Economy

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 45th week of the year (November 8th to November 14th, 2021), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, seven companies posted exploration advances on their properties, five released Q3 reports, two on financing related news and one on marketing services contracting, while five companies posted on project development or resource definition and one more on a project acquisition. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Starcore International is exploring its Tecouitla and Meztli 4 concessions; Colibri Resources started RC drilling at Evelyn; Minaurum Gold informed on drilling at Alamos Silver; Silver Tiger reported high-grade results from drilling at El Tigre; Tocvan Ventures commenced field operations at Pilar. In Durango, Canasil Resources is to resume drilling at Nora.   ON MINING, Gatos Silver, Avino Silver, Pan American Silver, Fortuna Silver and Endeavour Silver (all silver companies) presented their Q3 2021 reports. ON FINANCING, Candelaria Mining contracted the service of two marketing companies. Heliostar Metals closed a financing round for $4 M. Great Panther announced the underwriting of $20 M in shares. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Fabled Silver released results from underground drilling at Santa Maria, Chihuahua. GoGold Resources reported drilling results from Los Ricos North in Jalisco. Pan American Silver disclosed further impressive drilling results from La Colorada Skarn in Zacatecas. Golden Minerals released RC drilling results from Rodeo, Durango. Osisko Development disclosed drilling results from the Sapuchi deposit at San Antonio in Sonora.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Millrock Resources singed an agreement with Mine Discovery Fund on El Batamote property in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Coanzamex, Industrias Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC informed on its support for communities, science and education.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No Relevant News.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. is to start drilling at it “Meztli 4” and “Tecouilta” mining concessions in Sonora. The first stage drilling is to explore five veins that have more than eight months of reconnaissance work and 2,000 surface samples. Starcore holds 14,451 hectares in the area, which includes the Creston molybdenum deposit. The veins range from 0.55 to 1.07 m in width at the surface, with grades of up to 4.19 gpt Au and 250 gpt Ag.
  • Monarca Minerals Inc. released results from reverse circulation drilling at San Jose, in Chihuahua. “Large volumes of skarn and altered intrusive rocks have been intersected in the drilling …….. Mineralization is hosted in both exoskarn and endoskarn and in silicified intrusive rocks, which are locally potassically altered”. Some of the highlighted hole-length intervals comprise 3 m @ 4.07 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.5% Zn; 1.5 m @ 79 gpt Ag, 0.34% cu, 0.4% Pb, 1.5% Zn; 6.1 m @ 0.36 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag, 1% Cu; 3 m @ 3.11 gpt Au, 32 gpt Ag, 0.13 % Cu; 1.5 m @ 0.92 gpt Au, 2 gpt Ag; 4.6 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 0.33% Cu.
  • Colibri Resources Corp. started reverse circulation drilling at its Evelyn project in Sonora. The first 5,000 m phase of drilling will take approximately two months, focusing on targets generated by high-grade surface and trench sample results coincident with magnetic gradients and lineaments and mapped structures.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc. informed on drilling results at its Alamos Silver project in Sonora. “. Drilling at the Alessandra vein recently discovered a blind Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn skarn that is open in all directions while ongoing drilling at Europa-Guadalupe continues to delineate a high-grade mineralized vein system which is now been extended by 40% to at least 800 meters in length. Europa-Guadalupe remains open at depth and along strike”. Highlighted core-length results comprise 1.60 m @ 174 gpt Ag, 1.3% Cu; 1.20 m @ 0.3% Pb, 2.4% Zn; 5.05 m @ 106 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.5% Zn; 2.25 m @ 228 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 0.17% Cu, 0.5% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 1.55 m @ 139 gpt Ag, 0.13% Cu, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 1.65 m @ 240 gpt Ag, 0.4% Cu, 0.5% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 1.10 m @ 1.2% Pb, 7.6% Zn; 0.90 m @ 57 gpt Ag, 0.24 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 3.0% Zn; 3.85 m @ 57 gpt Ag, 0.56 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 2.1% Zn; 11.05 m @ 120 gpt Ag, 0.25 gpt Au, 1.12% Cu, 0.4% Pb, 1.8% Zn; 6.40 m @ 147 gpt Ag, 0.13% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 0.95 m @ 435 gpt Ag, 0.35 gpt Au, 0.43% Cu, 1.4% Pb, 3.6% Zn; 0.70 m @ 513 gpt Ag, 0.26% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 1.50 m @ 1.1 gpt Au; 2.85 m @ 91 gpt Ag, 0.24% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 0.5% Zn; 21.85 m @ 62 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc. reported high-grade results from drilling on the Seitz Kelley vein at El Tigre project in Sonora. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 17.5 m @ 31.53 gpt Au, 139 gpt Ag, 0.11% Cu, 0.9% Pb, 2.2% Zn, including 1.6 m @ 343.12 gpt Au, 238 gpt Ag, 0.1% Cu, 1.6% Pb, 2.6% Zn (which includes 0.5 m @ 1,097.8 gpt Au, 255 gpt Ag), and 7.1 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 277 gpt Ag, 0.24% Cu, 1.8% Pb, 4.7% Zn. “The historical underground workings on the Seitz Kelly vein extended over a strike length of 1,000 meters on 11 working levels. Geological and assay plan maps from the original operations were recovered from the Anaconda Collection archives at the University of Wyoming. A total of 5,301 underground channel samples with gold and silver assays in the Seitz Kelly workings (levels, raises, winzes, crosscuts) were digitized and plotted. Mining on the upper levels of the Seitz Kelly vein was advanced to Section 5500N but only to 5100N on Level 6 and 5000N on Level 7 below the Espuelas Canyon (see Sooy and Seitz Kelly Vein Plan Map) when the mine shut down in 1930. Both drifts were advancing to the north in high grade ore”.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. commenced field operations at Pilar, in Sonora. The company intends to evaluate surface mineralization with trenching and channel sampling, metallurgical studies and additional 5,000 to 8,000 m of drilling.
  • Canasil Resources Inc. is planning to resume core drilling at the Nora project in Durango. The work is set to start on the third week of November, and is to focus on testing below and along strike extensions of the Candy vein high-grade already defined. Ten holes have tested the Candy vein for 500 m of the 3 Km traced strike on the surface, to a depth of 175 below, returning up to 11.29 true-width @ 5.31 gpt Au, 336 gpt Ag.

