Iron

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fifth Week of June, 2023

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Quartz-Sericte-Pyrite (Phyllic alteration)

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 26th week of the year (June 26th to July 2nd, 2023), at least 33 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 2 news published by the media with eleven disclosing deals and corporate issues, eleven announcing financing issues, five reporting resources and developments of their properties, four informing on exploration results, two commenting on Mexican issues, and one communicating production and financial results. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Silver Bull commenced international arbitration proceedings against the United Mexican States for the Mexico’s unlawful expropriation and other unlawful treatment of Silver Bull and its investments. Violent mining takeover in Coahuila; point to followers of Senator Napoleón Gómez Urrutia. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Prismo released trenching sampling results from its Los Pavitos project, and Colibri outlined mineralized structures on the Banco de Oro and Bonancita target areas at its the Plomo project. In Chihuahua, Reyna Silver commenced a drilling program at its Batopilas project. In Sinaloa, Prismo commented that it is currently drilling at its Palos Verdes project. In Durango, Orex secured surface access and core storage facilities for exploration on its Sandra Silver-Gold project. ON MINING, Gatos Silver reported Q1, 2023 financial results for its Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua where it owns a 70% interest.  ON FINANCING, Golden Minerals entered into a definitive agreement for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 1,427,587 shares of commons stock at a price of USD $1.45 per unit (USD $2.1M) in a registered direct offering, which was closed later on obtaining the previously announced gross proceeds of USD $2.1M from the direct offering (Rodeo mine, Durango). Avino renewed a new short form base shelf prospectus and a prospectus supplement in Canada, to distribute common shares from time to time pursuant to a sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, Roth Capital Partners, LLC, and A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, in the United States up to the aggregate sales amount of USD $25M (Avino mine, Durango). Endeavour entered into a sales agreement with some Agents to raise up to USD $60M (Terronera project, Jalisco). Advance Lithium announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $1M (Sarape project, Sonora). Aloro stated that due to market conditions it will not be proceeding with the previously announced private placement dated on March 03, 2023 (Quitovac project, Sonora). Heliostar announced a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $5M; the same that later on was increased to up to $7M (Ana Paula project, Guerrero). Luca Mining closed the third and final tranche of its previously announced private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $24,896,551   (Tahuehueto project, Durango). Benjamin Hill announced that its previously announced non-brokered private placement has been extended to allow the Company and its investors time to complete and deliver subscription agreements (Sonora Gold project, Sonora). Colibri declared that it intends to conduct a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to USD $1M (Evelyn project, Sonora).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Southern Silver reported that metallurgical scoping tests confirm the technical feasibility of recovering both free cyanide-leachable gold and refractory gold from pyritic material (Cerro Las Minitas project, Durango). Minaurum extended the Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) for the development of its Alamos Silver project in Sonora. Guanajuato Silver provided an updated PEA for its El Cubo Mine Complex in Guanajuato. Luca Mining hit 500 tonnes per day milestone at its Tahuehueto project in Durango. GoGold filed a National Instrument 43-101 PEA technical report for its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Bear Creek granted incentive stock option to its recently promoted President and CEO (Mercedes Mine, Sonora). Mag Silver, Almaden, Sierra Metals, Goldgroup, Aztec Minerals, and Guanajuato Silver reported results from their annual general and special meeting of shareholders. Goldgroup issued a press release to clarify and retract certain disclosures with respect to the Company’s Cerro Prieto and San Jose de Gracia projects in Sonora and Sinaloa respectively. Canasil announced that the British Columbia Securities Commission revoked the temporary management cease trade order issued against certain insiders of the company (Nora project, Durango). Gatos Silver provided bi-weekly status report in accordance with National Policy 12-203- Management Cease Trade Order (Cerro Los Gatos Mine, Chihuahua). Tarachi has decided to discontinue the option agreement with Exploradora Cobre de Bacanora for the properties located in Sonora (Magistral Mill & Tailings project, Durango).. (ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Industrias Peñoles and Fresnillo plc, Mexican mining companies of Grupo BAL, in favor of reforestation.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Silver Bull Resources Inc., commenced international arbitration proceedings against the United Mexican States under the Agreement between the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada, and the North American Free Trade Agreement, for the Mexico’s unlawful expropriation and other unlawful treatment of Silver Bull and its investments resulting from the illegal blockade of Silver Bull’s Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila.
  • Violent mining takeover in Coahuila; point to followers of Senator Napoleón Gómez Urrutia. With short weapons, machetes and bats, people identified as related to the Morenista senator Napoleón Gómez Urrutia seized the town of Hércules, in Coahuila, a place of little more than 8 thousand inhabitants that was generated around the operations of extraction of iron from Minera Del Norte, a subsidiary of Altos Hornos de México (AHMSA). In a statement, the Mining Union indicated that the conflict occurred after a group majority of workers from Minera Del Norte and AHMSA decided to abandon the organization headed by Gómez Urrutia to join the National Democratic Union of Miners, and he has responded the same as he did in Zacatecas, Guerrero, Sonora and other areas, generating violence and stopping the activities of the mining companies. Minera Del Norte is the main iron extraction company in the region; all the material extracted by the workers is sent to Monclova through a 300 kilometer railway, for use as an input in the AHMSA smelting furnaces.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Prismo Metals Inc., released trenching sampling results from its Los Pavitos project in Sonora. Highlights assays include ZA2 (Auras Zone)  with 2.2 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag over 19m long, including 10.3g/t Au and 104 g/t Ag over 4m long; ZSC9 (Santa Cruz Zone) with 0.5 g/t Au over 8m long; and ZSC10 with 2.3 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag over 7.8m long. The company intends to explore these mineralized zones by drilling, planned to commence shortly.
  • Colibri Resource Corporation outlined mineralized structures on the Banco de Oro and Bonancita target areas at its the Plomo project in Sonora. At the Banco de Oro target, the mineralization consists of brecciated quartz veins hosted in foliated sericitized and pyrite bearing rhyolites. Recent geological mapping and sampling has covered an area of approximately 41 hectares, extending approximately 500m north of the historic Banco de Oro mine. Gold values were detected in 46 of the 64 analyzed samples, of which 14 samples returned >0.1 g/t Au, with a high grade of 1.45 g/t Au. At the Bonancita target, mineralization consists of four prospects, all of which contain historical assays from outcrop samples returning > 1 g/t Au. Three of the prospects, Bonancita, Bonancita NWI and Bonancita NWII form a NW trend approximately 2 km in length which is coincident with both a strong topographic lineament and with a strong, NW trending, regional scale magnetic gradient lineament. The recent geological mapping and sampling was conducted on the southernmost prospect, where the objective was to evaluate a NW mineralized trend defined by historical sampling including a high value of 7.62 g/t Au. The exploration program covered over 60 hectares and a total of 75 samples were collected for gold analyses, of which 15 samples returned > 0.1 g/t Au and 3 returned > 1 g/t Au with a peak value of 2.72 g/t Au. Exploration work will continue on the Plomo property to support advanced exploration and an inaugural drill program.
  • Reyna Silver Corp., commenced a 3,000m drilling program at its Batopilas project in Chihuahua, to test targets generated over the past year following recognition of the overlapping gold and silver mineralizing events.
  • Prismo Metals Inc., commented that it is currently drilling at its Palos Verdes project in Sinaloa, where six holes have been completed for a total of 928m, mainly along the northeastern extension of the vein system and certain areas in the southwestern portion where previous drilling was performed.
  • Orex Minerals Inc., secured surface access and core storage facilities for exploration on its Sandra Silver-Gold project in Durango. Sandra Silver-Gold is a 60:40 JV between Pan American Silver Corp., and Orex.

ON MINING

  • Gatos Silver Inc., reported Q1, 2023 financial results for its Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua where it owns a 70% interest. The company reported a revenue of USD $69.9M; a cost of sales of USD $26M; a cash flow from operations of USD $40M; a net income of USD $12.7M; an EBIDTA of USD $39.6M; a free cash flow of USD $28.7M; and a by-product cash cost of USD $2.66 per payable Oz Ag and a by-product all-in sustaining cost of USD $6.11 per payable Oz Ag.

ON FINANCING

  • Golden Minerals Company entered into a definitive agreement for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 1,427,587 shares of commons stock at a price of USD $1.45 per unit (USD $2.1M) in a registered direct offering. In a concurrent private placement, the Company will issue unregistered warrants to purchase up to 1,427,587 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $1.90 per share which will be exercisable six months from the date of issuance and for a period of five years following initial exercise date. The offering is expected to close on or about June 29, 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Later on, the company announced that it closed the registered direct offering obtaining the previously announced gross proceeds of USD $2.1M. Golden will use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes (Rodeo mine, Durango).
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., renewed a new short form base shelf prospectus and a prospectus supplement in Canada, to pursuant to which Avino may distribute common shares from time to time pursuant to a sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, Roth Capital Partners, LLC, and A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, as agents or as principals, for the distribution of the Offered Shares in the United States up to the aggregate sales amount of USD $25M (Avino mine, Durango).
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., entered into a sales agreement with BMO Capital Markets Corp. (the lead agent), CIBC World Markets Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC, H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, B. Riley Securities, Inc., Raymond James (USA) Ltd. and National Bank of Canada Financial, Inc., pursuant to which the Company may, at its discretion and from time-to-time during the 25 month term of the Sales Agreement, sell, through the Agents, such number of common shares of the Company as would result in aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of up to USD $60M. Gross proceeds will be used to fund the construction and development of the Company’s Terronera Mine, to advance the evaluation and development of the Pitarrilla and Parral properties, to assess potential development stage mineral properties for acquisition, to fund the potential acquisition of other development stage mineral properties, for continued exploration on the Company’s existing mineral properties and to add to the Company’s working capital. 
  • Advance Lithium Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement of units at a price of $0.04 per unit. Each Unit shall be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company and one common share purchase warrant with each warrant being exercisable to purchase one common share at a price of $0.05 per share at any time within 60 months of the date of issuance. The Financing will be for a maximum of $1M resulting in 21,250,000 units being issued. Part of the gross proceeds will be used to advance the Lithium and Sarape projects in Mexico and for general corporate purposes.
  • Aloro Mining Corp., stated that due to market conditions it will not be proceeding with the previously announced private placement dated on March 03, 2023. As announced by News Release on May 9, 2023, the Company closed a first tranche of the private placement for aggregate proceeds of $130K (Quitovac project, Sonora).
  • Heliostar Metals Ltd., announced a brokered private placement of up to 13,513,513 units of the company at a price of $0.37 per unit for gross proceeds of up to $5M, the same that later on was increased up to 14,324,324 units plus additional non-brokered private placement of 4,594,594 units for gross proceeds of up to $7M. Gross proceeds will be used to continue the exploration and development work at its Ana Paula project in Guerrero.
  • Luca Mining Corp., closed the third and final tranche of its previously announced private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $24,896,551   (Tahuehueto project, Durango).
  • Benjamin Hill Corp., announced that its previously announced non-brokered private placement Has been extended to allow the Company and its investors time to complete and deliver subscription agreements. All other terms of the Offering remain the same allowing for a maximum of 3,333,333 Units at a price of $0.12 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $400K (Sonora Gold project, Sonora).
  • Colibri Resources Corporation declared that it intends to conduct a non-brokered private placement of up to 1,000 for gross proceeds of up to USD $1M. Each Unit will consist of one (1) USD $1,000 principal amount 10% unsecured convertible debenture, and 5,416 common share purchase warrants. Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one common share of the Corporation at a price of CAD $0.12 per common share for a period of 24 months following the closing of this offering. Net proceeds will be used for working capital and exploration expenses including drilling on the Evelyn/Plomo and Diamante/El Mezquite/Jackie projects.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., reported that metallurgical scoping tests confirm the technical feasibility of recovering both free cyanide-leachable gold and refractory gold from pyritic material through a process of fine grinding and hot atmospheric pressure oxidation followed by cyanide leaching. “Both sulphide and oxide composites were tested as part of the metallurgical program. Mass balance reconciliations on the sulphide composite testwork indicate that 50% of the total gold is recoverable by hot atmospheric pressure oxidation prior to cyanide leaching at an overall 83.9% recovery. An additional 21.5% of gold is recovered into a copper concentrate at payable grades for a total of 71.5% recovery of gold”. It will de-risk and increase the value of the Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., extended the Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) for the development of its Alamos Silver project in Sonora, which includes the construction of drill pads, clean-up of preexisting roads, and the rehabilitation and reactivation of historical underground mine workings.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., provided an updated PEA for its El Cubo Mine Complex in Guanajuato. The upgraded Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for El Cubo Mine Complex and financial parameters are shown in the next tables respectively:
  • Luca Mining Corp., hit 500 tonnes per day milestone at its Tahuehueto project in Durango on schedule and budget, but the focus is on towards the ultimate goal of commercial production at 1,000 tonnes per day by year-end.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., filed a National Instrument 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) technical report for its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. The table below shows the Mineral Resource Estimate as of May 17, 2023:

Highlights of the PEA, with a base case silver price of USD $23/Oz and gold price of USD $1,800/Oz include an after-tax NPV at a discount rate of 5% of USD $413M with an after-tax IRR of 29%; a 13-year mine life producing a total of 110.3M payable Oz AgEq consisting of 68M Oz Ag, 221.7K Oz Au, 22.8M Lb Cu, 144.1M Lb Pb, and 242.2M Lb Zn; an initial capital cost of USD $221M, including USD $29M in contingency costs, over an expected 18 months build; an additional expansion capital of USD $137M, and sustain capital cost of USD $6M over the life of mine (LOM); an average LOM operating cash costs of USD $9.50 per Oz AgEq, and all in sustaining costs of USD $9.69 per Oz AgEq; and average annual production of 8.8M Oz AgEq in year one through twelve; and approximately 3/4 of LOM production is from four open pits containing oxide mineralization and approximately 1/4 is from a separate open pit which contains only sulphide mineralization.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Bear Creek Mining Corporation granted incentive stock option to its recently promoted President and CEO. The Stock Options will vest periodically in accordance with the 2022 Plan and may be exercised on or before June 26, 2033 at an exercise price of CAD $0.45 per share, being the closing price of the Company’s shares on the TSX Venture exchange on June 23, 2023. (Mercedes Mine, Sonora).
  • Mag Silver Corp., Almaden Minerals Ltd., Sierra Metals Inc., Goldgroup Mining Inc., Aztec Minerals Corp., and Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., reported results from its annual general and special meeting of shareholders (Juanicipio mine, Zacatecas).
  • Goldgroup Mining Inc., issued a press release to clarify and retract certain disclosures with respect to the Company’s Cerro Prieto and San Jose de Gracia projects in Sonora and Sinaloa respectively. “The Company would like to clarify that the mining key performance indicators in the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the period ended September 30, 2022, year ended December 31, 2022 and period ended March 31, 2023 under the heading Financial And Operational Highlights have not been reviewed by the Company’s qualified person as stated and should not be relied upon. The Company is in the process of reviewing its internal procedures regarding qualified person requirements to ensure all future required disclosure are appropriately reviewed by a qualified person. In addition, the disclosure in the 2022 Annual Information Form (AIF) has triggered the requirement to file a technical report for the projects under s.4.2 (1)(f) of NI 43-101 and the Company would like to state that information in the 2022 AIF is not supported by a compliant NI 43-101 technical report, contrary to NI 43-101, and that the information should not be relied on until it has been verified and supported by a technical report”.
  • Canasil Resources Inc., announced that the British Columbia Securities Commission revoked the temporary management cease trade order issued against certain insiders of the company on May 03, 2023 (Nora project, Durango).
  • Gatos Silver Inc., provided a bi-weekly default status report in accordance with National Policy (NP) 12-203- Management Cease Trade Order (MCTO). “Pursuant to NP 12-203, the Company must file bi-weekly status reports in the form of further news releases during the period from the Notice until the MCTO is revoked. The Company reports that since the Notice: (i) there have been no material changes regarding the information contained in the Notice that have not been disclosed in a bi-weekly default status report or in a news release referenced therein; (ii) there have been no failures by the Company in fulfilling its stated intentions with respect to satisfying the provisions of the alternative information guidelines under NP 12-203; and (iii) there has not been any specified default subsequent to the defaults announced in the Notice and the news releases dated May 13, 2022, August 5, 2022, November 11, 2022, March 30, 2023 and May 15, 2023” (Cerro Los Gatos Mine, Chihuahua).
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., after a thorough review of the mineral concessions owned by Exploradora Cobre de Bacanora S de R.L. de C.V., has decided to discontinue the option agreement for the properties located in Sonora. Tarachi is evaluating new precious metal opportunities in North America and has reduced its ongoing overhead costs to conserve its significant cash assets during this review process (Magistral Mill & Tailings project, Durango).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V., and Fresnillo plc, Mexican mining companies of Grupo BAL, in favor of reforestation. Both in the operation of their mining units and in their neighboring communities have implemented sustainability programs through which they encourage all people to join in caring for the flora. All the group’s operating units are located outside protected natural areas or areas of value for biodiversity and have reforestation programs and nurseries, where endemic species of the regions where they operate are cultivated.

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, phyllic alteration (quartz-sericite-pyrite) in a project in Jalisco, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of April 2023

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By Jorge Cirett                                             

During the 17th week of the year (April 24th to April 30th, 2023), 17 companies working in Mexico released news on their work. Five companies informed on exploration on their properties, six companies informed on Q1 2023 or full-year 2023 production/financial results. Two companies announced the closing and opening of financing rounds. A company corrected assay information on a previously issued drill intercept; one other provided an update on its intention to sue the Mexican government under a NAFTA legacy claim regarding the lack of action to terminate an illegal blockade. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Canada’s ministry of International Commerce, Mary Ng, expressed the preoccupation of foreign investors on the incoming changes to the Mining Law. The Mining Law was passed on Saturday morning by the Senate, and is set to return discretionary powers to the State on mining concessions. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Prismo Metals released assays from surface sampling at its Los Pavitos property; Regency Silver released good results from deep drilling at its Dios Padre project; Colibri Resource released results from drilling at Evelyn project. In Zacatecas, Radius Gold updated on exploration work at the Tropico property. ON MINING, Sierra Metals, Mag Silver, Santacruz Silver, Alamos Gold, Pan American Silver and Agnico Eagle released Q1 2023 production reports. ON FINANCING, Silver Viper closed a private placement for $3.3 M; Radius Gold is to raise $1.75 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Oroco Resource corrected assay results from one hole, previously issued last week, from its Santo Tomás project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Guanajuato Silver informed on managerial changes. Silver Bull is to sue the Mexican government if a deal is not reached on an incoming meeting regarding the lack of action by the government to terminate an illegal blockade on its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. Prismo Metals and Vizsla Silver formalized the joint technical committee to oversee exploration of the Panuco district in Sinaloa, with Peter Megaw, Craig Gibson and Jesus Velador as members. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The ministry of International Commerce of Canada, Mary Ng, expressed to Raquel Buenrostro, head of the Economy Secretariat (Secretaría de Economía) the preoccupation of foreign investors on the changes to the Mining Law, and the negative implications on North America supply chains.
  • The Senate Commission on Regional Development and Legislative Studies approved without changes, by the ruling party coalition senators of Morena, PT, PVEM and PES parties, the reforms to the Mining Law, National Waters Law, Ecologic Equilibrium Law, Environment Law, and the General Law for prevention and Comprehensive Treatment of Tailings in Matter of Mining and Water Concessions. Among the changes is the reduction of mining concessions validity from 100 to 80 years (under certain conditions), the instauration of an auction system by the government for mining concessions, establishing that the concession title is to be issued AFTER the environmental, labor, energy, social and any other federal permit needed have been received (Note by Editor. – Speaking of putting the cart before the horse).
  • On the changes to the Mining Law. (Note by editor) The reform to the Mining Law is directed to regain quasi absolute control of mining concessions by the government, establishing rules under which the concessions can be revoked on grounds of indigenous population, community issues, environmental issues and water scarcity, all on which the government plays the role of judge and party. This is part of a broader drive by the president to concentrate power in himself and his government coalition before the 2024 presidential elections.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Prismo Metals Inc. released assays results from 354 surface samples on its 5,289 hectare Los Pavitos project in Sonora. Results from Las Auras are up to 0.5 m @ 14.35 gpt Au, 1.0 m @ 12.25 gpt Au, while at Santa Cruz assays are up to 0.5 m @ 5.48 gpt Au, 269 gpt Ag; 1.5 m @ 1.0 gpt Au, 543 gpt Ag. “Las Auras is characterized by northwest trending veins and shears hosted in intrusions, while Santa Cruz is dominated by northeast trending veins that follow sedimentary bedding”. Drilling is expected to begin in Q2 2023.
  • Regency Silver Corp. released results from two follow-up holes from the last drilling round discovery at the Dios Padre project in Sonora. Seven holes have been completed for a total of 4,251 m, of which six have intersected the targeted “pyrite +/- specularite +/- chalcopyrite supported breccia zone that hosts Au-Cu mineralization”. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 18.15 m @ 0.24 gpt Au; 8.3 m @ 0.62 gpt Au; 19.25 m @ 0.19 gpt Au; 16.2 m @ 0.39 gpt Au; 20.65 m @ 0.51 gpt Au (including 9.2 m @ 1.06 gpt Au); 35.9 m @ 5.51 gpt Au; 128.35 m @ 0.84 gpt Au (including 21.3 m @ 0.54 gpt Au and 57.95 m @ 1.49 gpt Au), and 95.5 m @ 0.2% Cu; 34.35 m @ 0.42% Cu (including 12.05 m @ 0.98% Cu); 25.4 m @ 0.43% Cu; 23.9 m @ 0.19% Cu; and 15.1 m @ 19.2 gpt Ag. “Geophysical Induced-Polarity (IP) survey confirms robust anomaly connecting near surface response from Dios Padre silver mine down-dip to current Au-Cu mineralization being targeted in ongoing drill program, outlining a ~1000m long by ~900 m wide zone of strongly chargeable rock”.
  • Prismo Metals Inc. signed a contract for a 2,500 m drilling program at its Palos Verdes project in the Panuco District in Sinaloa. “The drill program is designed to test the 65% of the strike length of the Palos Verdes vein that has not yet been drilled. It is believed that potential for a large ore shoot is present similar to the drilling accomplished by Vizsla Silver on their adjacent land package is present on Prismo’s concession. Previous drilling has intersected high grade mineralization with the best intercept of 2,336 g/t Ag and 8.42 g/t Au over a true width estimated at 0.8 meters within a larger mineralized interval with 1,098 g/t Ag and 3.75 g/t Au over a true width of 2.3 meters”.
  • Radius Gold Inc. provided an update on the Tropico target in Zacatecas. “Radius geologists identified an elliptical zone of intensely silicified hydrothermal breccias approximately 450 m x 250 m. Several of the outcrops and float blocks are composed of chalcedonic and opaline sinter. The Tropico breccia is hosted within finely bedded siltstones and dirty limestones …”. Radius has an access agreement with the local community and land owners, has completed the geological mapping, contracted CSAMAT and IP geophysical surveys and is preparing for drilling upon receipt of the permits.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. provided assays results from 1,062 m of core drilling in three holes and 1,205 m of reverse circulation drilling in five holes at its Evelyn project in Sonora. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 34.70 m @ 0.28 gpt Au (including 5.65 m @ 1.00 gpt Au); 4.50 m @ 0.34 gpt Au, 4.05 m @ 1.52 gpt Au (including 0.75 m @ 7.54 gpt Au). Highlighted RC intervals comprise 29.00 m @ 0.47 gpt Au (including 2.00 m @ 3.35 gpt Au and 6.00 m @ 0.97 gpt Au); 15.00 m @ 0.18 gpt Au; 20.00 m @ 0.11 gpt Au; 2.00 m @ 1.85 gpt Au; 10.00 m @ 0.47 gpt Au (including 2.0 m @ 1.10 gpt Au and 2.0 m @ 1.04 gpt Au). Colibri also released results from a “short hole” drilling program designed to explore under extensive alluvial cover, completing 1,548 m in 130 vertical holes at 25 m centers. Of the 954 samples (1 m width) recovered, 20% returned greater than 0.05 gpt Au, 11% greater than 0.1 gpt Au and 4 samples returned more than 0.7 gpt Au, peaking at 3.31 gpt Au.

