Mercury

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

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Boiling texture in a quartz chalcedonic vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the twenty seven week of the year (July 15th to July 7th, 2019), at least 27 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with ten communicating production results, seven disclosing deals and corporate issues, six announcing financial rounds, two reporting on resources and development of their projects,  and two informing on exploration results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON EXPLORATION, In Chihuahua, Silver Spruce secured drill pads to commence phase 1 drill program at its Pino de Plata project. In Oaxaca, Megastar identified multiple targets at its Yautepec property. ON MINING, Avino, Consolidated Zinc, First Majestic, Fortuna Silver, Fresnillo, Gold Resource, Hecla, McEwen, Premier, and Sierra Metals reported Q2, 2019 production results from their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Americas Silver announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of approximately US$10M (Cosala, Sinaloa). It also announced the termination of the agreement with Premier Gold on the San Felipe project in Sonora for total sales proceeds of US$10.8M. Discovery Metals announced its intentions to complete a non-brokered private placement to rise gross proceeds of $9M (Puerto Rico project, Coahuila). Golden Minerals entered in definitive agreements to rise gross proceeds of $2.25M (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua). Mexican Gold closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $4M (Las Minas project, Veracruz). Orla Mining rised $3.6M through early warrant exercise incentive program (Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas). Silver Spruce received a final payment of $150K for the sale of its Kay Mine project to Croesus. Silver Spruce received and accepted an unsolicited cash investment offer of USD $250K (Pino de Plata project, Chihuahua). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Endeavour acquired two mineral properties adjacent to its Guanacevi mine in Durango. SilverCrest received the operating permit from SEMARNAT for the development of its Las Chispas project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Silver Spruce announced the acquisition of the Cocula advanced Au project in Jalisco. Excellon, Great Panther, Mexican Gold, and Prize announced management changes.  Mexican Gold, Prize, and Minera Alamos granted stock options to Directors, Officers, Employees, and Consultants.

 ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., secured drill pads to commence phase 1 drill program at its Pino de Plata project in Chihuahua. The surface landowners have granted surface access and signed the drill permit application.
  • Megastar Development Corp., identified multiple targets at its Yautepec property in Oaxaca. The property lies within the known Oaxaca Au-Ag epithermal trend that hosts the San Jose Mine owns by Fortuna Silver, and the Arista-Switchback mine owned by Gold Resource. Results from the first 146 rock-chip samples were received. Significant results are: 6 samples with > 10 ppm Ag (maximum value of 62 ppm Ag); 9 samples with > 100 ppb Au (maximum value of 0.86 ppm Au);   5 samples with > 100 ppm Cu (maximum value of 639 ppm Cu); 6 samples with > 100 ppm Pb (maximum value of 863 ppm Pb); 10 samples with > 100 ppm Zn (maximum value of 215 ppm Zn; 8 samples with > 100 ppm Mo (maximum value of 648 ppm Mo); 12 samples with > 1,000 ppm As (maximum value of 6,290 ppm As); 9 samples with > 1,000 ppm Ba (maximum value of 4,590 ppm Ba); and 12 samples with > 1 ppm Hg (maximum value of 7.8 ppm Hg). These anomalous values are from quartz veins, silicified breccias and siliceous sinter deposits in multiple areas along a north-northwest striking 8.4km trend of prospective rocks that trace a volcanic caldera margin. An additional 175 rock-chip samples have been submitted to the lab and results will be announced in subsequent new releases.

ON MINING

  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., reported Q2, 2019 consolidated production results from its Avino mine operation in Durango. It processed 200,873 tonnes of 57 g/t Ag, 0.41 g/t Au, and 0.38%Cu to produce 246K Oz Ag, 1,609 Oz Au, and 1.14M Lb Cu. Metallurgical recoveries were 69%, 61% and 63% for Ag, Au, and Cu respectively.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, reported June 2019 production results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. It mined 5,099 tonnes of 17.5% Zn, 11.2% Pb, and 62 g/t Ag for a total of 2M Lb Zn, 1.3M Lb Pb, and 10.2K Oz Ag contained. From this tonnage, only 2,409 tonnes were processed but additional stockpiles of 6,599 tonnes remain in mine site awaiting be delivered to the Aldama plant.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., announced Q2, 2019 production results from their Mexican operations. The below table shows the mine by mine production results:

 

  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., released Q2, 2019 production results from its San Jose mine in Oaxaca. Fortuna processed 271,016 tonnes of 273 g/t Ag and 1.68 g/t Au to produce 2.2M Oz Ag and 13.2K Oz Au, with metallurgical recoveries of 90.76% and 90.23% respectively.
  • Fresnillo plc., reported Q2, 2019 consolidated production results from their Mexican operations. The company produced 14.42M Oz Ag (including Silverstream), 221.3K Oz Au, 29.2M Lb Pb, and 46.3M Lb Zn. The production results by mine are as follow: At the Fresnillo mine in Zacatecas, 618,852 tonnes with grades of 192 g/t Ag, 0.9 g/t Au, 1% Pb, and 1.6% Zn were processed to produce 3.5M Oz Ag, 13.5K Oz Au, 11.7M Lb Pb, and 15M Lb Zn. At the Saucito mine in Zacatecas, 662,023 tonnes were processed with grades of 242 g/t Ag, 1.15 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, and 1.3% Zn to produce 4.5M Oz Ag, 18K Oz Au, 10.2M Lb Pb, and 13.31M Lb Zn. At the Piritas Plant in Zacatecas, 39,159 tonnes were processed with grades of 352 g/t Ag and 2.57g/t Au to produce 333K Oz Ag and 1,215 Oz Au. At the La Cienega mine in Durango, the company processed 329,117 tonnes with grades of 1.57 g/t Au, 162 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, and 1.1% Zn to produce 15K Oz Au, 1.5M Oz Ag, 3M Lb Pb, and 4.8M Lb Zn. At the San Julian mine in Chihuahua-Durango border, Fresnillo processed 338,797 tonnes of 1.71 g/t Au and 124 g/t Ag from San Julian Veins to produce 17.7K Oz Au and 1.2M Oz Ag, while 562,534 tonnes were processed from the San Julian Disseminated Ore Body with grades of 0.08 g/t Au, 149 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 1.4% Zn, to produce 636 Oz Au, 2.3M Oz Ag, 4.2M Lb Pb, and 13.3M Lb Zn. Total production at San Julian was 18.3K Oz Au and 3.6M Oz Ag. At its Herradura mine in Sonora, the company processed 5,466,791 tonnes of 0.84 g/t Au and 2.5 g/t Ag to produce 120K Oz Au and 280K Oz Ag. At the Noche Buena mine in Sonora, Fresnillo processed 3,663,549 tonnes of 0.56 g/t Au and 0.22 g/t Ag,  to produce 35.3K Oz Au and 17K Oz Ag.
  • Gold Resource Corporation, released production results from its Oaxaca Mining Unit for the period Q2, 2019. It produced 7,881 Oz Au, 466.5K Oz Ag, 1.1M Lb Cu, 5.2M Lb Pb, and 13.6M Lb Zn.
  • Hecla Mining Company, reported Q2, 2019 production results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. The company produced 0.5M Oz Ag and 3,547 Oz Au.
  • McEwen Mining Inc., announced that 5,340 Oz Au were produced at its El Gallo mine in Sinaloa during the period Q2, 2019.
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited, reported that a total of 15.5K Oz Au and 56.5K Oz Ag were produced from its Mercedes mine in Sonora during Q2, 2019.
  • Sierra Metals Inc., released Q2, 2019 production results from their Mexican operations. At Its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua, Sierra Metals processed 326,208 tonnes of 0.86% Cu, 18 g/t Ag, and 0.24 g/t Au to produce 5.2M Lb Cu, 152K Oz Ag, and 1,586 Oz Au. At its Cusi mine in Chihuahua, the company processed 82,117 tonnes of 1|45 g/t Ag, 0.15 g/t Au, and 0.1% Pb to produce 283K Oz Ag, 146 Oz Au, and 154K Lb Pb.