ON MINING

  • Gatos Silver Inc. reported third quarter 2021 operational and financial results. At Cerro Los Gatos in Chihuahua, 242.9 K tonnes were mined, 234 K tonnes milled at 2,544 tpd, averaging 256 gpt Ag, 0.30 gpt Au, 2.35% Pb, 4.10% Zn, containing 1.7 M Oz Ag, 1.3 K Oz Au, 10.8 M Lb Pb, 13.5 M Lb Zn, having recovered 89% Ag, 63% Au, 91% Pb, 74% Zn. By-product cash cost was $3.58 per AgEq Oz and By-product AISC $19.57 per AgEq Oz.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. presented its consolidated financial results for the third quarter 2021. During the period at the Avino mine in Durango, 58.2 K tonnes were milled to produce 77.9 K Oz Ag, 1,183 Oz Au, 685.5 K Lb Cu, at cash cost $6.75 per AgEq and AISC of $25.60. Currently mining and milling are proceeding at between 1,000 and 1,500 tpd, below the 2,500 tpd plant capacity. As announced before, the La Preciosa property was acquired and plans are being prepared to integrate production into the Avino operations.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. reported unaudited results for the third quarter 2021, including some figures from its Mexican operations. At La Colorada, in Zacatecas, 1.4 M Oz Ag, 700 Oz Au were produced at cash cost $12.65 and AISC $18.48 per Ag Oz. At Dolores, in Chihuahua, 484 K Oz Ag, 39.6 K Oz Au were produced at cash cost $767 and AISC $951 per Au Oz.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. reported third quarter 2021 financial results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At San Jose, in Oaxaca, 250 K tonnes were milled at an average rate of 2,862 tonnes per day (tpd), grading 185 gpt Ag, 1.22 gpt Au, with recoveries of 92% and 91% respectively, to produce 1.43 M Oz Ag, 8,910 Oz Au at cash cost $9.99 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $15.51 per Oz AgEq.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. released its financial results for the Q3 2021. The company operates the Guanaceví mine in Durango and the Bolañitos mine in Guanajuato, having suspended recently operations at the El Compas mine in Zacatecas. During the period 1.3 M Oz Ag, 10,541 Oz Au were produced at $8.16 per Oz Ag and AISC of $17.46 per Oz AgEq, net of gold credits.

ON FINANCING

  • Candelaria Mining Corp. has contracted the services of two marketing companies, Adelaide Capital Markets Inc. and Investor News Network (Caballo Blanco, Veracruz).
  • Heliostar Metals Ltd. closed the second and final tranche of its non-brokered private placement offering for gross proceeds of $2.713.6 K, which combined with the first tranche amount to aggregate gross proceeds of $4 M (Cumaro, Sonora).
  • Great Panther Mining Ltd. announced an agreement under which the underwriters are to buy shares of the company for aggregate gross proceeds of $20 M (Guanajuato Mine Complex, Guanajuato and Topia, Durango).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. released results from underground diamond drilling on its Santa Maria property in Chihuahua. The highlighted core-length interval is 16.50 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag, including 3.0 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag, and 1.50 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 50 gpt Ag, and 1.50 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 33 gpt Ag. The interval is in a dike with 1 mm stockwork quartz/oxidized pyrite veining.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. reported results form 11 holes at Mololoa and 19 holes at El Nayar at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Some of the highlighted core-length intervals at Mololoa comprise 8.5 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 50 gpt Ag; 23.5 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 78 gpt Ag; 1.4 m @ 1.87 gpt Au, 798 gpt Ag; 5.0 m @ 0.23 gpt Au, 75 gpt Ag; 19.9 m @ 0.39 gpt Au, 90 gpt Ag; 6.8 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 51 gpt Ag; 9.7 m @ 0.35 gpt Au, 97 gpt Ag, and 8.0 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 70 gpt Ag; 7.1 m @ 0.33 gpt Au, 126 gpt Ag; 3.9 m @ 1.73 gpt Au, 288 gpt Ag; 16.6 m @ 0.50 gpt Au, 116 gpt Ag; 5.6 m @ 0.27 gpt Au, 81 gpt Ag; 5.5 m @ 157 gpt Ag; 1.5 m @ 0.36 gpt Au, 335 gpt Ag; 3.8 m @ 0.87 gpt Au, 161 gpt Ag; 14.1 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 92 gpt Ag; 3.1 m @ 3.20 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag at El Nayar.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. provided results from 39 infill and step-out holes at La Colorada Skarn in Zacatecas. During the current year 36,000 m of infill drilling and 14,000 m of exploration drilling have been completed, and 18,000 m are planned before the year ends and a further 60,000 m in 2022. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 31.9 m @ 48 gpt Ag, 0.13% Cu, 3.5% Pb, 5.2% Zn; 77.1 m @ 119 gpt Ag, 0.26% Cu, 7.7% Pb, 13.6% Zn; 114.6 m @ 133 gpt Ag, 3.6% Pb, 4.8% Zn; 70.3 m @ 82 gpt Ag, 4.2% Pb, 10.0% Zn; 204.5 m @ 48 gpt Ag, 0.19% Cu, 3.2% Pb, 5.3% Zn; 181.7 m @ 60 gpt Ag, 0.13% Cu, 3.8% Pb, 4.3% Zn; 96.3 m @ 19 gpt Ag, 2.4% Pb, 3.1% Zn; 89.0 m @ 65 gpt Ag, 0.19% Cu, 3.3% Pb, 6.6% Zn; 264.1 m @ 60 gpt Ag, 0.23% Cu, 3.4% Pb, 6.8% Zn; 314.1 m @ 35 gpt Ag, 0.17% Cu, 0.17% Cu, 1.6% Pb, 2.8% Zn; 64.5 m @ 69 gpt Ag, 0.15% Cu, 2.1% Pb, 4.7% Zn; 111.0 m @ 41 gpt Ag, 0.22% Cu, 1.3% Pb, 4.3% Zn.
  • Golden Minerals Co. released assays from its reverse circulation and diamond drill programs at Rodeo, in Durango. Highlighted drilled-length intervals comprise 28 m @ 2.0 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag; 34 m @ 2.3 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag; 20 m @ 8.2 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag; 26 m @ 2.4 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag; 24 m @ 3.7 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag. “The 2021 drilling programs conducted at Rodeo consisted of 47 RC holes totaling 3,187m, plus 35 diamond holes totaling 2461m”.
  • Osisko Development Corp. announced drilling results from its exploration and category conversion drill program at its San Antonio project in Sonora. Mineralization at Sapuchi, Golfo de Oro and California is in a hydrothermal breccia 3,000 m long with intense sericite-chlorite alteration in sedimentary rocks, related to an intrusion and interpreted as of iron oxide gold style affinity (IOCG). A total of 27,000 m on 156 holes have been drilled in 2021, of which results for the first 41 holes at Sapuchi were presented on this press release. Core length results comprise 12.50 m @ 2.16 gpt Au; 10.25 m @ 2.37 gpt Au; 17.70 m @ 1.01 gpt Au, 12 gpt Ag; 13.85 m @ 1.50 gpt Au; 9.45 m @ 1.58 gpt Au, 32 gpt Ag; 20.45 m @ 1.08 gpt Au; 22.15 m @ 1.59 gpt Au; 12.65 m @ 2.94 gpt Au; 9.00 m @ 2.24 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag; 39.90 m @ 1.02 gpt Au; 19.30 m @ 1.60 gpt Au; 22.00 m @ 1.30 gpt Au; 21.65 m @ 2.14 gpt Au; 29.20 m @ 1.52 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag; 11.85 m @ 1.80 gpt Au; 9.10 m @ 2.19 gpt Au.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Millrock Resources inc. signed a binding letter agreement (and received a US$50 K payment) with Mine Discovery Fund Pty. Ltd. on its El Batamote property in Sonora. A definitive agreement will be signed once MDF incorporates a subsidiary company in Mexico. To earn a 100% interest in the concessions, cash payments for a total of US$1 M over five years should be made, execute US$6 M in exploration and pay Millrock US$250 K in shares. If the purchase option is exercised, annual advanced minimum royalty payments will have to be made, the first of US$50 K, and then increasing annually until a US$500 K is reached, remaining capped at that level until commercial production is achieved, when a 1% NSR on production enters into effect.  The Batamote property hosts porphyry copper mineralization in the Cananea – La Caridad trend.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Coanzamex informed on its sponsorship of the fire department in Parral, Chihuahua.
  • Industrias Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC informed on their support for basic science and education.
  • Grupo Mexico announced the donation of tree saplings to the Chihuahua government.