ON MINING

  • Sierra Metals Inc. announced first quarter 2023 production results, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Bolivar, in Chihuahua, 299 K tonnes were processed at a rate of 3,417 tonnes per day (tpd), grading 0.87% Cu, 17.4 gpt Ag, 0.45 gpt Au, recovering 94.2% Cu, 84% Ag, 69.5% Au, to produce 5.39 M Lb Cu, 140 K Oz Ag, 3,037 Oz Au (7.6 M Lb CuEq). At Cusi (a non-core asset), in Chihuahua, 59.1 K tonnes were processed at a daily rate of 676 tpd, grading 141.8 gpt Ag, 0.13 gpt Au, 0.24% Pb, recovering 86.3% Ag, 46.6% Au, 88.7% Pb, to produce 343 K Oz Ag, 119 Oz Au, 282 K Lb Pb.
  • Mag Silver Corp. reported production from the Juanicipio project (56% Fresnillo PLC– 44% Mag Silver) for Q1 2023. During the period 222 K tonnes grading 363 gpt Ag were processed to produce 2.25 M Oz Ag, 6,047 Oz Au. About 30% of that ore was processed at the Juanicipio beneficiation plant and the focus now is to attain the 4,000 tpd nameplate capacity on a sustained basis and achieve commercial production.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reported full year 2022 production, with figures on its Mexican operations. At Zimapan, in Hidalgo, 215 K tonnes were milled averaging 71 gpt Ag, 2.19% Zn, 0.63% Pb, 0.40% Cu, recovering 61.5% Ag to produce 301.2 K Oz Ag, 3,098 tonnes Cu, 1,036 tonnes Pb, 569 tonnes Cu (903.1 K Oz AgEq). The company had a consolidated production of 4.77 Moz AgEq. “Mine development was focused on opening higher grade stoping areas in Carrizal mine along with high productivity areas in Monte mine. Exploration efforts have been refocused to expand current mine resources”.
  • Alamos Gold Inc. reported its financial results for Q1 2023, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At the Mulatos district in Sonora 50,500 Oz Au were produced at cash cost $839 per Oz Au and mine-site all-in sustaining cost of $914 per Oz Au. At La Yaqui Grande mine, 1.0 M tonnes of ore were mined, 5.83 M tonnes of waste moved (waste to ore ratio of 5.64), with 1.02 M tonnes stacked averaging 1.55 gpt Au, containing 50,992 Oz Au, crushed at 11,329 tpd, with a recovery of 75% Au. At the Mulatos mine, 1.0 M tonnes of ore were mined, 0.61 M tonnes of waste moved (waste to ore ratio of 0.61), with 1.23 M tonnes stacked averaging 0.92 gpt Au, containing 36,541 Oz Au, crushed at 13,700 tpd, with a recovery of 33%. For 2023 the company expects to produce between 175-185 K Oz Au at cash cost $900 – $950 per Oz Au.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. provided its guidance for year 2023 production and costs, including figures for its Mexican operations. At La Colorada, in Zacatecas, the company expects to produce 5.5 – 5.9 M Oz Ag, 3,000 Oz Au. At Dolores, in Chihuahua, production is estimated at 2.2 – 2.5 M Oz Ag, 98,000 – 107,000 Oz Au.
  • Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. reported first quarter 2023 results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Pinos Altos, in Chihuahua, 364 K tonnes were processed at a daily rate of 4,044 tonnes, averaging 2.16 gpt Au, to produce 24,134 Oz Au at cash cost 1,364 per Oz Au and total cash cost of $1,116 per Oz Au. At La India, in Sonora, 660 K tonnes were processed at a daily rate of 7,333 tonnes, averaging 0.68 gpt Au, to produce 16,321 Oz Au at production cost of $1,231 per Oz Au and total cash costs of $1,308 per Oz Au. At San Nicolás, in Zacatecas, the 50/50 joint venture with Teck Resources Ltd. was completed, and the completion of a feasibility study is planned for 2024.

ON FINANCING

  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp. closed the final tranche of its non brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1.92 M. In total the company raised $3.3 M. Silver Viper is to pay $123.8 K in finder’s fees in connection with this offering, in addition to $40 K paid as finder’s fee on previous tranches. (La Virginia, Sonora).
  • Radius Gold Inc. is to proceed with a non-brokered private placement aiming to rise a minimum of $1.75 M (Amalia, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Oroco Resources Corp. announced a correction to the assay results from one drillhole released last week from its Santo Tomás project in Sinaloa. The corrected results from hole N044 went from 352.5 m grading 0.83% Cu, 0.011% Mo, 0.072 gpt Au, 6.26 gpt Ag (0.93% CuEq), to 352.5 m grading 0.42% Cu, 0.006% Mo, 0.036 gpt Au, 3.13 gpt Ag (0.46% CuEq), roughly half the previously reported values.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES             

  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. announced Hernan Dorado Smith will take the position of Chief Strategy Officer and Mario Valdez has been promoted to Co-Chief Operating Officer, sharing the position of COO with Ramon Davila (El Cubo, Guanajuato).
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. provided an update regarding its legacy North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) claim against Mexico. The company seeks to recover economic damages resulting from the illegal blockade of its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila since September 2019. The illegal blockade has been allowed by the government to continue, despite numerous demands and requests by the company. Silver Bull will be seeking to recover no less than US178 M in damages suffered as a result of Mexico’s breach of NAFTA obligations. A meeting with government officials is scheduled on May 30, 2023 to reach, if possible, an amicable solution. If a settlement is not reached, a request for arbitration will be filed on June 2, 2023 with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
  • Prismo Metals Inc. and Vizsla Silver Corp. formalized the establishment of a joint technical committee which will allow for the pursuit of district-scale exploration of the Panuco district in Sinaloa. The committee is to be comprised by Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO of Prismo, Jesus Velador, Vice President Exploration of Vizsla and Dr. Peter Megaw, Chief Operating Officer of Mag Silver Corp.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Sheeted quartz veining on a coarse-grained intrusive rock in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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Grossular garnet exo skarn.

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 38th week of the year (September 19th to September 25th, 2022), at least 12 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 3 news published by the media with four informing on exploration results, four reporting resources and developments of their properties, four commenting on Mexican issues, two announcing financing issues, and one discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Enrique Zorrilla, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico stated that Canada has its eyes fixed on Mexico as an investment destination for its mining companies, mainly in exploration expenses to find new gold deposits. According to a recent report by the Ministry of Finance, Mexico values ​​its lithium deposits in Sonora at USD $602,000M. In Mexico, only 33% of mines have access to a computer with an Internet connection to reduce accidents. On a striking difference with last week news releases, only Vizsla Silver Corp., posted drilling results in Mexico on the fourth week of September, 2022. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Tocvan and its JV partner Colibri announced the next steps to be conducted at both the Pilar and the El Picacho projects. In Sinaloa, Prismo provided an update of its ongoing drilling program being conducted at its Palos Verdes project. In Durango, Regency entered into an option agreement to acquire a 100% undivided interest in the El Tablon claims.  ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, Tocvan announced that it has filed to extend the expiration date of 1,244,668 common share purchase warrants by six months (The Pilar project, Sonora). Barksdale closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $2M and issued a total of 4,622,917 units at a price of $0.48 per Unit for gross proceeds of $2.22 (San Javier project, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Oroco announced the commencement of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa.  Galore provided an update on the exploitation activities carried out at its Duraznillo mine in Zacatecas. Golden Tag reported positive metallurgical results from the Fernandez Zone at its San Diego project, Durango. Vizsla reported results from 13 new drill holes targeting the Cruz Negra Vein located in the western portion of its Panuco project in Sinaloa.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, no relevant news. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Almaden signed new and expanded cooperation agreements with the two communities closest to its Ixtaca project, Puebla.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Enrique Zorrilla, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico stated that Canada has its eyes fixed on Mexico as an investment destination for its mining companies, mainly in exploration expenses to find new gold deposits. He declared that 35% of the capital invested by that country goes to the mining sector.
  • According to a recent report by the Ministry of Finance, Mexico values ​​its lithium deposits in Sonora at USD $602,000M. Although Mexico does not currently produce the metal, the finance ministry estimated that Sonora’s reserves could add about 0.3% to potential GDP in the medium term. While the ultra light white metal is usually extracted from rock or brine deposits, lithium in Sonora is mostly trapped in clays, from which it has not yet been extracted on a commercial scale.
  • In Mexico, only 33% of mines have access to a computer with an Internet connection to reduce accidents. Ericsson revealed that the use of tools such as telemetry, satellite geolocation, wireless sensors and remote operation help improve mining operations, because with them and with the speed of the 5G network, information can be obtained practically in real time.
  • On a striking difference with last week news releases, only Vizsla Silver Corp., posted drilling results in Mexico on the fourth week of September, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., and its JV partner Colibri Resources Corporation announced the next step to be conducted at both the Pilar and the El Picacho projects in Sonora. At the El Picacho, Tocvan plans to initiate a maiden drill program targeting the San Ramon prospect. The plan for the Pilar is to commence bulk sampling of trench material to be processed in a local heap leach facility; to complete 2,000m of infill drilling and 3,000m of step-out and exploration drilling; to proceed with the permitting and development requirements for establishing a bulk test mine on-site; and to update the technical report.
  • Prismo Metals Inc., provided an update of its ongoing drilling program being conducted at its Palos Verdes project, Sinaloa. The Company has drilled approximately 560m in two core holes of a planned minimum of 2,000m drill program, with the second hole currently in progress. Both holes have intersected several vein structures. Palos Verdes project is contiguous to the Panuco silver-gold project of Vizsla Silver Corp.
  • Regency Silver Corp., entered into an option agreement to acquire a 100% undivided interest in the El Tablon claims located only 26km from the historical Tayoltita mining district in the state of Durango. The property covers a total of 7,200 hectares and contains numerous artisanal workings and tunnels, which explored many of the veins and veinlets that exist within the concession area. In order to exercise the option, Regency Silver must pay USD $50K on receipt of exchange acceptance, issue a total of 1M common shares and pay back taxes and mining filings on or before March 31, 2024. Regency Silver must also pay a USD $1M bonus upon a NI 43-101 resource being published, which estimates the El Tablon Claims contain a minimum of 70M Oz AgEq or M Oz Au in the measured or indicated categories.

ON MINING

  • No relevant news.

ON FINANCING

  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., announced that it has filed to extend the expiration date of 1,244,668 common share purchase warrants by six months. The Warrants are exercisable into common shares of the Company at a price of $0.75 per common share. The Warrants were issued pursuant to a non-brokered private placement of 1,244,668 units at a price of $0.60 on March 30, 2021. The Warrants were set to expire September 30, 2022 and will have an amended expiry date of March 31, 2023. All other terms and conditions of the Warrants, including the exercise price, remain the same (The Pilar project, Sonora).
  • Barksdale Resources Corp., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $2M and issued a total of 4,622,917 units at a price of $0.48 per Unit for gross proceeds of $2,219,000. The net proceeds from the offering will be used to advance the company’s mineral projects and for general corporate and working capital purposes (San Javier project, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Oroco Resource Corp., announced the commencement of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the North and South Zones of its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Additionally, the company mobilized two rigs more to the project, bringing to six the total number of drills conducting infill and step-out drilling in the North Zone and South Zone.
  • Galore Resources Inc., provided an update on the exploitation activities carried out at its Duraznillo mine in Zacatecas. “Immediately following the execution of the Exploitation Agreement with Oztoc Metals Corporation and the successful removal of the former tenant, Oztoc’s team has been evaluating and remediating the Duraznillo mine site. After conducting several processing trials, Oztoc determined that in order to achieve better production levels, a new and much improved processing system needed to be installed. Oztoc has purchased this equipment and is awaiting its arrival to begin operations, which should take place within the next two to three months”.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd., reported positive metallurgical results from the Fernandez Zone at its San Diego project, Durango. According to the metallurgical results, the endoskarn mineralization found at the Fernandez Zone is amenable to conventional flotation techniques; 76% of the Ag and 84% of the Pb were recovered to a bulk concentrate containing 51% Pb, 4700 g/t Ag, 3.11% Zn, 5.27% Cu, and 2.23 g/t Au; Cu and Au recoveries within the bulk concentrate had significant improvements over previous test work; and 84% of the zinc was recovered to a concentrate grading 47% zinc.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., reported results from 13 new drill holes targeting the Cruz Negra Vein located in the western portion of its Panuco project in Sinaloa.  Drilling highlights include hole NP-22-274 with 413 g/t Ag, 1.99 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.3% Zn (541 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 2.09m, including 2,490 g/t Ag, 2.85 g/t Au, 0.6% Pb, and 0.9% Zn (3,287 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.26m, plus 258 g/t Ag, 1.54 g/t Au, 0.01% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (357 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.88m;  hole NP-22-262 with 289 g/t Ag, 2.38 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, and 0.7% Zn (486 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.65m, including 741 g/t Ag, 5.88 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, and 1.3% Zn (1,165 g/t AgEq) over a  TW of 0.20m, plus 168 g/t Ag, 16.42 g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, and 3.3% Zn (1,476 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.65m, including 181 g/t Ag, 19.70 g/t Au, 1.1% Pb, and 3.8% Zn (1,748 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.46m; hole NP-22-290 with 76 g/t Ag, 2.6 g/t Au, 0.6% Pb, and 6.2% Zn (491 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.85m; hole NP-22-293 with 481 g/t Ag, 1.2 g/t Au, 0.02% Pb, and 0.02% Zn (535 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.76m; and hole NP-22-298 with 297 g/t Ag, 1.78 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (456 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.60m. Vizsla also reported that it acquired a new claim that connect the northwest and southeast extents of Cruz Negra which are situated on pre-existing Vizsla claims and represent approximately 400m of new potentially mineralized vein strike to explore.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., signed new and expanded cooperation agreements with the communities of Zacatepec and Santa Maria Zotoltepec, the two communities closest to its Ixtaca project, Puebla. “These agreements set out the terms of the Company’s continued support of local communities’ human right to water through the immediate improvement of local water infrastructure, and establish a basis for longer term cooperation, once the Ixtaca project is permitted. In Zacatepec, the Company has reaffirmed its agreement with the “Irrigation Group of Small Producers from Zacatepec A.C.” to construct an agricultural water reservoir and related pumping and drip irrigation system to support local farming. In Santa María Zotoltepec, the Company has signed an agreement with the “United Ejidatarios for the Sustainable Development of Santa María Zotoltepec, A.C.” in which the Company will make an immediate contribution in order to support the construction of a similar agricultural reservoir and pumping and drip irrigation system with similar characteristics to the one built at Zacatepec, and ongoing contributions to support an agro-technological package aimed at sustainable plant nutrition and soil enrichment”.