ON FINANCING

  • Americas Silver Corporation, announced that Eric Sprott has agreed to purchase common shares of the company for a total investment of approximately US$10M in a non-brokered private placement (Cosala, Sinaloa). It also announced the termination of the agreement with Premier Gold on the San Felipe project in Sonora for total sales proceeds of US$10.8M.
  • Discovery Metals Corp., announced its intentions to complete a non brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of $9M, of which Eric Sprott has agreed to purchase 19.9% of the company by investing $7.7M. Discovery plans to acquire all the issued and outstanding common shares of Levon Resources Ltd., as announced in a news release dated May 30, 2019. Gross proceeds will be used to continue exploration at Cordero, Chihuahua, following the acquisition of Levon, and at the Coahuila projects (Puerto Rico, Minerva, and Monclova).
  • Golden Minerals Company, entered in definitive agreements with institutional investors for an offering of shares of common stock with gross proceeds of $2.25M (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua).
  • Mexican Gold Corp., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $4M. Net proceeds will be used for exploration and advancement of its Las Minas project in Veracruz.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., rised $3.6M through an early warrant exercise incentive program rised $3.6M. Net proceeds will be used to continue regional exploration and allow greater flexibility prior to construction of its Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., received a final payment of $150K for Croesus Gold Corp., for the sale of its Kay Mine project. Some of the net proceeds will be used to fund the due diligence program at its advanced Cocula gold project in Jalisco. The company also received and accepted an unsolicited cash investment offer of USD $250K to purchase 5% interest of Silver Spruce Resources de Mexico SA de CV, the Mexican subsidiary of Silver Spruce, and 5% interest in the mining titles for each of the four mining concession that comprise its Pino de Plata project in Chihuahua. The offer was done before the commencement of the phase 1 drill program.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  •  Endeavour Silver Corp., acquired a 10 years rights to explore and exploit two mineral properties adjacent to its Guanacevi mine in Durango from a subsidiary of Minera Frisco SAB de CV. The El Porvenir property of 15 Ha covers the up dip extension of the El Porvenir Norte orebody, and The El Curso property of 40 Ha that covers any possible northwest extension of the El Porvenir Cuatro orebody, which was the highest grade mine in the district. Endeavour agreed to meet certain minimum production targets from the properties and pay Frisco a fixed per tonne production payment plus a floating NSR based on the spot Ag price.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., received from SEMARNAT the approval of the MIA or operating permit for the development of its Las Chispas project in Sonora. The receipt of the MIA provides the company to construct a 3,000 tonnes per day underground mine and a conventional processing facility with subsequent dry stack tailings and underground backfill for Las Chispas. The MIA remains in good standing for 14 years until July 17, 2033.

 ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., acquired 100% interest in the Cocula advanced Au project in Jalisco from Prospeccion y Desarrollo Minero del Norte SA de CV (ProDeMin), which in turn, has an option agreement from the owners to acquire 100% interest in the Cocula project. Terms of the acquisition include a USD$160K due within two years of assumption of the ProDeMin contract; USD$330K due within year three; and USD$2.5M due within year four. ProDeMin has to negotiate with the owners to delay payments and to accept cash and company shares as payment. The owners also have retained a 2% NSR which is capped at USD$1.5M and of which 1% can be purchased for USD$500K. Minimum work expenditure include USD$250K in the first two years and USD$500K within the following two years. Silver Spruce has also agreed to reimburse ProDeMin USD$125K over two years for its previous option payments made to the owners, upon completion of the Company’s financing requirements, and to issue 3M of the Company’s common shares to ProDeMin over four years.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced the appointment of its CFO and VP Corporate Development (La Platosa, Durango).
  • Great Panther Mining Limited, announced the appointment of the Chair of the Board of Directors of the company (Topia mine, Durango).
  • Mexican Gold Corp., announced the resignation of its COO and one Director, and the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors. The company also granted stock options to Directors, Officers, and Consultants of the company (Las Minas, Veracruz).
  • Prize Mining Corporation appointed as new Director to the Board of the company. It also granted stock options to Directors, Officers, Employees, and Consultants of the company (Manto Negro project, Coahuila).
  • Minera Alamos Inc., granted stock options to Managements, Directors, Employees, and Consultants of the company (Santana project, Sonora).

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-sulphidation epithermal chalcedonic quartz vein in a prospect in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Kaolin in a Hg prospect

By Miguel A Heredia

During the third week of the year (January 14th to January 20th, 2019), at least 31 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with thirteen communicating production results, eight informing on exploration results, seven disclosing deals and corporate issues, one announcing financing rounds, one discussing Mexican issues, and one reporting a feasibility study for mine expansion on its property. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, mining leader and senator of the MORENA party, declared that is ready to go over the mining companies that do not pay enough taxes, pollute the environment and have too much ground in mining concessions.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, San Marco, Silver Viper, Mexus, Sonoro, and Ridgestone announced drilling results from their Chunibas, La Virginia, Santa Elena, Cerro Caliche, and Rebeico properties respectively. In Chihuahua, Mammoth posted a technical report on its 2017-2018 drilling program at its Tenoriba project, and VVC released drilling results from its Samalayuca project.  In Sinaloa, Goldplay outlined 5 new exploration targets at its San Marcial project.  ON MINING, Alamos Gold, Alio, Premier, Coeur, GoGold, McEwen, Excellon, Avino, Hecla, Goldcorp, Fortuna and First Majestic reported Q4 and full year 2018 production results from their Mexican operations. Mako Mining reported that are pumping water from its Taunus pit at La Trinidad mine in Sinaloa and expect to commence mining by month end.  Great Panther provided 2019 production and cost guidance for their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Impact closed the second and final tranche of a non-brokered private placement for $1.19M for a total raise of $1.7M.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Leagold announced a feasibility study for the expansion of its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Goldplay announced the listing of its shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (San Marcial, Sinaloa). Mako reported that now holds a 100% interest in the La Trinidad mine in Sinaloa. SilverCrest announced executive appointments (Las Chispas project, Sonora). Oroco provided an update on its option to acquire an additional interest in its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Prize provided an update about an order on regulatory matters issued by the Alberta Securities Commission (Manto Negro project, Coahuila). Newmont and Goldcorp entered into a definitive agreement to create the world´s leading gold company.  Minera Alamos launched new website (Santana project, Sonora).

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, mining leader and senator of the MORENA party, declared that is ready to go over the mining companies that do not pay enough taxes, pollute the environment and have too ground in mineral concessions. The mining leader is reviewing mineral concessions and said that mining companies should contribute to the government with more revenues. He also said that the Mining Law of Mexico has to be regulated in accordance with the interests of the country. “We are looking at the cancellation terms for a concession and its extension, because 50, 100 years is too long,” he explained. The senator also mentioned not to have in mind any particular tax for companies.