On the image below: Porphyritic dike on a porphyry copper project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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Boiling texture in a quartz vein.

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 42nd week of the year (October 18th to October 24th, 2021), at least 21 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 14 news published by the media, with nine commenting on Mexican issues, six reporting resources and developments, six announcing financial issues, four communicating production and financial results, four informing on exploration results, four discussing social issues, and two disclosing deals and corporate issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Governors of Guerrero, Chihuahua, and Durango showed their support for the mining industry during the inauguration of the XXXIV International Mining Convention in Acapulco. Jaime Gutiérrez Núñez, president of The Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX) stated that the uncertainty will affect investments in the mining sector in Mexico. Tonatiuh Herrera Gutiérrez, Undersecretary of Promotion and Environmental Regulations of the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), warned that the agency will keep consultations on land use for the mining activity. Miguel Ángel Riquelme Solís, governor of Coahuila State and Grupo Mexico signed an agreement to regularize properties in the Carboniferous Region of Coahuila. The Mining Commission of the State Congress was installed in Sonora. Octavio Alvídrez, CEO of the Mexican precious metals Fresnillo plc stated that mining in Mexico currently has an “unfavorable” environment due to recent government policies. The Mexican Geological Service (SGM) will invest MXP $55.2M between this year and the next in the exploration of lithium. Karen Flores, director of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX) stressed that due to lack of mineral concessions the mining industry in Mexico loses USD $25B. Sergio Almazán, president of the Association of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico (AIMMGM), highlighted the relevance of the mining industry for the country’s economy in the inauguration of the XXXIV International Mining Convention in Acapulco. ON EXPLORATION, In Baja California, One World Lithium announced that drill hole # 4 collared at its Salar del Diablo project, reached a total depth of 518m. In Sonora, Benjamin Hill reported that it has completed the location of 15 drill holes for the upcoming inaugural drill program at its Benjamin Hill project. In Nayarit, Sierra Madre released results of the first 11 trenches at its Tepic project. In Jalisco, Stroud provided an update of its 2021 Phase I drilling program conducted at its Santo Domingo project.  ON MINING, Excellon reported Q3, 2021 production results from its Platosa mine in Durango.  Mexus Gold announced a revenues increase at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Santacruz Silver announced Q3, 2021 production results from their Zimapan and Rosario mines located in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi respectively. Sierra Metals reported Q3, 2021 production results from their Bolivar and Cusi mines in Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, Azucar Minerals granted stock options to a director to purchase 400K common shares at a price of $0.09 per share (El Cobre project, Veracruz). Barksdale provided an update regarding the secured loans that the company holds in Regal Resources (San Javier, Sonora). Canasil announced an initial non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $500K and later on it increased to $650K with additional $150K via flow-through shares (Nora project, Durango). Heliostar closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement offering for gross proceeds of $1,300,225.50 (Cumaro project, Sonora). Xali announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of approximately CAD $500K (El Oro project, State of Mexico). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Chesapeake announced that a 16 holes infill drill program will commence in November at its Metates project in Durango.  Discovery Silver reported an updated Mineral Resource Estimate on its flagship Cordero project in Chihuahua State. Fabled released results from three holes collared at its Santa Maria project, Chihuahua.  Golden Minerals presented results from 25 recently completed RC holes at its Rodeo property in Durango. Impact Silver released results from and underground development drilling program of its Guadalupe mine in the Zacualpan mining district in the State of Mexico. Silver Tiger announced high grade results from its ongoing drilling program conducted at its El Tigre project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Minera Gorrión S.A. de C.V. , a subsidiary company of Almaden Minerals Ltd., announced the completion of a Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) for the Ixtaca mine development project in Puebla. One World Lithium announced the engagements of two new consultants (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, José Rosas Aispuro, Governor of Durango, highlighted that mining is synonymous with respect for human rights and has to be synonymous with respect for the environment. New Zealand Ambassador proposes to the Mexico mining industry to work with social inclusion and sustainability. The VP in Mexico of Torex Gold reiterated that its subsidiary Minera Media Luna is committed to the economic and social progress of the communities at the Guerrero mining corridor. Mulatos Mine of Alamos Gold, announced that it has reduced its lighting consumption by 70%, 10% in diesel and 25% in CO2 emissions.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Governors of Guerrero, Chihuahua, and Durango showed their support for the mining industry during the inauguration of the XXXIV International Mining Convention in Acapulco because it represents a lever for the economic development of the country. They promised to respect the rule of law to promote the investment in the sector that generates jobs and benefits to the communities where it operates.
  • Jaime Gutiérrez Núñez, president of The Mining Chamber of Mexico Camimex stated that the suspension of new mining concessions as well as the effects of the possible approval of the electricity reform and the heavy tax burden is generating strong uncertainty in the mining sector in Mexico.
  • Tonatiuh Herrera Gutiérrez, Undersecretary of Promotion and Environmental Regulations of the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), warned that the agency will keep consultations on land use for mining activity. Jaime Gutierrez Núñez, president of CAMIMEX responded that the companies affiliated to said organization do not oppose to the consultations on land use for mining activity, but emphasized that times should be established for conducting such consultations. Likewise, the Director of CAMIMEX, Karen Flores Arredondo stressed that “the rules of the game” must be clear and based on the General Consultation Law.
  • Miguel Ángel Riquelme Solís, governor of Coahuila State and Grupo Mexico signed an agreement to regularize properties in the Carboniferous Region of Coahuila. This regulation agreement represents legal certainty for more than 400 families in the Carboniferous Region.
  • The Mining Commission of the State Congress was installed, chaired by the deputy for Morena, Próspero Valenzuela Muñer to meet the demands and open a space for dialogue with the mining sector in Sonora. In that sense, he mentioned that it is important that said commission lays the foundations for the detonation of economic development and well-being in Sonora, taking advantage of the fact that this entity constitutes one of the main mining states in the country.
  • Octavio Alvídrez, CEO of the Mexican precious metals Fresnillo plc stated that mining in Mexico currently has an “unfavorable” environment due to recent government policies. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been criticized by the mining industry for his policy of not granting new concessions, as well as for what he has described as unprecedented regulatory delays. The president further fueled industry concerns by recently proposing to Congress a controversial energy constitutional reform that rejects concessions for Lithium.
  • The Mexican Geological Service (SGM) will invest MXP $55.2M between this year and the next in the exploration of lithium  with a view to finding an economically viable deposit, informed its director, Flor de María Harp. Exploration work will be carried out in 52 areas during 2021 and in another 30 in 2022. She explained that the country needs hard data so that we are not talking about what we believe, imagine or assume, but about data that have a technical basis. The official insisted that in Mexico expectations have been generated around lithium that is not real, because there is still no hard data on the potential of the mineral.
  • Karen Flores, director of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX) stressed that due to lack of mineral concessions the mining industry in Mexico loses USD $25B with the consequent absence of jobs generation and the fiscal contribution. So far in this six-year term, no new concessions have been granted, in addition to the fact that there are procedures stopped that have also impacted on the continuity of some mining projects.
  • Sergio Almazán, president of the Association of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico (AIMMGM), highlighted the relevance of the mining industry for the country’s economy in the inauguration of the XXXIV International Mining Convention in Acapulco. CAMIMEX, in its 2020 report stated that the industry currently generates around 408,000 direct jobs, plus almost 2 million indirect jobs. It means that many Mexican families literally live from mining. Mining activity stands out as the fifth earner of foreign currency to the country. He also highlighted that Mexican mining is a formal, modern, sustainable, safe, fiscally responsible industry, with competitive salaries and high quality standards.

