China

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of May, 2021.

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Quartz vein displaying boiling texture.

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 18th week of the year (May 3th to May 9th, 2021), at least 39 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with ten communicating production results, ten disclosing deals and corporate issues, eight informing on exploration results, six reporting on resources and development, and five announcing financial rounds.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Benjamin Hill Mining released additional sampling results from its Benjamin Hill property, Tocvan and its partner Colibri reported results of preliminary metallurgical testing from the El Pilar project, Tarachi presented drilling results from three holes collared at its La Dura mine, and Silver Spruce engaged Eagle Mapping to run a LiDAR survey at its Diamante project . In Chihuahua, Kootenay presented results from six holes drilled at its Columba project.  In Sinaloa, Brigadier announced drilling and rock sampling results from its Picachos property. In Durango, Mithril reported that it continues intersecting high-grade mineralization at El Refugio zone, within its Copalquin project.  ON MINING, Argonaut reported Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Mexican mine operations. Equinox announced consolidated Q1, 2021 production and financial results from all their mine operations, including Los Filos and Mercedes mines in Guerrero and Sonora states respectively. Golden Minerals reported Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Rodeo mine in Durango. First Majestic released Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Mexican mine operations. Gatos Silver announced Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Los Gatos property in Chihuahua. Great Panther presented Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Topia and Guanajuato mines. McEwen reported the production of 1,300 Oz AuEq (GEOs) from residual leaching at El Gallo mine in Sinaloa during the first quarter of 2021. Mexus announced a successful blast at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora to produce approximately 10-15K tonnes of mineralized material. Santacruz reported consolidated 2020 full year production and financial results from its Mexican operations.  Sierra Metals announced Q1, 2021 production results from its Bolivar and Cusi mines in Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, Advance Gold granted stock options to its Directors, key employees, and consultants entitling them to purchase, in total, up to 1.8M options over a five year term (Tabasquena project, Zacatecas). Capitan Mining closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $3.2M (Peñoles property, Durango). GoGold closed a bought deal offering of 10M common shares for gross proceeds of CAD $25M (Los Ricos property, Jalisco). Heliostar closed a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $5.6M (Cumaro project, Sonora). Telson informed that it has received the initial USD $2M proceeds from the total USD $5M silver stream agreement with Empress Royalty (Tahuehueto project, Durango). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Endeavour intersected high-grade silver-gold mineralization at the Guanacevi mine in Durango. Zacatecas Silver announced it will commence a 10,000m drilling program at its Panuco silver project in Zacatecas, once it received the final drill permit. Golden Tag identified mineralized skarn shoots 265m above the current Fernandez Zone resource envelope at its San Diego property in Durango. GR Silver reported results from its ongoing drilling program at its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. VanGold provided initial results from its ongoing diamond drill program at its El Pinguico project in Guanajuato. Silver Viper released a maiden Au-Ag mineral resource estimate at its la Virginia project in Sonora.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Advance Gold appointed a new member to its Board of Directors (Tabasquena property, Zacatecas). Equinox announced results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Los Filos mine, Guerrero). Great Panther announced the nomination of two new directors for election to its Board of Directors at its annual general meeting to be held on June 9, 2021 (Topia mine, Durango).  One World Lithium announced the engagement of an European consultant that may include individual introduction and corporate presentations (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California). Colibri signed a definitive deal with Silver Spruce on Diamante Gold and Silver project in Sonora.   GR Silver made the final option payment to SSR Mining to close the acquisition of 100% interest of San Marcial Silver project in Sinaloa. Magna Gold announced that it has made the final payment for the acquisition of its San Francisco mine in Sonora. Oroco entered into an agreement to increase its interest on Santo Tomas property in Sinaloa. Orogen provided an update about the royalty on the Ermitaño property in Sonora. Chinas’ Ganfeng Lithium said it has offered to buy the shares it does not already own in Mexico-focused Bacanora Lithium for up to 190M pounds (USD $264.5M).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Benjamin Hill Mining Corp., released additional sampling results from its Benjamin Hill property, in Sonora state, which comprises Sonora Gold and Sonora Copper concessions. A total of 447 chip/channel samples were collected during March and April, 2021 returning encouraging results with multiple samples ranging from 4 to 8 g/t Au, with a peak of 31.4 g/t Au.  The company has extended the mineralized structure for over 500m to the north-west, increasing the length of the mineralized structure now to 2,400m. “Fifty-nine samples returned gold values over 2 g/t Au with eight samples ranging from 7.5 g/t Au to 31.4 g/t Au. Nine samples taken from the Caracahui vein returned copper values over 1.0% with three samples above 2% and the best sample returning an impressive 8.3% Cu”. Geologists were also able to identify a large area of disseminated gold ranging from 350m to 600m in width. The company is planning to commence a drill testing program. It has already applied for drill permits and expects to receive permits within the next several weeks.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., and its partner Colibri Resource Corporation reported results of preliminary metallurgical testing from the El Pilar project in Sonora, which includes Au recoveries of 91.6% and 90.6% at a retention time of 48 hours from two composite samples collected from drill hole JES-20-32.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., presented drilling results from three underground holes collared at its La Dura mine in Sonora. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole JAB-21-009 with 6.91 g/t Au over 63.4m, including 17.42 g/t Au over 9.3m, plus another interval with 17.37 g/t Au over 13.9m, including 33.66 g/t Au over 5.6m; and hole JAB-21-10 with 1.79 g/t Au over 42m. These drill results confirm the continuation of gold mineralization down-dip towards the east. “Based on the drilling and mapping done to date, gold is hosted in a 10-20m thick panel of heavily silicified rhyodacite striking roughly north-south, dipping to the east at an approximate angle of 30 and plunging to the south at 25°”.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., engaged Eagle Mapping to run a LiDAR survey at its Diamante project in Sonora. “The LiDAR mapping over the property will provide another value-added 3D element to complement the geological and structural mapping, and enhance the topographic control for the Phase 1 drilling program”.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., presented results from six holes drilled at its Columba project in Chihuahua. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole CDH-21-90 with 503 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 1.2m, including 889 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 0.55m, and 185 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 3.94m, including 245 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 2.4m, including 365 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over 0.6m; hole CDH-21-89 with 285 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.8% Zn over 6.9m, including 439 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 1.5% Zn over 0.27m, including 533 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 1.2% Zn over 0.65m, and other interval of 233 g/t Ag, 0.03% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 4m, including 411 g/t Ag, 0.03% Pb, and 0.05% Zn over 1m; and hole CDH-21-87 with 200 g/t Ag over 4m, including 559 g/t Ag over 1.09m.
  • Brigadier Gold Limited, announced drilling and rock sampling results from its Picachos property located in Sinaloa. Hole DH-BGR-043 encountered 0.52 g/t Au, 5 g/t Ag, and 0.07% Cu over 14.5m, including 7.63 g/t Au, 11 g/t Ag, and 0.26% Cu over 0.5m. Brigadier has completed 4,538m in 43 holes to date. On the other hand, Brigadier continues mapping and sampling prospects and workings in the entire property. Encouraging results were obtained from El Placer Norte with samples returning 12.79 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag over 1m wide, and 38.88 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag over 0.5m. At El Cobre area, located about 650m NW of El Placer Norte area, the rock sampling returned 57 g/t Ag, 2.12% Cu, and 0.12% Pb over a width of 1.7m from the El Cobre Vein; 108 g/t Ag, 3.2% Cu, and 0.5% Pb over a width of 0.5m from El Herrero Vein; and 148 g/t Ag, 0.33% Cu, and 0.26% Pb over a width of 0.7m from the Calzada Vein.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd., reported that it continues intersecting high-grade mineralization at El Refugio zone, within its Copalquin project.  Highlights include hole CDH-63 with  5.32 g/t Au, 105 g/t Ag over 8m, including 29.9 g/t Au and 273 g/t Ag over 1.09m; hole CDH-62 with 4.12 g/t Au and 107 g/t Ag over 4.82m, including 7.94 g/t Au and 211 g/t Ag over 1.6m, plus 4.68 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag over 2.1m, plus 0.48 g/t Au and 36 g/t Ag over 3.1m; and hole CDH-61 with 0.95 g/t Au and 25 g/t Ag over 7.75m, plus 0.95 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag over 0.95m, plus 1.44 g/t Au and 76 g/t Ag over 15.77m. The drill results extended the high-grade mineralization 80m down dip and 180m further to the west and up to further 75m down dip. El Refugio continues to grow as a large high-grade Au-Ag target.