ON EXPLORATION

  • San Marco Resources Inc., released phase 1 drilling results from its Chunibas project in Sonora, where, under a JV option agreement with a subsidiary of Antofagasta plc., the company is exploring several Cu-Ag rich mineralized targets mapped on surface. Drilling carried out at Chunibas project consisted of 1,640m in 7 shallow drill holes and tested 2km of the NW-SE striking mineralized corridor with 5 drill holes, and 400m of a NE-SW section perpendicular to the  corridor with 2 drill holes. The drilling program has confirmed the existence of a typical Cu-Ag manto-type system. Highlights include hole CHD18-05 with 7.5m of 0.1% Cu and 2 g/t Ag and 22m of 0.05% Cu and 0.7 g/t Ag; hole CHD18-06 with 3m of 0.08% Cu and 0.6 g/t Ag; and hole CHD18-07 with 6m of 0.06% Cu and 0.3 g/t Ag.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., reported second batch drilling results from its la Virginia project in Sonora. Significant results are at El Rubi Zone in hole LV18-201 with 13.3m (6m TW) with 3.16 g/t Au and 228 g/t Ag (6.42 g/t AuEq), including 4m (1.8m TW) of 3.75 g/t Au and 258 g/t Ag (7.43 g/t AuEq), and including 1m (0.45m TW) of 8.30 g/t Au and 782 g/t Ag (19.47 g/t AuEq); hole LV18-200 with 12m (9m TW) of 1.52 g/t Au and 133 g/t Ag (3.42 g/t AuEq), including 2m (1.5m TW) of 5.51 g/t Au and 537 g/t Ag (13.18 g/t AuEq); and hole LV18-203 with 10m (5m TW) of 1.1 g/t Au and 97 g/t Ag (2.48 g/t AuEq), and 12m (6m TW) of 1.37 g/t Au and 81 g/t Ag (2.53 g/t AuEq), including 1m (0. 5m TW) of 13.20 g/t Au and 780 g/t Ag (24.34 g/t AuEq). A third and final batch of results are pending and will be released once the assays are received.
  • Mexus Gold US, announced that the 1st phase of drilling at its Santa Elena project in Sonora has been completed. Final results are expected to arrive in February 2019. Until now, “Hole 7 is the best evidence of high-grade gold at 9.89 g/t Au with an attractive width of 5.3 meters and an overall average of 3.12 g/t Au”.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., completed 45 RC holes totaling 4,604m at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora, confirming a luster of eight northwest trending gold-dominant structures surrounded by parallel sheeted veinlets and stockwork veinlets. Significant drill intersections are Highlights from the final 14 holes include 12.19m of 11.2 g/t Au and 5.9 g/t Ag (11.3 g/t AuEq); 4.57m of 4.67 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag (4.69 g/t AuEq); and 12.19m of 0.82 g/t Au and 8.5 g/t Ag (0.95 g/t AuEq).
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc., released final assay results from an initial drill program conducted at its Rebeico project in Sonora. Significant intersections are in hole 18REB6 with 3.25m of 8.31 g/t Au and 2.41% Cu, including 0.5m of 6.95 g/t Au and 1.31% Cu, and 1m of 17.7 g/t Au and 5.95% Cu, and 1m of 5.59 g/t Au and 0.83% Cu; and hole 18REB10 with 1.5m of 36.1 g/t Au and 1.22 g/t Ag, and 1.46 g/t Au and 0.07% Cu.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., posted an internal technical report based on 13 holes totaling 2,700m drilled during its 2017-2018 drilling program conducted on its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. Some of the conclusions are: At El Moreno area, feldspar porphyry intrusive rocks were intersected displaying porphyry –style mineralization including disseminated sulphides and complex stockworks-sulphide rich veinlets. Hole TEN 17-02 intersected 80m of 0.17 g/t AuEq: Phyllic-pyrite alteration was also identified in drill core and consists of illite-tourmaline and dickite; K-feldspar flooding was observed at deeper intervals and the presence of 7.2m of 3.59% Cu in hole TEN 17-03. At the Carneritos area, mineralization identified is more typical of high sulphidation and consists of narrow pyrite rich veinlets in a stockwork texture associated with silica, dickite and local patchy vuggy silica alteration. Hole TEN 17-06 intersected 126.08m of 0.52 g/t AuEq, including 25m of 1.21 g/t AuEq.
  • VVC Exploration Corporation, announced the results for the last 11 drill holes from its Samalayuca project in Chihuahua. The most significant intersections are in hole SC18-056 with 19.65m of 0.32% Cu; hole SC18-057 with 28m of 0.79% Cu; and hole SC18-058 with 5m of 0.55% Cu. “The 2017/18 drilling program confirmed significant, near surface, copper mineralization over an approximate 5km strike length.”
  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd., outlined with soil and rock sampling five new exploration targets at its San Marcial project in Sinaloa. Faisanes, Cabañas, Nava, Pedregal, and Chachalaca targets have been prioritized for follow up exploration and detailed geological mapping in H1, 2019. “The Cabañas and Faisanes targets demonstrate very similar geology to the historic resource, while the Nava and Pedregal targets indicate a NE-SW trending structural setting, superimposed on a volcanic package of rhyolites and andesites cut by dioritic dykes. The Chachalaca trend is interpreted as a NW-SE trending structural setting, with geology dominated by rhyolites and andesites”.

ON MINING

  • Alamos Gold Inc., reported its Q4 and annual 2018 production results from their Mulatos and El Chanate mines in Sonora. Production from Mulatos in Q4 was 35.6K Oz Au for a full year 2018 of 175.5K Oz Au. At El Chanate mine, Alamos produced 35.6K Oz Au in Q4 2018 for an annual 2018 production of 43.7K Oz Au. Alamos Gold expects to produce between 150K-160K Oz Au in 2019. Mining activities ceased at El Chanate mine in Q4 2018 and has transitioned to residual leaching which will result in a declining rate of production through 2019.
  • Alio Gold Inc., announced its Q4 and full year 2018 production results from its San Francisco Mine in Sonora. At its San Francisco mine the company achieved a Q4 production of 10.3K Oz Au for a full year 2018 production of 54K Oz Au. The company reported that “there are sufficient stockpiles to operate at full capacity throughout 2019 (as at July 1, 2018, the low-grade stockpile consisted of approximately 7.2 M tonnes of 0.26 g/t gold material (60.2K contained Oz Au). Gold production at San Francisco mine is expected to remain consistent with current production levels for at least the first half of 2019”.
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited, reported its Q4 and full year 2018 production results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. In Q4, the company produced 22.5K Oz Au and 119K Oz Ag for an annual 2018 production of 68.7K Oz Au and 309.2K Oz Ag.
  • Coeur Mining Inc., released its Q4 and full 2018 production results from its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. In Q4, Coeur milled 378,389 tonnes of 2.49 g/t Au and 185 g/t Ag to produce 31.2K Oz Au and 1.9M Oz Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 97.6% and 84% respectively. For the full year 2018, the company milled 1,382,471 tonnes of 3.1 g/t Au and 202 g/t Ag to produce 122.7K Oz Au and 7.5M Oz Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 88.9% and 83.8% respectively.
  • GoGold Resources Inc, announced its Q4 2018 production results from its Parral operation in Chihuahua. In Q4, GoGold produced 1,828 Oz Au and 168K Oz Ag for a total of 325K Oz AgEq.
  • Mc Ewen Mining Inc., presented its Q4 and annual 2018 production results from its El Gallo mine in Sinaloa. The company produced 5.6K Oz AuEq in Q4 for a total full 2018 production of 39.1K Oz AuEq. By the end of Q2 2018, mining and crushing activities ceased at El Gallo mine and were followed by residual heap leaching. Closure, reclamation, and residual heap leaching activities are ongoing and will continue for several years.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced its Q4 and annual 2018 production results from its Platosa mine in Durango. Excellon milled 16,570 tonnes of 556 g/t Ag, 4.9% Pb and 6% Zn in Q4 to produce 274.3M Oz Ag, 1.5M Lb Pb, and 1.8M Lb Zn. In the full 2018 year, Excellon milled 57,475 tonnes of 488 g/t Ag, 4.8% Pb, and 6.9% Zn to produce 917.7M Oz Ag, 5.4M Lb Pb, and 7.9M Lb Zn.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., presented its Q4 and full year 2018 production results from their Avino, San Gonzalo and Above Ground Stockpiles in Durango. In Q4, the company milled 189,574 consolidated tonnes of 64 g/t Ag, 0.5 g/t Au, 0.44% Cu to produce 288.6K Oz Ag, 1,973 Oz Au, and 1.4M Lb Cu with metallurgical recoveries of 75%, 64% and 72% respectively. For the full 2018 year, Avino milled 708.7K tonnes of 73 g/t Ag, 0.53 g/t Au, and 0.43% Cu to produce 1.3M Oz Ag, 8K Oz Au, and 4.8M Lb Cu with metallurgical recoveries of 76%, 65%, and 72% respectively.
  • Hecla Mining Company, announced its Q4 and annual 2018 production results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. Hecla produced 443.3K Oz Ag and 2,928 Oz Au in Q4 and 2M Oz Ag and 15K Oz Au in the full 2018 year. The mill operated at an average of 429tpd in 2018.
  • Goldcorp Inc., released its Q4 and annual 2018 production results from their operations. Goldcorp did not report results by mine but produced 630K Oz Au in Q4 and 2.3M Oz Au in the full 2018 year.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., reported its Q4 and annual 2018 production results from its San Jose mine in Oaxaca. Fortuna milled 256,181 tonnes of 1.58 g/t Au and 230 g/t Ag in Q4 to produce 11.8K Oz Au and 1.7M Oz Ag. In the full 2018 year, Fortuna milled 534,773 tonnes of 1.75 g/t Au and 260 g/t Ag to produce 53.5K Oz Au and 8M Oz Ag.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., presented its mine by mine Q4 2018 production results from their Mexican operations. The table below shows production details for each mine:

  • Mako Mining Corp., reported that are still in the process of dewatering the Taunus pit at its La Trinidad mine in Sinaloa and has already reached bench -56, where there are over 57M tonnes of blasted rock of 1.35 g/t Au. The company expects to commence mining by month end, at which time crushing and stacking on the leach pad can once again resume. There is an estimated of 30K Oz of recoverable Au left in the Taunus pit. The Company is still evaluating the safest and most effective mine plan to recover the remaining Oz Au.
  • Great Panther Silver Limited, provided 2019 production and cost guidance for their two Mexican operations: Topia in Durango and the Guanajuato mine complex which includes the San Ignacio and the Guanajuato mines. Great Panther expects to produce in 2019 over 3.7-4.0 M AgEq. The company also has taken the step of realigning their Mexican operations to reduce cost and maximize mine operating cash-flow, with a modest reduction in their production ounces.

ON FINANCING

 

  • Impact Silver Corp., closed the second and final tranche of a non-brokered private placement for $1.19M for a total raise of $1.7M. Gross proceeds will be used to explore its Zacualpan project in State of Mexico for additional potential targets, to improve the efficiency at its Guadalupe production mill, and for general working capital purposes.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Leagold Mining Corporation, announced a feasibility study for the expansion of its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. Highlights of the FS are: production of 3.3M Oz Au over a 10-year mine life (2019-2028) at an average AISC of $795; and proven and probable mineral reserves of 111.3M tonnes of 1.23 g/t Au containing a total of 4.5M Oz Au. Post expansion (2021 onwards) include an average annual production of 350K Oz Au at AISC of $759/Oz and an average annual production exceeding 400K Oz Au from 2012 to 2013.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd, announced the listing of its shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol GPE effective January 15, 2019 (San Marcial project, Sinaloa).
  • Mako Mining Corp., completed the acquisition of Golden Reign Resources Ltd., from Marlin Gold Mining Ltd., and now holds a 100% interest in the la Trinidad mine in Sinaloa.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., announced the appointment of its VP Exploration and Technical Services and its Executive VP Business Development (Las Chispas project, Sonora).
  • Oroco Resource Corp., engaged an independent QP to prepare a technical report on its Santo Tomas property in Sinaloa. It allows Oroco to acquire an additional interest on the property.
  • Prize Mining Corporation, provided an update about the order issued by the Alberta Securities Commission on December 21, 2019, requiring that all trading in securities of Prize cease and that Prize must cease trading in all securities. Prize applied for a further adjournment and now the Alberta Securities Commission issued a variation order dated January 14, 2019 to adjourn the hearing to February 1, 2019.
  • Newmont Mining Corporation & Goldcorp Inc., entered into a definitive agreement to form Newmont Goldcorp and create the world´s leading gold company. Newmont will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Goldcorp in a stock-by-stock transaction valued in $10B. “Newmont Goldcorp’s Reserves and Resources will represent the largest in the gold sector and will be located in favorable mining jurisdictions in the Americas, Australia and Ghana, representing approximately 75 percent, 15 percent and 10 percent, respectively”. The Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction, which is expected to be closed in Q2, 2019.
  • Minera Alamos Inc., launched a new brand and improved website.

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, kaolin in a Hg prospect in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

Highlights on the Second Week of September, 2018. Mining and Exploration News in Mexico

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Banded quartz epithermal vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 37th week of the year (September 10th to September 16th, 2018), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with ten informing on exploration results, six reporting on resources and developments, four communicating deals and corporate issues, and two announcing production results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Riverside and Kootenay announced exploration results from its Cecilia and La Mina projects respectively. In Chihuahua, Harvest Gold began preparations to drill test its Cerro Cascaron project and Sable Resources released drilling results from its Margarita project.  In Sinaloa, Auxico reported sampling results from its Zamora project In Durango, Gainey announced a 1st phase of exploration at its Las Margaritas project, Orex commenced fieldwork exploration on its San Luis del Cordero project, and Prospero reported drilling results from its Buenavista project. In Zacatecas, Advance Gold started a phase 2 drilling program at its Tabasquena project. In Jalisco, Evrim announced trench and soil results from its Cuale project.  ON MINING, Starcore reported Q1 2018 results from its San Martin mine in Queretaro. US Antimony announced plans to increase its production of Sb, Au and Ag in Mexico. ON FINANCING, no relevant news. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, In Sonora, SilverCrest and Premier Gold released drilling results from its Las Chispas and Mercedes projects respectively. Aura provided an update at its Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas. Candelaria announced a PEA for its Pinos Gold project in Zacatecas.   McEwen reported that hopes to add 12 years of mine life at its El Gallo Complex in Sinaloa.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Evrim and First Majestic agreed to exercise the Ermitaño and Cumobabi option agreements in Sonora. New Gold announced the appointment of its new President and CEO (Cerro San Pedro mine, San Luis Potosi). Levon announced results from its annual general meeting (Cordero project, Chihuahua). Vangold withdrew its submission to acquire the San Carlos property in Guanajuato (El Pinguico mine, Guanajuato).