ON EXPLORATION

  • One World Lithium Inc., announced that drill hole # 4 collared at its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California, reached a total depth of 518m and that sampling has been completed between 331 to 338m and a second zone between 460 to 518m. Samples have been submitted to the lab and results will be released once are received.
  • Benjamin Hill Mining Corp., announced that it has completed the location of 15 drill holes for the upcoming inaugural drill program at its Benjamin Hill project in Sonora. The goal of the drill program is to better understand the behavior of the mineralization at depth and drill-test the continuity of high-grade mineralization structures that are thought to be open down dip and on strike. 
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd., released results of the first 11 trenches at its Tepic project. Highlights include TZ005 with 68 g/t Ag and 0.3 g/t Au (91 g/t AgEq) over 10.5m; TZ011 with 39 g/t Ag and 1.06 g/t Au (119 g/t AgEq) over 10.1m,; and TZ 011A with 54 g/t Ag and 6.52 g/t Au (43 g/t AgEq) over 9.2m.
  • Stroud Resources Ltd., provided an update of its 2021 Phase I drilling program conducted at its Santo Domingo project in Jalisco. Stroud has completed 14 diamond holes for a total of 5,725m with the aim to explore the extent of known vein-hosted silver mineralization that run parallel to the existing La Raya and Guadalupe vein systems. Sampling and assaying of the drill core has begun and results will be released once they become available.

ON MINING

  • Excellon Resources Inc., reported Q3, 2021 production results from its Platosa mine in Durango. The company mined 21,592 tonnes and milled 21,302 tonnes of 526 g/t Ag, 4.9% Pb, and 5.4% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 90.9%, 81.2%, and 78.3% respectively to produce 326.7K Oz Ag, 1.87M Lb Pb, and 1.98M Lb Zn (521.2K Oz AgEq).
  • Mexus Gold US announced a revenues increase at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. “Mineralized material run through the crushing circuit and placed on the heap leach pad is currently assaying at an average of 4.6 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag. The company will begun a new round of blast hole drilling on October 18th. These efforts will produce 15,000 tons of high-grade gold material for processing through the crushing/leaching circuit”. These efforts indicate a potential 1.5M Oz Au resource on the property.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., announced Q3, 2021 production results from their Zimapan and Rosario mines located in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi respectively. At Zimapan mine, Hidalgo, the company milled and processed 186,642 tonnes of 73 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 2.53% Zn, and 0.35% Cu to produce 313.5K Oz Ag, 2.26M Lb Pb, 8.39M Lb Zn, and 1.1M Lb Cu (867.2K Oz AgEq). At Rosario mine, San Luis Potosi, the company milled and processed 2,306 tonnes of 41 g/t Ag, 0.15 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 1.2% Zn to produce 2,548 Oz Ag, 8,960 Lb Pb, and 53.8K Lb Zn (5,698 Oz AgEq).
  • Sierra Metals Inc., reported Q3, 2021 production results from their Bolivar and Cusi mines in Chihuahua. At Bolivar mine, Chihuahua, the company processed 364,941 tonnes of 0.61% Cu, 11 g/t Ag, and 0.1 g/t Au at metallurgical recoveries of 73.06%, 71.97%, and 73.23% respectively to produce 3.6M Lb Cu, 95K Oz Ag, and 899 Oz Au (796K Oz AgEq or 4.53M Lb CuEq). At Cusi mine, Chihuahua, Sierra Metals processed 61,071 tonnes of 161 g/t Ag, 0.18 g/t Au and 0.6% Pb at metallurgical recoveries of 82.63%, 55.89%, and 82.64% respectively to produce 261K Oz Ag, 193 Oz Au and 695K Lb Pb (306K Oz AgEq).

