/t Ag, and 0.60% Cu on limestone/Fe-Cu Ox. Additionally, mapping has identified mineralized structures to the north of La Chona and Enrique vein systems, related to a large structural lineament. Results from this program are encouraging and further exploration is planned to develop the interpretation of the mineralized systems. Exploration will continue to focus on the La Chona-Enrique system and along the extensions that occur in the northwest.
  • Oroco Resource Corp., filed a revised technical report on the core concession of its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Key revisions focused on the format and cautionary parameters around the disclosure of historical mineral resource estimates.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., released results from twelve drill holes collared at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Significant results were encountered in holes LRGG-20-132 with 0.41 g/t Au and 80 g7t Ag (1.48 g/t AuEq or 111 g/t AgEq) over a width of 49.4m, including 5.42 g/t Au and 865 g/t Ag (16.95 g/t AuEq or 1,271 g/t AgEq) over a width of 3m; and hole LRGG-20-135 with 1.06 g/t Au and 133 g/t Ag (2.82 g/t AuEq or 212 g/t AgEq) over a width of 22.6m, including 1.29 g/t Au and 200 g/t Ag (3.96 g/t AuEq or 297 g/t AgEq) over a width of 11.3m. Drilling at the Los Ricos projects is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 to ensure the safety of the Company’s employees, contractors, and surrounding communities, in compliance with the Mexican Federal government’s mandate that all non-essential business temporarily suspend activities.
  • VanGold Mining Corp., announced it is planning its 2020 campaign to advance its El Pinguino project in Guanajuato. The Company is actively engaged with three separate initiatives: processing a substantial bulk sample through a local mill, making accessible an additional 30 meters of vertical distance at the bottom of the El Pinguico shaft, and developing a comprehensive drill plan to be initiated in late summer/early fall.

ON MINING

  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, suspended operation at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua due to the COVID-19 pandemic and expects to restart activities on varying dates from May 01 to May 31, based on the pandemic status in their location. During the enforced closure of the mine and plant since the 6 April 2020 essential services have repaired key equipment, replaced pumps, completed overhauls on generated power supply equipment and maintained e ready to operate when the Mexican Government allows a return to work.
  • Gold Resource Corporation, reported Q1 2020 production results from its El Aguila mine in Oaxaca. It produced 6,450 Oz Au, 402.5K Oz Ag, 1.1M Lb Cu, 5.6M Lb Pb, and 123.1M Lb Zn.
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited, reported Q1 2020 production results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. It produced 11,587 Oz Au for the period. The production was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The mine was placed into care and maintenance pursuant to the decree from the Mexican Federal Government which took effect March 30, 2020.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., suspended operations at its Zimapan mine in Hidalgo until April 30. Subject to government regulations and other health expert input, activities are expected to re-commence on or about May 1, 2020 or at such other date as mandated by Mexican authorities.

ON FINANCING

  • Aloro Mining Corp., reported the cancelation of its previously announced non-brokered private placement due to COVID-19 pandemic and market conditions (Los Venados project, Sonora).
  • Golden Minerals Company, entered into a definitive agreement with some investors to raise funds for approximately $3M. Gross proceeds will be used to advance its Rodeo and Velardeña properties in Durango.
  • One World Lithium, announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $1M. Gross proceeds will be used to conduct a drilling program at its Salar del Diablo project, Baja California Norte).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., closed a non-brokered private placement with SSR Mining for gross proceeds of CAD $27M. Net proceeds will be used to advance its Las Chispas project in Sonora. With this financing, SilverCrest makes a cash balance of CAD $234M in its treasury. In turn, SSR Mining entered into a transaction for resale of the common shares to a corporation beneficially controlled by Eric Sprott.
  • RSS Mining, secured a gain of CAD $0.5M from the exercise of some common shares of SilverCrest to a third party beneficially controlled by Eric Sprott.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, announced its plan to raise gross proceeds for approximately $1.7M. Gross proceeds will be used for the exploration of Au prospects at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua, to repay unsecured loans, and for working capital.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Capstone Mining Corp., released results from five infill and twenty two step-out drill holes collared at its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. To date, 177 holes of the 200 program have been completed. The most significant drill intersections were encountered in hole CG-20-S471 with 7.58% Cu, 0.26% Zn, 0.01% Pb, and 113 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 5.1m, including 9.61% Cu, 0.32% Zn, 0.01% Pb, and 141 g/t Ag over a TW of 3.7m; hole CG-20-S473 with 5.16% Cu, 0.15% Zn, and 92 g/t Ag over a TW of 5.2m, including 7.38% Cu, 0.21% Zn, and 131 g/t Ag over a TW of 3.4m; hole SG-20-S466 with 3.70% Cu, 0.12% Zn, and 64 g/t Ag over a TW of 7.3m, including 6.16% Cu, 0.19% Zn, and 105 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.9m; hole CG-20-S476 with 5.94% Cu, 0.18% Zn, and 101 g/t Ag over a TW of 3.2m; and hole CG-20-S470 with 4.87% Cu, 0.23% Zn, and 131 g/t Ag over a TW of 16.7m, including 6.95% Cu, 0.40% Zn, and 213 g/t Ag over a TW of 7.2m.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., announced historical drilling results from its Plomosas silver project in Sinaloa. The most significant drill results were in hole SD-45 with 26.9 g/t Au, 44 g/t Ag, 1.2% Zn, and 0.1% Pb over a true width (TW) of 1.5m, and 4.7 g/t Au, 12 g/t Ag, 0.5% Zn, and 0.1% Pb over a TW of 12.2m; hole PLI17-01 with 1.7 g/t Au, 7 g/t Ag, 1.0% Zn, and 1.3% Pb over a TW of 18m, including 11.9 g/t Au, 22 g/t Ag, 0.1% Zn, and 0.2% Pb over a TW of 2.1m; and hole SD-10 with 0.8 g/t Au, 26 g/t Ag, 4.8% Zn, and 6.0% Pb over a TW of 50.6m, including 1.9 g/t Au, 65 g/t Ag, 15.7% Zn, and 15.5% Pb over a TW of 13.4m.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, reported high-grade channel samples and drilling results as part of its inferred to indicated category conversion resources at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. Significant drilling intersections were encountered in hole LV7065 with 24.8% Zn, 8.3% Pb, and 69 g/t Ag over a width of 3.3m; hole LV8023 with 14.2% Zn, 5.4% Pb, and 49 g/t Ag over a width of 5.30m; and hole LV 8025 with 22.5% Zn, 7.5% Pb, and 36 g/t Ag over a width of 3.5m. In addition, 44 channel samples were taken perpendicular to bedding at 2 to 3 m spacing for a total of 97 samples. Significant assays were LV913006 with 43% Zn, 13.5% Pb, and 83 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 2.2m; LV913012 with 36.6% Zn, 20.4% Pb, and 139 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.8m; LV907006 with 36.4% Zn, 19.4% Pb, and 80 g87t Ag over a TW of 1.9m; LV907005 with 35.2% Zn, 19.9% Pb, and 80 g7t Ag over a TW of 1.9m; LV907009 with 34.1% Zn, 28% Pb, and 80 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.8m; LV907010 with 32.7% Zn, 23.5% Pb, and 99 g/t Ag over a TW of 1m; and LV913008 with 31.9% Zn, 23.7% Pb, and 92 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.5m.
  • Prime Mining Corp., announced results from new surface trenches and road cuts on its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. The company will integrate the results into the new resource model. Highlights of the surface trenching sampling are in GW-3750E with 0.83 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag over 12m; GW-3720E with 0.68 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag over 4.5m; and GW-3650E with 0.51 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag over 1.5m. A highlight of the road cut sampling is GW-R51 with 0.49 g7t Au and 22 g/t Ag over 19.5m. The Guadalupe West deposit has been modeled using the previous drilling along with some new trenching and road cut sample data and a pit constrained resource has been estimated (see below table):

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • One World Lithium, renewed the agreement with its IR consulting firm and granted them with stock options. It also granted incentive stock options to three consultants of the company to purchase up to 1.1M common shares at a price of $ 0.01 per common share (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California Norte).
  • Excellon Resources Inc., received final court approval of business combination and announced the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Otis Gold Corp. Under the terms of the Arrangement, Otis shareholders will be entitled to receive 0.23 common shares of Excellon in exchange for each common share of Otis held. The goal is to increase the company precious metals exposure from 50% to 90%.
  • Argonaut Gold , and Alio Gold Inc., announced its plan to merge and create a diversified intermediate producer in North America. Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, all of the Alio issued and outstanding common shares will be exchanged on the basis of 0.67 of an Argonaut common share per each Alio share (El Castillo mine, Durango).
  • Great Panther Mining limited, announced changes to its board of directors and senior management team (Topia mine, Durango).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Argonaut Gold Inc., implemented a sanitation campaign in public spaces, local businesses, offices, homes and streets in the La Colorada community, in Sonora to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The mining company, in accordance with federal and state decrees, maintains the temporary closure of its operation and will continue with this emerging program before COVID-19 with other direct social support for the population.
  • Bylsa Drilling and SilverCrest Metals Inc., provided support and raised awareness in the Rio Sonora community about the importance of being aware and taking the necessary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. At strategic points in the communities, companies also provided different supplies in the region, including thousands of liters of antibacterial gel, chlorine, and soap powder to disinfect and reduce the impact of COVID-19. The companies also support the elaboration of mouth covers by women from the community, and facilitation of the materials required for their preparation. Another important task was to clean roads to have quick and safe access in case of emergency.
  • Esperanza Silver SA de CV (Alamos Gold Inc.), delivered pantries to families in the communities of Tetlama and Milpillas in the Municipality of Temixco and protection equipment to doctors and nurses in Cuernavaca and Temixco municipalities in Morelos state. The company delivered 600 KN95 masks and 1,200 pairs of gloves.
  • In Zacatecas state, two new water wells were put in operation with resources from the Mining fund. With a contribution of 2.5M liters of water per day, one of the wells will beneficiate 18,000 people. The second well will provide 970K liters of water daily for the benefit of hundreds of families in the most populated area of ​​Guadalupe.
  • Minera Peñasquito, donates 660 boxes, 50 pairs of disposable gloves, 3,600 mouth covers, 3,700 disposable gowns, 4,350 N95 respirators and 66 gallons of antibacterial gel, in five medical instances in the area of ​​influence from Peñasquito, such as the San Juan de Los Cedros UMR, the Salaverna UMR, the Mazapil Clinic, the IMSS Hospital of Concepción del Oro and the Sanitary Jurisdiction 7. The company also donated 1,000 pantries in Mazapil to adults over 60 years of age, pregnant women and people with disabilities from 25 communities neighboring their mining operation. This action aims to support the population of the communities surrounding the mining operation, but above all, create conditions so that the population does not leave their homes and can have the possibilities and follow the recommendations of the health authorities to reduce the contagion by COVID-19.
  • Minera San Xavier (New Gold Inc.), continued the donations of medical material In the face of the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation consisted of tyvek type protection coveralls, with complete superior barrier protection, breathability and durability and N95 respirators, masks with a level of filtration recommended by the World Health Organization, with the aim that they are destined for the medical and nursing personnel who work and who will attend cases of COVID 19 in the local hospital.
  • Orbia (former Mexichem), announced that it will donate 50,000 inhalers to the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), in the face of the health emergency caused by the COVID-19. The relationship of Orbia with the inhalers that are commonly called ventolins is very close, since with the fluoride that is extracted at the Las Cuevas mine in San Luis Potosi, approximately 80% of inhalers around the world are produced. These devices are essential for those who suffer from respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  • Grupo México , donated MXP $1.3M and 300 personal protective equipment for Red Cross rescuers of Hermosillo, Sonora to face the health contingency experienced in the state. The protective equipment consists of suits, N95 masks and goggles.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., donated 900 pantries to the communities of La Magdalena, Canoas, La Libertad y Sombrerete in the municipality of Chalchihuites Zacatecas, as well as in the community of Arroyo Amplio, a community around of its Dolores mine in Chihuahua. The pantries were delivered to elderly people with disabilities and families from vulnerable sectors. Different actions have been carried out with the communities, such as sanitation at the IMSS, which is open to the community. Donation of antibacterial gel, covers mouths, gloves and basic health check-up.