ON MINING

  • Argonaut Gold Inc., reported Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Mexican mine operations. At El Castillo Complex in Durango The company milled 5,274,000 tons of 0.28 g/t Au to produce 29,243 Oz Au and 164,226 Oz Ag (31,175 AuEq Oz (GEOs)). Argonaut reduced the cash cost per Oz Au sold to USD $916. At La Colorada in Sonora , Argonaut mined 1,227,000 tonnes of 0.54 g/t Au to produce 15,894 Oz Au and 52,912 Oz Ag (16,516 GEOs). It reduced the cash cost per Oz Au sold to USD $765. The company also announced the discovery of  high-grade gold veins below  the El Crestón open pit which returned 44.6 g/t Au and 275 g/t Ag over 21.3m, including 98.9 g/t Au and 30 g/t Ag over 12.2m.
  • Equinox Gold Corp., announced consolidated Q1, 2021 production and financial results from all their mine operations, including Los Filos and Mercedes mines in Guerrero and Sonora states respectively. The company produced 129,233 Oz Au and sold 128,555 Oz Au at cash and AISC of USD $1,141 and USD $1,482 per Oz Au respectively. The company reported revenues of USD $229.7M, net income of USD $50.3M, adjusted EBITDA of USD $60.5M, cash and cash equivalents of USD $317.5M, net debt of USD $2290.8M, and operating cash flow before changes in non-cash working capital of USD $62M. Equinox also provided a 2021 production guidance of 600K to 665K Oz Au, of which 170K-190K will be produced at its Los Filos mine in Guerrero and 30K to 35K Oz Au, will be produced at its Mercedes mine in Sonora.
  • Golden Minerals Company reported Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Rodeo mine in Durango. It produced 1,559 Oz AuEq in doré and sold 1,054 Oz AuEq. Golden reported revenue of USD $1.8M, cost of metals sold of USD $1.5M, and net operating margin of USD $0.2M.The company also reported cash and cash equivalents balance of USD $ 8M as of March 31, 2021, and a net loss of USD $3.2M.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., released Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Mexican mine operations. The table below shows figures by mine:

First Majestic reported revenues of USD $100.5M, mine operating earnings of USD $28.1M, net earnings of USD $1.9M, and a strong working capital of USD $232.8M, including USD $65M of undrawn revolving credit facility.

  • Gatos Silver Inc., announced Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Los Gatos property in Chihuahua. Gatos mined 209,832 tonnes to produce 6,312 tonnes of Pb concentrates with grades of 6,314 g/t Ag, 5.6 g/t Au, 54.8% Pb, and 12.9% Zn, and 7,036 tonnes of Zn concentrate of 757 g/t Ag, 0.6 g/t Au, 1.4% Pb, and 55.2% Zn, to recover 1.5M Oz Ag, 1.1K Oz Au, 7.6M Lb Pb, and 8.6M Lb Zn, at an AISC cost, net of by-product credits of $19.76 per Oz Ag, which includes approximately $2.50 per Oz Ag related to non-recurring costs attributed to COVID-19 and lower produced ounces related to the power outage experienced earlier in the year. Gatos reported sales for $46.3M, operating expenses of $35.5M, other expenses of $3.9M, and net income of $6.9M.
  • Great Panther Mining Limited presented Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Topia and Guanajuato mines. At Guanajuato mine complex, Guanajuato, it mined 40,321 tonnes and milled 39,665 tonnes of 124 g/t Ag and 1.53 g/t Au to produce 135,737 Oz Ag and 1,689 Oz Au (279,306 Oz AgEq) at cash and AISC of $22.57 and $33.42 per payable Oz Ag respectively. At Topia, Durango,  the company  mined 16,654 tonnes and milled 19,004 tonnes of 398 g/t Ag, 0.87 g/t Au, 2.93% Pb, and 3.6% Zn to produce 224,333 Oz Ag, 293 Oz Au, 1.18M Lb Pb, and 1.39M Lb Zn (363,318 Oz AgEq) at cash and AISC of $15.88 and $18.71 per payable Oz Ag respectively.
  • McEwen Mining Inc., reported the production of 1,300 Oz AuEq (GEOs) from residual leaching at El Gallo mine in Sinaloa during the first quarter of 2021.  Operations were disrupted for three weeks by a blockade of the mine entrance by members of the local community, which has been resolved.
  • Mexus Gold US announced a successful blast in the Quartz 2 vein area at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora to produce approximately 10-15K tonnes of mineralized material. The company believes this material will show between 2 to 4 g/t Au average.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining ltd., reported consolidated 2020 full year production and financial results from its Mexican operations. The company processed 201,585 tonnes to produce 1M Oz AgEq at cash and AISC of $23.04 and $24.41 per Oz AgEq respectively. The company sold 662.5K Oz AgEq. The company recorded revenues of $33,097 and a net loss of $1,493.
  • Sierra Metals Inc., announced Q1, 2021 production results from its Bolivar and Cusi mines in Chihuahua. At Bolivar mine, the company processed 371,608 tonnes of 0.19 g/t Au, 20 g/t Ag, and 0.77% Cu to produce 1,591 Oz Au, 197K Oz Ag, and 5.2M Lb Cu 7.28M Lb CuEq), at a cash and AISC of USD $1.58 and USD $2.91 per Lb CuEq respectively. At Cusi mine, Sierra Metals processed 76,602 tonnes of 0.16 g/t Au, 157 g/t Ag, and 0.2% Pb to produce 155 Oz Au, 313K Oz Ag, and 268K Lb Pb (334K Oz AgEq), at cash and AISC of USD $18.72 and USD $30.28 per Oz AgEq respectively.