ON FINANCING

  • Azucar Minerals Ltd., granted stock options to a director to purchase 400K common shares at a price of $0.09 per share, which expire on February 28, 2024 (El Cobre project, Veracruz).
  • Barksdale Resources Corp., provided an update regarding the secured loans that the company holds in Regal Resources Inc. Regal owes approximately $1.8M to Barksdale. Regal has until October 24, 2021 to file a cash-flow forecast that needs to be reviewed and signed by its proposal trustee.  If Regal is unable to repay its creditors or fails to put forward a proposal that is accepted by the creditors, it will enter bankruptcy (San Javier, Sonora).
  • Canasil Resources Inc., announced an initial non-brokered private placement of up to 4M units at a price of $0.125 for total gross proceeds of up to $500K. In addition to the non-brokered private placement the company will include up to 1M flow-through shares at $0.15 per flow-through share for a total of $150K. Canasil will use the gross proceeds from the non-brokered private placement to fund drill programs of their projects in Durango and Zacatecas (Nora and La Esperanza projects, Durango-Zacatecas).
  • Heliostar Metals Limited, closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement offering of up to 5,714,285 units at a price of $0.70 per unit for gross proceeds of $1,300,225.50. Part of the gross proceeds will be used to advance their Mexican projects, focusing primarily on the proposed Cumaro drill program in Q4, 2021, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.
  • Xali Gold Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of approximately CAD $500K. “Approximately CAD $250K of the gross proceeds will be used to further our permitting and targeting for drilling programs on our gold-silver projects and approximately CAD $250K will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes”  (El Oro project, State of Mexico).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., announced that a 16 holes infill drill program will commence in November at its Metates project in Durango. This infill program will consists of 6,700m with holes ranging from 250 to 650m depth, and will be drilled with the same orientation to maintain consistency with earlier drilling. “The infill drill program will further define the geological structural controls, expand drill density, and provide additional composite metallurgical samples for variability testing”.
  • Discovery Silver Corp., reported an updated Mineral Resource Estimate on its flagship Cordero project in Chihuahua State. The company reported Measured + Indicated Resources for 541M tonnes with grades of  20 g/t Ag,  0.6 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, and 0.5% Zn (48 g/t AgEq), for a total of 344M Oz Ag, 1.04M Oz Au, 3,424M Lb Pb, and 6,132M Lb Zn (837M Oz AgEq), and Inferred Resources for  108M tonnes of 14 g/t Ag, 0.03 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.4% Zn (34 g/t AgEq) for a total of 49M Oz Ag, 99K Oz Au, 451M Lb Pb, and 909M Lb Zn (119M Oz AgEq). The Resource is pit-constrained with an estimated waste-to-ore ratio of 1.1 and is supported by 224,000m of drilling in 517 drill holes and reinterpreted structural and geological models of the deposit. 87% of the contained metal is in the Measured and Indicated category.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., released results from three holes collared at its Santa Maria project, Chihuahua. The most interesting drill interval was encountered in hole SM20-35 with 18.80m of 0.25 g/t Au, 9 g/t Ag (22 g/t AgEq), 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn, including 0.50m of 1.1 g/t Au and 16 g/t Ag (73 g/t AgEq), 0.5% Pb, and 1% Zn, plus 1.65m of 1.93 g/t Au and 32 g/t Ag (131 g/t AgEq), 0.8% Pb, and 2% Zn. With these three holes concluded the Phase 1 exploration drill program and the plan now is to be focused on definition drilling to outline the previously discovered zones or trends. The company mentioned that Au is related to the northwest trending mineralized diorite dike encountered in present drilling. “The previous first modeled diorite dike was over 440 meters and now has been extended to a minimum of 1,000 meters in strike length and 400 meters at depth, open in all directions”.
  • Golden Minerals Company presented results from 25 recently completed RC holes at its Rodeo property in Durango. The company has drilled 47 RC holes totaling 3,187m, focusing on resource expansion and exploration of several targets located adjacent to the open pit. Highlights from the RC drill program include hole RRC_021_018 with 1 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag over 54m, including 2.3g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag over 18m; RRC_021_020 with 1.7g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag over 26m, including 2.4 g/t Au and 16 g/t Ag over 8m, hole RRC_021_021 with 1.3 g/t Au and 17 g/t Ag over 56m, including 2.2 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag over 24m: hole RRC_021_022 with 1g/t Au and 4 g/t Ag over 56m, including 3.9 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag over 8m; and hole RRC_021_025 with 1.3 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag over 52m, including 2.9 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over 18m.
  • Impact Silver Corp., released results from an underground development drilling program of its Guadalupe mine in the Zacualpan mining district in the State of Mexico. High grade drill intercepts were encountered in holes MPZ-UG-023-21 with 464 g/t Ag, 0.3%Pb, and 0.8% Pb over a true width (TW) of 6.04m at Carolina Vein and 300 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb and 1.2% Zn over a TW of 3.44m at Dolores Bajo Vein; hole MPZ-UG-024-21 with 2,186 g/t Ag, 1.7% Pb, and 3.4% Zn over a TW of 3.38m at Carolina Vein; hole MPZ-UG-025-21 with 425 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 0.8% Zn over a TW of 3.47m at Carolina Vein and 527 g/t Ag, 0.9% Pb, and 1.9% Zn over a TW of 1.63m at Dolores Bajo Vein; hole MPZ-UG-028-21 with 486 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 1.2% Zn over a TW of 1.57m at La Rata Vein and 232 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 1% Zn over a TW of 5.94m at Kena Vein; and hole MPZ-UG-029-21 with 161 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over a TW of 2.12m at Carolina Vein, 269 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over a TW of 3.57m at Carolina Bajo Vein, and 427 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over a TW of 3.12m at Dolores Vein.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., announced high grade results from its ongoing drilling program conducted at its El Tigre project in Sonora. Highlights include hole ET 21-244 collared in the Sooy Vein with 0.16 g/t Au, 455 g/t Ag, 0.12 % Cu, 0.3% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (491 g/t AgEq) over 7.5m, including 0.33 g/t Au, 1,073 g/t Ag,  0.3% Cu, 0.8% Pb, and 0.3% Zn (1,156 g/t AgEq) over 2.5m, including 1.3 g/t Au, 3,531 g/t Ag, 1.06 % Cu, 3.6% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (3,856 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m, plus an interval in the FW zone of 0.13 g/t Au, 593 g/t Ag, 0.13% Cu, 0.3% Pb, and 0.06% Zn (624 g/t AgEq) over 1.8m, including 0.4 g/t Au, 2,030 g/t Ag, 0.46% Cu, 1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (2,133 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m; and hole ET 21-243 collared in the Benjamin Vein with 0.02 g/t Au, 92 g/t Ag, 0.07% Cu, 0.1% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (107 g/t AgEq) over 6.8m, including 0.02 g/t Au, 138 g/t Ag, 0.07% Cu, 0.1% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (155 g/t AgEq) over 4.3m, including 0.05 g/t Au, 864 g/t Ag, 0.54% Cu, 0.5% Pb, and 1% Zn (965 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Minera Gorrión S.A. de C.V. , a subsidiary company of Almaden Minerals Ltd., announced the completion of a Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) for the Ixtaca mine development project in Puebla. The HRIA is one of the most innovative, comprehensive and proven effective tools worldwide to estimate the potential impacts and corresponding mitigation measures in favor of the human rights of the communities located within the area of ​​influence of this productive project. Minera Gorrión reiterates its commitment to the exercise of modern and avant-garde mining, absolutely committed to respecting Human Rights, caring for the environment and creation of opportunities for the communities of Ixtacamaxtitlán always with cultural relevance.
  • One World Lithium Inc., announced the engagements of Rayleigh Capital and J&L Strategic Solutions LLC,  that offer different consulting services that are mutually beneficial to increase global market awareness and different financing opportunities that are less reliant on equity offerings.  Both consultants are very familiar with green technologies  (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • José Rosas Aispuro, Governor of Durango, highlighted that mining is synonymous with respect for human rights and has to be synonymous with respect for the environment.
  • Sara Meymand, New Zealand Ambassador proposed to the Mexico mining industry to work with social inclusion and sustainability. She assured during the XXIV edition of the Acapulco Mining Convention that working in inclusion development and sustainability put up the mining activity internationally, focused on the preservation of the environment, dialogue with communities, gender perspective, use of new technologies, job creation and economic growth. She also stressed the importance of promoting a social license in the mining industry, which will allow companies to act with responsibility, commitment and subject to the care of the environment.
  • The vice president in Mexico of Torex Gold Resourcers Inc., Faysal Rodríguez Valenzuela reiterated that Minera Media Luna (MML) maintains its commitment to the social and economic development of the 11 communities that make up the Guerrero mining corridor, located between the municipalities of Cocula and Eduardo Neri. He also pointed out that the social investment of each year is intended to help improve people’s quality of life and work towards the fulfillment of the sustainable development objectives.
  • Mulatos Mine of Alamos Gold, reduced its power consumption on lighting by 70%, 10% in diesel and 25% in CO2 emissions. Alamos Gold seeks to contribute to the care of the environment reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

