Zeolites

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

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tight folds

By Miguel A Heredia

During the twenty three week of the year (June 1st to June 7th, 2020), at least 49 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with fifteen commenting on Mexican issues, twelve communicating resumptions, production and financial results, six announcing financial rounds, five discussing on social issues, five reporting on resources and developments, three disclosing deals and corporate issues, and three informing on exploration results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Undersecretary of Mining and the state Governors declared that the resumption of the mining activities in the first week of June has been successful. Francisco Quiroga, the Undersecretary of Mining, stated that the mining sector will sustain part of the national economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Mexican government, in a very unfortunate statement, declared that it is analyzing the possibility to disappear the Undersecretariat of Mining. Fernando Alanís, president of the Mexican Mining Chamber (Camimex), stated that Mexico’s mining production would drop 17% this year due to coronavirus pandemic. The deputy of the PRI, Carlos Pavón Campos, will present a proposal requesting that the Mining Fund returns to be used in accordance to its original objective. Esperanza Silver de México (Alamos Gold Inc.) announced that it expects to create hundreds of direct + indirect jobs if they open its Esperanza mine in Morelos. According to Fernando Alanis, president of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), mining companies plan to invest USD $4B in 2020.  Resuming of the mining activities in Oaxaca will activate 10,000 jobs. ON EXPLORATION, In Sinaloa, Vizsla recommenced drilling at its Panuco project. In Zacatecas, Advance Gold provided an exploration update on its Tabasqueña project. In Jalisco, GoGold resumed drilling at its Los Ricos project.  ON MINING, Several mining, such as GoGold, Great Panther, Avino, Argonaut, Impact Silver, Pan American Silver, Telson, Excellon, and Sierra Metals among others, announced the restart of their Mexican mining operations after receiving approval of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS).  Mexus Gold reported its May 2020 production results from its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. US Antimony reported its Sb and zeolite production for the month of May 2020. Excellon presented Q1 2020 production and financial results (La Platosa, Durango).  ON FINANCING, Advance Gold announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $300K (Tabasqueña project, Zacatecas). Discovery Metals closed the first tranche of a CAD $35M non brokered private placement, for aggregates proceeds of CAD $17.1M (Cordero project, Chihuahua). Magna Gold closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $7M (San Francisco mine, Sonora). Silver Viper closed its previously brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $5.12M (La Virginia project, Sonora). Alamos Gold declared quarterly dividends of USD $0.015 per common share (Mulatos mine, Sonora).  Pan American Silver announced the closing of its overnight marketed secondary offering of common shares of Maverix Metals Inc., in which it raised gross proceeds of USD $45.54M (La Colorada mine, Zacatecas).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, VanGold concluded its +1,000 tonnes bulk sample and metallurgical test of mineral material from its Pinguino project in Guanajuato. Premier announced an update on its delineation core drilling program at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. US Antimony reported that a thickener circuit is being constructed on site at its Puerto Blanco mill in Guanajuato.  Endeavour released new high grade Au-Ag drill results from its Guanacevi mine in Durango. Golden Minerals President & CEO spoke about its Velardeña and Rodeo projects in Durango and its intention to bring them into production in 2021.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Canuc postponed the filing of its interim consolidated financial statement and management´s discussion and analysis for the period ended March 31, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (San Javier project, Sonora).  San Marco granted stock options to directors and officers (Chunibas project, Sonora). Newmont published its 2019 sustainability report (Peñasquito mine, Zacatecas).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Consorcio Minero Peña Colorada invested MXP $4M to refurbish health unit in Manzanillo, Colima. The Grupo Mexico Foundation delivered important donation to the Health Sector of Chihuahua and Sombrerete, Zacatecas. Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver) donated medical ventilator, pantries, medicines and cleaning kits in Oaxaca. Minera San Julián (Fresnillo plc) delivered a mechanical ventilator and personal protection equipment to medical personnel of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) of Parral, Chihuahua.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Undersecretary of Mining and the state governments, declared that the resumption of the mining activities in the first week of June has been successful. Almost 90% of the companies in the sector are already on work, thanks to the support of Francisco Quiroga, the Undersecretary of Mining of the Ministry of Economy, who established agreements with Governors of the states and with the companies, so that they could return to work safely and without risk of COVID-19 infections. The remaining 10% of mining companies are preparing sanitary protocols to resume activities in the coming days.
  • Francisco Quiroga, the Undersecretary of Mining, stated that the mining sector will sustain part of the national economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Activities derived from the mining industry serve to maintain various communities and even in some areas is the main source of economy. The mining sector is carrying out its reactivation of activities in a progressive way and with respect to health protocols. The sector has always worked with rigorous safety protocols to carry out its activities,
  • The Mexican government, in a very unfortunate statement, declared that it is analyzing the possibility to disappear the Undersecretariat of Mining. The measure would be in complete contradiction to the recent recognition of mining as an essential sector that generates 2.6 million jobs, has an impact in 10 states of the country and represents around 3% of GDP. The president AMLO has suggested the imminent disappearance, conversion, or inclusion in another agency, in order to reduce public spending. It occurs just when the Undersecretary of Mining, Francisco Quiroga, reached agreements with Governors, and the mining companies and their representatives have worked hard in a coordinated way to implement the security protocols. Entrepreneurs in this area, both Mexican and foreign, consider that the disappearance of the Undersecretariat of Mining may be negative for a sector that represents around 8% of industrial GDP. The panorama is worrying, since it seems to show the little interest of the current administration to encourage the development of the mining sector. Mining companies and their representatives see this measure as a setback for the country´s development. AMLO stated that to date, none decision has been taken so far, and recognized that mining is a fundamental economic activity that generates many jobs in the case of Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, and the rest of the mining states.
  • Fernando Alanís, president of the Mexican Mining Chamber (Camimex), stated that Mexico’s mining production would drop 17% this year and the sector´s export could decrease by around 10% due to the cessation of operations to contain the spread of the coronavirus. He also said that although activities in the industry were beginning to resume and about half of the operating personnel had returned to work, exploration work remained suspended and anticipated that the pandemic would also have ended with some 71,000 indirect jobs in the local sector.
  • The deputy of the PRI, Carlos Pavón Campos, will present a proposal in the Chamber of Deputies, requiring that the Mining Fund returns to carry out infrastructure works in the municipalities of the country where mining activity is performed, with the purpose of promoting the development of the communities, which was its original objective.
  • Esperanza Silver de México (Alamos Gold Inc.), announced that it expects to create hundreds of direct + indirect jobs if they open its Esperanza mine in Morelos. Esperanza Silver, under the scheme of a “New Model of Social and Environmentally Responsible Mining” policy, wants to bring its project to the community of Tetlama to protect the environment and generate employment that is essential for the economic reactivation of the state due to the direct + indirect jobs that will be generated, the value chains and supplies that will be activated, and the generation of taxes that will favorably impact state and municipal public finances. The company has projected an estimated investment of USD $450M to bring into production its mining project.
  • According to Fernando Alanis, president of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), mining companies plan to invest USD $4B in 2020, which represents 14% more than in 2019, despite the COVID-19 health crisis.
  • Resuming of the mining activities in Oaxaca, will activate 10,000 jobs. The mining personnel will carry out all the health and training protocols to avoid COVID-19 infections, supervised by the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Vizsla Resources Corp., announced that it has re-commenced drilling at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. It had previously announced the return of its staff to the project on May 21, 2020 to execute its exploration program at its district-scale project.
  • Advance Gold Corp., provided an update on its Tabasqueña project in Zacatecas. The CEO of the company stated that they have hit what appears to be a very large sulphide system with their recent drilling program collared into a 3.2Km continuous IP chargeability anomaly. These holes encountered promising grades in the stacked lenses of disseminated sulphides. Next step will be to drill the core of the system on the hinge zone of the IP chargeability anomaly, where it increases in width, to confirm the identified mineralization.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., resumed drilling at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. The Company is nearing completion of resource drilling at Los Ricos South for its upcoming 43-101 compliant resource calculation.

ON MINING

  • Several mining companies, such as GoGold, Great Panther, Avino, Argonaut, Impact Silver, Pan American Silver, Telson, Excellon, and Sierra Metals, among others, announced the restart of their Mexican mining operations following a government order adding mining to the list of essential services, and after receiving approval from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS).
  • Mexus Gold US, reported May 2020 production results from its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. It produced 102 Oz Au. The company announced that it plans to produce 150 Oz Au in June 2020. The heap leach pad at the Santa Elena mine currently holds 18,000 tons of mineralized material. Head grades are estimated at 3 to 4 g/t Au.
  • US Antimony Corporation, announced that it produced 108.9K Lb Sb and 1,129 tonnes of zeolites during the month of May 2020.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., presented Q1 2020 production and financial results from its La Platosa mine in Durango. It processed 19,042 tonnes of 542 g/t Ag, 5.4% Pb and 6.8% Zn to produce 296.3K Oz Ag, 1.89M Lb Pb, and 2.1M Lb Zn (or 523.7K Oz AgEq) with metallurgical recoveries of 89.3%, 82.8%, and 74.9% respectively.  Total cash and AISC of USD $15.35 and USD $26.52 per Oz Ag payable was reported respectively. The company had revenues of USD $6.6M, gross loss of USD $0.1M, cash and cash equivalents of USD $8.4M.

ON FINANCING

  • Advance Gold Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds for a maximum of $300K. Net proceeds will be used to advance its Tabasqueña project in Zacatecas and for general corporate purposes.
  • Discovery Metals Corp., closed the first tranche of a CAD $35M non brokered private placement, for aggregates proceeds of CAD $17.1M. Discovery intends to close a further CAD$7,9M in subscriptions in a second tranche of the private placement, for an aggregate total of CAD $25M. Net proceeds of the first tranche will be used to fund their Cordero and Coahuila projects in Chihuahua and Coahuila states respectively, and for general working capital purposes.
  • Magna Gold Corp., closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $7M. Gross proceeds will be used for working capital purposes in connection with their existing projects (San Francisco mine and Mercedes and San Judas projects, Sonora).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Inc., closed its previously announced brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $5.12M. A cash commission of CAD $218,770 was paid to the brokers, representing a 6% of the gross proceeds. Silver Viper will be used the net proceeds to fund the development of its Virginia project in Sonora, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.
  • Alamos Gold Inc., declared quarterly dividends of USD $0.015 per common share. The company has paid dividends for 11 consecutive years during which time USD $173M has been returned to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., announced the closing of its overnight marketed secondary offering of common shares of Maverix Metals Inc., in which Pan American raised gross proceeds of USD $45.54M (La Colorada mine, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • VanGold Mining , concluded its +1,000 tonnes bulk sample and metallurgical test of mineral material from its Pinguino project in Guanajuato. This bulk sample was sent to Endeavour’s Bolañitos mill, located approximately 28km from El Pinguico project. The company will report the results obtained once the information is received. On the other hand, crews are clearing the bottom of the El Pinguino shaft since approximately 30 m of debris has accumulated at the bottom. Once it is done, VanGold plans to sample the bottom of the underground stockpile in order to determine if the grades of Au and Ag obtained on the top of the stockpile extends to the bottom of it; inspecting the #7 Sangria adit since it may provide a potential safe and inexpensive haulage way to bring the underground material to surface; and sample the Colmillo stope since it was a high grade portion of the Pinguico mine during the period prior to its closure in 1913.
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited, announced an update on its delineation core drilling program at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. The 2020 delineation drilling campaign is focused on expanding and confirming higher-grade mineralization in several areas including Marianas and Diluvio West. Highlights at Diluvio West include hole UG-DI20-096 with 6.1 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag over 84.7m, and hole UG-DI20-095 with 6.38 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag over 73.5m. At Marianas, good drill intersections were encountered at hole UG-MR20-056 with 11.67 g/t Au and 56g/t Ag over 5.2m and hole UG-MR20-059 with 9.74 g/t Au and 16 g/t Ag over 11.3m. Diluvio consists of a stockwork system that is divided into Diluvio Central, hosted in felsic volcanoclastic, and Diluvio West hosted in an andesite while Marianas represents the down-plunge extension of the main Mercedes mine trend.
  • US Antimony Corporation, reported that a thickener circuit is being constructed on site at its Puerto Blanco mill in Guanajuato to increase the production rate and control the pulp density of ore to be processed. “The company is anxious to continue on the cyanide leach of the gold and silver Los Juarez ore now that they will have a thickener.”
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., released drill results of 18 holes collared in the Santa Cruz vein on the El Curso property at its Guanacevi mine in Durango, of which 12 holes reported new high grade Au-Ag values over minable widths. Drilling highlights include hole UCM-27 with 3.25 g/t Au and 1,085 g/t Ag (1,410 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 10m; hole UCM-26 with 1.87 g/t Au and 762 g/t Ag (949 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 5.1m; and hole UCM-25 with 1.43 g/t Au and 986 g/t Ag (1,129 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4.8m. This drilling program confirmed the extension of the P4 orebody, and now the extension measures 200 m long by 300 m deep, still open at depth, and discovered a new mineralized zone to the west of the P4 extension of 250 m long by 150 m deep, still open along strike and at depth.
  • Golden Minerals Company President & CEO, spoke about its Velardeña and Rodeo projects in Durango and its intention to bring them into production in 2021. The company is currently generating revenue through the lease of its oxide mill in Mexico to Hecla Mining Company, and intends to bring into production its Rodeo open pit Au project in 2021 after the lease concludes with Hecla at the end of 2020. Rodeo, according to the PEA “is capable to provide almost USD $25M in after-tax cash flow in two years of production. The goal of the company is to use the cash generated from Rodeo to finance a potential startup for its Ag-Au Velardeña project. Velardeña’s 2020 PEA shows an USD $86M NPV”.

 ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Canuc Resources Corporation, postponed the filing of its interim consolidated financial statement and management´s discussion and analysis for the period ended March 31, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (San Javier project, Sonora).
  • San Marco Resources Inc. granted stock options to directors and officers (Chunibas project, Sonora).
  • Newmont Corporation, published its 2019 sustainability report, “Beyond the Mine”, a transparent and comprehensive disclosure of the Company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Consorcio Minero Peña Colorada S.A. de C.V., invested MXP $4M to reconvert a building attached to the Manzanillo General Hospital, providing it with medical equipment and furniture for 3 medical care modules and one more for the rest of medical personnel.
  • The Grupo Mexico Foundation, delivered important donation to the Health Sector of Chihuahua, which consisted of five new mechanical ventilators, 15,000 medical equipment consisting of N-95 masks, disposable gowns, face masks, goggles, overalls, boot covers, respirators, aprons and gloves, as well as ultrasound equipment, portable X-rays and monitoring panels. The donation also included 25 non-invasive ventilators and 10,000 serological tests for COVID-19, which will allow detecting a greater number of people infected and have a broader overview of the behavior of the disease in the state. Additionally, Grupo México Foundation also joined the Chihuahua Food Program, by donating 650 pantries to support vulnerable groups in the municipalities of Aquiles Serdán and Santa Bárbara. In Sombrerete, Zacatecas, the Grupo Mexico Foundation also delivered more than 1,700 articles of medical supplies consisting of tyvek coveralls, N95 masks, face shields, disposable gowns and boot covers, and alcohol gel, and donated 700 pantries to the municipality of Sombrerete through the Municipal DIF to be distributed among the groups most at risk from this epidemic, as is the case of older adults in the Divine Providence Asylum that received 40 pantries with items from the basic food basket.
  • Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., donated MXP $1.3M to the Business Contingent Exchange and the Medical Support Program promoted by the Oaxaca Ministry of Economy to buy an equipment for ventilation and respiratory monitoring in the Intensive care unit, and delivered more than 3,300 pantries, 3,400 family cleaning packages and 4,600 medicines to the population of San José del Progreso and communities close to the operation of the San José mining unit. It is estimated that these actions have benefited more than 7,000 Oaxacans.
  • Minera San Julián (Fresnillo plc), delivered a mechanical ventilator equipment to the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) of Parral, Chihuahua and donated more than 2,000 pieces of personal protective equipment such as 50 tyvek suits, 200 N-95 face masks, 200 surgical fabric mouth masks, 600 mine-made mouth masks, 1,000 pairs of nitrile gloves and 50 safety glasses to employees of the health institution.

 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, tight folds in an orogenic Au prospect in Michoacan, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Quartz-alunite

By Miguel A Heredia

During the fifteen week of the year (April 06th to April 12th, 2020), at least 30 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with seven communicating production and financial results, six commenting on Mexican issues, five announcing financial rounds, five discussing issues on social responsibility, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, two informing on exploration results, and one reporting on resources and development.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mining companies operating in Mexico such as First Majestic, Telson, Torex, Capstone, Coeur, Endeavour, Impact, Hecla, Minera del Norte, and Equinox, have temporarily suspended mining activities at their Mexican operations in accordance with Mexico´s Ministry of Health´s decree to mitigate the spread and transmission of COVID-19. They also have withdrew their 2020 production and cost guidance until further notice due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Ridgestone announced that the three first holes of the 1st phase, 10-drill holes program were recently completed at its Rebeico project.  In Chihuahua, Discovery Metals released drilling results from 10 holes collared at its Cordero property. ON MINING, Impact reported full year 2019 production and financial results from its Zacualpan Mining District in Mexico State. GoGold reported Q1 2020 production results from its Parral tailings operation in Chihuahua. US Antimony reported its March 2020 production results. Hecla provided Q1 2020 production and financial results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. Endeavour reported Q1 2020 production results from its Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Santacruz raised gross proceeds of CAD $734,150 and reported that it won´t be completing any additional tranches of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (Veta Grande, Zacatecas). Consolidated Zinc advised that the underwriting agreement for the rights Issue announced on 9 March 2020 has been terminated, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, due to market conditions (Plomosas mine, Chihuahua). Candelaria closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1,059,261 (Caballo Blanco project, Veracruz). Aloro announced its plan to raise gross proceeds of up to $400K (Los Venados project, Sonora). Minera Alamos received CAD $5M from Osisko Gold Royalties (Santana project, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Prime Mining filed a technical report on its Los Reyes deposit in Sinaloa, and provided a new mineral resource estimate. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Avino announced that it has deferred its annual general meeting of shareholders until August 27, 2020 (Avino mine, Durango). Sable announced management changes and it also granted stock options to certain officers, directors and consultants (Vinata project, Chihuahua). Equinox reported that it will hold its annual general meeting for shareholders on May 15, 2020 (Los Filos mine, Guerrero). Orla announced the appointment of its new CFO (Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Minera Fresnillo (Fresnillo plc) donated a state-of-the art ventilator to the General Hospital of IMSS at Fresnillo, Zacatecas.  Minera San Xavier (New Gold) delivered protective medical supplies to medical and nursing personnel of the local hospital at its Cerro de San Pedro mine in San Luis Potosi.   Newmont announced the establishment of a USD $20M fund to help host communities, governments and employees combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Minera Peñasquito made a donation of 500 Pro Shield suites to medical personnel who will attend cases of COVID-19. Grupo Mexico delivered a hospital to the government of Oaxaca to attend cases of COVID-19 at Juchitán city in the Istmo of Tehuantepec region.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mining Companies operating in Mexico, such as such as First Majestic, Telson, Torex, Capstone, Coeur, Endeavour, Impact, Hecla, Minera del Norte, and Equinox, have temporarily suspended mining activities until April 30, 2020 at their Mexican operations in accordance with Mexico´s Ministry of Health´s decree to mitigate the spread and transmission of COVID-19. They also have withdrew their 2020 production and cost guidance until further notice due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Ridgestone Mining Inc., announced that three out of 1o holes planed for 1st phase drilling program have been completed at its Rebeico project in Sonora for a total of 435.7m. Visible sulphide mineralization is observed in all three holes collared but assays are pending.
  • Discovery Metals Corp., released drilling results from 10 holes collared at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. These holes are part of the 30,000-35,000m planned for the first phase program focused on defining a high-margin project with scale that retains excellent leverage to rising metal prices. Significant drill intersections were encountered in hole C19-309 with 0.26 g/t Au, 673 g/t Ag, 10.1% Pb, and 3.7% Zn (1,205 g/t AgEq) over 1.3m; hole C20-310 with 0.08 g/t Au, 904 g/t Ag, 5.4% Pb, and 8% Zn (1,436 g/t AgEq) over 1.2m; hole C20-312 with 0.16 g/t Au, 273 g/t Ag, 0.8% Pb, and 5.5% Zn (546 g/t AgEq) over 5.3m, including 0.87 g/t Au, 1,500 g/t Ag, 3.2% Pb, and 30% Zn (2,929 g/t AgEq) over 0.6m; hole C20-314 with 0.37 g/t Au, 51 g/t Ag, 1% Pb, and 0.6% Zn (139 g/t AgEq) over 106.1m, including 2.08 g/t Au, 355 g/t Ag, 6.6% Pb, and 4.5% Zn (946 g/t AgEq) over 4.8m; and hole C20-316 with 0.55 g/t Au, 119 g/t Ag, 2% Pb, and 0.3% Zn (247 g/t AgEq) over 27.7m, including 1.1 g/t Au, 1,255 g/t Ag, 20% Pb, and 2.5% Zn (2,153 g/t AgEq) over 1m, and including 2.3 g/t Au, 721 g/t Ag, 12.7% Pb, and 1.9% Zn (1,435 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m; and other deeper interval of 0.58 g/t Au, 79 g/t Ag, 1.2% Pb, and 1.15% Zn (217 g/t AgEq) over 62.8m, including 1.14 g/t Au, 212 g/t Ag, 3.5% Pb, and 2.3% Zn (522 g/t AgEq) over 10m, and including 0.75 g/t Au, 151 g/t Ag, 2.3% Pb, and 3% Zn (422 g/t AgEq) over 11.9m. Until March 31, 2020, 48 holes totaling 17,500 m have been collared and assays from 24 holes are pending.

ON MINING

  • Impact Silver Corp., reported full year 2019 production and financial results from its Zacualpan Mining District in Mexico State. It produced 664K Oz Ag with an average mill feed grade of 182 g/t Ag, to report adjusted mining earnings of $1.3M on $13.3M revenue for the full year 2019.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., announced Q1 2020 production results from its Parral tailings operation in Chihuahua. The company produced 365.8K Oz Ag, 2,355 Oz Au, and 62.7K Lb Cu (600.7K Oz AgEq)
  • US Antimony Corporation, reported its March 2020 production. It sold 101,326 Lb Sb at an average price of $2.67 per Lb and 2.35M Lb zeolites.
  • Hecla Mining Company, released Q1 2020 production results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. It produced 0.35M Oz Ag and 2.8K Oz Au.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., reported Q1 2020 production results from its Mexican operations. A summary of the quarterly production by mine is shown in the next table:

  • Great Panther Mining Limited, announced Q1 2020 production and financial results from its Mexican operations. At its Topia mine in Durango, it processed 19,353 tonnes of 0.82 g/t Au and 357 g/t Ag, with metallurgical recoveries of 55.2% and 92.3% respectively to produce 282 Oz Au, 205.2K Oz Ag, 898.2K Lb Pb, and 1.4M Lb Zn (376.3K Oz AgEq). At its Guanajuato Mining Complex in Guanajuato, the company processed 49,607 tonnes of 1.85 g/t Au and 125 g/t Ag, with metallurgical recoveries of 84.1% and 85.4% respectively, to produce 2,482 Oz Au and 169.7K Oz Ag (393.1K Oz AgEq).

ON FINANCING

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Inc., raised gross proceeds for CAD $734,150 and reported that it won´t be completing any additional tranches of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (Veta Grande, Zacatecas). Gross proceeds will be used for general working capital and corporate purposes (Veta Grande, Zacatecas).
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, advised that the underwriting agreement for the rights Issue announced on 9 March 2020 has been terminated, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, due to market conditions (Plomosas mine, Chihuahua).
  • Candelaria Mining Corp., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1,059,261 (Caballo Blanco project, Veracruz).
  • Aloro Mining Corp., announced its plan to raise of up to $400K. Part of the gross proceeds will be used for property payments (Los Venados project, Sonora).
  • Minera Alamos Inc., closed the royalty agreement with Osisko Gold Royalties and received CAD $5M. In combination with the CAD $6M equity placement completed by Osisko in January of this year, the company, has now received gross proceeds of CAD $11M and retains an option to further drawdown an optional royalty facility of up to CAD $3M.  Overall, the package provided access to CAD $14M which exceeded the Company’s current development plans for its Santana project in Sonora.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Prime Mining Corp., filed a NI 43-101 technical report on its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa, and provided a new mineral resource estimate as of April 2, 2020. At a cut-off grade of 0.7 g/t Au, the measured and indicated resources are 8,697,000 tonnes of 2.21 g/t Au to contain 618,123 Oz Au, and the inferred resources are 2,603,000 tonnes of 2.09 g/t Au to contain 175,232 Oz Au. Total resources (M+I+I) are 11.3M tonnes of 2.18 g/t Au to contain 793,355 g/t Au. At a cut-off grade of 0.22 g/t Au, measured + indicated resources are 19,752,000 tonnes of 1.31 g/t Au to contain 833,032 Oz Au, and inferred resources of 7,094,000 tonnes to contain 261,132 Oz Au. Total resources (M+I+I) are 26,846,000 tonnes of 1.27 g/t Au to contain 1.1M Oz Au.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., deferred its annual general meeting for shareholders until August 27, 2020 (Avino mine, Durango).
  • Sable Resources Inc., announced the resignation of one of its directors and reported that Rubén Padilla has joined to the board of directors. The company also announced that it has granted stock options to certain officers, directors, and consultants (Vinata project, Chihuahua).
  • Equinox Gold Corp., reported that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders on May 15, 2020 (Los Filos mine, Guerrero).
  • Orla Mining Ltd., announced the appointment of its new CFO (Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Fresnillo (Fresnillo plc), donated a state-of-the art ventilator to the General Hospital of IMSS at Fresnillo, Zacatecas to attend cases of COVID-19 that may arise. The Mindray SV600 mechanical ventilator is an essential medical device at this time, as it provides patients with more oxygen so they can breathe. Currently, Fresnillo plc has redoubled efforts to serve all of its workforce, implementing measures that reinforce the health actions recommended by the Secretaries of Health and Labor and Social Welfare, as well as international organizations.
  • Minera San Xavier (New Gold Inc.), announced the suspension of the mining activities at its Cerro de san Pedro mine in San Luis Potosi due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and donated protective medical supplies to the local hospital at Soledad town, such as tyvek type overalls, N95 respirators, masks with the level of filtration recommended, etc., with the aim that they are destined for the medical and nursing personnel who work and who will attend COVID-189 cases an its hospital.
  • Newmont Corporation, announced the establishment of a USD $20M fund to help host communities, governments and employees combat the COVID-19 pandemic. “Newmont will partner with local governments, medical institutions, charities and non-governmental organizations to target funds towards addressing the greatest needs with a view to serving as a catalyst for long-term resiliency and future community development” (Peñasquito mine, Zacatecas).
  • Minera Peñasquito, made a donation of 500 Pro Shield suits to medical personnel who are in the first line of care for patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The donation was delivered to the Zacatecas Health Secretariat (SSZ), an instance that will be in charge of administering and distributing this protective equipment to the hospitals where it is most needed. In this way, Peñasquito is in solidarity with Zacatecas.
  • Grupo Mexico, delivered a hospital in the city of Juchitán to the government of Oaxaca. The Hospital, with a constructed area of ​​6,800 square meters, will be equipped and used by the Ministry of National Defense to face the COVID-19 pandemic and meet the needs of the population of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region. Grupo México will continue to monitor the support required in the region in the context of the contingency and reiterates its support for Oaxaca and the Federal Government’s strategy in the face of this difficult challenge

