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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 First Week of December, 2022.

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Drill core displaying ginguro bands

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 48th week of the year (November 28th to December 04th, 2022), at least 20 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 7 news published by the media with seven reporting resources and developments of their properties, seven commenting on Mexican issues, five disclosing deals and corporate issues, three communicating production and financial results, three announcing financing issues, one informing on exploration results, and one discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Altos Hornos de Mexico assured that the power outage at its plants is an act of bad faith derived from charging millions of dollars to Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) for illegal cancellation of coal supply. The Secretariat of Economy identified 159 mining companies with foreign capital operating in 26 states of Mexico (mostly juniors and exploration) in 2021. According to the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), Newmont, Industrias Peñoles and Fresnillo operated the main zinc mines in Mexico in 2021. Maria Luisa Albores, the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) informed deputies, in a very unfortunate statement, that the federal government will not grant more authorizations for open-pit mining due to the negative impacts on the environment and human health. Grupo Mexico maintained its position as the largest copper producer in Mexico, adding a total of 1.25 B Lb Cu in 2021.  Prime Mining, Aztec Minerals, GoGold, Vizsla, and Oroco reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of December, 2022. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec Minerals reported results for the last three holes from the recently completed phase 3 drill program at its Cervantes project. ON MINING, Bear Creek reported Q3, 2022 production and financial results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. Guanajuato Silver reported Q3, 2022 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. Orogen reported Q3 operating and financial results. ON FINANCING, SilverCrest announced that it has refinanced its USD $120M secured project financing facility (Las Chispas project, Sonora). Prime Mining announced a CAD $16.5M bought deal private placement financing, the same that later on was upsized to CAD $18.3M (Los Reyes project, Sinaloa). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Barksdale reported an initial Resource Estimate at Cerro Verde within its San Javier project, Sonora.  GoGold presented results from its ongoing drilling program at its Los Ricos South property in Jalisco. Oroco released results from seven holes collared in the North Zone at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Prime Mining announced results from seven holes from its recently completed phase 2 drill program at its Los Reyes project, Sinaloa. SilverCrest announced the completion and final permanent connection to power line for its Las Chispas mine in Sonora. Starcore released its Mineral Resource Estimate and NI 43-101 compliant technical report for its El Creston project in Sonora. Vizsla announced results from seven drill holes targeting the southern extension of the Napoleon Vein at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Canuc signed a comprehensive agreement with the Ejido of San Javier, located in the Municipality of San Javier, Sonora. First Majestic announced the proposed sale of its royalty portfolio to Metalla Royalty for a total consideration of USD $20M. Kootenay announced the appointment of Dale Brittliffe as its new VP Exploration (Columba project, Chihuahua). Riverside received USD $2.5M in cash and 2% royalty from Fresnillo plc for the sale of the Tajitos project, Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Ricardo Sierra Oteiza, spokesman for the mining company Esperanza Silver de Mexico, stated that gold and silver mining is an activity that has the capacity to accelerate economic processes at the local level, generating employment, encouraging local supply networks, contributing tax revenue to the treasury and contributing to the social and economic development of the communities hosting mining projects, among other benefits.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Altos Hornos de Mexico S.A.B. de C.V. (AHMSA), assured that the power outage at its plants is an act of bad faith derived from charging millions of dollars to Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) for illegal cancellation of coal supply. AHMSA is owned by Mexican businessman Alonso Ancira, who assured that CFE’s actions are unjustifiable because they represented the loss of 4,000 direct jobs and more than 8,000 indirect ones, in addition to having generated disorder in the general coal industry. “These aggressive actions began after the Judiciary accepted a claim for damages for USD $700M for the unilateral and illegal cancellation of the supply of coal for the two generating plants located in Nava, Coahuila,” accused the company. “AHMSA stated that the actions taken by the management of the CFE show that it does not care about harming Coahuila and the people of Coahuila, since our plants located in that entity represent a direct source of livelihood for 17,000 Coahuila families.
  • Karen Flores, General Director of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), declared that the Federal Government stops additionally collecting up to MXP $25 B after the suspension of mining concessions and the paralysis of new permits. She explained that the policy of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has halted more than 800 mining projects that only await federal authorization to start operations. “If the projects that are stopped were to start up, we would be talking about MXP $20 to 25 B per year to the federal treasury,” she said. She maintained that only in terms of taxes, the industry entered the public coffers in 2021 more than MXP $60 B and in seven years, MXP $240 B, an amount that could be higher if there were no obstacles in the current legislation.
  • The Secretariat of Economy identified 159 mining companies with foreign capital operating in 26 states of Mexico (mostly juniors and exploration) in 2021. These companies operate 1,209 projects, of which 822 were halted and nine operations reported closing at the end of last year. The mining GDP in Mexico was MXP $865.2 B in 2021, a growth of 1.6% year-on-year, in real terms (based on GDP calculated in constant MXP $ with purchasing power as of December 31, 2013). For their part, mining-metallurgical exports amounted to USD $23,579M in 2021, a figure that meant an increase of 28.1% compared to the previous year. The significant increase in exports allowed that, despite the increase that was also reported in imports, an increase in the positive balance of the mining-metallurgical trade balance of 29.6% was registered and reached a value of USD $11,904M. The positive results in foreign trade in minerals consolidated the mining-metallurgical industry as the fifth source of foreign exchange, surpassing tourism and the agricultural sector, and only behind the automotive industry, the electrical and electronic equipment and machinery industry, remittances and oil exports. The mining sector presented an increase in the contribution to the National GDP, going from 2.3% in 2020 to 2.5% in 2021, and in the Industrial GDP the record went from 8.3% to 8.6% in the study period, according to data from the Mining Chamber of Mexico. Gold remained the main product of the national mining-metallurgical industry in 2021, with a share of 28.4% in the total value of production, followed by copper with 27.7% and silver with 20.4%.
  • According to the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), Newmont, Industrias Peñoles and Fresnillo operated the main zinc mines in Mexico in 2021. Peñasquito, owned by Newmont and located in the state of Zacatecas, leads the ranking, with 245.84K tonnes Zn, then follow two mines of Industrias Peñoles: Velardeña, Durango with 909.68K tonnes Zn, and Tizapa State of Mexico with 40.13K tonnes Zn. The table below shows the Zn production by mine for the year 2021:

The Buenavista Zinc project, in Sonora, is located within the Buenavista facilities and includes the development of a new concentrator to produce approximately 100K tonnes Zn and 20K tonnes Cu per year.

While the project has all the necessary permits, the project budget is USD $413M and is expected to start operations in 2023. As of December 31, 2021, Grupo México had invested USD $217M in this project. When completed, Grupo México anticipates that this new facility will double the company’s zinc production capacity and provide 490 direct and 1,470 indirect jobs. Other notable companies are: Gatos Silver, Minera Frisco and Gold Resource.

  • Maria Luisa Albores, the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) informed deputies, in a very unfortunate statement, that the federal government will not grant more authorizations for open-pit mining due to the negative impacts on the environment and human health. When appearing before the joint commissions for the Environment and Natural Resources, and Climate Change and Sustainability of the Chamber of Deputies, the federal official also announced that mining concessions were detected in 68 Protected Natural Areas, “which contravenes the conservation and protection of the territory and its natural resources”. Opposition legislators such as the PAN members questioned the programs of this administration such as “Sembrando Vida”, pointing out that they do not have operating rules that allow their transparency and the energy transition has been aborted, in addition, environmental deforestation is not punished.
  • Grupo Mexico maintained its position as the largest copper producer in Mexico, adding a total of 559.83K tonnes Cu in 2021. The company maintains copper production operations in Sonora, Chihuahua, San Luis Potosí and Zacatecas. With this, the company registered a coverage of 76.3% of the national copper production in 2021. The table below shows the Cu production by mine during 2021:

Prime Mining Corp., Aztec Minerals Corp., GoGold Resources Inc., Vizsla Silver Corp., and Oroco Resources Corp., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of December, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp., reported results for the last three holes from the recently completed phase 3 drill program at its Cervantes project in Sonora. The most significant drill intercept was encountered in hole CAL22-031, which was collared in the California Zone with 0.87 g/t Au over 28.5m, plus 0.58 g/t Au over 85.5m, including 2.3 g/t Au over 12m. “This drill hole confirms the footwall of the main California Zone mineralization at depth and fills a large gap in the drilling pattern”.