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

On the picture above, boiling texture in an epithermal quartz vein system in a project in Sonora, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment
Phyllic alteration and Cu mineralization

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 40th week of the year (October 04th to October 10th, 2021), at least 26 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 3 news published by the media, with nine reporting resources and developments, six communicating production and financial results, four informing on exploration results, four announcing financial topics, three disclosing deals and corporate issues, two commenting on Mexican issues and one discussing social issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Members of the Mining Cluster of Chihuahua met with federal deputies of the Partido Acción Nacional (PAN) to let them know of the importance of mining not only in the state but in the entire country.  President AMLO announced a proposal that would put end the current system of lithium concessions and leave exploration and production in the hands of the State. ON EXPLORATION, In Baja, One World Lithium provided an update of its current drilling program at its Salar del Diablo project. In Sonora, Benjamin Hill provided an update of details on the recently released NI 43-101 report on its Benjamin Hill project.  In Chihuahua, Kootenay reported results from the last six holes collared at its Columba project. In Jalisco, Almadex announced Q4, 2021 plans for its San Pedro project. ON MINING, Endeavour Silver reported Q3, 2021 production results from their Mexican mine operations. Gatos Silver announced Q3, 2021 production results from its 70% owned Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua. GoGold presented quarterly and year ending September 2021 production results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. Great Panther announced Q3, 2021 production results from their Topia and Guanajuato Mine Complex mines in Durango and Guanajuato states respectively. McEwen reported Q3, 2021 production results from its El Gallo property in Sinaloa. Torex Gold announced Q3, 2021 production results from its El Limon-Guajes Mine Complex in Guerrero. ON FINANCING, Aztec Minerals announced the arrangement of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $1.05M (Cervantes project, Sonora). Heliostar announced the commencement of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $2M that later on increased it to a maximum of $4M (Cumaro, Oso Negro and la Lola project in Sonora). Tarachi Gold announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $500K (Magistral Mill and Tailings project, Durango). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Almaden announced that it has resumed drilling activities at its Ixtaca project in Puebla. Excellon released results from its underground drilling program conducted at its the Platosa mine in Durango. Fabled reported results from its underground drilling program at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua.  Golden Tag received approval from the Secretariat of Natural Resources and Environment (SEMARNAT) to build additional 41 drill pads at its San Diego property in Durango. GR Silver completed a 3D resistivity, IP and ground magnetic survey at its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Impact Silver released results from its underground drilling program at Zacualpan mining district, State of Mexico. Minera Alamos provided an update on the ongoing pit optimization drilling program at its Santana property in Sonora. Silver Dollar received drilling permit for its la Joya project in Durango. Tarachi Gold reported results from the tailings drilling program at its Magistral Mill and Tailings project in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Santacruz Mining informed that it is suspending operations at the Rosario Project in San Luis Potosi, and placing it on care and maintenance. Riverside reported on mining claims consolidation and expansion of its the La Union polymetallic project in Sonora. Sailfish entered into a binding letter of intent with 1287398 B.C. Ltd., to create a silver focused exploration and development company (Gavilanes property, Durango). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fresnillo plc and its subsidiary Minera Penmont delivered an ambulance to representatives of the Red Cross in Caborca, Sonora.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Members of the Mining Cluster of Chihuahua met with federal deputies of the Partido Acción Nacional (PAN) to let them know of the importance of mining not only in the state but in the entire country. Deductions of the mining exploration expenses as well as the electricity reform were some of the issues addressed to the deputies. According to the mining sector, if the electricity reform is approved, it will affect the competitiveness of mining. The Mining Cluster, in communion with government authorities, seeks to generate the development of local supply, as well as attracting greater mining investment in the state.
  • President AMLO announced a proposal that would put end the current system of lithium concessions and leave exploration and production in the hands of the State. However, the owner of the USD $420M project Bacanora Lithium stated that the Mexican government’s plans to bring lithium resources under state control will not affect progress in Sonora, since the new reforms will not affect lithium licenses already granted to private companies, as long as exploration work has already started and all licensing requirements have been met.

ON EXPLORATION

  • One World Lithium Inc., provided an update of its current drilling program at its Salar del Diablo project in Baja. The company announced that hole DDH-4 reached a depth of 381m on October 2, 2021 with an expected total depth of 600m. If the results of DDH-4 warrant it, other boreholes will be drilled in the area.
  • Benjamin Hill Mining Corp., provided an update of details on the recently released NI 43-101 report on its Benjamin Hill project in Sonora. “Detailed mapping at 1:1,000 scale has indicated the presence of a large magmatic-hydrothermal system, including mineralized structures, stockworks, sheeted veins, alteration halos, all of which are hosted in granitoids, an eroded skarn system, a volcaniclastic sequence, and volcanic rocks, as well local orogenic quartz veins. This large hydrothermal system could be co-genetic with a bimodal dike swarm mapped on the property and related to a buried fertile plutonic system, suggesting that geological structures and mineralization seen at surface are indicative of a Cu-Au porphyry system at depth”. Recommended activities to be conducted at the property over the next 2-3 months are completing the mapping and sampling on the areas of Caracahui, la Salada, Caracahui Norte and the Sonora Copper; mapping and channel sampling of the Cascabel and Guadalupe adits; dating studies of the plutonic rocks, prospection of the new areas generated by geochemistry (La Falsa, San Felix, and La Berrenda); and channel sampling on the Sonora Copper adit.
  • Almadex Minerals Ltd announced Q4, 2021 plans for its San Pedro project in Jalisco. The company reported that the property is fully permitted and is currently mobilizing a team and rig to site to conduct a drill testing prior to year-end.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., reported results from the last six holes collared at its Columba project in Chihuahua. The company announced the best drill intercept to date in hole CDH-21-103 with 333 g/t Ag over 44m, including 805 g/t Ag over 17m, including 1,201 g/t Ag over 11m, including 2,035 g/t Ag over 6m, and a high of 9,840 g/t Ag over 0.92m.