 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, quartz-alunite in an epithermal vein system in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Mn-Silica breccia hosted in ignimbritic rhyolites

By Miguel A Heredia

During the ninth week of the year (February 24th to March 1st, 2020), at least 33 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with seven announcing financial rounds, seven commenting on Mexican issues, five informing on exploration results, five reporting on resources and developments, four communicating production and financial results, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, and one discussing issues on social responsibility.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Majors are called to receive the Mining Fund.  The Technical Committee of the Federal Mining Fund allocated resources for 16 projects in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango and Guerrero.  The Municipalities of Aquiles Serdán and Ocampo in the state of Chihuahua will receive MXP $18.6M from the Mining Fund. The President of Mexico, Andres Manuel López Obrador, was requested by workers of Minera Cosalá to end the illegal strike that affects that mine site. Oaxaca’s mining potential could be profiled as one of the most important in Mexico. The official spokesperson of Esperanza Silver de Mexico stated that the company will comply 100% with Mexican standards not only with the community of Tetlama, but throughout the Municipality of Temixco, Morelos. In recent years, Mexico has registered the suspension of dozens of mining projects, whose assets have been victims of price volatility, licensing obstacles, adverse political factors, and community opposition. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Colibri announced the commencement of its initial 5-holes diamond drilling program at its Evelyn project, and Silver Viper released drilling results from its El Rubi project. In Durango, Chesapeake provided an update on the exploration program at its Crisy and San Javier prospects located in the vicinity of its Metates project. In Jalisco, GoGold released drilling results from nine holes collared at its Los Ricos project. In the State of Mexico, Impact Silver reported sampling results from its Chapanial project. ON MINING, Telson provided an update on its mine operation at Campo Morado, Guerrero. Argonaut, Avino, and Golden Minerals reported Q4 and full year 2019 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Aztec announced the re-pricing of a package of stock options of the company (Cervantes project, Sonora).  GoGold closed a bought deal offering for gross proceeds of approximately CAD $25M (Los Ricos project, Jalisco). Santacruz closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $734,150 (Veta Grande, Zacatecas). Ridgestone closed the final tranche of its private placement financing for gross proceeds of $339,549.90 (Rebeico project, Sonora). Gold Resource declared its February 2020 monthly dividend to its shareholders (Arista mine, Oaxaca). Minera Alamos received approval from its shareholders for final phase of its Santana, Sonora project financing for CAD $5M. Riverside announced the spin-out of its Peñoles project in Durango.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, First Majestic released infill drilling results from it’s the Ermitaño project in Sonora. Prime Mining reported surface trenching, road cuts, and adits sampling results from its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Sonoro announced its plan to expand its drilling program at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. Fresnillo and its JV partner Mag Silver provided an update on its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Radius Gold and pan American Silver included Palmillas property within the Amalia JV project in Chihuahua. Oroco informed that its Board of Directors has approved the Altamura Copper Corp acquisition (Santo Tomas project, Sinaloa). Silver Spruce announced management changes and appointed its new President, CEO and Director (Pino de Plata project, Chihuahua). Fresnillo plc exercised its option to purchase Plata Latina´s Naranjillo property in Guanajuato. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Grupo Peñoles and UNAM conducted a Health Day in Zacatecas.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Majors of 23 of the 38 Municipalities of Coahuila state are called to receive the Mining Fund. An urgent request was made to 23 Majors of Municipalities benefited with resources from the Mining Fund in order to make this benefit effective. To achieve this objective, the projects in which the resources will be applied must be presented.
  • The Director of the Mining Fund of the Secretariat of Economy, María del Socorro Gómez Leyja, indicated that the Technical Committee of the Federal Mining Fund allocated resources for 16 projects in the states of Chihuahua (MXP $ 18.6M), Coahuila (MXP $ 3.1M), Durango (MXP $ 7.6M) and Guerrero (MXP $ 4.6M).
  • MXP $18.6M from the Mining Fund was allocated to Chihuahua. The Municipalities of Aquiles Serdán and Ocampo in the state of Chihuahua, will have resources from the Mining Fund that will be used for paving, dome, well and water network, thanks to the approval by the Technical Committee of the Mining Fund.
  • The President of Mexico, Andres Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) was requested by workers of Minera Cosalá to end the illegal strike that affects that mine site. The same workers, said to AMLO that the leader of its Union affiliated with the CTM, negotiated the collective work contract with the company Minera Cosalá SA de CV, and determined that the operation was normal and there were no irregularities on the part of the company. However, workers close to the senator of the Morena party and mining leader Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, asked the company for salaries higher than normal. They mentioned that the mine has been working since 2003 and they have a safe job for at least six more years, in excellent working conditions and that their only desire is to work, regardless of which Union won the collective agreement.
  • Oaxaca´s mining potential, according to specialists, government and private capital, could be profiled as one of the most important in Mexico, to generating jobs and strengthening the regional economy of indigenous communities. Currently the state has not been explored outside the mining districts and known mineralized areas, but contains promising areas for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, Sb, and non-metallic minerals such as micas, zeolites, marble, travertine, and granite among others. Data from some civil organizations indicate that Oaxaca’s mining production represents 0.72% of the total national value, with Ag first, second Au and third Pb.
  • Ricardo Sierra Oteiza, official spokesperson of the Esperanza project in Morelos State, said that through the new model of social end environmentally responsible mining, the company Esperanza Silver de Mexico will comply 100% with Mexican standards not only with the community of Tetlama, but throughout the Municipality of Temixco, Morelos. In addition, he stressed that there will be an investment of over USD $400M in the 10 years that the company plans to carry out work in the state.
  • In recent years, Mexico has registered the suspension of dozens of mining projects, whose assets have been victims of price volatility, licensing obstacles, adverse political factors, and community opposition. BNamericas accounts for 59 Mexican projects suspended in its database, compared to 95 active projects. Of the 11 suspended projects for which financial information is available, combined capital expenditure totals USD $ 2.4B.This compares to 42 active projects whose combined capital expenditure amounts to USD $ 14.2B. The greater projections for Au and Ag, along with political changes at the state level, have improved the prospects for the resumption of some of the suspended projects. However, the depressed prices of Cu and Zn and not minor problems with obtaining permits and other legal aspects continue to put important obstacles on others. Some of the largest suspended projects are La Verde in Michoacan, Sierra Mojada in Coahuila, Angangueo in Michoacan, Ixtaca in Puebla, Ana Paula in Guerrero and Esperanza in Morelos. Other suspended projects are Monterde in Sonora, Caballo Blanco in Veracruz, San Antonio, Baja California Sur, and La Bolsa in Sonora.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Colibri Resource Corporation, announced the commencement of its maiden drill program at its Evelyn project in Sonora. The initial 5-diamond holes drilling program will be focused on two mineralized corridors named Cerro Rojo and El Sahuaro and is expected to be completed in three weeks.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., provided drilling results from its El Rubi project in Sonora. All holes encountered mineralized zones, with several significant interceptions in hole LV20-217 with 4.45 g/t Au and 401 g/t Ag (10.18 g/t AuEq or 713 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 4.56m, including 15.55 g/t Au and 1,436 g/t Ag (36.06 g/t AuEq or 2,524 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 1.14m; 1.79 g/t Au and 91 g/t Ag (3.1 g/t AuEq or 217 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 7.41m, including 7.49 g/t Au and 586 g/t Ag (15.86 g/t AuEq or 1,110 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 0.57m; and 2.05 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag (2.70 g/t AuEq or 189 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 6.27m, including 8.44 g/t Au and 201 g/t Ag (11.3 g/t AuEq or 791 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 1.14m. Hole LV20-218 also intersected several mineralized zones with 5.82 g/t Au and 530 g/t Ag (13.39 g/t AuEq or 937 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 1.89m, including 14.4 g/t Au and 1,253 g/t Ag (32.3 g/t AuEq or 2,261 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 0.63m; 9.15 g/t Au and 569 g/t Ag (17.28 g/t AuEq or 1,210 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 5.04m, including 22.63 g/t Au and 1,431 g/t Ag (43.08 g/t AuEq or 3,015 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 1.89m. The El Rubi mineralized structure has now been intercepted on seven sections for a total 300m of strike extent.
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., provided an update on the exploration program at its Crisy and San Javier prospects, located 15Km south and 12 km southeast respectively from its Metates project in Durango. These both projects cover several zones of Au-Ag mineralization along regional, deep-seated northwest-trending fault zones, associated with intermediate intrusive rocks that have altered the enclosing sedimentary rocks over an area more than 15 km in diameter. At Crisy, Chesapeake competed 4 trenches totaling 350m in length and returned 1.1 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag over 57m; 1 g/t Au and 10 g7t Ag over 11m; 1.1 g/t Au and 33 g/t Ag over 12m; and 2.2  g/t Au and 29 g/t Ag over 7m. In addition, an initial 15km IP survey is underway over the trenched area at Crisy and preliminary results correlate well with the Au-Ag mineralization and suggest that the outcropping quartz bx zone extend to over 200m depth. It also indicates that the anomaly is continues along strike and remains open. The IP survey also defined a large NW-SE trending high chargeability anomaly about 200m to the SW of the bulldozer trenching. The IP survey indicates a more than 500m long by 500m wide on which limited sampling has returned 1.2 g/t Au over 4m wide, and 1 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag over 5m wide. Four Km to the NW of the area of bulldozer trenching, multiple quartz structures within a corridor over 800m long by 200ms wide and with 150m of vertical extent were identified returning 1 g/t Au over 9m wide; 0.8 g/t Au over 12m; and 3.1 g/t Au and 10 g(/t Ag over 1.3m wide. Regional exploration has now identified several distinct target areas hosting quartz veins, bx and local stockwork along the 7 kilometer long hydrothermal system at Crisy. At San Javier, the company identified a 1.2km long, high-grade Au-Ag quartz vein structures over 300m in elevation. Channel sampling on these structures  returned encouraging results as 9.6 g/t Au and 143 g/t Ag over 2.8m; 3.3 g/t Au and 391 g/t Ag over 1m; 2.3 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag over 1.4m; and 2.1 g/t Au and 113 g/t Ag over 1m. Trenching and IP survey is being carried out on San Javier to test the potential for disseminated Au hosted in highly altered intrusive rocks.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented drill results from nine holes collared at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Significant drill intersections were encountered in hole LRGG-20-100 with 1.51 g/t Au and 204 g/t Ag (4.23 g/t AuEq or 317 g/t AgEq) over 17.3m, including 6.56 g/t AuEq or 492 g/t AgEq over 6.9m; hole LRGG-20-98 with 1.78 g/t Au and 319 g/t Ag (452 g/t AgEq) over 7.5m; and hole LRGG-20-93 with 1.27 g/t Au and 113 g/t Ag (2.78 g/t AuEq or 208 g/t AgEq) over 19m. GoGold is undertaking two drilling and exploration projects at its Los Ricos property: the South Project began in March 2019 and includes the ‘Main’ area, which is focused on drilling around a number of historical mines including El Abra, El Troce, San Juan, and Rascadero. The South Project also includes the Cerro Colorado and Las Lamas targets. The North Project was launched this month and includes the Monte del Favor, Salomon, La Trini, and Mololoa targets.
  • Impact Silver Corp., reported channel sampling results from its Chapanial project, located 1.7Km to the north along the projection of the La Faly vein system. Significant sampling results include 97.5 g/t Au, 98 g/t Ag, 0.25% Pb, and 0.10% Zn over a true wide (TW) of 0.8m; 18.25 g/t Au, 75 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 0.08% Zn over a TW of 0.20m; 8.98 g/t Au, 105 g/t Ag, 5.4% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over a TW of 0.3m, and 8.53 g/t Au, 498 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.04% Zn over a TW of 0.4m. The vein at El Chapanial area is hosted in interbedded shales and volcanics and is associated with a major fault structure which hosts a sulphide bearing polymictic breccia up to 8m in width.