ON FINANCING

  • Advance Gold Corp., granted stock options to its Directors, key employees, and consultants entitling them to purchase, in total, up to 1.8M options over a five year term expiring May 2025 at an exercise price of $0.08 per share.  (Tabasquena property, Zacatecas).
  • Capitan Mining Inc., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $3.2M. Gross proceeds will be used to advance exploration and corporate development activities at its Peñoles property in Durango.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., closed a bought deal offering of 10M common shares at a price of CAD $2.50 per common share for gross proceeds of CAD $25M. Underwriters of the offering exercised their overallotment option in full for an additional 1.5M common shares for gross proceeds of approximately CAD $3.75M.  The net proceeds of the offering will be used to support the continued advancement of the Company’s Los Ricos North and South projects in Jalisco and for general corporate purposes.
  • Heliostar Metals Limited closed a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $5.6M. Part of the gross proceeds will be used to advance Cumaro, Lola and Oso Negro projects in Sonora, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. 
  • Telson Mining Corporation informed that it has received the initial USD $2M proceeds from the total USD $5M silver stream agreement with Empress Royalty for its Tahuehueto project in Durango. The stream is part of a USD $25M full financing solution being provided by Empress, Accendo Bank and Endeavour Financial.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Endeavour Silver Corp., intersected high-grade silver-gold mineralization to expand the El Curso orebody at its Guanacevi mine in Durango. Significant drill interceptions were encountered in hole UCM-48 with 3.27 g/t Au and   2,753 g/t Ag (2,982 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 4.1m, including 0.6 g/t Au and 18,752 g/t Ag (18,794 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.3m; and hole UCM-50 with 4.29 g/t Au and 3,464 g/t Ag (3,764 g/t AgEq)  over a TW of 2.6m, including 25.7 g/t Au and 19,390 g/t Ag (21,189 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.3m. The Company is currently producing from three orebodies at Guanacevi: Milache, El Curso and SCS.  Exploration drilling is ongoing at El Curso and SCS.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., announced it will commence a 10,000m drilling program at its Panuco silver project in Zacatecas, once it received the final drill permit. The plan is to start drilling at its Panuco silver deposit and San Gill Breccia Zone by securing an access agreement with the Ejido “Panuco”. The Panuco Silver Deposit has an historic inferred mineral resource of 19,472,901 Oz AgEq (cut-off 100 g/t AgEq) from 3,954,729 tonnes at 153.2 g/t AgEq (136 g/t Ag, 0.14 g/t Au, 0.012% Pb, and 0.11% Zn). “San Gill Breccia Zone has a strike length of approximately 800m, is up to 40 m wide, and is most likely vertical.  The north-south orientation of the breccia is highly significant as gold-rich epithermal veins within the district are generally oriented north-south”.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd., identified mineralized skarn shoots 265m above the current Fernandez Zone resource envelope at its San Diego property in Durango.   Significant drill assays were encountered in hole 21-54 with 0.09 g/t Au, 27 g/t Ag, 0.7% Pb, 0.6% Zn, and 0.03% Cu (92 g/t AgEq) over 99.53m, including 0.25 g/t Au, 81 g/t Ag, 2.1% Pb, 2.2% Zn, and 0.1% Cu (286 g/t AgEq) over 18.43m, and others mineralized intervals of  0.12 g/t Au, 109 g/t Ag, 2.5% Pb, 1.7% Zn, and 0.04% Cu (287 g/t AgEq) over 1.64m and 0.5 g/t Au, 15 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.3% Zn, and 0.01% Cu (83 g/t AgEq) over 12.35m; and hole 21-55 with 0.08 g/t Au, 37 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn, and 0.02% Cu (85 g/t AgEq) over 25.55m, including 0.04 g/t Au, 44 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, 0.8% Zn, and 0.02% Cu (100 g/t AgEq) over 10.9m, including 0.14 g/t Au, 45 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn, and 0.02% Cu (94 g/t AgEq) over 9.10m. This hole also intersected 0.96 g/t Au, 59 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.4% Zn, and 0.03% Cu (183 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m, 0.2 g/t Au, 50 g/t Ag, 1% Pb, 0.5% Zn, and 0.02% Cu (125 g/t AgEq) over 0.79m, and 0.09 g/t Au, 83 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, 0.4% Zn, and 0.04% Cu (130 g/t AgEq) over 0.6m. “Drill results, in conjunction with results from previous drilling, have identified the existence of potential shoots of skarn mineralization commencing approximately 265 m above the Fernandez Zone, which could connect or be parallel to the western edge of Fernandez”.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., reported results from its ongoing drilling program at the San Juan Vein within its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole  SJS21-04 with 242 g/t Ag, 0.31 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 0.8% Zn (310 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 10.5m, including 954 g/t Ag, 1.29 g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, 1.6% Zn, and 0.1% Cu (1,177 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2m, including 1,184 g/t Ag, 2.27 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, and 0.9% Zn (1,486 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1m; hole LRD-52 with 311 g/t Ag, 0.08 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (354 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 3.9m, including 781 g/t Ag, 0.21 g/t Au, 1.5% Pb, and 0.3% Zn (863 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1m; and hole LRD-37 with 62 g/t Ag, 0.31 g/t Au, 0.6% Pb, and 0.4% Zn (126 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 20.2m, including 154 g/t Ag, 0.96 g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, and 0.4% Zn (308 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 5.7m. “The high-grade silver mineralization encountered in the San Juan Vein confirms continuity of the mineralization close to surface, 100m to the north along strike, and also correlates with previously identified high-grade mineralization at depth”.
  • VanGold Mining Corp., provided initial results from its ongoing diamond drill program at its El Pinguico project in Guanajuato.  Eight holes were drilled of which the two first holes were collared outside of the mine in the patio of the portal of adit 4. These holes were not intended as traditional exploration holes. Holes P21-01 and P21-02 were collared to test the purchased rig but encountered noticeable visible vein material, which the company now interprets to be extensions of the San Jose vein. A third hole, P21-03, was collared to test the area for further vein extensions, and intersected several intervals of significant gold and silver values, including 0.38 g/t Au and 88 g/t Ag (116 g/t AgEq) over 4.05m, including 1.5 g/t Au and 122 g/t Ag (242 g/t AgEq) over 1m, plus an additional higher-grade interval of  2.11 g/t Au and 505 g/t Ag (674 g/t AgEq) over 0.55m. The rig was moved into El Pinguico mine where the company drilled holes P21-05 to P21-08. Holes P21-05 and P21-06 intercepted   long sections of alteration crossing both San Jose and El Pinguico veins but only moderate widths of moderate Ag-Au values were encountered.  Hole P21-07 encountered quartz and carbonate material of an unknown vein and at the San Jose contact the hole intercepted broken, unconsolidated material (approximately 35% recovery) and a void causing to abandon the hole. Hole P21-08 encountered numerous intervals of good grade material, being the most significant one returning 8.81 g/t Au and 208 g/t Ag (913 g/t AgEq) over 0.75m. Four additional holes (P21-09 to P21-12) were drilled from San Jose Cross Cut #1 but assay results are pending.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., released a maiden Au-Ag mineral resource estimate at its la Virginia project in Sonora.   El Rubi Zone contains an indicated resource of 6,179,000 tonnes of 0.78 g/t Au and 35 g/t Ag for 154.3K Oz Au and 6.93M Oz Ag, and inferred resources of 3,255,000 tonnes of 0.9 g/t Au and 36 g/t Ag for 94.1K Oz Au and 3.75M Oz Ag in open pit category. Virginia, El Oriental, Las Huatas and Las Huatas South add and inferred resource of 6,622,000 tonnes of 0.71 g/t Au and 41 g/t Ag for 152.2K Oz Au and 8.74M Oz Ag in open pit category, and 277K tonnes of 1.92 g/t Au and 62 g/t Ag for an additional 14K Oz Au and 451.5K Oz Ag in the underground category. Gold and Silver Equivalents for Indicated resource equal 253,286 Oz AuEq or 17,730,000 Oz AgEq. Gold and Silver Equivalents for Inferred resource equal 445,176 Oz AuEq or 31,162,300 Oz AgEq.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Advance Gold Corp., appointed a new member to its Board of Directors (Tabasquena property, Zacatecas).
  • Equinox Gold Corp., announced results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Los Filos mine, Guerrero).
  • Great Panther Mining Limited announced the nomination of two new directors for election to its Board of Directors at its annual general meeting to be held on June 9, 2021 (Topia mine, Durango). 
  • One World Lithium Inc., announced the engagement of an European consultant that may include individual introduction and corporate presentations. The Agreement is for one year to May 04, 2022. The Consultant will be paid a monthly fee of 5,000 Euros   (CAD $7,400) and an option to purchase up to 800K common shares of the company at an exercise price of $0.11 per common share, being the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the Canadian Stock Exchange on May 4, 2021. The stock options are exercisable on or before May 04, 2023 and will be vested as to 200K options every two months from June 01 to December 01, 2021 (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California).
  • Colibri Resources Corporation signed a definitive deal with Silver Spruce on Diamante Gold and Silver project in Sonora.  Silver Spruce will have an option to acquire up to 50% of the property. To acquire 25% of the property, Silver Spruce has to pay USD $75K in cash to Colibri. Yaque and Silver Spruce will each then hold a 25% interest and manage the project as equal partners. To earn its initial 50% of the Diamante project from the original vendor, Yaque (together with Silver Spruce)agree to jointly design, permit and drill a minimum of 2,000 metres on the property within 24 months from the Execution Date of Yaque’s final agreement with the original Vendor.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., made the final option payment to SSR Mining to close the acquisition of 100% interest of San Marcial Silver project in Sinaloa. GR paid CAD $2.5M and issued 1.5M common shares to SSR.
  • Magna Gold Corp., announced that it has made the final payment of USD $5M to Argonaut Gold Inc., for the acquisition of its San Francisco mine in Sonora, and provided a promissory note for the remaining balance of USD $2,675,000 to be paid in four monthly installments commencing July, 6, 2021 and ending October 6, 2021. The promissory note bears uncompounded interest at a rate of 5% per annum.
  • Oroco Resource Corp., entered into an agreement to increase its interest on Santo Tomas property in Sinaloa.  Oroco will acquire 25 shares of Xochipala Gold SA de CV for USD $1.5M.
  • Orogen Royalties Inc., provided an update about the royalty on the Ermitaño property in Sonora, operated by its JV partner First Majestic Silver Corp. Orogen holds a 2% NSR of an indicated resources of 355K Oz Au and 5M Oz Ag, and inferred resources of 522K Oz Au and 11M Oz Ag.
  • Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd., said it has offered to buy the shares it does not already own in Mexico-focused Bacanora Lithium plc for up to 190M pounds (USD $264.5M). Ganfeng, which in February announced a plan to raise its stake in Bacanora from 17.41% to 28.88%, will acquire the remaining shares in the company for $67.5 pounds a share. The increase in Ganfeng’s stake to 28.88% is expected to complete shortly.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No relevant news.

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

On the picture above, a quartz vein with stibnite displaying boiling texture in a low-sulphidation epithermal system in a prospect in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Hydrothermal breccia

By Miguel A Heredia

During the second week of the year (February 08th to February 14th, 2021), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 11 news published by the media, with nine disclosing deals and corporate issues, six announcing financial rounds, six reporting on resources and development of their mine operations, six commenting on Mexican issues, five informing on exploration results, five discussing social issues, and two communicating production and financial results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) criteria are a key factor in Accendo Banco’s investments in Mexico’s mining sector, according to its CEO, Javier Reyes. Mining in Mexico registered a 19.5% rebound during October, 2020, according to the Monthly Indicator of Industrial Activity by Federal Entity (IMAIEF) released by the Institute National Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Tatiana Clouthier, head of the Secretariat of Economy declared that mining in Mexico must become a sustainable activity that prioritizes three issues: economic, human and nature. The energy policies that the federal government is following are already affecting the development of projects for the self-supply of energy by the mining sector. Experts detailed the main challenges that the Mexican mining sector will face in 2021, the year in which the industry is expected to play a leading role in the economic reactivation after confinements. Almost a year of delay accumulates the USD $60M of Chinese investment to construct the industrial park at Guadalupe, Zacatecas.   ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Canuc commenced a drill program at its San Javier project, Carlyle and Riverside initiated a phase one drilling program at its Cecilia project, Tocvan and Colibri reported drill results from its El Pilar project, and Minaurum released results from its phase II drilling program conducted at its Alamo Silver project.   ON MINING, Equinox provided 2021 guidance and outlined growth and investment plan (Los Filos mine, Guerrero). GoGold reported Q4, 2020 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, Bacanora announced that 106,995,885 New Ordinary Shares were admitted to trading on London Stock Exchange market (Sonora Lithium project, Sonora). Silver Tiger announced that it entered into a CAD $20M bought deal financing (El Tigre, Sonora). Comet raised $1M in strategic investor placement (Santa Teresa project, Baja California). Orogen announced a private placement for gross proceeds of $2.7M (Ermitaño property, Sonora). Prospero Silver announced a consolidation of its common shares (Pachuca SE property, Hidalgo). SilverCrest entered into a bought deal financing agreement for aggregate gross proceeds of USD $120M (Las Chispas project, Sonora).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Bacanora commenced initial site activities at its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. Excellon provided an update on ongoing exploration at its Platosa mine in Durango. GR Silver released underground and surface drilling results from its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Newmont reported 2020 mineral reserves and resources for its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. Orla filed updated FS on its Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas. Southern Silver released drill results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Carlyle announced that it has now met its first-year exploration commitments of its option agreement with Riverside Resources to acquire 100% of the Cecilia Gold-Silver project. Fabled granted an aggregate of 350K stock options to certain consultants, to acquire one common share of Fabled at an exercise price of $0.22 per common share until September 1, 2021 (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua). Fortuna announced management changes (San Jose mine, Oaxaca). Gold Resource announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Arista mine, Oaxaca). Gold79announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors and granted him with 500K common shares at a price of $0.10 per share and expire on February 12, 2031 (Taviche project, Oaxaca). Orogen announced that its current President and Chief Executive Officer has been appointed to the Board of Directors (Ermitaño project, Sonora). Premier announced that two independent adviser firms have recommended that holders of Premier´s common shares and options approve the proposed acquisition of Equinox (Mercedes mine, Sonora). Tarachi Gold signed a purchase agreement with Manto Resources to acquire the Magistral del Oro mill and tailings project in Durango. Vizsla announced it will change its name to Vizsla Silver Corp (Panuco project, Sinaloa).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Coanzamex (GoGold) supported the Municipal Shelter of Parral, Chihuahua with blankets. Fresnillo plc organized literary caravan and delivered books to children from rural communities. Peñoles signed an alliance with the UNAM Foundation so that medical fellows serve the communities near its operating units in Durango, State of Mexico, Guerrero and Zacatecas. Peñoles encourages the presence of women in the areas of science, innovation and technological development. Santa Elena Mine (First Majestic) in connection with the Sonora A.C. Mining Cluster are carrying out a support program for merchants in the Banámichi and Río Sonora region.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) criteria are a key factor in Accendo Banco’s investments in Mexico’s mining sector, according to its CEO, Javier Reyes. Investment deals recently advanced by the bank include a proposed USD $12M loan to finance construction of Telson Mining’s Tahuehueto gold mine in Durango. Candelaria Mining also signed a USD $9M loan agreement with Accendo in June 2020 for the construction of its Pinos gold project in Zacatecas. Lastly, Accendo signed a strategic alliance with Vancouver-based Empress Royalty in August last year. The agreement aims to acquire royalties, cash flows and other investments in Mexico’s mining sector.
  • Mining in Mexico, registered a 19.5% rebound during October, 2020 according to the Monthly Indicator of Industrial Activity by Federal Entity (IMAIEF), released by the Institute National Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
  • Tatiana Clouthier, head of the Secretariat of Economy declared that mining in Mexico must become a sustainable activity that prioritizes three issues: economic, human and nature. On the other hand, Clouthier highlighted the work that mining companies of all levels have done to accelerate the economic reactivation of the country. “The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that is generated through mining is about 3.2% and we are pleased to see that these numbers can continue to move in favor of the economy and Mexican families,” she said. “In the Ministry of Economy we have already invited large, medium and small companies and associations that are linked to this issue to be able to find solutions, to be able, within the framework of the law, to activate what we have to activate for this task it can be managed better and it can yield better results in favor of our country”, she assured.
  • The energy policies that the federal government is following are already affecting the development of projects for the self-supply of energy by the mining sector. According to data from the Mexico Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), electricity for this industry is 33% and up to 350% more expensive compared to other countries, which increases its production costs. That is why the mining companies have decided to invest and develop electricity generation projects, which range from combined cycle plants to solar or wind farms. Despite this, many of these plans have been affected by current policies on energy and the action of regulatory bodies, such as the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), which reduced the granting of permits to a minimum. President of CAMIMEX assured in recent days that half of the energy consumed by the mining industry is under the self-supply model.
  • Experts detailed the main challenges that the Mexican mining sector will face in 2021, the year in which the industry is expected to play a leading role in the economic reactivation after confinements. The main problems for the sector are the current health complications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of directly or indirectly legislative proposals with potential negative impacts on the mining sector such as the direct initiatives to try to raise taxes at the state of federal level or indirect initiatives as the elimination of the outsourcing or initiatives of the electricity industry. Deputies of Mexico received in January a proposal from a legislator of the ruling party Morena aimed at reviewing the fees paid for mining concessions. It proposed replacing per hectare fees with potentially much higher charges linked to production. Another problem is the “profound ignorance” of the importance of the mining industry.
  • Almost a year of delay accumulates the USD $60M of Chinese investment to construct the industrial park at Guadalupe, Zacatecas. This delay has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.   