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, cervantite crystals in jasperoid in a mining prospect in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

 

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of March, 2020

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

IMG_4731

By Jorge Cirett

During the 10th week of the year (March 2nd to March 8th, 2020), at least 25 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, several companies are interested exploring for lithium in Zacatecas-San Luis Potosí. Grupo Mexico plans to invest 78% more in 2020. Several mining companies are to invest more than $200 M in exploration in Mexico. The year 2019 was not good for the mining industry in the country, with an overall decrease in production. Durango’s governor announced mining investments for $100 M. The Peñasquito mine is expected to produce 1.6 M Oz AuEq per year for the next five years. The Industria Nacional de Autopartes (INA) is promoting the installation of a lithium battery plant. The Future of the Mexican Mining Industry seminar was held during the PDAC convention in Toronto, Canada.  Peñoles is to switch to LP gas its diesel truck fleet at one of its mines in Sonora (Milpillas?). ON EXPLORATION, in Durango, Chesapeake Gold optioned the Duraznito project, near the San Dimas mine. In Veracruz, Azucar Minerals released more drill results from its El Cobre project.  ON MINING, US Antimony reported the successful startup of the Los Juarez production facilities in Queretaro and Guanajuato. Mexus Gold announced small scale heap leach gold production at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Bacanora Lithium presented financial results for the last six months of 2019. Gold Resource presented production figures for 2019. Fresnillo PLC and Premier Gold Mines released financial results for 2019. ON FINANCING, One World Lithium announced the amendment of the terms on a number of  purchase warrants previously issued by the company. Consolidated Zinc entered into unsecured loan facilities with CZL major shareholders. Premier Gold closed its public offering, for gross proceeds of $38 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mag Silver released results from last year’s 28-hole program with over 33,000 m of drilling, including some exciting intercepts. Gold Resource Corp. updated annual reserve estimates for the Oaxaca Mining Unit. Aura Minerals provided mineral reserve and resource estimates to the end of 2019 for the Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas. SilverCrest released metallurgical test results for its Las Chispas project in Sonora.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Mithril Resources is acquiring the company that controls the Copalquin project in Durango. Oroco Resource closed the acquisition of Altamura Copper, furthering its interest on the Santo Tomás project in Sinaloa. Magna Gold is acquiring Alio Gold’s San Francisco mine in Sonora. Sable Resources appointed Ruben Padilla as CEO. Equinox Gold and Leagold Mining received approval for its merger. GR Silver Mining and First Majestic signed a binding agreement on the sale to GR of the Plomosas property in Sinaloa. Prime mining signed a long-term surface agreement on its Guadalupe de Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Cheaspeake gold optioned the El Duraznito project in Durango. Fortuna Silver is involved in legal proceeding regarding a royalty on one of its mining concessions. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Peñasquito  received two awards by Infonavit for its excellent compliance on payments.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Claudia Pavlovich, Sonora’s governor, praised the work women realize in the State, while on a trip visiting mining communities, like Turicachi, Nacozari de García and Cumpas, where she realized various activities.
  • Gustavo Puentes, Secretary of Economic Development, announced several companies are interested in investing in lithium exploration in the border between San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas.
  • Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) supports women collaborators that unite on the movement #UnDíaSinNosotras (One day without us) that is trying to eradicate genre violence.
  • The inauguration of Mexican Stand on the Prospectors and Developers of Canada Convention (PDAC) in Toronto counted with the participation of Graeme Clark, Canada’s ambassador in Mexico, Juan José Gómez Camacho, Mexico’s ambassador in Canada, Francisco Quiroga, subsecretary of Mining, José rosas Aispuro, Durngo’s governor and Salvador García, president of the Asociación de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México (AIMMGM). The Mexico stand was possible due to the support of the AIMMGM, Peñoles, Minera Media Luna, Newmont, Alamos Gold, Endeaavour Silver, Asociación de Mineros de Sonora, Construplan, Detector Exploraciones, SSR Mining Pitarrilla, Santacruz Silver Mining, Starcore, International Mines, MacClean, Diesel Cargo, Accendo Banco, ROD General Contractor and Ecodrill, as the Mexican government no longer supports international promotion.
  • Grupo Mexico plans to invest 78% more in 2020. On mining the budget is US$1,217 M to produce 1.12 M tonnes Cu, further US$367 M to invest in transport and US$412 M in the infrastructure division.
  • Mining industry companies are to invest more than US$200 M in exploration in Mexico during 2020. Torex Gold plans to invest US$13 M in the Media Luna project; Fresnillo will invest over US$135 M in exploration in Chile, Peru and Mexico; First Majestic Silver will invest US$28 M in San Dimas, Durango and Santa Elena, Sonora; Pan American Silver is to invest more than US$37 M at Dolores in Chihuahua and La Colorada in Zacatecas.
  • Mining did not have a good year in Mexico in 2019. Mining is ongoing in 25 States, produces 8.1% of the industrial GNP and had a 5.1% contraction as result of the policies of the actual Federal Government. Since December of 2018 no new mineral concession titles have been granted, and the environmental regulator, SEMARNAT has delivered just one Environmental Impact Report (Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental, or MIA). In Puebla, a local court maintains a suspension of work on El Gorrión mine (Ixtaca) based on a legal complaint by a communal group (ejido) on a mineral concession the company no longer has. The Cosalá mine in Sinaloa is paralyzed by a conflict between unions masterminded by Morena’s senator Napoleon Gómez Urrutia, reminiscent of the conflict suffered by Torex Gold a few months ago under the same terms. The projected investments for US$5,343 M were not achieved, with the projected real figure likely to be around 60%, and exploration at 36% of the expected. Coming interactions of the industry with the Environmental regulator the sub secretary of mining, Francisco Quiroga and Alfonso Romo are to try to better the condition of the industry.
  • The governor of Durango, José Rosas Aispuro announced at the PDAC convention in Toronto, the investment of US$100 M in the mining sector during 2020 in the State.
  • The Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas is the biggest gold mine in Mexico, the second largest for silver and one of the biggest producers of zinc and lead. The mine is expected to produce 1.6 M Oz AuEq per year during the next five years. The company is striving to reduce costs and optimize the operation.
  • The Industria Nacional de Autopartes (INA) promotes the installation of a battery plant based on lithium, to take advantage of the natural resources and the industrial prowess of the country. Bacanora Lithium plans to invest US$420 M on the installation of a processing plant in Bacadehuachi, Sonora, in order to produce 17 K tonnes a year. About 85% of the lithium producers are in Asia, and USA produces 20% of the batteries. The nearness to the USA and sea ports are other advantages for project owned by Bacanora Lithium.
  • During December 2019 mining grew by 0.9% thanks to the push given by a raise of 19.1% in lead production. For the year, mining decreased 1.5%, while lead production grew 13.3%. Los Gatos, in Chihuahua; Minera Capela in Guerrero; San Martin and Peñasquito in Zacatecas and production by Fresnillo aided in the growth seen by the bluish gray metal. Production rates from other metals show increments and decrements to the following tenor During December: Gypsum +14.4%, zinc +8.8%, silver +7.8%, sulphur +5.2%, coke -25.8%, iron pellets -7.3%, coal -5.2%, gold -2.2%, copper -0-8%. For the year: Overall -1.5%, gold -10.2%, silver +1.1%, copper +4.8%, zinc +7.0%, lead +13.3%, iron pellets -0.5%, coke -16.0%, Sulphur -14.7%, fluorite -5.0%, coal -2.0%, gypsum -0.6%. The trend reflects years of decreasing investment in mining, although some new developments might increase the production on lead, zinc, silver and copper.
  • The Future of the Mexican Mining Industry seminar was held during the PDAC convention in Toronto, Canada. Four environmentally focused conferences opened the seminar in which a dialogue table was set with the Mining Sub Secretary Francisco Quiroga, several governors, union leaders, mining company executives, financial analysts and congressmen.
  • Lithium exploration projects in Mexico: There are more than 20 lithium exploration projects in the country, most within Sonora, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Baja California and Coahuila. The most advanced is Bacanora Lithium’s Sonora project in Bacadehuachi, but other interesting properties are comprised by OrganiMax’s Salar La Salada in Zacatecas, and Salar Santa Clara and Salar Caliguey in San Luis Potosí; Litio Infinito’s project in Sonora, adjacent to the ground held by Bacanora Lithium and One World Lithium’s Salar del Diablo project in Baja California.
  • Industrias Peñoles intends to change the fuel used by its mining trucks fleet in a mine in Sonora. The change involves modifying the trucks to run on LP gas instead of diesel (Milpillas mine?).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. announced it has an option to acquire El Duraznito project in Durango, which is 18 Km East of First Majestic’s San Dimas mine. Mineralization is represented by quartz veins and quartz bearing breccias along 1,500 m of longitude and 300 m vertically. Those structures are parallel to the San Dimas veins, and appear to be also of epithermal low sulfidation character. A series of rock chip samples on sub-parallel quartz bearing breccias have returned 45 m @ 1.6 gpt Au, 16 gpt Ag; 30 m @ 3.9 gpt Au, 48 gpt Ag; 23 m @ 1.8 gpt Au, 58 gpt Ag; 15 m @ 3.1 gpt Au, 24 gpt Ag. Channel samples on quartz veins returned 10 m @ 4.8 gpt Au, 464 gpt Ag; 2.5 m @ 3.9 gpt Au, 756 gpt Ag; 2.5 m @ 9.7 gpt Au, 343 gpt Ag; 3.0 m @ 2.8 gpt Au, 113 gpt Ag.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. released results from its ongoing program at El Cobre project in Veracruz. Core length intercepts released include: 158.0 m @ 0.64 gpt Au, 0.26% Cu (including 19.6 m @ 0.83 gpt Au, 0.28% Cu); 71.7 m @ 0.16 gpt Au, 0.12% Cu (including 17.7 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 0.38% Cu); 179.5 m @ 0.20 gpt Au, 0.22% Cu (including 39.95 m @ 0.15 gpt Au, 0.63% Cu and 17.55 m @ 0.48 gpt Au, 0.32% Cu); 112.2 m @ 0.36 gpt Au, 0.26% Cu; 442.2 m @ 0.44 gpt Au, 0.23% Cu (including 158.0 m @ 0.64 gpt Au, 0.26% Cu); 197.5 m @ 0.32 gpt Au, 0.24% Cu (including 16 .0 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 0.81% Cu); 193.5 m @ 0.27 gpt Au, 0.14% Cu.