ON MINING

  • Bear Creek Mining Corporation reported Q3, 2022 production and financial results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. The company mined 126,420 tonnes of 2.92 g/t Au and processed 148,211 tonnes of 2.45 g/t Au with a metallurgical recovery of 95.53% to produce 11,170 Oz Au. Bear Creek sold 14,445 Oz Au at a cash and all-in-sustaining cost per Oz Au sold of USD $995 and USD $1,364 respectively at a realized price of USD $1,729 per Oz Au. The company reported revenues of USD $26.54M from the sale of gold and silver; a net loss of USD $7.7M; cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments as September 30, 2022 for USD $9.6M. Bear Creek plans to mine approximately 600K tonnes of 3.7 g/t Au to produce between 60K and 73K Oz Au in 2023.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., reported consolidated Q3, 2022 production and financial results from their Mexican operations (El Cubo and San Ignacio mines in Guanajuato, and Topia mine in Durango). The company mined 107,379 tonnes and milled 107,009 tonnes to produce 329.3K Oz Ag, 3,226 Oz Au, 537.6K Lb Pb, and 677.1 Lb Zn (700.3K Oz AgEq) at cash and all-in-sustaining cost of USD $13.86 and USD $19.53 per Oz AgEq respectively. It sold 311.7K Oz Ag, 2,997 Oz Au, 504.4K Lb Pb, and 273.3K Lb Zn (628.3K Oz AgEq). Guanajuato Silver reported revenue of USD $8.87M; cost of sales of USD $12.2M; mine operating loss of USD $3.34M; net loss of USD $8.4M; and cash on hand of USD $6.36M.
  • Orogen Royalties Inc., reported Q3 operating and financial results. The company reported a net gain from operations of CAD $123.4K or CAD $0.001 per share; revenue of CAD $1.16M from the Ermitaño royalty with 478 attributable Oz AuEq sold at average price of USD $1,728 per Oz Au; net income of CAD $203K from prospect generation activities and recognized  an impairment of CAD $262.1K for projects that have been dropped during the period; general and administrative expenses of CAD $802.1K and a loss of CAD $468K on fair value adjustments of marketable securities due to capital markets volatility. It also reported cash flow from operating activities of CAD $188.5K; cash flow from operating activities excluding changes in non-cash working capital of CAD $10.7M including CAD $3.3M in cash and cash equivalents, and CAD $5.2M in short term investments and no long-term debt.

ON FINANCING

  • SilverCrest Metal Inc., announced that it has refinanced its USD $120M secured project financing facility, of which only USD $90M was drawn with a new USD $120M senior secured credit facility through a syndicate of lenders comprised of The Bank of Nova Scotia and Bank of Montreal (Las Chispas project, Sonora).
  • Prime Mining Corp., announced a CAD $16.5M bought deal private placement financing consisting of 11M units at a price of CAD $1.5 per unit, the same that later on was upsized to CAD $18.3M for the sale of 12.2M units at a price of CAD $1.5 per unit. Gross proceeds will be used to develop and explore its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa and for general corporate purposes.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Barksdale Resources Corporation reported an initial Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) at Cerro Verde within its San Javier project, Sonora. The Resource is pit-constrained and considered a base case of USD $4/Lb copper. The table below shows the MRE effective as of October 31, 2022:

Cerro Verde remains open for expansion in most directions and the Mesa Grande and La Trinidad prospects both have historic drilling that indicates the presence of copper mineralization. Barksdale plans to initiate a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) at Cerro Verde that envisions a low-strip copper heap operation to produce cathode copper on site.

  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented results from its ongoing drilling program at its Los Ricos South property in Jalisco. Highlights of the drilling include hole LRGG-22-218 with 3.98 g/t Au and 529 g/t Ag (11.04 g/t AuEq or 828 g/t AgEq) over 15m, including 12.43 g/t Au and 1,626 g/t Ag (34.1 g/t AuEq or 2,558 g/t AgEq) over 4.8m, including 20.32 g/t Au and 2,774 g/t Ag (57.31 g/t AuEq or 4,298 g/t AgEq) over 2.8m, including 37.90 g/t Au and 4,250 g/t Ag (94.57 g/t AuEq or 7,093 g/t AgEq) over 0.9m. Drilling results continue to confirm high grade wide intercepts in the Main deposit on Los Ricos South property.
  • Oroco Resource Corp., released results from seven holes collared in the North Zone at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Highlights of the drilling include hole NO32 with 0.34% Cu, 0.005% Mo, 0.021 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.37% CuEq) over 88.7m; hole NO34 with 0.34% Cu, 0.011% Mo, 0.029 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.40% CuEq) over 267m; hole NO35 with 0.37% Cu, 0.006% Mo, 0.042 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.42% CuEq) over 220.5m; and hole NO36 with 0.43% Cu, 0.002% Mo, 0.092 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.51% CuEq) over 139.6m. “The company has now completed 43 drill holes (28,119 m of drilling) in its 2021-2022 North Zone drilling confirming  good grade mineralization along 1,700 m of strike, demonstrating a westward dipping panel with consistent grades down-dip to about 400-500 m depth below the ridge, bottoming about sea level. The program is nearing completion with the remainder of the program focused on expanding the shallow seated mineralized zone on the hanging wall along the south-west side of the Gradeshell with the continued goal of increasing the resource in this newly identified zone”.
  • Prime Mining Corp., announced results from seven holes from its recently completed phase 2 drill program at its Los Reyes project, Sinaloa. Highlights of the drilling include hole 22GE-118 with 3 g/t Au and 215 g/t Ag over a true width (TW)of 5.5m, including 6.8 g/t Au and 469 g/t Ag over a TW of 1m, plus 6.8 g/t Au and 166 g/t Ag over a TW of 18.3m, including 11.6 g/t Au and 262 g/t Ag over a TW of 9.1m, plus 4.8 g/t Au and 144 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.8m, plus 2.9 g/t Au and 89 g/t Ag over a TW of 7.2m, including 9.9 g/t Au and 231 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.4m, including 2.9 g/t Au and 101 g/t Ag over a TW of 7.2m, including 7 g/t Au and 327 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.4m, plus 2 g/t Au and 72 g/t Ag over a TW of 7.4m, including 2.8 g/t Au and 90 g/t Ag over a TW of 4.4m: hole 22GE-121 with 12.8 g/t Au and 646 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.1m, plus 4.2 g/t Au and 212 g/t Ag over a TW of 12.7m, including 10.2 g/t Au and 547 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.5m, plus 10.9 g/t Au and 765 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.4m, plus 21 g/t Au and 413 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.3m; hole 22GE-122 with 2.2 g/t Au and 54 g/t Ag over a TW of 13.8m, including 9.1 g/t Au and 141 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.1m, plus 8.8 g/t Au and 289 g/t Ag over a TW of 5.6m, including 33.2 g/t Au and 1,072 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.4m; and hole 22GE-120 with 6.8 g/t Au and 207 g/t Ag over a TW of 6.8m, including 12.2 g/t Au and 337 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.5m, plus 23 g/t Au and 495 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.9m, plus 3.5 g/t Au and 75 g/t Ag over 6.7m, including 11.3 g/t Au and 245 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.8m, plus 9.9 g/t Au and 149 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.8m.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., announced the completion and final permanent connection of its 33 kilovolt electrical power line for its Las Chispas mine in Sonora. The company also released its inaugural Task Force for Climate Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) report and a corresponding Water Stewardship report based on conclusions from the TCFD report.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., released its pit-constraint Mineral Resource Estimate and NI 43-101 compliant technical report for its El Creston project in Sonora. Measured resources as of September 30, 2022 are 56.3M tonnes of 0.076% Mo and 0.04% Cu for a total of 94.3M Lb Mo and 49.7M Lb Cu and Indicated resources of 142.2M tonnes of 0.067% Mo and 0.08% Cu for a total of 210M Lb Mo and 250.8M Lb Cu. Measured + Indicated resources are 198.5M tonnes of 0.069% Mo and 0.07% Cu for a total of 304.4M Lb Mo and 300.5M Lb Cu.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., announced results from seven drill holes targeting the southern extension of the Napoleon Vein at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlights of the drilling include hole NP-22-320 with 279 g/t Au, 24.01 g/t Au, 1.8% Pb, and 7.6% Zn (2,305 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.55m, including 267 g/t Ag, 29.1 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, and 7.2% Zn (2,631 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.18m, plus 113 g/t Ag, 0.69 g/t Au, 0.6% Pb, and 6.2% Zn (390 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.8m, plus 143 g/t Ag, 0.87 g/t Au, 0.6% Pb, and 3.7% Zn (344 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.45m; hole NP-22-329 with 886 g/t Ag, 7.44 g/t Au, 2.2% Pb, and 6.8% Zn (1,660 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.88m, plus 222 g/t Ag, 2.64 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (446 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 6.70m, including 668 g/t Ag, 2.22 g/t Au, 0.5% Pb, and 2.3% Zn (875 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.78m, including 159 g/t Ag, 9.14 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (815 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.78m; and hole NP-22-333 with 54 g/t Ag, 1.22 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, and 1.6% Zn (203 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.1m, plus 378 g/t Ag, 2.53 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 4.3% Zn (696 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.50m.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Canuc Resources Corporation signed a comprehensive agreement for a period of 10 years with rights for renewal for a further 10 year period thereafter, with the Ejido of San Javier, located in the Municipality of San Javier, Sonora. The Agreement covers the Company’s 27 currently held claims and is contemplated to cover any further claims the Company may acquire in the San Javier area. The Ejido leadership at San Javier requested assistance from Canuc to implement controls against disruptive artisanal mining activities taking place locally by artisanal miners who have come to San Javier, but who are not from the area.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., announced the proposed sale of its royalty portfolio to Metalla Royalty & Streaming Ltd for a total consideration of USD $20M in common shares of Metalla. Total consideration consists of 4,168,056 Metalla shares at a deemed price of USD $4.7984 per share based on a 25-day volume-weighted average price on the NYSE American Exchange having an aggregate value of approximately USD $20.0M. The consideration will be paid upon Closing of the Transaction.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., announced the appointment of Dale Brittliffe as its new VP Exploration (Columba project, Chihuahua).
  • Riverside Resources Inc., received USD $2.5M in cash and 2% NSR royalty from Fresnillo plc for the sale of the Tajitos project in Sonora. Fresnillo will have, for a four-year term, the option to buy back half of the 2.0% NSR for a payment of USD $1.5M. If enacted, then Fresnillo would have an additional three years to buy back the remaining 1% NSR for another USD $1.5M. If Fresnillo does not exercise its first buy back option during the first four-year term, the Royalty will no longer be subject to any buy back provisions. The NSR covers the entire Riverside land package and a full NSR Agreement has been agreed upon and included in the signed contract between the companies. If Fresnillo wishes to reduce mineral claims, then the Company has the first right to retain those mineral tenures before they are dropped.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Ricardo Sierra Oteiza, spokesman for the mining company Esperanza Silver de México, stated that gold and silver mining is an activity that has the capacity to accelerate economic processes at the local level, generating employment, encouraging local supply networks, contributing tax revenue to the treasury and contributing to the social and economic development of the communities hosting mining projects, among other benefits. In the case of the state of Morelos, in the community of San Agustín Tetlama in the municipality of Temixco, the company Esperanza Silver de México carries out scientific and technical prospecting and exploration studies to prepare the Environmental Impact Statement in search of the due authorizations from the federal government, so that, where appropriate, start the construction phase. If this mining project is consolidated, the Morelos community of San Agustín Tetlama would be expected to become a pole of economic and social development that joins the economic reactivation actions promoted by the government of the state of Morelos and the federal government.