ON MINING

  • Endeavour Silver Corp., reported Q3, 2021 production results from their Mexican mine operations. The next table shows the production for the third quarter 2021 by mine:
  • Gatos Silver Inc., announced Q3, 2021 production results from its 70% owned Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua. The company mined 242,899 tonnes and milled 234,054 tonnes of 256 g/t Ag, 0.3 g/t Au, 2.35% Pb, and 4.1% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 89%, 63%, 91%, and 74% respectively, to produce 1.7M Oz Ag, 1.3K Oz Au, 10.8M Lb Pb, and 13.5M Lb Zn.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented quarterly and year ending September 2021 production results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. GoGold produced 221.2K Oz Ag, 3,437 Oz Au and 309.1K Lb Cu (526,044 Oz AgEq) in the quarter period for a total of 1.14 M Oz Ag, 13.45K Oz Au, and 1.05M Lb Cu (2.27M Oz AgEq) in the full year ending in September 2021.
  • Great Panther Mining Limited announced Q3, 2021 production results from their Topia and Guanajuato Mine Complex mines in Durango and Guanajuato states respectively. At Topia, Durango, the company processed 14, 433 tonnes of 373 g/t Ag, and 0.64 g/t Au with metallurgical recoveries of 93.7% and 72.2% respectively, to produce 162.2K Oz Ag, 215 Oz Au, 600.3K Lb Pb, and 777.3K Lb Zn (242K Oz AgEq or 2,847 Oz AuEq). At Guanajuato Mine Complex, Guanajuato, Great Panther processed 41,343 tonnes of 102 g/t Ag, and 1.64 g/t Au with metallurgical recoveries of 87.1% and 86.4% respectively, to produce 118K Oz Ag and 1,883 Oz Au (278K Oz AgEq or 3,271 Oz AuEq). “The Company has not yet been granted a permit from the Comisión Nacional del Agua (CONAGUA) to expand the TSF at the Guanajuato Mill Complex, which only has sufficient capacity to continue milling operations until December 2021. While the Company continues to proactively engage CONAGUA to expedite the permitting process, the operating assumption is that a permit will not be forthcoming and numerous longer-term solutions are currently being assessed, including processing ore at third-party facilities”.
  • McEwen Mining Inc., reported Q3, 2021 production results from its El Gallo property in Sinaloa. In Q3, El Gallo produced 560 Gold Equivalents Ounces (GEOs) from residual leaching of the heap leach pad.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., announced Q3, 2021 production results from its El Limon-Guajes Mine Complex in Guerrero. The company reported a gold production of 111,220 Oz. The company sold this production at an average realized gold price of USD $1,785 per Oz.

ON FINANCING

  • Aztec Minerals Corp., announced the arrangement of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $1.05M. Part of the net proceeds will be used to conduct exploration work at its Cervantes porphyry Au-Cu project in Sonora.
  • Heliostar Metals Limited announced the commencement of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $2M that later on was increased to a maximum of $4M. Part of the gross proceeds will be used to conduct exploration work at the Cumaro, Oso Negro and la Lola project in Sonora.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $500K. Proceeds of the private placement will be used for general working capital. (Magistral Mill and Tailings project, Durango).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., announced that it has resumed drilling activities at its Ixtaca project in Puebla. The company also informed that all fieldwork has been conducted in compliance with the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS) since the Company’s Covid-19 protocols detected several COVID-19 cases amongst members of the Company’s local staff. All these individuals were immediately quarantined and supported by the company and one was hospitalized, who unfortunately passed away despite all best efforts. The company has established a COVID Committee that meets weekly to assess the COVID- 19 situation, ensure commitment to company protocols, and discuss opportunities for improvement in the protocols.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., released results from its underground drilling program conducted at its the Platosa mine in Durango. Highlights include hole EX21UG90 with 1,570 g/t Ag, 10.4% Pb, 29.6% Zn, and 0.1 g/t Au (2,860 g/t AgEq) over 7.5m, including 2,424 g/t Ag, 14% Pb, and 35% Zn (3,987 g/t AgEq) over 3.4m, plus 479 g/t Ag, 4.6% Pb, and 2% Zn (667 g/t AgEq) over 2.5m, including 1,758 g/t Ag, 16.5% Pb, and 7.5% Zn (2,441 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m; and hole EX21UG687 with 1,214 g/t Ag, 8.3% Pb, and 16.9% Zn (2,009 g/t AgEq) over 3.1m, including 2,530 g/t Ag, 16.7% Pb, and 19.3% Zn (3,623 g/t AgEq) over 1.2m. “Drilling from underground continues to define and expand known mineralization ahead of production at the 623 and NE-1S mantos. Drilling at Platosa will continue to target areas ahead of production and test the extent of mineralization around mine workings”. 
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., reported results from its 1,200m underground drilling program at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua. Hole SMUG21-16 intersected 0.21 g/t Au,  120 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn, and 0.01% Cu (131 g/t AgEq) over 5.1m, including 0.6 g/t Au, 387 g/t Ag, 0.35% Pb, 0.6% Zn, and 0.01% Cu (418 g/t AgEq) over 1.3m. Hole SMUG21-17 drilled from the same setup but with different dip angle intersected 1.07 g/t Au, 106 g/t Ag, 0.05% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (161 g/t AgEq) over 3.95m, including 6.46 g/t Au, 490 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.45% Zn, and 0.01% Cu (822 g/t AgEq) over 0.60m.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd., received approval from the Secretariat of Natural Resources and Environment (SEMARNAT) to build additional 41 drill pads at its San Diego property in Durango, increasing the total number of permissible pads to 55. The new permit is valid for a period of 4 years.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., completed a 3D resistivity, IP and ground magnetic survey at its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. This geophysical survey links San Marcial resource with the recent GAP area discovery and the San Juan resource. Elevated chargeability has been identified in the vicinities of San Marcial resource area; the magnetic survey shows several oriented magnetic features; and the resistivity data shows that important parts of the Plomosas project are separated into structural blocks controlled by NW-trending faults and mineralized structures. Early-stage field assessment of Ag-Au targets is underway and several of these are currently in the drill planning stage.
  • Impact Silver Corp., released results from its underground drilling program in the Lipton area of its Guadalupe Mine at Zacualpan mining district, State of Mexico. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole MPZ-UG-001-21 with 327 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over a true width (TW) of 2.5m; hole MPZ-UG-002-21 with 691 g/t Ag, 0.3%, and 0.7% over a TW of 1.29m; hole MPZ-UG-006-21 with 443 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over a TW of 1.90m; and hole MPZ-UG-014-21 with 472 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over a TW of 1.69m. The drill holes covered the vein systems over a strike length of 430m and a vertical distance of 200m.
  • Minera Alamos Inc., provided an update on the ongoing pit optimization drilling program at its Santana property in Sonora. Drilling highlights include hole S20-147D with 0.69 g/t Au over 248.8m from surface and ending in mineralization; hole S20-149D with 0.77 g/t Au over 152.7m from surface, including 1.39 g/t Au over 56.2m; and hole S21-160D with 0.51 g/t Au over 242.7m from 41.9 down hole.   
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., received permit for the next phase of drilling at its la Joya project in Durango. The company is cashed-up and eager to restart exploration drilling for the first time in over seven years.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., reported results from the tailings drilling program at its Magistral Mill and Tailings project in Durango. A total of 37 vertical auger holes were completed to depths ranging from 1.3 to 14.5m with an average depth of 6.6m. The 171 gold tailings samples ranged in grade from 0.89 to 4.12g/t with an average of 2.04g/t Au.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., informed that it is suspending operations at the Rosario Project in San Luis Potosi, and placing it on care and maintenance. This decision was made following an extensive review by management of the Rosario project operations and strategic options available including the potential sale of the operation.
  • Riverside Resources Inc., reported on mining claims consolidation and expansion of its the La Union polymetallic project. The acquisition of the La Famosa and Plomito small internal claims provided Riverside access to high-grade small scale mine properties increases its property total area to over 2,604 hectares. Riverside optioned these properties over 4 years term staged cash payments without any NSR.  At La Famosa, Riverside can earn 100% of interest in the property by making a total cash payment of USD $175K in staged cash payments starting with USD $10K in the first year anniversary, $USD 15K in the second year, USD $25 in the third year, USD $50K in the fourth year, and a final cash payment of USD $75,000. At Plomito, Riverside can earn 100% interest in the property by making a total cash payment of USD $165K in staged cash payments, starting with USD $10K in the first year anniversary, $USD 15K in the second year, USD $25 in the third year, USD $40K in the fourth year, and a final cash payment of USD $75,000.
  • Sailfish Royalty Corp., entered into a binding letter of intent with 1287398 B.C. Ltd., to create a focused exploration and development company (Pubco or Sailfish Silver as the proposed transaction). The plan is to transfer the Gavilanes Silver Project to Pubco in exchange for shares of Pubco.  