ON MINING

  • United States Antimony Corp. reported the successful start up of the Los Juarez Au and Ag production at Los Juarez, Queretaro. Detailed mapping delineated jasperoid silica-rich mineralized pipes over an E-W strike length of three kilometres, and a maximum width of one kilometre. Highlighted individual 1.0-1.5 m assays on drill holes range from trace to 25 gpt Au, 13 to 451 gpt Ag and 0.08 to 1.19% Sb. With a mean grade of 1.09 gpt Au, 102 gpt Ag, 0.65% Sb, and recovery rates of 90% Au, 85% Ag, 70% Sb. The ore is being treated by flotation mill, flotation mill and caustic leach and flotation mill tailings and cyanide leach.
  • Mexus Gold US. Announced it is now producing gold daily at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake with First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora). Mexus plans to produce 5 to 7 Oz Au daily, and then increase to 10 Oz Au per day by the end of the month.
  • Bacanora Lithium Plc. provided financial results for the second half of 2019. During the period Bacanora concluded an investment and offtake agreement with Ganfeng Lithium Co, Ltd., raised UK$14.4 M and retained a US$150 M conditional senior debt facility. Engineering work has continued, while full development capital for construction is being pursued.
  • Gold Resource Corp. presented production figures for last year, including figures from its Oaxaca mining unit. During the year, 29,435 Oz Au, 1.72 M Oz Ag, 1,859 tonnes Cu, 2,286 tonnes Pb, 5,734 tonnes Zn were produced. Apporting to that production, 629 .9 K tonnes were milled @ 1.73 gpt Au, 82 gpt Ag, 0.38%Cu, 1.88% Pb, 4.64% Zn at the Arista mine, part of the Oaxaca Mining Unit.
  • Fresnillo Plc. announced financial results for the year 2019. Silver and gold production diminished 11.6% and 5.1% respectively during the period. Total silver production was 47.4 M Oz, with most of such production coming from Saucito (15.9 M Oz Ag), Fresnillo (24.8 M Oz Ag), San Julián DOB (7.4 M Oz Ag), Ciénega (5.3 M Oz Ag) and San Julián veins (4.2 M Oz Ag). A total of 848 K Oz Au were produced, mostly from Herradura (496 K Oz Au), Noche Buena (105 K Oz Au), Saucito (72 K Oz Au), San Julián veins (62 K Oz Au), Ciénega (62 K Oz Au), Fresnillo (46 K Oz Au). The company also produced 49 K tonnes of lead, from Saucito (19.7 K tonnes Pb), Fresnillo (19.5 K tonnes Pb), Ciénega (4.4 K tonnes Pb ), San Julián (5.4 K tonnes Pb), and 78.6 K tonnes of zinc from Fresnillo (26.3 K tonnes Zn), Saucito (25.6 K tonnes Zn), San Julián (19 K tonnes Zn), Ciénega (7.6 K tonnes Zn). Cash cost per silver ounce varied between ($0.2) and $7 per Oz Ag on the different mining units, and gold between $818.6 and $847.8 per Oz Au.
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. released operating results for the quarter ending on December of 2019 and full year 2019 results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At the Mercedes mine in Sonora, 667.7 K tonnes were mined @ 2.91 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag, recovering 95.8% Au, 34.0% Ag, to produce 59,901 Oz Au, 191.3 K Oz Ag. Co-product cash cost was $1,034 per Oz, and co-product AISC $1,263 per Oz Au. For the full year total capital expenditures were $18.8 M, focusing on underground mine infrastructure and development, as well as exploration and replacement of old mining equipment.

ON FINANCING

  • One World Lithium Inc. announced the amendment of the terms of 14.5 M outstanding common share purchase warrants, previously issued by the company (Salar del Diablo, Baja California).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. entered into unsecured loan facilities with CZL major shareholders, the Copulos and Retzos Groups. The loan facilities are for A$400 K at an interest rate of 10% per annum, repayable by the end of June 2021 (Plomosas, Chihuahua).
  • Alamos Gold Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.015 per common share and introduced a dividend reinvestment and share purchase plan (Mulatos, Sonora).
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. closed its previously announced public offering for gross proceeds of $38 M, paying a 5% cash commission, with a reduced 2.5% cash commission on the Orion purchase (check note for further details) (Mercedes, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mag Silver Corp. announced results from the 2019 28-hole program with 33,864 m of drilling on the Juanicipio JV property in Zacatecas. The latest exploration results confirm and expand the wide, high-grade mineralization in the Valdecañas Deep zone and the Anticipada vein, as well as confirming and expanding the Venada vein, and the discovery of the NE trending Valentina and Venadas II veins through drilling and development. Exceptional true width intercepts comprise: 5.7 m @ 3,884 gpt Ag, 8.4 gpt Au, 6.5% Pb, 9.7% Zn, 0.3% Cu; 21.1 m @ 129 gpt Ag, 1.7 gpt Au, 3.5% Pb, 7.8% Zn, 0.2% Cu; 21.2 m @ 147 gpt Ag, 1.2 gpt Au, 3.9% Pb, 8.8% Zn, 0.3% Cu; 1.0 m @ 187 gpt Ag, 10.6 gpt Au, 1.3% Pb, 4.4% Zn; 2.5 M @ 918 gpt Ag, 1.8 gpt Au; 1.2 m @ 279 gpt Ag, 0.7 gpt Au; 0.7 m 1,216 gpt Ag, 3.6 gpt Au.

Gold Resource Corp. updated annual reserve estimates, including figures for its Mexican operations. At the Oaxaca Mining Unit that comprises the Arista and the Mirador mine, 2.83 M tonnes @ 1.97 gpt Au, 122 gpt Ag contain 179,300 Oz Au and 11.1 M Oz Ag in proven and probable reserves.Gold Resource Reserve table 20192Gold Resource Corp Resource table 20191

  • Aura Minerals Inc. provided mineral reserves and resources estimates to the end of 2019, including figures for its Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas.Aranzazu Reserves 20191
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. released metallurgical test results with increased precious metals recoveries at Las Chispas property in Sonora. After nine months of intensive metallurgical tests involving all veins, the results show an increase on recoveries to 96.1% Au and 93.9% Ag. The design criteria envisages a single stage crushing, a sag mill single stage, gravity recovery of 40% to 50% precious metals, leach recovery for gravity concentrate on a 96 hours leach circuit and leach recovery for gravity tails on 96 hours leach circuit.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Mithril Resources Ltd. presented the 2019 end of year report. The most significant event is the ongoing acquisition of Sun Minerals Pty Ltd., which holds an option on the Copalquin project in Durango. The said acquisition is expected to be completed during the present quarter, with field work and drilling to be undertaken shortly after, as the statutory permits have already been obtained.
  • Oroco Resource Corp. closed the acquisition of the balance of the ownership of Altamura Copper Corp., giving the company 100% control of the Santo Tomás porphyry copper project in Sinaloa. The Company holds a 56.7% interest in 1,172.9 ha core concessions of the project, and may increase the interest up to an 81% interest with an investment of up to CAD$30 M. Oroco also holds a 77.5% interest in 7,807.9 ha of mineral concessions surrounding and adjacent to the core concessions.
  • Alio Gold Inc. entered into a definitive share purchase agreement to sell Molimentales del Noroeste S.A. de C.V., which owns 100% interest on the San Francisco mine in Sonora, with Magna Gold Corp.. Under the agreement Alio Gold will receive 9.74 M shares of Magna and an additional $5M in cash a year from the closing.
  • Sable Resources Ltd. announced the appointment of Dr Ruben Padilla to the position of company president & CEO (Margarita, Chihuahua).
  • Equinox Gold Corp. and Leagold Mining Corp. received the clearance decision “from the Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (“COFECE”) with respect to the pending merger between Equinox Gold and Leagold. COFECE approval was the final government agency approval required before completing the merger, which is anticipated to occur in the second week of March” (Los Filos, Guerrero).
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. announced the signing of the definitive binding share purchase agreement to acquire all the shares of Minera La Rastra S.A. de C.V. from First Majestic Silver Corp., and the ownership of the Plomosas Silver project in Sinaloa. The 8,515 ha project includes the old Plomosas mine, four targets at the drill/resource stage and 16 exploration targets and and exploration database with more than 500 historical drill holes.
  • Prime Mining Corp. signed a long-term surface access agreement on its Guadalupe de Los Reyes property in Sinaloa. The agreement signed with the Ejido Tasajera, envisions an initial 15-year term that can be extended for another 15 years. Under the terms of the agreement US$38.3 K were paid on signature, with a following payment of US$20K on year four and US$30 K on year five. If construction begins prior to the fifth year, the annual payment increases to US$30 K, and the payment under commercial production to US$200 K.
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. announced it has an option to acquire El Duraznito project in Durango, which is 18 Km East of First Majestic’s San Dimas mine. Chesapeake is to pay US$228 K in instalments to two concession owners for three years to gain a 60% participation at El Duraznito, and US$500 K to obtain an additional 20%. At the start of commercial production Chesapeake is to make a final payment of US$550 K to the vendors.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc. Provided an update on the status of the legal proceedings related to a disputed royalty on one of its extracting mining concessions at the San Jose mine in Oaxaca. Fortuna initiated legal proceedings against the Dirección General de Minas (DGM) to contest the procedure taken by the DGM to cancel one of its mining concessions if the disputed royalty plus VAT is not paid before March 15, 2020. A permanent stay of execution (amparo) was granted, but the final ruling might take months and the company might be required to pay the disputed royalty.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • INFONAVIT executives from the Zacatecas Direction provided the Peñasquito mine with two awards for its excellent compliance with the payments of dues to the housing fund of its workers.

Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.

On the image below: Hydrothermal breccia sealed by silica in a thermal spring in Baja California, picture by Jorge Cirett.

IMG_4731

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of December, 2019.

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chalcedonic quartz vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the forty-nine week of the year (December 2nd to December 8th, 2019), at least 31 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with nine commenting on Mexican issues, six informing on exploration results, four announcing financial rounds, four reporting on resources and developments of their properties, three communicating production and financial results, three disclosing deals and corporate issues and two discussing issues on social responsibility.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Alejandro Tello, governor of Zacatecas State, obtained MXP $430M from the 2016-2017 Mining Fund for infrastructure work. Mexico´s mining production suffered a sharp decline in September. Fernando Alaniz, president of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), demanded for long-term certainty in Mexico for mining investment purposes. Fresnillo plc announced that it will allocate approximately USD $670M in new and sustainable projects.  Grupo Mexico announced an investment of USD $250M in the construction of a wind farm in Nuevo León. A Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice proposed to invalidate the changes applied in 2019 to the Mining Fund. CAMIMEX announced that mining companies claime tax return to have funds to invest. The Under Secretariat of Mining, Francisco Quiroga Fernández, confirmed there is a lithium deposit in Bacadéhuachi, Sonora.  ON EXPLORATION, In Baja California Norte, One World Lithium provided an update on its 4 holes drilling program being conducted at its Salar del Diablo project.  In Sonora, Colibri announced results from 100 samples collected at its Evelyn project. In Chihuahua, Radius and its JV partner Pan American Silver released results from the phase 3 drilling program at its Amalia project, and Valterra refined drill targeting on its Los Reyes project. In Jalisco, GoGold released drill results from eight holes collared at its Los Ricos project. In Oaxaca, Megastar identified multiple high potential epithermal targets at its Magdalena project. ON MINING, Santacruz reported Q3, 2019 production and financial results (Veta Grande, Zacatecas).  Alio Gold announced production and cost guidance for 2020. (San Francisco mine, Sonora). Consolidated Zinc advised that mining of its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua will be managed and operated by the company. ON FINANCING, San Marco revised its non-brokered flow through private placement on October9, 2019 (Chunibas project, Sonora). Tocvan Ventures announced that its shares are now listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange with the symbol TV3 (El Pilar project, Sonora). First Mining announced a flow through equity financing for gross proceeds of approximately to $2M (San Ricardo project, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Capstone reported that drilling results from its Cozamine mine in Zacatecas returned higher grades and wider intercepts than in current reserves. Starcore presented its updated NI 43-101 mineral reserves and resources at its San Martin mine in Queretaro. US Antimony provided an update on its Puerto Blanco mill in Guanajuato for its Los Juarez Au-Ag and Sb deposit in Querétaro. Mexus Gold announced that its new 500GPM Merrill Crowe Au recovery plant is complete and operational (Santa Elena mine, Sonora). ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, San Marco retained Momentum Public Relations Inc., to assists with strategic business development activities (Chunibas project, Sonora). Argonaut provided an update on its San Antonio project permitting in Baja California Sur.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Grupo Mexico, through its health and social care program called Dr Vagón, attended nearly 3,000 consultations in Delicias, Chihuahua. Peñoles, through its Community Center, informed about the planned activities to be performed in the coming Christmas season.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Alejandro Tello, governor of Zacatecas State, obtained $430M from the 2016-2017 Mining Fund to be invested in 2010, in 41 infrastructure works in Zacatecas, such as construction and rehabilitation of roads, and sports infrastructure projects, among others.
  • Mexico’s mining production, suffered a sharp decline in September while the industry continue dealing with community relations, security and political challenges. Overall production fell 4.7% compared to the same month last year, with Au and Pb among minerals registering double-digit falls. Ag and Cu production fell 2.2% and 1.3%, respectively, with coke, sulfur and fluorite seeing the greatest decreases, 22.3%, 13.2% and 12.7%. Only the production of coal, Zn and non-coking plaster increased, by 7.2%, 2.0% and 1.3%. Part of the fall can be attributed to a blockade at the Peñasquito mine in Newmont Goldcorp, one of Mexico’s largest producers of Au, Ag, Pb, and Zn.
  • Fernando Alanis, president of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), demanded for long-term certainty conditions in Mexico for mining investment purposes. The mining sector has invested significant amounts in recent years, with 2012 being the year of greatest investment, which was approximately USD $8,043M. Mining investment has been falling and in 2016 it reached USD $3,752M, and the current year it is believed to have exceeded USD $2,600 M. “Mining is a sector that can generate a lot of investment in places that require many services and support from our entire sector and the only thing we ask is that there be certainty conditions in order to continue generating investment attraction”.
  • Fresnillo plc, announced that it will allocate USD $670 M in new and sustainable project, increasing its investment by 14.5% in 2020. “The capital investment forecast for new 2021 projects is expected to be around USD $475M, while by 2022, USD $415M, ”said Octavio Alvidrez, General Director of the company. By 2020, Fresnillo plans to extract 54M Oz Ag, 8% lower than expected by the end of 2019; while Au would be 857 K Oz. By 2021 the company expects to increase the extraction of Ag by 22%, as they expect to obtain 66 M Oz.
  • Grupo Mexico, reported an investment of USD $250M in the construction of a wind farm in the state of Nuevo León, México. The Fenicias project will have a production capacity of 168 megawatts and will be interconnected with the National Electric System through the construction of a transmission line of more than 60 km in the area of ​​Reynosa, in the state of Tamaulipas. “Grupo México will increase its power generation capacity to almost 800 megawatts, becoming one of the main power generators in the country,” said the company, in the release. The commercial operation of this wind farm is planned to begin in early 2021.
  • Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V., announced that it continues growing and now there are already 31,500 workers. The General Director of Peñoles, Fernando Alanís Ortega, also confirmed that all of its 2019 production is sold.
  • A Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice, proposed to invalidate the changes applied to the Mining Fund in 2019. The Mining Fund was reformed in the Revenue Law of the Federation of 2019, removing from the states and municipalities the resources raised by the extraordinary right to mining created in 2014. This reform caused 33 controversies, one of the Chihuahua Executive, which is the first on the list, and 32 of municipalities of five states. Until 2018, the collection of mining rights was divided into two exchanges: 22.5% was distributed to all states and Mexico City as a federal share -which in 2018 was MXP $2,605M, and the remaining 77.5 percent was sent to the Mining Fund, which accumulated MXP $11,325M from 2014 to 2017. Municipalities received 62.5% of the Mining Fund for public works premises, which in the case of Chihuahua alone included 330 projects in four years. After the 2019 reform, the money went to the Ministry of Economy (SE) with the idea of ​​applying them for the Welfare Tandas, a program of the current government that gives credits to micro entrepreneurs for up to MXP $15K. In 2020, the changes to the Mining Fund will be applied in the Federal Law of Rights, which is where it has existed since its creation. Now, the majority of Morena in Congress determined that 85 % of the money will go to the SEP for the construction of schools, 10% to the federal government for other works, and 5% to the SE to supervise the mining activity, without funds being provided for local governments of mining areas, nor to distribute funds to its entities.
  • The Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), said that companies in the mining sector are claiming the return of taxes to maintain their cash flow and have funds to carry out new investment projects. In a statement, CAMIMEX said that, being highly exporting companies, they always get a balance in favor when they file their returns with the Tax Administration Service (SAT).
  • The Under Secretariat of Mining, Francisco Quiroga Fernández, confirmed the existence of a lithium deposit in Bacadéhuachi, Sonora, which will begin production in 2022. Sonora is the main mining state in the country and with the discovery of this site reinvents itself, since in the world there is a race to develop lithium and now the state is within that future.

