chalcopyrite

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of March, 2022. 

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Malachite after chalcopyrite in a hydrothermal breccia.

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 10th week of the year (March 7th to March 13th, 2022), at least 20 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 3 news published by the media, with nine reporting resources and developments of their properties, four informing on exploration results, four communicating production and financial results, three discussing social issues, two announcing financial issues, and one disclosing deals and corporate issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Silver Spruce filed environmental permits to drill at their the Diamante, Mezquite and Jackie projects. In Durango, Canasil provided a review of the results from its 2020-21 drill program on the Candy Vein at its Nora project and Silver Wolf provided a 2021 year in review and 2022 outlook on its Ana Maria property. ON MINING, Endeavour reported consolidated full year 2021 production and financial results from their mining operations in México. First Majestic announced Q4 and full year 2021 production and financial results from their Mexican mine operations. Gatos Silver presented Q4 and 2021 year-end production and financial results from its 70% owned Cerro Los Gatos operation in Chihuahua, and provided a corporate update. Gold Resource provided Q4 and year-end 2021 production and financial results from its Don David Gold mine in Oaxaca.  ON FINANCING, Argonaut sold 9.74M of common shares of Magna Gold for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD $6.82M. Kootenay closed a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $4.78M and a non-brokered portion of the offering for gross proceeds of approximately $1.47M, for total aggregate gross proceeds to the company of $6.25M (Columba project, Chihuahua). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Altaley announced positive Pre-Feasibility Study and updated Mineral Resources and Reserves at its Tahuehueto project, Durango. Capitan Mining released results from its ongoing RC drilling program at its Cruz de Plata project (former referred as Peñoles) in Durango.  Magna Gold released results from the first 22 of 43 drill holes completed at its Margarita project in Chihuahua. Prime Mining reported results from its ongoing drilling program at its Los Reyes project, Sinaloa. Avino announced drill results from the La Potosina area at its Avino project, Durango. Azucar Minerals reported that it will commence to drill test a new large lithocap alteration at its El Cobre project, Veracruz.  Barksdale released results from its phase I, 5,000m drilling program at the Cerro Verde zone on its San Javier project, Sonora. Vizsla reported results from seven new drill holes collared on the Copala and Christiano veins within its Panuco project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Ranchero Gold announced the appointments of two new members to its Board of Directors (Santa Daniela project, Sonora). Fabled announced that it has completed the planning of its phase 2 definition diamond drill program at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fresnillo plc reported the return to face-to-face work in the state, and the opening of its outdoor activities. Grupo Mexico, within the framework of the International Mother Language Day, held activities related to the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages in the communities where it has a presence. Media Luna Mining Company (Torex Gold) ratified for the sixth consecutive year the collaboration agreement with fishing cooperatives in the Balsas River Basin in Guerrero.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., filed environmental permits with the Secretariat of Natural Resources and Environment (SEMARNAT) to drill at their the Diamante, Mezquite and Jackie projects in Sonora. Approvals from SEMARNAT are expected to be obtained by late March, 2022.
  • Canasil Resources Inc., provided a review of the results from its 2020-21 drill program on the Candy Vein at its Nora project. 13 drill holes were completed for a total of 3,296m to test the Candy vein over a strike distance of 500m and to a vertical depth of 250m below surface. All the holes encountered the mineralized vein with the highest true width x grade value on hole NRE-21-11 with 5.31 g/t Au and 336 g/t Ag (748 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 11.29m, giving a TW x grade value of 8,445 g/t AgEq x m. The drill results show that the Candy vein hosts consistently high grade gold and silver mineralization over appreciable widths. The Candy vein is known over 3km long but only 500m have been drill tested. Additionally, Canasil reported that systematic grid soil sampling over a 2km east-west and 3km north-south area covering the central zone of the project returned widespread silver, gold, copper, zinc and lead geochemical anomalies. “The gold and silver anomalies are particularly strong over the 3-Km strike extent of the Candy vein structure on the western side of the project area, as well as to the southwest and east of the Candy vein structure. A strong silver and gold anomaly also extends for 1.5 Km southwest from the location of the above high grade drill intercepts on the Candy vein and a breccia target has been identified to the south with potential for hosting bulk tonnage disseminated silver-gold mineralization”.
  • Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd., provided a 2021 year in review and 2022 outlook on its Ana Maria property in Durango. The accomplished goals on 2021 include the completion of a NI-43-101 compliant technical report on the properties; an Aster satellite imaging survey, an airborne LiDAR and Hyperspectral imaging survey, an Airborne geophysical data survey, the application to expand the land package by 3x, and the completion of the 2021 mapping and sampling program to identify prospective areas and uncover previous historical workings. The company also provided a 2022 outlook that include the completion of the geophysical data interpretation, to define drill targets for the initial drill program, to apply and receive drill permits, to mobilize drilling equipment to execute an initial drill program, and to receive approval from the Mexican authorities on the expanded land application.

ON MINING

  • Endeavour Silver Corp., reported consolidated full year 2021 production and financial results from their mining operations in México. The company mined 887,424 tonnes to produce 4.87M Oz Ag, and 42.3K Oz Au at a cash cost of USD $9.31 per Oz Ag, a total production cost of USD $14.70 per Oz Ag, and all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of USD $20.34 per Oz Ag. Endeavor sold 3.86 M Oz Ag and 39.1K Oz Au and reported revenues of USD $165.3M, adjust net earnings of USD $(-8.6M), mine operating earnings of USD $36.4M, EBIDTA of USD $54.9M, and working capital of USD $121.2M.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., announced Q4 and full year 2021 production and financial results from their Mexican mine operations. The below tables show the figures per separate mine for Q4, and full year 2021.

First Majestic reported consolidated financial results (including Jerritt Canyon mine in USA). It reported revenues of USD $204.9M and USD $584.1M respectively for the periods Q4, and full year 2021; mine operating earnings of USD $40.4M and USD $101.4M respectively; loss earnings of USD $4M and USD $4.9M respectively; operating cash flows before working capital and taxes of USD $71.8M and USD $176.8M respectively; cash and cash equivalents of USD $237.9M in each period; working capital of USD $224.4M in each period; and free cash flow of USD $66.4M and USD ($16.9M) for Q4 and full year 2021 respectively.

  • Gatos Silver Inc., presented Q4 and 2021 year-end production and financial results from its 70% owned Cerro Los Gatos operation in Chihuahua, and provided a corporate update. On Q4, 2021, the company milled 241,397 tonnes of 331 g/t Ag, 0.3 g/t Au, 2.2% Pb, and 3.9% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 90%, 63%, 91% and 73% respectively, to produce 2.3M Oz Ag, 1.3K Oz Au, 10.2M Lb Pb, and 12.9M Lb Zn. Average realized price per Oz Ag, Oz Au, Lb Pb, and Lb Zn were USD $23.08, USD $1,804, USD $1.04, and USD $1.58 respectively. For the full year, Gatos milled 909,886 tonnes of 295 g/t Ag, 0.32 g/t Au, 2.3% Pb, and 3.9% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 88%, 63%, 90% and 73% respectively, to produce 7.6M Oz Ag, 5.2K Oz Au, 39.8M Lb Pb, and 49.6M Lb Zn. Average realized price per Oz Ag, Oz Au, Lb Pb, and Lb Zn were USD $24.51, USD $1,804, USD $0.99, and USD $1.36 respectively. The company reported exploration expenses, operating costs and sales  for the period Q4, 2021 of USD $0.3 , USD $3.8M, and USD &72.9M respectively, while for the full year 2021 of USD $1.7, USD $19.3M, and USD $251.2M respectively. Gatos provided its 2022 guidance and expects to produce between 8.5- 9M Oz Ag, 4-4.5K Oz Au, 36-40M Lb Pb, and 49-54M Lb Zn at AISC of USD $16.5-18.5 per payable silver on Co-product basis and USD $13-15 per payable silver on by-product basis.
  • Gold Resource Corporation provided Q4 and year-end 2021 production and financial results from its Don David Gold mine in Oaxaca. On Q4, 2021 the company milled 135,398 tonnes of 1.93 g/t Au, 82 g/t Ag, 0.38% Cu, 2.2% Pb, and 4.8% Zn to produce 1.8K Oz Au, 287.8K Oz Ag, 907.2K Lb Cu, 4.6M Lb Pb, and 9.33M Lb Zn at average metal prices realized of USD $1,811 per Oz Au, USD $23.51 per Oz Ag, USD $9,768 per tonne of Cu, usd $2,339 per tonne of Pb, and USD $3,446 per tonne of Zn. On the full year 2021, Gatos milled 501,978 tonnes of 2.01 g/t Au, 80 g/t Ag, 0.39% Cu, 1.9% Pb, and 4.4% Zn to produce 22.6K Oz Au, 1.06M Oz Ag, 3.18M Lb Cu, 13-4M Lb Pb, and 30.3M Lb Zn at average metal prices realized of USD $1,796 per Oz Au, USD $25.06 per Oz Ag, USD $9,553 per tonne of Cu, USD $2,268 per tonne of Pb, and USD $3,091 per tonne of Zn. On Q4, 2021, the company reported sales for USD $38.6M, EBIDTA of USD $10.3M, and operating cost of USD $12.9M, while on the full year 2021 it reported USD $125.2M, USD $33.64M, and USD $34.78M respectively.