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 grossular garnet exo skarn in a prospect in Tamaulipas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Phyllic alteration

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 18th week of the year (May 2nd to May 8th, 2022), at least 23 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 6 news published by the media, with ten reporting resources and developments of their properties, six commenting on Mexican issues, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, four informing on exploration results, three communicating production and financial results, and two discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Torex Gold announced the investment of USD $848M to develop its Media Luna project in Guerrero. Expo Minero Chihuahua 2022 closed its doors with the attendance of 15,610 people. Arcelor Mittal announced that it will invest USD $150M to boost the iron mining in Michoacán. According to Miner Deck, one company working in Mexico participated in the best eight gold intercepts of the week, and two in the best seven silver intercepts of the week. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec Minerals-Kootenay JV released results from California and Jasper targets within its Cervantes project, and Canuc provided an update on its exploration program at its San Javier project. In Chihuahua, Kootenay announced that it will commence a 15,000m drilling program at its Columba project. In Coahuila, Monumental announced the results of a geophysical survey recently completed at its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth Elements project. ON MINING, Altaley reported Q4, and full year 2021 production and financial results from its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero. Coeur Mining reported Q1, 2022 production and financial results from its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. Santacruz reported Q4 and full year 2021 consolidated production and financial results from their Mexican operation mines. ON FINANCING, no relevant news.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Capitan Mining released results from 5 RC holes collared at its Jesus Maria Silver Zone at the Cruz de Plata project (former Peñoles project) in Durango. Zacatecas Silver received permits for 30 drill pads at El Cristo Vein System within its Zacatecas property. Sonoro Gold filed an Environmental Impact Statement or Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental (MIA) for its Cerro Caliche property in Sonora.  Orex-Pan American Silver JV received a permit to drill 2,500-3,000m at its Sandra project in Durango. Southern Silver reported drilling results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Silver Dollar released the remaining assay results from the phase 1 drilling program completed at its la Joya project in Durango. Sierra Madre reported results of the last four holes collared at its Tepic project in Nayarit. Golden Tag announced results from 2 holes drilled at its San Diego project in Durango. Guanajuato Silver reported drill results from its ongoing exploration programs at its El Cubo mine and El Pinguico projects in Guanajuato. Prime Mining announced new results from 17 holes drilled at Zapote North and Mariposa areas within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Golden Minerals announced the appointment of its COO (Rodeo project, Durango). Vizsla announced the appointments of its COO and VP of Exploration (Panuco project, Sinaloa). Orogen and the Riverside-BHP JV signed an option agreement for the Llano de Nogal project in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Esperanza Silver de México obtained the support of the Tetlama community in Morelos for the Esperanza project. Alamos Gold has generated 2,200 new jobs in the last two years for the construction of its La Yaqui Grande mine in Sonora.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., announced the investment of USD $848M to develop its Media Luna project in Guerrero to bring it into commercial production by the end of 2024. The initial capital investment in the Media Luna Project includes USD $85M of underground mine development during the pre-commercial mining period, between Q4, 2023 and Q4, 2024. The initial capital required to develop the Media Luna Project excludes USD $124M of direct project expenses incurred before April 1, 2022, of which USD $37M are related to the Guajes Tunnel and USD $28M to the development of the Upper and Lower South Portal. Of the direct expenses of the project, the largest capital expenditures are related to the development of the underground mine (USD $173M), access to the deposit through the Guajes Tunnel (USD $76M), as well as the Upper and Lower South Portal (USD $40M), improvements to the process plant (USD $98M) and tailings/paste plant (USD $78M). Of indirect expenses, the largest components are contingency costs (USD $100M).
  • Expo Minero Chihuahua 2022 closed its doors with the attendance of 15,610 people. For four days, from April 28 to May 1, the attendees learned about the importance of the mining industry in the development of Mexico and its usefulness in everyday life.
  • Arcelor Mittal Mexico announced that it will invest USD $150M to boost the iron mining in Michoacán. The company also stated that it will increase the domestic rolled steel production from 2.5M to 5.3M tonnes.
  • According to Miner Deck, one company working in Mexico was in the best eight drill intercepts of the week.  Aztec Minerals-Kootenay JV was eight with 136.8m @ 1.486 g/t Au at Cervantes project in Sonora.
  • According to Miner Deck, two of the best silver drill intercepts of the week were drilled by companies working in Mexico. Golden Tag was first with 395m @ 35 g/t Ag at San Diego project in Durango, and Capitan Mining was seventh with 16.8m @ 291 g/t Ag at Cruz de Plata project in Durango.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp – Kootenay Silver Inc. JV released results from the California and Jasper targets within its Cervantes project in Sonora. Drilling highlights include hole JAS22-001 with 0.33 g/t Au over 9.1m, with 150m visible Cu oxides and secondary sulphides in mineralized quartz feldspar porphyry intrusive, sediments and hydrothermal breccia; hole CAL22-017 with 0.31 g/t Au over 24.3m, and 1.65 g/t Au over 6.1m in mineralized quartz feldspar porphyry intrusive, sediments and hydrothermal breccia; hole CAL22-016 with 0.47 g/t Au over 56.2m, and 0.35 g/t Au over 13.7m in mineralized porphyries and hydrothermal breccia; and hole CAL22-015 with 0.42 g/t Au over 68.4m, and 2.25 g/t Au over 10.6m in mineralized porphyries and hydrothermal breccia. These drill results extended the known mineralized zone at depth and over 350m to the north onto the California North target and also to the south on the eastern end of the California zone. The company reported that the phase 2 RC drilling program at the Cervantes property is completed and consisted of 26 holes totalling 4,649m.
  • Canuc Resources Corporation provided an update on its exploration program at its San Javier project in Sonora. On the Silver Mountain Zone, the 63-sample grid covered the central part of a NE-SW trending magnetic high in the north part of the San Javier project area. Within the soil grid, samples ranging from 5,123 to 36,671 ppb Ag (5 to 36 g/t) define a 50 to 100 m wide trend that extends for approximately 300 m across the grid. Only 7 of the 63 samples collected contained less that 1 g/t Ag and. The Ag anomaly is accompanied by a modest Au anomaly having values ranging from 38.6 to 87.5 ppb within a relatively high 2.0 to 32.5 background. Only 9 samples contained less than 5.0 ppb Au. On the Gold Zone, the company excavated 3,295m of trenches ranging from 65m to 638m in width. From these trenches, 1,829 channel samples have been collected and additional 46 samples have been collected from various locations within the trend. Results have been reported only on the first 3 trenches which returned elevated gold and copper values. Sampling results are still pending for the rest of the trenches. On the Copper-Gold Stockwork Zone, a total of 22 samples were collected from 3 locations on the north flank of a donut shaped magnetic high in the north–central part of the property. Average grade of the sampling is 0.38% Cu, 0.29 g/t Au, and 3.9 g/t Ag. Canuc plans to cover with soil samples the southwest extension of the strong Ag anomaly referred as Silver Anomaly target; to carry out a detailed mapping on at least 40 know mineralized zones within the property, as well as along the 11 trenches excavated across the Gold Zone, and in the area of the Stockwork Copper-Gold Zone, to provide necessary information in advance of drilling.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., announced that it will commence a 15,000m drilling program at its Columba project in Chihuahua. Initial focus of this program will be on deeper drill testing on the F Vein and expanding on the D and B Vein intercepts, as well as explore the JZ Zone located 700 meters east of the F Vein; and the East Block located 200 meters east form the JZ Zone.
  • Monumental Minerals Corp., announced the results of a heli-borne magnetic, radiometric, and very-low frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) geophysical survey recently completed at its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE) project in Coahuila. The geophysical survey confirmed that a significantly larger area of the property is prospective for HREE (from approximately 1 km to 10 km of prospective strike length), and defined two parallel 8 km arcuate anomalies that occur along the south and west margin of the Sierra La Vasca intrusion complex. The company announced that the next step is to carry out a rapid evaluation and prioritization of targets for diamond drill testing.

ON MINING

  • Altaley Mining Corporation reported Q4, and full year 2021 production and financial results from its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero. In Q4, 2021 the company processed 183,091 tonnes to produce 12,209 tonnes of Zn concentrate grading 46% Zn with metallurgical recovery of 71%, and 2,691 tonnes of Pb concentrate grading 22% Pb with metallurgical recovery of 30% respectively, at cash and all in sustaining cost (AISC) of USD $0.74 and USD $0.95 per Lb Zn respectively. Altaley reported gross revenues of CAD $29.7M, mine operating profit of CAD $10.1M, income for the period of CAD $20.6M, and cash of CAD $3.04M. In the full year 2021, the company processed 689,963 tonnes to produce 45,778 tonnes of Zn concentrate grading 46% Zn, 2.12 g/t Au, and 658 g/t Ag, with metallurgical recovery of 71% for Zn, and 9,936 tonnes of Pb concentrate grading 22%, 1.65% Cu, 6.08 g/t Au, and 776 g/t Ag, with metallurgical recovery of 29% for Pb, at cash and AISC of USD $0.60 and USD $0.83 per Lb Pb respectively. Altaley reported gross revenues of CAD $98.4M, mine operating profit of CAD $34.25M, income for the period of CAD $36.26M, and cash of CAD $3.04M.
  • Coeur Mining Inc., reported Q1, 2022 production and financial results from its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. The company milled 565,211 tonnes of 1.74 g/t Au and 120 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 90.6% and 83% respectively to produce 28.9K Oz Au and 1.8M Oz Ag. It sold 28.2K Oz Au and 1.79M Oz Ag during the Q1, 2022 period. Coeur reported metal sales of USD $83.1M; cost applicable to sales of USD $730 and USD $12.43 per Oz Au and Oz Ag respectively; cash flow from operating activities of USD $34.3M; sustaining capital expenditures of USD $13.6M; and free cash flow of USD $20.7M. The company announced that the full year 2022 production is expected to be 100K-110K Oz Au and 6M-7M Oz Ag, and the cost applicable to sales is expected to be USD $750-850 per Oz Au and USD $13.50-14.50 per Oz Ag.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported Q4 and full year 2021 consolidated production and financial results from their Mexican operation mines (Zimapan, Hidalgo and Rosario San Luis Potosi). In Q4,2021, the company milled 192,901 tonnes to produce 318.4K Oz Ag, 2.27M Lb Pb, 7.7M Lb Zn, and 1.1M Lb Cu (or 842K Oz AgEq with an average grade of 184 g/t AgEq). Santacruz reported for this period revenues of USD $13.8M, gross profit of USD $621K, a net loss of USD $10.45M and an adjusted EBIDTA loss of USD $4,47M. In the full year 2021, it milled 730,412 tonnes to produce 1.29M Oz Ag, 132Oz Au, 8.4M Lb Pb, 28M Lb Zn, and 4.07M Lb Cu (or 3.2M Oz Ag with an average grade of 185 g/t AgEq). The company reported for the full year 2021 revenues of USD $53.3M, gross profit of USD $10.3M, a net loss of USD $11.56M, and an adjusted EBIDTA loss of USD $713K.

ON FINANCING

  • No relevant news.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Capitan Mining Inc., released results from 5 RC holes collared at its Jesus Maria Silver Zone at the Cruz de Plata project (former Peñoles project) in Durango. Drilling highlights include hole 21-JMRC-10 (at the Upper Zone) with 291 g/t Ag, 0.15 g/t Au, 0.08% Pb, and 0.08% Zn (332 g/t AgEq) over 16.8m, including 478 g/t Ag, 0.56 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (539 g/t AgEq) over 9.1m, including 2,217 g/t Ag, 1.77 g/t Au, 1.1% Pb, and 0.4% Zn (2,406 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m; plus (at the Lower Zone) 71 g/t Ag, 0.4 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, and 1.6% Zn (186 g/t AgEq) over 13.7m, including 114 g/t Ag, 0.67 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, and 2.7% Zn (309 g/t AgEq) over 7.6m; hole 21-JMRC-06 (at the Upper Zone) with 100 g/t Ag, 0.12 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.8% Zn (146 g/t AgEq) over 13.7m, including 152 g/t Ag, 0.17 g/t Au, 0.5% Pb, and 2.4% Zn (271 g/t AgEq) over 3m, including 154 g/t Ag, 0.17 g/t Au, 0.6% Pb, and 3.6% Zn (319 g/t AgEq), plus (at the Lower Zone) with 145 g/t Ag, 0.14 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn (189 g/t AgEq) over 4.6m, including 380 g/t Ag, 0.28 g/t Au, 0.5% Pb, and 0.8% Zn (448 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m; and hole 21-JMRC-08 with 44 g/t Ag, 0.36 g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, and 1.3% Zn (149 g/t AgEq) over 7.6m, including 62 g/t Ag, 0.48 g/t Au, 1.4% Pb, and 2.1% Zn (218 g/t AgEq) over 4.6m, and including 92 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 2.9% Pb, and 4.5% Zn (350 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., received permits for 30 drill pads at El Cristo Vein System within its Zacatecas property to drill test multiple veins within a zone of dilation that is almost 4 km long and up to 600m wide.  The cumulative strike length of all veins at El Cristo is at least 12km long. A total of 2,500m of diamond drilling has been designed in this initial phase of drilling at El Cristo Vein System.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp., filed an Environmental Impact Statement or Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental (MIA) for its Cerro Caliche property in Sonora. “Under Mexican law, mining construction and operation activities require an approved MIA, as well as a Change of Land Use permit, or Autorización en Cambio de Uso de Suelo (“ETJ”), from the Mexican federal permitting authority, Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (“SEMARNAT”). The company is currently completing the required documentation for the Change of Land Use application and anticipates filing with SEMARNAT in the near future.
  • Orex Minerals Inc. – Pan American Silver Corp JV received a permit to drill its Sandra project in Durango. Phase-I of this new drilling program will consist of approximately 2,500 to 3,000m. Orex conducted a geological mapping and litho geochemical sampling program over the combined 6,970 hectares of the project, where multiple drill target areas have been identified.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., reported drilling results from the North Felsite and El Sol targets on its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Drilling highlights include hole 21CLM-185 with 185 g/t Ag, 0.6 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 3.1% Pb, and 0.6% Zn (358 g/t AgEq or 9.1% ZnEq) over a true width (TW) of 0.7m at the North Felsite HW zone, plus 101 g/t Ag, 0.3 g/t Au, 0.8% Cu, 2.4% Pb, and 3.3% Zn (1,321 g/t AgEq or 33.5% ZnEq) over a TW of 1.8m, including 1,785 g/t Ag, 0.5 g/t Au, 1.4% Cu, 3.1% Pb, and 5.9% Zn (2,309 g/t AgEq or 56.6% ZnEq) over a TW of 1m at the North Felsite skarn area; hole 22CLM-184 with 7 g/t Ag, 1.1 g/t Au, 0% Cu, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (112 g/t AgEq or 2.8% ZnEq) over a TW of 11.7m at the North Felsite HW zone, including 19 g/t Ag, 5.6 g/t Au, 0% Cu, 0.3% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (495 g/t AgEq or 12.5% ZnEq) over a TW of 1m, plus 121 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 1.9% Pb, and 6.5% Zn (460 g/t AgEq or 11.7% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.3m at North Felsite Skarn, plus 117 g/t Ag, 0.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 1.1% Pb, and 1% Zn (213 g/t AgEq or 5.4% ZnEq) over a TW of 6m, including 301 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 0.5% Cu, 1.1% Pb, and 10.7% Zn (830 g/t AgEq or 21% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.3m, plus 302 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 0.4% Cu, 2.9% Pb, and 0.7% Zn (485 g/t AgEq or 12.3% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.8m. “The North Felsite target is located on the eastern side of the Cerro Las Minitas, approximately 400m to the northwest of the La Bocona and Mina Piña shafts, in an area that was not included in the most recent NI43-101 Mineral Resource update on the property. New drilling tested the continuity of mineralization in both the main Ag-Pb-Zn Skarn as well as strongly Au-enriched hanging wall zone.
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., released the remaining assay results from the phase 1 drilling program completed on the underexplored Noria portion at its la Joya project in Durango. This phase of drilling consisted of 11 core holes totaling 2,424m. Drilling highlights include hole NOR-22-008 with 41 g/t Ag, 0.11 g/t Au, 0.05% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.6% Zn (90 g/t AgEq) over 125.3m, including 137 g/t Ag, 0.23 g/t Au, 0.14% Cu, 0.4% Pb, and 1.7% Zn (268 g/t AgEq) over 10.47m; and hole NOR-22-009 with 3 g/t Ag, 0.66 g/t Au, 0.03% Cu, 0% Pb, and 0.03% Zn (60 g/t AgEq) over 58.84m. “Phase II drilling is now in progress and targeting the wide intervals of mineralization intersected in the new Phase I discoveries”.
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd., reported results of the last four holes collared at its Tepic project in Nayarit. Drilling highlights include hole TDH014 with 322 g/t Ag and 0.96 g/t Au (424 g/t AgEq) over 6.35m, including 544 g/t Ag and 1.5 g/t Au (656 g/t AgEq) over 3.85m, plus 332 g/t Ag and 1.85 g/t Au (470 g/t AgEq) over 6.05m, including 786 g/t Ag and 3.78 g/t Au (1,070 g/t AgEq) over 2.3m. Holes were designed to test areas adjacent to and outside of the areas that were volumetrically included in historic resource estimations. “The Tepic drill holes are being incorporated into the project’s 3-D database and model to plan the continuation of the Phase 2 drilling at Tepic. Drill pads have already been constructed on the Taunas targets to drill the first test holes within the newly discovered area on the eastern portion of the project”.
  •  Golden Tag Resources Ltd., announced results from 2 holes drilled at its San Diego project in Durango. Key highlights include hole 22-65A (Rata Zone) with 0.02 g/t Au, 1,350 g/t Ag, 1.4% Pb, 3% Zn, and 0.35% Cu (1,556 g/t AgEq) over 0.6m, plus 0.03 g/t Au, 981 g/t Ag, 2.4% Pb, 2.5% Zn, and 0.35% Cu (1,194 g/t AgEq) over 0.65m, plus 0.11 g/t Au, 210 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 1.1% Zn, and 0.05% Cu (288 g/t AgEq) over 1.67m, and plus (at Cata Zone) with 0.12 g/t Au, 197 g/t Ag, 1.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn, and 0.06% Cu (280 g/t AgEq) over 0.85m; and hole 22-65B (Rata Zone) with 0.08 g/t Au, 286 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn, and 0.04% Cu (312 g/t AgEq) over 1.20m, plus (at Cata Zone) with 0.27 g/t Au, 103 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.6% Zn, and 0.05% Cu (174 g/t AgEq) over 16.48m, including 0.09 g/t Au, 108 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, 0.7% Zn, and 0.05% Cu (163 g/t AgEq) over 2.20m, plus 0.12 g/t Au, 460 g/t Ag, 3% Pb, 2.7% Zn, and 0.19% Cu (690 g/t AgEq) over 2.50m, plus (at CS Play Zone) with 0.11 g/t Au, 135 g/t Ag, 2.9% Pb, 3% Zn, and 0.09% Cu (363 g/t AgEq) over 4.27m, plus (at Fernandez Zone) with 0.05 g/t Au, 35 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, 0.8% Zn, and 0.11% Cu (93 g/t AgEq) over 395.1m, including 0.03 g/t Au, 37 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, 1.1% Zn, and 0.14% Cu (109 g/t AgEq) over 185.90m. “Combining the results from hole 65B with the results from the previously reported hole 21-58, we can now anticipate that the potential extension of the Fernandez Zone could measure approximately 140 m x 70 m in the horizontal plane and 530 m in the vertical plane.  There are no drill holes to the west of hole 22-65B and thus the Fernandez Zone remains open to the west.” 
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., reported drill results from its ongoing exploration programs at its El Cubo mine and El Pinguico projects in Guanajuato. Key highlights include hole VP022-002 with 12.90 g/t Au and 1,956 g/t Ag (2,988 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 0.35m (Arroyo structure), plus 0.21 g/t Au and 31 g/t Ag (47 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 13.55m (Villalpando structure), including 0.76 g/t Au and 115 g/t Ag (176 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.15m, plus 0.44 g/t Au and 92 g/t Ag (127 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.39m (Villalpando FW structure); hole SC22-001 with 7.56 g/t Au and 42 g/t Ag (647 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.30m (680 Vein); hole SC22-002 with 4.49 g/t Au and 276 g/t Ag (636 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.13m (Tuberos Vein), plus 2.60 g/t Au and 194 g/t Ag (402 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.30m (Poniente Vein); and hole P21-22 with 1.04 g/t Au and 130 g/t Ag (203 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.56m (Arroyo structure), including 2.11 g/t Au and 227 g/t Ag (396 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.60m, plus 1.15 g/t Au and 193 g/t Ag (285 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.24m (Pinguico Vein). “These results serve to build confidence in our understanding of geological controls of high-grade mineralization within the various veins and different zones of our Guanajuato mine holdings. Further, drilling at the El Cubo mine continues to identify mineralization that the Company can quickly build into its near-term mining plans”.
  • Prime Mining Corp., announced new results from 17 holes drilled at Zapote North and Mariposa areas within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. “This drilling is targeting the expansion of the Zapote North deposit northwards along the structure and confirming the continuity of mineralization of Mariposa to the south. These holes confirm that gold-silver mineralization extends from Zapote North to Mariposa”. Drilling highlights at Zapote North  include hole 22ZAP-56 with 4.81 g/t Au and 17 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 1.7m; hole 22ZAP-66R with 2.42 g/t Au and 24 g/t Ag over a TW of 9.70m, including 4.72 g/t Au and 36 g/t Ag over a TW of 4.2m; hole 22ZAP-67R with 3.83 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.4m; hole 22ZAP-59 with 1.4 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag over a TW of 8.2m, including 5.55 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.4m; hole 22ZAP-52R with 1.07 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag over a TW of 19.9m, including  2.62 g/t Au and 28 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.3m, including 3.32 g/t Au and 31 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.3m, plus 0.77 g/t Au and 27 g/t Ag over a TW of 8.2m; hole 22ZAP-68R with 0.68 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag over a TW of 8.2m, including 2.19 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.2m, plus 0.39 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over a TW of 8.2m; and hole 22ZAP-69R with 0.47 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag over a TW of 6.6m, plus 1.42 g/t Au and 28 g/t Ag over a TW of 5m, including 2.42 g/t Au and 44  g/t Ag over a TW of 2.5m. Drilling highlights at Mariposa include hole 22MA-08 with 1.1 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over a TW of 8.3m, including 3.38 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.9m, plus 0.99 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag over a TW of 5.4m, including 2.05 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.1m, plus 0.69 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag over a TW of 4.90m; and hole 22MA-09 with 1.55 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.9m, including 5.35 g/t Au and 29 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.60m. “To date for Phase 1 and 2 combined, Prime has drilled 255 holes totalling 64,070 metres (122 in Phase 1 for 25,650 m and 133 holes so far in Phase 2 for 38,420 m)”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Golden Minerals Company announced the appointment of its COO, effective May 9, 2022 (Rodeo project, Durango).
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., announced the appointments of its COO and VP of Exploration (Panuco project, Sinaloa).
  • Orogen Royalties Inc. and the Riverside Resources Inc-BHP Group JV signed an option agreement for the Llano de Nogal Copper-Gold porphyry project in Sonora. Riverside can earn a 100% interest by making cash payments of USD $2.48M and USD $5M in cumulative exploration expenditures (CEE) subject to the following schedule: USD $30K (closing of transaction); USD $50K (1st anniversary) and  USD $500K in CEE; USD $50K (2nd anniversary) and USD $1.3M in CEE; USD $100K (3rd anniversary) and $USD $2M (CEE); USD $200K (4th anniversary) and USD $3M (CEE); USD $300K (5th anniversary) and USD $4M (CEE); and USD $1.75M (6th anniversary) and USD $5M (CEE). “During the option period, Orogen and Riverside will jointly retain the right to exercise and retain any Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty buydown rights with respect to the Suanse claims (0.5% NSR royalty for CAD $1M) and the Coyotes claims (1.5% NSR royalty for USD $1.5M). Once Riverside has exercised its option on Llano de Nogal, Riverside will grant to Orogen a 1% Production Royalty, of which 0.5% can be purchased for USD $10M within 10 years of the exercise date”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Esperanza Silver de México obtained the support of the Tetlama community to the extent of accompanying the request for federal environmental permits for its operation for the Esperanza project in Morelos. The company determined to promote the project from the beginning hand in hand with the inhabitants since it is based on lands that belong to the community, and showing full respect for their human rights. Esperanza Silver will be delivering the Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) report and the study to propose the change of land use in forest land to the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources of the federal government (SEMARNAT) by the end of this year. Currently, the Esperanza Project is in the evaluation stage of the technical studies carried out during 2021 in terms of water and geotechnics. This year will be dedicated to the design of the technical project that will allow establishing the model of the mine’s industrial plant. At this point, both the company and the community will submit the request for an Environmental Manifesto to SEMARNAT, which could occur in mid-2023.
  • Alamos Gold Inc., has generated 2,200 new jobs in the last two years, 700 of them for people hired directly and 1,500 more indirectly for the construction of its La Yaqui Grande mine in Sonora. La Yaqui Grande mine, is in its final stage of construction and will start commercial production during Q3, 2022. The Yaqui Grande mine is already being a development opportunity for communities in the Sierra de Sonora in the municipalities of Sahuaripa, Yécora and Arivechi, among others.