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, drill core displaying ginguro texture in a banded quartz vein from an intermediate sulphidation epithermal vein system in a project in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Colloform-banded quartz vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the thirteen week of the year (March 23th to March 29th, 2020), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with seven commenting on Mexican issues, six disclosing deals and corporate issues, five informing on exploration results, four announcing financial rounds, four discussing issues on social responsibility, one communicating production and financial results, and one reporting on resources and developments.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Fortuna Silver reported on March 24, 2020, an illegal road blockade on its San Jose mine in Oaxaca but fortunately on March 25, 2020 the company announced it had been lifted and the mine operations were resumed again. La Herradura mine (owned by Fresnillo plc), in the north of Sonora, is an example of how women have inserted themselves into industries historically dominated by men. Several mining companies operating in Mexico have implemented a series of measures to safeguard the health of their workers, in the face of the advance of the COVID-19 pandemic. Azure, Capstone, Evrim, and Premier Gold were some of the companies which reacted on the COVID-19 pandemic.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Azure reported a new Cu discovery at its Alacrán project and Ridgestone commenced a drilling program at its Rebeico project. In Chihuahua, Radius provided an update of its Amalia project. In Durango, Golden Tag announced the authorization from SEMARNAT to drill up to twenty one holes at its San Diego project.  In Jalisco, GoGold announced drilling results from eight holes collared at its Los Ricos project. ON MINING, Mexus announced operating cost lower than expected and confirmed positive cash flow obtained (Santa Elena mine, Sonora). ON FINANCING, Equinox Gold and Leagold received notice from Pacific Road Resources Fund to acquire 461,947 Equinox common shares for proceeds to the company of $2,854,832 and $9,278,209 aggregate principal amount of 5-years convertible notes (Los Filos mine, Guerrero). Orla announced bought deal financing for gross proceeds of CAD $75,030,000 (Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas).  VVC closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $951,560 (Kaity project, Chihuahua). Gold Resource declared March monthly dividend to its shareholders (El Aguila mine, Oaxaca).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Fortuna Silver updated mineral resource and mineral reserve as of December 31, 2019 for its San Jose mine, Oaxaca. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Alamos Gold filed its annual information form and 2019 annual report (Mulatos mine, Sonora). GoGold announced results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Los Ricos project, Jalisco). McEwen reported that it has fallen below the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) continued listing requirement related to the price of its common stock (El Gallo mine, Sinaloa). Orla Mining announced Layback agreement with Fresnillo Plc (Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas). Evrim reported that it has terminated the option agreement with Harvest Gold on its Cerro Cascaron project in Chihuahua.   Radius entered into an option agreement to acquire, from a local concessionaire, 100% interest in the Plata Verde property in Chihuahua. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Argonaut Gold confirmed its commitment to the environment, performing and promoting good ecological practices in Sonora and Durango. Minera Autlán informed about their commitments regarding the responsible and sustainable Water Management. Grupo México reported that it will advance the delivery of a hospital in Juchitán, Oaxaca, to support efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Representatives of the mining company Media Luna (Torex Gold) expressed their solidarity with the problem that the country is suffering due to the Coronavirus pandemic and donated mouthwash and antibacterial gel to the Guerrero health system (El Limón-Guajes mine complex, Guerrero).