ON FINANCING

  • Argonaut Gold Inc., sold 9.74M of common shares of Magna Gold at a price of CAD $0.70 per common share for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD $6.82M.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., closed a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $4.78M and a non-brokered portion of the offering for gross proceeds of approximately $1.47M, for total aggregate gross proceeds to the company of $6.25M. Gross proceeds will be used for exploration activities, working capital and other general corporate purposes (Columba project, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Altaley Mining Corporation announced positive Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) and updated Mineral Resources and Reserves at its Tahuehueto project, Durango. Highlights of the PFS include a throughput of 1,000 tonnes per day; a mine life of 10.9 years; a pre-tax net cash flow of USD $240.9M; a total capital cost of USD $56.9M; an all in sustaining cost (AISC) of USD $844 per Oz AuEq; a pre-tax Net Present Value (VNP) of USD $152.8M at 5% discount rate; an EBIDTA of USD $246.1M, and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 45%. The company also updated Mineral Resources and Reserves. It reported Proven+ Probable Reserves of 3.58M tonnes grading 2.55 g/t Au, 50 g/t Ag, 0.26% Cu, 1.1% Pb, and 1.9% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 87%, 85%, 85%, 85% and 68& respectively to contain 294K Oz Au, 5.7M Oz Ag, 20.55M Lb Cu, 87.36M Lb Pb, and 151.6M Lb Zn. Altaley also reported Measured +Indicated Resources of 6.26M tonnes grading 2.11 g/t Au, 47 g/t Ag, 0.27% Cu, 0.9% Pb, and 2% Zn (4.47 g/t AuEq) to contain 415K Oz Au, 9.4M Oz Ag, 36.6M Lb Cu, 123.9M Lb Pb, and 273.3M Lb Zn (900K Oz AuEq); and Indicated Resources of 918K tonnes grading 1.02 g/t Au, 29 g/t Ag, 0.15% Cu, 1.2% Pb, and 2% Zn (3.05 g/t AuEq) to contain 30K Oz Au, 840K Oz Ag, 3M Lb Cu, 23.5M Lb Pb, and 39.7M Lb Zn (90K Oz AuEq).
  • Capitan Mining Inc., released results from its ongoing RC drilling program at its Cruz de Plata project (former referred as Peñoles) in Durango. Hole 21-JMRC03 drilled on Jesus Maria Vein system returned 0.37 g/t Au, 177 g/t Ag, 3.2% Pb, and 3.6% Zn (435 g/t AgEq) over 10.7m, including 0.71 g/t Au, 290 g/t Ag, 6.8% Pb, 6.6% Zn (798 g/t AgEq) over 11.5m, including 0.45 g/t Au, 258 g/t Ag, 4.7% Pb, and 5% Zn (620 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m, including 0.27 g/t Au, 370 g/t Ag, 5.6% Pb, and 8% Zn (860 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m, including 0.55 g/t Au, 122 g/t Ag, 2.6% Pb, and 3% Zn (358 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m, including 0.51 g/t Au, 281 g/t Ag, 5.9% Pb, and 3.8% Zn (641 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m. Assays are still pending for 11 RC holes out of 15 completed.
  • Magna Gold Corp., released results from the first 22 of 43 drill holes completed at its Margarita project in Chihuahua. Drill highlights include hole MAR-21-002 with 139 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb and 0.6% Zn over 46.8m, including 801 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 0.8% Zn over 2.85m; hole MAR-21-004 with 113 g/t Ag, 0.03% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 32.55m, including 300 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 6m; hole MAR-21-005 with 133 g/t Ag, 0.05% Pb and 0.2% Zn over 39.5m, including 540 g/t Ag, 0.01% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 1.85m, and 301 g/t Ag, 0.06% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 5.1m; hole MAR-21-016 with 157 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 1.1% Zn over 29.5m, including 0.31 g/t Au, 821 g/t Ag, 2.4% Pb, and 5.6% Zn over 3.9m; hole MAR-21-020 with 156 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 55.95m, including 498 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 1.6% Zn over 12.8m;and hole MAR-21-022 with 127 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 19.2m, including 0.3 g/t Au, 567 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 1.4% Zn over 3.55m, and 110 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over 16.55m, including 0.18 g/t Au, 440 g/t Ag, 1.6% Pb, and 1.8% Zn over 3m. Magna plans to release a maiden resource toward the end of the Q1, 2022. This resource estimate will lead to the completion of the first ever preliminary economic assessment (PEA) shortly thereafter.
  • Prime Mining Corp., reported results from its ongoing drilling program at Guadalupe East on its Los Reyes project, Sinaloa. Hole 22GE-33 intersected multiple mineralized intervals. This hole intersected 11.60 g/t Au and 219 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 1.20m, then a 3.7m stope, to continue with 3.33 g/t Au and 115 g/t Ag over a TW of 29.29m, including 2.68 g/t Au, and 93 g/t Ag over a TW of 6.10m, and including 6.57 g/t Au and 137 g/t Ag over a TW of 9m, including 30.9 g/t Au and 605 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.20m, and including 3.67 g/t Au and 204 g/t Ag over a TW of 10.40m, including 8.39 g/t Au and 321 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.10m. This hole is located on the west side of the Guadalupe East conceptual open pit. There are currently 15 pending drill holes at Guadalupe East out of a total of 49 completed.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., announced drill results from its 2,400m drilling program conducted in 2021 on the La Potosina area at its Avino project, Durango. Highlights include hole LP-21-06 with 0.09 g/t Au, 270 g/t Ag, 0.25% Cu, 0.9% Pb, and 2.5% Zn (463 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 1.7m, including 0.09 g/t Au, 1,257 g/t Ag, 0.48% Cu, 2.8% Pb, and 4.4% Zn (1,641 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.20m, including 0.08 g/t Au, 510 g/t Ag, 0.6% Cu, 2.2% Pb, and 5% Zn (918 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.35m, including 0.07 g/t Au, 406 g/t Ag, 0.44% Cu, 1.3% Pb, and 4.2% Zn (717 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.45m; and hole LP-21-007 with 0.4 g/t Au, 617 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (668 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.87m. On 2022, Avino plans include an additional 40 holes with 6,000m of drilling to test the continuity of the vein at elevations above 2,100m while looking for favorable dilation structures in the northwest.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd., reported that it will commence to drill test a new large lithocap alteration at its El Cobre project, Veracruz. A mineral mapping study conducted on this area defined a strong alteration signature interpreted to reflect the surface zoning of an underlying porphyry body.
  • Barksdale Resources Corp., released results from its phase I, 5,000m drilling program at the Cerro Verde zone on its San Javier project, Sonora. Drilling highlights include hole SJ21-31 with 0.05% Cu and 1.11 g/t Au over 36m, including 0.03% Cu and 1.71 g/t Au over 15m, and 0.06% Cu and 1.89 g/t Au over 3m, plus 0.54% Cu over 48m, including 1.35% Cu over 6m; and hole SJ21-35 with 0.24% Cu over 6m, plus 0.22% Cu over 12m, plus 0.35% Cu over 15m. Drilling results confirmed and expanded the footprint of the Cerro Verde Zone.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., announced that it has completed the planning of its phase 2 definition diamond drill program at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua as well as a plan to drill test other structures in the property. This second phase will consist of a minimum of 5,000m for definition drilling, and drill test possible structural dilation zones on the Northeast and secondary mineralized structures, identified after performing a property wide mapping & sampling as well as an structural interpretation. “Once the field work and observations have been completed the phase 2 exploration first priority drill targets will be defined in the coming weeks”.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., reported results from seven new drill holes collared on the Copala and Christiano veins within its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Drill highlights include hole CS-21-116 with 97 g/t Ag and 0.55 g/t Au (141 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 2.4m, and 1,559 g/t Ag and 7.29  g/t Au (2,142 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 7.81m, including 2,728 g/t Ag and 13.10 g/t Au (3,775 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.60m, and 1,531 g/t Ag and 6.94 g/t Au (2,086 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 3.14m; hole CS-21-123 with 248 g/t Ag and 2.03 g/t Au (410 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 14.45m, including 1,237 g/t Ag and 10.53 g/t Au (2,078 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.09m, and including 197 g/t Ag and 1.45 g/t Au (312 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.68m; hole CS-21-115 with 1,900 g/t Ag and 11.09 g/t Au (2,787 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.21m; and hole CS-21-112 with 682 g/t Ag and 5.51 g/t Au (1,122 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.73m, including 973 g/t Ag and 7.97 g/t Au (1,610 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.1m. The Copala Vein has now been tested with 17 holes with mineralization open in all directions.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Ranchero Gold Corp., announced the appointments of two new members to its Board of Directors, and the addition of Ken Balleweg to its Technical Advisory team (Santa Daniela project, Sonora).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Fresnillo plc reported the return to face-to-face work in the state, and the opening of its outdoor activities, taking into account the hygiene and healthy distance measures promoted by the health authorities, as well as the presentation of the vaccination certificate for access the corresponding facilities. For Fresnillo plc, physical activation represents one of the stronger pillars for the people development.
  • Grupo Mexico, within the framework of the International Mother Language Day, held activities related to the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages in the communities where it has a presence.
  • Media Luna Mining Company (Torex Gold) ratified for the sixth consecutive year the collaboration agreement with fishing cooperatives in the Balsas River Basin in Guerrero. F is the second most important economic activity in the mining corridor, so the commitment is to help to consolidate economic activities in the communities.

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, malachite after chalcopyrite in a hydrothermal breccia from an intermediate sulphidation epithermal vein system in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of October, 2021

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 41st week of the year (October 11th to October 17th, 2021), at least 25 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, six companies posted exploration advances on their properties, six released Q3 reports and one on commencement of mining, two on financing and eight more on project development or resource definition and one more on mining concessions acquisitions. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mexico’s president presented a proposal to change the law in the energy industry, but also restricting lithium exploration and production to the government. Several other elements could be included in the bill, referred to as “strategic minerals”, without elaborating, although a government party senator named cobalt, niquel, rare earths and even copper. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Benjamin Hill Mining released results from geophysical processing and from fluid inclusion studies that support a buried intrusive source for the mineralization at the Benjamin Hill property; Canuc Resources updated on its deep drilling program at San Javier; Colibri Resources received the permit to drill Evelyn. In Chihuahua, Kootenay silver increased land holdings at its Columba project. In Sinaloa, Vizsla Silver presented drilling results from the Tajitos zone at its Panuco project.   ON MINING, Guanajuato Silver commenced mining at El Cubo, in Guanajuato. First Majestic Silver, Golden Minerals, Gold Resource, Magna Gold, Aura Minerals and Avino Silver & Gold Mines presented its Q3 2021 reports. ON FINANCING, Candelaria Mining informed one of its lenders, Accendo Banco, had its operating permit revoked by Mexican authorities. Xali Gold announced Sun River Gold arranged a financing for US$6.5 M for the tailings project at El Oro, Estado de Mexico. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GR Silver Mining filed a NI-43-101 technical report on the Plomosas project, Sinaloa. Orla Mining provided an update on the construction of the Camino Rojo Oxide project. Prime Mining released further drilling results from Los Reyes, Sinaloa. Fabled Silver Gold released underground drilling results for Santa Maria, in Chihuahua. GoGold Resources reported results from drilling at El Favor, on its Los Ricos North project located in Jalisco. Golden Tag resources is adding 4,500 m to its 2021 drilling program at San Diego, Durango. Capitan Mining reported results from drilling at El Capitan, in Durango. Zacatecas Silver is drilling the Panuco and Las Cruces areas, at its Zacatecas project, results pending.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Argonaut Gold acquired from Fresnillo PLC 4,791 ha in key concessions surrounding its San Agustin mine in Durango. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Minera Media Luna, Peñols, Newmont Peñasquito and Pan American Silver informed on community programs in education and health.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mexico is far from being a powerhouse in lithium production according to the Statistical Review of World Energy 2021 by BP. Australia, Chile and China hold 81.2% of reserves and 86.5% of lithium production, whereas Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, the United States and Zimbabwe account for 20.5% of reserves and 12.8% of the production. Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) points that the constitutional reform presented by the Mexican president lacks technical support, as even if there are several lithium projects in Mexico, none has proven economic viability. The most visible of these projects, in Sonora, is said to be the largest lithium prospect in the Globe, but its economic viability has still to be proven, as to date there is not a single mine of lithium in clays in the World.
  • Mexico will not grant lithium concessions, said the Mexican president. He stated that even if his electricity reform is not approved by congress, his government has the power to reject any request for a concession to mine lithium. “We will deny any request for a concession to mine lithium and we have the power to do so. We want this to be established in the constitution, lithium belongs to the state”.
  • Nationalistic views with control on “strategic minerals” have been voiced by Morena, the party in power in Mexico. Besides the explicit aim by the President to save all lithium extracting and processing activities for the government, his recent proposal also refers, without elaborating, to be applied in other “strategic minerals”. A senator form Morena mentioned these other minerals could include cobalt, nickel, rare earths and copper, although a spokeswoman from the Economy Secretariat mentioned that the list of strategic minerals was to be provided by the Mexican Geological Survey at a later date.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Canuc Resources Corp. updated on the exploration program at its San Javier project in Sonora. Three holes have been completed and a fourth one is in progress, currently at 922 m of depth and ongoing. Chalcopyrite has been encountered from 302 m and is still visible at 922 m of depth. “The drill hole has intersected a broad zone of variably stockworked and brecciated Barranca sediments with minor andesitic dykes. The Barranca sediments show contact metamorphism from about 461 m and downward, variable amounts of magnetite bearing veinlets, stringers and breccia matrix throughout”. The first two holes intercepted Barranca Formation sedimentary rocks with magnetite veinlets and best intercepts of 2.35 m @ 126 gpt Ag and 2.0 m @ 243 gpt Ag. The third hole was drilled on the Tarahumara Formation volcanic rocks for 500.5 m before being terminated due to drilling problems, intercepting several volcanic lithologies, chalcocite from 38 m of depth and sulfides including chalcopyrite from 332 m. Scattered gold and copper values on short intervals were intercepted, of up to 1.19 gpt Au and 0.41% Cu. Results for the current hole are still pending.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. received the needed permit to drill up to 56 holes at the Evelyn project in Sonora. “The fully funded drill program of up to 10,000 metres is expected to be conducted in two phases”.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. increased its land holdings at its Columba project in Chihuahua. The company applied for a 10,825 hectare concession, supporting the decision to do so on the high-grade silver intercepts on drilling of the property.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. presented the results from 23 new drill holes from the Tajitos vein at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 1.38 m @ 1.16 gpt Au, 79 gpt Ag; 1.34 m @ 7.94 gpt Au, 960 gpt Ag; 0.70 m @ 4.16 gpt Au, 2,082 gpt Ag; 2.15 m @ 1.09 gpt Au, 188 gpt Ag; 1.38 m @ 2.83 gpt Au, 527 gpt Ag; 8.7 m @ 0.51 gpt Au, 99 gpt Ag; 1.99 m @ 2.46 gpt Au, 615 gpt Ag; 0.86 m @ 3.37 gpt Au, 315 gpt Ag; 1.39 m @ 3.26 gpt Au, 73 gpt Ag; 1.3 m @ 2.47 gpt Au, 600 gpt Ag; 1.50 m @ 9.90 gpt Au, 2,607 gpt Ag; 0.7 m @ 5.73 gpt Au, 1,115 gpt Ag; 4.38 m @ 1.62 gpt Au, 216 gpt Ag. The footprint of the Tajitos zone has been recognized for 800 m along strike and 300 m of depth.
  • Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. informed the seven kilometer long trend of epithermal mineralization at its Benjamin Hill project in Sonora is related to a well-defined magnetic anomaly. A magnetic high more than 12 kilometers long and 4 km wide lies beneath the surface, crossing the property in a N-NE orientation, with the Au-Cu mineralization parallel to the crest of the magnetic high.  “Our hypothesis explains that the magnetic anomaly corresponds to a partially exhumed fertile pluton. We suggest the mineralization seen at surface was driven by the heat engine of a buried pluton providing hydrothermal fluids that formed mineralized tabular bodies enriched with Au, Ag, and Cu (i.e. veins and breccias), as well as fluids that caused hydrothermal alteration halos (phyllic, epidote-magnetite and argillic alteration)…”.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp. updated on drilling at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. The company informed heavy rainfall during August and September is subduing by now, and that they expect an increase in the drilling rate that produced only 420 m of core in 8 weeks. “Mammoth intends to initially drill 2 – 4 holes within each target zone then move to another target zone to drill a similar number of holes”. Results on the first holes are pending.
  • Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. informed on results of fluid inclusion studies at its Benjamin Hill property in Sonora. The salinity and homogenization temperatures point to an epithermal system with an overprinting magmatic influence, and exhumation depths  between 150 m and 750 m in the mineralized structures. “This observation combined with recent geophysical data, supports the hypothesis of the existence of a mineralized plutonic source with a high possibility for Au-Cu metallic enrichment and porphyry potential”.