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, phyllic alteration in a porphyry copper prospect in Michoacán Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 11th week of the year (March 14th to March 20th, 2022), at least 21 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, only three companies posted exploration advances on their properties, four released quarterly and full year 2021 reports, four informed on financing rounds, three on share granting, repurchase or new market trading, two released new resource estimates, three posted drill results on properties with resources and one informed on the repossession of a property and mining concessions. ON MEXICO ISSUES, five of the top ten silver intercepts on the second week of March were obtained by companies working in Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Rockland Resources recommenced exploration at its Elektra lithium project; Infinitum Copper discovered three new mineralization zones at Adelita. In Zacatecas, Orla Mining is to begin brownfield exploration around Camino Rojo. ON MINING, Avino Silver, Sierra Metals, American Gold and Silver, Orla Mining and Starcore International released quarterly and full year 2021 reports. ON FINANCING, Golden Tag granted stock options to directors, officers employees and consultants. Reyna Gold started trading at the OTCQB Market Exchange in USA. Oroco Resource announced the oversubscription of its previously announced private placement. Silver Tiger closed its financing for gross proceeds of C$23 M. Altaley Mining is to conduct a financing round for up to C$5 M. Minaurum Gold informed on the acquisition of 16% of Infinitum copper shares. First Majestic Silver was approved to extend its share repurchase program to up to 10 M shares.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GoGold Resources released drilling results from El Favor East, at Los Ricos North in Jalisco. Torex Gold Resources released the 2021 resource estimate (4.47 M Oz Au) for El Limon Guajes Complex in Guerrero. Fortuna Silver Mines updated the resource estimate (46.6 M Oz Ag, 296 K Oz Au) to the end of 2021 on its San José mine in Oaxaca. Vizsla Silver reported results from drilling the Cruz Negra vein at Panuco, in Sinaloa. Mithril Resources provided drilling results from Copalquin, in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Galore Resources regained control of the Duraznillo ranch and the mining concessions on its Dos Santos project in Zacatecas. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Of the top ten silver intersects released on the second week of March, five were from companies working in Mexico, according to Miner Deck. Vizsla Silver was first with 9.45 m @ 1,559 gpt Ag at Panuco, in Sinaloa, whilst Magna Gold was second with 55.95 m @ 156 gpt Ag at Margarita, in Chihuahua. Prime Mining, Capitan Mining and Avino Silver were also in the list, with their project in Sinaloa and Durango.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Rockland Resources Ltd. announced exploration is to initiate at its Elektra project in Sonora. The company is to review the surface and drill information generated in 2017, when 1,762 m were drilled in 16 holes. Best intercepts of that campaign include 33 m @ 1,058 ppm Li and 24 m @ 1,050 ppm Li. The target is a lithium in clays deposit akin to the nearby “Sonora Lithium” property owned by Bacanora Lithium PLC.
  • Orla Mining Ltd. is to begin exploration in and around its Camino Rojo mine in Zacatecas. The company is planning to invest $10 M in exploration in Mexico during 2022. The current year drilling program is to infill drill the deposit and reduce the spacing to 50-125m  in the sulfide zone. Last year program returned up to 108 m @ 2.38 gpt Au; 111 m @ 2.63 gpt Au; 58.5 m @ 2.51 gpt Au; 115.5 m @ 2.11 gpt Au; 64.6 m @ 3.04 gpt Au; 55.5 m @ 4.47 gpt Au; 55.5 m @ 4.95 gpt Au. The 2021 regional exploration program included an airborne magnetic survey, an IP survey, soil sampling and direct exploration under cover with 9,146 m of RAB drilling on 284 holes (holes 500 m apart, with 1,000 m line spacing) to sample the bedrock under shallow cover (up to 3 m @ 1.94 gpt Au, 7 km from Camino Rojo). That effort produced several targets that are to be followed-up this year, while target generation still continues.
  • Infinitum Copper Corp. announced the discovery of new zones of high-grade copper mineralization on the surface at its Adelita project in Sonora-Sinaloa. Mapping, prospecting and sampling (1,024 channel samples) program identified the Cerro Grande Footwall, Las Trancas and Pericos zones. At Cerro Grande, sampling on a garnet skarn alteration zone returned 7.50 m @ 1.88% Cu, 0.89 gpt Au, 127 gpt Ag, 0.9% Zn. Skarn hosted mineralization is also present at Pericos, estimated at 12 m in width, with results pending. At Las Trancas an oxidized breccia returned 0.5 m @ 3.67% Cu, 1.14 gpt Au, 4.2% Zn, with the structure having been traced for 780 m, and pending results in trench samples. A 14.8 line-km magneto-telluric geophysical survey is to be conducted over the Cerro Grande, Cerro Grande Footwall, Pericos and Las Trancas zones. Drilling is to start in late March.

ON MINING

  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. released financial results for Q4 and year 2021. At Avino, in Durango, in 2021 the company milled 165.3 K tonnes (103.5 K tonnes on Q4, after normalization of operations) to produce 245.4 K Oz Ag, 3,386 Oz Au, 1.87 M Lb Cu (842.4 K Oz AgEq). Over 15,500 m of drilling were completed in 124 holes during the year. In October of 2021 Avino entered into a definitive agreement with Coeur Mining Inc. to acquire the La Preciosa project, close to the Avino mine “for upfront consideration of $29.7 million on closing and $5 million due within 12 months of closing. Further contingent consideration including cash, royalties and a mineral reserve discovery payment. The transaction is expected to close during Q1 2022”. At the year’s end the company held US$22.3 M in cash.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. reported 2021 financial results and 2022 guidance, without specifying figures of production by mine. At Bolivar, in Chihuahua, cash cost was $2.18 per Lb CuEq and the AISC was $4.22 per Lb CuEq. At Cusi, in Chihuahua, cash cost was $16.71 per Oz  AgEq, and the AISC was $28.59. At Bolivar, 13,072 m of drilling were completed, as well as 21,059 m of infill drilling and 4,703 m of brownfield drilling at Cusi. The company held cash and cash equivalents of $34.9 M by the end of the year. “In Q4 2021, the Company announced its increased focus on copper and other steel-making products, including the strategic review process for the silver-producing Cusi Mine in Mexico. As part of this process, the carrying value of Cusi was reviewed. As a result, a non-cash impairment charge of $35 million was recognized for the year”.
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. reported consolidated financial and operational results for the year 2021. At Cosalá, in Sinaloa, re-started operations in September after a long struggle with an illegal blockade “after reaching an agreement with union representatives and certain Mexican government ministries in July 2021…. Production from the San Rafael mine increased during Q4‐2021 as the normal mining cycle was re‐established.  The Los Braceros processing plant was fed with a combination of over 20,000 tonnes of existing stockpiled ore and new production from the mine.  The milling rate ramped up in tandem with mine production, averaging approximately 1,700 tonnes per day during December 2021 and continuing into 2022”. During the Q4 61 K Oz Ag, 4.2 M Lb Zn, 1.7 M Lb Pb were produced.
  • Orla Mining Ltd. announced results for the Q4 and year 2021. During its commissioning year, at Camino Rojo in Zacatecas, 2.06 M tonnes were mined, of which 1.71 M tonnes were processed, 349.4 K placed on the low grade stockpile and further 2.05 M tonnes of waste were moved. The stacked ore grade was 0.74 gpt Au, and the gold produced was 2,422 Oz. “Orla continues to evaluate multiple development scenarios on the Camino Rojo Sulphide Project. The development scenarios being considered to potentially form the basis of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) currently include: (1) an underground mining option, (2) an open pit mining option with processing at a to-be-constructed sulphide facility at Camino Rojo, and (3) an open pit mining option with processing at Newmont’s Peñasquito plant. Based on the additional drilling and testwork to date, all development options remain possible”.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. filed the results for the third quarter ended January 2022. At San Martin, in Queretaro, 56.7 K tonnes were milled @ 1.46 gpt Au, 21.2 gpt Ag, recovering 88.1% Au, 45.8% Ag, to produce 2.4 K Oz Au, 17.8 K Oz Ag (2,588 Oz AuEq), at an AISC of $1,623 per Oz AuEq.

ON FINANCING

  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. granted 3.3 M stock options to various directors, officers, employees and consultants (Sierra Mojada, Coahuila).
  • Reyna Gold Corp. announced its common shares started trading on the OTCQB Market Exchange in USA (La Gloria, Sonora).
  • Oroco Resource Corp. announced the over subscription of the previously announced private placement (Santo Tomás, Sinaloa).
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc. closed the previously announced bought deal offering of common shares of the company, for gross proceeds of C$23 M (El Tigre, Sonora).
  • Altaley Mining Corp. intends to conduct a non-brokered private placement financing, to raise gross proceeds of up to C$5 M. The net proceeds will be used for working capital expenses related to the beginning of mining and milling operations at Tahuehueto, in Durango.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc. informed on the acquisition of 6.1 M shares of Infinitum Copper Corp., which represents 16% of Infinitum (Alamos Silver, Sonora; Adelita, Sonora).
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. received regulatory consent to extend its share repurchase program, with the ability now to repurchase up to 10 M shares, or 3.8% of the issued and outstanding shares (San Dimas, Sinaloa).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GoGold Resources Inc. released results from five drill holes at El Favor East, within Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 1.0 m @ 0.15 gpt Au, 73 gpt Ag; 1.2 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 82 gpt Au; 6.0 m @ 0.18 gpt Au, 100 gpt Ag (including 1.1 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 210 gpt Ag); 1.2 m @ 0.50 gpt Au, 152 gpt Ag; 1.7 m @ 0.90 gpt Au, 257 gpt Ag; 45.5 m @ 0.52 gpt Au, 97 gpt Ag (including 0.9 m @ 13.05 gpt Au, 716 gpt Ag); 5.0 m @ 0.42 gpt Au, 93 gpt Ag; 7.4 m @ 0.36 gpt Au, 107 gpt Ag.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported mineral reserves and resources for the El Limón Guajes Complex in Guerrero, to the end of 2021. Proven and probable reserves of 17.5 M tonnes @ 3.03 gpt Au, containing 1.74 M Oz Au; measured and indicated resources of 21.31 M tonnes @ 3.61 gpt Au containing 2.47 M Oz Au; inferred resources of 2.19 M tonnes @ 3.74 gpt Au containing 264 K Oz Au. During 2021, 529 K Oz Au were processed.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. updated mineral reserve and resource estimates for its San José mine in Oaxaca. Proven and probable reserves stand at 6.16 M tonnes @ 131 gpt Ag, 0.67 gpt Au, containing 17.3 M Oz Ag, 113 K Oz Au; measured and indicated resources stand at 940 K tonnes @ 99 gpt Ag, 0.66 gpt Au, containing 3.0 M Oz Ag, 20 K Oz Ag; inferred resources stand at 6.82 M tonnes @ 120 gpt Ag, 0.74 gpt Au, containing 26.3 M Oz Ag, 163 K Oz Au.  
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. reported results from five holes targeting the Cruz Negra vein, at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 0.70 m @ 1,795 gpt Ag, 21.00 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.5% Zn; 4.45 m @ 34 gpt Ag, 3.26 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 1.65 m @ 1,066 gpt Au, 9.85 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 3.70 m @ 440 gpt Ag, 3.74 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 2.2% Zn; 3.20 m @ 160 gpt Ag, 10.40 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 4.3% Zn.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd. provided drilling results from its Copalquin project in Durango. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 6.00 m @ 1.84 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag; 1.00 m @ 1.79 gpt Au, 25 gpt Ag; 1.70 m @ 1.77 gpt Au, 117 gpt Ag; 2.14 m @ 0.89 gpt Au, 64 gpt Ag in one hole, 4.80 m @ 0.91 gpt Au, 57 gpt Ag; 2.30 m @ 1.75 gpt Au, 135 gpt Ag; 0.55 m @ 5.89 gpt Au, 474 gpt Ag in a second hole, 8.10 m @ 1.64 gpt Au, 106 gpt Ag in a third hole. Exploration work has defined over 7 km of veins in the project, with a major target area identified at La Montura, on strike with El Refugio, whereas Los Pinos area displays strong alteration, gold in soils and early stage drilling results of 0.60 m @ 9.91 gpt Au, 161 gpt Ag.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Galore Resources Inc. announced that “has legally and safely regained possession and control of the Duraznillo Ranch mining operation” at its Dos Santos project in Zacatecas. In January 2018 Galore entered into a mining exploitation agreement with Urbanizaciones y Acabados, S.A. de C.V., but due to a breach in the agreement Galore asked and had to file a demand to recover the Duraznillo ranch and the mining properties. On March 8, 2022, the ranch and the mining properties were peaceful and smoothly repossessed by Galore

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Barite-quartz-hematite vein from a project in the Sonoran desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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Secondary copper staining

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 2nd week of the year (January 10th to January 16th, 2022), at least 27 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 4 news published by the media, with eleven reporting resources and developments of their properties, six communicating production results, six informing on exploration results, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, three commenting on Mexican issues, and one discussing social issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Jaime Gutiérrez Núñez, President of the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX) stated that political risk causes a reduction in the mining investment in Mexico. Alfonso Durazo, governor of Sonora State declared that the Mining Fund program will be back in the state after it was frozen for a little more than three years. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Reyna Gold reported surface and trench sampling results from its La Gloria project, Colibri announced it has purchased a RC drilling rig to reduce drilling expenses, and Heliostar informed that its 5,000m drill program at its Cumaro project has recommenced after the Christmas break. In Chihuahua, Mammoth added additional drill contractor to its ongoing drill program at its Tenoriba project. Radius Gold and Riverside provided a review of 2021 and an update of their Mexican properties.  ON MINING, Americas Gold and Silver reported December 2021 production results from its Cosalá operation in Sinaloa. Torex announced production results from its El Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero for the full year 2021. Endeavour reported Q4 and full year 2021 production results from their Mexican mine operations. Golden Minerals reported Q4 and full year 2021 production results from its Rodeo project, Durango. Equinox announced Q4, 2021 production from their Mexican operations and provided production guidance for the year 2022. Gatos Silver reported Q4 and full year 2021 production results from its Cerro Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, no relevant news. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Silver Tiger released results from its ongoing drilling program at its El Tigre project, Sonora. Prime announced results from 13 new holes drilled at the Noche Buena deposit within its Los Reyes property in Sinaloa. Avino provided results from its Phase 2 drilling program conducted at its Avino property in Durango. Capitan Mining reported results from six RC holes collared at its Peñoles project in Durango. Excellon released results from its underground drilling program conducted at the Platosa property in Durango.  Fabled released results from its ongoing drilling program at its Santa Maria project, Chihuahua. Zacatecas Silver received permits for 13 new drill pads and applied for permits on additional 27 drill pads at its Panuco deposit in Zacatecas.  Silver Dollar announced that exploration drilling has recommenced at its La Joya project, Durango. Oroco Resource reported results from eight drill holes collared at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Osisko released drill results on its San Antonio project in Sonora. GoGold release results from 13 drill holes collared at its Los Ricos North project, Jalisco. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Ranchero Gold announced the appointment of its President effective immediately (Santa Daniela project, Sonora). Starcore announced the appointment of its new President and Director (San Martin mine, Queretaro). Capitan Mining entered into a purchase agreement to acquire a portfolio of royalties including a 2% royalty on the Capitan Gold oxide deposit in Durango. Endeavour entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Pitarrilla project in Durango State from SSR Mining. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Compañia Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver) along with local municipal authorities delivered toys to more than 20,000 girls and boys from Oaxaca.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Jaime Gutiérrez Núñez, President of the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX) stated that political risk causes a reduction in the mining investment in Mexico.  The lack of legal certainty and a complex environment for obtaining licenses and concessions are holding back investment in the Mexico’s mining sector, despite the rise in metal prices. Actual spending was USD $4.25B, 15.6% below the original estimates, according to CAMIMEX. The figure is lower than the USD $4.67B in 2019 and is well below the high of USD $8.42B in 2012.  Due to the lack of mining concessions, investment opportunities of USD $25B are lost in the country. Currently, there are 29 applications detained in the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and 34 at the National Water Commission (CONAGUA). With an adequate legal framework and adequate incentives, mining activity could generate 50 thousand additional direct jobs and more than MXP $25B a year in addition to those already paid by mining. “The statements of the President (against mining), not granting mining concessions, denying access to information, making procedures increasingly slow, although the terms are established in the law, and the lack of personnel in the Mining Directorate General  have impeded the advancement of mining projects in the country”.
  • Alfonso Durazo, governor of Sonora State, declared that the Mining Fund program could be back in the state after it was frozen for a little more than three years by the Federal government. If the Mining Fund is back, the injection of resources into the entity in this 2022 will be greater than MXP $1,000M, same that will benefit the mining towns and incidentally will give a good respite to state public finances.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Reyna Gold Corp., reported surface and trench sampling results from its La Gloria project. To date, 1,252 sample results have been received from the Main Zone area where drilling will commence this coming February. A total of 555 samples out of 713 returned greater than 0.1 g/t Au, including 23 with greater than 5 g/t Au at Big Pit area. High grade values were encountered at Big Pit and Pique Viejo areas including values of 93.9 g/t Au, 36.2 g/t Au, 46.1 g/t Au, 24.4 g/t Au, 20.1 g/t Au. Other areas such as Las Quintas, Las Quintas West, San Pedro, and Alamo Muerto returned values of 20.1 g/t Au, 15.9 g/t Au, 13.3 g/t Au, 11.1 g/t Au, 13.6 g/t Au, and 9.3 g/t Au. Reyna Gold has already the drill permits to commence a drilling program at Big Pit and Pique Viejo areas in February, 2022. Sampling and mapping will continue in other target areas of the property.
  • Colibri Resource Corporation announced it has purchased a RC drilling rig and peripheral equipment to reduce drilling expenses and advance its exploration work at their Mexican properties.
  • Heliostar Metals limited informed that its 5,000m drill program at its Cumaro project has recommenced after the Christmas break. Heliostar reported that four holes totalling 428m were completed in December 2021. Results are pending and will be released in late February.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., added additional drill contractor to its ongoing drill program at its Tenoriba project. The company reported that 4 holes collared at the Central-Masuparia area were completed prior to the Christmas break. Samples were cut and submitted to the lab. Results are pending. Last December, 2021, Mammoth announced the granting of an additional permit to cover an additional 183 drill hole locations, expanding the total number of permitted drill hole locations to 321 over the entire approximately 6-km trend of surface gold-silver mineralization at Tenoriba property, Chihuahua.
  • Radius Gold Inc., provided a review of 2021 and an update of their Mexican properties. At Amalia project. Chihuahua, 45 drill holes totalling 14,402m have been completed of which 10,588m in 31 holes were drilled in the Amalia Vein System and 3,814m in 14 holes were drilled in the California Vein System. Drilling has re-commenced at El Cuervo target with 3,500m of core drilling expected in the coming months. There are still several targets remaining to drill test including Oro Viejo, La Caverna, California SE, El Pozo and Palmillas. At Maricela project, Sonora, the company mapped and sampled the Au-Ag Epithermal Vein system, extending 1.5km long by 300m wide, within which occurs multiple veins, stockworks, and breccias. 576 samples have been collected with highlights including intervals of 4.46 g/t Au and 1,335 g/t Ag over 3m at la Baby Gloria Vein;  1.03 g/t Au and 418 g/t Ag over 63 at Silver Central Vein; and 0.31 g/t Au and 62 g/t Ag over 25.3m at intersecting veins. At Plata Verde project, Chihuahua, Radius completed a geophysical survey. NP/Resistivity sections show significant structural zones extending to depth directly below the known large scale historic silver mines. Two priority targets for drilling have been generated. In addition, the company completed detail underground mapping and sampling of the historic Mina Real y Mina Mojonera. Radius is evaluating options to fund drilling later this year.
  • Riverside Resources inc., provided an outlook on the upcoming 2022 and informed on some of the achievements and milestones in 2021. Riverside plans to advance their exploration projects in Sonora. It plans to advance its La Union project in Sonora, where sampling results have returned up to  84 g/t Au and >1,500 g/t Ag in rock chip samples. On the exploration alliance with BHP, the company is progressing on 3 funded programs with spending of over USD $3M in the first 6 months of 2022, doing exploration on selected and defined projects, finalizing third party acquisitions, and advance work toward drilling. At Cecilia project, Sonora, along with its partner Carlyle, the objective is to complete further drilling which could define a possible mineralized body at depth around the Cerro Magallanes main dome. At Los Cuarentas project in Sonora, the plan is to advance it with further drilling and test the porphyry copper center. It also wants to complete further farm out option deals from the Riverside portfolio such as Suaqui Grande and Suaqui Verde projects in Sonora, among others. Finally, it plans to work with partners to test porphyry copper targets at its Ariel project, Sonora.