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Riverside Resources Inc., completed 11 N-S lines for soil sampling which returned strong multi-elements anomalies with Au, Pb, Cu, and other key elements. These results along with previous exploration work have outlined four new target areas on its Cecilia project in Sonora. Target 1 is a 4km long by 300m wide target where previous rock sampling has found up to 2 g/t Au in silicified conglomerates , but the soil anomaly is open in both directions beyond the 4 Km and more than 800m wide. Target 2 is a NE trending Ag, Pb, Au, Zn, Sb, Hg and Cu soil anomaly over 2km long and 600m wide in rock cracks with faults and host veining displaying a series of NW striking feeder dikes. Target 3 is a 1km long by 500m wide Au-Zn with minor Ag, Cu, Pb and Bi soil anomaly associated to a N-S trending fault system intersecting Paleozoic limestones. This target is also along the border edge of a magnetic high reported in a regional government geophysics survey likely associated with Pre Cambrian granitic basement.  Target 4 contains “high-grade gold samples in soils and alteration with jasperoid, silicification, and carbonate veining of the Paleozoic limestone that gives a potential limestone hosted Au with anomalous soil assays of Zn, Pb, Ag and Mn”.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., announced that its partner Capstone Mining Corp., has commenced an exploration program on its la Mina project in Sonora. The exploration program will consists of detailed mapping and rock chip / stream sediment sampling to generate potential drill targets.
  • Harvest Gold Corporation, reported that Evrim Resources, its JV partner and operator on its Cerro Cascaron project in Chihuahua, has mobilized an advance team to the site to start preparations to drill test the property. The drill program, expected to commence at the end of September, will consist of 3,000 m to test the Cascaron Gold targets and the Cascarita Silver targets.
  • Sable Resources, released drilling results from its Margarita project in Chihuahua. Significant intersections are from hole M-DDH-18-09 with 6.5m of 111 g/t Ag Eq, including 3.5m of 153 g/t Ag; hole M-DDH-18-11 with 11.3m of 252 g/t Ag Eq, including 1.3m of 889 g/t Ag Eq; hole M-DDH-18-12 with 12.7m of 98 g/t Ag Eq, including 1.8m of 244 g/t Ag Eq. Additionally, Sable identified a low-grade stockwork style of mineralization evident in numerous holes. The most significant results are hole M-DDH-18-03 with 44.13m of 50 g/t Ag Eq, including 6.95m of 142 g/t Ag Eq; hole M-DDH-18-07 with 7.6m of 54 g/t Ag Eq, and hole M-DDH-18-12 with 21.35m of 37 g/t Ag Eq. “With the first stage of drilling now complete we will evaluate our results and formulate a plan for stage 2 drilling targeting further extensions of Margarita and the other adjacent parallel veins”.
  • Auxico Resources Canada Inc., reported high-grade sampling results from its Zamora project in Sinaloa. Significant results are 0.80m of 4Kg Ag and 29.2 g/t Au at La Franca claim, 600m southwest of the Campanillas mine along a structure that can be followed by at least 600m along strike. Mineralization consists of breccia-stockwork veining containing galena, sphalerite and possible silver sulphosalts, malachite and chalcopyrite. Other significant results are from Aguamas area where some channel samples returned 0.65m of 6.38 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag; 0.70m of 14.7 g/t Au and 34 g/t Ag; 0.50m of 3.55 g/t Au and 108.7 g/t Ag; and 1.60m of 6.64 g/t Au and 220 g/t Ag.
  • Gainey Capital Corp., announced a phase 1 exploration program on its Las Margaritas project in Durango. Las Margaritas is a mineralized vein system that extends at least 1.5Km along strike and averages 1-2m in width. The 1st phase exploration program will consists of detailed mapping and sampling with the objective to identify prospective areas to generate the best drill targets.
  • Orex Minerals Inc., commenced an exploration program on its San Luis del Cordero project in Durango, where the company has an option to acquire 100% interest in the property from Exploraciones del Altiplano S.A. de C.V. Mineralization at San Luis del Cordero is characterized by skarn and epithermal vein Ag-Cu-Zn as a result of Tertiary-quartz-feldspar-porphyry intrusions affecting Jurassic and Cretaceous limestones, calcareous sandstones and shales. The project has seen several phases of exploration from different mining companies, including 16,400m drilled in 62 holes in the period 2000-2016. The property contains indicated resources of 662.6K tonnes of 121 g/t Ag, 0.78 % Cu and 1.1 % Zn for a total of 5.1M Oz Ag Eq, and inferred resources of 2, 785,300 tonnes of 144 g/t Ag, 0.75 % Cu and 1.45 % Zn, for a total of 24.4 M Oz Ag Eq.
  • Prospero Silver Corp., reported core drilling results from eleven holes totaling 2, 811m drilled at its Buenavista project in Durango. Mineralization drilled-tested at Buenavista consists of structurally controlled epithermal veins centered on a rhyolite dome complex. “All holes cut anomalous silver mineralization, with a best interval of 1.6m @ 353g/t Ag from 185.6m downhole, within a broader interval of 49m @ 43g/t Ag in hole BVF-18-05”.
  • Advance Gold Corp., started a second phase drilling program at its Tabasquena project in Zacatecas to test the La Tabasquena epithermal vein at a depth of 1,800m. Phase 2 will test below the gold discovery hole of phase 1. It also will test some of the potential feeder type targets and all of the veins below the oxide zone which goes down to an estimated 175 metres below surface.
  • Evrim Resources Corp., announced new trench and soil results from its Cuale project in Jalisco. Highlight results include the trench 2 which was extended from 29.4m to 184.1m with an average grade of 0.85 g/t Au, including 59.1m of 1.79 g/t Au, and including 21.6m of 4.18 g/t Au; Trench 4 , extended from 106.2m to 156.2m with an average grade of 9.57 g/t Au, including 64.6m of 20.85 g/t Au, and including 7.5m of 163.31 g/t Au; and Trench 5 which contains 174m of 0.62 g/t Au, including 70m of 1.16 g/t Au, and including 40m of 1.45 g/t Au. A soil grid with 200 metre spacing outlined a Au anomaly over the entire La Gloria prospect with grades >0.01 g/t Au of 2,300m by 800m with a central corridor of 1,700m by 300m >0.1 g/t Au extending north of the trenched area.  “The soil anomaly at higher elevation correlates with elevated silver, antimony, molybdenum, arsenic and low contents of manganese and zinc.  At lower elevations gold correlates with elevated copper, tellurium, arsenic, bismuth and iron”. “The new trench results expand the La Gloria zone to the northwest and the east with consistent gold mineralization.  Soil sampling indicates the La Gloria system footprint is measurably larger with the potential to host a significant deposit and/or additional mineralized centers within the La Gloria prospect”.   “The soil survey has a distinctive high sulphidation signature centred on a large gold in soil anomaly that is approximately 2,300 metres by 800 metres.  The results indicate a potential major system with significant upside for additional mineralized centers within the La Gloria prospect.”

ON MINING

  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., reported Q21 2018 results from its San Martin mine in Queretaro. Starcore milled 77,400 tonnes of 1.53 g/t Au and 49 g/t Ag to produce 3.3K Oz Au and 72.7K Oz Ag, with an all-in sustaining cost of US$ 1,215 for Eq Oz. Metallurgical recoveries were 88.1% for Au and 59.6% for Ag.
  • US Antimony Corporation, produced 131,184 Lb Sb and 1,244 short tonnes of zeolites in August 2018 and announced plans to increase its production of Sb, Au and Ag in Mexico. At its Wadley mine in San Luis Potosi, the general level will be reactivated by cleaning up the waste to provide access and transportation of the lower grade for the mill. At Sierra Guadalupe in Zacatecas, the Santa Monica drift will be restarted. The ore is primarily sulphides and can be upgraded to 60-70% Sb flotation concentrate at its Puerto Blanco Mill to make antimony tri-sulphide. At the Soyatal district in Queretaro, a buying program will be started to purchase direct shipping ore for its Madero smelter. The construction of the cyanide leach plant for the Los Juarez Au-Ag-Sb should allow pilot testing to commence during Q4 2018. The company also closed an agreement purchase, dismantle and transport an antimony plant from Reynosa, Tamaulipas. When installed, the equipment from the Reynosa plant will increase the capacity of the Madero Smelter in Coahuila to approximately 30,000,000 Lb per year of antimony oxide.