ON EXPLORATION

  • Canuc Resources Corporation, commenced a drill program at its San Javier project. The program will be focused on testing geophysical anomalies and mineralized breccia and stockwork zones as reported previously.
  • Carlyle Commodities Corp. and Riverside Resources Inc., initiated a six drill holes, phase one program at its Cecilia project designed to test down to roughly 250m in depth over the Cerro Magallanes rhyolitic dome. The drill program will commence to test the San Jose structure where sampling returned values up to 48.3 g/t Au over 0.75m at surface.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. and Colibri Resource Corporation reported drill results from its phase one drilling program performed at its El Pilar project in Sonora, which consisted of nine RC holes for a total of 1,505m. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole JES-20-32 with 1.6 g/t Au over 94.6m, including 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag over 9.2m; hole JES-20-33 with 1.1 g/t Au over 41.2m, including 6 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag over 3.1m; and hole JES-20-36 with 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag over 24.4m, including 6.3 g/t Au and 192 g/t Ag over 9.2m, including 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag over 1.5m.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., released results from its phase II drilling program conducted at its Alamo Silver project. “Drilling at the Europa-Guadalupe target outlined a prospective south-west (“SW”) plunging silver shoot along with the potential for additional high-grade mineralization to the north and south of the area drilled. At the Promontorio target, drilling returned high-grade mineralization in excess of 100m below historical workings, indicating the potential for two SW-plunging silver shoots”. At Europa-Guadalupe Zone, Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole AL20-054 with 342 g/t Ag, 0.76% Cu, and 1% Zn over 3.85m, including 1,185 g/t Ag, 2.19% Cu, and 1.2% Zn over 0.8m; and hole AL20-050 with 196 g/t Ag, 0.26% Cu, 0.35% Pb, and 1.1% Zn over 3.25m, including 784 g/t Ag, 1.05% Cu, and 2.5% Zn over 0.55m. At Promontorio Zone, hole AL20-064 intersected 528 g/t Ag, 0.8 g/t Au, 0.83% Cu, 2.4% Pb, and 1.5% Zn over 3.7m, including 1,203 g/t Ag, 2.45 g/t Au, 1.4% Cu, 5.1% Pb, and 2.8% Zn over 1.05m; and hole AL20-069 with 161 g/t Ag, 0.5 g/t Au, 0.24% Cu, 2.15% Pb, and 5.9% Zn over 4m, including 327 g/t Ag, 0.9 g/t Au, 0.23% Cu, 2.5% Pb, and 6.6% Zn over 1m. At San Jose Zone, hole AL20-066 encountered 314 g/t Ag, 0.27% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 4.45m, and hole AL20-075 with 460 g/t Ag, 0.15% Cu, 0.5% Pb, and 0.85% Zn over 2.15m. At Travesia Zone, hole AL20-077 intersected  210 g/t Ag, 0.59% Cu, 1.3% Pb, and 1.3% Zn over 4.4m, including 355 g/t Ag, 0.7 g/t Au, 1.02% Cu, 4.6% Pb, and 3.2% Zn over 0.9m.

ON MINING

  • Equinox Gold Corp., provided 2021 guidance and outlined growth and investment plan. It expects to produce 170K-190K Oz Au from its Los Filos mine in Guerrero at cash and AISC of USD $1,125-1,200 and USD $1,330-1,390 respectively. The company has planned a total sustaining and non-sustaining capital spend of USD $133M for the year.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., reported Q4, 2020 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. The company produced 298.6KOz Ag, 3,632 Oz Au and 280K Lb Cu (614.15K Oz AgEq) at cash and AISC of USD $12.27 and USD $15.19 per Oz Ag sold. GoGold reported revenue of USD $14,078M, a net income of USD $4.23M, and a cash flow from operation of USD $5.86M.  

ON FINANCING

  • Bacanora Lithium plc., announced that 106,995,885 New Ordinary Shares were admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange market (Sonora Lithium project, Sonora).
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., announced that it entered into a CAD $20M bought deal financing with Sprott Capital Partners LP.  Net proceeds will be used to fund continued exploration at its El Tigre project in Sonora, as well as for general working capital and business development purposes.
  • Comet Resources Ltd., announced that it raised $1M in strategic investor placement. Part of the raised funds will be used to support exploration activities at its (Santa Teresa project in Baja California.
  • Orogen Royalties Inc., announced a private placement for gross proceeds of $2.7M (Ermitaño property, Sonora).
  • Prospero Silver Corp., announced a consolidation of its common shares on the basis of one new post-consolidation common share for every three pre-consolidation common shares effective as of February 11, 2021.  There will be no name change or trading symbol change in conjunction with the consolidation (Pachuca SE property, Hidalgo).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., entered into a bought deal financing agreement for aggregate gross proceeds of USD $120M. Net proceeds of the offering will be used to expand resources and reserves at its Las Chispas project in Sonora through further drilling, to optimize the mine and processing plant design, to explore regional targets, and for general working capital purposes. 

