During the 7th week of the year (February 13th to February 19th, 2023), 13 companies working in Mexico released news on their properties. One company informed on a new exploration model for its projects. Two companies informed on Q4 2022 production and 2023 guidance. One company closed a first tranche on a financing round, while one other closed the previously announced private placement and one more granted shares and stock options to board members. One company filed a PFS on its project and one more updated on the resource estimate for one of its properties. Two companies informed on drilling results and work on their advanced properties. Two companies informed they have earned 50% interest in a project, and one other received notice of claims totaling US$19.7 M. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Mexican president continues to assert his power by claiming that all lithium reserves will pass to a government’s company. The Sonora State Economy Secretary vigorously backed the importance of the mining industry in the State. ON EXPLORATION, in Coahuila, Southern Empire Resources claims mineralization at its properties in Durango might be of Carlin style. ON MINING, Gold Resource and Capstone Copper released Q4 2022 production or/and financial production reports and guidance for 2023. ON FINANCING, Reyna Silver closed the first tranche of its private placement (C$5 M), Mag Silver completed its bought deal private placement (C$23 M) and Orogen Royalties granted shares and stock options to independent board members. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Discovery Silver filed the PFS on the Cordero project in Chihuahua. Vizsla Silver reported drilling results at Panuco, in Sinaloa. Avino Silver updated the mineral resource estimate for all deposits at its Avino property in Durango. Impact Silver released drilling results from the Aurora 2 zone at its Capire project in Guerrero. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Silver Spruce Resources and Colibri Resource earned 50% ownership in the Diamante property in Sonora. Magna Gold received notices on claims totaling $19.7 M. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
The Mexican president, Andrés M. López Obrador announced on one of its daily propaganda conferences: “I am to sign the decree to forward the lithium concession, all the reserves, to the Energy Secretariat”. In April 2022 the government declared lithium as a public utility mineral, and its exploitation to be only possible under the public enterprise Litio para México.
Margarita Vélez Rocha, the Sonora Economy Secretary, recognized the importance of the mining sector in the State, pointing that it directly employs more than 26 thousand workers and more than 120 thousand indirectly, with 39 municipalities having mining activities and 23 on which it is the main economic activity.
ON EXPLORATION
Southern Empire Resources Corp. announced that synchrotron radiation micro-X-ray fluorescence mineralogical studies of drill core samples from its Pedro project in Durango reveal mineralogical similarities to deposits of the Carlin belt in Nevada. Gold mineralization at Centauro and Pedro projects, both in Durango, is associated to hematite-stained, weak to moderately silicified brecciated conglomerate of the Eocene to Oligocene Ahuichila Formation. Historic drilling results include intervals like 5.60 m @ 0.59 gpt Au; 19.82 m @ 0.31 gpt Au; 15.23 m @ 0.58 gpt Au; 50 m @ 0.28 gpt Au; 88.10 m @ 0.24 gpt Au; 112.40 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, with anomalous Ag, As, Sb Tl and Hg.
ON MINING
Gold Resource Corp. issued 2023 guidance and suspension of dividends. For 2023 the company expects to produce 17 to 19 K Oz Au, 0.9 to 1.0 M Oz Ag (or 30 to 32 K Oz AuEq) at cash cost $1,000 to $1,050 per AuEq Oz and an AISC of $1,250 to $1,350 per AuEq Oz (Consolidated: $1,650 to $1,750 per AuEq Oz). “the lower grade profile is expected to continue through 2023 and is projected to negatively impact operating cash flows and total cash costs per gold equivalent ounce”, and accordingly “will suspend the quarterly dividend until such time that it may become practicable to reinstate” (Don David, Oaxaca).
Capstone Copper Corp. reported financial results for Q4 2022 and year 2022, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Cozamin, in Zacatecas, 3,430 tpd were milled during the quarter to produce 5.8 K tonnes of copper, totaling 24.5 K tonnes Cu on the year at cash cost $1.40 per Lb Cu (which is the lowest cost for Capstone operations). Cash and cash equivalents stood at $170.3 M by the end of the period.
ON FINANCING
Reyna Silver Corp. announced the closing of the first tranche of its bought deal private placement for gross proceeds of C$5 M (Guigui and Batopilas, Chihuahua).
Mag Silver Corp. completed the previously announced bought deal private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$23 M (Juanicipio (44%), Zacatecas).
Orogen Royalties Inc. authorized the granting of 156 K restricted share units, 156 K deferred share units and 238 K stock options to independent board members (Royalties on Ermitaño, Sonora).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Discovery Silver Corp. filed the pre-feasibility study (PFS) on its Cordero property in Chihuahua.
Vizsla Silver Corp. reported results from 19 holes on the Copala structure of the Panuco project in Sinaloa. The results represent step-out and infill drilling on the Copala structure that has now been traced for 1,110 m of strike and 400 m downdip. Highlighted true width intervals comprise 2.50 m @ 1,673 gpt Ag, 5.39 gpt Au; 3.35 m @ 428 gpt Ag, 3.64 gpt Au; 2.40 m @ 288 gpt Ag, 1.73 gpt Au; 13.70 m @ 270 gpt Ag, 1.48 gpt Au; 6.00 m @ 648 gpt Ag, 4.29 gpt Au; 3.00 m @ 247 gpt Ag, 2.17 gpt Au; 2.90 m @ 1,010 gpt Ag, 5.91 gpt Au; 6.20 m @ 242 gpt Ag, 1.15 gpt Au; 4.61 m @ 453 gpt Ag, 9.16 gpt Au; 6.00 m @ 176 gpt Ag, 1.12 gpt Au.
Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. completed an updated mineral resource estimate for the Avino ET, San Gonzalo, La Potosina, Guadalupe and Oxide Tailing deposits at its Avino property in Durango. Measured and indicated resources comprise 34.7 M tonnes @ 63 gpt Ag, 0.54 gpt Au, 0.39% Cu (or 144 gpt AgEq) containing 70.0 M Oz Ag, 596.6 K Oz Au, 301.4 M Lb Cu. Inferred resources stand at 19.3 M tonnes @ 46 gpt Ag, 0.34 gpt Au, 0.37% Cu (112 gpt AgEq) containing 28.4 M Oz Ag, 212.6 K Oz Au, 158.5 M Lb Cu. Another nearby property, La Preciosa, is also held by Avino and contains 98.6 M Oz Ag, 189.2 K Oz Au in indicated resources and 21.3 M Oz Ag, 35.5 K Oz Au in inferred resources.
Impact Silver Corp. announced drill results from the Aurora 2 zone, 1.3 km northeast of the Capire processing plant (in Guerrero), and 16 km south of the company’s active mining operations at the Royal Mines of Zacualpan in Estado de Mexico. The mineralization at the site consists of volcanogenic massive sulfides (VMS) lenses, extending the zone to the west. Highlighted true width intervals comprise 2.39 m @ 106 gpt Ag, 0.42 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.8% Zn; 3.73 m @ 66 gpt Ag, 0.40 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.5% Zn; 7.48 m @ 128 gpt Ag, 0.42 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.8% Zn; 1.01 m @ 138 gpt Ag, 0.49 gpt Ag, 0.5% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 7.95 m @ 63 gpt Ag, 0.52 gpt Au, 0.9% Pb, 2.8% Zn; 2.11 m @ 51 gpt Ag, 0.15 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.9% Zn; 2.38 m @ 142 gpt Ag, 0.37 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.5% Zn; 3.28 m @ 34 gpt Ag, 0.24 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 1.2% Zn.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Silver Spruce Resources Inc. and Colibri Resource Corp. reported the companies have earned 50% ownership interest in the Diamante project in Sonora, while Vendor Bimsa Minera SA de CV retains 50% ownership in the Property. “The 1,057-hectare Diamante property is located adjacent to the Jackie property, a joint venture with Colibri, which covers 1,113 hectares, providing the company with a total of 2,170 hectares of exploration ground. Diamante hosts a number of historical showings and combined with mineralization on the Mezquite and Jackie properties exhibit the geological characteristics of epithermal low to intermediate sulfidation Ag-Au (Pb-Zn)”. With completion of the initial earn-in, Silver Spruce and Colibri together will become equal joint venture partners with the Vendor in BIMCOL Minera, with a six months exclusive period to purchase the remaining 50% by paying either US$2.1 M or US$1.45 M and 2% NSR.
Magna Gold Corp. informed the receipt of notices of claims from three of its creditors, Cominivi Servicios S.A. de C.V., Covoro Mining Solutions Mexicana S. de R. L. de C.V. and Sidney W. French S.A. de C.V. for US$6.49 M. Also, a notice of commencement of arbitration with Peal México, S.A. de C.V. was received on a claim of US$13.2 M (San Francisco, Sonora).
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
No Relevant News.
On the image below: Quartz specularite veining cut by late quartz veinlet on a copper project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Abraham López.
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.
During the 36th week of the year (September 05th to September 11th, 2022), at least 23 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 4 news published by the media with seven informing on exploration results, seven communicating production and financial results, five reporting resources and developments of their properties, five commenting on Mexican issues, two announcing financing issues, and one discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Equinox informed that mining activities at its Los Filos mine in Guerrero have been temporarily suspended due to an illegal blockade. Rocío Nahle, Secretary of Energy announced that Lithium for Mexico (LitioMx) will hold the first meeting of its Board of Directors on September 20, 2002. The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) reported that three arrest warrants have been issued against the same number of people, for the events that occurred in the Coahuila mine ‘El Pinabete’, where 10 workers are trapped. Reyna Gold Corp., GoGold Resources Inc., GR Silver Mining Ltd., Endeavour Silver Corp., Prime Mining Corp., Kootenay Silver Inc., Silver Spruce Resources Inc., and Vizsla Silver Corp., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of September, 2022. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec completed the first seven holes of phase 3 drilling program at its Cervantes project, Silver Spruce and its partner Colibri Resources Corp., drilled 19 RC holes for a total of 2,005m at its El Diamante project and reported initial results from the first holes, Reyna Gold announced results from 22 holes totaling 3,823m of its ongoing 10,000m regional exploration drill program at its la Gloria project, and Infinitum Copper reported completion of the first phase of the current program at its flagship La Adelita project. In Chihuahua, Kootenay released results from eleven holes collared at its Columba project. In Zacatecas, Galore reported that completed 3 holes in the San Jose area at its Dos Santos project. ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, Barksdale announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $2M (San Javier project, Sonora). Sierra Madre closed the first tranche of its previously announced brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $10M (La Guitarra property, State of Mexico). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Bear Creek announced that it engaged Unison to design and Renoir to implement a 32-week performance improvement program at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. Vizsla reported results from 14 new holes drilled within the Tajitos-Copala resource area at its flagship Panuco project, Sinaloa. Endeavour reported results from its ongoing drilling program at its Parral project in Chihuahua. GoGold released results from seven new holes drilled at the El Favor East Deposit within its Los Ricos North property in Jalisco. GR Silver reported results from 3 holes drilled at its San Marcial project in Sinaloa. Prime Mining announced additional phase 2 drill results from its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Regency Silver completed a 2,000m drilling program at its flagship Dios Padre project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Aztec announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Cervantes project, Sonora). Vizsla announced that it has filed its 2022 annual report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) (Panuco project, Sinaloa). Riverside and BHP extended into a fourth year its Sonora Mexico exploration program. Galore reported results of its annual general meeting of shareholders and announced the grant of incentive stock options to directors and officers (Dos Santos project, Zacatecas). Gatos Silver provided bi-weekly status report in accordance with National Policy 12-203 – Management Cease Trade Orders due to the delay in the filing of annual reports which includes its audited consolidated financial statements, together with the management’s discussion and analysis, relating to the audited annual financial statements, and the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer certificates relating to its annual filings for the years 2021 and 2022 (Cerro Los Gatos, Chihuahua). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Peñoles and Fresnillo plc support the Heroic Fire Department and the Red Cross with supplies and training.
ON MEXICO ISSUE
Equinox Gold Corp., informed that mining activities at its Los Filos mine in Guerrero have been temporarily suspended due to an illegal blockade by members of the nearby Mezcala community. The blockade is preventing delivery of certain supplies to the Los Filos Mine that are required to maintain operations.
Rocío Nahle, Secretary of Energy announced that Lithium for Mexico (LitioMx) will hold the first meeting of its Board of Directors on September 20, 2002. The secretary added that the use of lithium is essential for the energy transition, since it allows the production of batteries. “Right now, it is in high demand around the world for its power to store electricity,” she stressed. She recalled that wind and solar plants are intermittent sources of energy, so “white gold” represents a great opportunity for the Mexican energy sector.
The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) reported that three arrest warrants have been issued against the same number of people, for the events that occurred in the Coahuila mine ‘El Pinabete’, where 10 workers are trapped. Since last August 5, the FGR began the investigation procedure for the events that occurred in the mine, owned by the mining company ‘El Pinabete’ S.A de C.V. The FGR reported that the arrest warrants are for the probable commission of the crime provided for and sanctioned in article 150 in relation to article 149 of the General Law of National Assets.
Mexican President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador does not rule out comprehensive mining law reform. A month after the collapse of a coal mine in Sabinas, Coahuila, where 10 miners remain trapped and rescue works do not seem to yield results, President López Obrador said he does not rule out a comprehensive reform to the Mining Law, aimed at preventing such incidents from happening again. The reform would also set stricter rules for extractive activities. López Obrador did not mention exactly when is he planning to propose his reform, but it seem to have the support from at least most of MORENAs senators and one of the most important Unions in Mexico.
Reyna Gold Corp., GoGold Resources Inc., GR Silver Mining Ltd., Endeavour Silver Corp., Prime Mining Corp., Kootenay Silver Inc., Silver Spruce Resources Inc., and Vizsla Silver Corp., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of September, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:
ON EXPLORATION
Aztec Minerals Corp., completed the first seven holes of phase 3 drilling program at its Cervantes project in Sonora to drill test three targets: California, California Norte and Jasper. The company has drilled a total of 1,607m in seven holes from the 3,000m planned in eleven holes. Assay results are pending and are expected to arrive in the next coming weeks.
Silver Spruce Resources Inc., and its partner Colibri Resources Corp., drilled 19 RC holes, being 10 holes at the La Prieta target and 9 holes at El Pillado target, for a total of 2,005m at its El Diamante project. Highlights of the drill intersections at El Pillado target include hole DIA22-01 with five intervals to 3m with two sections exceeding 1% Zn; hole DIA22-02 with six intervals to 3m with one section containing 3.9% Zn; hole DIA22-05 with five intervals with significant metal values, including 24-30m (high silver to 251 g/t Ag, Zn to 1.9 %), 33-36m (Ag to 397 g/t, Pb+Zn to combined 11.2.%), 43.5-51m (Ag to 257 g/t, Pb+Zn to 13.1.%), 78-81m (Ag to 36 g/t, Pb+Zn to 8.5.%); hole DIA22-06 with a zone of 3m (Ag to 60 g/t and Pb to 1.21%); and hole DIA22-08 with the highest gold of 0.934 g/t Au at a depth of 13.5m with low Ag and base metal values. Final geochemical assay results from drilling at the La Prieta target are currently being compiled and the results will be released soon.