ON FINANCING

  • No relevant news.

 

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., released drilling results from its Las Chispas project in Sonora and expanded the high grade at Babicanora Norte vein. Drill holes have intersected additional high-grade Ag-Au mineralization at Babicanora Norte vein which is located about 300m NE of Babicanora vein and apparently is connected with the Granaditas area which contains multiple veins to the southeast. The most significant results are 1.8 m of 15.11 g/t Au and 1,718 g/t Ag or 2,851 g/t Ag Eq, 1.6 m of 8.96 g/t Au and 1,078 g/t Ag or 1,750 g/t Ag Eq and 1.5 m of 4.22 g/t Au and 687 g/t Ag or 1 Kg Ag Eq. The drilling results of Babicanora Norte vein will be part of the upcoming updated resource which will include 8 of the 30 identified veins in the district.
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited, reported drilling results from the Rey de Oro deposit at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. Highlights results include hole UG-R018-013 which returned 12.64 g/t Au and 240.1 g/t Ag across 29.65 m (TW of 13.5 m), hole UG-R018-015 with 0.41 g/t Au and 3120.0 g/t Ag (91.0 oz/ton) across 1.52 m (TW of 1.06 m), and hole UG-R018-012 with 17.00 g/t Au and 321.0 g/t Ag across 1.1 m (TW of 0.8 m) and 4.47 g/t Au and 138.5 g/t Ag across 8.25 m (TW of 6.1 m). “Underground drilling at Rey de Oro consists of step-out and delineation drilling of this recently developed horizon. This drilling continues to intersect some of the widest vein intercepts on the property and demonstrate the potential to continue to extend the mine life at Mercedes”.
  • Aura Minerals Inc., provided an update at its Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas. Aura has obtained all the necessary permits and initiated the construction of the new tailings disposal system. “The Company expects the Aranzazu mine to achieve commercial production later this year and to achieve the average processing of 2,600 tonnes per day shortly thereafter”.
  • Candelaria Mining Corp., announced a PEA for its Pinos Gold project in Zacatecas. Highlight results from the PEA indicate an after tax net present value (NPV) of US$ 12M using a 5% discount rate, an after tax internal rate return (IRR) of 25%, and a 7 years life of mine with projected gold equivalent ounce (“GEO”) production of 89,000. The PEA includes a mineral resource estimate as of September 13, 2018. Measured resources (Dump) are 85,847 tonnes of 1.6 g/t Au and 83 g/t Ag for a total of 4,444 Oz Au and 229K Oz Ag. Indicated resources are 175,697 tonnes of 3.6 g/t Au and 47 g/t Ag for a total of 20.6K Oz Au and 268K Oz Ag. Inferred resources are 529,267 tonnes of 3.6 g/t Au and 48 g/t Ag for a total of 60.7K Oz Au and 811K Oz Ag. Average recovery for Au and Ag are 90 and 80% respectively. The company plans to have an annual production of 12,700 GEO with an overall average direct cash cost of %US 666 per GEO.
  • McEwen Mining Inc., reported that hopes to add 12 years of mine life at its El Gallo Complex in Sinaloa, combining mineralized sources from five locations that will be developed in two distinct process plant construction phases. McEwen plans to produce 47K Oz Au Eq per year.
  • Bacanora Lithium plc., announced plans to start the mine construction on its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. $US 420M will be invested in the first phase and is expected to begin to operate in 2020.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Evrim Resources Corp., and First Majestic Silver Corp., agreed to exercise the Ermitaño and Cumobabi option agreements in Sonora. First Majestic has completed its 100% earn-in for both projects. First Majestic has paid $1.5M in cash to Evrim and has granted a 2% NSR in the case of Ermitaño project and 1.5% NSR in the case of Cumobabi project.
  • New Gold Inc., announced the appointment of its new President and CEO (Cerro San Pedro mine, San Luis Potosi).
  • Levon Resources Ltd., released results from its annual general meeting (Cordero project, Chihuahua).
  • Vangold Mining Corp., withdrew its submission to the TSX Venture Exchange to acquire the San Carlos property in Guanajuato.

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 banded quartz vein in an intermediate sulphidation epithermal project in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

Highlights on the Second Week of May, 2018. Mining and Exploration News in Mexico