ON MINING

  • Telson Resources Corporation, provided an update on its mine operation at Campo Morado in Guerrero, which was brought back into production last January 26, 2020. Since the re-start through to February 22, 2020, the company has milled 40,839 tonnes to produce approximately 3,151 tonnes of Zn concentrate with grades of 46.3% Zn, 498 g/t Ag, and 0.90g/t Au, and 636 tonnes of Pb concentrate with grades of 21.7% Pb, 4.55% Cu, 636 g/t Ag, and 3.66 g/t Au. Average recoveries achieved are 71.7% Zn, 32.2% Pb, 45.4% Ag, and 13.1% Au.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc., reported Q4 and full year 2019 production and financial results from its Mexican operations. It also provided 2020 production and cost guidance. At its El Castillo mine in Durango, Argonaut mined in Q4 2019, 1,890,000 tonnes of 0.52 g/t Au to produce 13.6K Oz Au and 21K Oz Ag (13.9K Oz GEOs), at a cash cost of USD $1,264 per Oz Au sold. For the full year, it mined 8,914,000 tonnes of 0.41 g/t Au to produce 65.1K Oz Au and 102.3K Oz Ag (66.5K GEOs), at a cash cost of USD $1,030 per Oz Au sold. For the Q4, 2019, the company mined 2,460,000 tonnes of 0.35 g/t Au at its San Agustin mine in Durango to produce 19.86K Oz Au and 85.45K Oz Ag (21K GEOs) at a cash cost of USD $829 per Oz Au sold. For the full year, it mined 8,453,000 tonnes of 0.38 g/t Au to produce 61.8K Oz Au and 219.5K  Oz Ag (64.77K GEOs), at a cash cost of USD $842 per Oz Au sold. At its La Colorada mine in Sonora, during the period Q4 2019, the company produced 1,115,000 of 0.49 g/t Au to produce 12.14K Oz Au and 35.86K Oz (12.62 GEOs) at a cash cost of USD $879 per Oz Au sold. For the full year 2019, it mined 4,676,000 tonnes of 0.51 g/t Au to produce 53.8K Oz Au and 159.7K Oz Ag (55.71 GEOs) at a cash cost of USD $884 per Oz Au sold. Argonaut also provide a 2020 production and cost guidance and plans to produce at El Castillo Complex between 115-120K GEOs at a cash cost of USD $900-1,000 per Oz Au sold, and between 60-65K GEOs at a cash cost of USD $900-1,000 per Oz Au sold. Argonaut plans to invest between USD $40-$50M (USD $12-16M at El Castillo Complex, USD $17-20 at La Colorada, and the rest between  Magino & Cerro del Gallo).
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., reported Q4 and full year 2019 production and financial results from its Avino mine in Durango. In Q4 2019, the company processed 107,310 tonnes from its Avino mine of 51 g/t Ag, 0.64 g/t Au, and 0.62% Cu, recovering 87%, 76%, and 89% respectively to produce 153.6K Oz Ag, 1,676 Oz Au, and 1.29M Lb Cu, for a total of 495.5K Oz AgEq. From its San Gonzalo mine, it processed 2,908 tonnes of 53 g/t Ag and 0.38 g/t Au, recovering 78% and 72% respectively, to produce 4,106 Oz Ag and 26 Oz Au for a total of 6,964 Oz AgEq. From its Historic Above Ground Stockpile, Avino processed 78,218 tonnes of 51 g/t Ag, 0.25 g/t Au, and 0.18% Cu, recovering 50%, 53%, and 31% respectively, to produce  63K Oz Ag, 330 Oz Au, and 96K Lb Cu for a total of 106.2K Oz AgEq. For the full year 2019, the company processed from its Avino mine, 427,147 tonnes of 44 g/t Ag, 0.45 g/t Au, and 0.46% Cu, recovering 85%, 73%, and 86% respectively, to produce  3K Oz Ag, 4,473 Oz Au, and 4.56M Lb Cu for a total of 1.66M Oz AgEq. From its San Gonzalo mine, it processed 56,179 tonnes of 118 g/t Ag and 0.46 g/t Au, recovering 69% and 66%, to produce 153.4K Oz Ag and 580 Oz Au for a total of 215.1K Oz AgEq. From its Historic Above Ground Stockpile, the company processed 306,334 tonnes of 55 g/t Ag, 0.36 g/t Au, and 0.18% Cu, recovering 54%, 53%, and 35% respectively, to produce 295.2K Oz Ag, 1,859 Oz Au, and 407K Lb Cu, for a total of 525.8K Oz AgEq.
  • Golden Minerals Company, reported full year 2019 results from its Mexican operations. It reported revenue of USD $7.7M and a net operating margin of USD $5.3M in 2019. Expenditures during 2019 totalized USD $11.4M and a cash and equivalents balance of USD $4.6M. Cash inflows during 2019 totaled USD $12.7M.

ON FINANCING

  • Aztec Minerals Corp., announced the re-pricing of 200K stock options of the company from $0.25 to $0.12 per common share, and a total of 1,950,000 stock options of the company from $0.35 to $0.105 per common share (Cervantes project, Sonora).
  • GoGold Resources Inc., closed a bought deal offering for gross proceeds of approximately CAD $25M. Net proceeds will be used to fund additional exploration on its Los Ricos project, Jalisco, and particularly at the Monte del Favor target, and for corporate development, and general corporate purposes.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., closed the first tranche of a non-brokered CAD $3M private placement to raise gross proceeds of CAD $734,150. Net proceeds will be used for general working capital and for corporate purposes (Veta Grande project, Zacatecas).
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc., closed the final tranche of a private placement financing for gross proceeds of $339,549.90. Net proceeds will be used for ongoing working capital requirements relating to its Rebeico project in Sonora. In total, the company raised gross proceeds of $1,051,801.95in the financing. Ridgestone also announced that it has entered into shares for debt settlement for the aggregate amount of $105K due to Leede for consulting services fees accrued pursuant to a consulting agreement between Ridgestone and Leede dated Nov 1, 2019.
  • Gold Resource Corporation, declared its February 2020 monthly dividend of one third of a cent per common share to its shareholders (Arista mine, Oaxaca).
  • Minera Alamos Inc., received approval from its shareholders for final phase of its Santana, Sonora project financing for CAD $5M. It is working on completing final documentation for execution no later than the end of Q1 2020.
  • Riverside Resources Inc., announced that its board of directors approved a spin-out of its Peñoles project in Durango to its shareholders by way of a share capital reorganization effected through a stationary plan of arrangement. Peñoles property is wholly owned by its subsidiary Capitan Mining Inc. Under the arrangement, Riverside will distribute the common shares of Capitan to Riverside´s shareholders.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • First Majestic Silver Corp., released infill drilling results from it’s the Ermitaño project, located 4km away from the company´s producing Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Drilling highlights include the following drill intersections: hole EW-19-67 with 12.84 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag (1,106 g/t AgEq) over 10.8m; hole EW-19-74 with 9.46 g/t Au and 383 g/t Ag (1,164 g/t AgEq) over 6.4m; hole EW-19-85 with 31.63 g/t Au and 459 g/t Ag (3,068 g/t AgEq) over 2.4m; hole EW-19-91 with 11.61 g/t Au and 45 g/t Ag (1,003 g/t AgEq) over 13m; hole EW-19-103 with 16.37 g/t Au and 111 g/t Ag (1,462 g/t AgEq) over 7.7m; hole EW-19-111 with 17.98 g/t Au and 79 g/t Ag (1,562 g/t AgEq) over 4.5m; and hole EW-19-113 with 14.22 g/t Au and 130 g/t Ag (1,302 g/t AgEq) over 9.1m. Next month, the company expects to present an updated resource estimate for it’s the Ermitaño project. First Majestic is planning to drill 15,000m in 50 drill holes for resource expansion. It is also working on several engineering studies for detailed mine design and initial production. It expects to complete 3,800m of underground development in 2020, to reach the mineralized area and prepare five production levels.
  • Prime Mining Corporation, presented surface trenching, road cuts and adits sampling results from the El Zapote South and El Zapote North target areas within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Significant sampling results are 6.75 g/t Au and 58 g/t Ag over 39m, including 9.88 g/t Au and 62 g/t Ag over 18m; 7.76 g/t Au and 80 g/t Ag over 12m, including 48.3 g/t Au and 117 g/t Ag over 1.5m; 6.21 g/t Au and 697 g/t Ag over 7.5m, including 14.4 g/t Au and 1,875 g/t Ag over 1.5m. This sampling is part of the initial phase of exploration designed to better map the surface expression of the mineralized structures and integrate the results into a new resource model, currently underway.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., announced the plan to complete the assessment of 17 zones of Au mineralization identified at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora, with the purpose of increase the current 201K Oz AuEq resource. The compnay plans to carry out a combined RC and core drill program in several phases for up to 50,000m. Phase III of this program will commence in March and will consists of 10,000m of drilling. In Phase I and II, a total of 10,328m were drilled in 96 holes.
  • Fresnillo plc and its JV partner Mag Silver, provided an update on its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas. Mine construction at Juanicipio project is well underway, detailed engineering is nearing completion, and all major process equipment has been purchased and received on site. Over 25Km of underground development has been completed to date. Pre-operative CAPEX has increased by 11.4% from USD $395M to USD $440M. Production is expected to start in mid-2020 with initial production stopes to be processed at the Fresnillo beneficiation plant from June 2020 pending completion of the Juanicipio plant. Total average annual anticipated production has been estimated in 11.7M Oz Ag, 43.5K Oz Au, with an initial life of mine (based on Indicated Resources only) of 12 years. Additional years of production expected to be supported by the current Inferred Resources, which are being converted into the Indicated category. Further exploration opportunities exist in the JV license area with potential to scale-up operations in the future.  Commissioning of the flotation plant will be underway mid-2021. Exploration is ongoing on the property with the intention to increase the deeper resources and targeting new veins.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Radius Gold Inc., declared that Pan American Silver Corp., has elected to exercise a right to include the 800 Has Palmillas property to its Amalia JV project in Chihuahua. Palmillas contains multiple exploration targets, including high grade Au-Ag mineralization, 1.8km away and along strike on the San Pedro Zone.
  • Oroco Resource Corp., informed that its Board of Directors approved the acquisition of 100% interest of Altamura Copper Corp. Closing of the acquisition is expected to occur on March 02, 2020. Oroco has to issue 39.8M shares of the company to Altamura shareholders. Oroco also confirmed the appointment of its new President effective on March 01, 2020.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., announced management changes and appointed its new President, CEO, and Director, effective March 01, 2020 (Pino de Plata project, Chihuahua).
  • Fresnillo plc, exercised its option to purchase Plata Latina´s Naranjillo property in Guanajuato. The Naranjillo Project is a grassroots epithermal Ag-Au discovery made by the Company in 2012 and is located in the Mexican Silver Belt, approximately 35 km southeast of the Guanajuato mining district. The transaction and transfer of the property was closed on February 24, 2020.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Madero (Grupo Peñoles) and National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), conducted a Health day in Zacatecas. At least one thousand people will benefit from the Fourth Health Day, opened this week by Grupo Peñoles and the UNAM. Minera Madero, as a host company, made its facilities available to serve the residents of the communities of Francisco I. Madero, Noria de Gringos, El Maguey, Rancho Nuevo, San Antonio de los Negros, Cieneguillas, Morelos and the Ejido Morelos in specialties such as dentistry, optometry and psychology.