ON MINING

  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. commenced to process silver-gold ore at its El Cubo mine and mill in Guanajuato. Prior to the start of mill operations, 20 K tonnes of material from El Cubo were mined and stockpiled, to be processed at 750 tonnes per day (tpd) in the plant with a capacity for 1,500 tpd, or over 500 K tonnes per year.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. presented production results for the third quarte 2021, including figures from its three Mexican operations. At San Dimas, Durango, 214.2 K tonnes were processed at a rate of 2,328 tpd and a grade of 289 gpt Ag, 3.14 gpt Au, recovering 95% Ag, 96% Au to produce 20,767 Oz Au, 1.89 M Oz Ag. At Santa Elena in Sonora 234.9 K tonnes were processed grading 74 gpt Ag, 1.04 gpt Au, recovering 91% Ag, 96% Au to produce 508.6 K Oz Ag, 7,498 Oz Au. At La Encantada in Coahuila, 263.6 K tonnes were processed grading 134 gpt Ag, 0.02 gpt Au, recovering 80% Ag, 90% Au to produce 905 K Oz Ag, 114 Oz Au.
  • Golden Minerals Co. reported third quarter 2021 production from its Rodeo mine in Durango. The mill processed an average of 532 tpd at a grade of 4.0 gpt Au, recovering 76.5% Au to produce 4,777 Oz Au, 12,196 Oz Ag. Golden’s guidance for 2021 continues between 12 K – 14 K Oz Au and 25 K – 30 K Oz Ag.
  • Gold Resource Corp. presented preliminary third quarter 2021 production results. At its Arista mine in Oaxaca 98 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 1,353 tpd, grading 2.68 gpt Au, 91 gpt Ag, 0.37% Cu, 2.3% Pb, 4.8% Zn, to produce 6,933 Oz Au, 265.8 K Oz Ag, 1,808 tonnes Pb, 3,920 tonnes Zn. The cash cost per AuEq Oz was between $250-$290 and the AISC per AuEq Oz between $250-$290.
  • Magna Gold Corp. reported Q3 2021 production results. At San Francisco, in Sonora, 1.72 M tonnes were mined @ 0.46 gpt Au, and 4.52 M tonnes of waste moved (2.62 strip ratio), 1.76 M tonnes were processed @ 0.45 gpt Au, with 25,663 Oz Au placed in the pads to produce 19,102 Oz Au, 7,115 Oz Ag. The guidance for the year remains at 55-65 K Oz Au.
  • Aura Minerals Inc. announced preliminary production results for the third quarter of 2021, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Aranzazu, in Zacatecas, Aura produced 6,404 Oz Au, 106.1 K Oz Ag, 8.15 M Lb Cu, or 26,745 Oz AuEq.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. released its production report for the third quarter 2021. The Avino mine in Durango successfully recommenced operations at a 1,000 to 1,500 tpd rate (with a 2,500 tpd plant capacity) with 58.2 K tonnes produced, 61,8 K tonnes processed (with aid of some stock piled material) grading 48 gpt Ag, 0.83 gpt Au, 0.58% Cu, recovering 86% Ag, 75% Au, 85% Cu to produce 77.9 K Oz Ag, 1,183 Oz Au, 685.5 K tonnes Cu.

ON FINANCING

  • Candelaria mining Corp. informed one of its lenders, Accendo Banco S.A. had its authorization to operate as a banking institution revoked by the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission. “The Company has a US$9.0 million loan facility in place with Accendo and to date has drawn US$1.5 million under the loan facility. The Company anticipates that its ability to draw any further funds from its loan facility with Accendo may be impaired by these developments.” (Pinos, Zacatecas).
  • Xali Gold Corp. announced that Sun River Gold has arranged a financing of US$6.5 M to build an put in operation the tailings reprocessing operation at El Oro, Estado de México. “Sun River has the option to acquire 100% of the Tailings Project from Minera CCM by making staged payments totalling US$500,000 (paid), bring the tailings into commercial production by October 31, 2021 (extended to March 31, 2022 due to COVID), and grant to the Company a 5% NPI, Life of Mine royalty (the “Candente Royalty”) as well as the Municipality’s 8% NPI on production from the properties” (El dorado, Nayarit).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. filed a technical report on the Plomosas project, in Sinaloa. The report envisages 3.4 M Oz Ag, 53 K Oz Au, 73 M Lb Zn, 48 M Lb Pb (10.3 M Oz AgEq) in indicated resources and 8.6 M Oz Ag, 85 K Oz Au, 149 M Lb Zn, 116 M Lb Pb (21.0 M Oz AgEq) in inferred resources. The report includes information from over 100,000 meters of drilling in 476 historic and 80 new drill holes. A 14,000 meters drilling program with seven rigs is in progress.
  • Orla Mining Ltd. provided a construction update for the Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas. To date Camino Rojo is 89% complete with the ramp up of mining operations according to plan, and the crushing and conveying system, reclaim tunnel, overland conveyor and grasshopper conveyors completed. The Merrill-Crowe plant and refinery are 98% complete. In the year 757.1 K tonnes have been mined at a grade of 0.86 gpt Au, of which 511.2 K tonnes have been crushed and 220.2 K tonnes stacked.
  • Prime Mining Corp. informed on further drilling results from its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width (TW) intercepts comprise 11.8 m @ 6.12 gpt Au, 62 gpt Ag, (including 5.5 m @ 12.02 gpt Au, 61 gpt Ag); 13.1 m @ 3.36 gpt Au, 83 gpt Ag; 13.2 m @ 2.18 gpt Au, 31 gpt Ag; 8.4 m @ 2.85 gpt Au, 31 gpt Ag; 1.4 m @ 3.89 gpt Au, 13 gpt Ag in the Zapote South step out holes, and 3.8 m @ 14.51 gpt Au, 82 gpt Ag; 2.2 m @ 3.96 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag; 2.1 m @ 5.55 gpt Au, 164 gpt Ag; 2.90 m @ 2.07 gpt Au, 248 gpt Ag; 3.9 m @ 1.90 gpt Au, 78 gpt Ag; 0.9 m @ 3.86 gpt Au, 448 gpt Ag; 4.0 m @ 1.55 gpt Au, 230 gpt Ag in the Tahonitas step out drilling. The boiling level at Zapote, with its corresponding higher grades, has been identified 50 m below previous reports, expanding the exploration targets.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. released further assay results from its Santa Maria property in Chihuahua. The underground drilling was successful in intersecting a geochemically anomalous intrusive rock with a 54.6 m interval grading 0.02 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag (including three intervals 1.5, 1.5 and 1.2 m in width grading 20, 21 and 23 gpt Ag respectively) and another hole returning 4.5 m @ 13 gpt Ag.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. reported results of 10 new holes from El Favor east zone, extending the mineralized strike by over 450 meters at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Some of the core-length intervals intercepted comprise 27.0 m @ 0.44 gpt Au, 64 gpt Ag; 3.0 m @ 0.51 gpt Au, 86 gpt Ag; 22.3 m @ 0.31 gpt Au, 118 gpt Ag (including 1.0 m @ 3.96 gpt Au, 944 gpt Ag); 7.7 m @ 0.46 gpt Au, 147 gpt Ag; 24.2 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 105 gpt Ag (including 2.0 m @ 4.16 gpt Au, 794 gpt Ag); 6.1 m @ 1.32 gpt Au, 328 gpt Ag; 2.1 m @ 0.63 gpt Au, 179 gpt Ag; 11.4 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 136 gpt Ag (including 6.0 m @ 0.38 gpt Au, 179 gpt Ag); 20.1 m @ 0.22 gpt Au, 68 gpt Ag (including 1.0 m @ 2.59 gpt Au, 563 gpt Ag); 18.3 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 98 gpt Ag (including 5.6 m @ 0.90 gpt Au, 255 gpt Ag). El Favor East mineralization is now known for 900 m, of which 600 m have been drilled.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. announced the addition of 4,500 meters of diamond drilling to its exploration program for 2021 at its San Diego project in Durango. That meterage is in addition to the 4,716 meters already sunk and reported in 2021.   The program discovered epithermal mineralization near the surface, the following are some selected core-length intervals: 273.65 m @ 0.10 gpt Au, 43 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn (76 gpt AgEq); 50.17 m @ 0.05 gpt Au, 31 gpt Ag, 0.9% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 99.53 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 27 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 25.55 m @ 0.08 gpt Au, 37 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 86.64 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 39 gpt Ag, 0.9% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 169.83 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 32 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.8% Zn; 116.45 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 134.37 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 191.57 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 35 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 0.8% Zn.
  • Capitan Mining Inc. reported results form five reverse circulation (RC) drill holes at El Capitan, in Durango. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 6.1 m @ 0.15 gpt Au; 13.7 m @ 0.32 gpt Au; 44.2 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag; 6.1 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 10.7 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 27.4 m @ 0.23 gpt Au; 62.5 m @ 0.38 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag; 35.1 m @ 0.14 gpt Au; 21.3 m @ 0.19 gpt Au; 18.3 m @ 0.15 gpt Au; 6.1 m @ 0.29 gpt Au; 13.7 m @ 0.39 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag; 85.3 m @ 0.16 gpt Au; 19.8 m @ 0.15 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp. provided an update on the drilling program at Panuco, within its Zacatecas property in Zacatecas. Four drill holes were completed for a total of 1,088m at Panuco, while two more were completed at Las Cruces vein system and one more is ongoing. Results are pending.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Argonaut Gold Inc. has acquired key mineral concessions from Fresnillo PLC for a cash consideration of US$5.75 M. The acquired package comprises a 4,791-ha concession and four key small concessions totalling 27 ha, which will allow Argonaut to expand the pit, increase mineral reserves and extend mine life.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Media Luna informed on educational programs presented at communities in Guerrero.
  • Peñoles presented its company-wide water saving strategy on all its activities.
  • Newmont Peñasquito updated on activities with positive results in near-by communities.
  • Panamerican Silver informed on community health programs near its La Colorada mine in Zacatecas.

On the image below: Galena bearing milky quartz vein on a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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Flow banding rhyolite

By Miguel A Heredia

During the seventeen week of the year (May 06th to May 12th, 2019), at least 41 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with fourteen communicating financial and production results, ten disclosing deals and corporate issues, seven reporting on resources and development of their properties, five informing on exploration results, three discussing Mexican news, and two announcing financing rounds.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX) demanded the authorities to act in the illegal blockade at the Peñasquito mine by a transport company called CAVA.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aloro announced that it will resume drilling at its Venados project, Azure released drilling results from its Alacran project, and Colibri received historical assays from Santa Catalina Mining’s Pilar Exploration.  In Chihuahua, Silver Spruce and Radius Gold announced exploration results from its Pino de Plata and Amalia projects respectively.  ON MINING, Alio, Avino, Endeavour, Excellon, First Majestic, GoGold, Gold Resource, Hecla, Leagold, Pan American, Premier, Santa Cruz, Torex, and US Antimony presented Q1 2019 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. Endeavour also released its 2018 annual review and sustainability report. ON FINANCING, Defiance closed the final tranche of its previously announced private placement in the amount of $280,230 (San Acacio project, Zacatecas). Megastar closed a non-brokered private placement in the amount of $672,600 (Yautepec, Magdalena, and Rama de Oro projects, Oaxaca). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Southern Silver updated mineral resources at its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Azure increased mineral resources at its Oposura project in Sonora. Hecla reported positive exploration results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. Mexus Gold started blast hole drilling at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora to initiate ore production. Premier announced high grade intersects from the underground drilling program carried out at the Marianas zone within its Mercedes mine in Sonora. US Antimony reported a doubling of its Mexican smelting. Goldplay released exploration results from its San Marcial project in Sinaloa. Endeavour filed an updated technical report for its Terrroneras project in Jalisco with mineral resource and reserve estimate.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Alamos Gold (Mulatos mine, Sonora), Argonaut (El Castillo mine, Durango), Endeavour (Guanacevi mine, Durango), and Leagold (Los Filos mine, Guerrero) announced results from their annual general meeting of shareholders. Oroco confirmed favourable court decision on the Santo Tomas concession in Sinaloa. Defiance appointed new Director and Executive Chairman (San Acacio project, Zacatecas). Sable announced that the TSX accepted for filing the documentation of its option agreement on the Margarita project in Chihuahua with Minas Guilloyna and Minera La Perla.

 ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), demanded the authorities to act in the conflict between Peñasquito and a transport company called CAVA. The company declared that the illegal blockade which started more than a month ago, harms entire families and the productive chains of the region. CAMIMEX also stated that is essential that mining companies in the country can work without being subject to illegal pressures and, like any industry that develops in the country, their demands are met promptly through legal channels and attached to the rule of law. The company initiated the suspension of payments to employees and unionized workers, contractors, suppliers and communities. However, the company is willing to help unlock this situation that affects 20 thousand people who work directly or indirectly for the mine.
  • Mexico mining exploration, registered its lowest investment in 12 years. The mining exploration investment in Mexico during 2018 reached USD $383M, which represented a year-on-year decrease of 37.4% and its weakest level in the last 12 years, according to data from the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aloro Mining Corp., announced that soon it will resume drilling at its Los Venados project in Sonora. The drilling plan will consist of 1,200m in four holes and will be focused on the blind target discovered by hole LVRC-012 which intersected 32m of blind strong silicic alteration containing 1.72 g/t Au over 4.57m, interpreted as the margin of a concealed felsic dome.
  • Azure Minerals Limited, released drilling results from its Alacran project in Sonora, where its JV partner Minera Teck completed 21 holes phase 2 diamond drilling campaign for 10, 540m. 16 of the drill holes targeted porphyry-style copper mineralization at Cerro Alacrán prospect, while the remaining 5 holes targeted epithermal-style precious metal mineralization at Cerro San Simon and Cerro Colorado areas. This phase of drilling confirmed the existence of porphyry copper mineralization with broad zones of visible chalcopyrite intersected. Significant drill intersections include hole ALA-18-001 with 0.17% Cu over 118m; hole ALA18-003 with 0.25% over 131.7m; hole ALA-18-011 with 0.19% Cu over 137m; and hole ALA-18-014 with 0.21% over 177.3m.
  • Colibri Resource Corporation, purchased historical assays results for 8,000 samples collected on the Pilar Gold project in Sonora by Santa Catalina Mining in the 90´s. Highlights include a series of 11 consecutive assays reporting 285.12 g/t Au, 45.53 g/t Au, 195.5 g/t Au, and 51.91 g/t Au which have been interpreted to correspond with hole S-10. This hole intersected 54.47 g/t Au over 16.5m, and is located in the North Hill Zone; a series of 9 consecutive assays including an intersection of 80.3 g/t Au, interpreted to correspond with hole Q-8b. This hole intersected 9.64 g/t Au over 13.5m; and another series of 6 consecutive assays including 0.54 g/t Au, 8.52 g/t Au, 20.66 g/t Au, 16.23 g/t Au, and 6.97 g/t Au, interpreted to correspond with hole P-9b located in the Main Zone, which encountered 10.16 g/t Au over 9m.
  • Silver Spruce Resources inc., completed field work at its Pino de Plata project in Chihuahua. The field program expanded areas of intrusive-related alteration and mineralization to > 50 hectares; confirmed that high silver grades are present on surface at El Terrero and Gossan areas; added three new vein targets at La Perla, Santa Clara and El Muro vein systems; and refined drill collar locations and orientations to optimize targeting. The company announced that eight targets were identified for drill testing: “gossans in the Gossan zone, skarn/replacements at Santa Elena, the Terrero mine target, the La Perla vein and associated alteration zone, the Santa Clara vein, the Theodora vein, the Sierpe veins and associated alteration, and the newly defined Muro vein.” The company holds a drill permit for 30 holes but only plans to drill 12 holes for an estimated of 2,000m during the phase 1.
  • Radius Gold Inc., provided an update of its ongoing drilling program at its Amelia project in Chihuahua. Radius has completed three drill holes proximal to hole AMDD19-010 which encountered 12.38 g/t Au and 309 g/t Ag over 34m of true width. Hole AMDD19-011 intersected 97m of “varying intensity quartz veins, stockwork veining and diorite dykes”; hole AMDD19-012 intersected a zone of 53m of “alteration including variable stockworks, silicification and hydrothermal breccias”; and hole AMDD19-013 intersected 17m of “moderate to strong silicification, tectonic breccia with micro vein stockworks and traces of fine sulphides”. Assays for these holes are pending.

ON MINING

  • Alio Gold Inc., announced Q1 2019 financial and production results from its San Francisco mine in Sonora. Alio produced 10,968 Oz Au and 6,274 Oz Ag. It is less compared with Q1 2018. The by-product cash cost and AISC in Q1 2019 was $884 and $1,137 per Oz. The reason of the lower production at San Francisco mine is due to the decision to stop active mining in the San Francisco pit and focus on continuing leaching and processing the low grade stockpile.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., reported Q1, 2019 production and financial results from its Avino mine in Durango. The company milled 197,687 tonnes to produce 268.4K Oz Ag, 1,813 Oz Au and 1.1M Lb Cu (over 615K Oz AgEq) with a cash-cost and AISC of USD $11.44 and USD $13.81 per Oz AuEq produced. Avino reported revenues for USD $6.7M, an EBIDTA of USD $49M, and a net income (loss) of USD $610M.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., announced Q1 2019 production and financial results from its four Mexican operations: Bolañitos and El Cubo mines in Guanajuato, Guanacevi in Durango, and El Compas in Zacatecas. It produced 1.07M Oz Ag, 10K Oz Au (or1.9M Oz AgEq), with a cash cost and AISC of $12.55 and $19.37 per Oz Ag payable (net of Au credits). It also presented its 2018 annual review and sustainability report. 2018 Sustainability highlights include the investment of $400K in corporate charitable donations, focused on education, employment, health, infrastructure, and cultural events in Mexico and Canada; plantation of 53,000 trees in reforestation projects to reclaim disturbed ground; and the recycle of over 93% of water used; the investment of $1.7M in environmental protection programs. The company also reported that 99% of its workforce is Mexicans, spending $42M in employee wages and benefits; spent $181.1M on goods and services, 97% of total procurement is from within Mexico; and paid $10.2M in taxes.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., released Q1 2019 production and financial results from its la Platosa mine in Durango. The company processed 18,219 tonnes of 534 g/t Ag, 5% Zn, and 8% Pb to produce 260.4K Oz Ag, 1.37M Lb Zn, and 2.2M Lb Pb, with metallurgical recoveries of 89.7%, 74.6%, and 78.1% respectively. Cash cost and AISC were USD $11.71 and USD $25.35 respectively. The company reported revenues for USD $5.2M and a net loss of USD $602K.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., presented Q1 2019 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. The company milled 812,654 tonnes to produce 3.3M Oz Ag or 6.3M Oz AgEq, with a cash cost and AISC of $6.34 and $12.91 per Oz Ag payable, and reported revenues for $86.8M, and net earnings of $2.9M. A distribution by mine is shown in the table below:

  • GoGold Resources Inc., announced Q1 2019 production and financial results from its Parral tailings project in Chihuahua. It stacked 478,874 tonnes to produce 414.2K Oz AgEq, with cash cost of USD $13.61 and an AISC of USD $13.61 per Oz AgEq produced. GoGold reported revenues for USD $7.03M, an EBIDTA of USD $1.86M, and a net loss income of USD $2,44M.
  • Gold Resource Corporation, released Q1 2019 production and financial results from their mine operations in Oaxaca. The company processed 165,638 tonnes of 1.26 g/t Au and 226 g/t Ag to produce 6,538 Oz Au and 364.6K Oz Ag. Cash cost and AISC of USD $340 and USD $834 per Oz AuEq produced respectively. Gold Resource reported revenues for USD $26.57M, and net income of USD $0.88M.
  • Hecla Mining Company, reported Q1 2019 production and financial results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. The mill operated at an average of 494 tonnes per day to produce 441K Oz Ag and 3,530 Oz Au, at a cash cost and AISC of $11.23 and $16.55 per Oz Ag produced respectively.
  • Leagold Mining Corporation, announced Q1 2019 production and financial results from its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. The company produced 64K Oz Au at an AISC of USD $797 per Oz Au sold. Los Filos underground is now producing at over 1,900 tonnes per day with cost below USD $80 per tonne of ore.
  • Pan American Silver Corporation, presented Q1 2019 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. At its La Colorada mine in Zacatecas, the company produced 2M Oz Ag and 1K Oz Au at cash cost of USD $2.16 per Oz Ag produced and an AISC of USD $3.37 per Oz Ag produced. At its Dolores mine in Chihuahua, the company produced 1.1M Oz Ag and 30K Oz Au at cash cost of USD $3.34 and AISC of USD $26.45.
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited, reported Q1 2018 production and financial results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. It milled 178,771 tonnes of 3.18 g/t Au and 27 g/t Ag to produce 17.6K Oz Au and 57.7K Oz Ag at a cash and IASC of USD $806 and $1,105 per Oz Au sold respectively. Premier reported revenues for USD $23.1M and mine operating income of USD $3.7M.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., announced Q1 2019 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. At its Veta Grande mine in Zacatecas, the company processed 32,625 tonnes of 119 g/t Ag, 0.19 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, and 1.9% Zn,  to produce 79.6K Oz Ag, 97 Oz Au, 488.3K Lb Pb, and 1.1M Lb Zn. At its Rosario mine in San Luis Potosi, the company  milled 10,279 tonnes of 47 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 2.1% Zn to produce 14K Oz Ag, 61 Oz Au, 60.5K Lb Pb, and 407.7K Lb Zn.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., presented Q1 2019 production and financial results from its El Limon-Guajes Mining Complex in Guerrero. Torex produced 77.8K Oz Au at an average grade of 2.45 g/t Au. Cash cost and AISC per Oz Au sold were USD $745 and USD $1,161 respectively. It reported revenues for USD $101.9M and earnings from mine operation of USD $16.8M.
  • US Antimony, produced during Q1 2019 approximately 69,000 Lb per month from its Mexican operations (Wadley mine in San Luis Potosi and Guadalupe mine in Zacatecas).

ON FINANCING

  • Defiance Silver Corp., closed the final tranche of its previously announced private placement in the amount of $280,230. In total, Defiance raised $2,567,620 in its private placement (San Acacio project, Zacatecas).
  • Megastar Development Corp., closed a non-brokered private placement in the amount of $672,600. Gross proceeds of the financing will be used to advance exploration on multiple properties within the Oaxaca, Mexico Au-Ag belt as optioned from Minera Zalamera S.A. de C.V. (Yautepec, Magdalena and Rama de Oro projects, Oaxaca).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., announced a new mineral resource estimate at its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Indicated resources are 11,102,000 tonnes of 105 g/t Ag, 0.16% Cu, 1.2% Pb, 3.7% Zn, and 0.1 g/t Au to contain 37.5M Oz Ag, 40M Lb Cu, 303M Lb Pb, 897M Lb Zn, and 35K Oz Au (133.9M Oz AgEq or 2B Lb ZnEq). Inferred resources are 12,844,000 tonnes of 111 g/t Ag, 0.27% Cu, 0.9% Pb, 2.8% Zn, and 0.07g/t Au to contain 45.7M Oz Ag, 76M Lb Cu, 253M Lb Pb, 796M Lb Zn, and 31K Oz Au (138.1M Oz AgEq or 2.04B Lb ZnEq).
  • Azure Minerals Limited, expanded mineral resources at its Oposura project in Sonora. The new mineral resource estimate is based on 173 diamond holes totaling 11,109m drilled on phase 1 and 58 diamond holes totaling 4,567m drilled on phase 2. Indicated resources are 2.5M tonnes of 5.3% Zn, 2.9% Pb, and 19 g/t Ag, and inferred resources of 0.6M tonnes of 3.4% Zn, 2.1% Pb, and 15 g/t Ag. Total mineral resources are 3.1M tonnes at grades of 5% Zn, 2.7% Pb, and 18 g/t Ag containing 342.7M Lb Zn, 188.2M Lb Pb, and 1.78M Oz Ag. In addition, reconnaissance drilling in the Central Zone has encountered near-surface, high-grade mineralization. Drilling highlights include hole OPDH-173 which intersected 7.7% combined Zn+Pb over 12m, including 12.5% combined Zn+Pb over 4.1m, and hole OPDH-178 with 18.9% combined Zn+Pb over 9.5m, including 26.6% combined Zn+Pb over 6.2m. Azure is planning additional drilling to further increase mineral resources in the Central Zone, to the north of the deposit and within the wider property.
  • Hecla Mining Company, reported positive exploration results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. The company obtained encouraging drill results at the Middle Vein area, including 6,422 g/t Ag and 24.57 g/t Au over 1.86m. This drilling phase has increased the oxide mine life through upgraded resource in the Middle Vein. In addition, Hecla defined near-surface mineralization at the new El Toro area over 1.5km along strike and from surface up to 150m at depth. Drilling highlights at El Toro area include 750 g/t Ag and 4.9 g/Au over 1.8m, and 666 g/t Ag and 10.9 g/t Au over 1.3m.
  • Mexus Gold US, started blast hole drilling on the Julio vein system at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora to produce the ore necessary to initiate steady production. The material being drilled has been sampled and is averaging 4 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag. “Mexus currently has over 12,000 tons of ore stockpiled and ready to mine which was a result of the preparation of the pit on the Julio vein”.
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited, released high grade intersects from underground drilling carried out at the Marianas zone within its Mercedes mine in Sonora. Significant results were in hole UG-MR19-011 with 4.96 g/t Au and 71 g/t Ag over 31m, including 25.65 g/t Au and 171 g/t Ag over 3.1m, hole UG-MR-19-007 with 4.51 g/t Au and 64 g/t Ag over 20.5m, including 11.04 g/t Au and 94 g/t Ag over 3.8m, and hole UG-MR10-010 with 7.29 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag over 3.5m. “The Marianas Zone comprises the down-plunge extension of the main Mercedes mine trend. Previous surface drilling suggests Marianas has the potential to host economic mineralization of higher than the current reserve grade. It is the Company’s goal to convert a portion of Marianas mineral resources to mineral reserves with a delineation drill program during the balance of 2019. Ore development could commence in 2020”.
  • US Antimony, reported a doubling of its Madero, Coahuila Mexican smelter capacity with the startup of No.2 long rotary furnace. This is expected to double Mexican production by the end of Q2 due to the increased output of its Wadley mine in San Luis Potosi and its Guadalupe mine in Zacatecas.
  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd., released trenching results from the Nava Zone located 1.5 km to the west of its San Marcial NI 43-101 silver resource, supporting an attractive mineralized corridor for discoveries and potential resource expansion. Wide zones of up to 1.5 g/t Au were encountered during the trenching sampling. Significant results include 0.7 g/t Au over 40m, including 1.9 g/t Au over 6m.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., filed an updated technical report for its two deposits at the Terroneras project in Jalisco with mineral resource and reserve estimate. Indicated resources at Terroneras are 5,275,000 tonnes of 227 g/t Ag and 2.35 g/t Au to contain 38.5M Oz Ag and 398K Oz Au. Inferred resources are 1,022,000 tonnes of 212 g/t Ag and 1.7 g/t Au to contain 6.97M Oz Ag and 56K Oz Au. Indicated resources at La Luz are 126K tonnes of 192 g/t Ag and 13.6 g/t Au to contain 779K Oz Ag and 55K Oz Au. Inferred resources at La Luz are 58K tonnes of 145 g/t Ag and 12.15 g/t Au to contain 269K Oz Ag and 23K Oz Au. Probable combined mineral reserves of Terroneras and La Luz are 5,587,000 tonnes of 208 g/t Ag and 2.33 g/t Au to contain 37.44M Oz Ag and 419K Oz Au (mineral resources are inclusive of mineral reserves).