Reyna Gold Corp., announced results from 22 holes totaling 3,823m of its ongoing 10,000m regional exploration drill program at its la Gloria project in Sonora, where the company has tested five target areas to date. Drilling highlights at La Republicana target include hole LG-22-30 with 1.45 g/t Au over 59m including 5.96 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag over 2.85m with a subinterval of 21.5 g/t Au and 30 g/t Ag over 0.8m; 2.29 g/t Au over 6.65m with a subinterval of 4.2 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag over 3.50m; 6.41 g/t Au and 47 g/t Ag over 2.8m, with a subinterval of 19.5 g/t Au, 141 g/t Ag, 0.3% P, and 0.2% Zn over 0.12m; and 5.79 g/t Au and 52 g/t Ag over 2.95m, with a subinterval of 19.5 g/t Au, 168 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 0.70m; and hole LG-22-028 with 935 g/t Ag over 5.50m, including 4,640 g/t Ag, 0.93% Cu, and 0.2% Zn over 1m, plus 0.22 g/t Au over 27.30m, including 2.13 g/t Au over 1m, plus 1.49 g/t Au over 0.4m. The company looks forward to additional drilling in La Republicana target.
Infinitum Copper Corp., reported completion of the first phase of the current program at its flagship La Adelita project in Sonora. The interpretation of the Magneto Telluric geophysical program is now completed and show good correlation with historic drilling. The strongest anomalies are still untested by drilling. The company also completed 12 holes on the trend of high-grade Cu-Au-Ag skarn mineralization at the Cerro Grande Zone with a total of 2,574m, including 1,848 samples that have been sent to the lab for analysis with results pending.
Kootenay Silver Inc., released results from eleven holes collared at its Columba project in Chihuahua. Seven out of the eleven holes were collared at the D Vein and 4 at the B Vein. Drilling highlights at D Vein include hole CDH-22-125 with 158 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 1.83m, plus 540 g/t Ag, 0.26 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 1.6% Zn over 34.45m, including 1,746 g/t Ag, 0.88 g/t Au, 1.1% Pb, and 5.2% Zn over 9.70m, including 2,498 g/t Ag, 1.28 g/t Au, 1.6% Pb, and 7.5% Zn over 6.10m, including 5,840 g/t Ag, 3 g/t Au, 3.1% Pb, and 17.2% Zn over 2.45m; hole CDH-22-127 with 788 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, and 1.3% Zn over 0.98m, plus 103 g/t Ag, 0.04% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 1m, plus 136 g/t Ag, 0.01% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 1m; hole CDH-22-128 with 136 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 20m, including 520 g/t Ag, 0.33 g/t Au, 0.03% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 2m, plus 277 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 1.2% Zn over 1m, plus 136 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, and 1.3% Zn over 2m; and hole CDH-22-131 with 150 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 16m, including 311 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 4.86m, including 603 g/t Ag, 0.02% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 0.59m. On the B Vein, the most significant drill intersect was encountered in hole CDH-22-134 with 109 g/t Ag and 0.1% Zn over 6.6m, including 251 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 1.5m, plus 279 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 0.5m. These drilling results extend known mineralization along strike and beneath existing drilling at both the D Vein and B Vein targets.
Galore Resources Inc., completed 3 holes in the San Jose area at its Dos Santos project in Zacatecas. The most significant mineralization was encountered in holes SJ20 with 2.26 g/t Au over 1.20m, plus 2.06 g/t Au over 0.85m; and hole SJ21 with three contiguous intervals of 3.69 g/t Au, 0.79 g/t Au, and 0.59 g/t Au over 1.80m, 0.70m, and 1.30m respectively.
ON MINING
No relevant news.
ON FINANCING
Barksdale Resources Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $2M. Part of the gross proceeds will be used to finance exploration activities at its San Javier project, Sonora, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Company also proposes to extend by a further four months, the expiry date of a total of 7,597,836 share purchase warrants, issued September 29, 2020 and 690,790 share purchase warrants issued October 1, 2020 in connection with a non-brokered private placement. These aggregate 8,288,826 2020 Warrants are exercisable into 8,288,826 common shares and remain at an exercise price of $0.55 per share.
Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd., closed the first tranche of its previously announced brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $10M. The company will use the gross proceeds for the development of it’s the La Guitarra property in the State of Mexico, advancement of engineering studies and general working capital purposes.
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Bear Creek Mining Corporation announced that it engaged Unison Mining Consulting Pte. Ltd., to design and Renoir Management Corporation to implement a 32-week performance improvement program at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. The planned improvements are to re-open closed mining areas to achieve production rates of over 70K Oz Au per year and reduce costs. This program will cost USD $2.15M.
Vizsla Silver Corp., reported results from 14 new holes drilled within the Tajitos-Copala resource area at its flagship Panuco project, Sinaloa. Drilling highlights include hole CS-22-182 with 1,935 g/t Ag and 15.47 g/t Au (2,913 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 1.46m; hole CS-22-128 with 299 g/t Ag and 2.08 g/t Au (427 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.50m, including 995 g/t Ag and 7.6 g/t Au (1,472 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.46m; hole CS-22-185A with 302 g/t Ag and 2.02 g/t Au (426 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1m; and hole CS-22-196 with 278 g/t Ag and 2.33 g/t Au (426 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.16m. “The new drill results support a NW-plunging high-grade zone with an average vertical extent of 250 metres and approximate strike length of 500 metres”.
Endeavour Silver Corp., reported results from its ongoing drilling program at its Parral project in Chihuahua. High grade silver was encountered in several holes. Drilling highlights include hole CUV-78 with 199 g/t Ag, 4.7% Pb, and 2.6% Zn (428 g/t AgEq) over 3.48m, including 501 g/t Ag, 8% Pb, and 6.5% Zn (971 g/t AgEq) over 0.27m; hole CUV-80 with 322 g/t Ag, 5.2% Pb, and 1.6% Zn (528 g/t AgEq) over 1.67m, including 605 g/t Ag, 14.8% Pb, and 3.5% Zn (1,150 g/t AgEq) over 0.53m; hole VCU-90 with 664 g/t Ag, 1.9% Pb, and 0.8% Zn (747 g/t AgEq) over 5.56m, including 5,600 g/t Ag, 15.3% Pb, and 1.7% Zn (6.096 g/t AgEq) over 0.22m, plus 145 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn (168 g/t AgEq) over 3.05m, including 247 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 1.9% Zn (325 g/t AgEq) over 0.55; and hole CUV-96 with 242 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 1.7% Zn (317 g/t AgEq) over 5.34m, including 711 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 2.1% Zn (806 g/t AgEq) over 0.52m. The company has drilled since April 2022 over 5,300m in 23 holes, totaling 8,100m year to date with the aim to define and extend mineralized zones. The high grade Ag results show the potential for resource expansion at depth and along strike in the El Verde and Sierra Plata Deep areas along the Veta Colorada structure.
GoGold Resources Inc., released results from seven new holes drilled at the El Favor East Deposit within its Los Ricos North property in Jalisco. Drilling highlights include hole LRGF-22-136 with 0.24 g/t Au and 84 g/t Ag (1.35 g/t AuEq or 101 g/t AgEq) over 4.9m, plus 0.52 g/t Au and 108 g/t Ag (1.96 g/t AuEq or 147 g/t AgEq) over 47.6m, including 2.07 g/t Au and 319 g/t Ag (6.32 g/t AuEq or 474 g/t AgEq) over 10.7m, including 13.47 g/t Au and 615 g/t Ag (21.66 g/t AuEq or 1,625 g/t AgEq) over 1.1m; and hole LRGF-22-124 with 0.31 g/t Au and 111 g/t Ag (1.79 g/t AuEq or 134 g/t AgEq) over 22m, including 1.65 g/t Au and 530 g/t Ag (8.72 g/t AuEq or 654 g/t AgEq) over 3.4m, including 5.05 g/t Au and 1,456 g/t Ag (24.46 g/t AuEq or 1,835 g/t AgEq) over 0.9m. These drill results show extension of the zone to the east and additional high grade infill.
GR Silver Mining Ltd., reported results from 3 holes drilled at its San Marcial project in Sinaloa, to follow-up on lateral and down dip, the high grade encountered previously at the Southeast Area. Hole SMS22-11 intersected 92 g/t Ag and 0.02 g/t Au over 75.7m, including 102 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, and 0.1% Zn over 63.6m, including 1,253 g/t Ag, 0.02 g/t Au, 0.5% Pb, and 1.4% Zn over 0.3m, plus 1,032 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 0.5% Pb, and 1.9% Zn over 0.4m. Hole SMS22-12 encountered 98 g/t Ag, 0.03 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over 44.5m, including 1,059 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 0.2m, plus 537 g/t Ag, 0.06 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 1% Zn over 1m. Hole SMSP22-022 intersected 426 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 3.2m, including 1,932 g/t Ag, 0.05% g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over 0.5m. GR Silver informed that additional drilling is in progress aiming to continuously expand lateral and down dip continuity of the Ag mineralization.
Prime Mining Corp., announced additional phase 2 drill results from 42 infill and step out drill holes collared at Guadalupe Corridor within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Drilling highlights include hole 22GE-73 with 5.01 g/t Au and 328 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 1.9m; hole 22GE-72 with 1.65 g/t Au and 236 g/t Ag over a TW of 13.5m, plus 0.95 g/t Au and 124 g/t Ag over a TW of 6m, plus 2.52 g/t Au and 365 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.5m; hole 22GE-105 with 1.46 g/t Au and 56 g/t Ag over a TW of 14.4m, plus 1.01 g/t Au and 67 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.5m; hole 22GE-70 with 1.38 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag over a TW of 4.5m; hole 22GE-59 with 2.77 g/t Au and 440 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.1m; hole 22GE-563 with 0.97 g/t Au and 267 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.5m; hole 22GE-77 with 1.28 g/t Au and 45 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.6m; hole 22GE-80 with 1.55 g/t Au and 43 g/t Ag over a TW of 5.7m, plus 1.72 g/t Au and 43 g/t Ag over a TW of 4.8m; hole 22GE-85 with 16.1 g/t Au and 391 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.5m; and hole 22GE-76 with 10.41 g/t Au and 683 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.7m, plus 0.92 g/t Au and 945 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.1m, These drill results expand the Au-Ag mineralization potential at Guadalupe Corridor.
Regency Silver Corp., completed a 2,000m drilling program at its flagship Dios Padre project in Sonora. This program was designed to test a large IP anomaly only 550 metres to the north of the existing Dios Padre historical workings to determine whether it represents a significant continuation of the mineralization, as well as to test for extensions to the existing Dios Padre mineral resource. Final assay results are expected in early October. The Company will release the results shortly thereafter.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Aztec Minerals Corp., announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Cervantes project, Sonora).
Vizsla Silver Corp., announced that it has filed its 2022 annual report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It includes its management discussion and analysis, annual information form, and audited financial statements for the year ended April 30, 2022. (Panuco project, Sinaloa).
Riverside Resources Inc., and BHP extended its Exploration Funding Agreement (EFA) into a fourth year for its Sonora Mexico exploration program. The plan is to move into the next exploration phase focusing on five copper projects in Sonora, Mexico with a currently approved USD $1.1M in exploration funding to work on the Llano de Nogal district and USD $0.5M in ongoing High Value Work programs in the Sonora Projects for a total so far allocated budget of USD $1.6M exploration work on the specified properties in the EFA.
Galore Resources Inc., reported results of its annual general meeting of shareholders and announced the grant of 7.1M incentive stock options to directors and officers, exercisable at a price of $0.10 for a period of 5 years from the date of grant (Dos Santos project, Zacatecas).
Gatos Silver Inc., provided bi-weekly status report in accordance with National Policy 12-203 – Management Cease Trade Orders due to the delay in the filing of annual reports which includes its audited consolidated financial statements, together with the management’s discussion and analysis, relating to the audited annual financial statements, and the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer certificates relating to its annual filings for the years 2021 and 2022 (Cerro Los Gatos, Chihuahua).
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Peñoles and Fresnillo plc have supported for more than two decades to the Heroic Fire Department and the Red Cross. The two companies have resolutely supported these institutions in the communities where they operate, by donating medical supplies to the Red Cross and training for firefighters.
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, Cu mineralization related to a porphyry copper system in a project in Sinaloa, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.
During the 35th week of the year (August 29th to September 4th, 2022), at least 21 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. Five companies posted exploration advances on their properties and three presented production results for the second quarter, while one more provided an operational update. One company sold a portfolio of royalties in Mexican properties, one declared a dividend and closed a $5 M concentrate pre-payment facility. On advanced properties, one company reported metallurgical results, one updated its resource base, one released PEA numbers and one more released drilling results. One company is looking for partners for its projects and one more informed on the completion of the bought of their flagship property. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the lithium government company is to be run by the son of one federal government executive in Sonora. The rescue effort on ten coal miners in Coahuila is changing to a recovery mission. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tocvan Ventures released drilling results from Pilar; Prismo Metals received the Lidar survey processed data on Los Pavitos. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold presented drilling results from Amalia. Kootenay Silver released drilling results from Columba. In Zacatecas, Zacatecas Silver reported drill results from El Cristo vein. ON MINING, Impact Silver, Santacruz Silver and Magna Gold financial/operational results for the second quarter 2022. Guanajuato Silver Company provided and operational update on Topia, San Ignacio and El Cubo and Valenciana complexes. ON FINANCING, Millrock Resources sold a portfolio of royalties in Mexican properties to Osisko Gold Royalties. Alamos Gold declared a quarterly dividen, Guanajuato Silver Company closed on a $5 M concentrate pre-payment facility. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Discovery Silver reported metallurgical results from its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Starcore International Mines updated on NI 43-101 complaint resources at its San Martin mine in Queretaro. Southern Silver Exploration released numbers on the recently completed PEA at its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Capitan Mining reported drilling results from the Jesus Maria target at its Cruz de Plata project in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Mexus Gold US is seeking a partner for its Santa Elena property in Sonora. Minaurum Gold completed the acquisition of its Alamos Silver property in Sonora, with a final payment in cash and shares. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Vizsla Silver released its environmental social and governance (ESG) initiative.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
LitioMx. The federal government operation of its newly created Lithium Mining Company (LitioMx) is still hazy, but the possibility has been raised that private companies might participate, also that the current Sonora governor might be involved, and a director has been named, which happens to be a relative of the presidency representative in the State (Although eager to advertise its different way of doing things, this government is making a great effort to replicate the worst practices of past governments).
Trapped Coal Miners. Blame put aside, the fate of the 10 trapped miners in Coahuila after the flooding of the coal mine on August 3 is almost defined, and the effort is now changing from rescue to body recovery, which might take months.