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By Miguel A Heredia

During the 19th week of the year (May 7th to May 13th, 2018), at least 40 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with eight informing on exploration results, nine reporting Q1 2018 results, four announcing financing, sixteen communicating deals and corporate issues, and  seven reporting on resources & development. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Fernando Alanis Ortega was appointed President of CAMIMEX for the period 2018-2010. Investment in the mining sector reached $4,287 M USD in 2017, representing an increase of 14.3%. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Colibri Resource reported drilling results at its El Pilar project, and Azure provided an update on its El Alacran project. In Chihuahua, Sable commenced a 4,000m diamond drill program on its Margarita project; Prospero and Fortuna revised its 2018 work program for Bermudez and Trias projects in Chihuahua, and Buenavista project in Durango.  In Zacatecas-Durango, Canasil announced plans to resume drilling at its La Esperanza project. In Guerrero, Alio announced that a regional exploration work is underway on its Ana Paula project. In Oaxaca, Megastar signed an option agreement to acquire a mining project. ON MINING, Alio Gold, Pan American Silver, Americas Silver, Excellon, GoGold, Hecla, Premier Gold, and Torex reported Q1 2018 results from their Mexican operations. Gainey completed upgrade of its Huajicori mill in Nayarit. ON FINANCING, Almaden announced a non-brokered private placement for $7M.  Minaurum raised $4.7M in its first tranche of a total $6M non-brokered private placement. Prize Mining announced a non-brokered private placement for $2M. Silver Spruce closed a non-brokered private placement for $287.7K. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Alio initiated the construction of a 1,200m underground decline at its Ana Paula project in Guerrero. Hecla provided an exploration update on its San Sebastian Mine.  Leagold reported underground drilling results for its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. Premier Gold filed a technical report for its Mercedes mine in Sonora.  Sierra Metals reported mine development at its Cusi and Bolivar mines in Chihuahua during Q1 2018 period. US Antimony reported progress on the construction of the leach plant for the Los Juarez Au-Ag-Sb deposit in Queretaro. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Alamos Gold, Endeavour, Excellon, and Fortuna reported results of its 2018 annual general meetings. Alamos also announced changes to its Board of Directors. Almadex approved spinout transaction. Great Panther announced the departure of its COO. Canuc announced the appointments of its CFO and Corporate Secretary. New Gold announced the appointment of its President and CEO. Candente reached an agreement with 3rd Eye Research to retain IR services. First Majestic completed the acquisition of Primero Mining. Goldplay received approval on the San Marcial option agreement in Sinaloa with SSR Mining. One World Lithium announced the granting of stock options. Primero announced receipt of Mexican antitrust clearance for arrangement with First Majestic. MX Gold signed a definitive agreement to sell interest at its Magistral project in Durango.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Fernando Alanis Ortega, was appointed President of the Mexican National Chamber of Mines (CAMIMEX) for the period 2018-2010, replacing the outgoing Daniel Chavez Carreon.
  • CAMIMEX, reported that the investment in the mining sector reached $4,287 M USD in 2017. Although this represents an increase of 14.3% over the previous year, it is still 48.5% lesser that the invested record in 2012 which reached $8,043M USD.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Colibri Resource Corporation, reported drilling results from its El Pilar project in Sonora. Highlights are 9m of 8.16 g/t Au, including 1.5m of 33.4 g/t Au. The company has completed 2,117m in 20 RC holes “aimed to test for continuity within previously interpreted zones of mineralization, test for extensions to the known mineralization, and explore locally for new zones of gold mineralization”.
  • Azure Minerals Limited, provided an update on results from its El Alacrán project in Sonora, currently operated by Minera Teck S.A. de C.V. Teck drilled 14 holes to test extensions of Au mineralized zones at Loma Bonita area. Results suggest potential expansion of the Loma Bonita epithermal Au-Ag mineralized system at depth south towards Cerro San Simon, where four holes were drilled to test resistivity anomalies. Teck also drilled four holes at Cerro Colorado Zone to test mapped targets and geophysical anomalies generated by IP surveys and airborne magnetics, confirming potential for porphyry copper mineralization. Geological, geochemical and geophysical surveys are being carried out in H1, 2018 and will be followed by further drilling in H2, 2018.
  • Sable Resources Ltd., commenced a 4,000m diamond drill program to test 1.7km of Ag-bearing epithermal quartz veins at its margarita project in Chihuahua. The aim is to test for high-grade precious metal horizon 200m below mineralized surface samples.
  • Prospero Silver Corp., and Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., revised its 2018 exploration program, deciding to conduct a 6,000m drill program to test targets at its Buenavista, project in Durango, as well as at its Bermudez and Trias projects in Chihuahua.
  • Canasil Resources Inc., announced plans to resume drilling at its La Esperanza project in Zacatecas-Durango. The drill program was designed to test the northwestern and southeastern extension of the La Esperanza vein 50m below of the high grade found in hole ES-17-16.
  • Alio Gold Inc., announced that a regional exploration work is underway on its Ana Paula project in Guerrero which includes an airborne magnetic survey targeting further breccia or skarn targets.
  • Megastar Development Corporation, signed an option agreement with Paradex Inc., and Minera ZalameraA. de C.V., to acquire 100% of the Rama de Oro project in Oaxaca. “The Project is hosted by caldera-related Tertiary volcanic rocks (e.g. El Aguila model) crosscut by hydrothermal veining inferred to be related to late-stage granitic magmatism locally exposed as dikes and underlying the adjacent ‘Nueve Puntos’ mountain”. Exploration work on the property has identified a 4 square-Km zone of quartz veining, silicification, and clay alteration of volcanic rocks. Sampling on this altered zones have returned anomalous values of Au, Ag, As, Hg, and Sb, suggesting the upper part of a precious metal epithermal system.
  • Prize Mining Corporation, reported sampling results at its Manto Negro Copper project in Coahuila. Significant results include 6m of 2.73% Cu and 58 g/t Ag, 5.2m of 1.78% Cu and 40 g/t Ag, and 7m of 1.65% Cu and 36 g/t Ag.

ON MINING

  • Alio Gold Inc., announced Q1 results from its san Francisco mine in Sonora, Alio produced 17.6K Oz Au and ~9K Oz Ag at an AISC of $1,262 per Oz Au.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., reported results from its Dolores and La Colorada mines in Chihuahua and Zacatecas states respectively. Au and Ag production during the period of Q1, 2018 was 34.4K Oz Au and 1.2M Oz Ag at Dolores mine and 1K Oz Au and 1.65M Oz Ag at La Colorada mine.
  • Americas Silver Corporation, reported Q1 2018 results from its Cosala operations in Sinaloa. Americas processed 163.8K tonnes to produce 397K Oz Ag, 7.6 M Lb Pb, and 7.3M Lb Zn.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., reported Q1 2018 results from its La Platosa mine in Durango. The company processed 18.9K tonnes (including 5.9K tonnes of historical stockpile) at average grades of 359 g/t Ag, 3.8% Pb, and 6.4% Zn to produce 194.5K Oz Ag, 1.3M Lb Pb, and 1.8M Lb Zn.
  • Gainey Capital Corp., completed upgrade of its Huajicori mill in Nayarit to process 300 tonnes per day.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., announced Q1 2018 results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. The company stacked 439.3K tonnes on the leach pad to produce 265.6K Oz Ag and 1908 Oz Au.
  • Hecla Mining Company, reported Q1 2018 results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. The mine produced 512K Oz Ag and 4,500 Oz Au.
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited, announced Q1 2018 results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. The company milled 168.3K tonnes of 2.91 g/t Au and 31.8 g/t Ag to produce 15K Oz Au and 57.4K Oz Ag.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., reported Q1 2018 results from its El Limón-Guajes Mine Complex in Guerrero. Torex processed 785K tonnes of 3.29 g/t Au to produce 67.2K Oz Au at an AISC of $954 per ounce.

ON FINANCING

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., announced a non-brokered private placement for $7M. Net proceeds will be used for exploration and development of its Ixtaca project in Puebla.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., raised $4.7M in its first tranche of a total $6M non-brokered private placement. Net proceeds will be used for its ongoing exploration program at the Alamos Silver project in Sonora.
  • Prize Mining Corporation, announced a non-brokered private placement for $2M. Net proceeds will be used to conduct a geological, diamond drill and engineering assessment on its Manto Negro Copper project in Coahuila The aim is to produce a 43-101 compliant mineral resource.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., closed a non-brokered private placement for $287.7K. Net proceeds will be used at Its Pino de Plata project in Chihuahua, aimed to drill target sites on the property.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Alio Gold Inc., initiated the construction of a 1,200m underground decline at its Ana Paula project, which is expected to be completed in Q3 2018. It will enable commencement of the first phase of the proposed underground diamond drill program, which will consist of 12,000 m in 55 holes. The company completed a six-hole 3,800m drill program below the proposed open pit to better define the geometry of the complex high-grade breccia and know the mineralization extent. Alio is also currently carrying out a drilling program on a high priority surface target 150m north of the proposed open pit, on which a detailed geological mapping at a scale 1:2,000 will be conducted.
  • Hecla Mining Company, provided and exploration update on its San Sebastian mine in Durango. An Infill drill program is been conducted to expand high-grade polymetallic zones similar to the Hugh Zone on the Middle and Francine veins, as well as oxide mineralization along the Professor and Francine veins. Significant results are 1.34m of 135 g/t Ag, 23.5% Pb, 18.5% Zn, and 7.9% Cu on the polymetallic zone, and 1.58m of 1,200 g/t Ag and 4.98 g/t Au on the oxide mineralization. At West Middle vein, the most significant intercepts are 1.34m of 317 g/t Ag, 10.1% Pb, 18% Zn, and 3% Cu, and 0.85m of 304 g/t Ag, 8.5% Pb, 9.4% Zn, and 3.8% Cu.
  • Mexican Gold Corp., reported step-out drilling results from the El Dorado / Juan Bran and Santa Cruz zones within its Las Minas projects in Veracruz. Significant interceptions are 8m of 1.06 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag, including 6m of 1.36 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag; 6m of 2.52 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag; 14m of 1.96 g/t Au and 0.3 g/t Ag, including 6m of 3.49 g/t Au and 0.5 g/t Ag; and 24m of 1.24 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag, including 10m of 2.12 g/t Au and 4 g/t Ag. The drill results tested the continuity of mineralization at El Dorado / Juan Bran zone and extended the mineralized zone to depth as well as cutting multiple mineralized intervals in the upward extension of the Santa Cruz zone.
  • Leagold Mining Corporation, reported underground drilling results for its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. Highlights are 4.1m of 24.2 g/t Au, 6.95m of 23.6 g/t Au, and 9.1m of 8.7 g/t Au from the Nukay, Conchita and Creston Rojo deposits respectively. The aim of the drilling program which comprises over 12,000m to date from 62,000m planned for 2018 is to identify additional resources along the contact of the circular intrusive orebodies.
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited, filed a technical report to release  updated mineral reserves for its Mercedes Mine in Sonora, with 3.3M tonnes of 3.94 g/t Au containing 417K Oz Au, and measured and indicated mineral resources for 3.68M tonnes of 4.32 g/t Au containing 511K Oz Au.
  • Sierra Metals Inc., reported mine development at its Cusi and Bolivar mines in Chihuahua during Q1, 2018. At Cusi, mine development totaled 676m. The company also carried out 1,448m of underground infill drilling, and 7,398m from surface. At Bolivar, mine development totaled 1,177m, with 650m to prepare stops for mine production, 466m to deepening ramps and developing service ramps for ventilation and pumping, and 61m of raises.
  • US Antimony Corporation, reported progress on the construction of the leach plant for the Los Juarez Au-Ag-Sb deposit in Queretaro. Testing and shake-down of the plant is anticipated in Q4 2018.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Almadex Minerals Limited., approved a spinout transaction of its early stage exploration projects, royalties interests, and certain other assets. Almadex will be re-named Azucar Minerals Ltd., upon closing of the transaction.
  • Candente Gold Corp., reached an agreement with 3rd Eye Research to retain IR services.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., completed the acquisition of Primero Mining Corp. With the arrangement now completed the Primero´s shares will be delisted from the TSX. The company also announced the termination of the silver purchase agreement with Wheaton