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Bacanora Lithium plc., commenced initial site activities at its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. Bacanora engaged a local specialist ecological service company to rescue and remove surface vegetation and topsoil in the area proposed for the construction of the processing plant. The company is also upgrading the main access road for providing access to heavy equipment to commence the bulk site earthworks later in the year.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., provided an update on ongoing exploration at its Platosa mine in Durango. The company is drilling regional targets such as Jaboncillo and the PDN areas, as well as drilling the Platosa extensions and Platosa Underground to support resource definition and expansion. At Jaboncillo zone, located 11 km north of Platosa mine, Excellon identified in a previous drilling campaign a 1.2km length gossans mineralization.  The current drilling program is targeting the source of these gossans and the existence of massive sulphides. At PDN zone, located 2 km north of Platosa mine, it is testing a large 800m by 60m target generated with multiple sets of geophysical data, surface mapping and sampling. This target is interpreted as a deeper skarn related to the Rincon del Caido  skarn discovered in 2012 where a previous drill intercept encountered 132 g/t Ag, 3.1% Pb, 1.7% Zn, and 0.075 g/t Au (278 g/t AgEq) over 55.5m. At the 10-20 target, the company has been conducting drilling surface to add mineralization over approximately 300m of strike with a vertical extent of 30-40m. This zone has potential to significantly increase the current 800m by 600m mineralized footprint of the Platosa mine.  At Platosa mine, Excellon is conducting underground drilling to define mineralization ahead of mine development and add mineralized inventory in areas not adequately tested by surface drilling. This underground drilling program follows up on previous drilling of the Pierna and NE-1 mantos and depth extensions of the 623 and NE-1S mantos.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., released underground and surface drilling results from its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Significant mineralization was encountered in hole PLI-20-05 with 2.63 g/t Au, 39 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 4m, including 8.95 g/t Au, 136 g/t Ag,0.4% Cu,  0.6% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (1,101 g/t AgEq) over 1.0m, and other deeper intersection of 2.77 g/t Au, 25 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over 9.2m, including 19.95 g/t Au, 227 g/t Ag, 1% Cu, 1.3% Pb, and 4.7% Zn (2,507 g/t AgEq) over 0.20m; and hole PLI17-32 with 1.37 g/t Au, 68 g/t Ag, 0.1% Cu, 0.4% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (245 g/t AgEq) over 10.6m. “The underground drilling program is targeting high-grade Ag-Au epithermal mineralization and bulk tonnage-style polymetallic mineralization in the Plomosas Mine Area, with the objective to delineate high margin precious and base metals mineralization for planned resource estimation”.
  • Newmont Corporation reported 2020 mineral reserves and resources for its Peñasquito and Noche Buena mines. Figures are shown in the tables below:

(Resources are reported exclusive of reserves)

  • Orla Mining Ltd., filed updated FS on its Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas. Highlights include a total ore to leach pad of 67.4M tonnes of 0.73 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag for a total of 1.59M Oz Au and 31.5M Oz Ag at metallurgical recoveries of 62% and 20% respectively to recover 980K Oz Au and 6.19M Oz Ag. The mine life of Camino Rojo has been estimated in 10.4 years with a throughput rate of 18,000 tonnes per day for an annual production of 94K Oz Au, at a cash and AISC cost of USD $490 and USD $543 per Oz Au respectively. The FS reported a Pre-Tax and NVP (5% discount rate)  of USD $668M, Pre-Tax IRR of 82%, an After-Tax and NVP (5% discount rate) of USD $542M,and an After-Tax IRR of %62%, for a payback time of 1.5 years.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., released drill results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. The company intersected bonanza grades at La Bocona Chimney in hole 20CLM-131 with 1,072 g/t Ag, 18.8% Pb, and 7.5% Zn (2,040 g/t AgEq or 51.7% ZnEq) over a true width (TW) of 8m, which includes subintervals of 3,180 g/t Ag, 58.8% Pb, and 2.3% Zn over a TW of 0.6m, and 2,340 g/t Ag, 35.9% Pb, and 1.6% Zn over a TW of 0.8m. Additional mineralized intervals intersected further down-hole include 121 g/t Ag, 2.5% Pb, and 2.5% Zn (311 g/t AgEq or 7.9% ZnEq) over a TW of 8.5m, including 413 g/t Ag, 8.7% Pb, and 9.3% Zn (1,103 g/t AgEq or 28% ZnEq) over a TW of 1.6m, including 59 g/t Ag, 0.6 g/t Au, an 3.7% Cu (489 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.5m. Additional assays results were also received from the Muralla and the South Skarn targets located 500m away of the Mina La Bocona. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole 20CLM-134 with 205 g/t Ag, 0.16 g/t Au, 4% Pb, and 0.9% Zn (377 g/t AgEq or 9.5% ZnEq) over a TW of 4.1m, including 575 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 9.9% Pb, and 2.2% Zn (972 g/t AgEq or 24.7% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.6m in the Muralla target; hole 20CLM-126 with 95 g/t Ag, 0.7% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (174 g/t AgEq or 4.4% ZnEq), including 398 g/t Ag, 0.16 g/t Au, 2.7% Pb, and 4% Zn (679 g/t AgEq or 17.2% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.7min the South Target Zone, and hole 20CLM-130 with 327 g/t Ag, 5.6% Pb, and 11.5% Zn (960 g/t AgEq or 24.4% ZnEq) over a TW of 1m in the South Target Zone.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Carlyle Commodities Corp., announced that it has now met its first-year exploration commitments of its Option Agreement with Riverside Resources to acquire 100% of the Cecilia Gold-Silver project, by having advanced at least CAD $750K for exploration expenditures.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., granted an aggregate of 350K stock options to certain consultants, to acquire one common share of Fabled at an exercise price of $0.22 per common share until September 1, 2021 (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua).
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., announced the resignation of its Director and Chair of the Board, and the appointment of its replacement (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).
  • Gold Resource Corporation announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Arista mine, Oaxaca).
  • Gold79 Mines Ltd., announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors and granted him 500K common shares at a price of $0.10 per share and expires on February 12, 2031 (Taviche project, Oaxaca).
  • Orogen Royalties Inc., announced that its current President and Chief Executive Officer has been appointed to the Board of Directors (Ermitaño project, Sonora).
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited announced that two independent adviser firms have recommended that holders of Premier´s common shares and options approve the proposed acquisition of Equinox Gold Corp. (Mercedes mine, Sonora). 
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., signed a purchase agreement with Manto Resources SA de CV to acquire the Magistral del Oro mill and tailings project in Durango.  Magistral project consists of a 1,000 tons per day (TPD) Merrill-Crow tailings reprocessing  plant and tailing disposal facility, and access to an estimated 1.3M tonnes of tailings with a historic average grade of between 2.06 g/t Au and 2.11 g/t Au. In order to acquire the property, Tarachi has to issue 4M of its common shares, grant Manto with a 15% net profits royalty on the estimated 1.3M tonnes of tailings material expected to be processed and reimburse Manto for USD $1,179,500 of cash outlays, and will satisfy certain obligations of Manto by paying a total of USD $1,111,000 plus any Mexican value add tax (IVA) and issuing 1,685,916 common shares within 90 days of closing. Manto will be entitled to the following staged bonus payments: an additional 4M common shares 60 days after the closing date, 4M common shares 180 days after the closing date, 4M of common shares 365 days after the closing date, USD $500K in cash following 6 months of commercial production at Magistral, USD $500K in cash following 12 months of commercial production at Magistral, upon the company earning USD $15M in revenue from Magistral, the company will pay Manto USD $1M. Finally, a finder´s fee of 1M common shares will be issued to Spirit Exploration Corp.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp., announced it will change its name to Vizsla Silver Corp. The name change is expected to be effective on February 9, 2021 (Panuco project, Sinaloa). 

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Coanzamex (GoGold Resources Inc.) delivered blankets to the Parral Municipality Shelter. Major of Parral thanked the spirit of solidarity that has characterized the mining company that has operated in Parral, Chihuahua for several years.
  • Fresnillo plc organized literary caravan and delivered 10,000 books to children and adolescents from 23 communities in Caborca, Sonora.  It should be mentioned that Fresnillo plc, in alliance with the IBBY México organization, encourages children’s reading through the “Picando Letras” program, which has been implemented for some time more than 8 years and, to date, approximately more than 2,500 infants and adolescents have participated in the various actions.
  • Industrias Peñoles SAB de CV signed an alliance with the UNAM Foundation so that medical fellows serve the communities near its operating units Durango, State of Mexico, Guerrero and Zacatecas. For more than 10 years, Peñoles has carried out Health Days to the communities near its operations, to provide free medical care to its neighbors. To give continuity to preventive health programs among the population with fewer resources, Peñoles ratified an agreement with the UNAM Foundation whereby eight social service providers of the University will provide medical care to the communities surrounding the Velardeña, Sabinas, Tizapa, and Capela mines.
  • Industrias Peñoles SAB de CV encourages the presence of women in the areas of science, innovation and technological development. Its General Director, Rafael Rebollar, points out that, fortunately, more women are joining the different mining processes, contributing their talent and skills. The Central Laboratory and the Center for Research and Technological Development (CIDT) of Peñoles stand out, with 35 women who carry out functions key to mining and metallurgical processes. Thus, Peñoles reiterates its commitment to society by integrating more women scientists in the industry, through programs that expand their knowledge and allow them to innovate in the processes, which contributes to strengthening the activity mining and make it more sustainable.
  • Santa Elena Mine (First Majestic) in connection with the Sonora A.C. Mining Cluster are carrying out a support program for local merchants in the Banámichi and Río Sonora region. Through a workshop, they seek to provide the necessary tools to promote the economic reactivation of businesses and overcome the barriers of the pandemic using new digital marketing tool to offer its products and services. This training was offered in virtual mode where the last session was completed in person, ending with the delivery of recognitions to the participants.

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

On the picture above, a quartz hydrothermal breccia in a low sulphidation epithermal system in a prospect in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia., Mexico.

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Stibnite in a fine grained quartz vein.