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 Mn-silica Bx in an epithermal system prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

 

Fault-bx with Mn oxides

By Miguel A Heredia

During the thirty-seven week of the year (September 09th to September 15th, 2019), at least 31 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with ten informing on exploration results, ten reporting on resources and development of their projects, four announcing financial rounds, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, and one commenting on Mexican issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Karen Flores was appointed as general director of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX).  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aloro released drilling results from its Los Venados project, Riverside identified three targets from mapping and sampling its recently acquired Los Cuarenta project, Tamino announced its exploration expenditure guidance for 2019-2020, and Oceanus announced the commencement of the 2019 exploration program at its El Tigre project. In Chihuahua, Radius and Pan American Silver announced the commencement of the phase 3 drilling work at its Amalia project. In Durango, Gainey awarded drilling contract for its Las Margaritas project.  In Jalisco, GoGold reported drill results from its Los Ricos project, and Silver Spruce announced high grade Au assay values from surface rock sampling conducted at its Cocula project. In Veracruz, Mexican Gold discovered a new resistivity anomaly at Cinco Señores area within its Las Minas project. ON MINING, US Antimony reported estimated sales for August 2019. Consolidated Zinc announced August 2019 production from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua.  ON FINANCING, Consolidated Zinc announced a plan to rise $3.5M via private placement and pro-rata non-renounceable rights offer (Plomosas mine, Chihuahua). Fortune announced a USD $40M bough deal financing (San Jose mine, Oaxaca), and granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional USD $6M aggregate. Silver Viper increased its private placement to $4M (La Virginia project, Sonora). Defiance announced that it has applied for approval to extend by one year the expiry date of 5.75M of outstanding warrants (San Acacio project, Zacatecas).   ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Almaden provided an update of the progress achieved to build its Ixtaca mine in Puebla. Discovery Metals announced mobilization for a 35,000m drilling program at its recently acquired Cordero project in Chihuahua. Azure reported that Au-Ag exploration is underway on its Alacran project in Sonora. Impact released drilling results and expands at depth the San Ramon mine in its Zacualpan mining district in Mexico state.  Leagold announced drilling results from its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. Orla awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas. US Antimony reported progress on its Los Juarez Au-Ag project in Queretaro.  Oroco filed a geological technical report regarding its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Sonoro reported that a program of 3D modelling, mapping and sampling is underway at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Almaden appointed its new VP Project Development to oversee detailed engineering and construction of its Ixtaca project in Puebla. Golden Goliath granted stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants (San Timoteo project, Chihuahua). Golden Minerals announced termination of sale agreement with Autlan regarding the sale of certain of its Mexican properties. Millrock completed the sale of certain of their Mexican mining concessions to Riverside. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

 ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Karen Flores, was appointed as general director of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX). It will be the first time since its foundation in 1906 that CAMIMEX will be run by a woman.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aloro Mining Corp., released drilling results from the last four holes collared in the southeastern area of its Los Venados project in Sonora for a total of approximately 1,347m drilled. The drilling intersected a felsic dome with 3-10 weight percent pyrite content in pervasive altered volcanic flow units and intrusive dome rock unit up to 200 meters thick. Assay results were discouraging showing very low grade Au, between 0.1-0.2 g/t Au, in scattered intercepts from 1.5-7.6m wide throughout the broad zone of pyritized felsic dome. No more work is planned in this area of the concession.
  • Riverside Resources Inc., completed the acquisition of Los Cuarenta project in Sonora from Millrock, where it has identified three targets. The Santa Rosalia target is the highest priority of the 3 targets and is defined by past open cut and underground vein mining where recent sampling has shown a strike length of more than 500 m and open to the east and west.
  • Tamino Minerals Inc., announced its business development plan and exploration expenditure guidance for the period 2019-2020. The plan is to identify and acquire high-quality, advanced-stage exploration projects and discover early-stages opportunities that can be strategically tested and quickly progressed to key decision point. Exploration expenditure guidance are planned to be $5M in 2019-2010, with $2M in the Amalia project, $1.2M in the El Volcan project, and $1.8M in other small exploration projects and acquisitions.
  • Oceanus Resources Corporation, announced the commencement of the 2019 exploration program at its El Tigre project in Sonora. The Company has recently mobilized the exploration team back to the property to continue prospecting and mapping, as well as, sampling in the area of the Caleigh vein. The objective of this program is to establish drill targets.
  • Radius Gold Inc., and Pan American Silver Corp., announced the commencement of the phase 3 drilling program at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Pan American Silver intends to complete further geological mapping, re-logging of previous drill core, and drilling an additional 2,500 m as part of the phase 3 program.
  • Gainey Capital Corp., announced that it has finalized the reparation and construction of approximately 39Km of road and a water reservoir system to support its planned drilling program at its Las Margaritas project in Durango. The company received the approval from SEMARNAT to drill up to 32 targets. Gainey has already awarded the drilling contract and will commence soon a first phase of drilling comprising 2,190m to test 16 drill targets.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., released drill results from four new holes drilled at the Main Zone, and underground channel sampling results from its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Significant intersections were encountered in hole LRGG-19-034 with 0.92 g/t Au and 177 g/t Ag (3.28 g/t AuEq) over 20.1m, including 3.41 g/t Au and 621 g/t Ag (11.68 g/t AuEq) over 4.9m; and in hole LRGG-19-035 with 1.29 g/t Au and 127 g/t Ag (2.99 g/t AuEq) over 24.4m, including 3 g/t Au and 258 g/t Ag (6.44 g/t AuEq) over 9.8m. In addition, GoGold rehabbed the historic El Troce old working where a mapping and channel sampling program was conducted. Encouraging results were obtained with grades varying from 0.98-6.8 g/t Au, and 44-492 g/t Ag over 2-3 m wide. Given the results, the company has decided to move a drill to test the targets at El Troce area.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., reported high grade Au assay values from surface rock sampling conducted at its Cocula project in Jalisco. Nine out of twenty six rock chip samples recently taken from surface outcrop returned Au assay values of 0.88 g/t Au up to 12.55 g/t Au, Ag values of 13 g/t Ag up to 53 g/t Ag, and Pb values of 0.2% Pb up to 7.4% Pb. These recent sample assays continue to confirm the presence of widespread Au mineralization at surface, along with Ag and Pb values. The company also announced that it filed the first ever 43-101 technical report for its advanced Au Cocula project. Silver Spruce will continue its due diligence activities designed to support a definitive purchase decision of the property.
  • Mexican Gold Corp., discovered a new resistivity anomaly at the Cinco Señores target area in its Las Minas project in Veracruz. This notable TEM resistivity anomaly, similar in size to the El Dorado Au-Cu-Ag resource, extends more than 700m towards the Las Minillas target. The company plans to drill test this anomaly in the near future.

ON MINING

  • US Antimony Corporation, reported estimated sales for August 2019. It sold 146.6K Lb Sb and 1159 tons of zeolites. “The Company continues to take steps to reduce its costs of producing Sb products in response to the lower global sale prices.”
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, provided August 2019 production results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The company mined 2,794 tonnes of 14% Zn, 8% Pb, and 42 g/t Ag, and processed 2,913 tonnes of 13.5% Zn, 8% Pb, and 39 g/t Ag.

ON FINANCING

  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, announced a plan to rise A$3.5M to fund the Plomosas mine operations in Chihuahua, to process the pending sale of Zn-Pb concentrate currently stockpiled, and for working capital. A$2.48M will be rised through pro-rata non-renounceable rights offer, and A$1M through a private placement.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., entered into an agreement to rise USD $40M via a bought deal financing. The company also granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to and additional USD $6M aggregate (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., increased its private placement from $3M to $4M. The net proceeds will be used to continue exploration and development of its La Virginia project in Sonora.
  • Defiance Silver Corp., announced that it has applied for TSX Venture Exchange approval to extend by one year the expiry date of an aggregate of 5.75M of outstanding warrants exercisable at $0.45 per share (San Acacio project, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  •  Almaden Minerals Ltd., provided an update to their shareholders of the progress achieved to build its precious metal Ixtaca mine in Puebla. The company reported that the waste rock and flotation tailings have low potential for metal leaching. It also reported that the mine plan considers a dry stack filtering tailings facility, and co disposal with waste rock with no tailings dam, eliminating the risk of a tailings dam failure. Almaden has received letters from INAH clearing the area for development, from PROFEPA confirming it has conducted exploration work in accordance with the environmental code, and from the authority responsible for indigenous affairs confirming that no indigenous communities are located in the mine impact area. Local community members have publicly expressed their support of the project. One key aspect to develop the Ixtaca mine was the strong support granted for over 800 people from the local community. They signed a declaration of support for the project and delivered to the environmental authorities, and a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with local water users. The Municipality has included mining as one of its accepted investment and development activities. Based on the FS, an initial investment of USD $174M is required to generate an after-tax internal rate of return of 42% and NVP of USD $310M, using a discount rate of 5% and precious metals prices of USD $1,275/Oz Au and USD $17/Oz Ag. The project would employ over 400 people during an 11-year mine life and would also provide updated infrastructure to a highly marginalized region.
  • Discovery Metals Corp., announced mobilization to conduct a 30,000 – 35,000 m drilling program at its recently acquired Cordero project in Chihuahua. The company plans to commence it in about five weeks from now and expect to be completed in twelve months, with the focus of delineating and discovering the highest-grade phases and domains of the mineralized system, and testing new high priority targets. The company has estimated 20,000-25,000m of drilling at the Cordero deposit and 10,000m on six regional areas that require follow-up work and drill testing.
  • Azure Minerals Limited, reported that Au-Ag exploration is underway around Mesa de Plata and Loma Bonita deposits on its Alacran project in Sonora. The Mesa de Plata deposit (10.5M tonnes of 82 g/t Ag for 27.4M Oz Ag, including 1.8M tonne of 275 g/t Ag for 15.5M Oz Ag) remains open to the west but is constrained in this direction by the concession boundary. To the north and east the mineralization has been truncated by erosion, however the mineralized zone remains open to the south.  Potential for repetitions of Mesa de Plata exist further to the north, where outcropping vuggy silica forms similar-looking silicified ridges. Further exploration is planned for this area. At the Mesa Bonita deposit (5.4M tonnes of 0.9 g/t Au and 28 g(/t Ag for 150K Oz Au and 4.8M Oz Ag), the mineralized zone is constrained to the west by erosion into a valley but remains open to the north, south, east and at depth down-dip. Being open in several directions, there is good potential that further drilling will significantly increase the size of the resource.
  • Impact Silver Corp., presented drilling results from its Zacualpan project in Mexico state and extended the mineralization 50m to depth at the San Ramon mine. Significant drill intersections were encountered in hole MPZ-284-19 with 321 g/t Ag, 0.38 g/t Au, 0.19% Pb and 0.60% Zn over 2.62m true width, hole MPZ-285-19 with 1,393 g/t Ag, 2.15 g/t Au, 2.4% Pb, and 6.4% Zn over 1.58m true width and 305 g/t Ag, 0.97 g/t Au, 0.7% Pb, and 1.7% Zn over 1.38m true width, hole MPZ-287-19 with 418 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 2.14m true width, and hole MPZ-288-19 with 214 g/t Ag, 0.9 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 1.87m true width, and 317 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 1.22m true width. Known mineralization over the total San Ramon workings has a down dip length of over 500m. Further drilling is planned to further test the extent of this prolific zone.
  • Leagold Mining Corporation, announced drilling results from its Los Filos underground and the Guadalupe open pit mines in Guerrero. Highlights from the Los Filos underground mine include 8.86 g/t Au over 45m and 6.59 g/t Au over 15.46m. Highlights from the Guadalupe open pit include 1.4 g/t Au over 32.73m, including 7.71 g/t Au over 2.67m, and 6.2 g/t Au over 10.61m, including 10.55 g/t Au over 5.2m. The drill program at Los Filos will contribute to the reserve base and extend the mine life. At Guadalupe, the drilling program is testing for extensions of the mineralization at depth and also confirming the limited nature of old underground workings prior to open pit mining in this area.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas. Orla expects to begin the detailed engineering work by mid-September to build a mine that begins to produce Au in mid-2021. Au production is expected to average 97K Oz Au per year at an estimated AISC of USD $576 per Oz Au. Orla submitted permits applications to SEMARNAT for the MIA and change of land use at the end of August. The legislated timelines for the review of properly prepared MIA and change of land use applications and mine operating permits for a project that does not affect federally protected biospheres or ecological reserves are 120 working days and 105 working days, respectively, which can be completed concurrently.
  • US Antimony Corporation, announced progress on its Au-Ag Los Juarez project in Queretaro. It completed the installation of the ponder liner in the 2 hectares tailings pond and the deepening of the water well to 222m to provide more than 240 gallons per minute. “The pond and the well will be more than adequate to ramp production from 100 tons per day to 400 tons per day. Projects remaining include fencing the pond, completion of the laboratory for fire assaying precious metals, and atomic adsorption equipment for assaying Sb, Ag, and Au in the leach circuit. The mil fine ore bin has been filled with crushed ore from the mine. Initial testing could start within 30 to 60 days.
  • Oroco Resource Corp., filed a geological technical report regarding its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. “The report summarizes a data set now controlled by the company that comprises 90 historical drill holes totaling 21,075 m, and recommends a significant program of phased surface exploration, deep geophysical surveys, and diamond drilling that aims to verify and build upon a key new geological model and a substantial body of historical drilling, mineral resource estimates, and pre-feasibility studies. The Report provides the company with a current, technical foundation upon which to advance the Santo Tomás project by confirming the technical analysis of the mineralization on the property”.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., reported that a program of 3D modelling, mapping and sampling is underway at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. It also launched a phase 3 drilling program to test the Veta de Oro, La Espanola, Cuervos and Guadalupe/Cabeza Blanca zones, where previous scout holes reported intervals of high-grade vein Au mineralization. “The program is a continuation of the company’s strategy of systematically exploring Cerro Caliche as it concurrently advances its proposed heap leach pilot operation (HLPO). Drilling to date continues to outline shallow, bulk tonnage Au mineralized zones with grades similar to operating heap leach mines in the region”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., appointed its new VP Project Development to oversee detailed engineering and construction of its Ixtaca project in Puebla.
  • Golden Goliath Resources Ltd., granted 3M stock options to directors and officers, and 400K to employees and consultants. The incentive stock options are exercisable for a period of five years at a price of $0.10 (San Timoteo project, Chihuahua).
  • Golden Minerals Company, announced termination of sale agreement with Compañia Minera Autlan S.A.B. de C.V., regarding the sale of certain of its Mexican properties. The CEO of Golden informed that unfortunately they could not come to terms with Autlan and now they are in position to consider future options for the properties that were included in the Autlan agreement (Velardeña and Rodeo in Durango, and Santa Maria project in Chihuahua).
  • Millrock Resources Inc., completed the sale of five of their Mexican properties to Riverside Resources Inc. La Union, Los Cuarenta, El Pima, El Valle and Llano del Nogal, all located in Sonora state, were the mineral concessions sold to Riverside along with a copy of its exploration database and various exploration equipments and vehicles. Consideration paid to Millrock is $35K cash and 300K Riverside shares. Additionally, Riverside will grant a 0.5% NSR royalty on the El Pima and El Valle claims, and in the event that Riverside exercises the option on Santa Rosalia (Los Cuarenta project), it will grant a 0.5% NSR royalty on that claim to Millrock.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No relevant news