ON EXPLORATION

  • One World Lithium Inc., provided an update on its 4 holes drilling program being conducted at its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California Norte. To date, hole DDH-1 has been collared to a depth of 650m, and hole DDH-2 has reached 590m with a planned depth of 650m. Hole 3 will commence soon at a location where there is evidence of historic and currently hydrothermal activity, which can be a source of lithium. Depending on the hole DDH-3 results, a fourth hole will be drilled to complete the planned drilling program.
  • Colibri Resource Corporation, announced results from 100 samples collected at its Evelyn project in Sonora. Of the samples taken, 30 returned >0.1 g/t Au, 24 returned > 0.2 g/t Au and 12 returned > 0.75 g/t Au. With the recent mapping and sampling program conducted at the Evelyn project, the compnay has identified two separate NW corridors with favourable structures containing Au: Cerro Rojo and El Sahuaro areas. Rock-chip sampling from these areas have returned encouraging values ranging from 0.5 up to 73.4 g/t Au and correspond with anomalous Au soil samples taken previously. Colibri is planning to conduct a 1,000m drilling program to test these target areas.
  • Radius Gold Inc., and its JV partner Pan American Silver Corp., released results from the first 2 diamond drillholes of the phase 3 drilling program at its Amalia project. Hole AMDD19-016 encountered 1.53 g/t Au and 41 g/t Ag over 120m (75m of true width), related to disseminated fine black sulphides and sulphide veining in ignimbrite rhyolites and transitioning to intense silicification, stockwork veining, and breccias. Hole AMDD19-17, was collared 100m north of hole AMDD19-016 and intersected with anomalous values up to 2.26 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag over a section of 30m wide silicified fault breccia, but no potentially economic mineralization was encountered. Drilling is ongoing at Amalia project, and results will be released upon they become available.
  • Valterra Resource Corporation, refined drill targeting on its Los Reyes Cu-Au project in Chihuahua, using the recently completed surface sampling along an 800m strike length of a Cu-Au skarn and a 4.8 line km 2D/3D DCIP geophysical program. 22 out of 28 samples returned Cu values > 1% at an average grade of 3.1% Cu and up to 5.9% Cu. The anomalous samples returned up to 0.57 g/t Au, 25 g/t Ag, 0.47% Mo, and 1.7% Zn. The geophysical survey identified a strong conductivity anomaly along the intrusive contact which projects more than 400m through four of the five main areas of historic old workings and defines the main target for test drilling. Conductivity and chargeability anomalies were also identified in all the survey lines and are spatially associated or adjacent to areas of known historical surface mineralization. “The Company is initially targeting a 5-10M tonnes, shallow high grade Cu-Au resource localized along the strike length of the exposed skarn zone. Further work will examine the deeper potential of the mineralizing system including a potential Porphyry Cu-Au source for the shallow high-grade mineralization.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., released drill results from the last eight holes collared at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco, of which four were drilled in San Juan Area, two in the Main Area, and two along the south edge of the Main Area. Highlights of the holes collared in the San Juan Area include hole LRGG-19-073 with 1.12 g/t Au and 117 g/t Ag (2.67 g/t AuEq or 200 g/t AgEq) over 33.5m, including 3.01 g/t Au and 184 g/t Ag (5.47 g/t AuEq or 410 g/t AgEq) over 9.5m, and including 1.81 g/t Au and 291 g/t Ag (5.70 g/t AuEq or 427 g/t AgEq) over 3.0m; hole LRGG-19-76 with 0.73 g/t Au and 123 g/t Ag (2.38 g/t AuEq or 178 g/t AgEq) over 38.5m, including 1.70 g/t Au and 260 g/t Ag (5.17 g/t AuEq or 387 g/t AgEq) over 5.8m, and including 1.58 g/t Au and 220 g/t Ag (4.51 g/t AuEq or 338 g/t AgEq) over 6.0m; and hole LRGG-19-77 with 1.03 g/t Au and 94 g/t Ag (2.29 g/t AuEq and 172 g/t AgEq) over 26.0m, including 4.28 g/t Au and 241 g/t Ag (7.49 g/t AuEq or 562 g/t AgEq) over 4.3m. In the Main Area, hole LRGG-19-065 encountered 0.23 g/t Au and 84 g/t Ag (1.35 g/t AuEq or 101 g/t AgEq) over 13.1m, including 0.50 g/t Au and 155 g/t Ag (2.57 g/t AuEq or 192 g/t AgEq) over 5.4m. To date, GoGold has completed 90 diamond drill holes totaling 15,140m.
  • Megastar Development Corp., identified multiple potential epithermal targets at its Magdalena project in Oaxaca. During the first mapping and sampling exploration campaign conducted at the property, 277 rock chip samples were taken and the geologist found characteristics of a significant epithermal system with 59 rock samples returning above 0.2 g/t Au, 24 samples returning above 0.5 g/t Au, 12 samples returning above 1 g/t Au, and 2 samples returning above 3 g/t Au. “Strong epithermal alteration is found along a minimum 1.7 km long E-W structural trend that shows sheeted quartz vein sets and silicification in conjugate NNW to NNE-NE structural sets. The setting is the eastern structural margin of a caldera where it intersects a prominent regional E-W structural trend. Approximately 4,100 square meters of silicified bladed calcite textures have been mapped within a larger area of strong and sheeted quartz veining. This main zone, along with other prominent outliers, constitutes easy-to-access and drill-ready targets”.

ON MINING

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported Q3, 2019 production and financial results from its operations. At Zimapan mine, Hidalgo, the company milled 82,242 tonnes to produce 606.6K Oz AgEq at cash cost of $41.89 per ton, or $16.32 per Oz AgEq produced, and an AISC of $18.56 per Oz AgEq produced. At Veta Grande mine, Zacatecas, it milled 43,999 tonnes to produce 214.3K Oz AgEq at a cash cost of $47.67 per tonne or $19.79 per Oz AgEq produced, an AISC of $26.77 per Oz AgEq produced. At El Rosario mine, San Luis Potosi, Santa Cruz milled 22,048 tonnes to produce 132K Oz AgEq, at cash cost of $82.10 per tonne or $27.96 per Oz AgEq produced, and an AISC of $38.63 per Oz AgEq produced. Consolidated numbers for its mining operations were 148,289 tonnes milled to produce 952.8K Oz AgEq, at cash cost of $49.58 per tonne or $18.52 per Oz AgEq produced, and an AISC of $22.83 per Oz AgEq produced. Consolidated mining operations generated a gross profit of $102 including gross profit from Zimapan of $992, and gross losses from Rosario and Veta Grande of $672 and $511 respectively plus mine services gross profit of $293.
  • Alio Gold Inc., announced production and cost guidance for 2020. It expects to produce between 12K-15K Oz Au at cash cost of USD $1,700-$1,800 per Oz.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, terminated its mining contractor and advised that mining of its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua will be managed and operated by the company in order to significantly reduce its mining cost. “The Company is confident it can deliver improved performance from the mine before the end of December. During this short transition period processing ore and concentrate from existing stockpiles will continue to provide revenue”.

ON FINANCING

  • San Marco Resources Inc., revised it non-brokered flow through private placement announced on October 9, 2019 It now consists of 266,667 shares at a price of $0.15 each (Chunibas project, Sonora).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., announced a bought deal financing for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD $80M. Net proceeds will be used to continue the exploration and development of its Las Chispas project in Sonora.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., announced that its shares are now listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE) with the symbol TV3. The Company expects that the FSE listing will help increase trading liquidity and facilitate investment in the Company by institutional and retail investors across Europe (El Pilar project, Sonora).
  • First Mining Gold Corp., announced a flow through equity financing for gross proceeds of approximately $2M (San Ricardo project, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  •  Capstone Mining Corp., reported that the infill drilling program at its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas returned higher grades and wider intercepts than in current reserves. 20 infill drill holes were collared, bringing the total drilled to date to 138 holes of a 200 holes program. Significant drill interceptions were encountered in hole CG-19-S434 with 2.2% Cu and 44 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 20.3m, including 5.28% Cu and 97 g/t Ag over a TW of 5m; hole CG-19-S427 with 4.01% Cu and 67 g/t Ag over a TW of 6.1m; hole CG-19-S429 with 1.49% Cu and 51 g/t Ag over a TW of 18.5m, including 1.92% Cu and 70 g/t Ag over a TW of 5.5m; hole CG-19-S433 with 1.27% Cu and 31 g/t Ag over a TW of 24.6m, including 2.99% Cu and 62 g/t Ag over a TW of 7.1m; hole CG-19-S426 with 3.15% Cu and 58 g/t Ag over a TW of 12.2m, including 6.97% Cu and 121 g/t Ag over a TW of 4.1m; and hole CG-19-S418 with 3.98% Cu and 84 g/t Ag over a TW of 8.4m.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., released its updated Ni 43-101 mineral reserves and resources at its San Martin Mine in Queretaro. Total proven and probable mineral reserves and resources as September 30, 2019 are 1,434,308 tons of 2.04 g/t Au and 27 g/t Ag for a total of 109.1K Oz AuEq contained. Total inferred and indicated mineral reserves and resources are 1,713,120 tons of 1.91 g/t Au and 19 g/t Ag for a total of 118.4K Oz AuEq contained. The total of Oz AuEq contained in both categories is 227.5K.
  • US Antimony Corporation, provided an update on its Puerto Blanco mill in Guanajuato for its Los Juarez Au-Ag and Sb deposit in Querétaro. It could be ready for cyanide leach testing by the end of December.
  • Mexus Gold US, announced that its new 500GPM Merrill Crowe Au recovery plant is complete and operational. It is capable of handling 3K tonnes a week mining operation and will allow for future expansion as well.

 ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • San Marco Resources Inc., retained Momentum Public Relations Inc., to assists with strategic business development activities. The agreement with Momentum has a term of 12 months at $8,500 per month (Chunibas project, Sonora).
  • Argonaut Gold Inc., provided an update on its San Antonio project permitting in Baja California Sur. It announced that SEMARNAT issued a ruling to not approve the updated Environmental Impact Assessment (MIA in Spanish), citing that the MIA is non-compatible zoning based on a revised, 2018 zoning plan filed by the Municipality of La Paz. The Company is reviewing all of its options from seeking an amendment to the La Paz 2018 zoning plan based upon the July 2016 supreme court ruling, submitting a revised MIA and legal options.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., provided an update on the ongoing legal action with respect of the La Antigua mining concession included in Excellon´s acquisition of Silver Eagle Mine Inc. in 2009, which includes a portion of the historic mineral resource at Miguel Auza in Zacatecas. Silver Eagle, the Plaintiff, sued Excellon for non-compliance with the agreement and specifically for not operating the Miguel Auza Mine and the Court granted the Plaintiff an award of approximately $23M predominantly in damages for the Miguel Auza mine not being in operation. “Excellon expects this decision to be reversed and rationalized in the federal court system. In the interim, it does not expect any impact on its ongoing business activities”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Grupo Mexico, through its health and social program called Dr Vagón (the health train), attended nearly 3,000 consultations last week in Delicias, Chihuahua. Specialist of the health train performed 256 mammograms or tests for the detection of breast cancer, Pap smears, and placed the Intra Uterine Device (IUD) in women. Apart from the mastographs and Pap smears, audiometries and vasectomies were performed on men.
  • Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V., through its Community Center, informed about the planned activities to carry out in the coming Christmas season. Dolores Herrera, coordinator of the center, also announced a proposal for the realization of the Human Development workshop, promoted by the National Association for Personal Improvement AC (ANSPAC), with duration of a year and a half.

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, chalcedonic quartz vein in a low sulphidation epithermal system from a prospect in Durango, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of October, 2019.