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Alamos Gold Inc., announced results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Mulatos mine, Sonora), and the retirement of one of its Directors and the appointment of its replacement.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc., released voting results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (El Castillo mine, Durango).
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., announced results from its annual general meeting of shareholders, and the appointment of its newest Director (Guanacevi mine, Durango).
  • Great Panther Mining Limited, announced the appointment of a new Director (Topia mine, Durango).
  • Leagold Mining Corporation, presented voting results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Los Filos mine, Guerrero).
  • McEwen Mining Inc., announced two management changes: its new CFO and the General Manager for its Nevada operation (Fenix project, Sinaloa).
  • Oroco Resource Corp., confirmed that a favourable court decision on the Santo Tomas concession has been received by its Mexican legal council. The company also announced that a criminal complaint against Aztec and its president Ron Arnold has been field with the Procuraduría General de Justicia de la Ciudad de Mexico (Santo Tomas project, Sinaloa).
  • Defiance Silver Corp., appointed new Director and Executive Chairman (San Acacio project, Zacatecas).
  • Sable Resources, announced that the TSX accepted the file documentation of its option agreement on the Margarita project in Chihuahua with Minas Guilloyna and Cia. Minera La Perla. Sable can earn 100% right, title, and interest in the Margarita project by satisfying the CAD $3.5M purchase price through the issuance of shares or cash or a combination of both over a three years period. To date, Sable has paid CAD $50K in cash and issued 200K shares (CAD $30K) to vendors during the execution of the agreement, issued 500K shares or cash equivalent (CAD $470K) on May 30, 2018), and has to issue CAD $500K worth of shares or cash equivalent on or before May 30, 2019, CAD $500K worth of shares or cash equivalent on or before November 30, 2019, and CAD $2M worth of cash or shares on or before May 30, 2020.

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, flow banding rhyolites at a locality in Guanajuato, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

 

 

Highlights on the Third Week of December, 2018. Mining and Exploration News in Mexico

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Upper levels of an epithermal vein system

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 51st week of the year (December 17th to December 23th, 2018), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with nine informing on exploration results, eight disclosing deals and corporate issues, six announcing financing rounds, two communicating production results, two exposing government issues and one reporting on advances on their properties. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Secretariat of Economy decentralized and moved the Undersecretariat of Mining to Chihuahua. The Undersecretary of Mining discarded to harden rules for mining industry. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec Minerals reported the completion of an airborne geophysical survey on its Cervantes project as well as metallurgical testing results; San Marco Resources completed a drilling program on its Chunibas project; Mexus Gold released drill results from its Santa Elena project; Minaurum announced the mobilization of a second drill rig to its Alamo Silver project; Colibri provided a review of its exploration activities during 2018. In Coahuila, Prize released drill results from its Manto Negro project. Almadex provided an exploration update on their Yago and El Chato properties in Nayarit and Puebla respectively. In Veracruz, Azucar Minerals reported drill results from its El Cobre project. ON MINING, Endeavour provided an early review of its El Cubo mine plan in Guanajuato for 2019.  GoGold announced Q4 and full year 2018 production results from its Parral project in Chihuahua.  ON FINANCING, SilverCrest entered in a private placement for gross proceeds of CAD$ 292K (Las Chispas, Sonora). VVC Exploration closed a non-brokered private placement for an aggregate of CAD$ 2,212,510 or approximately US$ 1.7M, (Samalayuca, Chihuahua). Alamos Gold announced the purchase of 25,513,043 common shares (Mulatos mine, Sonora).  Minaurum rised the amount of $3,981,937.50 in proceeds from the exercise of warrants (Alamos Silver, Sonora). Candelaria announced a non-brokered private placement for 4.2M (Pinos, Zacatecas).  Impact extended the deadline to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of approximately $1.5M (Zacualpan, State of Mexico). Mexican Gold provided an update on the second tranche of a previous announced non- brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $3M (Las Minas, Veracruz). Prime Meridian announced that the company will be conducting a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $1.5M (Tango Gold, Sinaloa).   ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Minera Alamos provided an update of the 2018 development activities performed at its La Fortuna project in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, SilverCrest granted stock options to the Company´s directors, officers, employees, and consultants. Almaden appointed financial advisor to assist in arranging financial project for its Ixtaca property in Puebla.  Mammoth entered in an option agreement with Centerra on its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. Silver Viper acquired La Virginia property in Sonora from Pan American Silver. Aura Minerals announced a consolidation of its common shares (Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas). Santacruz issued 250K of its common shares and made a cash payment to Haywood to amends a financial advisory agreement signed by both companies (Veta Grande mine, Zacatecas). First Mining announced the appointment of its CEO. Harvest Gold granted stock options to certain directors, officers, and consultants.   Prime Meridian concluded an option to purchase 100% interest in the Tango Gold property in Sinaloa.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Secretariat of Economy decentralized and moved the Undersecretariat of Mining to Chihuahua. Francisco Quiroja, the recently appointed Undersecretary of Mining, inaugurated in Chihuahua city the headquarter of the federal dependence and exposed that is key to promote an active industrial politics that foster the innovation, diversification and inclusion of the Mexican mining and metallurgy sectors. To reach the strategy planned , the Undersecretary of Mining will lean on the General Coordination of Mines, dependence in charge of regulating the sector, on the General Coordination of the Mining Development, to promote the development of the mining sector,  on the Mexican Geological Survey,  to support and push the competitiveness in exploration, on FIFOMI, to increase the financing and structure projects subject to credits, and on the Mining Fund to  make sure the social viability of the different projects and of the validations of the same ones.
  • The Undersecretary of Mining discarded to harden rules for mining industry. The Undersecretary of Mining (Francisco Quiroga) pointed out that the new government doesn’t look for to carry out drastic changes in the sector, canceling concessions or increasing the production royalties paid for mining companies. “The companies have rights and none right will be harmed, neither that of the communities neither that of the companies”.  Francisco Quiroga affirmed that, for the time being, his efforts are centered in simplifying steps, to promote new projects and to impel the exploration in the sector. He also is analyzing changes to the formula of distribution of the Mining Fund.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp., announced the completion of a helicopter-based airborne magnetic, radiometric , and VLF survey covering the entire 3,694 hectares with 100m spaced lines of its Cervantes project in Sonora. “Preliminary results show an extensive magnetic high under the California target extending and broadening towards the north. Other targets such as Purisima and Jacobo have either low to very high magnetic response respectively, suggesting that there is more than one phase of porphyry intrusions on the property. A large and interesting northwest-southeast oriented magnetic high was detected on the northwest side of the survey and corresponds to a newly identified area of extensive gossan oxide and pyrrhotite-pyrite- chalcopyrite-arsenopyrite mineralization in hornfels and sediments intruded by feldspar-quartz porphyry dykes. The pyrrhotite indicates a reduced copper-gold system and likely contributes to the magnetic high”. Aztec also reported high gold recoveries by cyanide leach analysis of 5 drill holes. Gold recoveries include 87% Au and 45% Ag over 98m in hole 18CER007, 84% Au and 54% Ag over 106m in hole 18CER006, and 84% Au and 49% Ag over 93.5m in hole 18CER003.
  • San Marco Resources Inc., completed a drilling program funded by Antofagasta plc, on its Chunibas project in Sonora. 1,640m of core in seven holes were drilled to confirm down-dip and along strike alteration and mineralization observed on surface along a 1.2km long NW-SE mineralized corridor and a 400m long NE-SW perpendicular mineralized corridor. San Marco reported that all holes intersected several intervals with visible fine grained disseminations and cavity fillings of bornite, chalcocite, and traces of chalcopyrite. Assays results are pending and will be released once the company makes its analysis and interpretation.
  • Mexus Gold US, released results of two holes drilled at the Julio area within its Santa Elena project in Sonora. Holes 4 and 5 averaged 0.8 g/t Au over 3 m and 2 m intercepts with a 1 m section of 1.4 g/t Au. Assay results are pending from holes 6 to 9 to complete the evaluation of the initial drill program on this target area.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., announced the mobilization of a second drill rig to its Alamos Silver project in Sonora to accelerate the testing of new veins identified recently. Minaurum also announced rock sampling results and the discovery of the 1.2km long monzonite-hosted Salvia vein zone. Highlights of the rock sampling include 1m of 1,150 g/t Ag, 2m of 1.03% Cu, 1.2m of 3,240 g/t Ag, and 1.50m of 747 g/t Ag.
  • Colibri Resources Corporation, provided a review of its exploration activities during 2018 of its projects in Sonora. Colibri drilled 2,900m in 27 holes at its El Pilar project, extending the length of the known mineralized gold deposit 52% and confirmed many of the historical drill results from the previous operator. Drilling highlights of the 2018 program are 9m of 8.2 g/t Au, including 1.5m of 33.4 g/t Au; 28.5m of 0.57 g/t Au, including 3m of 4.24 g/t Au; 40.5m of 0.73 g/t Au, including 3m of 5.37 g/t Au; and 61.5m of 0.75 g/t Au, including 1.5m of 17.3 g/t Au. El Pilar and Evelyn projects have been reviewed by several companies for potential JV opportunities, however none agreement has been made at this time. The company also added two gold exploration projects named El Mesquite and Jackie by the purchase of Yaque Minerals, a private exploration company. El Mesquite contains a 600m long by 300m wide mineralized zone with values up to 3.41 g/t Au. Geophysical surveys have identified resistivity and chargeability anomalies with merits to be drill tested. Jackie is a grass root gold exploration project. An exploration campaign is expected to be carried out in 2019, which will consists of mapping, stream sediment sampling, chip sampling, and possibly a soil sample grid.
  • Prize Mining Corporation, released drill results from the Pilar Grande target within its Manto Negro project in Coahuila. Significant intersections are in hole DDHDI-18-05 with 2.5m of 0.72% Cu and 46 g/t Ag, including 0.55m of 1.43% Cu and 126 g/t Ag, and 0.45m of 1.74% Cu and 87 g/t Ag; hole DDHDI18-05 with 2.15m of 0.79% Cu and 37 g/t Ag, and 2.90m of 0.72% Cu and 24 g/t Ag.
  • Almadex Minerals Ltd., initiated a small “proof of concept” drill program at Gallo de Oro target within its Yago project in Nayarit where banded epithermal veins crop out at surface. At El Chato project in Puebla, Almadex has identified drill targets based on a defined IP chargeability anomaly beneath a zone of intense alteration interpreted to correspond with the upper portion of a buried porphyry system. Almadex geologists believe the El Chato has the same geological setting to that of Azucar Minerals Ltd´s El Cobre Cu-Au porphyry project in Veracruz.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd., announced drill results from the North Zone within its El Cobre project on Veracruz. Highlights drill results at the North Zone include hole EC-18-053 with 231.50m of 0.45 g/t Au and 0.17% Cu, including 132m of 0.68 g/t Au and 0.24% Cu, and 70.20m of 1.07 g/t Au and 0.35% Cu, and 33.20m of 1.54 g/t Au and 0.49% Cu; hole EC-18-055 with 245.50m of 0.39 g/t Au and 0.17% Cu, including 148.50m of 0.54 g/t Au and 0.22% Cu, and 59.05m of 0.87 g/t Au and 0.32% Cu, and 33.30m of 1.10 g/t Au and 0.39% Cu; and hole EC-18-058 with 248.90m of 0.39 g/t Au and 0.19% Cu, including 74.50m of 0.67 g/t Au and 0.33% Cu, and 21.90m of 1.22 g/t Au and 0.55% Cu. Based on the drill results, the geologists have interpreted that “the mineralization appears to trend in NE-SW direction, that a late-mineral and barren to weakly mineralized intrusive occurs in the middle of the North Zone but tops out about 400m below the current surface, and that the mineralization remains open to depth, on either side of the late intrusion, and along strike to the northeast”.