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., reported on March 24, 2020, an illegal road blockade on its San Jose mine in Oaxaca by a group of individuals to protest the action taken by the Electoral Tribunal of the State of Oaxaca in revoking his appointment as major. Fortunately, the company announced the next day that it has been lifted, and the mine operation was resumed.
  • La Herradura mine(owned by Fresnillo plc), in the north of Sonora, is an example of how women have inserted themselves into industries historically dominated by men. There is still a long way to go in gender equality in industries such as mining, but there are examples that this is possible. For the mining industry, women’s work has given good results in cases such as La Herradura. For their part, women workers see mining as an opportunity to earn a living wage with opportunities for job growth. It may not be the first image that comes to mind, but women miners are a reality in Mexico.
  • Several mining companies operating in Mexico, have implemented a series of measures to safeguard the health of their workers, in the face of the advance of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Azure Minerals Limited, suspended all field exploration and drilling at the company´s project, and suspended the trial processing program of high-grade ore from Oposura with the bulk concentrates bagged into bulker bags which have been stored in the Company’s warehouse, and Implemented required policies and procedures which include “no travel”, “no congregating in groups”, “social distancing” and “working from home”.
  • Capstone Mining Corp., reported that its priority is to ensure the health and safety of their people, and stated that until now, COVID-19 has not impacted production or concentrate shipments at its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas.
  • Evrim Resources Corp., took the decision to send all his employees to work remotely to keep them safe and healthy.
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited, announced that its Mercedes mine in Sonora has not been materially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is focused on protect their employees from the coronavirus outbreak. It has introduced company-wide health and safety protocols and has implemented controls and safety procedures at each site.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Azure Minerals Limited, reported, within its El Alacrán project, a new Cu discovery called Gregors by doing RC drill-testing a buried VTEM geophysical anomaly coincident with a 100m by 100m outcrop of breccia and gossan. Significant drill intersections were encountered in hole GGC-02 with 0.68% Cu over 30m, including 2.3% over 6m, and hole GGC-003 with 0.96% Cu over 18m, including 7.03% Cu over 1.5m. Azure is undertaking a detailed data review and interpretation plus initial mineralogical and metallurgical studies to assess potential and assist with planning a follow-up drill program. Additionally, the company also reported a single hole collared at San Simon mine located 700m away from its Loma Bonita resource area, which returned 2 g/t Au and 64 g/t Ag over 21m, including 3.35 g/t Au over 6.0m. Further drilling to test the vuggy silica mineralized zone, which is interpreted to extend further to the east and south beneath the Cerro San Simon hill, will be undertaken in the next drill program.
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc., announced the commencement of a 1,500m drilling program in 10 holes at its newly discovered Au-Cu bearing New Year zone at its Rebeico project in Sonora. This first phase drilling program will be focused on testing at depth the high grade Au-Cu mineralization discovered in 2019 with surface sampling which returned up to 12.95 g/t Au and 0.65% Cu, testing the southern portion of the nearby Alaska Vein south of the hole 18REB10 which intersected 36.10 g/t Au over 1.5m, and also test the potential junction of the >New Year zone with the southern part of the Alaska vein.
  • Radius Gold Inc., provided an update for its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Highlights include the development of its El Cuervo target, located 3.8km southeast of the current drilled area of san Pedro, where up to 40m wide of silicification, breccias and veining with strong Au and Ag geochemistry has been mapped and sampled over a length of 750m. Radius also reported that a drill permit is in progress for a fourth phase of drilling at its Amalia project. The fourth phase of drilling will consists of 9 deep holes to test down dip and lateral extension of the high grade Au-Ag mineralization defined at san Pedro area.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd., announced the authorization from SEMARNAT to drill up to twenty one holes at its San Diego project in Durango. The company plans to conduct a 2,000m drilling program in eight holes to test the near-surface continuity of mineralization identified in previous drilling programs at the Trovador-MS and El Jal-Arroyo Zone target areas.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., reported drilling results from eight holes collared at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco, including three at San Juan and five in the Main Area. Significant drill intersections were encountered in hole LRGG-20-115 (Main Area) with 0.61 g/t Au and 153 g/t Ag (2.65 g/t AuEq or 203 g/t AgEq) over 19.5m, including 1.17 g/t Au and 281 g/t Ag (4.93 g/t AuEq or 370 g/t AgEq) over 9.6m; and hole LrGG-20-119 (Main Area) with 0.91 g/t Au and 135 g/t Ag (2.71 g/t AuEq or 203 g/t AgEq) over 26.4m, including 1.6 g/t Au and 196 g/t Ag (4.21 g/t AuEq or 316 g/t AgEq) over 12.6m.

ON MINING

  • Mexus Gold US, announced it is producing Au at a cost of USD $376/Oz and confirmed it is operating at a positive cash flow. Mexus is planning to produce 10 Oz Au per day within 60 days (Santa Elena mine, Sonora).

ON FINANCING

  • Equinox Gold Corp. and Leagold Mining Corporation,  received notice from Pacific Road Resources Fund to acquire 461,947 Equinox common shares for proceeds to the company of $2,854,832 and $9,278,209aggregate principal amount of 5-years convertible notes. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the shares and notes for general corporate and working capital purposes (Los Filos mine, Guerrero).
  • Orla Mining Ltd., announced a bought deal for gross proceeds of CAD $75,030,000. The company also granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 5.49M common shares at the offering price. If this option is exercised in full, an additional CAD $11,254,500 in net proceeds will be raised. At the end, the total aggregate gross proceeds of the offering will be CAD $86,284,500. Net proceeds will be used for exploration and development of its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas.
  • VVC Exploration Corporation, closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $951,560. Net proceeds will be used to develop its Katya project in Chihuahua, including costs associated with various permits, metallurgical bench testing of the copper mineralization, and investigation, evaluation and implementation of the Gloria Pilot Mining Project.
  • Gold Resource Corporation, declared March monthly dividend of one-third of a cent per common share to its shareholders (El Aguila mine, Oaxaca).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., updated mineral resource and mineral reserve as of December 31, 2019 at its San Jose mine, Oaxaca. Proven reserves are 232,000 tonnes of 2.12 g/t Au and 311 g/t to contain 16K Oz Au and 2.3M Oz Ag, and Probable reserves are 3, 704,000 tonnes of 1.58 g/t Au and 239 g/t Ag to contain 188K Oz Au and 28.5M Oz Ag. Total proven + probable reserves are 3,936,000 tonnes of 1.61 g/t Au and 243 g/t Ag to contain 204K Oz Au and 30.8M Oz Ag. It also reported that has measured resources of 17,000 tonnes of 0.8 g/t Au and 104 g/t Ag to contain 1K Oz Au and 0.1M Oz Ag, and Indicated resources of 538,000 tonnes of 0.7 g/t Au and 105 g/t Ag to contain 12K Oz Au and 1.8M Oz Ag. Measured + Inferred resources are 555,000 tonnes of 0.7 g/t Au and 105 g/t Ag to contain 13K Oz Au and 1.9M Oz Ag. In addition it reported inferred resources of 3,889,000 tonnes of 0.96 g/t Au and 131 g/t Ag to contain 120K Oz Au and 16.3M Oz Ag. (Mineral Resources are exclusive of Mineral Reserves).