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

On the picture above, a fault-bx with Mn oxides in a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

U. S. ANTIMONY ANNOUNCES CONTINUED PROGRESS ON THE LOS JUAREZ GOLD AND SILVER PROJECT AND REDUCING COSTS OF ANTIMONY PRODUCTION

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US Antimony News Release 9 September 2019

September 9, 2019. Thompson Falls, Montana. United States Antimony Corporation (“USAC”, NYSE American “UAMY”) announced progress on the gold, silver, and antimony Los Juarez project. Major milestones towards production that have been completed in the last month include the installation of the HDPE  pond liner in the 5 acre tailings pond, and the deepening of the water well to 222 meters to provide more than 240 gallons of water per minute. The pond and the well will be more than adequate to ramp production from 100 tons per day to 400 tons per day. Projects remaining include fencing the pond, completion of the laboratory for fire assaying precious metals, and atomic adsorption equipment for assaying antimony silver and gold in the leach circuit. The mill fine ore bin has been filled with crushed ore from the mine. Initial testing could start within 30 to 60 days.

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

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Cu mineralization

By Miguel A Heredia

During the twenty five week of the year (July 1st to July 7th, 2019), at least 13 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with four disclosing deals and corporate issues, three announcing financial rounds, two reporting on resources and development of their projects, two communicating production results, and two informing on exploration results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Sonoro Metals completed the phase 2 drill program at its Cerro Caliche project and released results for the last 15 holes. In Chihuahua, Kootenay commenced a drilling program at its Columba project. ON MINING, Leagold reported Q2 2019 production results (Los Filos mine, Guerrero). US Antimony released June 2019 production results from their Mexican operations and announced the start of production from its Los Juarez project in Queretaro. ON FINANCING, Aztec Minerals oversubscribed a non-brokered private placement to rise gross proceeds of CAD $468K (Cervantes project, Sonora). Mexican Gold announced a non-brokered private placement to rise gross proceeds of up to $4M (Las Minas project, Veracruz). Silver One announced a non-brokered private placement to rise gross proceeds of up to $2.5M (Peñasco Quemado project, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Fresnillo plc announced that the construction of its Piritas Plant continues and is expected to be operating in H2, 2020. Peñoles revealed its plan to put into operation its Capela polymetallic mine in Guerrero in Q3, 2019. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Kootenay and Azucar Minerals granted stock purchase options to certain officers, directors, employees, and consultants. Sonoro Metals reported results from its annual general meeting for shareholders (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora). Santacruz acquired 50% interest in Carrizal Mining (Veta Grande project, Zacatecas). Endeavour reported a fatal accident at its Bolañitos mine in Guanajuato.

 ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Sonoro Metals Corp., completed the phase 2 drill program at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. Results from the drilling program that have increased substantially the size of the Au mineralization of all the mineralized areas at the project. Sonoro has drilled a total of 10,328m in 96 holes. The combination of historic and current exploration drilling now totals 23,679 meters in 212 drill holes in addition to more than 6,000 surface samples. The company also released assay results from the final 15 holes. Significant drill intersections are in hole SCR-094 with 1.13 g/t Au and 1.8 g/t Ag over  67m, including  2.67 g/t Au and 2.2 g/t Ag over 3.05m; hole SCR-095 with 0.66 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag over 19.81m, including 4.47 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag over 1.52m; hole SCR-089 with 0.57 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag over 22.86m, including 1.82 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag over 3.05m; hole SCR-083 with 0.51 g/T Au and 17 g/t Ag over 22.86m, including 3.16 g/t Au and 36 g/t Ag over 1.52m; and hole SCR-84 with 0.51 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag over 15.24m, including 2.93 g/t Au and 34 g/t Ag over 1.53m. The company announced that it has commissioning an independent NI 43-101 technical report to estimate the resource potential of its Cerro Caliche project.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., announced the commencement of a minimum of 3,000m core drill program in 12 holes at its Columba high-grade epithermal vein system project in Chihuahua which has returned up to 693 g/t Ag on surface sampling. “The first 12 holes of the drill program will be designed to test the F vein where underground development work extended to 200 meter depth and the historic mining occurred”. Historic grades from the underground workings indicate grades ranging from 600 to 900 g/t Ag with highlights of 1,900 g/t Ag over 4 meters and 679 g/t Ag along 133 meters of vein strike and 1.3 meters of vein width.

ON MINING

  • Leagold Mining Corporation, reported production results from its mine operations in Mexico and Brazil. The company produced 91,285 Oz Au in Q2, 2019 bringing year to date 2019 (H1, 2019) 197,234 Oz Au. (Los Filos mine, Guerrero).
  • US Antimony Corporation, released production results from their Mexican operations. The company produced 121, 451 Lb Sb, 1,211 short tonnes of zeolites, 846 Oz Ag and 8.5Oz Au in June, 2019. US Antimony also announced the start of Au-Ag production at its Los Juarez project in Queretaro with the processing of 30K tonnes at its Puerto Blanco flotation mill in Guanajuato.

ON FINANCING

  • Aztec Minerals Corp., oversubscribed a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of CAD $468K. The gross proceeds will be used to fund exploration work at the Cervantes porphyry Au-Cu project in Sonora as well as its Tombstone CRD Ag-Pb-Au-Cu project in Arizona, USA.
  • Mexican Gold Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement to rise gross proceeds of up to $4M. Net proceeds will be used for exploration and advancement of its Las Minas project in Veracruz.
  • Silver One Resources Inc., announced a non-brokered private placement to rise gross proceeds of up to $2.5M.

 ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Fresnillo plc., announced that the construction of the phase II of its Piritas plant in Fresnillo mining district is in progress and is expected to be operating in H2, 2020 to process historical and continuous tailings. Fresnillo expects the Piritas plant to improve overall Au and Ag recoveries, thereby maximizing production in the Fresnillo district. It also projects that production total an average of 3.5M Oz Ag and 13K Oz Au per year once both phases operate at full capacity.
  • Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V., revealed its plan to put in operation its Capela (former Rey de Plata) polymetallic mine in Guerrero in Q3, 2019, with an investment of US$303M. Capela mining unit will have the capacity to mill and benefit 360,000 tonnes per year to produce an annual average of 4.7M Oz Ag, 89.6M Lb Zn, 19.3M Lb Pb, and 15.7M Lb Cu contained in Pb, Zn, and Cu concentrates.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Kootenay Silver Inc., granted stock purchase options to officers, directors, employees and consultants to purchase up to an aggregate of 8.45 M shares of Kootenay at a price of $0.14 per common share for a period of five years (Columba project, Chihuahua).
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd., granted stock options to certain directors, employees, and consultants to purchase and aggregate of 967,800 common shares at a price of $0.34 for a period of two years ( EL Cobre project, Veracruz).
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., reported results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora).
  • Santacruz Mining Ltd., acquired 50% interest in Carrizal Mining S.A. de C.V., by paying to the vendor US$0.5M, the forgiveness of approximately US$264K in debt owed by the Vendor to Carrizal; and other consideration in the aggregate amount of approximately US$680K, including the transfer of a life-insurance policy and three vehicles from Carrizal to the Vendor, valued at US$494K and US$180K respectively (Veta Grande project, Zacatecas).
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., announced a fatal accident at its Bolañitos mine in Guanajuato. A drill helper died while installing roof bolts in the Plateros section of the mine. Unfortunately, he was killed by falling rock when part of the roof collapsed.

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 in a VMS prospect in Oaxaca, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Chalcedonic quartz vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the twenty one week of the year (June 3rd to June 9th, 2019), at least 31 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with sixteen disclosing deals and corporate issues, five reporting on resources and development of their projects, five informing on exploration results, four announcing financial rounds, two communicating production results, and one discussing Mexican news.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, the Mining Undersecretary of the Secretary of Economy, Francisco Quiroga, said that mining companies from Canada, USA, Peru, Colombia and Australia showed their interest to invest up to USD$ 8M in Mexico mining projects.  ON EXPLORATION, In Baja California Norte, One World Lithium released drilling results from its Salar del Diablo project. In Sonora, Colibri reported assays results from sub-outcrops on its Evelyn project.  In Chihuahua, Monarca identified a skarn and potential CRD/porphyry deposit after running a geophysical survey at its San Jose project.  In Zacatecas, Galore announced it has commenced drilling of 2,500m core drilling program at its Dos Santos property to test the El Alamo target. In Jalisco, GoGold released drilling results from its Los Ricos project.  ON MINING, Mexus Gold announced that over 5,700 tonnes of high-grade ore will be broken on site and hauled to the crushing and leaching site at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. US Antimony produced 159,142 Lb Sb and 1,292 tonnes of zeolites during May 2019. ON FINANCING, VVC announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $2M (Samalayuca project, Chihuahua). Galore received a USD $100K loan from an officer of the company to fund its current 2,500m diamond core drilling program at its Dos Santos project in Zacatecas.  One World Lithium closed its third and final tranche of a previous announced non-brokered private placement for CAD $298,700 and announced a non-brokered private placement to raise up to CAD $2M (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California Norte).  Azure secured A$ 2M financing via a convertible note.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Azure announced that its board of directors has approved the commencement of trial mining and processing of high-grade mineralization from its Oposura project in Sonora. Sonoro Metals initiated metallurgical testing at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora.  Endeavour released underground drilling results from its Guanacevi mine in Durango. Oroco announced the reception of a draft technical report for its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. US Antimony reported expansion of its Madero, Coahuila smelter capacity, and reported that its Puerto Blanco leach plant in Guanajuato is in the testing phase for the production of Au and Ag from its Los Juarez mine in Queretaro.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Aura Resources, Almadex, and Azucar Minerals granted stock options to directors, officers and consultants.  Riverside appointed Alberto Orozco as its VP Corporate Development (La Cecilia project, Sonora). Monarca signed an option agreement to acquire 100% interest in the San Jose project in Chihuahua and appointed new director. Inomin signed a non-binding letter agreement to acquire 100% interest in the La Gitana project in Oaxaca from Gunpoint, and appointed new director and adviser. Candente announced management changes with the retirement of its chair and director and the appointment of new director (El Oro tailings project, State of Mexico). Goldgroup and VVC announced their annual general meeting of shareholders will be held on July 31, 2019 and August 19, 2019 respectively. SilverCrest reported results of its annual general meeting of shareholders and appointed a new director to the Board (Las Chispas project, Sonora). Kootenay reported that its partner Pan American Silver has relinquished its right to earn 75% interest in the Promontorio Mineral Belt in Sonora. Magna Gold closed its previous qualifying transaction on two mining concessions at its Mercedes property in Sonora. Sierra Metals repurchased a royalty on its Cusi mine in Chihuahua from Minera Cusi S.A. de C.V. in US$ 4M.

 ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mexican mining projects raised interest for up to USD$ 8M of investment by companies from Canada, USA, Peru, Colombia, and Australia. According to the head of mining in the country, before realizing the investments, it will be necessary to carry out the work of convincing the surrounding populations. He said: “The type of mining we want is to pay taxes, be socially responsible and achieve economic benefits so that it reaches society and the settlement is public.” He insisted that the presidential mandate is that mining concessions will not be canceled and that the commitments acquired in the past will be honored. Among the areas with the greatest potential are in the south-southeast of Mexico, specifically the states of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Morelos, among others, with products such as Ag, Au, and Cu. The Ministry of Economy reported that the mining-metallurgical sector in Mexico contributes 4% of the national Gross Domestic Product. While in the world our country is the largest producer of Ag; it is among the top 10 producers of 16 different minerals: silver, bismuth, fluorite, celestite, wollastonite, cadmium, molybdenum, lead, zinc, diatomite, salt, barite, graphite, gypsum, gold and copper.

ON EXPLORATION

  • One World Lithium Inc., released drilling results from its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California Norte. The company has completed the first three holes of a twelve drill program, and reported that two holes located 14km apart have intersected aquifers with water samples containing pH values indicative of brines. Drilling to date has demonstrated that there are multiple aquifers in the northern part of the Salar which indicates that the entire Salar could be very prospective.
  • Colibri Resource Corporation, reported additional grab samples results from abundant quartz with local iron-oxide staining in sub-outcrops found on areas not previously mapped or sampled at its Evelyn project in Sonora. Grab samples results include values of 4.81 g/t Au and 4.19 g/t Au. This new area is located approximately 1km north-northeast of the Main Zone which consists of a moderately to steeply dipping Au-bearing quartz vein which has been the subject of historical mining. Colibri is planning a property wide, high density, airborne magnetic survey to determine the structural framework and the setting of known Au mineralization.
  • Monarca Minerals Inc., identified a skarn and potential CRD/porphyry deposit in its San José project in Chihuahua, after conducting an IP-resistivity and magnetic survey which returned very strong IP/magnetic anomalies over 2.8km strike length resulting in numerous drill targets. Based on the geophysical results and previous encouraging chip sampling on the property, Monarca is planning to perform an 18-hole RC drilling program to test for potential precious and base metals at depth.
  • Galore Resources Inc., announced it has commenced drilling of 2,500m core drilling at its Dos Santos property in Zacatecas to test Au mineralization associated with iron-oxides jasperoid and karst breccias exposed along the east-west trending El Alamo target.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., reported encouraging drilling results from an additional five diamond drill holes at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Significant results were encountered in hole LRGG-19-011, drilled 75m down dip below the deepest intersection to date on the property, with 1.2 g/t Au and 140 g/t Ag (3.07 g/t AuEq) over 18.5m, including 2.16 g/t Au and 228 g/t Ag (5.19 g/t AuEq) over 8.4m; in hole LRGG-19-13 with 0.78 g/t Au and 195 g/t Ag (3.38 g/t AuEq) over 15.6m, including 1.3 g/t Au and 297 g/t Ag (5.25 g/t AuEq) over 8.8m; and in hole LRGG-19-14 with 1.1 g/t Au and 127 g/t Ag (2.79 g/t AuEq) over 14.2m, including 1.94 g/t Au and 209 g/t Ag (4.73 g/t AuEq) over 7.7m. These positive results confirm that the deposit is still open at depth.

ON MINING

  • Mexus Gold US, announced that over 5,700 tonnes of high-grade ore ranging from 5 to 10 g/t Au and 9 to 12 g/t Ag will be broken on site and hauled to the crushing and leaching site at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. “The leaching process has started and will continue on a permanent basis as fresh ore will be added to the heap leach pad. Moving forward, Mexus will increase the scale and capacity of the system to maximize returns” added the CEO of the company.
  • US Antimony Corporation, produced 159,142 Lb Sb and 1,292 tonnes of zeolites during May, 2019. It also reported that the inventories of Mexican antimony mine ore continue to grow.

ON FINANCING

  • VVC Exploration Corporation, announced a non-brokered private placement to raise up to CAD $2M. Gross proceeds will be used for exploration and development of its Samalayuca project in Chihuahua.
  • Galore Resources Inc., received a USD $100K loan from an officer of the company to fund its current 2,500m diamond core drilling at El Alamo target within its Dos Santos project in Zacatecas.
  • One World Lithium Inc., closed its third and final tranche of a previous announced non-brokered private placement for CAD $298,700. The aggregate gross proceeds of this offering under the first, second and final tranche totalled CAD $2,073,250. It also announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $2M. Net proceeds will be used at its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California Norte as follow: Salar del Diablo project drilling program CAD $500K; analysis and further testing of drill results CAD $400K; southern region pre-drilling program CAD$400K; and balance for working capital.
  • Azure Minerals Limited, secured A$ 2M financing via a convertible note by entering into a binding commitment with the company´s major shareholder Deutsche Balaton. “This funding will enable the Company to meet start-up costs and working capital requirements with operations to commence in the September quarter of 2019”.

 ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Azure Minerals Limited, announced that its board of directors has approved the commencement of trial mining and processing of high grade mineralization from its 100% owned Oposura property in Sonora. Initial mine production and processing will range between 1,500 to 3,000 tonnes per month of mineralized material grading approximately 15% combined Zn and Pb. The ore material will be processed on a toll treatment basis through a nearby sulphide flotation processing facility.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., initiated ore characterization and bottle roll and leach column test at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. The tests are expected to be completed in 8 weeks. If the results are positive, they will be incorporated in the sensitivity analysis in order to define the characteristics of the heap leaching pilot operation preliminary design, which would be then updated to a NI 43-101 level.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., released underground drilling results from seventeen holes drilled at its Guanacevi mine in Durango. Seven holes intersected high-grade over mineable widths to extend. Highlights include 0.93 g/t Au and 251 g/t Ag (325 g/t AgEq) over 3m true width in hole UG-61, and two intersections in parallel veins in hole UG-75 with 2.93 g/t Au and 2,175 g/t Ag (2,409 g/t AgEq) over 1m true width, and 0.78 g/t Au and 579 g/t Ag (642 g/t AgEq) over 3.9m. “Recent drilling has extended high grade Ag-Au mineralization to depth at all three of our original orebodies, which should help to increase resources at Guanacevi.”
  • Oroco Resources Corp., announced the reception of a draft technical report for its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. The technical report presents the key findings of historical technical reports, including a 1994 PFS study by Bateman Engineering (supported by metallurgical work by Mountain States R&D International, Inc., a resource estimate by Mintec, Inc., and mining and plant estimates by Minetek S.A. de C.V.).
  • US Antimony Corporation, reported expansion of its Madero, Coahuila smelter capacity, which the installation of long rotary furnace (LRF) number 3. The company has an additional 3 LRFs in inventory. Furnace recovery is in the 96%-98% range and the additional capacity is expected to handle production increases from the Company’s Wadley and Sierra Guadalupe Mines in San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas respectively. It also reported that its Puerto Blanco leach plant in Guanajuato is in the testing phase for the production of Au and Ag from its Los Juarez mine in Queretaro.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Aura Resources Inc., granted stock options to directors, officers and consultants of the company to purchase an aggregate 1.2M common shares at an exercise price of $0.05 per share which expire on June 4, 2019 (Taviche project, Oaxaca).
  • Almadex Minerals Ltd., granted stock options to certain directors and officers of the company to purchase an aggregate 628K common shares at an exercise price of $0.32 per share which expire on June 4, 2019 (Ixtaca project, Puebla).
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd., granted stock options to certain directors, officers and consultants of the company to purchase an aggregate of 573K common shares at an exercise price of $0.29 per share which expire on June 4, 2019 (El Cobre project, Veracruz).
  • Riverside Resources Inc., announced the appointment of Alberto Orozco as its VP Corporate Development (La Cecilia project, Sonora).
  • Monarca Minerals Inc., signed an option agreement to acquire 100% interest in the San Jose project in Chihuahua, where the company identified a skarn and potential CRD/porphyry copper deposit. To acquire the property, Monarca will pay USD $150K in staged cash payments as follow: USD $40K on the option signing date (already paid), USD $50K twelve months after signing of the option agreement, and USD $60K twenty four months after signing of the option agreement. The agreement includes a 2% NSR upon reaching commercial production and Monarca keeps a right to purchase 1% NSR by a single payment of USD $100K. The company also appointed a new director to its Board.
  • Inomin Mines Inc., signed a non-binding letter agreement to acquire 100% interest in the La Gitana property in Oaxaca from Gunpoint Exploration Ltd. La Gitana comprises a 494 hectares that hosts a low-sulphidation epithermal Au-Ag deposits in Tertiary-aged volcanic rocks. In order to acquire 100% of the property Inomin has to make staged payments for $300K and issue 2M of common shares of the company as follow: $10K (paid) on signing agreement; $25K and 150K shares following execution of definitive agreement; $50K and 250K shares on first anniversary; $65K and 450K shares on second anniversary; $75K and 500K shares on third anniversary; and $75K and 650K shares on fourth anniversary. Inomin will have the right to accelerate payments at the company´s discretion, and is also subject to a NSR the terms of which have yet to be finalized.  The company also announced the resignation of one of its directors and the appointment of its replacement. It also appointed an adviser of the company.
  • Candente Gold Corp., reported the retirement of its chair and director and the appointment of its new director (El Oro tailings project, State of Mexico).
  • Goldgroup Mining Inc., announced that its annual general meeting of shareholders will be held on July 31, 2019 (Cerro Prieto mine, Sonora)
  • VVC Exploration Corporation, announced that its annual general meeting of shareholders will be held on August 19, 2019 (Samalayuca project, Chihuahua).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., reported results of its annual general meeting of shareholders and appointed a new director to the Board (Las Chispas project, Sonora).
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., announced that its JV partner Pan American Silver Corp., has relinquished to its right to earn 75% interest on the Promontorio Mineral Belt in Sonora, which include the Promontorio Resource and La Negra high-grade Ag discovery. Kootenay will be conducting a review of the work performed by Pan American in order to plan the next steps for advancing these assets.
  • Magna Gold Corp., closed its previous qualifying transaction on two mining concessions at its Mercedes property in Sonora. In consideration of the grant of the option, Magna will: (i) pay to the Seller an aggregate of US$1.34M plus VAT of 16%, paid in installments commencing on the 6th month from the effective date of the agreement (the “Effective Date”) and ending on the 48th month from the Effective Date; (ii) issue to the seller a 3% NSR, capped at US$3.5M and subject to the right of the corporation to acquire all 3 percentage points of the NSR at a price of US$500Kper percentage point, within the first three years of commercial production of the Mercedes Property; and (iii) conditional on the completion of a going public transaction within six months of the Effective Date, issue 2,442,105common shares of the corporation to the seller.
  • Sierra Metals Inc., repurchased a royalty on its Cusi Mine from Minera Cusi S.A. de C.V. for US$ $M. The royalty agreement required the company to pay a 3% royalty on the net revenues generated by the mine, less transportation costs, for the life of the mine. The company has already paid US$2.5 million upon signing the repurchase contract on May 10, 2019 and is required to pay a further US$1.5 million on May 10, 2021. With this repurchase, Sierra Metals will no longer have any royalties on any of its properties or mines.

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, chalcedonic quartz vein in a low sulphidation epithermal system in a prospect in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

Impact extends closing of private placement

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impact extends closing of private placement

VANCOUVER, Dec. 20, 2018 /CNW/ – IMPACT Silver Corp. (“IMPACT” or the “Company”)announces that further to its press release dated November 6, 2018, the Company has obtained anextension from the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV”) of the deadline to complete the previouslyannounced non-brokered private placement of up to 5,555,555 units (each a “Unit”) at a price of$0.27 per Unit for gross proceeds of approximately $1.5 million (the “Private Placement”) to January18, 2019. Each Unit consists of one common share (a “Share”) and one warrant (a “Warrant”).