By Miguel A Heredia

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

ON MEXICO ISSUES

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

ON EXPLORATION

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

ON MINING

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

ON FINANCING

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

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

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

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

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

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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

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

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

 

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

 

barite crystals

By Miguel A Heredia

During the forty-three week of the year (October 21st to October 27th, 2019), at least 42 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with eleven disclosing deals and corporate issues, ten announcing financial rounds, seven commenting on Mexican issues, six informing on exploration results, three communicating production results, three reporting on resources and developments of their projects, and one discussing issues on social responsibility.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, a mining union leader and senator for the Morena party proposed to increase the taxes to mining concessions to levels of 20-30%.  Fernando Alanís, president of the Cámara Minera de México (CAMIMEX), reported that 244 Canadian companies stopped investing in Mexico. At the AIMMGM Mining convention in Acapulco, the CONAGO (Conferencia Nacional de Gobernadores) and the federal government were at disagreement on the use of the Mining Fund. Camimex expects the “Mesa de Minería” (Mining Forum) is installed before year’s end. Newmont-Goldcorp re-started up production at its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. ON EXPLORATION, In Baja California Norte, One World Lithium announced the continuation and progress of the phase 3 drilling program at its Salar del Diablo project.   In Sonora, Aloro mobilized crews to sample high grade Au veins on the northwest side of its Los Venados project, and Agnico Eagle provided an exploration update of its Santa Gertrudis project. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold and Pan American Silver commenced the phase 3 drilling program at its Amalia project. In Zacatecas, Galore reported the completion of 1,667.20m of core drilling at its Dos Santos project.  In Jalisco, GoGold reported drill results from six new holes from its Los Ricos project. ON MINING, Agnico Eagle, Fresnillo, and Excellon reported Q3, 2019 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Galore closed a first tranche of a private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $187K and implemented a shares for services agreement on its drill contract (Dos Santos project, Zacatecas). One World Lithium reported that its previously announced non-brokered private placement (Sept 05, 2019), will be replaced by a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1M (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California Norte).  VVC closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $2M (Kaity project in Samalayuca, Chihuahua). Silver Viper closed a private placement financing to raise gross proceeds for $4M (La Virginia project, Sonora). Orla entered into a commitment letter for up to USD $125M project finance facility (Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas). Vista Gold received the third option payment from Prime Mining for the Guadalupe de Los Reyes property in Sinaloa. Newmont-Goldcorp declared a quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share of common stock (Peñasquito mine, Zacatecas). Gold Resource increased 100% its instituted annual dividend from $0.02 to $0.04 per common share (Arista mine, Oaxaca). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Golden Minerals outlined progress at its Velardeña and Rodeo properties in Durango. Minera Peñoles informed that is to start operations at its Capela mine in Guerrero. Endeavour reported infill drill results from its Parral project in Chihuahua.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Alien Metals appointed Novum Securities Ltd as its joint corporate broker with immediate effect (San Celso project, Zacatecas). Defiance Silver appointed a couple of OreQuest consultants as technical advisors to work on its San Acacio project in Zacatecas. Impact granted stock options to directors, officers, and employees (Zacualpan mining district, State of Mexico).   Oroco announced special general meeting of its shareholders to be held on December 19, 2019 (Santo Tomas project, Sinaloa). Vangold announced changes on its board of Directors and appointed its corporate secretary (El Pinguino mine, Guanajuato). Tamino Minerals was invited to list on the Mexican Stock Exchange (El Volcan project, Sonora). Torex responded a recent letter to its shareholders and stakeholders (Limon-Guajes, Guerrero). Sonoro advanced discussions with China-based companies to develop and finance its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. Magellan entered into an option agreement with Golden Minerals to acquire 100% interest in Santa Maria project in Chihuahua. Santacruz Silver appointed a new director to its Board (Veta Grande, Zacatecas). Ternium received from PROFEPA, the certification as a clean industry (Tecomán plant in Colima).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, In Aconchi, Sonora, the Orquesta La Caridad from Grupo Mexico offered a concert to 250 attendees by 110 children and young people, the first on its Rio Sonora tour. Doctor Vagón, the Health Train of Fundación Grupo México, arrived in San Pedro, Coahuila from October 23 to 26 to give medical attention to the residents of the municipality.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, a mining union lider and senator by Morena proposed to increase the taxes to mining concessions to levels of 20 to 30%, sustaining that countries like Peru, Bolivia or Chile are at those levels. That declaration was done while he was defending the federal government intention to use the Mining Fund to other means that what it was imposed for: helping develop mining communities. The leader of the Morena senators is to present an integral initiative for the mining sector. Why don’t we raise the taxes to mining, to the rights on mineral exploitation, to the mining concessions taxes?, asked Gómez Urrutia. Ricardo Monreal, a presidential hopeful considered the proposal to be correct, and asked for its formalization.
  • Fernando Alanís, Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) president said that 244 Canadian companies stopped investing in Mexico. Camimex is fighting for the 100% deductibility of exploration expenses, as it is a strong deterrent on exploration investment, where the most risk of the industry is concentrated.
  • At the AIMMGM Mining convention in Acapulco, the CONAGO (Conferencia Nacional de Gobernadores) and the federal government were at disagreement on the use of the Mining Fund. While the governors fight for the said funds to remain on the states and municipalities, the federal government proposed that 85% of the resources are directed to the Secretaria de Educación Pública (SEP), by reforming the Ley Federal de Derechos (Federal Law on Duties) starting on 2020. The federal proposal allows full discretionally use of the where the funds are used, even in areas where no mining is conducted. In 2018 alone, $3,840 M pesos (about US$202 M) were accrued on the Mining Fund.
  • Camimex expects the “Mesa de Minería” (Mining Forum) is installed before year’s end, and can start to work with the federal government, so the mining sector is heard and doubts and misunderstandings can be cleared. Subjects to address include the social, the environment, regulation of the investment compromise, and the fiscal issues. Camimex stressed the mining in Mexico pays about 46 percent in taxes.
  • Newmont-Goldcorp, re-started up production at its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas, following the lifting of the illegal blockade on October 8, 2019. “With the support of the State and Federal governments, including an ongoing police presence, the Company has commenced an approximately 10-dayprocess of bringing back the operation to full production”.

ON EXPLORATION

  • One World Lithium Inc., announced the continuation of the phase 3 drilling program at its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California Norte. Four boreholes are planned for a total of 2,400 meters (about 8,000 feet) of exploration drilling. The company reported that the first borehole reached a depth of 220m. Target depths of up to 600 meters are expected to be achieved.
  • Aloro Mining Corp., is to sample high-grade gold veins on the northwest of the Los Venados property in Sonora. In this area lies a 3.5 km vein system up to 400 m in width that has been partially mapped. Results from early sampling have results of up to 32 g/t Au and 49 g/t Ag.
  • Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, provided an update of the exploration program carried out at its Santa Gertrudis project in Sonora. Drilling at Santa Gertrudis has extended the Amelia deposit in the Trinidad zone to 800m strike length, with highlight intercepts of 6.4 g/t Au over 7m and 9.6 g/t Au over 6m.
  • Radius Gold Inc., and Pan American Silver Corp., commenced the phase 3 drilling program at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Pan American is now operating the project and expects to drill a minimum 2,500m of core drilling.
  • Galore Resources Inc., reported the completion of 1.667.20m of core drilling at its Dos Santos project in Zacatecas. Drilling results are still pending to be released.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., reported results from six new diamond drill holes including four from the San Juan zone, the first step out hole testing the El Troce area, and one from the Main area at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. At San Juan, hole LRGG-19-050 intersected 0.39 g/t Au and 76 g/t Ag (1.41 g/t AuEq) over 45.3m, including 1.01 g/t Au and 242 g/t Ag (4.23 g/t AuEq) over 6.2m,and hole LRGG-19-051 intersected 0.4 g/t Au and 86 g/t Ag (1.55 g/t AuEq) over 24m. At El Troce, hole LRGG-19-053 intersected 1.53 g/t Au and 164 g/t Ag (3.72 g/t AuEq) over 10.1m, including 5.22 g/t Au and 489 g/t Ag (11.75 g/t AuEq) over 2.8m. At the Main area, hole LRGG-19-055 intersected 0.58 g/t Au and 75 g/t Ag (1.59 g/t AuEq) over 14.4m.

ON MINING

  • Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, reported Q3, 2019 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. At Pinos Altos mine, Chihuahua, it processed 519K tonnes of 2.22 g/t Au to produce 34.8K Oz Au at a total cash cost of USD $745 per Oz Au produced. At Creston Mascota mine in Chihuahua, the company processed 284K tonnes of 0.78 g/t Au to produce 9,596 Oz Au at a total cash cost of USD $668 per Oz Au produced. At La India mine, Sonora, Agnico processed 1.1M tonnes of 0.77 g/t Au to produce 18.4K Oz Au at a total cash cost of USD $872 per Oz Au produced.
  • Fresnillo plc, presented Q3 2019 production results from their Mexican operations. Consolidated production results for the Q3, 2019 reached 13.3M Oz Ag (including Silverstream for 659K Oz Ag), 209.7K Oz Au, 34.9M Lb Pb, and 56.8M Lb Zn. At Fresnillo mine, Zacatecas, the company processed 648,646 tonnes of 183 g/t Ag, 0.99 g/t Au, 1.24% Pb, and 2.14% Zn, to produce 3.4M Oz Ag, 15.6K Oz Au, 15.8M Lb Pb, and 22.9M Lb Zn. At Saucito mine, Zacatecas, it processed 703K tonnes of 207 g/t Ag, 1.22 g/t Au, 0.84% Pb, and 1.38% Zn, to produce 4M Oz Ag, 21K Oz Au, 11M Lb Pb, and 14.9M Lb Zn. At Pyrites Plant, Fresnillo processed 38,572 tonnes of 314 g/t Ag and 2.44 g/t Au, to produce 285K Oz Ag and 954 Oz Au. At Cienega mine, Durango, it processed 335,493 tonnes of 1.78 g/t Au, 151 g/t Ag, 0.81% Pb, and 1.35% Zn, to produce 17.8K Oz Au, 1.4M Oz Ag, 4.1M Lb Pb, and 6.2M Lb Zn. At San Julian mine in Chihuahua-Durango border, the company processed 321,798 tonnes of 1.39 g/t Au and 108 g/t Ag, to produce 13,711 Oz Au and 1M Oz Ag from veins, and 559,693 tonnes of 0.07 g/t Au, 130 g/t Ag, 0.41% Pb, and 1.35% Zn, to produce 523 Oz Au, 2M Oz Ag, 4M Lb Pb, and 12.8M LB Zn from the disseminated ore body. At the Herradura mine, Sonora, Fresnillo processed 5,591,746 tonnes of 0.71 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag, to produce 102,439 Oz Au and 412K Oz Ag. At the Noche Buena mine, Sonora, it processed 3,215,167 tonnes for a total volume hauled of 11,447,273 tonnes with grades of 0.58 g/t Au and 0.25 g/t Ag to produce 37,570 Oz Au and 14K Oz Ag.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced Q3, 2019 production results from its Platosas mine, Durango. Excellon milled and processed 17,235 tonnes of 512 g/t Ag, 4.4% Pb, and 6% Zn to produce 257.5K Oz Ag, 1.3M Lb Pb, and 1.65M Lb Zn, with metallurgical recoveries of 87.2%, 77.7%, and 76.5% respectively.