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Alamos Gold Inc., filed its annual information form and 2019 annual report, including its audited financial statement for the year ended December 31, 2019 (Mulatos mine, Sonora).
  • GoGold Resources Inc., announced results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Los Ricos project, Jalisco).
  • McEwen Mining Inc., reported that it has fallen below the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) continued listing requirement related to the price of its common stock. The NYSE requires that the average closing price of a listed company’s common stock be above US$1.00 per share, calculated over a period of 30 consecutive trading days (El Gallo mine, Sinaloa).
  • Orla Mining Ltd., announced a non-binding layback letter agreement with Fresnillo Plc., to extend its Camino Rojo oxide pit onto part of Fresnillo´s mineral concession. Under the terms of the agreement, Orla will pay Fresnillo a total cash consideration of USD $62.8M: USD $10M due upon the execution of the definitive layback agreement; USD $15M due Orla having received all funding and permits required for construction and development or July 1st, 2020; USD $15M due no later than 12 months following the commencement of commercial production or December 1st, 2022; USD $22.8M due no later than 24 months following the commencement of commercial production or December 1st, 2023; the amounts for the third and fourth payments shall bear an interest of 5% per annum from July1, 2020 until the date of payment. (Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas).
  • Evrim Resources Corp. and Harvest Gold Corporation, announced the termination of its option agreement on Cerro Cascaron project in Chihuahua. Evrim is seeking a new partner to continue the exploration of this mining property.
  • Radius Gold Inc., entered into an option agreement with a local concessionaire, to acquire 100% interest in the 300 Has Plata Verde property in Chihuahua by making staged payments totaling over four years USD $880K with the final payment equal to USD $400K at the end of year four. An USD $8K signing payment has already been paid. The owner retains a 1% NSR which Radius can buy back for USD $1M. “Plata Verde, silver mineralization occurs as massive to crustiform banded barite calcite with silver chlorides, sulphosalt minerals and native silver infilling and cementing fractures and breccia within a basaltic/andesite extrusive volcanic. The basaltic/andesite host occurs at the base of the Upper Rhyolitic Volcanics of the Northern Sierra Madre. In general the host volcanics and associated silver mineralization is covered by the overlying rhyolitic ignimbrites and is only exposed along the length of a small creek”. Initial prospecting rock chips by Radius geologists have returned silver grades between 5 and 1,070 g/t Ag.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Argonaut Gold Inc., confirmed its commitment to the environment, performing and promoting good ecological practices in Sonora and Durango, such as recycling all material used in its operations, confining all dangerous resources, increasing the use of renewable energy, preserving the flora and fauna species, taking care of air quality and generating new alternatives to help capture water in the aquifers, etc. The company offered 664 talks in its operation units in Sonora and Durango during 2019 to foster its commitment to the environment.
  • Minera Autlán SAB de CV., informed about their commitments regarding the responsible and sustainable management of Water. Autlán promotes responsible water consumption in all its mining units. This consists of reusing as much water as possible, in order to satisfy the greatest number of operations and guarantee the sustainability of the environment. The trend is to continue reducing the amounts used, making resource management much more effective through treatment processes.
  • Grupo México , reported that it will advance the delivery of a hospital in Juchitán, Oaxaca, to support efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The hospital, with a constructed area of ​​6,800 square meters and a planned capacity of more than 60 beds, was designed to meet the specific requirements of the citizens of the municipalities of Juchitán de Zaragoza, Santo Domingo de Tehuantepec, Matías Romero and Salina Cruz, who were among the most affected in the region after the 2017 earthquakes.
  • Representatives of the mining company Media Luna (Torex Gold), expressed their solidarity with the problem that the country is suffering due to the Coronavirus pandemic and donated to the health system of Guerrero state, 3,500 covers mouths and more than 1,000 liters of antibacterial gel due to the shortage of these products across the country.

 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 colloform-banded quartz vein in a low-sulphidation epithermal system in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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IMG_0870 - copia

By Jorge Cirett

During the 46th week of the year (November 11th to November 17th, 2019), at least 23 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, mining investments in Mexico decreased from 8 billion dollars in 2018 to 5 billion dollars in 2019. Camimex held a fiscal seminar in Queretaro. Almaden Minerals published a letter on indigenous population around the Ixtaca project in Puebla. Promperú organized in Hermosillo, Sonora, a Commercial Mission of suppliers to mining in Peru. The top ten silver miners in Mexico produced 39.8 M Oz in the third quarter 2019. The mining industry in Mexico has been subject in the past few years of regulatory hurdles that are having a negative effect in investment in the sector, the last one being the decision by SEMARNAT not to authorize the MIA on the Ixtaca project in Puebla until there is a resolution on a legal suit on a piece of land no longer held by the company running the project.  ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Evrim updated on exploration of the El Llanito del Nogal property; Magna Gold reported assay results from four more holes at Mercedes. In Sinaloa, Vizsla Resources released high-grade results from rock channel sampling at Panuco.  ON MINING, Premier Gold, Golden Minerals, Starcore International, Americas Gold and Silver, Sierra Metals, Odyssey Marine Exploration and Fortuna Silver presented third quarter 2019 results. Consolidated Zinc and Industrias Peñoles signed an offtake agreement on zinc concentrate. ON FINANCING, Tamino Minerals informed on trading volumes. Mexican Gold received TSX approval for the listing of 50 M warrants from a previous financing. Colibri Resources entered into a loan agreement with Agnico Eagle for $300 K.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Defiance Silver is to start a two-phase technical program at San Acacio, Zacatecas. Endeavour Silver reported positive drill results on recently acquired El Curso concession within its Guanaceví property. Peñoles is to invest $70 M at its processing facilities in Torreon. SilverCrest released high-grade results from drilling at the Babi Vista vein at Las Chispas, in Sonora. Bacanora Lithium updated on project development on its Sonora project. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Evrim signed an agreement with San Marco Resources to acquire the Suanse property in Sonora. Colibri Resources extended an agreement with Agnico Eagle on the disposal of Colibri’s share on the Pitaya project in Sonora.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Peñoles is conducting courses for children and adults at its Torreon community center. Ternium is organizing health festivals in Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Jalisco, Michoacan, Puebla and San Luis Potosi. Argonaut sponsored the third edition of the La Colorada race, within the pit benches at the mine in Sonora. The “Doctor Vagón”  itinerant health clinic sponsored by Grupo Mexico provided service to 550 persons in Gomez Palacio, Durango. La Brisa mining company provided cleaning equipment to the Topia community in Durango. Peñoles mining units source 35% of its energy requirements by removable sources, and expects to reach 100% by 2028.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • During 2019 investments in the mining sector are to reach five billion (5 mil millones) dollars, according to Francisco Quiroga, Subsecretary of Mining. That’s a decrease from the eight billion (8 mil millones) invested in 2018.
  • Camimex organized the Seminario Fiscal de la Industria Minera in Queretaro. Camimex compromise is complete on its involvement on the “mesa de diálogo” (dialogue meetings) with the federal government, where proposals to incentivize investment are to be exposed, checking on subjects like the fiscal situation, regulatory environment and security. The head of Camimex, Karen Flores, explained that on the Fraser Institute study Mexico is number 71 of 83 jurisdictions on the fiscal regime. Camimex is for the 100 percent deduction of exploration expenses, and the establishment of pacts of fiscal stability on a 15 to 20 year time frame, as is Peru, Chile and Argentina. In a comparative study, Mexico has the heaviest fiscal load among peers like the US (Arizona), Canada (Ontario), Peru and Chile.
  • Minera Gorrión (Almaden) published a letter on indigenous population around the Ixtaca project in Puebla. Although indigenous persons inhabit the area, there is not such an indigenous community within the area of influence of the project. The company stresses the misinformation produced by some activists groups with total impunity, and reaffirms its confidence on institutions and the rule of law.
  • Promperú organized in Hermosillo, Sonora, its II Commercial Mission of Suppliers to Mining in Peru. Several conferences were presented by members of the mining communities and governments of both countries.
  • The top 10 silver mining companies in Mexico had a solid third quarter. During the period these companies produced 39.8 M Oz, compared with 39.0 M Oz produced on the same quarter a year ago. The top producer is Industrias Peñoles, with 15.3 M Oz almost 40% of that amount and 2.2 M Oz less than the same quarter 2018 (Fresnillo, Saucito, San julian, Sabinas). Newmont was the second largest producer with 7.4 M Oz produced at Peñasquito. Other large producers comprise Southern Copper with 3.9 M Oz (undisclosed units), Pan American with 3.6 M Oz (La Colorada), First Majestic (Santa Elena, San Dimas, among others), Coeur Mining with 1.7 M Oz (Palmarejo), Fortuna Silver with 1.7 M Oz Ag (San José), Minera Frisco 1.1 M Oz (El Coronel, San Felipe, Tayahua, San Francisco del Oro, Concheño and Ocampo), Endeavour Silver 900 K Oz (El Cubo, Bolañitos, Guanceví, and El Compás) and Agnico Eagle 800 K Oz (Pinos Altos).
  • Alberto Aguilar, a respected columnist in business circles, elaborated on the hurdles the mining industry is going through with the current federal administration (it fell 3.7% on the third quarter, 2019). Among the issues mentioned is the contraction in mineral production as a result of the imposition of new taxes on mining in 2014, the investment of only 5 billion dollars in 2019 (8 billion in 2018), no concessions have been granted in 2019 and the recurrent illegal blockades without sign of easing. The latest hurdle thrown at the industry is the resolution by SEMARNAT (the Mexican environmental agency) that the Manifestation on Environmental Impact (MIA) for the Ixtaca project in Puebla was not to be granted until a legal suit on a claim no longer held by Minera Gorrion (Almaden Minerals) reaches a resolution. Exploration expenses so far have been $40 M dollars and another $117 M are still to be spent, along with $1.1 B (One billion) to be invested in eleven years (GPM Note.- The head of SEMARNAT, Victor Toledo, is known for its public and vocal anti-mining stance).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Vizsla Resources Corp. released high-grade channel sampling at its Panuco property in Sinaloa. The sampling locations are widespread within the property and the highlighted results comprise: 0.9 m @ 1,860 gpt Ag, 14.55 gpt Au at the Napoleon vein; 0.5 m @ 1,900 gpt Ag, 29.30 gpt Au at the San Antonio-Cordon de Oro vein; 3.6 m @ 691 gpt Ag, 7.00 gpt Au at the San Carlos-Animas vein; 5.95 m @ 584 gpt Ag, 3.97 gpt Au. Veins in the project have lengths of up to 2.8 km, with known ore shoots of up to 500 m in length.
  • Evrim Resources Corp. updated the description on its El Llanito del Nogal property in Sonora. The Suanse porphyry target, is a 1 Km by 600 m area of propylitic to potassic alteration. Soil sampling outlined a 600 m by 500 m Cu anomaly (>100 ppm) in areas of sheeted quartz-chalcopyrite-chlorite-magnetite veins. A ground magnetic survey outlined a donut-shaped anomaly 400 m in diameter and roughly coincident with the soil anomaly. The soil and magnetic anomalies extend northward onto the Suanse claim (see deals section below) where strong argillic, advanced argillic along with vuggy and massive quartz alteration are interpreted as a partially eroded lithocap.
  • Magna Gold Corp. reported assay results on the last four RC holes drilled at the La Lamosa target on its Mercedes project in Sonora. Highlighted intervals comprise: 38.10 m @ 0.67 gpt Au, 13.2 gpt Ag (including 6.10 m @ 1.43 gpt Au, 42.9 gpt Ag); 28.96 m @ 0.76 gpt Au, 8.9 gpt Ag (including 7.62 m @ 1.06 gpt Au, 9.3 gpt Ag); 21.34 m @ 1.61 gpt Au, 2.2 gpt Ag (including 3.05 m @ 6.99 gpt Au, 3.9 gpt Ag); 21.34 m @ 1.21 gpt Au, 11.8 gpt Ag (including 3.05 m @ 4.26 gpt Au). Other targets to follow up include the 600 m long La Lamosa East projection, the Mina de Oro 300 m by 150 m silicified/argillized andesite and rhyodacite, the Salto Colorado breccia 400 m by 150 m in size and Noche Buena, forming a prominent ridge in a 900 m by 800 m area with tourmaline breccias.