ON MINING

  • Americas Gold and Silver Corporation reported that it milled approximately 47K tonnes at a rate of 1,695 tonnes per operating day during, December 2021, with grades of 54 g/t Ag, 4% Zn, and 1.8% Pb to produce 46K Oz Ag, 3.2M Lb Zn, and 1.3M Lb Pb from its Cosalá operation in Sinaloa.
  • Torex Gold Resources inc., announced production results from its El Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero for Q4 and the full year 2021. The company mined in Q4, 2021, an average of 1,030 tonnes per day from underground and 9,390 tonnes per day from open pit to produce 109,410 Oz Au. Torex mined an average of 1,260 tonnes per day from underground and 13,040 tonnes per day from open pit in the full year 2021 to produce 468,200 Oz Au. The company sold 468,820 Oz Au at an average realized price of USD $1,790/Oz Au, including 109,390 Oz Au at an average realized price of USD $1,795/Oz Au.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., reported Q4 and full year 2021 production results from their Mexican mine operations. During the period Q4, 2021, the company processed from Guanacevi mine, Durango 108.3K tonnes of 1.21 g/t Au and 417 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 92.2% and 89.6% respectively to produce 3,885 Oz Au and 1.3M Oz Ag, and from Bolañitos mine, Guanajuato, 105.2K tonnes of 1.83 g/t Au and 48 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 88.9% and 87% respectively to produce 5,502 Oz Au and 141.2K Oz Ag. Endeavour also reported full year production results from their Mexican mines. It processed 414.3K tonnes from Guanacevi mine, Durango at grades of 1.09 g/t Au and 370 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 91.7% and 87.9% respectively to produce  13,317 Oz Au and 4.33M Oz Ag; from Bolañitos mine, Guanajuato itprocessed 418.5K tonnes of 2.02 g/t Au and 42 g/t Ag wit metallurgical recoveries of 90.7% and 87% respectively to produce 24,652 Oz Au and 491.4K Oz Ag; and from El Compas mine, Zacatecas it processed  54.5K tonnes of 3.05 g/t Au and 36 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 80.2% and 72.5% respectively to produce 4,293 Oz Au and 45.8K Oz Ag. Consolidated results for the period Q4, 2021 were 213.5K tonnes of 1.52 g/t Au and 235 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 90.8% and 89.4% respectively to produce 9,446 Oz Au and 1.44M Oz Ag, while for the full year 2021 were 887.4K tonnes of 1.65 g/t Au and 195 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 89.8% and 87.6% respectively to produce 42,262 Oz Au and 4.87M Oz Ag.
  • Golden Minerals Company reported Q4 and full year 2021 production results from its Rodeo project, Durango. In Q4, 2021, Golden mined 145,205 tonnes and processed 42,827 tonnes of 4.6 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 76.5% and 82.6% respectively to produce 4,831 Oz Au and 15,250 Oz Ag (5,028 Oz AuEq). The company sold 5,164 Oz Au and 15,552 Oz Ag (5,366 Oz AuEq) at realized price, before refining and selling costs of USD $1,784 per Oz Au and USD $23.08 per Oz Ag. In the full year 2021, Golden mined 661,102 tonnes and processed 149,411 tonnes of 4.1 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 74.9% and 89.9% respectively to produce 14,449 Oz Au and 51,058 Oz Ag (15,256 Oz AuEq). The company sold 13,732 Oz Au and 48,970 Oz Ag (14,454 Oz AuEq) at realized price, before refining and selling costs of USD $1,793 per Oz Au and USD $24.83 per Oz Ag.
  • Equinox Gold Corporation announced full year 2021 production from their Mexican operations and provided production guidance for the year 2022. At Los Filos mine, Guerrero, the company produced 144.1K Oz Au and expects to produce 120K-140K Oz Au in the year 2022. At Mercedes mine, Sonora, the company produced 31.8K Oz Au and expects to produce 30K-45K Oz Au in the year 2022.
  • Gatos Silver Inc., reported Q4 and full year 2021 production results from its Cerro Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua. In Q4, 2021 the company milled 241,397 tonnes of 331 g/t Ag, 0.3 g/t Au, 2.2% Pb, and 3.9% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 90%, 63%, 91%, and 93% respectively, to produce 2.3M Oz Ag, 1,300 Oz Au, 10.2M Lb Pb, and 12.9M Lb Zn. In the full year 2021, Gatos Silver milled 909,586 tonnes of 295 g/t Ag, 0.32% Au, 2.3% Pb, and 3.9% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 86%, 61%, 86%, and 73% respectively, to produce 7.6M Oz Ag, 5,200 Oz Au, 39.8M Lb Pb, and 49.6M Lb Zn.
  • Oroco Resource Corp., reported results from eight drill holes collared in the North Zone within its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole N001 with 0.18% Cu, 0.012% Mo, 0.02 g/t Au and 1 g/t Ag over 27m, plus 0.39% Cu, 0.01% Mo, 0.045 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag over 255m, plus 0.17% Cu, 0.003% Mo, 0.008 g/t Au and 1 g/t Ag over 49m; hole N002 with 0.38% Cu, 0.012% Mo, 0.025 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag over 281.1m; hole N003 with 0.31% Cu, 0.009% Mo, 0.014 g/t Au and 3g/t Ag over 11.8m, plus 0.33% Cu, 0.018% Mo, 0.017 g/t Au, and 1g/t Ag over 17.7m, plus 0.29% Cu, 0.025% Mo, 0.02 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag over 25.5m, plus 0.5% Cu, 0.008% Mo, 0.026 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag over 14.3m, plus 0.39% Cu, 0.014% Mo, 0.019 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag over 207.7m, plus 0.18% Cu, 0.002% Mo, 0.007 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag over 76.2m, hole N004 with 0.38% Cu, 0.012% Mo, 0.017 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag over 63.7m; hole N006 with 0.39% Cu, 0.004% Mo, 0.051 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag over 188.5m, plus 0.17% Cu, 0.005% Mo, 0.011 g/t Au and  1 g/t Ag over 53.7m, hole N007 with 0.32% Cu, 0.005% Mo, 0.029 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag over 191.3m, plus 0.32% Cu, 0.012% Mo, 0.018 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag over 109.9m; and hole N008 with 0.38% Cu, 0.01% Mo, 0.038 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag over 328.3m. “Drilling confirms that the North Zone is comprised of intensely fractured, potassic- and phyllic-altered andesite volcanics and Laramide-age porphyritic intrusive dikes. Elevated Mo, Au and Ag accompany copper assays along the central axis of the North Zone”.
  • Osisko Gold Royalties Inc., announced that a total of 27,000m were completed on exploration and infill drilling on the Sapuchi, California and Golfo de Oro deposits at its San Antonio project in Sonora. These three deposits comprise 900m of a 3km long Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) trend that ends at the past producing Luz del Cobre copper deposit. The highlights of the drilling campaign to date include 2.14 g/t Au over 21.65m, and 1.03 g/t Au over 39.9m to extend the known mineralization. Osisko also announced that the historic gold stockpile is being stacked onto a new heap leach pad with production commencing in early 2022 along with an updated resource estimation for the three deposits being drilled.

ON FINANCING

  • No relevant news.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., released results from its ongoing drilling program at its El Tigre project, Sonora, including a high grade intercept in a structure located between the Tiger Vein and the Seitz Kelly Vein. Hole ET-21-274 encountered 0.84 g/t Au and  1 g/t Ag (65 g/t AgEq) over 15m, including 1.42 g/t Au and 1 g/t Ag (108 g/t AgEq) over 4.5m, plus 0.4 g/t Au, 8 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu, 0.02% Pb, and 0.03% Zn (41 g/t AgEq) over 6.3m, including 0.71 g/t Au, 13 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu, 0.03% Pb, and 0.1% Pb (73 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m on Seitz Kelly Vein; and hole ET-21-278 encountered in a new structure 3.99 g/t Au, 32 g/t Ag, 0.04% Cu, 0.09% Pb, and 0.17% Zn (343 g/t AgEq) over 16.1m, including 12.24 g/t Au, 84 g/t Ag, 0.11% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.3% Zn (1,029 g/t AgEq) over 5.1m, including 102.1 g/t Au, 120 g/t Ag, 0.13% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.4% Zn (7,808 g/t AgEq) over 0.6m, plus 0.01 g/t Au, 78 g/t Ag, 0.07% Cu, 0.06% Pb, and 0.02% Zn (88 g/t AgEq) over 0.9m, plus 0.04 g/t Au, 86 g/t Ag, 0.1% Cu, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (108 g/t AgEq) over 1m on Seitz Kelley Vein.
  • Prime Mining Corp., announced results from 13 new holes drilled at the Noche Buena deposit within its Los Reyes property in Sinaloa. Highlights include hole 21NB-22 with 16 g/t Au and 74 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 2.7m, plus 0.91 g/t Au and 44 g/t Ag over a TW of 24.3m, including 3.49 g/t Au and 82 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.9m; hole 21NB-23 with 75 g/t Au and 110 g/t Ag over a TW of 3.8m, plus 1.89 g/t Au and 76 g/t Ag over a TW of 19.7m, including 4.83 g/t Au and 250 g/t Ag over a TW of 3m; hole 21NB-21 with 92 g/t Au and 24 g/t Ag over a TW of 12.8m, plus 1.09 g/t Au and 66 g/t Ag over a TW of 4.3m; and hole 21NB-17 with 1.27 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag over a TW of 12m, including 38 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.2m. These drilling results have extended the size of the Noche Buena deposit. “The Noche Buena portion of the Central Structure has now been tested and mineralization identified along approximately 600 m of its known 1,000 m strike length.  The structure remains open along strike and at depth both to the northwest and the southeast. Phase 2 drilling is planned to test extensions to the northwest towards San Miguel, where there is strong potential to join the two deposits, and to the southeast where the structure has been traced in surface mapping”.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., provided results from its Phase 2 drilling program conducted at its Avino property in Durango. The company informed that over 15,500m were drilled in 2021 testing several targets including Brecha de Bajo Vein, where the company made the discovery of a new vein splay called Bart Vein which appears to be mineralized. Highlights results from Brecha de Bajo and Bart Veins include hole NBX-21-02 with 0.06 g/t Au, 151 g/t Ag, 0.37% Cu, 0.06% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (211 g/t AgEq) over 1.20m, plus 0.08 g/t Au, 21 g/t Ag, 0.55% Cu, and 0.2% Zn (103 g/t AgEq) over 7.8m, and plus 0.06 g/t Au, 48 g/t Ag, 0.76% Cu, and 00.3% Zn (159 g/t AgEq) over 0.65m; hole NBX-21-03 with 0.14 g/t Au, 84 g/t Ag, 0.32% Cu, and 0.2% Zn (147 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m, plus 0.27 g/t Au, 72 g/t Ag, 0.26% Cu, 0.3% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (141 g/t AgEq) over 15.4m, including 0.3 g/t Au, 380 g/t Ag, 1.19% Cu, 0.4% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (547 g/t AgEq) over 1.05m, plus 0.84 g/t Au, 44 g/t Ag, 0.21% Cu, and 0.2% Pb (151 g/t AgEq) over 32.2m, including 1.58 g/t Au, 120 g/t Ag, 0.11% Cu, and 0.1% Pb (267 g/t AgEq) over 1.95m.
  • Capitan Mining Inc., reported results from six RC holes collared at its Peñoles project in Durango. The most significant drill intercept was encountered in hole CARC 21-48 with 0.39 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag (0.42 g/t AuEq)  over 35.1m, including 1.08 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag (1.1 g/t AuEq) over 4.6m, including 0.7 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag (0.72 g/t AuEq) over 4.6m. This drill result extends mineralization 170m down-dip from hole 21-CARC-25. Capitan Mining informed that assays for 11 drill holes are pending. The drilling program will be resumed in late January.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., released results from its underground drilling program conducted at the Platosa property in Durango. Follow-up drilling on the 817 Zone below Manto 623 defined a zone of high-grade silver mineralization. Highlights include hole EX21UG76 with 4,035 g/t Ag, 25.2% Pb, and 11.8% Zn (5,089 g/t AgEq) over 0.4m, plus 1,430 g/t Ag, 12% Pb, and 21.7% Zn (3,905 g/t AgEq) over 1.8m; hole EX21UG60 with 2,398 g/t Ag, 14.2% Pb, and 33.2% Zn (3,905 g/t AgEq) over 1.8m; hole EX21UG812 with 1,267 g/t Ag, 7.5% Pb, and 19% Zn (2,124 g/t AgEq) over 2.8m; hole EX21UG769 with 4,060 g/t Ag, 29.7% Pb, and 3.3% Zn (4,939 g/t AgEq) over 0.9m; and hole EX21UG770 with 2,956 g/t Ag, 6.1% Pb, and 1.3% Zn (3,158 g/t AgEq) over 1m. The company also informed that underground drilling will continue testing below historical-mined areas for potential vertical zones.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., released results from its ongoing drilling program at its Santa Maria project, Chihuahua. Hole SM20-48 encountered 0.04 g/t Au, 58 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (60 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m, plus 0.4 g/t Au, 90 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn (111 g/t AgEq) over 24.5m, including 0.49 g/t Au, 113 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 0.7% Zn (139 g/t AgEq) over 17.1m, including 0.6 g/t Au, 129 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 0.8% Zn (160 g/t AgEq) over 7.5m, including 0.83 g/t Au, 210 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, and 1.4% Zn (253 g/t AgEq) over 3m, including 1.25 g/t Au, 315 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (379 g/t AgEq) over 1.50m.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., received permits for 13 new drill pads and applied for permits on additional 27 drill pads at its Panuco deposit in Zacatecas. The Company is currently drilling shallow angled holes in the northeast of the Panuco North Vein to test the near surface down-dip extension of vein outcrops and shallow historical workings. It also expects to receive soon the approval of an application for permits to drill El Cristo vein system, which was submitted to SEMARNAT in December 2021.
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., announced that exploration drilling has recommenced at its La Joya project, Durango. The company completed 5 holes on the Noria portion of the property for a total of 1,134m before the Christmas break with the aim of testing possible structural extensions of known mineralized zones identified in historical drilling. Sample results from these holes will be reported once they are available.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., release results from 13 drill holes collared at Mololoa Area within its Los Ricos North project, Jalisco. Drilling highlights include hole LRGM-21-066 with 1.21 g/t Au and 242g/t Ag (4.44 g/t AuEq or 333 g/t AgEq) over 11.3m, including 5.2 g/t Au and 1,143 g/t Ag (20.44 g/t AuEq or 1,533 g/t AgEq) over 1.4m; hole LRGM-21-068 with 0.6 g/t Au and 155 g/t Ag (2.68 g/t AuEq or 201 g/t AgEq) over 12.9m, including 3.56 g/t Au and 872 g/t Ag (15.19 g/t AuEq or 1,139 g/t AgEq) over 0.7m; hole LRGM-21-077 with 1.51 g/t Au and 376 g/t Ag (6.52 g/t AuEq or 489 g/t AgEq) over 36.3m, including 6.94 g/t Au and 1,683 g/t Ag (29.78 g/t AuEq or 2,204 g/t AgEq) over 6.5m, including 21.8 g/t Au and 5,040 g/t Ag (89 g/t AuEq or 6,675 g/t AgEq) over 1m, plus 5.02 g/t Au and 1,385 g/t Ag (2,349 g/t AuEq or 1,762 g/t AgEq) over 1.6m; and hole LRGM-21-089 with 0.81 g/t Au and 151 g/t Ag (2.82 g/t AuEq or 212 g/t AgEq) over 24.1m, including 2.87 g/t Au and 426 g/t Ag (8.56 g/t AuEq or 641 g/t AgEq) over 4.2m, including 4.18 g/t Au and 748 g/t Ag (14.15 g/t AuEq or 1,061 g/t AgEq). The company is pleased with the drilling results on Mololoa Area and will continue its aggressive resource expansion drilling program at Los Ricos North deposit. GoGold also will commence drilling at the Cabrera zone, which is the newest target for Los Ricos North deposit.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Ranchero Gold Corp., announced the appointment of its President effective immediately (Santa Daniela project, Sonora).
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., announced the appointment of its new President and Director. This appointment follows the resignation of Robert Eadie as President of the Company.   Mr. Eadie remains as Chairman, CEO and a director of the Company.  (San Martin mine, Queretaro).
  • Capitan Mining Inc., entered into a purchase agreement to acquire a portfolio of royalties including a 2% royalty on the Capitan Gold oxide deposit in Durango from Exploraciones Altiplano. Total purchase price of royalty portfolio is USD $1M over two years, payable in cash and shares. “Any shares issued to Altiplano are subject to right of first refusal (ROFR) allowing Capitan to market and place shares with investors if Altiplano elects to sell. This transaction with Altiplano in combination with Capitan’s contractual option to retire Riverside Resources 1% royalty for CAD $250K will leave the Peñoles project royalty free and will enhance overall project economics for investors.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Pitarrilla project in Durango State from SSR Mining Inc., for total consideration of USD $70M and a 1.25% NSR. The USD $70M will consists of USD $35M in Endeavour shares and a further USD $35M in cash or in Endeavour shares at the election of SSR Mining. The number of Endeavour shares to be issued will be based on a deemed price of USD $4.085 per share.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Compañia Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.), along with local municipal authorities from the Valles Centrales de Oaxaca and Cuenca de Papaloapan Regions delivered toys to more than 20,000 girls and boys from Oaxaca. The delivery of toys is an example of the coordinated work that Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán carries out permanently with different communities, as part of its commitment to generate shared development and well-being in Oaxaca.

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On the picture above, secondary copper staining on an IOCG project in Sonora, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of August, 2021

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 33rd week of the year (August 16th to August 22nd, 2021), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, four companies posted exploration advances on their properties, four posted on mining/quarterly reports, two on mining issues, four on financing or shares  and five more on project development or resource definition and one more on a property acquisition. ON MEXICO ISSUES, No relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Aloro Mining informed on continuation of drilling at Los Venados. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold announced one more drilling campaign at Amalia. In Sinaloa, Vizsla Silver updated on exploration at Panuco. In Nayarit, Xali Gold submitted drilling applications for El Dorado.    ON MINING, Americas Gold and Silver, Prime Mining, First Majestic Silver, and Impact Silver presented second quarter 2021 reports. Mexus Gold shipped its first activated carbon. Gold Resource halted activities due to increase in COVID cases among its workforce. ON FINANCING, Candelaria Mining will not complete the proposed private placement. Galore Resources is to extend the expiry date of some warrants. Kootenay Silver is to spin-out its Canadian assets into another company. Magna Gold closed the previously announced private placement for C$10 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Sierra Metals announced a 10,000 tpd PEA for its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua. Fabled Silver Gold released more results from drilling at Santa Maria. Excellon Resources released high grade Ag-Pb-Zn drilling results from Platosa. GoGold Resources informed on results of drilling at the Casados deposit at Los Ricos project. Sonoro Gold reported results of metallurgical tests at Cerro Caliche.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Starcore International Mines acquired the Tecouitla claims in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, No relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Xali Gold Corp. informed exploration permit applications have been submitted for El Dorado project in Nayarit. The plus 2,000 m program envisaged will test potential lateral extensions to high-grade zones to better define plunging mineralization shoots, and collection of a bulk sample from El Hundido mine.
  • Radius Gold Inc. announced that the phase five drilling campaign has commenced at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Pan American Silver Corp., the project operator plans to deploy a second rig to test El Cuervo target.
  • Aloro Mining Corp. informed that Alamos Gold Inc. is to resume the reconnaissance drill program on the Los Venados claims in Sonora. Alamos has already exceeded its first year exploration commitment; the current program is focused on outcropping low sulfidation epithermal mineralization.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. provided an update on its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Due to the current rise in Covid cases in Sinaloa, Vizsla will keep the current pause in activities at the property until the end of the month, and then gradually increase activities through September. Resource drilling is being done at Napoleon (950 x 350 m area) and Tajitos (550 m x 300 m area), exploration drilling is testing the Napoleon, Cinco Señores, Cordon de Oro and Animas Corridors. Preliminary metallurgical testing is being done on Napoleon vein material, and geotechnical and hydrogeological studies are being conducted. Drilling programmed for the remainder of 2021 comprises 35,000 m.  