ON EXPLORATION
Prismo Metals Inc. received results from the Lidar survey carried out at its 5,289 ha Los Pavitos project in Sonora. “Mineralization at Los Pavitos consists of quartz veins and stockworks hosted in metasediments, in shear zones and parallel to foliation and crossing foliation”.
Tocvan Ventures Corp. released results from the four final holes drilled at its Pilar project in Sonora. Highlighted drill length intervals comprise 16.78 m @ 0.11 gpt Au; 18.30 m @ 0.24 gpt Au; 50.33 m @ 0.14 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag (including 10.68 m @ 0.59 gpt Au, 40 gpt Ag); 21.35 m @ 0.13 gpt Au. “All four drill holes were drilled in new areas and intersected alteration and structures known to host gold-silver mineralization at Pilar”.
Zacatecas Silver Corp. reported results from the completed phase one diamond drilling at El Cristo vein system in the Zacatecas Silver project in Zacatecas. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 2.1 m @ 204 gpt Ag; 9.0 m @ 149 gpt Ag; 0.53 m @ 200 gpt Ag, 0.34 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 0.8% Zn; 0.82 m @ 84 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 11.8% Pb, 3.7% Zn; 0.85 m @ 45 gpt Ag, 0.82 gpt Au, 1.9% Pb, 2.4% Zn; 3.0 m @ 250 gpt Ag; 0.55 m @ 198 gpt Ag, 1.6 m @ 175 gpt Ag. “Drill holes targeted the near surface depth extension of the larger surface workings and/or the depth extension of veins around the deeper historical shaft. The 28 holes drilled to date by the Company have been scout holes also designed to test select veins over at least 2 km of strike extension”.
Radius Gold Inc. reported results from three drill holes on El Cuervo target at the Amalia project in Chihuahua (Radius 35%, Pan American Silver 65%). Highlighted core length drill results comprise 17.00 m @ 438 gpt Ag, 0.80 gpt Au (including 2.0 m @ 3,182 gpt Ag, 4.49 gpt Au); 13.55 m @ 841 gpt Ag, 10.25 gpt Au (including 5.65 m @ 1,560 gpt Ag, 19.6 gpt Au). “Drilling at El Cuervo has defined mineralization similar to the Amalia structure, consisting of epithermal quartz veins, breccias and veinlets stockworks hosted within rhyolite volcanics along a major fault system. El Cuervo remains open to expansion along strike and to depth”.
Kootenay Silver Inc. released another batch of results from its phase 4 drilling program at Columba, Chihuahua. Highlighted core length results comprise 3.90 m @ 574 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn (including 0.90 m @ 949 gpt Ag, 0.4% Pb, 1.1% Zn) in the D vein, and 17.00 m @ 95 gpt Ag, 0.1% Zn (including 2.05 m @ 221 gpt Ag, 0.2% Zn); 0.4 m @ 325 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 1.58 m @ 425 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 2.97 m @ 91 gpt Ag, 0.2% Zn; 1.63 m @ 2,330 gpt Ag, 0.8% Zn; 6.5 m @ 156 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn (including 1.05 m @ 769 gpt Ag, 0.5% Zn); 1.00 m @ 305 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 1.00 m @ 194 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn.
ON MINING
Impact Silver Corp. announced financial and operating results for the second quarter 2022. At its Real de Zacualpan project in Estado de Mexico, 37.2 K tonnes averaging 159 gpt Ag were milled during the period, to sell 151.3 K Oz Ag. Impact has no long term debt and cash on hand stands at $18.4 M. Two underground and two surface rigs continue with the 20,000 meters drilling program for the year.
Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reported its financial and operating results for the second quarter 2022. At Zimapan, in Hidalgo, 200 K tonnes were milled to produce 914.5 K Oz AgEq at $16.71 cash cost per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $20.64 per Oz AgEq.
Magna Gold Corp. announced operating and financial results for the second quarter of 2022. At the San Francisco mine in Sonora 5.9 M tonnes were mined, of which 1.4 M tonnes averaging 0.39 gpt Au were placed on the heaps to produce 10,795 Oz Au. Cash at the end of the period was $1.4 M, while working capital was negative $35.4 M. “management believes it is prudent to preserve capital by reducing mining rates and secondary activities across the Company’s portfolio of assets……… the Company’s board and management determined that previously stated guidance for FY 2022 will be retracted and revised at a later date when a more accurate estimate of production impacts is known”.
Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. provided an operational update detailing the integration of El Cubo mine and milling complex with the recently acquired Topia (Durango) and San Ignacio (Guanajuato) mines from Great Panther Mining Ltd. and the San Ignacio mine and Valenciana mines complex (both in Guanajuato). At El Cubo, the development of a 150 m tunnel and ramp reduced the total haulage distance from 7.2 km to 2.5 km with a strong impact on the project economics. Mineral from the San Ignacio mine is being transported to El Cubo mill for processing, and is expected to provide 5 to 6 K tonnes of material per month to the end of the year. At the Valenciana Mines Complex opportunities are being reviewed to restart mining and to process the material at the Cata mill in 2023. At Topia, the sale of 99.2 dry tonnes of Pb-Zn-Au concentrate 97.7 dry tonnes of Zn-Ag concentrate has been reported since the completion of the acquisition.
ON FINANCING
Millrock Resources Inc. sold a portfolio of royalties to Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. with gross proceeds of $1.2 M. The Mexican properties involved include Santa Rosalía (Sonora), El Valle, El Pima (Sonora), Violeta and Guadalcazar (San Luis Potosi).
Alamos Gold Inc. informed the company’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.025 per common share (Mulatos, Sonora).
Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. reported that in conjunction with the acquisition of the Topia mine in Durango and the Mine Complex in Guanajuato from Great Panther Mining Ltd., has closed a US$5 M concentrate pre-payment facility with Ocean Partners UK Ltd. “Interest on the loan will be calculated at 12-month LIBOR + 7.5%” (Guanajuato Mine Complex, Guanajuato).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Discovery Silver Corp. reported results from the metallurgical test program on the pre-feasibility study (PFS) from its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Recoveries of 94-98% Ag, 89-97% Pb, 92-96% Zn were achieved on high grade samples of all major rock types, and recoveries of 83-92% Ag, 85-92% Pb, 81-89% Zn on medium grade samples of blended rock types. “Oxide-sulphide blend testwork establish oxide-specific recoveries of ~60% for silver, ~40% for lead and ~85% for zinc via flotation; co-processing oxide mineralized material via flotation eliminates the need for heap leach processing”.
Starcore International Mines Ltd. released its updated NI 43-101 reserve and resource estimates for its San Martin mine in Querétaro. Proven and probable reserves stand at 1.35 M tonnes @ 1.74 gpt Au, 13 gpt Ag containing 75,353 Oz Au, 573 K Oz Ag, and indicated and inferred resources of 1.48 M tonnes @ 1.78 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag, containing 160,352 Oz Au, 1.22 M Oz Ag. The exploration program for 2022 envisages 10,000 meters of diamond drilling near the current operations.
Southern Silver Exploration Corp. reported results from its preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. The study’s base case envisages an after-tax NPV5% of $349 M, an IRR of 17.9% with Ag at $21.95 per Oz, Cu at $3.78 per Lb, Pb at $0.94 per Lb, Zn at $1.33 per Lb. The indicated mineral resources included on the study comprise 12.3 M tonnes @ 106 gpt Ag, 0.16% Cu, 1.3% Pb, 3.3% Zn containing 42.1 M Oz Ag, 44 M Lb Cu, 358 M Lb Pb, 895 M Lb Zn, while inferred resources comprise 19.6 M tonnes @ 117 gpt Ag, 0.23% Cu, 1.2% Pb, 2,3% Zn, totaling 73.6 M Oz Ag, 98 M Lb Cu, 500 M Lb Pb, 1,009 M Lb Zn. Only sulfide mineralization was included in the study to produce Cu, Pb and zinc concentrates with the recoveries estimated at 91.6% Ag, 60% Cu, 88% Pb, 93% Zn.
Capitan Mining Inc. reported exploration results from five reverse circulation holes at its Cruz de Plata project in Durango. “All drillholes were successful in intersecting Jesus Maria style mineralization, expanding the zone between 43m and 114m down-dip along section”. Highlighted drill length intervals comprise 3.0 m @ 52 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 1.3% Pb, 3.4% Zn; 19.8 m @ 29 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 13.7 m @ 69 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 21.3 m @ 84 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 0.7% Zn (including 1.5 m @ 189 gpt Ag, 0.02 gpt Au; 2.3% Pb, 2.3% Zn.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Mexus Gold US. continues to seek the right partner for production and/or exploration of its Santa Elena property in Sonora (not to mistake for First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora).
Minaurum Gold Inc. announced the completion of the acquisition of 100% interest in the Alamos Silver project in Sonora. The 37,928-hectare property encompasses the historical 200 M Oz Ag Alamos district including 26 epithermal veins. Minaurum completed all work commitments and option payments and made a final compensation of C$300 K in cash and 443.6 K shares.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Vizsla Silver Corp. announced the continued progression on its environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives through safety, sustainability and commitment to communities.
On the image below: Banded Specularite-quartz-calcite vein in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 34th week of the year (August 22nd to August 28th, 2022), at least 16 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 7 news published by the media with seven commenting on Mexican issues, four communicating production and financial results, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, three reporting resources and developments of their properties, three announcing financial issues, and two informing on exploration results. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Colibri and Oroco reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of August, 2022. The government of Mexico announced, through a decree in the Official Gazette of the Federation, the creation of the state company Litio para Mexico (LitioMx). According to the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), a total of 822 mining projects remain on hold and represent an amount of USD $959M. Jaime Gutierrez Núñez, president of CAMIMEX stated that small-scale coal mining is like “the blood diamonds” of Africa. Mexico’s mining industry plans to invest USD $5.5B in 2022, 15.2% more than in 2021. Mining in Mexico grew by 7.1% in 2021 despite friction with the government. The governor of Durango, José Rosas Aispuro, considered unfair that the mining-metallurgical sector is one of the economic sectors with the highest tax burden in the country. In Mexico there are more than 1,209 mining projects that have been developed in 26 states of the Republic. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Colibri reported results from the second half of its Phase 1 drill program completed on its Evelyn project, and Tocvan announced latest drill results from its Pilar project. ON MINING, Guanajuato Silver, Discovery Silver, Minera Alamos, and Orogen reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Canasil announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $550K (Nora project, Durango). Minera Alamos arranged a USD $3M working capital facility and announced a closed a USD $4.35M equity raise (Cerro de Oro project, Zacatecas). Eric Sprott announced holdings in Orex Minerals Inc. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Discovery Silver reported Q2, 2022 results from its flagship Cordero project, Chihuahua. Minera Alamos provided an update on its Cerro de Oro project, Zacatecas. Oroco successfully tested the western side of the North Zone at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Monumental announced that its common shares are now trading on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol MNMRF (Jemi project, Coahuila). Argonaut announced the appointment of its Vice President, Canadian Operations (La Colorada mine, Sonora). Aztec purchased 35% interest in the Cervantes property in Sonora from Kootenay. Colibri announced reinstatement of trading on the TSX Venture Exchange and the appointment of its CFO. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUE
Colibri Resource Corporation and Oroco Resource Corp.,reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of August, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:
· The government of Mexico announced, through a decree in the Official Gazette of the Federation, the creation of the state company Litio para Mexico (LitioMx). The Government of Mexico created LitioMx as a decentralized public organism of the Federal Public Administration and coordinated by the Ministry of Energy, with its own legal personality and assets and with technical, operational and management autonomy. The objective of LitioMx will be the exploration, exploitation, benefit and use of lithium, located in national territory, as well as the administration and control of the economic value chains of such mineral. · According to the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), a total of 822 mining projects remain on hold and represent an amount of USD $959M, which are still waiting for better conditions to be able to reactivate. Jaime Núñez, president of CAMIMEX stated that is essential to encourage exploration since unfortunately in the last seven years we have seen a decrease in investments in exploration, leaving several projects on standby. · Jaime Gutierrez Núñez, president of CAMIMEX stated that small-scale coal mining is like “the blood diamonds” of Africa, and that the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) should certify where the mineral it buys comes from and its conditions. · Mexico’s mining industry plans to invest USD $5.5B in 2022, 15.2% more than in 2021, but according to the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), it will remain below the record figure of USD $8.04B seen in 2012 amid difficult conditions. Growing security problems, a high tax burden and the government’s decision to stop granting concessions for projects have prevented investments in the sector from increasing faster, said CAMIMEX head Jaime Gutiérrez. · Mining in Mexico grew by 7.1% in 2021 despite friction with the government. According to CAMIMEX’s annual report, this increase positioned it as the only productive activity that recovered and even exceeded the fall of 2020, when the covid-19 pandemic initially stopped its operations because the government did not consider it “essential activity”. Even without tax incentives, the mining sector presented an increase in its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) going from 2.3% in 2020 to 2.5% in 2021, and an annual advance in the proportion of industrial GDP from 8.3% to 8.6% in the same period. · The Governor of Durango, José Rosas Aispuro, considered unfair that the mining-metallurgical sector is one of the economic sectors with the highest tax burden in the country, even though it is an enabler that prevents the migration of people in the communities where it develops its production processes, for job creation and social benefits. Mining Entrepreneurs stated that mining generates jobs and is one of the industries that pays the most taxes, since in 7 years it has contributed more than MXP $240,000M (approximately USD $12B) in taxes and other rights. · In Mexico there are more than 1,209 mining projects that have been developed in 26 states of the Republic, in which 406,179 jobs have been generated and a production value that already exceeds MXP $334,782M (approximately USD $16.7B). Among the main minerals extracted from these deposits are gold, copper, silver, zinc, iron, molybdenum, lead, fluorite, among others. For its exploration and exploitation, in 2021 alone, investments have been made for more than USD $4,810M and more than USD $5,538M are expected by the end of 2022. Of the 1,209 mining projects that exist in Mexico, 286 are in Sonora, Chihuahua has 160 and Durango has 128, which positions them as the entities with the greatest economic benefit thanks to mining concessions. Of the total number of projects, 749 correspond to precious metals; 180 to polymetallic minerals, 167 to copper, 71 to iron ore and the remaining 42 to other metals and minerals. According to the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), there are currently a total of 263 projects in the exploration stage, 76 in production, 39 in the development stage, while 822 projects are being postponed and 9 operations are reported as closed. However, the agency assures that, since the start of the current administration, the federal government has stopped