Precious Metals Corp., relating to the San Dimas mine.

  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd., received the approval to acquire the 100% of the San Marcial, Sinaloa option agreement with SRR Mining. Goldplay will pay, over a three year option period, $2.6 M in cash, issue 3.5M common shares, and incur in exploration expenses for $3M.
  • Primero Mining Corp., announced receipt of Mexican antitrust clearance for the arrangement with First Majestic.
  • MX Gold Corp., signed a definitive agreement to sell its 50% interest on its Magistral project in Durango for a purchase price of US$4.5M.

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, an oxidized quartz vein with a high content of disseminated pyrite in a prospect in Oaxaca, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

 

Sable Resources Ltd – Announces Proposed Acquisitions of BlueJoint Resources Inc. and Western Canada Greenfields Group Inc.

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sable announces proposed acquisition of blue joint resources

November 2, 2017 (Toronto, Ontario): Sable Resources Ltd. (“Sable” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SAE) is pleased to announce that it has entered into definitive agreements dated as of October 31, 2017 (the “Master Agreements”) providing for the acquisitions (the “Acquisitions”) by Sable of BlueJoint Resources Inc. (“BlueJoint”) and Western Canada Greenfields Group Inc. (“WCG”). Each of BlueJoint and WCG are private companies engaged in mineral exploration activities. The Acquisitions are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV”) and approval by shareholders of each of BlueJoint and WCG.

BlueJoint systematically explored 1.74 million hectares in 10 target areas considered highly prospective and underexplored for precious metal epithermal mineralization in Mexico. This systematic exploration consisted of 10,623 high-density stream sediment samples, 1636 rock samples and 1,122 soil samples as well as geologic mapping and mineral occurrence reviews. This work generated 143 new, previously unknown targets of which 96 await evaluation, 26 have been recommended for further work and two targets; Vinata and El Escarpe are drill ready and have completed independent technical reports prepared in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”). Sable will acquire 100% of the mineral rights that cover these targets consisting of five mineral applications and one mineral title.

Millrock Commences Drilling Program at La Navidad Gold Project, Sonora State, Mexico November 9, 2017

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https://www.millrockresources.com/news/millrock-commences-drilling-program-at-la-navidad-gold-project-sonora-state-mexico

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, November 9, 2016 – Millrock Resources Inc. (TSX-V: MRO, OTCQX: MLRKF) (“Millrock”) is pleased to report that the first phase of surface exploration on the La Navidad gold project is near completion, and a drilling program has begun. The project, located in Sonora State, Mexico, 100 km north of the City of Hermosillo, targets orogenic gold deposits. Highlights of a rock sampling program include:

  • 24 meters grading 0.9 grams per tonne gold;
  • 12 meters grading 1.1 grams per tonne gold;
  • 14 meters grading 0.8 grams per tonne gold.

A drilling program consisting of approximately 2,000 meters in nine drill holes is in progress and is planned for completion in December.

Southern Silver Expands Surface Targets on Newly Acquired Cerro Las Minitas Claims and Updates Oro Geophysics Program; Extends Closing of Brokered Financing

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http://www.southernsilverexploration.com/en/news/168/southern-silver-expands-surface-targets-on-newly-acquired-cerro-las-minitas-claims-and-updates-oro-geophysics-program-extends-closing-of-brokered-financing.php

Southern Silver Exploration Corp (TSX-V: SSV; “Southern”) reported today on its surface float sampling program for the newly acquired Biznagas and Los Lencho claims located contiguous to the larger Cerro Las Minitas property, Durango State, Mexico.

These strategic claims were acquired and are being explored for possible epithermal vein systems, similar to productive veins at the nearby Avino Gold-Silver Mine and San Sebastian Mine which are different from the Skarn/CRD type mineralization identified at Southern’s flagship project Cerro Las Minitas.

Southern’s current surface program has been encouraging in this regard and has returned multiple float samples with strongly anomalous values of gold (0.25 to 1.28g/t Au), silver (11.6 to 57.2g/t Ag), arsenic (132 to 1155ppm), antimony (383 to 777ppm Sb) and mercury (6.1 to 45.9ppm Hg). Anomalous samples occur in three main clusters containing elevated silver values along a 7 kilometre NW-SE transect through the two claims as well as several other smaller target areas that require additional follow-up exploration.

Southern Silver Acquires Strategic Claims at Cerro las Minitas

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http://www.southernsilverexploration.com/en/news/161/southern-silver-acquires-strategic-claims-at-cerro-las-minitas.php

Southern Silver Exploration Corp (SSV.V; “Southern”) has acquired strategic mineral claims adjacent to the southwest of its Cerro Las Minitas project located 70 kilometres northeast of Durango, Durango State, Mexico.

The claim package comprises 2 concessions, known as Biznagas and Los Lenchos, totaling 9600 hectares, which are contiguous to the south and west with the Cerro Las Minitas claim block (see Figure 1). The Biznagas claim was recommended for staking by La Cuesta International, Inc. (La Cuesta) whose previous exploration activities in the region resulted in the discovery of the nearby San Sebastián Mine (Hecla Mining Ltd.) and the San Agustin project (Argonaut Gold). Southern has negotiated a Finder’s Agreement with La Cuesta as set out below.

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

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

ON MEXICO ISSUES

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

ON EXPLORATION

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

ON MINING

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

ON FINANCING

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

ON RESOURCES

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

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

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

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

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

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