ON MINING

  • Endeavour Silver Corp., provided an early review of its El Cubo mine plan in Guanajuato for 2019. The company plans to reduce the production rate in 2019 to approximately half its 1,500 tonnes per day, while continuing exploring for new reserves to extend the mine life. Endeavour has initiated layoffs of approximately 240 employees.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., produced 774.6K Oz Ag and 6,655 Oz Au (1.3M OZ Ag Eq) from its Parral mine in Chihuahua during the full year 2018. GoGold also reported the production of 241K Oz Ag Eq in Q4, 2018.

ON FINANCING

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., entered in a private placement for gross proceeds of CAD$292K (Las Chispas, Sonora).
  • VVC Exploration Corporation, closed an equity non-brokered private placement financing for an aggregate of CAD$ 2,212,510 (approximately US$ 1.7M). Gross proceeds will be used in exploration work and maintenance fees on their Mexican properties (Samalayuca, Chihuahua, La Tuna, Sinaloa, and Cumeral in Sonora).
  • Alamos Gold Inc., announced its intention to make a normal course bid to purchase over the next twelve months,(beginning December 24, 2018 and ending December 23, 2019), up to 25,513,043 common shares (Mulatos mine, Sonora).
  • Aura Minerals Inc., announced a consolidation of its common shares on the basis of a new share for ten old shares.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., issued 250K of its common shares and made a cash payment of $1,063 to Haywood Securities Inc., to amends a financial advisory agreement between the two companies.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., raised $3,981,937.50 in proceeds from the exercise of warrants bringing its consolidated cash balance to approximately $10M. Gross proceeds will be used at its Alamos Silver project in Sonora.
  • Candelaria Mining Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $4.2M. Gross proceeds will be used for the construction of the Pinos project according to the PEA described in a previous press release.
  • Impact Silver Corp., extended the deadline until January 18, 2019 to complete a non-brokered private placement of approximately $1.5M (Zacualpan, Estate of Mexico)
  • Mexican Gold Corp., provided an update on the second tranche of a previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $3M, subject to increase the size of the private placement by 25%. Mexican Gold expects to close the second tranche in the first weeks of January 2019. Net proceeds will be used to continue the exploration of its Las Minas project in Veracruz.
  • Prime Meridian Resources Corp., announced that the company will be conducting a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $1.5M (Tango Gold, Sinaloa).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Minera Alamos Inc., provided an update of the 2018 development activities carried out at its La Fortuna project in Durango. “La Fortuna now has key permitting and technical milestones in place. This provides a path to a commercial production decision in the second half of 2019″. Highlights of the 2018 project development were the completion of a PEA demonstrating robust project economics including an after tax internal return of 93%, and a AISC of $400 per ounce produced; the positive response from SEMARNAT approving the change of land use to construct mining and processing facilities; the completion of the geotechnical studies and design of the dry-stack tailings containment facilities for the project; and the identification of a new area called La Pista, located approximately 1.3km SW of the main zone of La Fortuna resources, which contains significant near surface disseminated Au-Ag mineralization amenable to heap leaching and showing intervals of up to 50m in width. This new zone has returned assays up to 8 g/t Au and 30 g/t Ag over a mineralized area of approximately 500m by 300m. Production highlights included in the PEA study are an average annual contained-metal production of approximately 50K Oz Au Eq (43K Oz Au, 220K Oz Ag, and 2.2M Lb Cu),  a 5-year mine life based on initial resource starter pit with 2M tonnes of 3.68 g/t Au, 20 g/t Ag, and 0.27% Cu, processed at 1,100 tonnes per day average processing rate, and 215K Oz Au, 1.1M Oz Ag, and 11.2M Lb Cu produced in concentates.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., granted stock options to the Company´s directors, officers, employees, and consultants.
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., appointed Auramet International, LLC as financial advisor to assist in arranging financial project for its Ixtaca property in Puebla.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., entered in an option agreement with Centerra Gold Inc., on its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. Centerra can earn up to 70% of interest by spending US$ 9M over a seven years period. Details of the deal is upon Centerra has invested US$ 4M, it will earn a 51% interest in the property and could decide to earn an extra 19% by incurring additional expenditures on the property for US$ 4M and completing a PEA which identifies a mineral resource which is compliant with NI 43-101 and making a cash payment or issuing common shares for the amount of US$ 0.55M to Mammoth.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., acquired three large mineral concessions totaling 35,598 hectares that comprise part of the La Virginia Au-Ag property in Sonora from Pan American Silver Corp. Under the deal, Pan American is entitled to a 2% NSR over the entire project. The agreement also provides Pan American with a right of first refusal on the optioned properties if Silver Viper does not exercise its option and a right of first offer over the entire consolidated property.
  • First Mining Gold Corp., announced the appointment of its Chief Executive Officer (San Ricardo, Sonora).
  • Harvest Gold Corporation, granted stock options for a period of 5 years to certain directors, officers, and consultants.
  • Prime Meridian Resource Corp., concluded a binding term sheet to acquire 100% interest in the Tango Gold property in Sinaloa by making US$ 5M in total purchase payments, and holding costs payments within five years of the execution of the formal agreement as follow: Year 1: US$195K, Year 2: US$ 245K, Year 3; 305K, Year 4: 365K, and Year 5: 425K. Prime has the option of making the final purchase payment (US$ 5M less total purchase payments made to date) at the end of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th year of the term of the purchase option, and the final purchase payment will be paid in cash (50%) and common shares (50%). Tango Gold consists of 3,954 hectares over four contiguous mineral concessions.

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, upper levels of an epithermal vein system in a prospect in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

 

Highlights on the First Week of March, 2018. Mining and Exploration News in Mexico

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By Miguel A Heredia

During the 9th week of the year (February 26th to March 4th, 2018), at least 25 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with six reporting deals and corporate issues, six providing exploration results, and two announcing financing rounds. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Torex clarified media misinformation in Guerrero. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec Minerals reported drilling results at its Cervantes property, and San Marco completed an IP survey at its 1068 project. Azure reported exploration results on Mina Blanca prospect within its Oposura project.  In Chihuahua, Mammoth and Golden Minerals announced drill results at its Tenoriba and Santa Maria projects respectively. Golden Minerals also reported drill results at its Mogotes project in Durango. In Zacatecas, Defiance Silver identified a large target within its San Acacio project; Advanced Gold revealed exploration plans on its Tabasquena project.  In Puebla, Almaden reported drill results at its Ixtaca project. ON MINING, Mexus Gold restarted the pad leaching at its Santa Elena Mine in Sonora (Caborca).  Goldgroup announced 2017 gold production and expansion plans for its Cerro Prieto Mine in Sonora. Bacanora Minerals reported positive economics and favourable operating cost for its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. Santacruz reported mill expansion capacity on its Veta Grande Mine in Zacatecas.  Endeavour and Golden Minerals reported 2017 financial results on its Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Almaden announced a proposed private placement for $ 5.6M, and announced a subscription agreement with Newcrest Mining for gross proceeds of $ CAD 19M. Azure secured funding of approximately A$ 8.2M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Golden Minerals encountered mineralization in 14 holes drilled to increase the size of the existing resource estimate in its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua.  Americas Silver provided an update on exploration results at its 120 zone, within the Cosala Mine in Sinaloa. Santacruz Silver announced additional drilling at its Veta Grande Mine in Zacatecas. In Veracruz, Mexican Gold Corporation reported drilling results from its Las Minas projects, in Veracruz. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Excellon entered in a toll mill agreement with Hecla. Golden Minerals extended an option with HECLA to lease its oxide mill located in Velardeña, Durango.  The company also amended the Celaya farm-out agreement with Electrum Global. Gainey Capital signed a letter of intent for the purchase and processing of a bulk sample with Grupo Wolinak. Newcrest acquired interest in El Cobre project. Torex appointed CFO. Dyna Resources announced favorable decision on its conflict with Goldgroup.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Torex Gold Inc., clarified media misinformation regarding a land agreement with Real del Limon Ejido in Guerrero. The company confirmed a binding 30-year land lease agreement with the Ejido.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp., announced phase 1 drill results at its Cervantes project in Sonora. Significant drill results comprise 122m from surface of 0.60 g/t Au, including 62m of 0.88 g/t Au, and 170m from surface returning 0.42 g/t Au, including 32m of 0.87 g/t Au. This phase 1 drill program is focused on defining oxide gold mineralization in the upper 200m.
  • San Marco Resources Inc. , completed a 2km by 2.8 km grid IP survey at its 1068 porphyry copper, gold and molybdenum project in Sonora. This survey detected a 1.2 km by 1.3km chargeability anomaly which coincides with pervasive quartz-sericite-clay-pyrite ± iron oxide alteration previously mapped on surface.
  • Azure Minerals Limited, identified a 500m long by 250m wide strong zinc and lead soil anomaly at its Mina Blanca prospect within the Oposura project in Sonora and is coincident with high-grade mineralization from a rock sample collected in the Mina Blanca old working. Soil samples were tested with a portable XRF analyzer, with values reaching highs of 0.32% Zn and 0.15% Pb. The rock sample from the Mina Blanca old working returned 1.71 g/t Au, 1,600 g/t Ag, 4.6% Cu, 1.6% Pb, and 2.8% Zn. Azure announced further exploration plans, including drilling for its Oposura project.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., announced results of two holes drilled at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua in the Moreno and Masuparia areas. El Moreno area drill hole intercepted 7.2m of 0.23 g/t Au, 36 g/t Ag and 3.59 % Cu, while the Masuparia area hole returned 27m of 0.51 g/t Au from 28m depth, including 8.4m of 1.30 g/t Au, and 23.5m from 70m depth of 1.30 g/t Au, including 10m of 2.9 g/t Au and 5m of 4.9 g/t Au.
  • Golden Minerals Company, drilled 8 holes in its Mogotes project in Durango, with low grade gold mineralization intercepted on 2 holes. The epithermal system seems to be deeper than the surface geochemical values initially indicated. Additional mapping and sampling is ongoing in the northern portion of the property.
  • Defiance Silver Corp., carried out an IP survey at its San Acacio project in Zacatecas. The IP survey identified a 200m long by 300m wide target along the underexplored 900m Veta Grande vein, and requires an additional IP survey to close off the anomaly on the property. This undrilled target has the potential to host a virgin silver ore shoot at depth.
  • Advance Gold Corp., announced plans to carry out underground mapping & sampling at its Tabasquena mine in Zacatecas, along with an IP survey followed by a drill program. The aim of the IP survey is to delineate the veins and trace their extension along strike.
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., intersected 10m of 2.1 g/t Au, including 2m of 8.2 g/t Au from a drill hole located approximately 1.2 km southeast of the PFS open pit at its Ixtaca project in Puebla.

ON MINING

  • Mexus Gold US.- restarted the pad leaching at its Santa Elena Mine in Sonora (Caborca), after fixing some recovery problems.
  • Goldgroup Mining Inc., presented its annual gold production for 2017 at Cerro Prieto Mine in Sonora. The company produced 4,670 Oz Au in Q4 for a total 2017 production of 14.7K Oz Au. Goldgroup also announced expansion plans for its mine, including the acquisition of an adjacent property to Cerro Prieto Mine, and expects to produce over 22K to 25K Oz Au in 2018.
  • Bacanora Minerals Ltd., reported positive economics and favourable operating cost of 35K tonnes per year battery grade lithium carbonate operation, confirmed in recently FS on its Sonora Lithium project, in Sonora. The company also secured access and surface rights agreements and the environmental permit for the construction of an open pit mine and large-scale processing plant in site.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Inc., reported 85% progress of the mill expansion capacity to 750 tonnes per day on its Veta Grande Mine in Zacatecas. The mill expansion is being funded by Carrizal Mining S.A. de C.V.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., reported 2017 financial results of its Mexican operations (six mines). The company produced 4.9M Oz Ag and 53K Oz Au during the year.
  • Golden Minerals Company, reported 2017 financial results from its Mexican operations.