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Chalcedonic quartz breccia

By Miguel A Heredia

During the forty-one week of the year (October 7th to October 13th, 2019), at least 29 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with eight communicating production results, seven announcing financial rounds, five informing on exploration results, three commenting on Mexican issues, three reporting on resources and developments of their projects, two disclosing deals and corporate issues, and one notifying on social responsibility.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Newmont-Goldcorp confirmed that the illegal blockade of its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas was lifted on October 8, 2019. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Azure released high grade results from 21 dump samples at its Alacran project, and announced the identification of five new targets.  In Chihuahua, Sable completed a ground geophysical survey at its Vinata project, and the Pan American-Radius JV announced the commencement of the phase 3 exploration work on its Amalia project. In Durango, Chesapeake provided updated results from its on-going regional exploration program near its Metates project. In Zacatecas, Advance Gold initiated the second phase of a geophysical survey on its Tabasquena project. ON MINING, Newmont-Goldcorp, Coeur, Consolidated Zinc, Endeavour, GoGold, Great Panther, Hecla, and US Antimony presented Q3, 2019 production results from their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Advanced Gold announced its plan to rise up to $250K through a non-brokered private placement (Tabasquena project, Zacatecas). Discovery Metals announced its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceed of up to $17M (Cordero deposit, Chihuahua).  First Mexican announced the share cancellation, consolidation, and reinstatement of its common shares, as well as its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $0.5M (Guadalupe property, Sonora). Fortuna Silver announced the closing of convertible debenture of the over-allotment option for gross proceeds of $46M (San Jose mine, Oaxaca). Goldplay announced its plan to complete a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $2.5M (San Marcial property, Sinaloa).  Magellan announced agreements to convert an aggregate of $2.45M of outstanding debt obligations into a newly-created series of preferred shares of the company (San Dieguito de Arriba flotation plant, Nayarit). Vizsla received conditional approval from TSX for the acquisition of Canam Alpine Ventures LTD, and resumed trading on October 9, 2019 (Copala-Panuco project, Sinaloa). Santacruz reported that the Silva Family acquired an aggregate of 30M common shares, at a deemed price of CAD $0.05 per share for total deemed consideration of CAD $1.5M (Veta Grande project, Zacatecas). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, SilverCrest announced expansion drill results and the discovery of a new vein at its Las Chispas project in Sonora. Mexus Gold reported that the Merrill-Crow Au recovery plant for its Santa Elena mine in Sonora is en route. Mexican Gold presented a new NI 43-101 resource estimate for its Las Minas project in Veracruz. US Antimony informed that the fencing of the tailings pond, completion of the water well, and most of the major construction has been completed at its Puerto Blanco mill for its Los Juarez mine in Queretaro. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Canuc completed its final payment for the El Tule 1 claim at its San Javier project in Sonora. Santacruz completed the acquisition of Carrizal Mining and reported that the Silva Family acquired an aggregate of 30M common shares.    ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Alamos Gold received the corporate social responsibility (CSR) best practices award, for its achievements in social, economic and environmental sustainability (Mulatos mine, Sonora).

 ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Newmont-Goldcorp Corporation, confirmed that the illegal blockade of its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas was lifted on October 8, 2019, however, operations remain temporarily suspended pending to further assurances. “The company continues to work closely with the federal and state governments toward a sustainable, long-term solution, and lifting of the blockade paves the way for the government-sponsored dialogue to resume”.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Azure Minerals Limited, released high grade results from samples collected from 21 dumps that surround some of the historical old workings in the southeast area of its Alacran project in Sonora, and announced the identification of five new targets. This sampling returned very high grades with maximum values of 3,675 g/t Ag, 24.1 g/t Au, 2.3% Cu, 33.5% Pb, and 21.0% Zn. 10 samples returning values greater than 1,000 g/t Ag (average of 21 samples = 1,073g/t Ag); 17 samples returning values greater than 1.0g/t Au (average of 21 samples = 4.43g/t Au); 10 samples returning values greater than 1.0% Cu (average of 21 samples = 0.95% Cu); 12 samples returning values greater than 10.0% Pb (average of 21 samples = 14.92% Pb); and 10 samples returning values greater than 10.0% Zn (average of 21 samples = 9.28% Zn). “This first-pass sampling is very encouraging and further systematic sampling and detailed mapping of the veins will commence shortly to provide targets for follow-up trenching and drilling”.
  • Sable Resources, completed 170km of GroundMag conducted along E-W lines spaced 200m apart, and 8,950m of CSAMT surveys in nine lines at its Vinata project in Chihuahua. “The outcropping NNE epithermal vein system, which represents the main target at the project, appears coincident with a MagLow running on the western margin of the rhyolite intrusion for over 3 km in strike. Some stratigraphic features are also defined on the Mag sections; including a well-defined MagLow feature observed at the contact between the rhyolite intrusion and the interpreted limestones that underlie the upper volcanic sequence; this contact constitutes an additional potential target zone. At Vinata Sur the outcropping faults and breccias containing Fe-Mn oxides and associated Mn, Ba, Sb, As, Mo, Zn anomalies, hosted by volcanic rocks, are coincident with an elliptical shape NS oriented MagLow”. These geophysical surveys were carried out as preparation work for the first ever upcoming drilling campaign, which will consists of 2,000m to test for high-grade precious metal horizons approximately 200 metres below anomalous surface samples. This Phase 1 drill program will be expanded should positive results warrant additional drilling.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., – Radius Gold Inc JV, announced the commencement of the phase 3 exploration work on its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Pan American will operate this phase of exploration work, which will be focused on preparation and execution of the phase 3 drilling program that includes an additional 2,500m of diamond drilling.
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., provided updated results from its on-going regional exploration program near its Metates project. “Three significant Au-Ag prospects, Crisy, San Javier and Cerro Pelon, continue to demonstrate district scale potential within different regional structural settings associated with intermediate composition intrusive rocks”. The most significant trench sampling results at Crisy prospect were 1.4 g/t Au and 75 g/t Ag over 43m; 1.9 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over 38m; and 2.4 g/t Au and 80 g/t Ag over 24m. At San Javier prospect, channel samples returned 1.6 g/t Au and 25 g/t Ag over 12m and 8.3 g/t Au and 1,972 g/t Ag over 1.6m. At Cerro Pelon prospect, channel samples collected on a new identified NW trending breccia yielded significant results such as 33 g/t Au over 3m, and 3.4 g/t Au over 10m.
  • Advance Gold Corp., initiated the second phase of a 3D IP survey on its Tabasquena project in Zacatecas. The goal is to explore to the south the 800m by 500m chargeability anomaly detected during the first phase IP survey, where the anomaly comes closest to surface.

ON MINING

  • Newmont-Goldcorp Corporation, reported Q3, 2019 production results from its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. It produced 58K Oz Au, 7.4M Oz Ag, 51.1M Lb Pb, and 83.1M Lb Zn. The illegal blockade impacted Peñasquito’s third quarter production by approximately 11K Oz Au, 1.7 M Oz Ag, 13.7 M Lb Pb and 22.8 M Lb Zn, and is expected to impact the company’s full-year results for the operation.
  • Coeur Mining Inc., presented Q3, 2019 production results from its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. The company milled 442,464 tonnes of 2.8 g/t Au and 152 g/t Ag, to produce 31.8K Oz Au and 1.7M Oz Ag. Metallurgical recoveries were 81.7% and 79.6% for Au and Ag respectively. Coeur announced that its full-year production guidance remains unchanged at 95K-105K Oz Au and 6.5-7.2M Oz Ag.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, announced production results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua for the period September, 2019. The company milled 1,363 tonnes with grades of 10.4% Zn, 7.5% Pb, and 32 g/t Ag, to produce 318K Lb Zn, 228.5K Oz Pb, and 1,402 Oz Ag. It also reported that 3,607 tonnes were milled and processed at the Aldama facility with grades of 10.4% Zn, 7.5% Pb, and 32 g/t Ag. The ore material processed produced high-quality clean Zn and Pb concentrates free to smelting and refining.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., reported Q3, 2019 production results from their four Mexican operations. Consolidated production was a total of 234,196 tonnes of 144 g/t Ag and 1.49 g/t Au with metallurgical recoveries of 87.6% and 86.7% respectively, to produce 5K Oz Ag and 9.7K Oz Au. The table below shows the production figures  by separate mine:

  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented production results from its Parral tailings project in Chihuahua for the period Q3, 2019. The company produced 326.6K Oz Ag and 2,921 Oz Au (580.7 Oz AgEq).
  • Great Panther Mining Limited, announced Q3, 2019 production results from their Topia and Guanajuato mines. At Topia mine in Durango, it processed 21,761 tonnes of 0.86 g/t Au and 418 g/t Ag, with metallurgical recoveries of 4% and 93.8% respectively, to produce 344 Oz Au, 274.2K Oz Ag, 1.2M Lb Pb, and 1.5M Lb Zn (501.5K OZ AgEq). At its Guanajuato mine complex, the company processed 44K tonnes of 2.47 g/t Au and 119 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 85.4% and 85.6% respectively, to produce 3K Oz Au and 143.8K Oz Ag (383K Oz AgEq).
  • Hecla Mining Company, presented Q3, 2019 production results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. The mill at San Sebastian operated at an average of 586 tonnes per day, to produce 0.6M Oz Ag and 4,719 Oz Au.
  • US Antimony Corporation, reported estimated sales for the period Q3, 2019 from their Mexican operations. It sold 381.7K Lb Sb, 12.5 Oz Au, and 3.4K Oz Ag.