ON MINING

  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. Reported operating results for the third quarter 2019, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Mercedes, in Sonora, 159.4 K tonnes were milled @ 2.94 gpt Au, 22.6 gpt Ag, recovering 95.9% Au, 32.3% Ag to produce 14,481 Oz Au, 37.5 K Oz Ag at co-product cash cost $1,095 per Oz Au, and co-product AISC $1,354 Oz Au.
  • Golden Minerals Co. announced financial results for the third quarter 2019. The company had revenue of US$1.9 M and a net operating margin of $1.3 M related to the lease of the Velardeña oxide plant to Hecla Mining Co.. By the end of the period the company had cash and cash equivalents of $2.9 M. During October an agreement was achieved with Magellan Gold Corp. to option a 100% interest in the Santa Maria and Las Marias exploration properties in Chihuahua.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. signed and offtake agreement with Industrias Peñoles S.A. de C.V. for zinc concentrate produced from the Plomosas mine to December 2020, with an option to be extended for a further two years.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. released production results from its San Martin mine in Queretaro for the three months ended on October 31, 2019. During the period 54.1 K tonnes were milled @ 1.78 gpt Au, 34.2 gpt Ag, with a recovery of 87.35% Au, 52.27% Ag to produce 3,050 Oz AuEq.
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. reported consolidated and operational results for Q3 2019, with undisclosed figures from its Mexican operations (Cosalá, Sinaloa).
  • Sierra Metals Inc. reported third quarter 2019 results, including information from its Mexican operations. The company is approaching is production target of 4,250 tpd at Bolivar and 1,200 tpd at Cusi, both in Chihuahua. Bolivar’s cash cost per CuEq Lb was $1.40, and the AISC $2.53. Cusi’s cash cost was $18.77 and AISC $24.60. During the period 9,923 m were drilled from the surface at Bolivar, and 3,220 m within the Cusi mine. At the end of the period cash and cash equivalents were $40.1 M, with a net debt of $50.9 M.
  • Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. reported results for the third quarter 2019. Net loss for the period was $4.2 M due to several non-recurring items (Exploraciones Oceánicas project, Baja California Sur).
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. reported third quarter results for 2019, including figures from its Mexican operations. At San José, in Oaxaca, 268 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 3,046 tpd and a grade of 219 gpt Ag, 1.40 gpt Au, recovering 91% Ag, 91% Au to produce 1.7 M Oz Ag and 10,942 Oz Au at cash cost $7.70 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $10.80 per Oz AgEq.

ON FINANCING

  • Tamino Minerals Inc. informed that during the third week of September the company traded 145 M shares with a volume of US $1.1 M and a price per share appreciation of US$0.01” (El Volcan, Sonora).
  • Mexican Gold Corp. has received TSX Venture Exchange approval for the listing of 50 M warrants from the non-brokered private placement announced in past July.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. has entered into a loan agreement with Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. For proceeds of US$300 K. The loan has a 2 year term at a 10% interest rate and proceeds are to be used on the Evelyin project in Sonora.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Defiance Silver Corp. is to start a two-phase technical program at its San Acacio property in Zacatecas. The program envisages evaluating the San Acacio resource at depth and brownfield targets on the Veta Grande system.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. reported positive initial drill results for El Curso property, adjacent to Endeavour’s Guanaceví mine in Durango. The property includes the Santacruz vein, which is between two Endeavour’s developments. Drilling highlights comprise true width (tw) intervals: 5.2 m @ 0.75 gpt Au, 465 gpt Ag; 2.6 m @ 1.23 gpt Au, 558 gpt Ag; 2.1 m @ 2.51 gpt Au, 935 gpt Ag; 2.5 m @ 0.40 gpt Au, 204 gpt Ag; 5.1 m @ 3.07 gpt Au, 1,182 gpt Ag (including 0.5 m @ 15.22 gpt Au, 5,372 gpt Ag); 4.3 m @ 2.2 gpt Au, 1,021 gpt Ag; 2.7 m @ 1.37 gpt Au, 355 gpt Ag; 6.2 m @ 1.70 gpt Au, 635 gpt Ag.
  • Industrias Peñoles S.A.B de C.V. is to invest US$70 M in its Met-Mex installations (in Torreon, Coahuila) to better the silver recovery in zinc concentrates. In 2018, the company commissioned a US$327 M modification on the plant that avoids the generation of additional sulphuric acid by direct concentrate leaching instead of roasting, augmenting the capacity from 240 K to 360 K tonnes of zinc.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. announced expansion drill results from the Babi Vista vein in the Babicanora area of the Las Chispas project in Sonora. The highlighted true width (tw) intervals from these 17 holes comprise: 2.3 m @ 2.27 gpt Au, 215 gpt Ag; 0.4 m @ 3.55 gpt Au, 385 gpt Ag; 0.9 m @ 4.86 gpt Au, 600 gpt Ag; 0.4 m @ 1.10 gpt Au, 187 gpt Ag; 0.6 m @ 1.09 gpt Au, 92 gpt Ag; 2.0 m @ 1.84 gpt Au, 433 gpt Au, 1.2 m @ 2.56 gpt Au, 296 gpt Ag; 8.8 m @ 7.36 gpt Au, 584 gpt Ag (including 0.3 m @ 120.50 gpt Au, 9,510 gpt Ag; 0.7 m @ 18.15 gpt Au, 1,495 gpt Ag); 6.6 m @ 3.37 gpt Au, 250 gpt Ag (including 0.4 m @ 32.70 gpt Au, 2,940 gpt Ag). So far the high-grade footprint is 150 m along the strike of the vein and 200 m to depth, open in most directions, averaging 2.2 m @ 4.70 gpt Au, 401 gpt Ag.
  • Bacanora Lithium plc. updated on project activities at its Sonora Lithium project. Final design work for the mine site, infrastructure, concentrator and kiln sections of the processing plant is in progress. Detailed engineering plans for the design of the front-end concentrator and mechanical processing is underway, as well as the pyrometallurgical engineering, while the hydrometallurgical plant, including the production of the final battery grade lithium product will be engineered by Ganfeng.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Evrim Resources Corp. signed an agreement with San Marco Resources to acquire the Suanse property in Sonora. The 1,115 hectares property is within Evrim’s Llano del Nogal claim. Evrim can acquire 100% interest in the project by making total cash payments of $75 K and granting San Marco a 1% royalty half of which can be repurchased for $1 M. Cash payments are: $25 K on signing, $25 K on signing a JV or partnership with third parties and $25 K upon completion of 1,000 m of drilling.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. granted a two-year extension to its agreement with Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd., allowing Agnico to exclusively explore opportunities to dispose of Colibri’s working interest in its JV on the 5,564 hectares Pitaya project in Sonora.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • The Peñoles Community Center (Centro Comunitario Peñoles) in Torreon, Coahuila, is conducting courses for children and adults, including English, music, drawing, tae kwon do, tae chi and modern dance and dance for weight reduction.
  • Ternium organizes the Health Festivals (Ferias de La Salud) in Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Colima, Jalisco, Michoacan, Puebla and San Luis Potosi, in coordination with several organizations and government institutions. Each year almost 6,000 persons receive this benefit, including cost-free diverse medical examinations (like sight, Papanicolau, mamographies) and flu shots.
  • The La Colorada race was held in Sonora for the third time. The race sponsored by Argonaut Gold was attended by hundreds of runners on the benches of La Colorada mine.
  • The technical school Roberto Rocca (partly supported by Ternium) is to represent Mexico in the World’s Educative Robotics Tournament, to be held in Shanghai, China.
  • The “Doctor Vagón” program sponsored by the Grupo Mexico Foundation (a train adapted for medical services) was four days at Gomez Palacio, Durango, with the aid of the local municipality. During that time 2,200 services were provided to the 550 persons that registered to the effect.
  • In Topia, Durango, Minera La Brisa supported the municipality providing cleaning equipment.
  • Industrias Mineras Peñoles announced that to 2018 up to 35% of the energy requirements at its mining units is fulfilled by renewable energy sources. The company is striving to reach at least a 50% in 2020 and to be completely reliant on renewable energy sources by 2028.