granting permits or concessions for the exploration and development of new projects, since so far more than USD $959.7M dollars have not been invested. . ON EXPLORATION · Colibri Resource Corporation reported results from the second half of its Phase 1 drill program completed on its Evelyn project, Sonora, and included 3,101m of RC drilling completed in 22 holes. In total, Phase 1 consisted of 6,223m of RC drilling in 42 holes. Highlights include hole EVE22-042 with 0.17 g/t Au over 86m, including 0.32 g/t Au over 22m; hole EVE 22-043 with 0.92 g/t Au over 3m; hole EVE22-046 with 1.94 g/t Au over 2m, including 3.36 g/t Au over 1m; hole EVE22-044 with 0.63 g/t Au over 6m; hole EVE22-036 with 1.3 g/t Au over 1m; hole EVE22-033 with 1.92 g/t Au over 1m; hole EVE22-030 with 0.13 g/t Au over 87m, including 0.34 g/t Au over 8m; hole EVE22-029 with 1.39 g/t Au over 5m; and hole EVE22-028 with 0.13 g/t Au over 19m. In addition to drilling, Colibri is completing the geological mapping as well as conducting soil sampling to infill the historical property wide soil surveys. · Tocvan Ventures Corp., informed that seven holes were completed at its Pilar project in Sonora, totalling 1,382m and released results from the three first drill holes where the most significant drill intercepts was encountered in hole JES-22-67 with 0.4 g/t Au over 30.5m, including 7.6 g/t Au over 1.5m. Results are pending for the remaining four holes. ON MINING · Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from their El Cubo and Pinguico mines in Guanajuato (all amounts in American dollars). The company milled 94,212 tonnes to produce 155, 912 Oz Ag and 2,161 Oz Au (or 337,760 Oz AgEq) wit metallurgical recoveries of 80.91% and 82.52% respectively, at cash and all included sustaining cost (AISC) of $16.98 and $24-06 per Oz AgEq respectively. Guanajuato Silver reported revenue of $6.13M; cost of sales of $7.8M; mine operating loss of ($1.66M); net loss of ($3.5M); EBIDTA of ($1.1M); and working capital of ($2.04M). The company sold 159,840 Oz Ag, and 2,195 Oz Au (or 342, 987 Oz AgEq) at realized prices of $22.56 and $1,873 per Oz respectively. · Discovery Silver Corp., reported Q2, 2022 financial results (all amounts in Canadian dollars). The company reported cash and cash equivalents of $63.6M; total assets of $101.8M; total current liabilities of $2.54M; working capital of $62.5M; and total shareholder´s equity of $99.2M. · Minera Alamos Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Santana mine in Sonora (all amounts in Canadian dollars). The company reported that monthly mine production rates were approximately 300K tonnes, but with the opening of the Nicho Main Zone during Q2, the company is now in the position to ramp up production levels. Alamos sold 3,128 Oz Au and reported revenues of $7.3M; cost of goods sold of $3.26M; direct cost of production of $16 per Oz; income from operations of $2.6M; net income of $2.7M; cash and cash equivalents (including marketable securities) of $9M; and working capital of $17M. · Orogen Royalties Inc., announced Q2, 2022 financial results (all amounts in Canadian dollars). The company reported revenue of $959.8K comprised from the Ermitaño royalty and $17.5K generated from prospect generation activities; project generation cost of $433.5K and recovered $448.9K in expense reimbursement from partners on optioned projects; general and administrative expenses of $875.2K; loss of $754.8K; net loss from operations of $648.6K; cash and cash equivalents from operating activities of $131.3K; cash from operating activities excluding changes in cash-cash working capital of $257.9K ; and working capital of $10.5M including $3.05M in cash and cash equivalents and $5.13M in short term investments and no long-term debt. ON FINANCING · Canasil Resources Inc., announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $550K. Gross proceeds will be used to fund the company´s exploration programs (Nora project, Durango). · Minera Alamos Inc., arranged a USD $3M working capital facility and announced a closed a USD $4.35M equity raise of common shares at $0.55/share. The combination of both enhancing the company´s working capital position as development work extends to the advancement of the Cerro de Oro project in Zacatecas. · Eric Sprott announced that 18,333,333 common share purchase warrants of Orex Minerals Inc., expired unexercised representing a decrease in holdings of approximately 7.2% of the outstanding common shares on a partially diluted basis since the date of the last early warning report. As a result of the warrants expiry, Mr. Sprott now beneficially owns and controls 36,666,666 shares representing approximately 19.6% of the outstanding shares on a noun-diluted basis. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT · Discovery Silver Corp., reported Q2, 2022 results from its flagship Cordero project, Chihuahua. The company reported that initial results from the Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) metallurgical work had recoveries of 90-95% for Ag, Pb, and Zn. It also reported that Phase 2 drilling program intercepted excellent grades below the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) pit including hole C21-564 with 95 g/t Ag, 0.21 g/t Au, 1.9% Pb, and 4.5% Zn (337 g/t AgEq) over 33.9m, and hole C21-560 with 234 g/t Ag, 0.15 g/t Au, 3.8% Pb, and 6.5% Zn (606 g/t AgEq) over 18.1m, as well as hole C22-610 collared outside the current resource with 115 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Ag, 3.7% Pb, and 4.1% Zn (388 g/t AgEq) over 32.6m, including 187 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 6.5% Pb, and 7.2% Zn (660 g/t AgEq) over 17.8m. · Minera Alamos Inc., provided an update on its Cerro de Oro project, Zacatecas. The company informed the sign off of the documentation for its Cerro de Oro project surface rights agreement in Zacatecas, allowing the company to move forward with the permitting process for the construction of its second gold operation in Mexico. Minera Alamos also informed that the NI 43-101 compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) is nearly to be completed and is expected to get it done by next month. · Oroco Resource Corp., successfully tested the western side of the North Zone at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa by drilling 3,050m. Drilling has confirmed and expanded the 2009 Grade shell model of Cu > 0.30% derived from the historical drilling described in the Company’s 2019 Technical Report. A total of 26 holes (18,136 m of drilling) have now been completed in the North Zone, spanning 1,100m of strike length, with intersections of good grade mineralization returned in all holes for which the Company has received assays. Highlights of the last holes collared at the western side of the North Zone include hole N015 with 0.31% Cu, 0.009% Mo, 0.025 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.36% CuEq) over 292m; hole N016 with 0.32 g/t Cu, 0.006% Mo, 0.032 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.73% CuEq) over 95.4m, plus 0.39% Cu, 0.016%Mo, 0.022 g/t Au, and 4 g/t Ag (0.46% CuEq) over 44.7m, plus 0.26% Cu, 0.010% Mo, 0.014 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.31% CuEq) over 88.7m; hole N017 with 0.31% Cu, 0.011% Mo, 0.02 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.73% CuEq) over 63.8m, plus 0.22% Cu, 0.01% Mo, 0.02 g/t Au, and 1 g/t Ag (0.28% CuEq) over 159.2m; and hole N018 with 0.36% Cu, 0.011% Mo, 0.017 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.42% CuEq) over 21m, plus 0.65% Cu, 0.012% Mo, 0.019 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.68% CuEq) over 10m, plus 0.33% Cu, 0.012% Mo, 0.017 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.38% CuEq) over 42.3m. The Company will commence a drill program targeted at testing the South Zone in 2022. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES · Monumental Minerals Corp., announced that its common shares are now trading on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol MNMRF (Jemi project, Coahuila). · Argonaut Gold Inc., announced the appointment of its Vice President, Canadian Operations, effective August 29, 2022 (La Colorada mine, Sonora). · Aztec Minerals Corp., purchased indirectly from Kootenay Silver Inc., 35% interest in the Cervantes property in Sonora by issue 10M common shares at a price of CAD $0.25 per Aztec share for aggregate consideration of CAD $2.5M. Kootenay will retain a 0.5% Net Smelter Returned Royalty. Following the closing of the Transaction, Kootenay owns a total of 10.68M Aztec shares, which represents approximately 11.85% of the issued and outstanding Aztec shares on an undiluted basis. · Colibri Resource Corporation announced reinstatement of trading of its common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange. The shares will re-open for trading on the Exchange at the opening of trading on Monday, August 29. The company also announced the appointment of its new CFO (Evelyn project, Sonora). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY · No relevant news.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the picture above, boiling texture in a low-intermediate epithermal vein system in a project in Durango, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.
During the 25th week of the year (June 20th to June 26th, 2022), at least 24 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, four companies posted exploration advances on their properties, there were no relevant news in the mining section, four companies reported on the opening or closing f financing rounds for a total of US$6.4 M and C$5 M, five companies posted on work at its advanced properties. One company announced a LOI on a property, another is on a legal fight for its mining concessions and one more is suing the Mexican government on the cancellation of a project. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Congress released the reform on nationalization of lithium extraction. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Silver Spruce collared the first hole at Diamante; Tocvan Ventures recommenced drilling at Pilar. In Zacatecas, Minera Alamos updated on regional exploration at Melchor Ocampo. In Veracruz, Azucar Minerals commenced a second hole on a new target at El Cobre. ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, Sonoro Gold increased its financing round to $2.4 M; Fabled Silver it to raise up to $1 M; Heliostar Metals is carrying a financing round to raise $3 M; Reyna Silver closed its non-brokered placement raising C$5 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Alamos Gold poured first bullion from La Yaqui Grande, in the Mulatos district, Sonora. Minera Alamos obtained surface access to Cerro de Oro in Zacatecas. Vizsla Resources reported drill results from Panuco, in Sinaloa. Guanajuato Silver reported high-grade tailings drilling results at El Cubo, in Guanajuato. GR Silver released drill results from Plomosas, in Sinaloa. Orex Minerals resumed drilling at Sandra, in Durango, within a JV with Pan American Silver. Oroco Resources released drilling results from the north part of the Santo Tomás project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, no relevant news. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
The Economy Secretariat (Secretaría de Economía) is the government entity that is to run the Lithium State company. The reform sealed by Congress nationalized the extraction of the metal, and mandates the government has 90 days to create the organization.
ON EXPLORATION
Colibri Resources Corp. announced that its partner in the Diamante project in Sonora, Silver Spruce Resources Inc. has collared the first holes of a 2,000 m reverse circulation drilling program, starting on the Pillado zone and to continue at La Prieta.
Tocvan Ventures Corp. recommenced drilling at its Pilar project in Sonora. Drilling will focus on priority exploration targets as well as parallel trends and extensions.
Azucar Minerals Ltd. has commenced a second hole at the lithocap target at El Cobre, Veracruz. “the first hole passed through typical clay dominant lithocap alteration into phyllic alteration which transitioned to propylitic and at depth intense biotitic potassic alteration and is interpreted to have intersected a peripheral part of a porphyry system beneath the lithocap”. The target has been shown as likely to contain a medium to large sized porphyry systems based on mineral vectoring studies with chlorite and epidote.
Minera Alamos Inc. updated on regional exploration activities in the Melchor Ocampo area of Zacatecas. The company owns 6,405 ha of mining concessions in the area around its Cerro de Oro project, in development. A new mineralized trend has been identified 4.5 km southwest of the Cerro de Oro area, with 22 out of 40 samples running over 0.5 gpt Au “in a sedimentary sequence of interbedded siltstone, sandstones and limestones that have been intruded by granitic dikes and sills”. An internal historic report by Echo Bay calculated 2.8 M tonnes @ 0.75 gpt Au, and also pointed to the possibility of large tonnage Ag-Pb-Zn mineralization.
ON MINING
No Relevant News.
ON FINANCING
Sonoro Gold Corp. is increasing its previously announced non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $2.4 M. (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
Fabled Silver Gold Corp. announced a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1 M (Santa Maria, Chihuahua).
Heliostar Metals Ltd. is carrying a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $3 M (Cumaro, Oso Negro and La Lola, in Sonora).
Reyna Silver Corp. closed its previously announced “best efforts” private placement, for gross proceeds of C$5 M. The offering was upsized from its originally aimed C$3 M (Guigui, Chihuahua).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Alamos Gold Inc. announced initial gold production from the La Yaqui Grande mine in Sonora. Construction was completed ahead of schedule this month. A total of 991 Oz was poured, with production expected to reach 3,000 Oz Au in June. This large-scale construction project will extend the life of the Mulatos Complex for at least five years. “La Yaqui Grande was completed ahead of schedule generating more than 1,000 jobs during the construction phase and will continue to sustain 450 direct jobs”.
Minera Alamos Inc. presented executed surface rights agreements for its Cerro de Oro project in Zacatecas. These permits, which cover 816 ha in the Melchor Ocampo Municipality and 160 ha in the Ejido San Pedro de Ocampo, with allow the company to pursue the permit application for the project. Additional activities for 2022 include metallurgical test work, in-fill and local resource expansion drilling, ongoing regional exploration, equipment procurement, mine contractor discussions and project financing discussions.
Vizsla Resources Corp. reported results from 24 drill holes targeting the Tajitos-Copala resource area at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. The results are from the Copala structure, extending it to 600 meters along strike and 400 m downdip. Highlighted true width results comprise 20.45 m @ 780 gpt Ag, 4.23 gpt Au; 14.50 m @ 667 gpt Ag, 3.89 gpt Au; 9.35 m @ 1,010 gpt Ag, 5.44 gpt Au (including 1.30 m @ 3,548 gpt Ag, 17.78 gpt Au); 4.40 m @ 802 gpt Ag, 6.89 gpt Au; 3.40 m @ 1,642 gpt Ag, 6.67 gpt Au. “The Copala Vein is a shallow dipping structure …. on the hangingwall side of the Tajitos structure. Copala is marked by high precious metals grades …. hosted within a broader envelope of vein-breccia up to 82 metres thick…”.
Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. reported the discovery of high-grade material in an historical tailings area of El Cubo Mine Complex in Guanajuato. The Mastranto tailings facility has material from El Cubo Santa Cecilia area, mined between 1986 and 2003, covering an area of 4.35 ha. with approximately 1.5 m of tailings material. Some of the highlighted hole length results comprise 1.3 m @ 4.14 gpt Au, 328 gpt Ag; 1.6 m @ 3.07 gpt Au, 169 gpt Ag; 0.8 m @ 3.42 gpt Au, 446 gpt Ag; 1.1 m @ 3.18 gpt Au, 405 gpt Ag; 1.2 m @ 3.17 gpt Au, 427 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 3.54 gpt Au, 405 gpt Ag; 1.2 m @ 3.65 gpt Au, 435 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 3.42 gpt Au, 437 gpt Ag; 1.2 m @ 3.03 gpt Au, 419 gpt Ag; 1.1 m @ 3.46 gpt Au, 40 gpt Ag; 1.1 m @ 3.32 gpt Au, 316 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 4.02 gpt Au, 220 gpt Ag. “the Company plans to extract the gold and silver content from Mastrantos IV using a gravity extraction circuit”.
GR Silver Mining Ltd. released results from drilling at the San Juan and Plomosas mine areas of its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width results comprise 4.3 m @ 4.52 gpt Au, 56 gpt Ag (including 1.1 m @ 10.17 gpt Au, 340 gpt Ag); 0.5 m @ 30.09 gpt Au, 76 gpt Ag; 0.9 m @ 0.38 gpt Au, 459 gpt Ag. Channel sampling at Las Teresas returned 3.4 m @ 1.21 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag (including 0.4 m @ 9.44 gpt Au, 394 gpt Ag).