ON FINANCING

  • Almaden Minerals Inc., announced a proposed private placement to raise $ 5.6M to continue drilling its El Cobre project in Veracruz. In addition, the company also announced a subscription agreement with Newcrest Mining ltd. for aggregate gross proceeds of $ CAD 19M. Newcrest will acquire an indirect interest of 19.9% in El Cobre project.
  • Azure Minerals Limited, secured an oversubscribed A$ 8.2M placement to advance its Sara Alicia and Oposura projects in Sonora, fund ongoing exploration activities and provide general working capital.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Inc. announced an expansion to include 3,000m of underground additional drilling at the Armados vein to better delineate a mine plan at its Veta Grande Mine in Zacatecas. It also reported on the expansion of mill capacity, which is being funded by Carrizal Mining S.A. de C.V.
  • Mexican Gold Corp., revealed results from the resource expansion drilling program carried out at its Las Minas project in Veracruz. Significant results returned 38m of 4.5 g/t Au, 16 g/t Ag, and 3.3% Cu, confirming the continuity of the high-grade mineralization encountered in previous drill holes. This result will increase the tonnage and grade of the maiden mineral resource estimate.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., announced a PFS at its Terroneras project in Jalisco, advancing the project towards a production decision, having received permits to build the mine and plant, and awaiting waste dump and tailings permits. It also completed a PEA at it’s the El Compas Mine in Zacatecas and has taken the decision to start the mine construction.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced an agreement with Hecla to toll mill sulphide ore from the San Sebastian Mine in Durango at its Miguel Auza processing plant in Zacatecas. The agreement envisages 400 tonnes per day or 12,000 tonnes per month to be milled at the plant.
  • Golden Minerals Co. extended an option to lease its oxide mill to Hecla for an additional period of up to two years in exchange for a $1 M cash payment and the purchase of $1M in shares. The company also amended the Celaya (in Guanajuato) farm-out agreement with Electrum Global Holdings LP., same that will earn and additional 20% interest in exchange of a $1M payment, with the possibility to increase its interest to 80% by spending an additional $2.5M.
  • Gainey Capital Corp., signed a letter of intent for the purchase and processing of a bulk sample with Grupo Wolinak.
  • Newcrest Mining Ltd., acquired indirect 19.9% interest in El Cobre project, in Veracruz, through the investment of $ CAD 19M.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., appointed CFO.
  • Dyna Resources Inc., announced a favorable decision from a US District Court Magistrate Judge on its conflict on San Jose de Gracia Mine in Sinaloa with Goldgroup Mining Inc.

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 below, chalcopyrite – magnetite mineralization on drill core from the Las Minas project in Veracruz State. Image from the March 3rd 2018, Mexican Gold Corp. press release.

Highlights on the Third Week of December, 2017. Mineral Exploration in Mexico

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During the 51st week of the year (December 18th to December 24th, 2017), at least 17 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES: The illegal blockade promoted by the Los Mineros Union since November 3, 2017 is showing how far the government is willing to go, or not, to establish the rule of law. ON EXPLORATION: two press releases from companies working in Mexico informed on exploration efforts during the week: In Chihuahua Radius Gold released good rock chip results from its Amalia project. In Sinaloa Gainey Capital is exploring the La Minita porphyry copper style property.  ON MINING: Great Panther announced government authorization for the construction of a second tailings storage facility at its Topia mine in Durango. Mexus Gold produced gold with a Merrill Crowe system installed at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Americas Silver announced the San Rafael mine at its Cosala complex is now on commercial production. ON FINANCING: Telson Resources entered into a US$15 M loan with Trafigura. SilverCrest completed a bought deal private placement for $10 M. Primero Mining agreed on an extension to its revolving credit facility. Torex Gold received a waiver to lower the threshold in the credit agreement from $50 M to $30 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT: In Sonora, Oceanus Resources presented an update on the drilling of its El Tigre property. In Chihuahua, Consolidated Zinc announced the interception of massive sulfides on the Tres Amigos zone of its Plomosas property. In Puebla, Almaden released new results from follow-up  drilling at its Tuligtic property.  In Guerrero, Alio Gold provided the final results of the confirmation drilling at its Ana Paula project. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Torex Gold suspended its workforce employment contracts on the basis of the illegal blockade that has halted all operations since November 3rd at its El Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero. The company has made a call to the relevant authorities to remove the illegal blockade (which seems to have fallen on deaf ears). Orex Minerals, Canasil Resources and Pan American Silver signed an agreement to advance the Sandra Escobar project in Durango, same that includes provisions for Pan American participation on the discovery. Gainey Capital signed a LOI to acquire the La Minita property in Sinaloa. Marlin Gold can now spin-off its subsidiary Sailfish Royalty. Vangold is acquiring the San Carlos claim in Guanajuato, adjacent to its Pinguico property. Americas Silver agreed with Hochschild to amend the payment schedule on the acquisition of the San Felipe project in Sonora.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • On the Torex Gold El Limon – Guajes mine illegal blockade in Guerrero (Editor’s comment). The illegal blockade promoted by the Los Mineros Union since November 3, 2017 is showing how far the government is willing to go, or not, to establish the rule of law. The Los Mineros Union is clearly trying to extortionate Torex with an illegal blockade to obtain the Union contract at the site, and delaying the date for a formal voting process that the company has vowed to respect.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Radius Gold Inc. released rock sampling results from its Amalia project in Chihuahua. A new discovery in the San Pedro area returned 13 m @ 2.51 g/t Au, 164 g/t Ag in a continuous chip sample (10 individual samples), while new sampling 50 m above and along strike the Guadalupe zone returned 8 m @ 0.21 g/t Au, 264 g/t Ag. At the Campamento zone a 500×700 m zone of intense silicification and brecciation with massive and stockwork veining is interpreted as high level mineralization. On lower parts of the property sulfide rich fault breccias are hosted in andesites, where mineralization is narrower and higher grade. Epithermal Au-Ag mineralization occurs along 3.5 Km on strike and 600 m of vertical interval. Drill permitting documentation has been submitted.
  • Gainey Capital Corp. signed a LOI to acquire the 9,200 hectares La Minita Cu-Au-Ag property in Sinaloa. A series of NW trending shears host porphyry mineralization associated with intermediate and felsic dikes, which are more than 300 m in length and up to 10 m in width. Fine grained sericitic alteration, silicification, quartz stockworks and copper sulfides (bornite, chalcopyrite) as disseminations and veins occur in prospect pits by gambusinos.

ON MINING

  • Great Panther Silver Ltd. announced that SEMARNAT granted all permits for construction and operation of the new phase II tailings storage facility at its Topia mine in Durango.
  • Mexus Gold US informed that it has produced gold with the installed Merrill Crowe system at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake with First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora). The Merrill Crowe system will continue to be tested until the end of the year, as mine site security is upgraded before full production begins.
  • Americas Silver Corp. announced that the San Rafael mine at the company’s Cosalá operations in Sinaloa is now in commercial production, as of December 19, 2017. Mine production is currently averaging 1,200 tonnes per day (tpd) and increasing.

ON FINANCING

  • Telson Resources Inc. entered into a loan facility and offtake agreement with Trafigura Mexico, S.A. de C.V., to sell 100% of the Pb-Zn concentrate produced at the Tahuehueto mine from January 2018 to December 2022. Trafigura provided Telson with with a US$15 M credit facility deliverable on three tranches: First tranche of US$7.5 M already received; Second tranche of US$5 M, 4 – 6 Months from signing; Third tranche US$2.5 M, 6 – 9 months of signing.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. completed the bought deal private placement previously announced, for gross proceeds of $10 M. The company paid a cash commission of $568 K on the proceeds of the offering.
  • Primero Mining Corp. agreed with its lenders to an extension of its revolving credit facility and guarantee provided by Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. to January 11, 2018. Primero is considering the divestiture of its San Dimas mine in Durango.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. has received a waiver by BNP Paribas on behalf of the lenders to lower the covenant threshold in the credit agreement from $50 M to $30 M until January 31, 2018.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Alio Gold Inc. provided the final results from the 2,000 m drill program to twin previous drill holes within the pre-feasibility pit for metallurgical test at its Ana Paula project in Guerrero. Highlighted intervals comprise: 112.0 m @ 3.85 g/t Au; 33.1 m @ 7.07 g/t Au; 54.6 m @ 7.19 g/t Au. Alio is now to test the extension of the breccia zone below the proposed pit, with a 4,000 m program, commencing in January.
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. provided assay results from a follow-up drilling in an upper portion of the pre-feasibility pit on its Tuligtic property in Puebla. Highlighted drill intercepts comprise: 46.0 m @ 0.74 g/t Au, 26 g/t Ag; 24.0 m @ 0.62 g/t Au, 15 g/t Ag; 16.5 m @ 0.56 g/t Au, 10 g/t Ag; 50.5 m @ 0.73 g/t Au, 11 g/t Ag (including 10.5 m @ 2.45 g/t Au, 24 g/t Ag); 13.15 m @ 0.70 g/t Au, 8 g/t Ag; 32.0 m 0.82 g/t Au, 25 g/t Ag; 14.7 m @ 0.91 g/t Au, 27 g/t Ag; 10.25 m @ 1.16 g/t Au, 26 g/t Ag.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. announced that drilling on the Tres Amigos North zone intersected 5.60 m and 4.35 m respectively of massive sulfides. “Assays are pending but visual analysis shows mineralisation comprises banded textured massive sulphides with very fine to fine-grained pyrite overprinted by coarse-grained yellow to reddish sphalerite and minor galena associated with carbonates”. Results are pending.
  • Oceanus Resources Corp. completed the fall 2017 drill program which comprised 600 m of diamond drilling to define the strike and dip of the high-grade Caleigh vein and the low-grade alteration zone in the hanging wall. Assays for the last six holes are pending, and expected to be released in January 2018. Work during Q1 2018 is to focus in locating and defining other high-grade vein systems in the property, and begin to look for mineralization on the favorable El Tigre formation over a distance of 5 km.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. informed it has suspended the employment contracts of its workforce in Mexico, a direct result of an illegal blockade at its El Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero. The blockade by the Los Mineros Union, “an outside union that wants to take over representation of the employees who already have a union. Since the blockade began, on November 3, 2017, the Company has continued to pay its workforce, except for the minority that have participated in the illegal blockade”. Torex has made a call to the relevant authorities to remove the illegal blockade, as they have committed to do, and restore the rule of law. The company is willing to work with the Union the employees select, but it is essential the illegal blockade is lifted to resume work after Christmas. The company stresses that “The risk of violent confrontation continues to escalate and we urge the authorities to restore law and order and diffuse the tensions, so that employees of the Company, contractors, and suppliers, can go back to work and provide for their families.”
  • Orex Minerals Inc. signed a non-binding agreement with Canasil Resources Inc. and Pan American Silver Corp. to advance exploration in the Sandra Escobar mining camp in Durango. Under the terms of the LOI (Letter of Intention) the Orex (55%)-Canasil (45%) JV is to grant Pan American a 10% interest in the Sandra property, with the opportunity for Pan American in the next four years to earn-in an additional 41% in the Sandra property by contributing US$5 M toward the operations of both properties, with US$2 M required during the first two years. If Pan American elects not to continue during the earn-in period, the initial 10% will revert back to the Orex-Cansil JV. If Pan American chooses to further advance the properties by completing a pre-feasibility study, it will retain a 60% interest and the Orex-Canasil JV 40%.
  • Gainey Capital Corp. signed a LOI with Asteria Mining Services S.A.P.I. de C.V. to acquire 100% of the 9,200 hectares La Minita Cu-Au-Ag property in Sinaloa.
  • Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. obtained a final order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia to implement the company’s previously announced plan of arrangement to reorganize its business, including the spin-off of its subsidiary Sailfish Royalty Corp.
  • Vangold Mining Corp. entered into an acquisition agreement for a 100% interest on the San Carlos claim, in Guanajuato. The aggregate purchase price of $CDN425 K is to be paid through the issuance of CDN$350 K in Vangold shares and the remaining CDN$75 K will be paid in cash. The San Carlos property is close to Vangold’s El Pinguico and Patito I & II mineral claims.
  • Americas Silver Corp. agreed with Minera Hochschild to amend the timing of payment under its option agreement on the San Felipe project in Sonora. The total consideration for a 100% interest in the property is US$15 M in cash (plus VAT), of which US$7 M were paid in March, US$500 K are to be paid on January 2018, US$500 K on April 2018, US$1 M on July 2018 and US$6 M on December 2018.

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 below, Fault slickensides on quartzite, Durango. Photo by Jorge Cirett.