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: Gold recovered by artisanal methods from orogenic style quartz veins in Oaxaca.. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of April, 2019

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 16th week of the year (April 15th to April 21st, 2019), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, a lower court in Puebla ruled Mexico’s mineral title system unconstitutional based on consultation not being required before issuing the title. Inhabitants of San Antonio, Baja California Sur, manifested in support for the construction of the San Antonio mine. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec Gold delineated several new targets using geophysics at Cervantes; San Marcos disclosed explorations plans for its properties in the year. In Jalisco, GoGold released interesting results from drilling at Los Ricos. ON MINING, Avino Silver, Sierra Metals, First Majestic, Gold Resource and Hecla disclosed production results for Q1 2019.
Fresnillo PLC presented its annual report 2018.  ON FINANCING, Ridgestone Mining, Oroco and Camrova raised $1.12 M; 800 K and 12 K respectively. Sonoro and Minaurum granted options to consultants and directors. Minaurum was named to the Venture 50tm. Sierra Metals entered into an automatic purchase plan. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Goldplay reported channel sample results from a new zone at its San Marcial project in Sinaloa. SilverCrest Metals released good metallurgical results from its Las Chispas property in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Newmont Goldcorp Corp. has been delivered. Consolidated Zinc presented notice of its annual general meeting. Aura completed the sale of 80% interest of its Taviche project to Minaurum.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. informed that “a lower court in Puebla State has ruled that Mexico’s mineral title system is unconstitutional because consultation is not required before the granting of mineral title………..This ruling can be appealed by both the Government of Mexico and Almaden. The Company believes that this lawsuit is part of a broad effort by special interest groups to change the mining law and there are other similar actions active across Mexico”. Almaden stated that no communities within the company’s current mining concessions on its Ixtaca project in Puebla are party to this lawsuit.
  • Fresnillo PLC. Presented its 2018 annual report. It is here recommended to all interested in the mining business in Mexico to take a look to the report (http://www.fresnilloplc.com/media/412015/fres-30452-annual-report-2018-web.pdf), especially on the section “Managing our risks”. In the said section, the risks of participating in the industry in Mexico are assessed, including those of metal prices, potential actions by the government, access to land, security, public perception against mining, safety, union relations, exploration, project performance, cyber security, environmental incidents and human resources. Although the report had in mind Fresnillo’s particular situation as one of the largest Mexican mining conglomerates, many parts of the evaluation concern risks that affect all mining enterprises in the country.
  • Some 500 inhabitants of San Antonio, in Baja California Sur, gathered in support of Argonaut Gold’s San Antonio mining project in their locality.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp.  and Kootenay Silver Inc. informed that interpretation of a recent magnetic and radiometric survey produced multiple porphyry copper targets on the Cervantes property in Sonora. “Cervantes has multiple porphyry cells aligned along a northeast-southwest orientation, manifested as high-level alteration footprints related to intrusive bodies. There are also prominent northwest-southeast trending magnetic anomalies found to be associated with strong alteration, gold-copper mineralization, and intrusive rocks.”   
  • GoGold Resources Inc. disclosed the results from the first two diamond holes on its Los Ricos property in Jalisco. The two diamond drill holes twinned previous RC perforations, replicating the mineralized zones, with 35.5 m @ 1.24 gpt Au, 285 gpt Ag and 27.6 m @ 1.56 gpt Au, 159 gpt Ag. The holes are part of a 10,000 m diamond drill program focused on following the high grade ore shoot down dip below the historical RC drilling.
  • San Marco Resources Inc. plans for 2019 in Sonora include target delineation at Espiritu Santo and 1068 properties, follow-up of underexplored areas at the Chunibas project, extensive participation on lotteries of released ground by the government, evaluation of multiple property acquisitions and ongoing partnership discussions of existing assets.