Orex Minerals Inc. resumed diamond drilling on the Sandra project in Durango. This is a joint venture between Pan American Silver Corp. (60%) and Orex (40%) that aims to drill 2,500 to 3,000 meters in this new Phase-I program. “The Project covers almost 70 square kilometres of contiguous mineral concessions and includes multiple mineralized epithermal quartz veins, disseminated horizons and breccia structures”. The Sandra project has an inferred resource of 9.8 M tonnes @ 106 gpt hosting 33.3 M Oz Ag in the Boleras deposit.
Oroco Resources Corp. released results from the Brasiles area of the Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Core length highlighted results comprise 166 m @ 0.36 % Cu (including 59.0 m @ 0.46% Cu and 17.4 m @ 0.44% Cu); 33.5 m @ 0.14% Cu in one hole; 24.0 m @ 0.33% Cu; 14.0 m @ 0.17% Cu; 16.0 m @ 0.14% Cu in a second hole; 213.5 m @ 0.28% Cu (including 37.5 m @ 0.50% Cu) in a third hole. “Brasiles West Zone has strong geological similarities to the North Zone, if somewhat attenuated. Like the North Zone, monzonite dikes cutting the Cretaceous limestone (marble) are accompanied by skarn development and minor base metal mineralization”.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
QNB Metals Inc. announced the execution of a binding letter of intent (LOI) with Analog Gold Inc. on the proposed acquisition of the Tres Oro property in Sinaloa. “The LOI provides for a business combination of QNB Metals and Analog, which would be implemented by way of a “Reverse Takeover” of QNB Metals by Analog”. The deal envisages consolidation of QNB Metals shares on a 2 to 1 basis, completion of a financing round, the payment of $38.3 M through the issuance of shares. The Tres Oros property is an active pilot mine exploiting a polymetallic structure open on strike and at depth, with access to a 600 tpd flotation plant.
Defiance Silver Corp. has “become aware that certain mineral concessions concerning its Tepal Project have been illegally and fraudulently transferred to a third-party individual without the Company’s knowledge or consent. These concessions are the property of Defiance and have consistently been kept in good standing by the Company, with all obligations and filings under applicable laws being systematically completed”. Defiance is pursuing all legal avenues to restore its rightful claim to the concessions (Tepal. Michoacan).
Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. has gathered US$15 M to pursue legal actions against environmental authorities in Mexico, under the arbitration provided by NAFTA. The complaint asks for US$2 billion in damages on the cancellation of the offshore phosphate mining project.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
No Relevant News.
On the image below: Locally foliated intrusive rock, with minor quartz and specularite veining in the Sonora Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 23rd week of the year (June 6th to June 12th, 2022), at least 11 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. This number reflects the summer decrease in press releases with one of the lowest numbers recorded since 2015 (the lowest being 9); notably, news in shares/financing were more than half of the total. There was no relevant news in the Mining and Resources and Development sections. To note, two companies posted exploration advances on their properties, two companies are to undertake financing rounds for up to $3 M and C$2 M, two companies increased/closed oversubscribed financing rounds to C$3.4 M and C$4 M, one company was upgraded to the OTCQX Best Market, one other cashed in a warrants exercise for C$18 M. A royalties company already with business in Mexico made an agreement on one other property. One company posted on metallurgical results on its property. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Instituto Politecnico Nacional celebrated the careers of five of its graduates on the Mexican mining industry. The Sonora Mining Cluster is hosting the Fifth International Forum on Full Safety. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tocvan Ventures presented drill results from Pilar; Benjamin Hill Mining released drilling results from the Sonora Copper zone at its Sonora Gold project. ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, Silver Viper and Sonoro Gold are to undertake non-brokered private placements to raise up to $3 M and C$2 M respectively. Aztec Minerals closed a non-brokered oversubscribed private placement for CAD$3.4 M. Reyna Silver increased the size of its private placement from C$3 M to C$4 M. Prime Mining informed on its upgrading to the OTCQX Best Market. Discovery Silver informed that the exercise of warrants resulted in C$18 M in gross proceeds. Orogen Royalties reported positive metallurgical results from tests at its San Javier project in Sonora. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Barksdale Resources released positive metallurgical results from its San Javier project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, no relevant news. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
The Instituto Politecnico Nacional (IPN) recognized the professional lifework on the Mexican mining industry of five of its graduates: Sergio Almazan Esqueda (current AIMMGM president), Jaime Gutiérrez (current Camimex president), Karina Neri (Mining concession manager at Peñoles), Marco Gustavo Monroy (Centro de Estudios, Servicios y Consultorías Ambientales) and Armando Alatorre (current Colegio de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México president).
The Sonora Mining Cluster is hosting in Hermosillo, Sonora, the Fifth International Forum on Full Safety in Mining (Quinto Foro Internacional de Seguridad Integral en Minería), during June 23 and 24, 2022.
ON EXPLORATION
Tocvan Ventures Corp. presented drill results for two more reverse circulation holes at its Pilar project in Sonora. Both holes targeted parallel trends to the Main zone. Highlighted hole-length intervals on one hole comprise 54.9 m @ 0.3 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag (including 13.7 m @ 0.6 gpt Au, 13 gpt Ag and 9.2 m @ 0.6 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag). The other hole did not intercept relevant gold mineralization. ”Three zones of mineralization have been identified ….. the Main Zone, North Hill and 4-Trench. Structural features and zones of mineralization within the structures follow an overall NW-SE trend of mineralization. Over 24,200 m of drilling have been completed to date”.
Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. released further drilling results from the Sonora Copper zone at its Sonora Gold project in Sonora. “The Sonora Copper quartz breccia vein system consists of two major sub-parallel veins …… Outcrops of the Sonora Copper vein system have been mapped over a surface length of approximately 850 m ….. The vein structures are composed of quartz with barite, sulfides and primary oxides …. The veins are hosted in granitoids and volcano-sedimentary rocks, with a close relationship to porphyry dikes”. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 1.45 m @ 0.62% Cu, 4.2 m @ 0.52% Cu (including 1.7 m @ 0.5% Cu, 1.08 gpt Au); 8.7 m @ 0.58% Cu (including 1.85 m @ 1.77% Cu, 0.25 gpt Au and 1.25 m @ 0.4% Cu, 0.49 gpt Au). The presence of a porphyry copper system at depth is suggested by historical magnetometry surveys by the SGM, induced polarization anomalies along wide structures kilometers in length on a geophysical survey completed this year and the high copper, gold, molybdenum and bismuth numbers on geochemical samples and core.
ON MINING
No Relevant News.
ON FINANCING
Silver Viper Minerals Corp. intends to undertake a non-brokered private placement financing to raise up to $3 M in gross proceeds (La Virginia, Sonora).
Sonoro Gold Corp. is to undertake a non-brokered private placement to raise up to C$2 M (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
Aztec Minerals Corp. closed an oversubscribed CAD$3.4 M non-brokered private placement equity financing. Alamos Gold Inc. participated with CAD$2.4 M, after which Alamos holds a security percentage of 9.9% of shares on an undiluted basis, and 18% on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of warrants (Cervantes, Sonora).
Reyna Silver Corp. increased the size of its previously announced private placement from C$3 M to C$4 M (Guigui and Batopilas, Chihuahua).
Prime Mining Corp. reported that the company has been upgraded and qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market from the OTCQB Venture Market (Los Reyes, Sinaloa).
Discovery Silver Corp. announced that exercise of purchase warrants resulted in gross proceeds of C$18 M. Mr. Eric Sprott owns, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., 26.2% of outstanding shares on a non-diluted basis and 27.3.% on a partially diluted basis (Cordero, Chihuahua).
Orogen Royalties Inc. signed an agreement with Advanced Lithium Corp. to purchase 3% net smelter royalties on three prospective mineral licences in the Lake Victoria gold fields in western Kenya. “Upon closing of the Agreement, Orogen will pay Advance US$120,000 for the Royalties and transfer its interest in the Sarape Gold project to Advance. Orogen will retain a 1.5% net smelter return royalty on the Sarape project” (Sarape, Sonora).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Barksdale Resources Corp. reported positive results from the first phase of metallurgical test work at the San Javier project in Sonora. The study by McClelland Labs Inc. envisaged eight column tests on one inch material from four large diameter diamond core holes drilled on late summer of 2021. Oxide dominant samples had recoveries between 77% and 93% of acid soluble copper and between 72% and 89% for acid and cyanide soluble copper, with recovery still increasing after the 120 days of column tests. Significantly, acid agglomeration does not increase copper recovery, pointing to a favorable net acid consumption of approximately 2 to 3 kg per tonne.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
No Relevant News.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
No Relevant News.
On the image below: Quartz-specularite-barite vein in the Sonora Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 22ndweek of the year (May 30th to June 5th, 2022), at least 19 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with seven reporting resources and developments of their properties, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, two communicating production and financial results, two announcing financing issues, two commenting on Mexican issues, and two informing on exploration results. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Advance Lithium provided an update on the recent mining law changes. Prime Mining, Vizsla Silver and Zacatecas Silver reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of June, 2022. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Benjamin Hill reported drill results from the El Fierro Zone at its Sonora Gold project, Sonora. In Coahuila, Monumental announced plans for follow-up exploration work at its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth project. ON MINING, Santacruz reported Q1, 2022 production results from its Zimapan mine in Hidalgo. Minera Alamos reported Q1, 2022 financial results from its Santana project, Sonora. ON FINANCING, Reyna Silver announced a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $3M (Guigui and Batopilas projects, Chihuahua). Alamos Gold declared a quarterly dividend of USD $0.025 per common share (Mulatos mine, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Zacatecas Silver commenced its work plans to prepare a current resource estimate at its Esperanza project, Morelos. Discovery Silver reported positive metallurgical results and provided an update on its flagship Cordero project, Chihuahua. Prime reported additional phase 2 drill results from 12 step out drill holes at the Guadalupe East deposit within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Magna Gold filed an independent technical report for its Margarita project, Chihuahua. Minera Alamos provided an update on the continuing progress at its Santana project in Sonora. Vizsla reported results from eighteen new holes drilled at the southern extension of the Napoleon Vein at its flagship Panuco project, Sinaloa. Zacatecas Silver released results from the Panuco Norte drilling program at its Zacatecas project, Zacatecas. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Azure entered into a binding sale agreement to sell its subsidiary companies that own and operate its Mexican assets to Bendito Resources for a combination of cash and shares valued at A $20M. Silverton entered into a share purchase agreement with Zapata to acquire the Margaritas property in Durango. Pantera Silver announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Nuevo Taxco project, Guerrero). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
Advance Lithium Corp., provided an update on the recent mining law changes that states that all the activities related to the exploration, exploitation and profit of lithium shall be the responsibility of the yet to be formed national lithium company. Advance has identified large zones of lithium, potassium and boron mineralization at their claims which are in good standing, with work completed and all legal filings in order. It should be noted that the analysis of the company’s deposits show that the composition of the mineralization is approximately equal parts lithium and potassium. While lithium is covered by this new legislation in Mexico, potassium is not. The potential of near term production of both lithium and potassium products puts the Company in a unique position with its salars/salt lakes deposits and looks forward to discussing the lithium opportunities with the newly formed Mexican national lithium company.