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

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Banded quartz texture

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 45th week of the year (November 5th to November 11th, 2018), at least 36 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with thirteen communicating mining activities, seven disclosing deals and corporate issues, seven informing on exploration results, six announcing financing issues, and 3 reporting on advances on their properties. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aloro commenced the road construction and building of drill pads on its Los Venados project, San Marco Resources announced the commencement of a drilling program at its Chunibas project, Sonoro reported drill results from its Cerro Caliche project, and Minaurum discovered two new vein zones at its Alamos Silver project. In Coahuila, Discovery Metals completed a 40 line-km ground magnetometer survey at its Monclova project.  ON MINING, Alio Gold, Americas Silver, Argonaut, Avino, Consolidated Zinc, First Majestic, Fortuna Silver, Hecla, Pan American Silver, Premier Gold, Santacruz Mining, and US Antimony reported production results from their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Auxico Gold closed a non-brokered private placement for $315K. GoGold closed the US$12M sale of the Santa Gertrudis royalty with Metalla Royalty and Streaming Ltd. Impact Silver announced a non-brokered private placement to raise up to $1.5M. Telson Mining received $5M from Trafigura Mexico for the second tranche of the loan agreement announced on December 18, 2017. Silver Spruce consolidated its common shares and proposed to complete a non-brokered private placement to raise up to $1.5M. Golden Minerals reported its Q3 2018 financial results. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Kootenay designed a drilling program aimed to expand resources at its la Cigarra deposit in Chihuahua. Hecla released in-fill drilling results for its San Sebastian mine in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Capstone Mining made reductions to its organizational structure (Cozamin mine, Zacatecas). Defiance Silver and ValOro Resources signed a definitive merger agreement (San Acacio project, Zacatecas). Golden Goliath announced that Desarrollos Mineros El Aguila (subsidiary of Fresnillo plc) exercised the option agreement on its Uruachic project in Chihuahua. New Gold (Cerro San Pedro mine, San Luis Potosi) and Prize Mining (Manto Negro project, Coahuila) appointed their Chief Financial Officer respectively. Golden Reign and Marlin Gold completed business combination to form Mako Mining Corp (La Trinidad mine, Sinaloa).

ON MEXICO ISSUES

No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aloro Mining Corp., commenced a 3.6km road construction and building of 12 permitted drill pads at its Los Venados project in Sonora. “The road construction will open up new exposures for sampling in mineralized areas and structure that were previously undercover”.
  • San Marco Resources, commenced a drilling program at its Chunibas project in Sonora where they have a JV agreement with Antofagasta plc. The drilling program will consists of initial 1,500m comprised in six holes with the goal of testing down dip and along strike high-grade Cu-Ag mineralized mantos hosted in volcanic rocks in different stratigraphic levels. The manto-type mineralization has been identified along a corridor of 1.7km long and at least 300m wide.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., reported results from the initial 13 drill holes from its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. Significant intersections are: Hole SCR-002 with 27.43m of 0.6 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag; Hole SCR-003 with 30.48m of 0.5 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag; Hole SCR-004 with 39.62m of 0.9 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag, including 6.09m of 2.9 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag; Hole SCR-005 with 10.67m of 0.7 g/t Au and 21 g/t Ag, and 10.67m of 0.6 g/t Au and 1 g/t Ag; Hole SCR-006 with 10.67m of 1.2 g/t Au and 21 g/t Ag, including 6.1m of 2 g/t Au and 26 g/t Ag; Hole SCR-007 with 22.86m of 0.9 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag, including 4.57m of 2.2 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag; and SCR-008 with 36.58m of 0.5 g/t Au and 4 g/t Ag. “The drilling has further confirmed that mineralization in the Los Japoneses zone remains open in all directions, including at depth.”
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., discovered two new vein zones at its Alamos Silver project in Sonora: the San Jose vein, a NNE trend structure hosted in a fault zone which can be traced for at least 3km long, and the Santa Rosa vein, a stringer-quartz veinlets structural zone that runs for at least 300m along strike. The discovery of the new veins was through its ongoing district-scale reconnaissance program. Sampling on the San Jose vein returned grades ranging from anomalous up to 1,995 g/t Ag, 2.5% Cu, and 1.9% Zn, while sampling on the Santa Rosa vein only retuned anomalous values.
  • Discovery Metals Corp., completed a 40 line-km ground magnetic survey at its Monclova project in Coahuila to cover three targets: Real Viejo with 23 lines spaced 50m apart, Corrales with 17 lines spaced 100m apart, and Soledad with 12 lines spaced 50m apart. “Results of the Real Viejo survey highlight a linear magnetic high parallel to the mapped mineralized and altered zone along the southern boundary of the Monclova intrusive complex centered on the Project. This suggests continuity of the alteration and/or mineralization along the contact and provides support for the holes planned to test this zone. Interestingly, similar magnetic high zones occur across the neighboring Corrales target. Both linear magnetic highs as well as linear lows are highlighted by the survey and represent prospective targets on the Project. Results at the northern Soledad grid also highlight similar geometries”.

ON MINING

  • Alio Gold Inc., reported Q3 production results from its San Francisco mine in Sonora. Alio produced 11.6K Oz Au and 3.9K Oz Ag at an AISC of $1,315 per Oz produced.
  • Americas Silver Corporation, produced 323K Oz Ag, 7.5M Lb Pb, and 7.9M Lb Zn during the Q3-2018 from its Cosala operations in Sinaloa and Galena Complex in Idaho.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc., announced Q3 2018 production results from their Mexican operations. At the El Castillo mine in Durango, Argonaut mined 2, 267,000 tonnes of 0.33 g/t Au, to produce 10.3K Oz Au and 4.8K Oz Ag (10.4K GEOs or Gold Eq Oz). At the San Agustin mine in Durango, the company mined 1, 747,000 tonnes of 0.34 g/t Au to produce 15.7K Oz Au and 52.9K Oz Ag (16.5K GEOs). At its La Colorada mine in Sonora, Argonaut mined 1.2M tonnes of 0.33 g/t Au to produce 7K Oz Au and 16.2K Oz Ag (7.3K GEOs).
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., milled 193, 645 tonnes during Q3 2018 to produce 2.2K Oz Au, 342K Oz Ag, and 992K Lb Cu (704.4K Oz Ag Eq) at an AISC of $11.15 per payable Oz Ag Eq.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, reported the October 2018 production from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The company milled 237 tonnes of 12.9% Zn and 3.3 % Pb to produce 68.3K Lb Zn and 17.6K Lb Pb.
  • First Majestic Silver Corporation, released Q3 2018 production results from their Mexican operations. The table below shows the quarterly operating and cost parameters at each of the mining operations:

  • Fortuna Silver Mines Ltd., milled 262, 710 tonnes during Q3 2018 at grades of 1.6 g/t Au and 258 g/t Ag to produce 12.4K Oz Au and 1.99M Oz Ag, with metallurgical recoveries of 91% for Au and Ag.
  • Hecla Mining Company, released Q3 production results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. During Q3 2018, Hecla produced 3.7K Oz Au and 522K Oz Ag.
  • Pan American Silver Corp, reported Q3 2018 production results from each of their mining operations. At La Colorada, Zacatecas the company produced 1.1K Oz Au and 2M Oz Ag. At its Dolores mine in Chihuahua, Pan American Silver produced 33.1K Oz Au and 1M Oz Ag.
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited, announced Q3 2018 production results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. The company processed 159,608 tonnes of 3.52 g/t Au and 39 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 96.6% and 43.7% respectively, to produce 17.5K Oz Au and 88.4K Oz Ag at an AISC of $1,059 per Oz produced.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining , released Q3 2018 production results from their Mexican mining operations.  At Veta Grande, Zacatecas, the company processed 42,011 tonnes with 0.26 g/t Au, 77 g/t Ag,  0.8% Pb and 1.94 % Zn to produce  140 Oz Au, 62.2K Oz Ag, 590.8K Lb Pb and 952.4K Lb Zn. At El Rosario, San Luis Potosi, Santacruz processed 15,965 tonnes of 0.26 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb and 1.6% Zn to produce 85 Oz Au, 18.4K Oz Ag, 72.7K Lb Pb, and 467.4 Lb Zn.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., processed 1,246,000 tonnes with 2.6 g/t Au during Q3 2018 from its El Limon-Guajes Mine Complex in Guerrero. The quarterly production was 100.4K Oz Au with a metallurgical recovery of 89%.
  • US Antimony Corporation, released its September and October 2018 production results. In September, US Antimony produced 141.2 K Lb Sb and 1,394 tonnes of zeolites, while in October produced 123.5 Lb Sb and 1,065 tonnes of zeolites.

ON FINANCING

  • Auxico Resources Canada Inc., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $315K (Zamora project, Sinaloa).
  • GoGold Resources Inc., closed the US$12M sale of its Santa Gertrudis royalty with Metalla Royalty and Streaming Ltd. GoGold took US$6M of the US$12M sale price in common shares of Metalla, which represent 9.9% of the Metalla shares outstanding.
  • Impact Silver Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement to raise up to $1.5M to explore its Zacualpan project in Mexico State for additional high potential precious metals as well as Au-Cu targets.
  • Telson Mining Corporation, received $5M from Trafigura Mexico S.A. de C.V., for the second tranche of the loan agreement for the construction of its 1,000 tpd Tahuehueto mine in Durango.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., consolidated its common shares and proposed to complete a non-brokered private placement to raise up to $1.5M. The consolidation of its common shares is one new share for five old shares.
  • Golden Minerals Company, reported revenue of approximately $1.9M in Q3 2018 related to the oxide plant lease and costs of approximately $0.7M related to the services Golden provides under the terms of the lease, for a net margin of $1.2M. Other operating income of $3.2 million included $3.0 million from the sale of Golden’s remaining interest in the Celaya project in Guanajuato to The Electrum Group LLC, as well as pro‐rated income from the farm‐out of the Company’s Zacatecas properties to Santacruz Silver. Exploration expenses were $1.1 million in the third quarter, reflecting increased exploration and project evaluation activities at the Santa Maria project in Chihuahua as well as other projects in Mexico.

 

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Kootenay Silver Inc., designed a program of 15,000m of drilling over 62 holes aimed to expand resources along the extensions of its La Cigarra deposit in Chihuahua. The drilling program will be conducted on four target areas where the company believes there is untested potential to increase resources. “The plan would entail primarily exploration step out drilling of known mineralization and some infill drilling of the successful La Borracha program earlier this year”. “The four areas Kootenay plans to target are the La Borracha high grade (the mineralized trend located 1,000 meters northwest from the northern boundary of the Resource), the La Borracha Connection (connecting La Borracha with the San Gregorio area of the Resource), Gap (a very under drilled area between the main San Gregorio and Las Carolinas zones that currently comprise the Resource) and the Carolinas Extension (the strike extension of the Resource to the southeast)”.
  • Hecla Mining Company, released in-fill drilling results for its San Sebastian mine in Durango. The in-fill drilling was conducted in the central portion of the polymetallic zone along the Francine Vein. Additionally, exploration core drilling was also conducted toward shallower oxide mineralization along the West and East Francine vein areas, the recently discovered South Vein, and at the Esperanza Vein target area. At the Francine vein, the in-fill drilling program intersected high grade mineralization. Highlights include 1.37m of 591 g/t Ag, 4.8% Cu, 16% Pb and 13.5% Zn and 2.25m of 227 g/t Ag, 1.8% Cu, 3.5% Pb, and 6% Zn. The drilling also intercepted narrow but high-grade mineralization along the East Francine vein on new zones of vein-hosted oxide mineralization. Significant intersections are 1.46m of 485 g/t Ag and 0.3 g/t Au, and 2.83m of 299 g/t Ag and 2.2 g/t Au. Mineralization in this area is defined over 1,200 feet along strike and 800 feet down-dip and this new zone could represent an important new source of oxide mineralization. At the West Francine vein, the drilling program encountered also narrow intervals of high grade. Highlights include 0.64m of 1,791 g/t Ag and 0.62 g/t Au. Mineralization in this area is open laterally and at depth. Follow-up, offset drilling is in progress. At the Esperanza vein, exploration drilling commenced but results are pending. Reconnaissance RC drilling discovered a new blind vein under soil cover in the Saladillo Valley. This new vein, referred as the South vein, intercepted significant mineralized intervals such as 2.83m of 392 g/t Ag and 2.5 g/t Au, 2.86m of 187 g/t Ag and 0.93 g/t Au, and 2.86m of 174 g/t Ag and 1.24 g/t Au. Drilling for the remainder of the year will continue to focus on expanding resources and evaluate near-surface oxide mineralization at the West Francine Vein, South Vein, and Esperanza Vein areas.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Capstone Mining Corp., announced management changes and made reduction of its organizational structure to improve financial and operating performance and save approximately $5M per year in corporate general and administrative expenses (Cozamin mine, Zacatecas).
  • Defiance Silver Corp., and ValOro Resources Inc., signed a definitive merger agreement dated on November 5, 2018. The ValOro shareholders will receive 0.71 common shares of Defiance for each share of ValOro held. “Upon completion of the Transaction, the combined company will have approximately 119 million common shares outstanding, of which former shareholders of Defiance will own approximately 87% and the former shareholders of ValOro will own approximately 13%” (San Acacio project, Zacatecas).
  • Golden Goliath Resources Ltd., announced that Desarrollos Mineros El Aguila S.A. de C.V., a wholly subsidiary of Fresnillo plc, exercised the option agreement on its Uruachic project in Chihuahua by making a final payment of US$2.3M. Golden Goliath still holds a royalty on the several optioned properties in the Uruachic mining district.
  • Golden Reign Resources and Marlin Gold Mining Ltd., completed business combination to form Mako Mining Corp. Prior to the closing of the arrangement, the companies completed the amendment to the Gold Purchase Agreement with Sailfish Royalty Corp., and the Marlin reorganization.

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, banded quartz texture in a hot spring epithermal system in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.