ON FINANCING

  • Advance Gold Corp., announced its intention to rise funds up to $250K through a non-brokered private placement. Net proceeds will be used to advance its Tabasquena project in Zacatecas.
  • Discovery Metals Corp., announced its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $17M, including an investment of 5M from Eric Sprott. “The balance of Mr. Sprott’s investment will be completed with the purchase of subscription receipts, which if converted, will increase his interest in the company to approximately 22%, assuming the private placement is fully subscribed (Cordero deposit, Chihuahua)”.
  • First Mexican Gold Corp., announced a number of administrative tasks that the company had to work diligently to get a reinstatement of trading of its common shares on the TSX. First Mexican cancelled 9M shares that it had issued without obtaining prior TSX approval, and then, 1M shares without TSX approval as payment to arrange a credit facility. Once this problem was solved by the director and offices of the compnay, First Mexican consolidated its common shares on a ten for one basis, reducing the number of its outstanding common shares from 81,844,360 to 8,184,429. It also announced its intention to complete a post-consolidation basis private placement for gross proceeds of up to $0.5M but TSX notified that it will be unable to complete the offering until the company shares are reinstated for trading. As such, the company has cancelled the offering and will look to complete it at a future time. First Mexican has worked diligently looking the revocation of a cease trade order issued by the various commission securities. The company finally reported that the trading of its common shares will reinstate on October 11, 2019 (Guadalupe property, Sonora).
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., announced the closing of convertible debenture of the over-allotment granted to CIBC Capital Markets, Scotiabank, and BMO Capital Markets. The company sold unsecured convertible debentures for gross proceeds of USD $6M in connection with the bought deal offering completed on October 2, 2019 for gross proceeds of USD $40M, bringing the total aggregate gross proceeds to USD $46M (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).
  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd., announced its intention to complete a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $2.5M. It also has granted the agent an option to increase the size of the offering by up to 20% of the number of shares. Net proceeds will be used for exploration work on its San Marcial property in Sinaloa.
  • Magellan Gold Corporation, announced agreements with its primary secured creditors and largest shareholder to convert an aggregate of $2.5M of outstanding debt obligations into a newly-created series of preferred shares of the company. The Preferred Shares will carry a $2.45 million liquidation preference, subject to adjustments, be convertible into common stock at $1.00 per share and bear a 10% annual dividend payable in kind at the option of the company. “The agreements release and reduce liens on certain assets of the company and convert portions of both its secured and unsecured debt holdings to preferred shares in order enhance the balance sheet and facilitate new financing arrangements (San Dieguito de Arriba flotation plant, Nayarit).
  • Vizsla Resources Corp., received conditional approval from TSX for the acquisition of Canam Alpine Ventures Ltd., and resumed trading on October 9, 2019 (Copala-Panuco project, Sinaloa).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported that the Silva Family acquired an aggregate of 30M common shares, at a deemed price of CAD $0.05 per share for total deemed consideration of CAD $1.5M. This transaction represents approximately 14.7% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the company on a non-diluted basis and 15.3% on a partially-diluted basis assuming the exercise of the stock options owned by Mr. Silva (Veta Grande project, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., reported the results of 31 expansion drill holes for Giovanni, Blanquita, and Las Chispas veins and the discovery of a new vein (Blanquita Dos vein) at its Las Chispas project in Sonora. The most significant expansion drill results were encountered in hole LC19-111 (Giovanni Vein) with 8.99 g/t Au and 1,424 g/t Ag (2,098 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 1.6m; hole LC19-107 (Las Chispas Vein) with 7.72 g/t Au and 1,105 g/t Ag (1,584 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 1.2m; and hole LC19-101 (Giovanni Vein), with 4.17 g/t Au and 642 g/t Ag (955 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 2.5m. These drill results confirmed that deeper mineralization which could expand the current resource estimate at Las Chispas project. SilverCrest also reported the discovery of a new vein called Blanquita Dos Vein. “The La Blanquita Dos Vein is a new near-surface discovery located in the hanging wall of the La Blanquita Vein. The most significant drill intersection encountered on this vein was in hole LC19-98 with 6.58 g/t Au and 274 g/t Ag (767 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 0.8m, including 13.1 g/t Au and 392 g/t Ag (1,375 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 0.4m. This vein is approximately 50 metres from La Blanquita and was discovered while drilling to depth for the Giovanni Vein and the Las Chispas Vein. “There are currently 18 core drills operating at Las Chispas; 16 surface and 2 underground. This includes one rig completing process plant site condemnation, 16 rigs completing in-fill and known vein expansion holes in the Babicanora Area veins, and one rig working on new vein targets in the Las Chispas Area with two more to be re-allocated after in-fill drilling completion. Approximately 80 holes for 30,000 metres remain to be completed in 2019 of which 25 to 35 holes (8,000 metres) are for the Las Chispas Area veins. An updated resource estimate, including the Las Chispas Area veins, is expected in H1, 2020, along with the ongoing feasibility study”.
  • Mexus Gold US, reported that the Merrill-Crow Au recovery plant for its Santa Elena mine in Sonora is en route, as well as a 80Kw generator which is necessary to run the plant. The company expects the new equipment to be operational by November 1st, 2019.
  • Mexican Gold Corp., presented a new 43-101 resource estimate for its Las Minas project in Veracruz. The new resource estimate as of September 12, 2019. Indicated resources are 5,457,000 tons of 1.78 g/t Au, 6.5 g/t Ag, and 1.25% Cu (3.67 g/t AuEq), for a total of 313K Oz Au, 1.15M Oz Ag, and 150.3M Lb Cu (645K Oz AuEq).  Inferred resources are 2,514,000 tons of 1.25 g/t Au, 5.5 g/t Ag, and 0.94% Cu (2.68 g/t AuEq) for a total of 101K Oz Au, 446K Oz Ag, and 51.96M Lb Cu (217K Oz AuEq).
  • US Antimony Corporation, informed that the fencing of the tailings pond, completion of the water well, and most of the major construction has been completed at its Puerto Blanco mill for the Los Juarez mine in Querétaro. Testing will proceed during the completion of the laboratory.

 ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Canuc Resources Corporation, completed its final payment to Minerales y Carbones de Mexico S.A. de C.V., for the El Tule 1 claim. Canuc has expanded its san Javier project area in Sonora State by 151.14 ha. The company now owns 17 contiguous mineral concessions along the San Javier mineralized corridor, extending to 3km from the historical Santa Rosa mine old workings.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., completed the acquisition of Carrizal Mining S.A. de C.V., after purchasing the remaining 50% of outstanding shares of PCG Mining S.A. de C.V., which is the parent holding of Carrizal Mining S.A. de C.V, in consideration for the issue of 30M common shares of the compnay. It also reported that the Silva Family acquired an aggregate of 30M common shares, which represent approximately 14.7% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on a non-diluted basis and 15.3% on a partially-diluted basis assuming the exercise of the stock options owned by Mr. Silva.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Alamos Gold Inc., received the corporate social responsibility (CSR) best practices award, for its achievements in social, economic and environmental sustainability (Mulatos mine, Sonora).This award created by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy and the alliance for CSR was granted to Minas de Oro Nacional, a subsidiary of Alamos Gold as its program called “A new horizon for the families of Mulatos and Matarachi” was the winner in the category of community engagement.

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, chalcedonic quartz breccia with disseminated pyrite in a project in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of September, 2019.

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Fault-bx with Mn oxides

By Miguel A Heredia

During the thirty-seven week of the year (September 09th to September 15th, 2019), at least 31 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with ten informing on exploration results, ten reporting on resources and development of their projects, four announcing financial rounds, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, and one commenting on Mexican issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Karen Flores was appointed as general director of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX).  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aloro released drilling results from its Los Venados project, Riverside identified three targets from mapping and sampling its recently acquired Los Cuarenta project, Tamino announced its exploration expenditure guidance for 2019-2020, and Oceanus announced the commencement of the 2019 exploration program at its El Tigre project. In Chihuahua, Radius and Pan American Silver announced the commencement of the phase 3 drilling work at its Amalia project. In Durango, Gainey awarded drilling contract for its Las Margaritas project.  In Jalisco, GoGold reported drill results from its Los Ricos project, and Silver Spruce announced high grade Au assay values from surface rock sampling conducted at its Cocula project. In Veracruz, Mexican Gold discovered a new resistivity anomaly at Cinco Señores area within its Las Minas project. ON MINING, US Antimony reported estimated sales for August 2019. Consolidated Zinc announced August 2019 production from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua.  ON FINANCING, Consolidated Zinc announced a plan to rise $3.5M via private placement and pro-rata non-renounceable rights offer (Plomosas mine, Chihuahua). Fortune announced a USD $40M bough deal financing (San Jose mine, Oaxaca), and granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional USD $6M aggregate. Silver Viper increased its private placement to $4M (La Virginia project, Sonora). Defiance announced that it has applied for approval to extend by one year the expiry date of 5.75M of outstanding warrants (San Acacio project, Zacatecas).   ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Almaden provided an update of the progress achieved to build its Ixtaca mine in Puebla. Discovery Metals announced mobilization for a 35,000m drilling program at its recently acquired Cordero project in Chihuahua. Azure reported that Au-Ag exploration is underway on its Alacran project in Sonora. Impact released drilling results and expands at depth the San Ramon mine in its Zacualpan mining district in Mexico state.  Leagold announced drilling results from its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. Orla awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas. US Antimony reported progress on its Los Juarez Au-Ag project in Queretaro.  Oroco filed a geological technical report regarding its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Sonoro reported that a program of 3D modelling, mapping and sampling is underway at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Almaden appointed its new VP Project Development to oversee detailed engineering and construction of its Ixtaca project in Puebla. Golden Goliath granted stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants (San Timoteo project, Chihuahua). Golden Minerals announced termination of sale agreement with Autlan regarding the sale of certain of its Mexican properties. Millrock completed the sale of certain of their Mexican mining concessions to Riverside. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

 ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Karen Flores, was appointed as general director of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX). It will be the first time since its foundation in 1906 that CAMIMEX will be run by a woman.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aloro Mining Corp., released drilling results from the last four holes collared in the southeastern area of its Los Venados project in Sonora for a total of approximately 1,347m drilled. The drilling intersected a felsic dome with 3-10 weight percent pyrite content in pervasive altered volcanic flow units and intrusive dome rock unit up to 200 meters thick. Assay results were discouraging showing very low grade Au, between 0.1-0.2 g/t Au, in scattered intercepts from 1.5-7.6m wide throughout the broad zone of pyritized felsic dome. No more work is planned in this area of the concession.
  • Riverside Resources Inc., completed the acquisition of Los Cuarenta project in Sonora from Millrock, where it has identified three targets. The Santa Rosalia target is the highest priority of the 3 targets and is defined by past open cut and underground vein mining where recent sampling has shown a strike length of more than 500 m and open to the east and west.
  • Tamino Minerals Inc., announced its business development plan and exploration expenditure guidance for the period 2019-2020. The plan is to identify and acquire high-quality, advanced-stage exploration projects and discover early-stages opportunities that can be strategically tested and quickly progressed to key decision point. Exploration expenditure guidance are planned to be $5M in 2019-2010, with $2M in the Amalia project, $1.2M in the El Volcan project, and $1.8M in other small exploration projects and acquisitions.
  • Oceanus Resources Corporation, announced the commencement of the 2019 exploration program at its El Tigre project in Sonora. The Company has recently mobilized the exploration team back to the property to continue prospecting and mapping, as well as, sampling in the area of the Caleigh vein. The objective of this program is to establish drill targets.
  • Radius Gold Inc., and Pan American Silver Corp., announced the commencement of the phase 3 drilling program at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Pan American Silver intends to complete further geological mapping, re-logging of previous drill core, and drilling an additional 2,500 m as part of the phase 3 program.
  • Gainey Capital Corp., announced that it has finalized the reparation and construction of approximately 39Km of road and a water reservoir system to support its planned drilling program at its Las Margaritas project in Durango. The company received the approval from SEMARNAT to drill up to 32 targets. Gainey has already awarded the drilling contract and will commence soon a first phase of drilling comprising 2,190m to test 16 drill targets.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., released drill results from four new holes drilled at the Main Zone, and underground channel sampling results from its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Significant intersections were encountered in hole LRGG-19-034 with 0.92 g/t Au and 177 g/t Ag (3.28 g/t AuEq) over 20.1m, including 3.41 g/t Au and 621 g/t Ag (11.68 g/t AuEq) over 4.9m; and in hole LRGG-19-035 with 1.29 g/t Au and 127 g/t Ag (2.99 g/t AuEq) over 24.4m, including 3 g/t Au and 258 g/t Ag (6.44 g/t AuEq) over 9.8m. In addition, GoGold rehabbed the historic El Troce old working where a mapping and channel sampling program was conducted. Encouraging results were obtained with grades varying from 0.98-6.8 g/t Au, and 44-492 g/t Ag over 2-3 m wide. Given the results, the company has decided to move a drill to test the targets at El Troce area.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., reported high grade Au assay values from surface rock sampling conducted at its Cocula project in Jalisco. Nine out of twenty six rock chip samples recently taken from surface outcrop returned Au assay values of 0.88 g/t Au up to 12.55 g/t Au, Ag values of 13 g/t Ag up to 53 g/t Ag, and Pb values of 0.2% Pb up to 7.4% Pb. These recent sample assays continue to confirm the presence of widespread Au mineralization at surface, along with Ag and Pb values. The company also announced that it filed the first ever 43-101 technical report for its advanced Au Cocula project. Silver Spruce will continue its due diligence activities designed to support a definitive purchase decision of the property.
  • Mexican Gold Corp., discovered a new resistivity anomaly at the Cinco Señores target area in its Las Minas project in Veracruz. This notable TEM resistivity anomaly, similar in size to the El Dorado Au-Cu-Ag resource, extends more than 700m towards the Las Minillas target. The company plans to drill test this anomaly in the near future.