ON MINING

  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. reported second quarter 2021 consolidated financial and operational results. For Mexico, the company reported that it “signed an agreement with the Mexican Ministries of Economy, Interior and Labour along with union representatives committing to a re‐opening at the Cosalá Operations.    The agreement contemplates immediate right to possession of the property with joint inspections coordinated by the Ministry of Labor, so that the mine and mill can re‐start operations in a safe and sustainable manner”. (Note from writer. – The mine was paralyzed by a dispute between two unions over a year ago, with strong political connotations).
  • Prime Mining Corp. reported its operational and financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021, end in April 2021. During April the company completed a private placement for gross proceeds of CAN$28.75 M. Also in the period, drilling at Los Reyes in Sinaloa intersected up to 20.1 m @ 3.25 gpt Au, 389 gpt Ag, 3.8 m @ 3.69 gpt Au, 305 gpt Ag, 4.5 m @ 8.95 gpt Au, 74 gpt Ag; 18.7 m @ 1.96 gpt Au, 63 gpt Ag; 39.0 m @ 0.7 gpt Au, 29 gpt Ag. Cash at the end of the period stood at Can$32 M.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. announced the consolidated financial results for the second quarter 2021. During the period the company processed 826.2 K tonnes, to produce 3.27 M Oz Ag, or 6.43 Oz AgEq at $13.89 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $19.42 per Oz AgEq. In Mexico, the production came from San Dimas, in Durango, La Encantada, in Coahuila, and Santa Elena, in Sonora.
  • Mexus Gold US. confirmed the first shipment of activated carbon from its Santa Elena mining operation in Sonora (Not to mistake with First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora).
  • Gold Resource Corp. informed that as result of a steep climb in COVID-19 infections, the company is reducing its activities at the Don David mine in Oaxaca. The measure is to last for at least ten days. “The operations will continue with those employees and contractors who have agreed to stay in the camp for periods longer than the usual rotation to create a bubble”.
  • Impact Silver Corp. announced its financial and operational results for the second quarter 2021. The cash balance at the end of the quarter was $22.4 M. The mill processed 37.8 K tonnes @ 147 gpt Ag to produce 150.3 K Oz Ag. Some results of its ongoing 10,000 m drilling campaign include 9.8 m @ 211 gpt Ag and 13.85 m @ 186 gpt Ag.

ON FINANCING

  • Candelaria Mining Corp. informed that the company will not be proceeding with the proposed brokered private placement previously announced (Pinos, Zacatecas, Guerrero).
  • Galore Resources Inc. proposed to extend the expiry date of 5.6 M share purchase warrants from September 2021 to September 2024 (Dos Santos, Zacatecas).
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. board approved a spin-out of 80% of its Canadian exploration assets. Once the arrangement becomes effective, Kootenay shareholders will own shares in two public companies, one focusing in Mexico and the other in Canada (Columba, Chihuahua).
  • Magna Gold Corp. closed the previously announced private placement of C$10 M convertible debentures (San Francisco, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Sierra Metals Inc. announced a 10 K tonnes per day positive preliminary economic assessment (PEA) to include iron ore production at its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua. The report envisages an updated after-tax net present value (NPV) of US$361 M at an 8% discount rate, an IRR of 27.9%, net after-tax cash flow of US$650 M with a life of mine (LOM) copper grade of 0.72% and iron ore at 13.5%, an operating cost of US$25.62/tonne and US$1.50 per Lb CuEq, to produce 55 M Lb Cu in 14 years. Current indicated resources stand at 19.4 M tonnes @ 0.77% Cu, 15.1 gpt Ag, 0.21 gpt Au, 13.8% Fe, containing 149.1 K tonnes Cu, 9.4 M Oz Ag, 127.8 K Oz Au, and inferred resources at 21.4 M tonnes @ 0.78% Cu, 14.2 gpt Ag, 0.21 gpt Au, containing 167.1 K tonnes Cu, 9.8 M Oz Ag, 145.6 K Oz Au.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. announced more results from surface drilling at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 0.85 m @ 0.98 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag; 0.80 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 63 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 20.10 m @ 0.18 gpt Au, 35 gpt Ag, 1.1% Pb, 0.7% Zn, 0.09% Cu (including 5.90 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 97 gpt Ag, 3.3% Pb, 1.5% Zn, 0.25% Cu).
  • Excellon Resources Inc. released results from underground drilling at Platosa, in Durango. Some of the highlighted core length intervals: 3.0 m @ 227 gpt Ag, 2.3% Pb, 2.0% Zn, 0.1 gpt Au; 1.3 m @ 360 gpt Ag, 10.1% Pb, 10.2% Zn; 1.3 m @ 692 gpt Ag, 9.3% Pb, 6.3% Zn; 1.2 m @ 544 gpt Ag, 5.9% Pb, 3.9% Zn; 1.6 m @ 1,647 gpt Ag, 12.3% Pb, 11.6% Zn, 0.1gpt Au; 5.2 m @ 1,051 gpt Ag, 12.1% Pb, 13.1% Zn, 0.2 gpt Au (including 2.3 m @ 1,985 gpt Ag, 22.8% Pb, 17.2% Zn); 2.5 m @ 784 gpt Ag, 7.7% Pb, 13.9% Zn, 0.3 gpt Au; 3.1 m @ 581 gpt Ag, 5.7% Pb, 11.4% Zn, 0.1 gpt Au; 1.4 m @ 1,050 gpt Ag, 3.4 % Pb, 2.0% Zn; 3.1 m @ 289 gpt Ag, 2.2% Pb, 3.7% Zn. “Drilling from underground continues to define and expand known mineralization ahead of production at the 623, NE-1 and NE-1S Mantos. Most significantly, drilling into the 623 and NE-1 Mantos continues to improve understanding and confidence, and extend mineralization in these areas”.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. informed on results from seven drill holes at the Casados deposit at the Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intervals: 19.0 m @ 0.54 gpt Au, 131 gpt Ag (including 1.3 m @ 5.16 gpt Au, 1,319 gpt Ag); 9.5 m @ 0.50 gpt Au, 233 gpt Ag; 41.6 m @ 1.25 gpt Au, 218 gpt Ag (including 8.9 m @ 4.71 gpt Au, 698 gpt Ag); 19.2 m @ 0.53 gpt Au, 185 gpt Ag (including 8.5 m @ 1.14 gpt Au, 594 gpt Ag); 8.2 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 82 gpt Ag. “The Casados Veins strike nearly E-W, dips 45o to the north and is hosted in andesitic tuffs and is exposed on surface for about 400 metres along strike…… A zone of silicification up to 50 metres wide envelopes the vein and this resistant outcrop forms a steep ridge along the strike of the vein, particularly on the north or hanging wall side”.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. reported results from metallurgical tests on mineralized material from Cerro Caliche in Sonora. The column metallurgical test returned an average of 74% recovery of gold for the 80% minus 12.5 mm feed material. The 4.7 tonnes sample was obtained from ten PQ (8.5 cm diameter) holes totaling 428 lineal meters. Little to no sulfur and organic carbon were observed on the testing. “There were no obvious variations in gold recovery related to ore zone or material type (vein breccia vs. stock work)”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. informed on the acquisition of the 3,088 hectares Tecoutila claims from Minera Tecouitla, S.A. de C.V.. Previous exploration in the property reported nine veins with lengths of up to 2.1 Km, widths of 0.5 to 1.1 m and grades of up to 10.30 gpt Au, 241 gpt Ag.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No relevant news.

On the image below:  Workings and vein trace on a project in northern Sonora. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 31st week of the year (August 2nd to August 8th, 2021), at least 34 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, seven companies posted exploration advances on their properties, twelve posted on mining/quarterly reports and eight more on project development or resource definition. ON MEXICO ISSUES, No relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Aztec Minerals informed on soil sampling results at Cervantes; Canuc released information on current drilling at San Javier; Silver Spruce completed a 2,485 m RC drill program at El Mezquite. In Chihuahua, Monarca Minerals obtained the drill permit for San José. In Sinaloa, Brigadier Gold discovered silver rich copper mineralization associated to a porphyritic intrusive. In Durango, Silver Wolf Exploration informed on mapping and sampling at Ana Maria. In Oaxaca, Madoro Metals informed on skarn mineralization sampling at Yautepec.    ON MINING, Excellon Resources, Starcore International, Consolidated Zinc, McEwen Mining, Equinox Gold, Torex Gold, Golden Minerals and Great Panther Mining presented quarterly reports. Equinox Gold reported the end of the illegal blockade at Los Filos. Altaley initiated a metallurgical testing program at Campo Morado. Avino Silver announced the re-start of mining operations at Avino. Guanajuato Silver is stockpiling material from El Cubo mine. ON FINANCING, Altaley Mining informed there is no reason for the decline in its stock price. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Fabled Silver released drilling results from Santa Maria. Orla Mining provided high-grade drill results from the Camino Rojo sulfide deposit. Orex Minerals informed on metallurgical results from Coneto. Prime Mining reported drilling results from Los Reyes. Defiance Silver released drill results from its Zacatecas project. Mexican Gold Mining announced a positive PEA on Las Minas. Discovery Silver released drill results from Cordero. Mag Silver reported results from 2020 drilling at Juanicipio.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, No relevant news. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, No relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd. informed on exploration at its 2,549 hectares Ana Maria project in Durango. Four field geologists and a consulting senior geologist are working in the property, mapping and collecting 290 rock chip samples to date. Hyperspectral and lidar drone surveys have been carried out, and an IP geophysical program is being planned. 
  • Madoro Metals Corp. provided an update on exploration on the southern portion of the Yautepec property in Oaxaca. Skarn mineralization has returned up to 1,200 gpt Ag, 4.0% Cu, 20.0% Pb, 5.0% Zn, 45 ppm Mo, 2.74% As, 1,620 ppm Ba, 1.4 ppm Hg, 285 ppm Sb. “The skarn-hornfels complex lies just outside of the recently mapped southwestern margin of the Yautepec caldera …….. The area lies 13 kilometers distant from similar polymetallic Ag-base metal mineralization found along the eastern caldera margin at the historically identified Las Minas area”.
  • Aztec Minerals Corp. updated on exploration at its 3,649 hectares Cervantes property in Sonora. A 477-soil sample program was completed in a 100 by 100 meters grid covering 518 ha; additionally 110 rock chip samples were collected. The soil sampling returned up to 3,605 ppb Au, 1,380 ppm Cu and 52 ppm Mo, whereas the rock chip samples returned up to 21.3 ppm Au, 2,300 ppm Cu, 625 ppm Mo. The soil sampling completed in this program elevates the total covered by such a survey to 1,200 ha, or 35% of the project area.
  • Brigadier Gold Ltd. informed on a silver-rich copper discovery at its Picachos project in Sinaloa. A 110 m trench dug in the Las Colinas prospect returned results of 9.0 m @ 135 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 0.2% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 0.1% Bi, 47 ppm W (including 2 m @ 478 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 0.2% Cu, 0.5% Pb, 0.3% Bi). “The significance of this geological finding is that these mineralized porphyritic apophyses with associated copper and other metals may expand at depth and intensify”.
  • Canuc Resources Corp. informed on exploration advances at its San Javier project in Sonora. A drill hole targeting a magnetic high encountered massive magnetite at 343 m of depth, and is still on it at 380 m. Sphalerite, marmatite and chalcopyrite have been identified in stringers during preliminary logging, and are to be sampled. Six high-grade silver samples were sent for mineralogical studies, with most of the silver minerals consisting of halides (AgCl, AgBr, AgI, AgF) and acanthite.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. announced the completion of the phase 1 reverse circulation drilling at El Mezquite in Sonora. A total of 2,485 m were drilled in twenty holes on a 400 by 600 m area. “Collars were defined by several northeast-trending veins, structural lineaments and oxide/sulphide transitions interpreted from geological mapping, precious metal assays, multi-element geochemistry, epithermal alteration assemblages and coincident 3D IP chargeability anomalies”.
  • Monarca Minerals Inc. obtained the environmental permit (Informe Preventivo) to complete its planned 5,000 m drill program at its San José project in Chihuahua. Drilling is expected to commence within the next four weeks.

ON MINING

  • Excellon Resources Inc. reported second quarter 2012 financial results. During the period 21.8 K tonnes were mined, 21.6 K tonnes milled at La Platosa, Durango, averaging 489 gpt Ag, 5.14% Pb, 6.48% Zn, recovering 87.0% Ag, 78.6% Pb, 79.4% Zn, to produce 296 K Oz Ag, 1.93 M Lb Pb, 2.46 M Lb Zn, or 489 K Oz AgEq. Cash cost was $11.96 per Ag Oz and AISC  $26.69 per Ag Oz.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. filed the results for the year ended April 30, 2021. During the year the San Martin mine in Queretaro milled 225.5 K tonnes @ 1.63 gpt Au, 24.7 gpt Ag, recovering 87.3% Au, 57.5% Ag, to produce 10.5 K Oz Au, 103.4 K Oz Ag, or 11.8 K Oz AuEq. The mine operating cash cost per AuEq Oz was US$1,056.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. presented its quarterly activities report. Commercial production commenced at the refurbished Plomosas plant in Chihuahua, with 8,655 tonnes mined, 9,079 tonnes processed @ 15.1% Zn, 7.4% Pb, 54 gpt Ag, with recoveries of 52.5% Zn, 41.2% Pb.
  • Equinox Gold Corp. reported that the illegal community blockade at its Los Filos mine in Guerrero has been removed, and regular operations resumed on all areas.
  • Altaley Mining Corp. initiated a metallurgical testing program to increase base and precious metals recoveries at its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero. Testing by the previous operator in 2013 achieved 45-65% Au and 75-81% Ag, while current recoveries are 20% Au, 40% Ag. “The Leachox process is a partial sulphide oxidation process for the recovery of gold and silver from sulphide minerals….. but central to the Leachox process is the Aachen shear reactor. In the leach process, it enhances the kinetics and reduces reagent consumptions (oxygen, cyanide, and lime) which otherwise can be prohibitive”.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. announced mining operations restarted at its Avino mine in Durango. “Management expects throughput at the mill will ramp-up quickly to levels prior to shut down. In addition, we are infill-drilling the oxide tailings resource that sits within our tailings storage facility, as well as continuing the previously reported exploration drill program”.
  • McEwen Mining Inc. reported its second quarter 2021 results, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At El Gallo, in Sinaloa, residual leaching produced 1,300 AuEq Oz from the leach pad. “The residual leaching activities at El Gallo are expected to wind down in early 2022”.
  • Equinox Gold Corp. delivered its second quarter 2021 financial and operating results, including information from its Mexican operations. During the period the acquisition of Premier Gold Mines Ltd. taking 100% control of the Mercedes mine in Sonora. Its updated production guidance for 2021 includes 120-140 K Oz Au from Los Filos and 30-35 K Oz Au from Mercedes, at cash cost of $1,590-$1,660 and $750-$800 respectively. “The primary change to gold production guidance is from Los Filos, where illegal blockades during the quarter disrupted mining activities and delayed access to higher-grade ore”. Production guidance was reduced by 50 K Oz Au due to these illegal blockades.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported financial and operational results for the second quarter 2021. During the period 118,054 Oz Au were produced, generating free cash flow of $21.9 M, taking the net cash to $191.5 M. The new mineral resource update of 3.54 M Oz AuEq at 5.27 gpt Au on indicated resources for Media Luna was released past June. The expansion of the open pit at El Limón was approved and is expected to result in the increase of 150 K Oz Au in additional production, providing a smoother transition to the Media Luna deposit mining. The Media Luna feasibility study is to contemplate a conventional mining basis, although a smaller satellite deposit could be developed with the proprietary Muckahi mining system.
  • Golden Minerals Co. provided financial results for the second quarter 2021. The company obtained a $2.5 M net operating margin related to the Rodeo mine operations in Durango., where 3,634 Oz Au were produced. The mill in Velardeña processed the Rodeo ore at a rate of greater than 500 tpd during May and June. Cash and cash equivalents were $6.9 M by the end of the quarter.
  • Great Panther Mining Ltd. announced consolidated financial results for the second quarter 2021, including figures from its Mexican operations. A total of 56 K tonnes were milled in Mexico averaging 327 gpt AgEq.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. is stockpiling ore from El Cubo mine in Guanajuato in advance of the recommencement of operations at El Cubo mill. The mineralized material is coming from the 2175, 1850 and Cebolletas stopes, which are summarized as the Villalpando stopes, same that will provide most of the material for the operation of the plant in the immediate future.

ON FINANCING

  • Altaley Mining Corp. advised there is no operational or financial reason for the decline in its stock price (Campo Morado, Guerrero).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. released drilling results from its Santa María Project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length results comprise 9.0 m @ 0.10 gpt Au, 50 gpt Ag; 1.50 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 144 gpt Ag; 5.40 m @ 0.41 gpt Au, 29 gpt Ag; 2.20 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 122 gpt Ag; 3.70 m @ 0.18 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag; 2.90 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 93 gpt Ag (including 1.15 m @ 0.07 gpt Au, 191 gpt Ag). New underground drilling stations are being planned to better define the structures.
  • Orla Mining Ltd. provided results of oriented in-fill core drilling at its Camino Rojo sulfide deposit in Zacatecas. Highlighted core length intervals in the press release comprise 108.0 m @ 2.38 gpt Au; 111.0 m @ 2.63 gpt Au; 58.5 m @ 2.51 gpt Au; 115.5 m @ 2.11 gpt Au; 64.6 m @ 3.04 gpt Au; 55.5 m @ 4.47 gpt Au; 55.5 m @ 4.95 gpt Au; 58.5 m @ 2.10 gpt Au; 87.0 m @ 2.27 gpt Au; 44.7 m @ 3.26 gpt Au. “The drill results confirm the presence of wide, higher-grade gold zones within the sulphide mineral resource, and the Company intends to further explore the potential for open pit or underground bulk mining methods”.
  • Orex Minerals Inc. informed its joint venture partner (55%) Fresnillo PLC has received metallurgical testing results for the Coneto project in Durango. Recoveries in seven zones with head grades of 0.80-3.00 gpt Au, 9-229 gpt Ag averaged 66.1 to 98.5% Au and 72.9 to 92.3% Ag.
  • Prime Mining Corp. reported drill results from six holes collared on San Miguel East, at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width (tw) intervals comprise 7.5 m @ 2.50 gpt Au, 118 gpt Ag (including 3.4 m @ 4.57 gpt Au, 140 gpt Ag); 15.0 m @ 1.02 gpt Au, 51 gpt Ag (including 3.0 m @ 4.11 gpt Au, 13 gpt Ag); 1.4 m @ 1.59 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 5.6 m @ 0.82 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag; 0.7 m @ 1.55 gpt Au; 3.8 m @ 1.58 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag, 1.4 m @ 1.18 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag. “Discovery of the Fresnillo structure within San Miguel East’s current and expanding open-pit boundary is favorable and will reduce the stripping ratio of waste rock. Results from our initial drilling at Las Primas are early stage and very promising with the potential to add another deposit within the area of our existing eight deposits”.
  • Defiance Silver Corp. released drill results from its Zacatecas project in Zacatecas. Highlighted core-length results comprise 3.15 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 118 gpt Ag, 0.2% Zn (including 1.25 m @ 0.20 gpt Au, 254 gpt Ag); 2.22 m @ 0.01 gpt Au, 138 gpt Ag; 16.47 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 106 gpt Ag, 0.3% Zn (including 8.28 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 166 gpt Ag, which in turn includes 4.55 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 241 gpt Ag, 0.2% Zn).
  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp. announced a positive preliminary economic assessment (PEA) study for its Las Minas project in Veracruz. A new mineral resource estimate of 4.13 M tonnes @ 1.96 gpt Au, 4.6 gpt Ag, 1.08% Cu, 14.8% Magnetite in indicated resources and 5.20 M tonnes @ 1. 44 gpt Au, 6.0 gpt Ag, 0.95% Cu, 17.5% Magnetite in inferred resources, containing 443 K AuEq Oz and 361 K AuEq Oz respectively, with the estimated recoveries of 80% Au, 70% Ag, 90% Cu, 90% Magnetite. The PEA envisages an 8.5-year mine life with cash cost of $786 per AuEq Oz and an AISC of US$928 per AuEq Oz.
  • Discovery Silver Corp. released results from 21 diamond drill holes at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 132.6 m @ 78 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 1.7% Pb, 2.8% Zn, or 260 gpt AgEq (including 46.3 m @ 110 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 2.4% Pb, 5.9% Zn; 77.1 m @ 55 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 1.4% Pb, 1.8% Zn, or 190 gpt AgEq (including 19.6 m @ 137 gpt Ag, 0.25 gpt Au, 3.7% Pb, 3.2% Zn); 86.2 m @ 51 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 1.2% Pb, 2.2% Zn or 192 gpt AgEq (including 36.5 m @ 97 gpt Ag, 0.16 gpt Au, 2.3% Pb, 4.3% Zn); 81.4 m @ 43 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 0.9% Pb, 2.5% Zn, or 184 gpt AgEq (including 44.6 m @ 60 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 1.3% Pb, 3.4% Zn). The upcoming resource estimate is to be released later this quarter.
  • Mag Silver Corp. reported results from 2020 drilling on the Juanicipio project (56%/44% Joint Venture between Fresnillo PLC and Mag Silver) in Zacatecas. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 21.0 m @ 357 gpt Ag, 0.9 gpt Au, 1.6% Pb, 3.1% Zn, 0.2% Cu (including 6.1 m @ 1,023 gpt Ag, 1.6 gpt Au, 2.2% Pb, 1.7% Zn, 0.3% Cu); 18.1 m @ 198 gpt Ag, 3.9 gpt Au, 4.2% Pb, 10.0% Zn, 0.4% Cu in the Valdecañas Vein Deep Zone; 3.1 m @ 3,584 gpt Ag, 5.7 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 5.2 m @ 1,356 gpt Ag, 3.3 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn in the Valdecañas Vein Bonanza Zone; 10.3 m @ 112 gpt Ag, 0.6 gpt Au, 3.2% Pb, 6.2% Zn, 0.1% Cu; 7.6 m @ 101 gpt Ag, 2.4 gpt Au, 2.9% Pb, 3.5% Zn, 0.2% Cu in the Anticipada vein; 0.90 m @ 580 gpt Ag, 2.7 gpt Au in the Venadas vein; 1.9 m @ 607 gpt Ag, 9.8 gpt Au in the Valentina vein. A core length interval of 278.9 m @ 31 gpt Ag, 1.3% Zn, 0.1% Cu was obtained in the Skarn zone surrounding the Valdecañas Vein at depth.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No relevant news.