ON MINING

  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. released production results from its Avino property in Durango for 2019’s first quarter. During the period production came from three sources: Avino mine, San Gonzalo mine and historic stockpiles. At Avino, 100.9 K tonnes were milled @ 41 g/t Ag, 0.48 gpt Au, 0.49% Cu, recovering 84% Ag, 71% Au, 87% Cu. At San Gonzalo (which is nearing the end of its mine life) 17.9 K tonnes were milled @ 188 gpt Ag, 0.54 gpt Au, recovering 65% Ag, 61% Au. From historic stockpiles 78.8 K tonnes were milled @ 61 gpt Ag, 0.40 gpt Au, 0.21% Cu, recovering 55%, Ag, 52% Au, 29% Cu. Total production was 1,813 Oz Au, 268.4 K Oz Ag, 1.06 M Lb Cu, or 615 K Oz AgEq.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. reported first quarter 2019 results, including figures from its Mexican mines. The Bolivar mine in Chihuahua processed 263.2 K tonnes (~3,008 tpd, targeting 3,600 tpd for Q2 2019)) grading 0.81% Cu, 19.5 gpt Ag, 0.19 gpt Au, recovering 82.2% Cu, 79.1% Ag, 67.9% Au to produce 3.87 M Lb Cu, 130 K Oz Ag, 1,100 Oz Au (or 5.08 MLb CuEq). At the Cusi mine, also in Chihuahua, 71.3 K tonnes were processed @ 105 gpt Ag, 0.15 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.3% Zn, recovering 79.5% Ag, 37.5% Au, 75.2% Pb to produce 192 K Oz Ag, 133 Au Oz, 349 K Lb Pb, no Zn.
  • Fresnillo PLC. Filed its annual report 2018. During the year Fresnillo produced 61.8 M Oz Ag, 922 K Oz Au, holding resources of 2.2 billion Oz Ag and 39.1 M Oz Au. At Fresnillo, in Zacatecas, 2.44 M tonnes were milled @ 214 gpt Ag to produce 15.1 M Oz Ag, 42,290 Oz Au, 19,619 tonnes Pb, 31,094 tonnes Zn. At Saucito, in Zacatecas, 2.79 M tonnes were milled @ 257 gpt Ag, 1.25 gpt Au to produce 19.78 M Oz Ag, 86,092 Oz Au, 22,662 tonnes Pb, 29,506 tonnes Zn, while the Pyrites Plant processed 131.8 K tonnes @ 393 gpt Ag, 2.8 gpt Au to produce 977 K Oz Ag, 3,556 Oz Au. At San Julian, in Chihuahua, 1.27 M tonnes were processed from the veins @144.1 gpt Ag, 2.0 gpt Au, to produce 5.43 M Oz Ag, 79,218 Oz Au. 2.22 M tonnes were processed from the disseminated orebody @ 154 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 1.4% Zn, to produce 9.2 M Oz Ag, 3,125 Oz Au, 6,101 tonnes Pb, 22,027 tonnes Zn. At Cienega, in Durango, 1.32 M tonnes were milled @ 164 gpt Ag, 1.65 g/t Au to produce 6 M Oz Ag, 66,869 Oz Au, 4,799 tonnes Pb, 5,892 tonnes Zn. At Herradura, in Sonora, 22.15 M tonnes @ 0.76 gpt Au were deposited on the heaps to produce 474,168 Oz Au, 1.52 M Oz Ag, at cash cost $504 per Au Oz (total volume hauled, 124 M tonnes). At Nochebuena, in Sonora, 18.2 M tonnes were deposited on the heaps @ 0.52 gpt Au to produce 167.2 K Oz Au, 52 K Oz Ag, at cash cost $735.4 per Oz Au (total volume hauled, 80.3 M tonnes).  The company had $580.7 M as cash and cash equivalents by the end of the year.

First Majestic Silver Corp. produced 6.3 AgEq Oz during the first quarter of 2019. During the period 831.2 K tonnes of ore were milled @ 150 gpt Ag, 1.26 gpt Au, with recoveries of 83% Ag, 96% Au, to produce 3.33 M Oz Ag, 32,037 Oz Au, 2.66 M Lb Pb, 1.26 M Lb Zn.  The ore had averages and recoveries of 287 gpt Ag, 4.18 gpt Au (93% Ag, 96% Au) at San Dimas, Durango; 121 gpt Ag, 1.87 gpt Au (89% Ag, 95% Au) at Santa Elena, Sonora; 126 gpt Ag (66% Ag) at La Encantada, Coahuila; 187 gpt Ag, 0.58 gpt Au (89% Ag, 93% Au)at San Martin, Jalisco; 54 gpt Ag, 1.8% Pb, 1.6% Zn (75% Ag by flotation, 62% Ag by cyanidation, 69% Pb, 48% Zn) at La Parrilla, Durango; 114 gpt Ag, 2.1% Pb (74% Ag, 0.7 M Lb Pb)at Del Toro, Zacatecas.

  • Gold Resource Corp. reported preliminary production results for the first quarter 2019. The Oaxaca Mining Unit (El Aguila, Arista, Switchback) produced 6,538 Au Oz, 364.6 K Oz Ag, 433 tonnes Cu, 2,153 tonnes Pb, 5,838 tonnes Zn. “The Company maintains its 2019 Oaxaca Mining Unit Annual Outlook of 27,000 gold ounces and 1,700,000 silver ounces, plus or minus 10%”.
  • Hecla Mining Co. announced preliminary production results for the first quarter of 2019. At San Sebastian, in Durango, the mill operated at 494 tpd to produce 0.4 M Oz Ag, 3,530 Oz Au. “A review of sulfide ore continues, including a bulk sample to test the capabilities of the third-party plant and the suitability of long-hole stoping for the ore body, with results expected by the fourth quarter of 2019.”

ON FINANCING

  • Ridgestone Mining Inc. completed its previously announced private placement financing, for gross proceeds of $1.12 M. The company paid 6% ($43.2 K) cash and 309 K compensation warrants. Also, 72.2 K bonus shares were issued to a director of the company, under a loan agreement (Rebeico, Sonora).
  • Sierra Metals Inc. entered into an automatic purchase plan with its designated broker (Cusi and Bolivar, Chihuahua).
  • Sonoro Metals Corp. granted 100 K incentive options to a director of the company. These options vest immediately and are exercisable at a price of $0.18 per share (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Minaurum Gold Inc. has been named to the TSX Venture Exchange Venture 50tm , the annual ranking of Canada’s top 50 emerging publicly traded companies across five industry sectors. Minaurum also granted 3.35 M common share stock options to directors, officers and consultants. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.45 for a period of 10 years from the issue date. The company also granted consultants 275 k options exercisable at a price of $0.45 for a period of five years. Ten percent vest immediately, and another 15% each semiannually (Alamos, Sonora).   
  • Oroco Resources Corp. closed a non-brokered private placement financing, raising $800 K in gross proceeds. No finder’s fee was paid (Santo Tomas, Sinaloa).
  • Camrova Resources Inc. closed the second tranche of the previously announced private placement, for proceeds of $12 K, bringing the total combined proceeds to $66 K. The third and final tranche of the Private Placement is expected to close in early May (Boleo, Baja California Sur).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd. reported channel sample results from a new zone at its San Marcial project in Sinaloa. The Nava zone, 500 long by 100 m wide, is extensively altered and hosts low sulphidation quartz veining and stockwork mineralization. Channel samples from the zone returned assays ranging from 1.04 gpt Au to up to 10.0 gpt Au.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. announced positive metallurgical results for Las Chispas project, in Sonora. “A total of 445 kg was selected from 51 core holes and nine underground samples to compile 15 different samples, based on geo-metallurgical domains which were combined into three master composites. These composites utilized 210 kilograms of mass representing a variety of grades (low, medium and high) of 500 to 2000 gpt AgEq expected during conceptual operation”. The new metallurgical tests show estimated recoveries of 98.4% to 98.9% Au and 91.4% to 94.8% Ag, using conventional methods comprised of gravity concentration and intensive leaching followed by gravity tails standard leaching.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Newmont Mining Corp. announced that it has extended the previously announced offers to exchange all outstanding notes issued by Goldcorp Inc. for up to two billion dollars  aggregate principal amount of new notes to be issued by Newmont, as part of the proposed arrangement on which Newmont acquires all outstaning shares of Goldcorp (Peñasquito, Zacatecas).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. presented its notice of annual general meeting for the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held on 23 May 2019 (Plomosas, Chihuahua).
  • Aura Resources Inc. announced the completion of the sale of an 80% interest in its East Taviche project in Oaxaca, to Minaurum Gold Inc.. Minaurum issued 100 K common shares to Aura and paid 39.4 K on closing; additionally, Minaurum is to issue further 100 K shares on receipt of the pertinent drilling permits. The remaining 20% can be acquired by Minaurum paying CDN$1 M.
  • Newmont Goldcorp Corp. announced the successful conclusion of its transaction combining Newmont Mining Corp. and Goldcorp Inc. to form the world’s leading gold business. The company targets six to seven million ounces of steady gold production over a decades-long time horizon (Peñasquito, Zacatecas).

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, glory hole developed on Inguaran, Michoacan. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

Orla Announces Closing of Bought Deal Financing

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OrlaMining-20181502

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orla Mining Ltd. (TSX-V:OLA) (the “Company” or “Orla”) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced bought deal financing, including the exercise in full of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. A total of 17,581,200 units (the “Units”) of Orla were sold at a price of $1.75 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $30,767,100 (the “Offering”). Each Unit consists of one common share of Orla and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one common share of Orla at a price of $2.35 at any time prior to February 15, 2021.