Prime Mining, Vizsla Silver and Zacatecas Silver reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of June, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:
ON EXPLORATION · Benjamin Hill Mining Corp., reported drill results from the El Fierro Zone at its Sonora Gold project, Sonora. This drill program explored for the presence and continuity of metallic mineralization found in outcroppings at surface, in epithermal veins, skarn zones and hydrothermal breccias, as well as for possible magmatic source of mineralization as indicated by chargeability highs. Drilling highlights include hole SGB-22-23 with 0.25% Cu over 1.25m; hole SGB-22-24 with 0.67% Cu over 1.25m; hole SGB-22-26 with 0.39 g/t Au over 0.95m, plus 0.26% Cu over 1.45m; and hole SFB-22-21 with 3.54% Cu over 3m, including 10% Cu, 2.11 g/t Au and 52 g/t Ag over 0.6m. · Monumental Minerals Corp., announced plans for follow-up exploration work at its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth project. The follow-up work program will be divided in two phases. The first phase will consists of detailed geological mapping and collection of structural data, along with a ground radiometric survey to identify drill targets. The second phase will consists of a stream sediment geochemical survey to assess areas within and beyond the 8km2 area of highest priority. ON MINING · Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported Q1, 2022 production results from its Zimapan mine in Hidalgo. The company processed 191,413 tonnes to produce 901.2K Oz AgEq. It sold 872.7K Oz AgEq and reported cash and All Included Sustaining Costs (AISC) of USD $17.04 and USD $23.38 per Oz AgEq sold respectively. · Minera Alamos Inc., announced Q1, 2022 financial results from its Santana project, Sonora. The company reported revenues of CAD $5.16M from approximately 65% of its gold production (the remaining gold was sold post quarter end); income from operation of CAD $1.53M; a net income of CAD $1.06M; and cash and cash equivalents of CAD $8,17M. ON FINANCING · Reyna Silver Corp., announced a brokered private placement with Red Cloud Securities Inc. (the “Agent”), for gross proceeds of up to CAD $3M. The Agent will have an option, exercisable in full or in part up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering, to sell up to an additional 2,777,778 Units at the Offering Price for additional gross proceeds of up to CAD $M. The company plans to use part of the gross proceeds to explore their Guigui and Batopilas projects in Chihuahua. · Alamos Gold Inc., declared a quarterly dividend of USD $0.025 per common share. The Company has paid dividends for 13 consecutive years during which time USD $264M has been returned to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, including USD $27M thus far in 2022. This includes 1M shares repurchased under the normal course issuer bid in May 2022 at a cost of USD $7.4M, or USD $7.42 per share. The dividend is payable on June 30, 2022 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 16, 2022 (Mulatos mine, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT · Zacatecas Silver Corp., commenced its work plans to prepare a current resource estimate at its Esperanza project, Morelos. The Esperanza project has a historical resource estimate of a measured and indicated resource of 34,352,000 tonnes of 0.98 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag for 1.08M Oz Au and 8.9M Oz Ag and an inferred resource of 718,000 tonnes of 0.80 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag for 18.4K Oz Au and 347.2K Oz Ag. Measured and indicated resources are 1.22M Oz AuEq of 1.11 g/t AuEq. Immediate steps to confirm resource estimate include: Extensive verification through sampling at least 10% of the historical drill core and new metallurgical test work by SGS Minerals. Additionally, the company is to commence work to identify and prioritize expansion and exploration targets throughout the project. · Discovery Silver Corp., reported positive metallurgical results and provided an update on its flagship Cordero project, Chihuahua. Initial results from the metallurgical testwork showed recoveries typically ranging from 90-95% for Ag, Pb, and Zn from very coarse grind size and with lower reagent consumption than what was assumed earlier. The company also announced the project study team for the Pre-Feasibility Study on Cordero project, in which plans to release an updated resource estimate in Q4, 2022. The updated resource estimate will be based on a total of 283,000m in 683 drill holes. · Prime Mining Corp., reported additional phase 2 drill results from 12 step out drill holes at the Guadalupe East deposit within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Highlights drill intercepts include hole 22GE-53 with 9.67 g/t Au and 314 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 0.80m, plus 3.01 g/t Au and 220 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.90m, plus 13.65 g/t Au and 311 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.50m, plus 61.99 g/t Au and 978 g/t Ag over a TW of 3.10m, including 200 g/t Au and 2,830 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.90m, plus 5.90 g/t Au and 341 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.60m; hole 22GE-48 with 2.93 g/t Au and 62 g/t Ag over a TW of 3.90m, including 4.41 g/t Au and 105 g/t Ag over a TW of 2m, plus 1.16 g/t Au and 79 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.40m, plus 1.78 g/t Au and 82 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.50m, plus 4.29 g/t Au and 125 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.40m, plus 1.62 g/t Au and 120 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.1m, plus 1.24 g/t Au and 88 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.10m, plus 3.19 g/t Au and 34 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.10m, plus 2.31 g/t Au and 98 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.40m, including 3.68 g/t Au and 161 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.80m; hole 22GE-45 with 12.79 g/t Au and 300 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.50m, including 16.96 g/t Au and 392 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.80m; hole 22GE-51 with 3.01 g/t Au and 161 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.60m; and hole 22GE-46 with 1.95 g/t Au and 155 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.30m, including 3.11 g/t Au and 249 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.30m. · Magna Gold Corp., filed an independent technical report for its Margarita project, Chihuahua, dated May 24, 2022, with an effective date of April 8, 2022. The technical report contains an initial mineral resource estimate. · Minera Alamos Inc., provided an update on the continuing progress at its Santana project in Sonora. The company announced that the development of the Nicho Main Zone is now underway with haulage and access road largely completed. First mineralized material should be stacked on the Santana leach pad as operation move into the second half of the year. At Nicho Norte, the gold mined and stacked on the leach pad to date total approximately 18K Oz with roughly 7K Oz recovered in concentrate. · Vizsla Silver Corp., reported results from eighteen new holes drilled at the southern extension of the Napoleon Vein at its flagship Panuco project, Sinaloa. Drilling highlights include hole NP-22-258 with 1,139 g/t Ag, 11.48 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, and 0.8% Zn (2,098 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 4.30m; hole NP-22-271 with 223 g/t Ag, 2.76 g/t Au, 1.5% Pb, and 5% Zn (677 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 7m, including 789 g/t Ag, 18.5 g/t Au, 5.7% Pb, and 11.7% Zn (2,871 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.46m, including 343 g/t Ag, 5.11 g/t Au, 1.7% Pb, and 2.9% Zn (909 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.61m, including 403 g/t Ag, 5.04 g/t Au, 1% Pb, and 4% Zn (985 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.91m, including 191 g/t Ag, 1.12 g/t Au, 2.9% Pb, and 10.9% Zn (774 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.99m; hole NP-22-277 with 151 g/t Ag, 2.63 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn (389 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 7m, including 315 g/t Ag, 2.32 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, and 0.4% Zn (524 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.5m. including 630 g/t Ag, 4.94 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 0.5% Zn (1,055 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.75m, including 189 g/t Ag, 2.7 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, and 1.8% Zn (495 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.79m; and hole NP-22-281 with 202 g/t Ag, 1.55 g/t Au, 0.7% Pb, and 1.1% Zn (387 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 5.4m, including 1,275 g/t Ag, 6.25 g/t Au, 3.5% Pb, and 4% Zn (2,2027 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.34m, including 398 g/t Ag, 3.75 g/t Au, 1.9% Pb, and 2.7% Zn (855 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.84m, including 386 g/t Ag, 3.09 g/t Au, 1.8% Pb, and 2.5% Zn (779 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.59m. These results are part of the ongoing 12,000m resource/discovery-based drill program. · Zacatecas Silver Corp., released results from the Panuco Norte drilling program at its Zacatecas project, Zacatecas. Drilling highlights include hole PAN2022-057 with 224 g/t Ag and 0.15 g/t Au (224 g/t AgEq) over 1.83m; hole PAN2022-56 with 151 g/t Ag and 0.16 g/t Au (163 g/t AgEq) over 3.71m; and hole PAN2022-61 with 231 g/t Ag and 0.22 g/t Au (248 g(/t AgEq) over 1.28m. The Company has now completed 63 drill holes at Panuco North for a total of 7,240 meters. “Drilling in the eastern and central part of the Panuco North Vein has now intercepted near-surface mineralization over a strike length of 700 m, with the vein remaining open along strike and open at depth. Assay results from 22 Panuco North holes are pending”. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES · Azure Minerals Limited entered into a binding sale agreement to sell its subsidiary companies that own and operate its Mexican assets to Bendito Resources for a combination of cash and shares valued at A $20M, consisting of A $10M cash and A $10M shares in Bendito. The portfolio consists of eight properties, but Alacrán, Oposura, and Promontorio projects will form the core assets of Bendito, all located within the Laramide Copper Province in N-NW Mexico. Alacrán, in Sonora State, hosts the high-grade Mesa de Plata silver deposit and adjacent Loma Bonita gold-silver deposit which together contain 32 M Oz Ag and 150K Oz Au in JORC Mineral Resources. A Scoping Study / Preliminary Economic Assessment on Oposura, in Sonora State,showed robust results for a high-quality, high-grade massive sulphide Zn-Pg-Ag development opportunity. The project holds significant exploration upside for resource expansion. At Promontorio, Chihuahua, Azure established a high-grade, near-surface Cu-Au-Ag resource and identified prospectivity for an underlying copper porphyry system. · Silverton Metals Corp., entered into a share purchase agreement with Zapata Exploration Ltd., to acquire the Margaritas property in Durango by acquiring all of the issued and outstanding shares of Zapata´s Mexican subsidiary, Impulsora de Proyectos Mineros S.A. de C.V. The Margaritas property comprises two mining concessions totalling 500 hectares, and consists of a 3.5km long and 240m of vertical extension of an under-explored, high-grade epithermal vein system hosted in productive volcanic rocks of the Sierra Madre Occidental. This vein system has returned grades up to 73.7 g/t Au in dump samples and 31.6 g/t Au in rock chip channel samples with grades between 1-38 g/t Ag. To acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Impulsora, Silverton has agreed to issue 750K common shares and grant a net smelter return royalty of 0.5%, which may be repurchased at a price of USD $250K. · Pantera Silver Corp., announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors. In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized the granting of incentive stock options under its Stock Option Plan to purchase 300K common shares of the Company at an exercise price of CAD $0.20 per share for a five-year term expiring June 1, 2027. The stock options are being granted to certain directors and advisors of the Company (Nuevo Taxco project, Guerrero). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY · No relevant news.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the picture above, Cu silicates (chrysocolla) in a Carbonate Replacement Deposit in Durango, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.
During the 17th week of the year (April 25th to May 1st, 2022), at least 24 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, five companies posted exploration advances on their properties, four released first quarter 2022 reports, one reported a temporary suspension of mining, one on a financing round, another one on an updated credit facility, eight reported either drill results or updated on work in their advanced properties. ON MEXICO ISSUES, according to Miner Deck, one company working in Mexico had the best gold intercept of the week, and five companies in Mexico participated in the best eight silver intercepts. The SGM stated that Ixtlilco el Grande in Tepalcingo, Morelos, is one of several sites favorable for lithium mineralization. Several institutions pointed out that Mexico can be involved in international litigations if proceeds to nullify mining concessions under the reform to the mining law recently approved. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tocvan Ventures provided drill results on the Pilar project; Silver Spruce received results from Diamante. In Durango, Commander Resources informed on drilling by Southern Empire Resources at Pedro. In Chihuahua, Mammoth Resources provide drilling results from Tenoriba. ON MINING, Guanajuato Silver reported 2021 production, Mag Silver, Alamos Gold and Agnico Eagle reported Q1 2022 production results. Gatos Silver temporarily suspended mining operations at Cerro Los Gatos in Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, Sonoro Gold is to raise up to C$3 M. Orla Mining informed on a project finance facility for US$150 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Barksdale Resources released the last results from its drilling campaign at San Javier, in Sonora. Endeavour Silver reported drilling results from its Parral project in Chihuahua. Altaley Mining filed an updated technical report on Tahuehueto, Durango. Sierra Madre Gold and Silver announced results from drilling at the Tepic project, in Nayarit. Chesapeake Gold released results from metallurgical infill holes at Metates, in Durango. SilverCrest Metals updated on construction work at Las Chispas, in Sonora. Discovery Silver updated on work at Cordero, in Chihuahua, GR Silver Mining released high-grade results from drilling at Plomosas, in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, no relevant news. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
According to Miner Deck, one company working in Mexico, Chesapeake Gold, drilled the best gold drilling intercept of the week, with 405 m @ 0.90 gpt Au at Metates, in Durango.
According to Miner Deck, five of the top eight silver intervals were drilled by companies working in Mexico. Gr Silver Mining was first with 24.2 m @ 1,094 gpt Ag at Plomosas, in Sinaloa. Chesapeake Gold was third with 357 m @ 31.6 gpt Ag, at Metates, in Durango. Radius Gold was fifth, with 11.8 m @ 450 gpt Ag at Amalia, in Chihuahua. Endeavour Silver was sixth, with 5.7 m @ 392 gpt Ag at Guanaceví, in Durango. Sierra Madre was eighth, with 3.05 m 625 gpt Ag at Tepic, in Nayarit.
The Servicio Geológico Mexicano (SGM), stated that Ixtlilco el Grande in Tepalcingo, Morelos, is one of several sites favorable for lithium mineralization.
The Cámara de Comercio Internacional argued that if the Mexican government nullifies mining concessions as results of the recently approved reform to the mining law, will be obligated to indemnify investors. This as a result of modifying the regulatory framework, as also pointed the Comisión de Comercio y Políticas de Inversión y el Comité de Arbitraje de Inversión de la International Chamber of Commerce.
ON EXPLORATION
Radius Gold Inc. reported drilling results from El Cuervo target at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 14.60 m @ 117 gpt Ag, 0.92 gpt Au (including 0.9 m @ 1,185 gpt Ag, 6.93 gpt Au); 17.35 m @ 253 gpt Ag, 1.11 gpt Au (Including 7.60 m @ 414 gpt Ag, 2.10 gpt Au); 11.80 m @ 450 gpt Ag, 1.31 gpt Au (including 2.10 m @ 1,577 gpt Ag, 2.27 gpt Au). These holes were drilled from two platforms testing 350 m of strike and 300 m of depth.
Tocvan Ventures Corp. announced results from one more drill hole at its Pilar project in Sonora. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 108.6 m @ 0.8 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag (including 31.9 m @ 2.4 gpt Au, 2 gpt Ag, which includes 9.4 m @ 7.6 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag). The drill hole intersected a silicified andesite, including the 9.4 m high-grade breccia zone.
Commander Resources Ltd. informed on work by partner Southern Empire Resources at the Pedro project in Durango. Southern Empire completed six core holes for a total of 856 m. Highlighted core length results comprise 9.26 m @ 0.087 gpt Au; 5.28 m @ 0.151 gpt Au; 19.82 m @ 0.311 gpt Au; 5.26 m @ 0.115 gpt Au; 15.23 m @ 0.577 gpt Au; 5.88 m @ 0.098 gpt Au; 14.75 m @ 0.230 gpt Au. “The Au-As-Sb-Hg-Tl-Te geochemical suite associated with strong orpiment (As S ) and realgar (AsS) mineralization observed in the Pedro drill core is, in part, indicative of Carlin-style gold deposits”.
Mammoth Resources Corp. provided results from three additional diamond drill holes at Tenoriba, in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 6.0 m @ 0.20 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag; 15.0 m @ 0.34 gpt Au, 2 gpt Ag; 6.0 m @ 0.59 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag in one hole on the Moreno zone; 46.5 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag in another hole on the Carneritos zone and 37.5 m @ 0.98 gpt Au, 15 gpt Ag (including 18.0 m @ 1.13 gpt Au, 21 gpt Ag, 0.55% Cu) and 12.0 m @ 0.08 gpt Au, 0.45% Cu in one other hole on the Moreno zone. To date, results for 1,914 m have been released from 13 holes on the current drilling program of 27 holes with 3,240 m drilled. The program has been halted for lack of water for drilling.
ON MINING
Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. reported selected financial and production results for 2021. Production at El Cubo mine in Guanajuato commenced in October 2021. A total of 89.1 K tonnes were mined from El Cubo and existing stockpiles from El Pinguico, with 77.5 K tonnes milled, recovering 82.6% Ag, 78.8% Au to produce 124,7 K Oz Ag, 1,440 Oz Au at cash cost $20.36 per Oz AgEq mined. By the end of the period the company had $8.23 M in cash and an additional $1.6 M in bullion.
MAG Silver Corp. reported first quarter 2022 production of underground development and stope material at Juanicipio (56% Fresnillo/44% Mag Silver), in Zacatecas. On a 100% basis, 145.5 K tonnes were processed @ 597 gpt Ag, producing 2.4 M Oz Ag, 5,837 Oz Au. MAG Silver attributable production is 1.06 M Oz Ag, 2,568 Oz Au; the associated Pb and Zn production is to be reported with MAG’s first quarter filings.
Gatos Silver Inc. suspended temporarily mine operations at Cerro Los Gatos in Chihuahua. “The Mexican Ministry of Defense (“SEDENA”), who regulates all explosives permits in Mexico, temporarily suspended CLG’s explosive and blasting permit on April 21, 2022, following a blasting incident during underground development activities where two blasts were detonated prematurely”. No personnel were injured and no significant damage to equipment occurred. The company expects the resumption of mining activities next week.
Alamos Gold Inc. reported Q1 2022 financial results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Mulatos in Sonora, 613.8 K tonnes of ore were mined, 1.97 M tonnes of waste moved, stacking 1.74 M tonnes @ 0.73 gpt Au, for 40,852 Oz Au stacked. During the period 22,500 Oz Au were produced at cash cost $1,570 per Oz Au, and an AISC of $1,782 per Oz Au. “Mulatos produced 22,500 ounces in the first quarter, lower than the prior year period though consistent with first half 2022 guidance of between 45,000 and 50,000 ounces. Initial production from La Yaqui Grande in the third quarter and higher grades from El Salto are expected drive production substantially higher in the second half of the year to between 85,000 and 95,000 ounces”.
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. released first quarter 2022 results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Pinos Altos, in Chihuahua, 384 K tonnes were processed at a rate of 4,267 tonnes per day (tpd), averaging 2.14 gpt Au, to produce 25,170 Oz Au at cash cost $1,078 per Oz Au. At Creston Mascota, residual recovery from the heap leach pad continued, producing 1,006 Oz Au at cash cost $407 per Oz Au with residual leaching to continue throughout the second quarter of 2022. At La India, in Sonora, 1.56 M tonnes were processed at a rate of 17.4 K tpd, averaging 0.57 gpt Au, to produce 21,702 Oz Au at cash cost $820 per Oz Au.