ON FINANCING

  • Galore Resources Inc., closed a first tranche of a private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $187K.The company also implemented a cash + shares for services agreement with COMEFIN S DE RL DE CV, to conduct the diamond core drilling programs at Galore’s 100% owned El Alamo and Los Gemelos projects (Dos Santo project, Zacatecas).
  • One World Lithium Inc., reported that its previously announced non-brokered private placement (Sept 05, 2019), will be replaced by a non-brokered private placement of unsecured convertible notes for gross proceeds of $1M (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California Norte).
  • VVC Exploration Corporation, closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $2M. The proceeds of the Financing will be used for exploration and development on the Kaity Property in Mexico, including diamond drilling, land use permits and associated costs, metallurgical bench testing of the copper mineralization, and investigation, evaluation and implementation of the Gloria Pilot Mining Project (Kaity project in Samalayuca, Chihuahua).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., closed a private placement financing to raise gross proceeds for $4M. Net proceeds will be used to continue exploration and development of its La Virginia Au-Ag in Sonora and for general corporate and working capital purposes.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., entered into a commitment letter with Trinity Capital Partners Corporation, with respect to a secured project finance facility of USD $125M for the development of its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas.
  • Vista GoldCorp., received the third $1.5M option payment from Prime Mining Corporation for the Guadalupe de Los Reyes project in Sinaloa.
  • Newmont-Goldcorp, declared a quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share of common stock, payable on December 27, 2019 to holders of record at the close of business on December 5, 2019.
  • Gold Resource Corporation, announced it has increased 100% its instituted annual dividend from $0.02 to $0.04 per common share. This increases the monthly dividend to one-third of a cent per common share for October 2019 payable on November 25, 2019 to shareholders of record as of November 12, 2019 (Arista mine, Oaxaca).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Golden Minerals Co. informed it is working on a new PEA on its Velardeña properties in Durango, to reflect better metal prices and new metallurgical processes. At Rodeo, also in Durango, Golden plans to initiate a small drilling program to provide better definition on its 46 K Oz Au resource. At Yoquivo, in Chihuahua, Golden has the permits to initiate a drill program to test several epithermal veins early in 2020.
  • Minera Peñoles informed that is to start operations at its Capela mine in Guerrero. The Capela mine is a US$340 M investment that is to generate 1,000 direct jobs and at least 1,400 indirect ones. Mining generates more than 10 thousand direct jobs and 50 thousand indirect jobs, making it the second most relevant economic activity in the state.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., reported infill drill results from 10 underground holes collared on the Veta Colorada vein at its Parral project in Chihuahua. Every hole intersected strong Ag mineralization below the lowest mine level. Recent drilling highlights include 308 g/t Ag over 11.6 m true width n hole VCU-16. “Several drill holes intersected two mineralized zones, the Veta Colorada and the HW Veta Colorada in the hanging wall, with a total true width of mineralization up to 16.5 m in hole VCU-17, with 226 g/t Ag over 7.6m true width, including 593 g/t Ag over 0.5m true width, and 254 g/t Ag over 8.9m true width, including 1,355 g/t Ag over 0.5m true width”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Alien Metals Ltd., appointed Novum Securities Ltd as its joint corporate broker with immediate effect (San Celso project, Zacatecas).
  • Defiance Silver Corp., appointed a couple of OreQuest consultants as technical advisors to execute the ongoing exploration program at its san Acacio project in Zacatecas.
  • Impact Silver Corp., granted stock options to directors, officers, and employees for the purchase of 2M shares in its capital at the above market price of $0.36 per share (Zacualpan mining district, State of Mexico).
  • Oroco Resources Corp., announced that its special general meeting for shareholders will be held on December 19, 2019 to consider and vote on a resolution to approve the Company’s option to acquire Altamura Copper Corp.(Santo Tomas project, Sinaloa).
  • Vangold Mining Gold, informed about changes on its Board of Directors and expanded the role in the company of its CFO to become in its corporate secretary (El Pinguico mine, Guanajuato).
  • Tamino Minerals, has been invited to list on the Mexican Stock Exchange. If Tamino can achieve the listing, it may have a solution to combat its shortage of investment capital and advance their exploration projects (El Volcan, Sonora).
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc, responded a recent letter to its shareholders and stakeholders to confirm its long-term strategy to develop a sustainable, multi-asset, mining business by executing operationally to generate strong free cash flow from its Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero, de-risking and bringing Media Luna project, Guerrero into production, and delivering the full potential of its innovative Muckahi Mining System to the benefit of all Torex shareholders.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., continued advancing its discussions with China-based engineering, procurement and construction companies regarding plans to develop and finance a proposed heap leach pilot operation for its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora.
  • Magellan Gold Corp., entered into an option agreement with Golden Minerals Company to acquire 100% interest in the Santa Maria project in Chihuahua by making a cash payment of USD $1M to Golden at closing, and pay Golden a 6.5% NSR based royalty from all production until a total of USD $3M has been paid under the royalty agreement, the royalty is then reduced to a 3.0% NSR based royalty for the balance of the property life.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., appointed a new director to its Board (Veta Grande, Zacatecas).
  • Ternium, received from PROFEPA, a certification as a clean industry for the 6th consecutive year, established by the Mexican Standard, NMX-AA-162-SCFI 2012, Regulation of the General Law of Ecological Balance and the Protection of the Environment in matters of Self-Regulation and Environmental Audits. The certification was granted to the Alzada pelletizing plant and Tecomán station, both located in Colima.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • In Aconchi, Sonora, the Orquesta La Caridad from Grupo Mexico offered a concert to 250 attendees by 110 children and young people from Nacozari, the first on its Rio Sonora tour.
  • Doctor Vagón, the Health Train of Fundación Grupo México, arrived in San Pedro, Coahuila from October 23 to 26 to give medical attention to the residents of the municipality. The Health Train will offer general consultations, dermatology, pediatrics, dentistry, chiropractic and physical rehabilitation, Comprehensive service for women (mastography, colposcopy), comprehensive diabetic patient clinic, comprehensive service for women, nutrition, psychology, optometry, family planning, geriatrics, audiometry, laboratory tests and cabinet studies, all for free.

 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, barite crystals in a rhyolite tuff from a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

Afianza México primer lugar en plata

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

http://www.reforma.com/aplicacioneslibre/articulo/default.aspx?id=1016421&md5=7e4ac01f9e0f4803b5ac299fa485ead3&ta=0dfdbac11765226904c16cb9ad1b2efe&po=4

En 2015 y por sexto año consecutivo, México se colocó como el líder en la producción mundial de plata, seguido por China y Perú, de acuerdo con la Cámara Minera de México (Camimex).

Según su Informe Anual 2016 y con base en la información de Inegi, en 2015 la producción minera de plata en México ascendió a 191.5 millones de onzas, 3.3 por ciento más que la correspondiente a 2014, cuando llegó a 185.1 millones de onzas.