DCP00749

Highlights on the Fourth Week of November, 2017. Mineral Exploration in Mexico

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

During the 47th week of the year (November 20th to November 26th, 2017), at least 32 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES: No relevant news. ON EXPLORATION: six companies informed on exploration efforts during the week: In Sonora Azure Minerals reported favorable metallurgical results from its Oposura project. In Chihuahua Monarca is to acquire the San Jose project; Mammoth Resources mobilized equipment to drill its Tenoriba property. In Sinaloa Starcore is to acquire the Santa Fe project, with an historical Au-Ag resource. Silver Bull released drill results from the sulfide zone at Sierra Mojada; Prize Mining is to acquire the Manto Negro stratabound copper project. Evrim Resources announced the acquisition of the Cuale high sulfidation property. In Veracruz Mexican Gold announced step-out drilling mineralization intercepts at Las Minas. ON MINING: Impact Silver presented its quarterly report. Marlin Gold informed on the mining program at La Trinidad in Sinaloa.  In Zacatecas, operations recommenced at the Santacruz Silver’s Veta Grande mill after the PROFEPA suspension. MX Gold informed on advance at the Magistral tailings project in Durango. Americas Silver informed the San Rafael mine is sourcing all ore treated in Cosalá. ON FINANCING: Telson Resources received $1 M from the exercise of warrants. Aztec Minerals is now trading on the USA. Primero Mining obtained an extension on its revolving credit facility. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT: Leagold Mining reported more high-grade results from drilling at Bermejal Underground on its Los Filos property in Guerrero. Stroud Resources announced an updated resource estimate for its Santo Domingo Hostotipaquillo deposit in Jalisco. Almaden Resources released more drill results from the Ixtaca deposit in Puebla.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES: Soleil Capital and Goldplay Exploration are to amalgamate to create a precious metals exploration company focused in Mexico. Monarca Minerals signed a LOI to acquire the San Jose property in Chihuahua. Starcore entered into a LOI to acquire the Santa Fe property in Sinaloa. Camrova Minerals (Baja Mining) has seen its interest on El Boleo property (in Baja California) reduced to 7.3%. Bacanora Minerals is involved in a lawsuit over a 3% royalty on its Sonora lithium project. Golden Goliath has received the fifth payment on the option of its Uruachic properties. Prize mining is to acquire the Manto Negro project in Coahuila from Scion Mines.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No Relevant News.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Azure Minerals Ltd. reported metallurgical results from its Oposura project in Sonora. The test returned over 70% and 80% recoveries respectively for Pb and Zn, producing a lead concentrate (>55% Pb, 360 g/t Ag) and a zinc concentrate (>55% Zn) with low levels of deleterious elements. More metallurgical studies will be undertaken on core material from the present drill campaign.
  • Monarca Minerals Inc. entered into a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire the San Jose property in Chihuahua. The 5,580 hectares project shows disseminations, stockwork and veins of skarn, gossan and altered intrusive rocks, with assays of up to 26.8 g/t Au, 161 g/t Ag, 6.5% Pb, 0.9% Zn, 4.2% Cu.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. entered into a letter of intent (LOI) with Eduardo de la Peña Gaitan and other owners, to acquire the 21,000 hectare Santa Fe project in Sinaloa. Previous exploration included 13,000 m of drilling in 2013, establishing an historical (Non 43-101 compliant) open pit resource of 285 K AuEq Oz in 5 M tonnes @ 89 g/t Ag, 0.56 g/t Au; or an underground resource of 225 K AuEq Oz in 1.28 M tonnes @ 266 g/t Ag, 1.83 g/t Au.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp. has mobilized a drill rig and a bulldozer to its Tenoriba property in Chihuahua. The company is to begin a 3,000 m drill program in 8 to 24 holes to test gold-silver targets on a 5 km strike length within a 15 square Km area of ubiquitous high sulfidation gold mineralization. The company announced the release of a technical report on the drill selection criteria.
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. released results from four drill holes testing the sulfide zone below the previously defined oxide zone on its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. Highlighted results comprise 9 m @ 20.7% Zn, 1.0% Pb, 98 g/t Ag, 0.26% Cu, including 3.65 m @ 47.8% Zn, 2.5% Pb, 105 g/t Ag, 0.26% Cu; 3 m @ 537 g/t Ag, 3.9% Zn, 1.1% Cu, including 1 m @ 1,280 g/t Ag, 14.8% Zn, 2.3% Cu.
  • Prize Mining Corp. entered into an agreement (see the appropriate section below) to acquire the Manto Negro copper project in Coahuila. The project consists of seven mining concession covering 17,959 hectares. “The Project is identified as a stratabound Cu-Ag (+/- Pb-Zn) oxidized “Red Bed type” copper deposit… The Project area is hosted by Cretaceous carbonates and sandstones with exposures of mineralization being identified in numerous locations occurring in concordant layers ranging from 2 to 23 metres thick that are referred to as “Mantos”. Exposures of this mineralization have been identified over the 50-kilometre length of the Project.” The grades of historical sampling, trenching and drilling range from 0.73% to 5.55% Cu, 19 to 793 g/t Ag, 1.5 to 15% Pb and 0.3 to 3.64% Zn.
  • Mexican Gold Corp. announced that drilling to expand the high-grade dike contact mineralization previously encountered at its Las Minas project in Veracruz has successfully intersected long intervals of chalcopyrite-magnetite mineralization in five additional holes. Core length intervals include: 0 m; Cumulative 48.0 m; 20.3 m; cumulative 28.0 m, 28.0 m of chalcopyrite-magnetite mineralization.
  • Evrim Resources Corp. announced the acquisition and early exploration results of the 97 square kilometer Cuale gold project in Jalisco. The Cuale project was initially staked under the Callinan Royalties generative alliance (now owned by Altius Minerals Corp.) with formal title granted to Evrim for 100% ownership in November 2017. “Mineralization is found in moderately to strongly silicified rhyolite that contains up to 10% specular hematite in boxworks, interpreted to have formed after pyrite. Zones of pervasive silicification with strong clay alteration of phenocrysts trending to vuggy silica are observed..” Seven rock chip samples collected on a 500 m by 250 m zone returned from 0.19 to 4.56 g/t Au.

ON MINING

  • Impact Silver Corp. released its financial and production third quarter 2017 report. Production at the Guadalupe mill came primarily from the San Ramon Deeps, Cuchara and San Patricio mines. Highly variable ore from the San Ramon Deeps mine contributed to the lower grade mill feed @ 175 g/t Ag. Total silver production was 229.9 K Oz. Exploration work is focused on the Alacran, Alacran North, San Ramon North and El Paso vein. The company had a $6.0 M cash position at the end of the period.
  • Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. informed that most of the mining during the year at La Trinidad, in Sinaloa, focused on expanding and deepening the north side of the Taunus pit, while waste removal continues on the southern part of the pit. Up to the end of October, 35,500 Oz Au have been shipped. Drilling commenced at the Colinas target, 1.2 km south of the pit.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. recommenced operations at its Veta Grande mill in Zacatecas, following the authorization by PROFEPA and SEMARNAT (Environmental agencies in Mexico).
  • MX Gold Corp. informed all major tankage at the Magistral tailings project in Durango has been installed, with the grinding mill scheduled for completion in Early December 2017, and the installation of the Merrul-Crowe circuit underway.
  • Americas Silver Corp. informed production from the San Rafael mine at the company’s Cosalá operations in Sinaloa is now the sole source of mill feed. The mine is currently producing over 1,000 tonnes per day (tpd) of the targeted 1,500 tpd, with a stockpile of over 25 k tonnes from San Rafael and further 50 K tonnes of ore from Nuestra Señora.

ON FINANCING

  • Telson Resources Inc. reported that all the warrants issued as part of a private placement on November 2015 have been exercised, resulting in CAD$1 M in proceeds (Tahuehueto, Durango; Campo Morado, Guerrero).
  • Aztec Minerals Corp. has been approved to commence trading in the USA as of Nov 20th 2017, on the OTCQB under the symbol AZZTF (Cervantes, Sonora).
  • Primero Mining Corp. has agreed in principle with its lenders to an extension to its revolving credit facility and guarantee provided by Wheaton Precious Metals Corp., previously maturing on November 23, 2017. The facility has been extended to December 1, 2017, providing the company to continue negotiations on its strategic review process and the possible divestiture of its San Dimas mine in Durango.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Leagold Mining Corp. reported additional high-grade results from the Bermejal Underground drill program at the Los Filos mine in Guerrero. “Bermejal Underground is at the northern end of a large intrusive body which has a total circumference of at least 15 kilometres…” The area being drilled extends 1,600 m along the strike of the intrusive contact and has a vertical depth extent of over 800 m. The drilling shows consistent oxide mineralization at carbonate/intrusive contacts either along the intrusive contact or below the intersection between the sill and the Bermejal intrusive contact. An updated resource estimate is expected before year end.

Leagold Bermejal Underground drilling1

  • Stroud Resources Ltd. updated the resource estimate in a new technical report on its Santo Domingo Hostotipaquillo project in Jalisco. The reports confirms the presence of 6.1 M tonnes @ 0.47 g/t Au, 101 g/t Ag and 3.48 M tones @ 0.39 g/t Au which contain 91.6 K Oz Au, 19 M Oz Ag as measured and indicated resources and 43.2 K Oz Au, 10 M Oz Ag as inferred resources. La Raya vein has a mineralized zone 35 m wide over 700 m along strike and 300 m of depth; and the Guadalupe vein is typically 15 to 30 m wide. Five additional veins have been identified for further exploration.
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. released drill results from its ongoing exploration and development program for the feasibility study (FS) of the Ixtaca deposit at its Tuligtic project in Puebla. Two holes confirmed the discovery of an ore zone within a portion of the pit considered waste in the prefeasibility study (PFS). The holes intersected 23 m @ 0.45 g/t Au; 38.6 m @ 7.92 g/t Au, 15 g/t Ag (including 1 m @ 237 g/t Au, 232 g/t Ag); 20.4 m @ 0.89 g/t Au, 12 g/t Ag (including 7.0 m @ 2.07 g/t Au, 20 g/t Ag).

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Soleil Capital Corp. entered into an amalgamation agreement with Goldplay Exploration Ltd. on a business combination transaction. “The purpose of the Proposed Transaction is the creation of a public, TSX Venture Exchange-listed, Mexico-focused, precious metals exploration company utilizing Goldplay’s mineral exploration strategy and experience related to the Rosario District..” in Sinaloa. Upon completion of the transaction the resulting issuer will be named Goldplay Exploration Ltd. and will be listed as a Tier 2 Mining Issuer on the Exchange.
  • Monarca Minerals Inc. entered into a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire the San Jose property in Chihuahua. The 5,580 hectares project shows disseminations, stockwork and veins of skarn, gossan and altered intrusive rocks. The terms of the LOI include a US$20 K payment on execution of the LOI (paid), US$20 K on execution of the definitive agreement, US$50 K on the first anniversary, and US100 K on the second anniversary, with the owners retaining a 2% NSR, of which one percent can be purchased by Monarca for US$100 k. Back taxes on the property of US$390 K will be paid over a period of time. Concession taxes per year are approximately US$46 K.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. entered into a letter of intent (LOI) with Eduardo de la Peña Gaitan and other owners, to acquire the 21,000 hectare Santa Fe project in Sinaloa. Starcore has up to 120 days to conduct due diligence work, and 30 days to complete the acquisition. Starcore is to issue 5 M shares to the owners upon signing, and will be released on four installments, and pay US$6 M as follows: US$2 M on execution; US$1 M on 18 months; US$1 M on 36 months; US$1 M on 48 months; US$1 M on 60 months.
  • Camrova Resources Inc. (Baja Mining Corp.) informed that its interest in Minera y Metalurgica del Boleo S.A. P.I, de C.V. has been reduced from 10% to 7.3%. This is a result of Korea Resource Corporation funding Camrova’s pro rata ($42.9 M) on cash calls amounting $429 M. The Boleo project is to annually produce 30 K tonnes Cu, 700 tonnes Co, 10,500 K tonnes Zn sulfate (Boleo, Baja California).
  • Bacanora Minerals Ltd. announced that it filed a statement of claim seeking to void ab initio, a 3% gross over-riding royalty held by the Estate of Colin Orr-Ewing over certain of Bacanora assets in Sonora. The company also announced amendments to the employment arrangements of certain members of the executive management firm.
  • Bacanora Minerals Ltd. has been served by the estate of the late Ian Colin Orr-Ewing with legal proceedings filed on September 20th September 2017, on a dispute regarding the ownership of 3% gross overriding royalties over Bacanora’s Sonora Lithium project and Magdalena Borates project. The Estate currently owns 8.15% of the common shares of Bacanora.
  • Golden Goliath Resources Ltd. has now received the fifth in a series of seven optional payments from Fresnillo PLC for the properties optioned to them in the Uruachic mining district in Chihuahua. This $100 K payment is to be followed by another $100 k due on May 2018 and a final US$2.3 M payment on November 2018, if Fresnillo is to keep the property. Golden Goliath plans to use the final payment to pay for the drill program on its 100% owned San Timoteo property in Chihuahua.
  • Prize Mining Corp. entered into an agreement with Scion Mines S.A. de C.V. to acquire 100% interest in the Manto Negro copper project in Coahuila, by issuing 6 M shares with a restricted lock-up and restricted resale period. Six million shares more are to be issued if the next milestones are met on a 43-101 technical report: 2 M bonus shares if the estimated copper resource is over 500 M Lb; 2 M bonus shares if the estimated copper resource is over 750 M Lb; 2 M bonus shares if the estimated copper resource is over 1 B Lb.

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 below, magnetite-chalcopyrite mineralization on drill core from Las Minas, Veracruz. Photo by Mexican Gold Corp. on its Nov 23rd, 2017 press release.

Core from Las Minas, Veracruz, photo from press release in Nov 2017

Mexican Gold Intersects Long Intervals of Mineralization in Five Additional Diamond Drill Holes at El Dorado Dike Contact Zone

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MGC-2017-11-23

THUNDER BAY, Ontario, Nov. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mexican Gold Corp. (“Mexican Gold” or the “Company”) (TSX-V:MEX) (OTCMKTS:SRXLF) (FRA:4QW1) is pleased to announce that drilling to expand the high-grade dike contact mineralization outlined in hole LM-17-ED-40 has successfully intersected long intervals of chalcopyrite-magnetite mineralization in five additional recently completed holes. All of the holes intersected mineralization, with core intervals varying from 21 metres to 42 metres in length. The mineralization is located adjacent to and on both sides of the 70 metre wide dike with a known strike distance of 700 metres. The Eldorado/Juan Bran Zone has also been found to thicken substantially approaching the dike, which appears to be a vertical offshoot from the main El Dorado Sill.