ON FINANCING
Sonoro Gold Corp. is to undertake a non-brokered private placement offering to raise up to C$3 M (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
Orla Mining Ltd. announced the refinancing of its US$125 M project finance facility with a new US$150 M secured credit facility which includes a US$100 M term facility and a US$50 M revolving facility through the Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank of Montreal, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (Camino Rojo, Zacatecas).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Barksdale Resources Corp. announced additional drill results from its 5,000 m phase I drilling program at the Cerro Verde zone of the San Javier project in Sonora. Highlighted core length intervals in three holes comprise 21 m @ 0.14% Cu, 0.47 gpt Au; 21 m @ 0.61% Cu, 0.28 gpt Au; 6 m @ 0.04% Cu, 1.90 gpt Au; 6 m @ 0.19% Cu, 0.49 gpt Au; 15 m @ 1.48% Cu (including 9 m @ 2.22% Cu); 6 m @ 0.10% Cu, 0.49 gpt Au in one hole; 27 m @ 0.31% Cu; 18 m @ 0.36% Cu; 6 m @ 0.25% Cu; 12 m @ 0.80% Cu; 6 m @ 1.19% Cu; 66 m @ 0.33% Cu in a second hole, 33 m @ 0.29% Cu; 6 m @ 0.25% Cu in the third hole and 15 m @ 0.23% Cu; 3 m @ 0.10% Cu, 0.45 gpt Au; 3 m @ 0.17% Cu, 0.37 gpt Au; 6 m @ 0.29% Cu. “Two additional holes on the western flank of Cerro Verde have intercepted broad zones of mineralization further to the west, while hole SJ21-32 has confirmed copper mineralization in addition to further extending oxide gold”. Next in line is the completion of an initial resource estimate at Cerro Verde and planning of the next exploration phase, which is likely to include targets at La Trinidad and Mesa Grande prospects.
Endeavour Silver Corp. reported results from drilling at its Parral project in Chihuahua. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 0.98 m @ 169 gpt Ag, 3.9% Pb, 2.3% Zn; 3.24 m @ 194 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 5.91 m @ 218 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 2.31 m @ 314 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 1.92 m @ 203 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb; 1.13 m @ 439 gpt Ag, 0.23% Cu, 0.6% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 3.27 m @ 392 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 2.1% Zn at Veta Colorada Sierra Plata Deep vein; 1.96 m @ 513 gpt Ag, 0.11% Cu, 2.0% Pb, 1.7% Zn; 4.23 m @ 0.14 gpt Au, 331 gpt Ag, 2.8% Pb, 2.2% Zn; 1.84 m @ 178 gpt Ag, 0.9% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 1.25 m @ 0.14 gpt Au, 310 gpt Ag, 1.8% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 3.49 m @ 395 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu, 2.8% Pb, 2.7% Zn; 1.17 m @ 289 gpt Ag, 0.12% Cu, 3.0% Pb, 2.6% Zn; 1.18 m @ 191 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 1.6% Zn; 2.48 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 532 gpt Ag, 0.28% Cu, 3.1% Pb, 3.1% Zn at the Veta Colorada El Verde vein zone, and 2.09 m @ 0.61 gpt Au, 55 gpt Ag, 0.13% Cu, 3.0% Pb, 3.5% Zn; 0.48 m @ 0.49 gpt Au, 75 gpt Ag, 5.8% Pb, 4.7% Zn, at the Veta Colorada-San Joaquín vein. “Veta Colorada (including the Sierra Plata and El Verde mines) was a past producing mining operation owned by Grupo Mexico that closed in 1991 due to low silver prices. Mineralization, which occurs in a major silver vein structure that ranges from 1 to 30 metres thick, was mined seven levels down to 300-metre depths below surface in places and was traced for seven kilometres”.
Altaley Mining Corp. filed an updated technical report, including a preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for its Tahuehueto project in Durango. The previous report released in March 2021 “contained errors related to net smelter return calculations that under-estimated the PFS economics”, the updated disclosure increases “approximately 30% to the overall economics of the project”. The project envisages 1 K tpd operation with a mine life (LOM) of 10.9 years, to process a total of 3.55 M tonnes of ore @ 2.58 gpt Au, 50.5 gpt Ag, 0.3% Cu, 1.1% Pb, 1.9% Zn, with planned recovery of 87% Au, 85% Ag, 85% Cu, 85% Pb, 68% Zn to have a total net smelter return (NSR) of $645.4 M, LOM total capital cost of $56.9 M, an AISC of $855 per Oz AuEq, an EBITDA LOM of 357.7 M and an IRR of 65.5 with a payback period of 2 years. The project estimate of resources stands at 6.26 M tonnes @ 47 gpt Ag, 2.11 gpt Au, 0.27% Cu, 0.9% Pb, 1.98% Zn containing 9.45 M Oz Ag, 425 K Oz Au, 36.6 M Lb Cu, 123.9 M Lb Pb, 273.3 M Lb Zn in measures and indicated resources and 0.92 M tonnes @ 28.5 gpt Ag, 1.02 gpt Au, 0.15% Cu, 1.16% Pb, 1.96% Zn, containing 0.84 M Oz Ag, 30 K Oz Au, 3.K M Lb Cu, 23.6 M Lb Pb, 39.7 M Lb Zn.
Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. announced results from additional drill holes from the phase 2 program at its Tepic project in Nayarit. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 6.65 m @ 210 gpt Ag, 1.06 gpt Au (including 1.5 m @ 524 gpt Ag, 2.47 gpt Au); 4.5 m @ 264 gpt Ag, 1.85 gpt Au (including 1.5 m @ 740 gpt Ag, 2.37 gpt Au); 3.05 m @ 625 gpt Ag, 1.60 gpt Au; 1.5 m @ 185 gpt Ag, 0.26 gpt Au; 1.5 m @ 110 gpt Ag, 0.23 gpt Au. “Ten of the twelve holes were designed to test up dip or strike extensions of known structures outside of the volumes used in the historical resource estimations”.
Chesapeake Gold Corp. released results for the last 13 PQ size infill core drill holes at its Metates project in Durango. The 2021-2022 infill drill campaign totaled 7,485 m, returning 22% higher grades within intrusive hosted mineralization. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 357 m @ 0.63 gpt Au, 20.5 gpt Ag; 357 m @ 1.00 gpt Au, 31.6 gpt Ag; 39 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 30.9 gpt Ag; 118 m @ 1.24 gpt Au, 14.4 gpt Ag; 350 m @ 0.74 gpt Au, 23.2 gpt Ag (including 43 m @ 1.17 gpt Au, 8.6 gpt Ag); 69 m @ 0.50 gpt Au, 16.3 gpt Ag; 45 m @ 1.01 gpt Au, 11.5 gpt Ag; 226 m @ 0.95 gpt Au, 16.2 gpt Ag; 9 m @ 2.20 gpt Au, 6.8 gpt Ag; 405 m @ 0.90 gpt Au, 27.6 gpt Ag; 172 m @ 0.41 gpt Au, 25.4 gpt Ag; 45 m @ 0.82 gpt Au, 56.8 gpt Ag; 63 m @ 0.59 gpt Au, 10.6 gpt Ag; 138 m @ 1.38 gpt Au, 11.1 gpt Ag. “The infill drill holes targeted the intrusive-hosted mineralization and are spaced at approximately 50 metre intervals”.
SilverCrest Metals Inc. updated on construction at Las Chispas project in Sonora. At the end of Q1 construction at Las Chispas was 95.7%, with plant start-up on track for Q2 2022. Capital costs remain on budget, the power line is to be completed in Q2 and energized in Q3 while rental power generators were commissioned and are operational. A total of 19 .5 Km of underground development have been completed, 2.0 km in the last quarter. “The H1, 2022 exploration focus at Las Chispas is to map and sample unexplored areas and generate new drill targets”. At the end of Q1 2022 SilverCrest had cash and cash equivalents of $152 M, and $30 M available on a $120 M financing facility.
Discovery Silver Corp. updated on work at Cordero, in Chihuahua, to the Q4 2021. During the period a PEA on Cordero was completed, outlining a 16-year mine life producing 26 M Oz AgEq per year at an AISC of $12.35 per Oz AgEq. Work for this 2022 includes the pre-feasibility study (PFS), resource expansion and initial drill testing of five targets within the extensive land package owned by Discovery.
GR Silver Mining Ltd. announced results from its surface infill drill program at Plomosas, in Sinaloa. The results are part of the phase 1 program in the Plomosas mine area. Some of the highlighted true width results comprise 0.9 m @ 435 gpt Ag, 1.1% Pb, 5.1% Zn; 0.9 m @ 805 gpt Ag, 4.2% Pb, 5.6% Zn; 4.5 m @ 257 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 9.0 m @ 96 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 2.8 m @ 176 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 8.5 m @ 410 gpt Ag, 0.30 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 6.9 m @ 1,521 gpt Ag, 1.2% Pb, 1.6% Zn; 30.5 m @ 12 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 0.8% Zn; 16.0 m @ 289 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 15.7 m @ 238 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 9.5 m @ 372 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
No Relevant News.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
No Relevant News.
On the image below: Quartz-barite-FeOx vein in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 15th week of the year (April 11th to April 17th, 2022), at least 30 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, nine companies posted exploration advances on their properties, six released first quarter 2022 reports, one updated on project work, six reported drill results on their advanced properties and one signed an exploitation agreement on a small scale mine. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mexico’s president Andrés M. López Obrador warned he will change the mining law to make a government’s monopoly on lithium, if his Energy bill is not approved. According to Miner Deck, three of the top ten gold intercepts on the second week of April were drilled by companies working in Mexico. Six of the top ten silver intercepts were by companies in Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tocvan Ventures provided drill results on the Pilar project; Infinitum Copper released trench results at La Adelita; Silver Spruce had the preventive report approved for drilling at Diamante; Reyna Gold started drilling at La Gloria; Aztec Minerals finished the phase 2 RC drill campaign at Cervantes. In Chihuahua, Reyna Silver released drill results from Batopilas. In Nayarit, Sierra Madre Gold and Silver released drilling results from Tepic. In Guerrero, Pantera Silver reported drill results from Nuevo Taxco. In Zacatecas, Defiance Silver completed drilling at the Lucita prospect in its Zacatecas Silver project. ON MINING, Endeavour Silver, Fortuna Silver, Avino Silver, Golden Minerals, Great Panther and Torex Gold released first quarter 2022 reports. ON FINANCING, No Relevant News. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Prime Mining released drill results from Los Reyes, in Sinaloa. Silver Tiger Metals provided drilling results for El Tigre, in Sonora. Silverton Metals released RC drilling results from Peñasco Quemado, in Sonora. Vizsla Silver reported drilling results from the Animas vein corridor at Panuco, in Sinaloa. Endeavour Silver informed on drill results from the El Curso property at its Guanaceví mine in Durango. Fabled Silver Gold is planning phase 2 drilling at Santa Maria, in Chihuahua. SilverCrest Metals announced drill results from Picacho, in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Galore Resources entered into an exploitation agreement with Oztoc Metal Corp for mining at the Duraznillo mine in Zacatecas. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
Mexico’s president Andrés M. López Obrador, warned that, “if Congress does not approve a constitutional reform on electrical matters next week….. he will push for a rewrite of the country’s Mining Law”. He stated that modifying the Mining Law requires simple majority (which he has), “to make lithium a mineral that belongs to the nation, to the Mexicans”.
According to Miner Deck, three of the top ten gold intercepts on the second week of April were from companies working in Mexico: Prime Mining (fifth) with 4.23 m @ 52.08 gpt Au at Los Reyes, in Sinaloa; Tocvan Ventures (eighth) with 116.9 m @ 1.2 gpt Au at Pilar, in Sonora, and Silver Crest Metals (tenth) with 4.7 m @ 20.86 gpt Au at Picacho, in Sonora.
According to Miner Deck, six of the top ten silver intercepts on the second week of April were by companies in Mexico: Endeavour Silver (third) with 7.46 m @ 2,067 gpt Ag at Guanaceví, in Durango; Prime Mining (fourth) with 4.3 m @ 1,008 gpt Ag at Los Reyes in Sinaloa; Defiance Silver (sixth) with 3.33 m @ 709 gpt Ag, Vizsla Silver (seventh) with 2.4 m @ 959 gpt Ag at Panuco, in Sinaloa; Silver Tiger Metals (nineth) with 23.8 m @ 95 gpt Ag at El Tigre in Sonora; Sierra Madre Gold and Silver (tenth) with 2.55 m @ 878 gpt Ag at Tepic.
ON EXPLORATION
Silver Spruce Resources Inc. announced the approval by SEMARNAT (Environmental authority) of the preventive report for drilling at the 1,057 ha Diamante property in Sonora. The program envisages 2,000 m of reverse circulation drilling starting in May, on the La Prieta, Aguaje, El Chon, El Chon Oeste, La Olla, Calton, El Cumbro, and Mezquite-Raizudo targets.
Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. released results from seven drill holes of the phase II drilling program at the Tepic project in Nayarit. “Four of the holes are up-dip extensions from the previously defined historic resource area while three are strike extensions”. Highlighted core-length intercepts comprise 7.05 m @ 125 gpt Ag, 0.90 gpt Au; 3.2 m @ 194 gpt Ag, 1.36 gpt Au; 12.1 m @ 146 gpt Ag, 0.64 gpt Au (including 1.5 m @ 489 gpt Ag, 0.77 gpt Au); 2.25 m @ 48 gpt Ag, 0.90 gpt Au; 1.5 m @ 7 gpt Ag, 1.89 gpt Au; 4.6 m @ 156 gpt Ag, 1.20 gpt Au; 4.8 m @ 106 gpt Ag, 1.48 gpt Au; 2.55 m @ 878 gpt Ag, 3.04 gpt Au; 1.05 m @ 11 gpt Ag, 2.66 gpt Au. True widths estimated at 90% of core-length intervals.
Reyna Gold Corp. reported channel and dump sample results from the Sombrero target at its La Gloria property in Sonora. Highlighted results comprise 8.68 gpt Au, 0.56% Cu, 64 gpt Ag, 0.4% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 8.17 gpt Au, 0.34% Cu, 49 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb; 2.84 gpt Au, 0.17% Cu, 36 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.2% Zn. “Reyna has started drilling at El Sombrero and expanded the number of planned holes from an initial 10 to now 22 holes in the El Sombrero target as part of its ongoing 10,000-meter drill program, which now comprises of a total of 36 holes”.