On the image below:  Low sulfidation epithermal quartz vein from a project in northern Sonora. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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Mesothermal sheeted quartz veins

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 16th week of the year (April 19th to April 25th, 2021), at least 33 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 5 news published by the media, with twelve informing on exploration results, nine disclosing deals and corporate issues, five commenting on Mexican issues, four announcing financial rounds, four reporting on resources and development, three communicating production results, and one discussing social issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Ministry of Economy issued an informative note to correct what President López Obrador said about the expansion of the operations of the mining company El Boleo that operates in Baja California Sur. Fernando Alanís, president of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (Camimex), stated that the mining industry in Mexico paid MXP $30,374M in taxes during 2020. The Mining Chamber of Mexico (Camimex) stressed that mining is a tractor industry that, in addition to boosting the regional economy, supports the development of other economic activities. The Mexican mining industry called on the environmental authorities to hold a dialogue to understand the reasons why the permits are being stopped. Representatives of the Mexican Mining industry asked the federal government to reactivate mineral concessions to increase investments in the sector. ON EXPLORATION, In Baja California, One World Lithium commenced the DDH-3 drilling program at its Salar del Diablo project. In Sonora, Alamos Gold commenced an initial drilling program at Los Venados project, Silver Spruce and its partner received the approved environmental permit from SEMARNAT to drill its El Mezquite project, and Colibri released trenching sampling results from its flagship Evelyn project. In Chihuahua, Mammoth reported results from an additional 2km 3D modeling IP/Mag survey conducted at its Tenoriba project.  In Sinaloa, Kootenay provided an update on the current drilling program conducted at its Copalito project. In Durango, Mithril informed on the exploration activities carried out during Q1, 2021 at its Copalquin project. In Zacatecas, Advance Gold announced drilling results from its Tabasquena project, and Zacatecas Silver reported that it has completed first pass geological and structural mapping, and sampling of the San Gil breccia Zone at its Zacatecas Silver project. In Jalisco, GoGold released results from eight diamond holes collared at its Los Ricos North project. ON MINING, Golden Minerals reported Q1, 2021 production results from its Rodeo mine in Durango. Gold Resource announced Q1, 2021 preliminary production results from its Oaxaca Mining Unit in Oaxaca. McEwen reported the production of 1, 300 Oz AuEq (GEOs) from residual leaching at its El Gallo mine in Sinaloa during the first quarter of 2021.  ON  FINANCING, Colibri granted 1.9M incentive stock options to officers, directors, and consultants (Evelyn project, Sonora). Empress Royalty granted 8.9M stock options to directors, officers, consultants, and employees (Pinos project, Zacatecas). Pantera Silver applied to trade on the OTCQB Venture Market operated by the OTC Markets Group Inc. in New York (The Nuevo Taxco Silver project, Guerrero). Sonoro closed its oversubscribed non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $3,111.045 (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora).   ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Discovery Silver presented results from 13 diamond holes collared at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Excellon reported underground expansion and exploration drilling results from its Platosa mine in Durango. Sierra Metals announced an investment of USD $28M for the construction of an iron ore processing plant to produce magnetite concentrate at its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua. Silver Tiger released high-grade drilling results from its El Tigre project in Sonora.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Empress appointed a new member to its Board of Directors, and two members as Strategic and Technical Advisors (Pinos project, Zacatecas).  Golden Goliath held its annual general meeting of shareholders (San Timoteo property, Chihuahua). Goldgroup provided a legal update on its dispute with DynaResource regards the San Jose de Gracia property in Sinaloa. Inomin announced the hiring of two members to lead its exploration program in Oaxaca, Mexico (La Gitana project, Oaxaca). Masivo Silver announced it is moving forward to sign a definitive agreement on several mineralized mining concessions comprising La Santa Madre project in Sinaloa. Ridgestone appointed Dante E Aguilar as its Mexican Country Manager (Rebeico project, Sonora). Santacruz announced that the acquisition of the Zimapan mine assets from Minera Cedros, S.A.de C.V. together with the USD $17.6M loan facility from Trafigura Mexico, S.A. de C.V., are now expected to close on or about April 23, 2021. Silver Bull presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Sierra Mojada project, Coahuila).  Vizsla Silver announced the spinout of Vizsla Copper through a statutory plan of arrangement (Panuco project, Sinaloa).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Torex signed an agreement to build a solar plant at its Morelos property.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Ministry of Economy issued an informative note to correct what President López Obrador said about the expansion of the operations of the mining company El Boleo that operates in Baja California Sur. The mining and metallurgical company is seeking an expansion in the surface of its operations and not a new concession as stated by the president. In July 2019, El Boleo requested an expansion of its environmental impact statement, in which it requested an expansion of its mine by 446 hectares contiguous to its current operation. They indicated that this is because the life of the main mine is running out and its mineral reserves are in this adjoining land. The statement indicates that the mining project began construction in December 2010, with an investment of USD $1,717M, and began production in 2015. The company produces copper, cobalt, zinc and manganese. Currently, the mining company employs 1,282 direct jobs (836 unionized and 446 trusted).
  • Fernando Alanís, president of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (Camimex), stated that the mining industry in Mexico paid MXP $30,374M in taxes during 2020. He also highlighted that those that refer to the fact that the industry pays little are myths, as he highlighted that around 10.6% of the Gross Domestic Product generated by the industry is destined to the payment of taxes, higher than the 7.6% of the manufacturing industry, or the 6.1% of the electricity sector. Fernando Alanis detailed that of the total taxes paid, MXP $24,205M are for Income Tax (ISR), while there are MXP $2,576M in surface rights and MXP $3,593M in new rights.
  • The Mining Chamber of Mexico (Camimex) stressed that mining is a tractor industry that, in addition to boosting the regional economy, supports the development of other economic activities. It drives construction with average annual investments of USD $5B a year. The same occurs with the transport of materials, by promoting the movement of 8.7M tons per year that travel 100.2million kilometers on the roads (78%) and railways (22%) of Mexico. It also boosts port activity, with the export and import of 474M tonnes of materials per year. In total, the transportation costs of mining companies in Mexico total USD $245M per year. Through the mining clusters (Zacatecas, Sonora, Chihuahua, Guerrero and Sinaloa) a local supply has been developed that amounts to 9,700 national supplier companies, 90% of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For Mexico, the mining industry is an outstanding generator of income, contributing 8.3% to the industrial GDP and 2.5% to the national GDP. It is also a large generator of jobs, with more than 379,000 direct jobs and almost 2 million indirect jobs.
  • The Mexican mining industry called on the environmental authorities to hold a dialogue to understand the reasons why the permits are being stopped and to work together to unlock authorizations for Environmental Impact Manifestations (MIAs) that are being held at the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources which have stopped several mining projects in the country. Mining in Mexico has a robust environmental legislation that is permanently addressed, among which the General Law of Equilibrium and the Environmental Protection, as well as seven Official Mexican Standards and the general regulation that exists for activity in protected natural areas in Mexico, among others.
  • Representatives of the Mexican Mining industry asked the federal government to reactivate mineral concessions to increase investments in the sector. No new mining concessions have been granted in the country since 2019 and the effects of this were reflected in a lower Foreign Direct Investment in the sector.

ON EXPLORATION

  • One World Lithium Inc., commenced the DDH-3 drilling program at its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California. DDH-3 is located 50Km south of DDH-2 and depending on results, the company may drill more diamond drill holes in the immediate area.
  • Alamos Gold Inc., and its partner Aloro Mining Corp., commenced an initial drilling program at Los Venados project at the Mulatos mining district in Sonora. The initial drilling program will be focused on testing high sulphidation gold mineralization near the Mulatos open pit as well as on low sulphidation gold mineralization to the north where some high grade veins have been identified.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., and its partner Colibri Resource Corporation, received the approved environmental permit from SEMARNAT to drill its El Mezquite project in Sonora. The phase 1 will consists of 2,000m. The drill permit was granted for 14 drill pads over the targets in the northern area of the concession. 
  • Colibri Resource Corporation released trenching sampling results from its flagship Evelyn project in Sonora. Highlights include four high grade samples from El Sahuaro target area with results of 44.9 g/t Au and 21 g/ Ag; 8.24 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag, 23.3 g/t Au and 16 g/t Ag; and 39.6 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., reported results from an additional 2km 3D modeling IP/Mag survey conducted at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua.  The geophysical survey defines a strong correlation between anomalous Au values found from soil, chips, and channel samples, as well as Au values found in numerous diamond holes, extending these coincident features over what now totals 2.4Km trend of a larger 6km trend of surface  Au-Ag mineralization at Tenoriba project.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., provided an update on the current drilling program conducted at its Copalito project in Sinaloa. It has completed 1,600m of the planned 3,500m over 19 shallow drill holes. Highlights include hole BDH-20-004 collared at 5 Senores Vein with 0.28 g/t Au and 1,297 g/t Ag (1,323 g/t AgEq) over 3.2m, including 0.14 g/t Au and 2,830 g/t Ag (2,843 g/t AgEq) over 1m; hole BDH-20-15 collared at Pilar Vein with 0.48 g/t Au, 40 g/t Ag, and 1.2% Pb+Zn (111 g/t AgEq) over 7m, including 2.28 g/t Au, 51 g/t Ag, and 6.2% Pb+Zn (394 g/t AgEq) over 1.2m; hole BDH-20-33 collared at Pilar Vein with 0.7 g/t Au, 101 g/t Ag, and 2.3% Pb+Zn (215 g/t AgEq) over 2.7m, including 7.05 g/t Au, 59 g/t Ag, and 13.5% Pb+Zn (1.210 g/t AgEq) over 0.2m; and hole BDH-20-040 collared at 5 Senores Vein with 6.65 g/t Au, 335 g/t Ag, and 2.6% Pb+Zn (933 g/t AgEq) over 2.25m, including 16.95 g/t Au, 369 g/t Ag, and 3.7% Pb+Zn (1,813 g/t AgEq) over 0.51m, and 2.09 g/t Au, 124 g/t Ag, and 0.8% Pb+Zn (311 g/t AgEq) over 9.05m. The Program has focused primarily on the 5 Senores vein, with drilling now stepping out to test the Agua and Chiva Veins.
  • Mithril Resources Inc., informed on the exploration activities carried out during Q1, 2021 at its Copalquin project in Durango. The company is focused on delivering maiden JORC Au-Ag resource for El Refugio target in H2, 2021, where hole CDH-050 intersected 62 g/t Au and 445 g/t Ag over 4.17m. The drill plan for the next quarter is to drill test deeper part of the target. At La Soledad target, hole CDH-054 encountered 10.36 g/t Au and 81 g/t Ag over 4.88m, extending the mineralization further to the west and down dip. The company also informed that it has completed the soil sampling program within El Cometa and Reyes project areas.
  • Advance Gold Corp., announced drilling results from its Tabasquena project in Zacatecas. Hole AGT-23 intersected two zones, one of 0.63 g/t Au, 20 g/t Ag, 3.5% Pb,  and 8% Zn over 2m, and a second zone of 0.04 g/t Au, 6 g/t Ag, 0.18% Pb, and 1.1% Zn over 0.55m. Advance has drilled 23 holes to date and has outlined a 2,500m by 500m wide mineralized corridor and plans to carry out more mapping and geophysics to find the feeder system at  depth responsible for this widespread mineralization.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., reported that it has completed first pass geological and structural mapping, and sampling of the San Gil breccia Zone, located 2km southwest of the Veta Grande vein within its Zacatecas Silver project, Zacatecas. The company outlined a north-south trending zone of ferruginous breccia averaging 20-40m wide, over a strike length of at least 800m with strong anomalous values of Ag, Au, Zn, and As, mainly in the northern segment. The company is planning a drilling program since over 600m of the northern segment of this breccia remains untested by previous drilling.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., released results from eight diamond holes collared at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Significant mineralized drill intervals were encountered at hole LRGCS-21-016 with 0.69 g/t Au and 140 g/t Ag (2.55 g/t AuEq or 191 g/t AgEq) over 23.4m, including 4.94 g/t Au and 820 g/t Ag (15.87 g/t AuEq or 1,191 g/t AgEq) over 1m, and a second interval of 0.69 g/t Au and 151 g/t Ag (2.7 g/t AuEq or 155 g/t AgEq) over 15m, including 3.7 g/t Au and 797 g/t Ag (14.33 g/t AuEq or 1,075 g/t AgEq) over 2.2m; hole LRGCS-21-022 with 0.32 g/t Au and 115 g/t Ag (1.86 g/t AuEq or 140 g/t AgEq) over 14.9m, including 1.4 g/t Au and 664 g/t Ag (10.24 g/t AuEq or 768 g/t AgEq) over 2m; LRGCS-21-024 with 0.44 g/t Au and 116 g/t Ag (2 g/t AuEq or 150 g/t AgEq) over 21m, including 0.77 g/t Au and 211 g/t Ag (3.58 g/t AuEq or 268 g/t AgEq) over 9.3m, including 1.66 g/t Au and 392 g/t Ag (6.88 g/t AuEq or 516 g/t AgEq) over 1.7m, and a second interval of 0.37 g/t Au and 115 g/t Ag (1.91 g/t AuEq or 143 g/t AgEq) over 12m, including 1.11 g/t Au and 355 g/t Ag (5.85 g/t AuEq or 439 g/t AgEq) over 3.2m; and hole LRGCS-21-025 with 1.4 g/t Au and 201 g/t Ag (4.08 g/t AuEq or 306 g/t AgEq) over 16.8m, including 8.28 g/t Au and 700 g/t Ag (17.6 g/t AuEq or 1,320 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m. These drill results extended mineralization at Casados deposit.

ON MINING

  • Golden Minerals Company reported Q1, 2021 production results from its Rodeo mine in Durango. The company processed 18,791 tonnes of 3 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 84.3% and 86.6% respectively to produce 1,390 Oz Au and 11,289 Oz Ag. It also announced its full year 2021 production guidance in which it expects to process between 125K-135K tonnes to produce 12K-14K Oz Au, and 25K-30K Oz Ag.
  • Gold Resource Corporation announced Q1, 2021 preliminary production results from its Oaxaca Mining Unit in Oaxaca. The company produced 5,019 Oz Au, 253,061 Oz Ag, 855.7K Lb Cu, 2.6M Lb Pb, and 7M Lb Zn.
  • 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. 

ON FINANCING

  • Colibri Resource Corporation granted 1.9M incentive stock options to officers, directors, and consultants. The options have a term of five years at an exercise price of $0.10 per share (Evelyn project, Sonora). 
  • Empress Royalty Corp., granted 8.9M stock options to directors, officers, consultants, and employees. The options are exercisable for up to five years at a price of $0.5 per share and will be vested for a period of three years. (Pinos project, Zacatecas).
  • Pantera Silver Corp., applied to trade on the OTCQB Venture Market operated by the OTC Markets Group Inc. in New York. The Company’s shares will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “PNTR” (The Nuevo Taxco Silver project, Guerrero).  
  • Sonoro Gold Corp., closed its oversubscribed non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $3,111.045. Net proceeds will be used to fund ongoing development plans at its Cerro Caliche project, including completion of a metallurgical testing, preparation of a NI 43-101 resource update and a PEA, as well as for property maintenance payments, and  for corporate and general administrative expenses.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Discovery Silver Corp., presented results from 13 diamond holes collared at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Significant mineralized  intercepts were encountered in hole C20-405 with 65 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, and 1.3% Zn (165 g/t AgEq) over 128.2m, including 109 g/t Ag, 0.06 g/t Au, 2% Pb, and 1.9% Zn (263 g/t AgEq) over 26.1m; hole C21-414 with 37 g/t Ag, 0.04 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, and 1% Zn (110 g/t AgEq) over 110m, including 65 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 1.6% Pb, and 1.4% Zn (184 g/t AgEq) over 51.8m; and hole C20-407 with 78 g/t Ag, 0.08 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, and 3.6% Zn (279 g/t AgEq) over 27.4m. The results from this program will be incorporated in a new resource estimate and revamped PEA in the second half of the year.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., reported underground expansion and exploration drilling results from the Guadalupe North, 623, NE-1 and NE-1S Mantos at its Platosa mine in Durango. Highlights include hole EX21UG525 with 618 g/t Ag, 10.1% Pb, and 12% Zn (1,293 g/t AgEq) over 6.5m; hole EX21UG564 with 688 g/t Ag, 14.5% Pb, and 14.9% Zn (1,571 g/t AgEq) over 4.6m; and hole EX20UG522A, with 359 g/t Ag, 4.9% Pb, and 15.9% Zn (1,031 g/t AgEq) over 4.6m, including 573 g/t Ag, 8.6% Pb, and 21.5% Zn (1,531 g/t AgEq) over 1.3m. “Drilling continues to outline and expand mineralization within and around the Platosa deposit with new opportunities identified in the historically-mined Guadalupe North Manto”.
  • Sierra Metals Inc., announced an investment of USD $28M for the construction of an iron ore processing plant expected to produce approximately 500K tonnes per year of magnetite concentrate at its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua. Engineering and test work of the final process is currently underway, and construction of the processing plant is expected to commence this June and will take approximately six months to complete.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., released high-grade drilling results from its El Tigre project in Sonora. Significant high-grade mineralization was encountered in recent drilling of the Sooy vein in hole ET-21-219 with 0.29 g/t Au, 288 g/t Ag, 0.05% Cu, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (325 g/t AgEq) over 11.8m, including 0.49 g/t Au, 4,375 g/t Ag, 0.88% Cu, 2% Pb,  and 3.5% Zn (4,668 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m; hole ET-21-217 with 0.08 g/t Au, 210 g/t Ag, 0.04% Cu, 0.03% Pb, and 0.01% Zn (221 g/t AgEq) over 7.3m, including 0.66 g/t Au, 2,595 g/t Ag, 0.41% Cu, 0.3% Pb, and 0.05% Zn (2,694 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m; hole ET-21-215 with 0.26 g/t Au, 167 g/t Ag, 0.15% Cu, and 0.4% Pb (211 g/t AgEq) over 10.1m, including 0.39 g/t Au, 961 g/t Ag, 0.78% Cu, and 1.8% Pb (1,111 g/t AgEq) over 1.1m; and hole ET-21-216 with 0.08 g/t Au, 239 g/t Ag, 0.03% Cu, 0.06% Pb, and 0.3% Zn (260 g/t AgEq) over 3.5m, including 0.24 g/t Au, 1,608 g/t Ag, 0.19% Cu, 0.3% Pb, and 2% Zn (1,721 g/t AgEq) over 0.6m. Step out drilling to the south on the Sooy Vein continues to deliver consistent high grade silver results.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Empress Royalty Corp., appointed a new member to its Board of Directors, and two members as Strategic and Technical Advisors (Pinos project, Zacatecas).
  • Golden Goliath Resources Ltd., held its annual general meeting of shareholders (San Timoteo property, Chihuahua).
  • Goldgroup Mining Inc., provided a legal update on its dispute with DynaResource regards the San Jose de Gracia property in Sinaloa. Goldgroup announced that the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the appeal lodged by Texas-based DynaResource Inc., to vacate the Arbitral Award, which had found that DynaUSA had improperly diluted the Company’s interest in the San Jose de Gracia Mexican mining project, which Goldgroup had earned into pursuant to an option agreement between the Company and DynaUSA. The Circuit Court’s opinion clarifies several misleading facts previously presented in various news releases issued by DynaUSA.
  • Inomin Mines Inc., announced the hiring of two key members for its Mexican exploration program:  a community relationship representative and a senior exploration geologist (La Gitana project, Oaxaca).
  • Masivo Silver Corp., announced it is moving forward to sign a definitive agreement on several mineralized mining concessions comprising La Santa Madre project in Sinaloa. Mineralization identified by Masivo at La Santa Madre project consists of at least six parallel NE Cu-Au-Ag quartz epithermal veins varying from 3-7 m with lengths varying from 600-1,200m. Masivo has also signed a letter of interest to access 3,000 hectares of private land where part of these mining claims are located, with the right to progress to an agreement for 8,000 hectares of this private land.
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc., appointed Dante E Aguilar as its Mexican Country Manager (Rebeico project, Sonora).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining ltd., announced that the acquisition of the Zimapan mine assets from Minera Cedros, S.A.de C.V. together with the USD $17.6M loan facility from Trafigura Mexico, S.A. de C.V., are now expected to close on or about April 23, 2021.
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc., presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Sierra Mojada project, Coahuila).  
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., announced the spinout of Vizsla Copper Corp., through a statutory plan of arrangement. Vizsla Silver will continue to advance its Panuco Copala silver-gold project in Mexico while Vizsla Copper will focus on the assets in BC, Canada. 