ON MINING

  • US Antimony Corporation, reported estimated sales for August 2019. It sold 146.6K Lb Sb and 1159 tons of zeolites. “The Company continues to take steps to reduce its costs of producing Sb products in response to the lower global sale prices.”
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, provided August 2019 production results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The company mined 2,794 tonnes of 14% Zn, 8% Pb, and 42 g/t Ag, and processed 2,913 tonnes of 13.5% Zn, 8% Pb, and 39 g/t Ag.

ON FINANCING

  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, announced a plan to rise A$3.5M to fund the Plomosas mine operations in Chihuahua, to process the pending sale of Zn-Pb concentrate currently stockpiled, and for working capital. A$2.48M will be rised through pro-rata non-renounceable rights offer, and A$1M through a private placement.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., entered into an agreement to rise USD $40M via a bought deal financing. The company also granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to and additional USD $6M aggregate (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., increased its private placement from $3M to $4M. The net proceeds will be used to continue exploration and development of its La Virginia project in Sonora.
  • Defiance Silver Corp., announced that it has applied for TSX Venture Exchange approval to extend by one year the expiry date of an aggregate of 5.75M of outstanding warrants exercisable at $0.45 per share (San Acacio project, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  •  Almaden Minerals Ltd., provided an update to their shareholders of the progress achieved to build its precious metal Ixtaca mine in Puebla. The company reported that the waste rock and flotation tailings have low potential for metal leaching. It also reported that the mine plan considers a dry stack filtering tailings facility, and co disposal with waste rock with no tailings dam, eliminating the risk of a tailings dam failure. Almaden has received letters from INAH clearing the area for development, from PROFEPA confirming it has conducted exploration work in accordance with the environmental code, and from the authority responsible for indigenous affairs confirming that no indigenous communities are located in the mine impact area. Local community members have publicly expressed their support of the project. One key aspect to develop the Ixtaca mine was the strong support granted for over 800 people from the local community. They signed a declaration of support for the project and delivered to the environmental authorities, and a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with local water users. The Municipality has included mining as one of its accepted investment and development activities. Based on the FS, an initial investment of USD $174M is required to generate an after-tax internal rate of return of 42% and NVP of USD $310M, using a discount rate of 5% and precious metals prices of USD $1,275/Oz Au and USD $17/Oz Ag. The project would employ over 400 people during an 11-year mine life and would also provide updated infrastructure to a highly marginalized region.
  • Discovery Metals Corp., announced mobilization to conduct a 30,000 – 35,000 m drilling program at its recently acquired Cordero project in Chihuahua. The company plans to commence it in about five weeks from now and expect to be completed in twelve months, with the focus of delineating and discovering the highest-grade phases and domains of the mineralized system, and testing new high priority targets. The company has estimated 20,000-25,000m of drilling at the Cordero deposit and 10,000m on six regional areas that require follow-up work and drill testing.
  • Azure Minerals Limited, reported that Au-Ag exploration is underway around Mesa de Plata and Loma Bonita deposits on its Alacran project in Sonora. The Mesa de Plata deposit (10.5M tonnes of 82 g/t Ag for 27.4M Oz Ag, including 1.8M tonne of 275 g/t Ag for 15.5M Oz Ag) remains open to the west but is constrained in this direction by the concession boundary. To the north and east the mineralization has been truncated by erosion, however the mineralized zone remains open to the south.  Potential for repetitions of Mesa de Plata exist further to the north, where outcropping vuggy silica forms similar-looking silicified ridges. Further exploration is planned for this area. At the Mesa Bonita deposit (5.4M tonnes of 0.9 g/t Au and 28 g(/t Ag for 150K Oz Au and 4.8M Oz Ag), the mineralized zone is constrained to the west by erosion into a valley but remains open to the north, south, east and at depth down-dip. Being open in several directions, there is good potential that further drilling will significantly increase the size of the resource.
  • Impact Silver Corp., presented drilling results from its Zacualpan project in Mexico state and extended the mineralization 50m to depth at the San Ramon mine. Significant drill intersections were encountered in hole MPZ-284-19 with 321 g/t Ag, 0.38 g/t Au, 0.19% Pb and 0.60% Zn over 2.62m true width, hole MPZ-285-19 with 1,393 g/t Ag, 2.15 g/t Au, 2.4% Pb, and 6.4% Zn over 1.58m true width and 305 g/t Ag, 0.97 g/t Au, 0.7% Pb, and 1.7% Zn over 1.38m true width, hole MPZ-287-19 with 418 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 2.14m true width, and hole MPZ-288-19 with 214 g/t Ag, 0.9 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 1.87m true width, and 317 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 1.22m true width. Known mineralization over the total San Ramon workings has a down dip length of over 500m. Further drilling is planned to further test the extent of this prolific zone.
  • Leagold Mining Corporation, announced drilling results from its Los Filos underground and the Guadalupe open pit mines in Guerrero. Highlights from the Los Filos underground mine include 8.86 g/t Au over 45m and 6.59 g/t Au over 15.46m. Highlights from the Guadalupe open pit include 1.4 g/t Au over 32.73m, including 7.71 g/t Au over 2.67m, and 6.2 g/t Au over 10.61m, including 10.55 g/t Au over 5.2m. The drill program at Los Filos will contribute to the reserve base and extend the mine life. At Guadalupe, the drilling program is testing for extensions of the mineralization at depth and also confirming the limited nature of old underground workings prior to open pit mining in this area.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas. Orla expects to begin the detailed engineering work by mid-September to build a mine that begins to produce Au in mid-2021. Au production is expected to average 97K Oz Au per year at an estimated AISC of USD $576 per Oz Au. Orla submitted permits applications to SEMARNAT for the MIA and change of land use at the end of August. The legislated timelines for the review of properly prepared MIA and change of land use applications and mine operating permits for a project that does not affect federally protected biospheres or ecological reserves are 120 working days and 105 working days, respectively, which can be completed concurrently.
  • US Antimony Corporation, announced progress on its Au-Ag Los Juarez project in Queretaro. It completed the installation of the ponder liner in the 2 hectares tailings pond and the deepening of the water well to 222m to provide more than 240 gallons per minute. “The pond and the well will be more than adequate to ramp production from 100 tons per day to 400 tons per day. Projects remaining include fencing the pond, completion of the laboratory for fire assaying precious metals, and atomic adsorption equipment for assaying Sb, Ag, and Au in the leach circuit. The mil fine ore bin has been filled with crushed ore from the mine. Initial testing could start within 30 to 60 days.
  • Oroco Resource Corp., filed a geological technical report regarding its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. “The report summarizes a data set now controlled by the company that comprises 90 historical drill holes totaling 21,075 m, and recommends a significant program of phased surface exploration, deep geophysical surveys, and diamond drilling that aims to verify and build upon a key new geological model and a substantial body of historical drilling, mineral resource estimates, and pre-feasibility studies. The Report provides the company with a current, technical foundation upon which to advance the Santo Tomás project by confirming the technical analysis of the mineralization on the property”.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., reported that a program of 3D modelling, mapping and sampling is underway at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. It also launched a phase 3 drilling program to test the Veta de Oro, La Espanola, Cuervos and Guadalupe/Cabeza Blanca zones, where previous scout holes reported intervals of high-grade vein Au mineralization. “The program is a continuation of the company’s strategy of systematically exploring Cerro Caliche as it concurrently advances its proposed heap leach pilot operation (HLPO). Drilling to date continues to outline shallow, bulk tonnage Au mineralized zones with grades similar to operating heap leach mines in the region”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., appointed its new VP Project Development to oversee detailed engineering and construction of its Ixtaca project in Puebla.
  • Golden Goliath Resources Ltd., granted 3M stock options to directors and officers, and 400K to employees and consultants. The incentive stock options are exercisable for a period of five years at a price of $0.10 (San Timoteo project, Chihuahua).
  • Golden Minerals Company, announced termination of sale agreement with Compañia Minera Autlan S.A.B. de C.V., regarding the sale of certain of its Mexican properties. The CEO of Golden informed that unfortunately they could not come to terms with Autlan and now they are in position to consider future options for the properties that were included in the Autlan agreement (Velardeña and Rodeo in Durango, and Santa Maria project in Chihuahua).
  • Millrock Resources Inc., completed the sale of five of their Mexican properties to Riverside Resources Inc. La Union, Los Cuarenta, El Pima, El Valle and Llano del Nogal, all located in Sonora state, were the mineral concessions sold to Riverside along with a copy of its exploration database and various exploration equipments and vehicles. Consideration paid to Millrock is $35K cash and 300K Riverside shares. Additionally, Riverside will grant a 0.5% NSR royalty on the El Pima and El Valle claims, and in the event that Riverside exercises the option on Santa Rosalia (Los Cuarenta project), it will grant a 0.5% NSR royalty on that claim to Millrock.

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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, a fault-bx with Mn oxides in a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.