Highlights on the First Week of December, 2016. Mineral Exploration in Mexico

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

During the first week of December at least twenty press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, including two third quarter reports. ON MEXICO ISSUES, China is already the third biggest foreign player in Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, a PFS was completed on a property in Durango, while in Chihuahua a drilling campaign continues and another one is on the planning stage. In Sonora results from a drilling campaign on a gold property were released, as were surface rock chip results from one Li property. In Hidalgo a property was staked, showing interesting initial rock chip sample results, whereas in San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas assay results were released for a Li property.  ON MINING, construction of a heap leach processing plant has begun in a project in Sonora, while in Sinaloa the high grade output was increased in one property, and development work continues in another one. In Queretaro a flotation mill continues with production tests. ON FINANCING, A C$10 M bought deal financing was completed by a company. ON RESOURCES, a technical report with a maiden resource was filed at SEDAR, and a PFS was completed on another, both from properties in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, the saga for the control of a property in Sinaloa continues, a property was optioned and one more sold, both in Sonora. A company is applying to be listed in USA and a second payment has been made on the option to earn interest on a tailings property in Durango.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mexico sets its eyes in China for investment in mineral resources. China is already the third most active foreign player in the Mexican mining sector, according to Mario Cantu, General Coordinator of Mining at the Ministry of Economy. The Ministry of Economy is currently setting up a taskforce in a bid to streamline the process of permit approvals that clarify the requirements for purchasing and renting mining concessions.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Telson Resources Inc. announced the completion of a pre-feasibility study (PFS) on its Tahuehueto property in Durango. The report states a proven mineral reserve of 3.3 M tonnes @ 3.4 g/t Au, 41 g/t Ag, 0.31% Cu, 1.1% Pb and 2.0% Zn, to be mined mainly by underground cut and fill method at a 790 tpd rate, with a mine life of 21 years. The reserves contain 356 K Oz Au, 4.38 M Oz Ag, 25 M Lbs Cu, 85.7 M Lbs Pb, and 161.3 M Lbs Zn.
  • Levon Resources Ltd. intends to proceed next year with a drilling program on its Cordero project in Chihuahua, once the silver price moves up in a “sustained and positive way.” The program will target the center of the pit resource, in a claim acquired after the resource was delineated.
  • Alix Resources Corp. reported more lithium-rich clay layers identified at its Electra project in Sonora. Assays from 31 samples returned 10 samples over 1,000 ppm Li. Clay layers are traced for approximately 4.5 km, over a surface up to 800 m in width.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. continues the drilling campaign on its La Cigarra project, in Chihuahua. Samples from six more holes have been sent for assaying, and drilling is now continuing on the La Soledad structure, where a breccia zone can attain eight meters in width.
  • Prospero Silver Corp. staked a 4,690 ha mining concession in a high level epithermal vein system 85 km NW from Pachuca, in Hidalgo. The La Florida vein system is over 3.5 km long, with eight out of 22 samples returning 0.1 – 0.5 g/t Au and 1.4 – 11.1 g/t Ag, up to 525 ppm As, up to 6 ppm Hg and up to 6,860 ppm Sb. An additional structure, at least one kilometer long, returned on the only two samples 0.6, 0.61 g/t Au; 2, 2, g/t Ag; 1,595, 1,945 ppm As; and 1.7, 2.1 ppm Hg.
  • Alset Energy Corp. released assay results for 30 samples collected by the previous owner of the company, for three of the salars: La Salada, Santa Clara and Caligüey. The results run from 340 to 1,680 ppm Li, a bit lower than the previous assay results of 411 to 2,590 ppm Li. Potassium values range from 1.57% to 4.78%. Studies on x-ray diffraction show none to very small amounts of smectite, which points to Li not being inside the clay structure and an easier extraction.
  • Millrock Resources Inc. completed a ten hole 1,990 m drilling program at Los Chinos project in Sonora. The property is under a JV with Centerra, where the company can earn a 70% interest by funding US$5 M. Three target areas were tested; El Camino, La Tinaja and Pitalla zones. The best intersections were 4 m @ 0.69 g/t Au and 6.3 m @ 0.18 g/t Au.

ON MINING

  • Corex Gold Corp. has begun construction of its heap-leach Santana project in Sonora. The initial step involves forming two heaps, one with jaw-crushed material and the other with fine crushed, to test metallurgical recoveries.
  • Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. crushed 127.5 K tonnes of ore @ 5.26 g/t Au during November at its La Trinidad mine in Sinaloa. During the same period 21,567 Oz Au were stacked on the heaps, and 279 Oz Au recovered daily. Cash cost is estimated to be below $400 per gold ounce for the month.
  • United States Antimony Corp. continues production testing with an alkaline leach plant in Guanajuato, to process material from its Los Juarez mine in Queretaro. The two options under consideration are to use the flotation mill and the alkaline leach circuit, or to use the flotation mill, alkaline leach circuit, and the cyanide leach plant for the mill tailings. To date tests have shown recoveries of 50%, 70% and 70% for Au, Ag and Sb respectively under the first option, and 90%, 90% and 70% for Au, Ag and Sb respectively under the second option.
  • Americas Silver Corp. continues with the primary ramp development at its San Rafael project in Sinaloa, which is expected to reach commercial production in Q3 2017. The ramp is now 25 % complete, the electrical substation has been energized and water storage facilities have been constructed.
  • DynaResource Inc. processed 5,075 tons of feed material @ 11.38 g/t Au grade at its pilot mill in its San Jose de Gracia property in Sinaloa. The pilot mill facility averaged 182 tpd output.

ON FINANCING

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. completed a CA$10 M bought deal financing (Las Chispas, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES

  • Orex Minerals Inc. filed on SEDAR a technical report for the first inferred resource estimate of the Sandra Escobar project in Durango. Utilizing 59 drill holes and a 45 g/t Ag cut-off base case, the inferred resource estimate yielded 9.8 M tonnes @ 106 g/t Ag, for a total of 33.3 M Oz Ag.
  • Telson Resources Inc. announced the completion of a pre-feasibility study (PFS) on its Tahuehueto property in Durango. The reserves contain 356 K Oz Au, 4.38 M Oz Ag, 25 M Lbs Cu, 85.7 M Lbs Pb, and 161.3 M Lbs Zn. The total resource (inclusive of mineral reserves) includes 6.1 M tonnes @ 2.1 g/t Au, 48 g/t Ag, 0.375 Cu, 1.36% Pb, 2.25% Zn on the measured and indicated categories, and 3.5 M tonnes @ 1.5 g/t Au, 41.6 g/t Ag, 0.32% Cu, 1.33% Pb, 2.21% Zn on the inferred category, for total contained metal amounts of 634 K Oz Au, 12.6 M Oz Ag, 61.8 M Lb Cu, 265.3 M Lb Pb and 483.9 M Lb Zn.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Dyna Resource de Mexico S.A. de C.V. has seized assets of Goldgroup Resources Inc. as part of a US$48 M damages award. A lien was approved upon stock certificates in the name of Goldgroup Resources Inc.
  • Riverside Resources Inc. signed an option agreement with Silver Viper Minerals Corp. on its Clemente project in Sonora. Silver Viper can earn a 100% on the project by staged payments on five years to sum $750 K, delivering 2 M shares and investing $4 M during the life of the option, Riverside will retain a 2% NSR, same that can be bought for $4 M.
  • Americas Silver Corp. has initiated the process to become listed on the NYSE MKT, and is to undergo a voting for a needed share consolidation in the procedure.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. has entered into an agreement with a private Mexican company based in Hermosillo (the “Hermosillo Group”) to sell 100% of its interest in the San Felipe project in Sonora. The deal involves a cash consideration of US$15 M, in three installments, with the final one on February 15, 2017.
  • MX Gold Corp. has paid the second installment of $750 K in its agreement to gain 50% interest on the Magistral del Oro tailings project in Durango. Two more $750 K payments are to be made before January 19, 2017, to earn that 50% interest. The tailings have an historical (non 43-101 compliant) estimate of 1.25 M tonnes @ 2.06 g/t Au.

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, flow banding on a rhyodacitic dome, Zacatecas Altiplano. The flow bands are a few millimeters thick.

062-copia

Mexico Heads East for Mining Investment

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

http://www.mineriamexico.com/mexico-heads-east-for-mining-investment/

Despite the vast unexplored potential of Mexico’s metal and mineral deposits, foreign investment in the sector has long been dominated by two countries. Of the 267 foreign mining enterprises registered on the Mexican Geological Survey (SGM), 173 are from Canada and 44 are from the US. While bilateral relations with the former go from strength to strength, the isolationist rhetoric coming from the latter’s President Elect is tempting Mexican policy-makers to look elsewhere in the search for foreign investment. And it seems they have identified China as their number one target.

“We are putting massive efforts into diversifying our sources of foreign investment, and China represents a huge window of opportunity for us,” Mario Alfonso Cantú, General Coordinator of Mining at the Ministry of Economy, told Mexico Mining Review in June 2016. “We have already visited the country on numerous occasions to hold talks with two multi billion-dollar private equity funds that see Mexico as a bright star in their Latin America portfolio.”

México, principal productor de plata en el mundo: Camimex

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

http://www.oem.com.mx/abcradio/notas/n4284543.htm

Durante 2015 la producción minera de plata en México ascendió a 191.5 millones de onzas, es decir, 3.3 por ciento más que la correspondiente a 2014, y por sexto año consecutivo nuestra nación fue el principal productor de este metal precioso en el mundo, seguido por China y Perú.

Lo anterior es según datos revelados por la Cámara Minera de México (Camimex), la cual destacó que “por empresa, Fresnillo plc es el productor nacional más importante y también de plata primaria a nivel mundial; le sigue Goldcorp y Pan American Silver. Estas tres empresas aportaron el 42.6 por ciento de la producción total nacional”.

Invertirán 854 MDD En Proyectos Para Extraer Plata

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

http://www.milenio.com/negocios/extraccion-plata-inversion-mdd_0_797320270.html

Ciudad de México – Pese al descenso en la exploración para el desarrollo de minas de plata provocado por los bajos precios del metal, la inversión prevista para este y el próximo año en nuevos proyectos es superior a 854 millones de dólares, anticipó la Cámara Minera de México (Camimex).

En 2015 la fortaleza del dólar fue la principal influencia en el precio de la plata, con un precio promedio de 15.7 dólares la onza; sin embargo, el alza en las tasas de interés anunciada por la Reserva Federal de Estados Unidos provocó que de un nivel máximo en enero de 18.2 dólares por onza, en diciembre se ubicara en un mínimo de 13.7 dólares.

Por sexto año consecutivo México se colocó en 2015 como el principal productor de plata en el mundo, seguido de China y Perú, con una extracción de 191.5 millones de onzas, 3.3 por ciento más que en 2014.

Mineras foráneas ven de nuevo hacia México

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

http://eleconomista.com.mx/industrias/2016/08/19/mineras-foraneas-ven-nuevo-hacia-mexico

México captó 491 millones de dólares de Inversión Extranjera Directa (IED) en el sector de la minería durante el primer semestre del 2016, reflejo de la reactivación del interés de empresas extranjeras, luego de que registrara salidas por 21 millones de dólares en todo el 2015, informó la Secretaría de Economía.