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., signed an agreement to build a new 8.5 megawatt solar plant at its Morelos property, which include El Limon Guajes mine and Media Luna project in Guerrero state.  The new plant is expected to reduce Scope 2 greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions by up to 8.6% using 2019 as the baseline year. In addition, it will bring benefits to the local communities since this new solar plant will create new job opportunities for daily operation and maintenance.

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, mesothermal sheeted quartz veins in an orogenic gold prospect in Sonora, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Magnetite-rich Fe skarn manto

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 14th week of the year (April 05th to April 11th, 2021), at least 35 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 4 news published by the media, with nine informing on exploration results, eight disclosing deals and corporate issues, seven announcing financial issues, six reporting on resources and development, six communicating production and financial results, two discussing social issues, and one commenting on Mexican issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver) declared that it pays taxes and reiterated its attachment to the government mechanisms that drive Mexico’s socio-economic development (San Jose mine, Oaxaca). ON EXPLORATION, In Baja California, One World Lithium announced that a drill crew will be mobilizing to its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California, to drill a third diamond drill hole. In Sonora, Colibri informed that it will commence a 3D IP survey at its Evelyn project, Heliostar released first pass sampling and mapping results from its Cumaro project, Ridgestone announced encouraging results from geophysical surveys and follow-up work on its Rebeico project, and Silver Tiger reported drill results in the Benjamin vein zone at its El Tigre project. In Sinaloa, Vizsla provided results from eighteen holes collared along the Napoleon Vein corridor at its Panuco project. In Zacatecas, Alien reported sampling results from dumps/floats at its San Celso property, and Zacatecas Silver completed geological and structural mapping at its El Cristo project.  In San Luis Potosi, Advance Gold started a drilling program at its Saldivar lithium salar project. ON MINING, Endeavor reported Q1, 2021 production results from its Mexican mine operations. GoGold presented Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. Magna Gold reported year end 2020 financial results from its San Francisco mine in Sonora, and provided production guidance for 2021. Mexus Gold announced its plans to blast at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Telson reported Q1, 2021 production results from its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero. Torex presented Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its El Limon-Guajes Mine Complex in Guerrero.  ON  FINANCING, Aura Minerals announced a clarification of its payments of dividends (Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas). Canuc granted 6M incentive stock options to officers, directors, employees, and consultants (San Javier project, Sonora). Capitan Mining announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $3.2M (Peñoles property, Durango). GR Silver entered into a bought deal private placement financing agreement for gross proceeds of $ 8M (Plomosas project, Sinaloa). Santacruz announced a private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $14.1M (Zimapan mine, Hidalgo). Silver Spruce granted 759K stock options to its CEO (El Mezquite project, Sonora).  Tarachi Gold commenced to trade on the OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker symbol “TRGGF” (Magistral Mill and Tailings project, Durango).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Almadex announced its intention to drill at least three of its Mexican mining properties in 2021, and discussed plans for El Cobre and Ixtaca properties located in Veracruz and Puebla respectively. Consolidated Zinc reported that mill and flotation circuits commissioning commenced over Easter at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. Prime released drill results from el Zapote South, Noche Buena, and San Miguel East deposits at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Sonoro reported results from 12 RC holes drilled at its flagship property Cerro Caliche in Sonora. VanGold filed a PEA for combined El Pinguico-El Cubo projects in Guanajuato. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Discovery Metals announced name change to Discovery Silver (Cordero project, Chihuahua).  Equinox completed the acquisition of Premier Gold and the spin out of i-80 Gold Corp. (Los Filos mine, Guerrero and Mercedes mine, Sonora). Gatos Silver appointed Rodrigo Monroy as General Counsel effective April 1st, 2021 (Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua). Minaurum engaged Digital Marketing Firm and granted 3,825,000 common share stock options to Directors, Officers and Consultants (Alamo Silver project, Sonora). Minera Autlán announced the appointment of Pedro Rivero González as its General Management of the company as of April 5, 2021 (Molango mine, Hidalgo). Santacruz announced that the acquisition of the Zimapan assets is now expected to close on or before April 16, 2021. Tarachi Gold appointed a new member to its Board of Directors and announced the change of Auditor (Magistral Mill and tailings project, Durango). Torex announced that it received a key environmental permit for its Media Luna project in Guerrero.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Arcelor Mittal delivered a donation of MXP $140K to the Red Cross Delegation of Lázaro Cárdenas in Michoacan. Fresnillo plc., supported workshop members of the El Obligado Community in Fresnillo, Zacatecas who make face masks for the population of nearby communities.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.) declared that it has complied in due time and form with more than MXP $600M for the total federal taxes caused, corresponding to the 2020 annual fiscal year. The payment from an effective tax rate to the mining sector of 45%is one more sample strict adherence to legality and government mechanisms that promote the socio-economic development of the country (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).

ON EXPLORATION

  • One World Lithium Inc., announced that a drill crew will be mobilizing to its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California, to drill a third diamond drill hole. DDH-3 will be located approximately 50Km to the south of DDH-2.
  • Colibri Resource Corporation, informed that it will commence a 3D IP survey at its Evelyn project in Sonora. The 3D IP survey will be focused on the Sahuaro and Cerro Rojo targets and will cover an area of approximately 6 square km. The Company is planning a drill program to test currently defined mineralized trends and structures, to evaluate the emerging geological and structural model for the property, and to test results of the IP survey.
  • Heliostar Metals Limited released first pass sampling and mapping results from its Cumaro project in northern Sonora. Heliostar identified a silicified structure with pyrite and returned 1m channel sample grading 390 g/t Ag, and remains open to expand. Additionally, eleven channel and rock samples returned values >1 g/t Ag in a coherent anomaly that cover an area of 500m by 600m, being this area the extension of the Dos Amigos vein into the eastern block. This mineralization indicates a robust silver endowment and shows the potential for high grades in the eastern block of the El Picacho district.
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc., announced encouraging results from geophysical surveys and follow-up work on its Rebeico project. The IP survey outlined a strong IP high chargeability anomaly of 1,400m north-south and 800m east-west at the south portion of the Alaska vein, at depths of 250 to 300 metres below surface, progressively increasing in width and intensity toward the south.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., reported drill results in the Benjamin vein zone at its El Tigre project in Sonora. Significant drill intersects were encountered in hole ET-21-204 with 140 g/t Ag, 0.12 g/t Au, 0.08% Cu, 3% Pb, and 8.5% Zn (519 g/t AgEq) over 14.2m, including 273 g/t Ag, 0.14 g/t Au. 0.18% Cu, 5.5% Pb, and 17 % Zn (1,013 g/t AgEq) over 5.6m; hole ET-21-206 with 181 g/t Ag, 0.07 g/t Au, 0.05% Cu, 0.6% Pb, and 1.8% Zn (267 g/t AgEq) over 12.3m, including 1,034 g/t Ag, 0.18 g/t Au, 0.29% Cu, 2.7% Pb, and 8.8% Zn (1,443 g/t AgEq) over 2m; and hole ET-20-199 with 222 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 0.09% Cu, 0.5% Pb, and 1.7% Zn (305 g/t AgEq) over 7.7m, including 699 g/t Ag, 0.11 g/t Au, 0.2% Cu, 2% Pb, and 7% Zn (1,016 g/t AgEq) over 1.1m.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., provided results from eighteen holed collared along the Napoleon Vein corridor at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. The company estimated from 54 drill holes, an average vein true width of 4m, a weighted average grade of 155 g/t Ag, 2.74 g/t Au, 0.5% Pb, and 1.3% Zn (441 g/t AgEq), and mineralization extends over 300m in length, 300m  deep, and remains open north, south, and at depth. The best drill intercept was encountered in hole NP-21-80 with 469 g/t Ag, 5.84 g7t Au, 0.5% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (1, 027 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 4.61m, including 1, 321 g/t Ag, 15.1 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, and 2.6% Zn (2, 740 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.51m.
  • Alien Metals ltd., reported encouraging dump/floats sampling results from its New Andromeda concession adjacent to its San Celso property in Zacatecas. Highlights include 734 g/t Ag, 0.44 g/t Au and 0.6% Zn; 163 g/t Ag, 0.42 g/t Au and 1.9% Zn; 488 g/t Ag; 270 g/t Ag; and 180 g/t Ag and 0.13% Zn. “The samples are all composed of quartz and carbonate dominant vein material with varying amounts of sulphides, hence they are very similar to the mineralization seen in the San Celso vein systems to the north”.  
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., completed geological and structural mapping at its El Cristo project located immediately to the northwest of the Veta Grande deposit. The Veta Grande vein has reported historical production of over 200 M Oz Ag in the region. The geological and structural mapping identified at least eight veins to date which are associated with a sigmoidal zone of extension that is at least 800 m wide, over a strike length of at least 4 km extending the previous reported strike length of 2.5 to 3.0km. Zacatecas Silver has commenced an extensive soil sampling program to assist with location of veins beneath cover of thin soils. “The cumulative strike length of all veins at El Cristo is at least 12 km long. El Cristo an extremely prospective system with numerous high value targets at vein intersections, splays and flexures. Veins display multiphase and brecciated textures, indicative of multiple mineralizing events. Zacatecas Silver is planning an aggressive rock-chip and channel sampling program to better define the silver-base metal grade distribution of the outcropping veins, to ensure that the highest value targets are drill tested”.
  • Advance Gold Corp., started a drilling program at its Saldivar lithium salar project in San Luis Potosi to test near surface lithium grade distribution of the salar for bulk sampling preparation. The drilling program will be carried out on a grid basis using 100m spacing with holes drilled down to 50m. The company also plans to drill deeper in one of the holes to test the depth to bedrock.

ON MINING

  • Endeavor Silver Corp., reported production results from its Mexican mine operations. The table below shows figures for Q1, 2021 by mine:
  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. GoGold produced 302.9K Oz Ag, 3,208 Oz Au, and 192.6K Lb Cu (551.2K Oz AgEq), generating free cash flows exceeding USD $5.5Mthis quarter.
  • Magna Gold Corp., reported year end 2020 financial results from its San Francisco mine in Sonora. The company sold 20,235 Oz Au and 9,188 Oz Ag. Magna reported metal revenues of USD $37M, net cash flow provided by operating activities of USD $9.4M, net cash provided by financial activities of USD $9.4M, and income from mining operations of USD $1.9M. “The Company is setting guidance expectations for gold production during 2021 of between 55K to 65K Oz Au. The Company expects to have the San Francisco Mine fully commissioned before the end of Q2 2021”.
  • Mexus Gold US announced its plans to blast at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. The blasts will produce 10K tonnes of 2.2 g/t Au, and Mexus expects to be producing gold from this material within 30 days of the blast.
  • Telson Mining Corporation reported Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero. Telson milled 174.4 K tonnes of 1.1 g/t Au, 116 g/t Ag, 1% Pb, and 3.9% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 21%, 41%, 27%, and 74% respectively. To produce 11 tons of Zn concentrate and 1.9 tonnes of Pb concentrate. The company reported revenues of $10.04M from Zn concentrates and $1.9M from Pb concentrate for total revenues of $11.9M.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., presented Q1, 2021 production results from its El Limon-Guajes Mine Complex in Guerrero.  The company produced 129K Oz Au from an average underground ore mined of 1, 360 tonnes per day and an average open pit ore mined of 15,090 tonnes per day, and an average plant throughput of 12,340 tonnes per day. Torex provided full year production guidance for 2021 of 430K to 470K Oz Au.

ON FINANCING

  • Aura Minerals Inc., announced a clarification with respect to its payments of a dividend of USD $0.38 per common share, as previously announced by the company on March 15, 2021 (Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas).
  • Canuc Resource Corporation, granted 6M incentive stock options to officers, directors, employees, and consultants. 3.5 M of these options will vest immediately. The remaining 2.5 M options will vest 12 months from April 2nd, 2022. The stock options have an exercise price of $0.35 and a three-year term, expiring on April 2nd, 2024 (San Javier project, Sonora).
  • Capitan Mining Inc., announced a non-brokered private placement for net proceeds of CAD $3.2M from 16M common shares at a price of CAD $0.20 per share. Capitan Mining plans to use the net proceeds to advance drilling and work programs at Peñoles property in Durango, as well as for working capital and general corporate expenses.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., entered into a bought deal private placement financing agreement for gross proceeds of $ 8M at a price of $0.59 per unit. Net proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes (Plomosas project, Sinaloa). 
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., announced a private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $14.1M (Zimapan mine, Hidalgo).
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., granted 750K stock options to its CEO at an exercise price of $0.05 per share and an expiry date of April1, 2026. The stock options will vest 1/3 on the date of the grant, 1/3 on the first anniversary of the grant and the final 1/3 on the second anniversary of the grant (El Mezquite project, Sonora).   
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., commenced to trade on the OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker symbol “TRGGF” (Magistral Mill and Tailings project, Durango). 

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Almadex Minerals Ltd., announced its intention to drill at least three of its Mexican mining properties in 2021, and discussed plans for El Cobre and Ixtaca properties located in Veracruz and Puebla respectively. At El Cobre, Veracruz, Almadex previously reported  an indicated resource containing 748K Oz Au and 221M Lb Cu (47.2 M tonnes grading 0.49 g/t Au, 0.21% Cu and 1.4  g/t Ag) and an inferred resource containing 860K Oz Au and 254 M Lb Cu (64.2M tonnes grading 0.42 g/t Au, 0.18% Cu and 1.3 g/t Ag).  Almadex looks forward to further developments at this high potential project. At Ixtaca, Puebla, a FS reported a proven and probable reserve containing 1.38M Oz Au and 85.1M Oz Ag (73.1M tonnes grading 0.59 g/t Au and 36.3 g/t Ag). The Ixtaca project is currently in the mine permitting phase, which has taken longer than expected. Almaden has recently noted the exploration potential remaining at the Ixtaca project and the Company looks forward to the results of the Ixtaca exploration programs over the course of 2021.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, reported that mill and flotation circuits commissioning commenced over Easter at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. It also announced that the tailings dam earthworks is completed, laying of the impervious liner is 70% complete, and the power supply installed, commissioned, and operated.  
  • Prime Mining Corp., released drill results from el Zapote South, Noche Buena, and San Miguel East deposits from its ongoing 15,000m phase 1 drill program at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. At El Zapote South deposit, significant mineralized drill intercepts have been encountered at hole 21ZAP-04 with 8.95 g/t Au and 74 g/t Ag over 4.5m; hole 21ZAP-03 with 0.76 g/t Au and 33 g/t Ag over 13m, including 1.66 g/t Au and 41 g/t Ag over 4.6m; and hole 21ZAP-08 with 1.96 g/t Au and 63 g/t Ag over 18.7m, including 2.44 g/t Au and 85 g/t Ag over 7.2m. At Noche Buena deposit, hole 21NB-02 encountered 3.17 g/t Au and 141 g/t Ag over 2.9m within a broader zone of 39m with 0.7 g/t Au and 29 g/t Ag; and hole 21NB-03 with 1.12 g/t Au and 30 g/t Ag over 6m. At San Miguel deposit, hole 2SME-01 intersected 1 g/t Au and 131 g/t Ag over 4.5m. Zapote-South, Noche Buena and San Miguel East deposits are three of eight known deposits that comprise the current mineral resource at Los Reyes property.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp., reported results from 12 RC holes drilled at its flagship property Cerro Caliche in Sonora. Highlights include hole SCR-223 in the north western extension of Buena Suerte zone with 0.6 g/t Au over 74.67m, including three intervals of 1.52m with 3.67 g/t Au; hole SCR-222 in the Buena Vista northwest extension of Japoneses zone with 2.04 g/t Au over 15.24m, including 3.15 g/t Au over 6.1m; hole SCR-227 in the northern extension of Japoneses zone with 1.74 g/t Au over 3.05m, including 2.54 g/t Au over 1.53m; and hole SCR-225 at El Colorado zone with 1.16 g/t Au over 7.62m, including 2.31 g/t Au over 3.05m.
  • VanGold Mining Corp., filed a PEA for combined El Pinguico-El Cubo projects in Guanajuato. Results of the PEA analysis were previously announced in the Company’s news release dated February 16, 2021. The company also announced that it obtained permits for El Pinguico road expansion. New route will lessen impact on the Calderones Community. “This road will become El Pinguico’s major thoroughfare for production, exploration, administration, and for safely purposes. The Company anticipates it will reduce driving time between the destinations from 40 minutes to 10 minutes, significantly reducing costs and wear on vehicles”. 

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Discovery Metals Corp., announced name change to Discovery Silver Corp. The company´s common shares will commence trading under the TSX Venture Exchange under its current ticker symbol “DSV” and on the OTCQX where its ticker symbol will change from “DSVMF” to “DSVSF” from April 14, 2021, pending final regulatory approvals from the TSXV and FINRA (Cordero project, Chihuahua).
  • Equinox Gold Corp., completed the acquisition of Premier Gold Mines Limited and the spin out of i-80 Gold Corp. (Los Filos mine, Guerrero and Mercedes mine, Sonora).
  • Gatos Silver Inc., appointed Rodrigo Monroy as General Counsel effective April 1st, 2021, and strengthens its executive management team (Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua).
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., engaged Digital Marketing Firm to assist with online communication to the company, with the goal of increasing market awareness. Minaurum will pay to the Digital Marketing Firm a fee of CAD $64K for six months. The company also granted 3,825,000 common share stock options to Directors, Officers and Consultants. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.52 from a period of ten years from issue date (Alamo Silver project, Sonora).
  • Compañía Minera Autlán, S.A.B. de C.V., reported that, with the prior favorable opinion of the Corporate Practices Committee and approval of its Board of Directors, in a session of February 24, 2021, it was resolved that Pedro Rivero González will assume the General Management of the company as of April 5, 2021 (Molango mine, Hidalgo).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., announced that the acquisition of the Zimapan assets, together with the USD $17.6 M loan facility from Trafigura Mexico, S.A. de C.V., are now expected to close on or before April 16, 2021.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., appointed a new member to its Board of Directors and announced the change of Auditor (Magistral Mill and tailings project, Durango).
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., announced that it received from Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (“SEMARNAT”) the MIA, a key environmental permit for its Media Luna project in Guerrero. The MIA allows Torex to execute construction activities to access its Media Luna deposit in Guerrero.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Arcelor Mittal México SA de CV, delivered a donation of MXP $140K in the framework of its 2021 annual collection to the Red Cross Delegation of Lázaro Cárdenas in Michoacán. ”Arcelor Mittal has made annual donations without interruption. since 2008 to the delegational Red Cross, in addition to collaborating with the worthy institution in different ways: through donations in its annual collections, in kind when necessary, such as the provision of equipment and various supplies, the delivery of an ambulance in 2016 and the repair of three ambulances last year, in addition to the support with facilities for their training”.
  • Fresnillo plc., supported workshop members of the El Obligado Community in Fresnillo, Zacatecas who make face masks for the population of nearby communities. The workshop workers are also suppliers of face masks for the Directorate of Engineering and Construction Department of Industrias Peñoles (DIC). To date, they have sold around 3,000 masks, the same that meet the specifications dictated by the World Health Organization.

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 magnetite-rich Fe skarn manto in a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.