Pantera Silver Corp. reported initial drill results from the Nuevo Taxco project in Guerrero. Highlighted true width (tw) results comprise 0.55 m @ 98 gpt Ag; 1.15 m @ 0.10 gpt Au, 48 gpt Ag; 1.6 m @ 98 gpt Ag; 1.3 m @ 96 gpt Ag; 0.8 m @ 82 gpt Ag; 1.85 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 225 gpt Ag on the Negrilla vein and 5.05 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 108 gpt Ag; 1.75 m @ 0.42 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag; 1.00 m @ 0.41 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag; 0.86 m @ 1.86 gpt Au, 35 gpt Ag; 1.25 m @ 0.51 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag; 4.29 m @ 0.78 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag on the Creston de Maria vein. This drilling campaign tested 630 m along strike on two veins of 21 in the property, with a combined longitude of more than 11 km.
Tocvan Ventures Corp. announced results from one core hole at its Pilar property in Sonora. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 116.85 m @ 1.19 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag (including 48.05 m @ 2.81 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag, which includes 10.20 m @ 12.04 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag). This core hole is a twin form a reverse circulation hole that returned 94.6 m @ 1.6 gpt Au. Nine holes totalling 1,562 m have been completed of phase III drilling.
Reyna Silver Corp. released results from 19 holes totalling 7,964 m of its 10,000 m stage 1 drill program at Batopilas, in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 9.35 m @ 3.38 gpt Au (including 3.65 m @ 8.18 gpt Au, which includes 1.65 m @ 12.75 gpt Au); 1.45 m @ 6.87 gpt Au (including 0.35 m @ 18.95 gpt Au); 5.40 m @ 5.68 gpt Au (including 3.65 m @ 8.18 gpt Au); 0.75 m @ 9.55 gpt Au; 1.8 m @ 4.06 gpt Au. Reyna Silver is doing more exploration work to define the extent of gold rich versus silver rich mineralization, and their relationship.
Aztec Minerals Corp. and JV partner Kootenay finished the phase 2 reverse circulation program with 26 holes totaling 4,649 m at Cervantes, in Sonora. Highlighted hole length intervals comprise 88.41 m @ 1.10 gpt Au (including 15.24 m @ 3.96 gpt Au); 108.2 m @ 0.37 gpt Au; 45.7 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 167.20 m @ 1.00 gpt Au, (including 24.4 m @ 4.25 gpt Au); 136.8 m @ 1.49 gpt Au (including 51.68 m @ 3.42 gpt Au); 100.32 m @ 0.75 gpt Au; 12.2 m @ 0.92 gpt Au; 7.6 m @ 0.68 gpt Au; 54.72 m @ 0.88 gpt Au; 7.6 m @ 0.74 gpt Au; 86.64 m @ 0.50 gpt Au; 138.32 m @ 0.53 gpt Au; 132.2 m @ 0.43 gpt Au; 9.1 m @ 0.46 gpt Au; 152.4 m @ 0.97 gpt Au (including 33.5 m @ 2.05 gpt Au); 54.9 m @ 0.48 gpt Au. The focus of the program was to “better define the open pit, heap leach gold potential of the porphyry oxide cap at California, evaluate the potential for deeper copper-gold porphyry sulfide mineralization underlying the oxide cap, test for north and west extensions of the California mineralization at California North and Jasper, and assess the breccia potential of Purisima East”.
Infinitum Copper Corp. released trenching results from La Adelita project in Sonora-Sinaloa. Trench 2 returned a true thickness of 9.15 m @ 16.45 gpt Au, 1.90% Cu, 3 gpt Ag. Three magneto-telluric lines have been completed at Las Trancas, with interpreted results pending. Surface samples from Andalucia and Cerro Potreritos have returned up to 5.49 gpt Au, 1.34% Cu, 139 gpt Ag. “Additional surface sampling at Pericos confirmed the presence of skarn mineralization on the west limb of the Cerro Grande anticline, 800 m to the west of the Cerro Grande zone” with samples up to 1.38% Cu, 77 gpt Ag, 1.31 gpt Au.
Defiance Silver Corp. informed in the completed 4,750 m drill program at the 2,674 ha Lucita property, on Defiance’s Zacatecas project in Zacatecas. This is the first drilling in the central Lucita asset currently under option from Pan American Silver Corp.. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 3.33 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 709 gpt Ag (including 1.15 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 1,604 gpt Ag); 0.94 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 107 gpt Ag; 2.73 m @ 0.16 gpt Au, 102 gpt Ag; 3.48 m @ 514 gpt Ag (including 1.9 m @ 940 gpt Ag); 1.05 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 317 gpt Ag; 4.09 m @ 0.10 gpt Au, 137 gpt Ag (including 0.6 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 618 gpt Ag); 1.51 m @ 0.76 gpt Au, 192 gpt Ag. “The dominant silver mineralization consists of pyrargyrite-proustite, acanthite, and argentite hosted in polyphase quartz and calcite veins, breccias, and stockwork veinlet zones”.
ON MINING
Endeavour Silver Corp. reported first quarter 2022 production. At Guanceví, in Durango, 101.2 K tonnes were produced at 1,125 tonnes per day (tpd) grading 407 gpt Ag, 1.19 gpt Au, recovering 85.6% Ag, 89.8% Au to produce 1.13 M Oz Ag, 3,477 Oz Au. At Bolañitos, in Guanajuato, 104.9 K tonnes were produced @ 61 gpt Ag, 1.73 gpt Au, recovering 85.9% Ag, 89.6% Au to produce 181.1 K Oz Ag, 5,218 Oz Au.
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. released production results for the first quarter 2022, including figures from its operations in Mexico. In San Jose, in Oaxaca, 250.9 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 2,918 tpd, grading 185 gpt Ag, 1.13 gpt Au, recovering 91% Ag, 90% Au to recover 1.36 M Oz Ag, 8,239 Oz Au.
Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. reported first quarter 2022 production results. At Avino, in Durango, 111.1 K tonnes were milled, averaging 50 gpt Ag, 0.29 gpt Au, 0.56% Cu, recovering 92% Ag, 77% Au, 89% Cu, to produce 164.4 K Oz Ag, 801 Oz Au, 1.22 M Lb Cu (457.8 K Oz AgEq). During the quarter the acquisition of La Preciosa project was completed, and drill results from La Potosina of up to 2.95 m @ 668 gpt AgEq were released. “Avino is completing its conversion to dry stack tailings”.
Golden Minerals Co. reported production for the first quarter 2022. At Rodeo, in Durango, 203.6 K tonnes were mined, 10.9 K tonnes stockpiled awaiting process, 88.6 K tonnes in low grade stockpiles 47.4 K tonnes processed at a rate of 527 tpd, grading 3.1 gpt Au, 11.6 gpt Ag, recovering 75.4% Au, 82.8% Ag, to produce 3,608 Oz Au, 13.9 K Oz Ag (3,787 Oz AuEq).
Great Panther Mining Ltd. reported production first quarter 2022 results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Topia, in Durango, 16.3 K tonnes were mined, 16.2 K tonnes milled, averaging 362 gpt Ag, 0.84 gpt Au, recovering 92% Ag, 64% Au, to produce 173.7 K Oz Ag, 282 Oz Au, 365 tonnes Pb, 525 tonnes Zn (3,876 Oz Au Eq). The Guanajuato Mine Complex is currently in care and maintenance, while waiting for the CONAGUA (water use authority) tailings dam permit.
Torex Gold Resources Inc. released production results for Q1 2022. At its Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero, 12,600 tpd were processed, 1,260 tpd mined from underground, 11,780 tpd mined by open pit, to produce 112,440 Oz Au during the period.
ON FINANCING
No Relevant News.
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Prime Mining Corp. released drill results for 26 holes at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. A second high-grade ore shoot and the deepest mineralization to date was identified in Guadalupe East, with bonanza-grades found in 550 m step out from the inferred open pit boundary. True width highlighted results comprise 4.0 m @ 52.0 gpt Au, 1,008 gpt Ag; 0.6 m @ 7.62 gpt Au, 1,970 gpt Ag; 18.3 m @ 1.38 gpt Au, 39 gpt Ag; 14.1 m @ 1.12 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag; 2.5 m @ 4.09 gpt Au, 103 gpt Ag; 7.5 m @ 1.47 gpt Au, 40 gpt Ag; 1.9 m @ 3.72 gpt Au, 370 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 1.57 gpt Au; 0.6 m @ 1.19 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag; 2.8 m @ 1.38 gpt Au, 63 gpt Ag.
Silver Tiger Metals Inc. provided drilling results from its El Tigre project in Sonora. The seven drill holes targeted down dip under El Tigre historic workings at the North end, highlighted core-length intervals comprise 27.8 m @ 0.08 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 158 gpt Ag; 26 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 25 gpt Ag; 2.1 m @ 0.23 gpt Au, 250 gpt Ag; 10.2 m @ 1.63 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag (including 1.5 m @ 10.7 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag); 1.2 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 104 gpt Ag; 0.5 m @ 1.69 gpt Au, 101 gpt Ag; 23.8 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 95 gpt Ag (including 2.3 m @ 0.94 gpt Au, 542 gpt Ag); 0.5 m @ 2.21 gpt Au, 1,200 gpt Ag. Underground rehabilitation is progressing at the historic El Tigre mine, with 215 m completed to date.
Silverton Metals Corp. released results from its step-out reverse circulation drilling at Peñasco Quemado, in Sonora. Highlighted hole-length intervals comprise 6.75 m @ 0.10 gpt Au, 46 gpt Ag; 1.00 m @ 75 gpt Ag, 0.37% Cu; 0.97 m @ 69 gpt Ag, 0.42% Cu; 5.10 m @ 27 gpt Ag; 11.30 m @ 54 gpt Ag (including 0.95 m @ 438 gpt Ag, 0.62% Cu); 3.74 m @ 47 gpt Ag; 11.85 m @ 17 gpt Ag; 19.70 m @ 27 gpt Ag; 5.30 m @ 46 gpt Ag; 54.10 m @ 23 gpt Ag; 6.45 m @ 73 gpt Ag; 7.45 m @ 26 gpt Ag; 10.30 m @ 31 gpt Ag; 5.60 m @ 42 gpt Ag. A total of 2,105 meters were drilled in nine holes.
Vizsla Silver Corp. reported results for 19 holes targeting the Animas vein corridor at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 5.84 m @ 39 gpt Ag, 0.48 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 1.9% Zn; 3.09 m @ 84 gpt Ag, 1.30 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 5.25 m @ 85 gpt Ag, 0.50 gpt Au; 1.14 m @ 121 gpt Ag, 2.21 gpt Au, 1.9% Pb, 3.2% Zn; 4.71 m @ 391 gpt Ag, 2.23 gpt Au, 1.5% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 7.13 m @ 39 gpt Ag, 1.16 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.8% Zn; 4.62 m @ 29 gpt Ag, 1.24 gpt Au, 0.2% Zn; 1.10 m @ 195 gpt Ag, 1.17 gpt Au; 5.66 m @ 124 gpt Ag, 0.98 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 1.14 m @ 312 gpt Ag, 1.23 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 1.00 m @ 622 gpt Ag, 2.75 gpt Au; 1.26 m @ 787 gpt Ag, 3.65 gpt Au, 0.2% Zn. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 2.40 m @ 959 gpt Ag, 5.97 gpt Au; 2.10 m @ 486 gpt Ag, 2.68 gpt Au; 0.95 m @ 113 gpt Ag, 4.85 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn.
Endeavour Silver Corp. informed on high-grade underground drill results from El Curso property at its Guanceví mine in Durango. Highlighted true width results from the underground program comprise 2.09 m @ 0.92 gpt Au, 296 gpt Ag; 4.22 m @ 0.93 gpt Au, 428 gpt Ag; 7.26 m @ 0.84 gpt Au, 324 gpt Ag; 7.23 m @ 0.63 gpt Au, 323 gpt Ag; 1.34 m @ 1.30 gpt Au, 498 gpt Ag; 4.18 m @ 2.63 gpt Au, 857 gpt Ag; 7.46 m @ 5.83 gpt Au, 2,067 gpt Ag (including 0.47 m @ 56.50 gpt Au, 22,562 gpt Ag); 7.57 m @ 1.89 gpt Au, 975 gpt Ag; 6.26 m @ 0.60 gpt Au, 354 gpt Ag; 1.80 m @ 1.33 gpt Au, 814 gpt Ag; 13.12 m @ 0.74 gpt Au, 214 gpt Ag; 7.99 m @ 1.52 gpt Au, 262 gpt Ag; 1.87 m @ 2.36 gpt Au, 807 gpt Ag. El Curso property, covers the Santa Cruz vein “between Endeavour’s previously mined Porvenir Cuatro orebody and the Milache orebody currently being mined”.
Fabled Silver Gold Corp. is currently planning the phase 2 diamond drill program at Santa Maria, in Chihuahua. The Santa Maria veins were found in phase 1 drilling to be “mineralized breccias at the contacts or within diorite dikes”, which has led to the definition of five mineral/structural trends to pursue.
SilverCrest Metals Inc. announced results from drilling at El Picacho property in Sonora. This release covers 56,780 m in 247 holes (of a total to date of 68,200 m in 289 holes by SilverCrest). The focus of this campaign was to redefine and expand the Picacho Main vein historical resource of 364.4 K tonnes @ 8.54 gpt Au, 40 gpt Ag, containing 100 K Oz Au, 473 K Oz Ag defined in 2010 with only 14 holes and underground workings. The Picacho Main vein is 550 m long, 300 min depth, with an estimated true width of 2.4 m @ 5.42 gpt Au, 24 gpt Ag (Best tw intercept: 3.7 m @ 20.86 gpt Au, 73 gpt Ag); The Picacho Hanging Wall vein is 500 m long, 200 m in depth, 1.5 m in width @ 4.38 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag (Best tw intercept: 1.3 m @ 42.3 gpt Au, 542 gpt Ag); The Picacho Hanging Wall 2 vein is 200 m long, 135 m in depth, 0.8 m in width @ 6.32 gpt Au, 46 gpt Ag (Best tw intercept: 2.8 m @ 11.9 gpt Au, 21 gpt Ag); The Picacho Hanging Wall 3 vein is 80 m long, 100 m in depth, 0.5 m in width @ 8.7 gpt Au, 450 gpt Ag (Best tw intercept: 0.8 m @ 10.71 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag); The Picacho Footwall vein is 100 m long, 175 m in depth, 1.3 m in width @ 9.45 gpt Au, 16.1 gpt Ag (Best tw intercept: 1.7 m @ 37.09 gpt Au, 32 gpt Ag).
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Galore Resources Inc. entered into an exploitation agreement between Oztoc Metal Corp. S. de R.L. de C.V. to reengage the mining activities that the previous tenant, URBYASA was conducting at the Duraznillo ranch in Zacatecas. The five-year contract includes the Los Gemelos I and Duende 7 mining concessions. Galore will receive 30% of gross revenues and OZTOC is to keep 70% for development, production and profit from the Duraznillo mine.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
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On the image below: Banded quartz-barite vein in the Sonoran desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