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Fresnillo plc and its subsidiary Minera Penmont delivered an ambulance to representatives of the Red Cross in Caborca, Sonora. With this action, the Mexican company strengthens the vehicle fleet of the health institution that is responsible for protecting the health of the people of Caborca.

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 phyllic alteration with Cu mineralization in a prospect in Sonora, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 29th week of the year (July 19th to July 25th, 2021), at least 19 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, two companies posted exploration advances on their properties, two on quarterly reports and one in reopening plans, two on financing news, five more on project development or resource definition and two posted on deals or corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Silver Spruce added a second rig to Drilling at El Diamante. In Chihuahua, Mammoth Resources informed on drill targeting at Tenoriba.  ON MINING, Fortuna Silver and Excellon Resources released Q2 2021 reports. Americas Gold and Silver updated on the re-opening plan at its Cosalá operations. ON FINANCING, Altaley Mining executed a 12 M loan agreement for the development of Tahuehueto. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexican Gold Mining continues work on Cerro Las Minitas PEA. Sonoro Gold released results from surface rock chip sampling at Cerro Caliche. Southern Silver Exploration reported diamond drill results from Cerro Las Minitas. GoGold Resources released drilling results from Los Ricos North.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Sierra Madre Gold and Silver signed an option agreement on the acquisition of the La Tigra project in Nayarit. Vizsla Silver is to exercise the option to acquire 100% of the Panuco-Copala district in Sinaloa.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC informed on the several projects that the companies provide for the education of young people on several areas of Mexico, especially in digital platforms. Conalep and the New Mexico Institute of Mining signed an agreement to enhance the learning of students across the borders.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No Relevant News.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Mammoth Resources Corp. informed on drill targeting activities at Tenoriba, in Chihuahua. “The Company has extended drill targets an additional 1.7 kilometres (km), for a total of over 4.0 km from its previously announced initial 2.4 km of the 3-dimensional (3D) modelling of its infill, Induced Polarization/Magnetometer (IP/Mag) geophysical survey”. Work in the project by previous operators, Mammoth and Centerra includes over 6,000 soil samples, more than 750 rock chip samples, 151 m of surface channel samples, 26 diamond drill holes, IP and magnetic geophysical surveys, mapping, and spectral identification of alteration minerals.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is to continue its phase 1 reverse circulation drilling at El Mezquite in Sonora. Seven holes have been already completed, and a second rig has been added to the property to complete the 2,475 m of drilling. “The Phase 1 RC program comprises 20 holes with a combined depth of 2,475 metres (950 metres completed) and will utilize eight drill pad locations focused around a 400m x 600m area with elevated precious metal values to 3.41 g/t Au and 387 g/t Ag”.

ON MINING

  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. reported production results for the second quarter 2021. At its San José mine in Oaxaca, 1.62 M Oz Ag, 10,266 Oz Au were produced from ore averaging 205 gpt Ag, 1.30 gpt Au. Production and cost guidance for 2021 is 5.8-6.5 M Oz Ag, 38-42 K Oz Au at an AISC of US$12.2-14.5 per Oz AgEq.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. announced Q2 2021 production results from its Platosa mine in Durango. A total of 21.8 K tonnes were mined, and 21.6 K tonnes were milled @ 489 gpt Ag, 5.14% Pb, 6.48% Zn, recovering 87.0% Ag, 78.6% Pb, 79.4% Zn, to produce 296 K Oz Ag, 1.93 M Lb Pb, 2.46 M Lb Zn.
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. provided an update on the re-opening plan of its Cosalá operations in Sinaloa. The Company and Government Labour inspectors jointly visited the mine and mill and both appear in good condition. “Mexican government inspectors from the Mexican Ministry of Labour will be in Cosalá this week to review the re‐start plans, which will allow the Company to begin recalling employees immediately following the completion of the inspection assuming compliance with the terms of the July 6, 2021 agreement“. The company expects the mine and the mill to be operating by the end of July, and the operation also has 70 K tonnes of ore stockpiled and ready to process.

ON FINANCING

  • Altaley Mining Corp. executed a US$12 M loan facility agreement with Accendo Banco S.A. Institución de Banca Múltiple, to complete the final part of it’s previously announced US$25 M Accendo syndicate funding plan to complete the construction and ramp-up of its Tahuehueto project in Durango (Campo Morado, Guerrero).
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp. announced that its common shares are eligible for electronic clearing and settlement through the Depositary Trust Co. in the United States. “DTC is a subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, a U.S. company that manages the electronic clearing and settlement of publicly traded companies. Securities that are eligible to be electronically cleared and settled through DTC are considered to be “DTC eligible” (Zacatecas Silver, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp. announced work continues to produce the PEA on its Las Minas project in Veracruz, within three weeks.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. reported assay results from surface sampling at its Cerro Caliche property in Sonora. With 1,292 soil and rock samples collected, a 600 m southern extension and a 750 m extension were confirmed on the El Colorado-La Ventana and the Buena Suerte-San Quintin corridors, with 23.7 m @ 1.7 gpt Au (including 5.5 m @ 6.0 gpt Au) in the former and 52.6 m @ 0.2 gpt Au in the latter.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. reported diamond hole drilling results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Highlighted true width intervals comprise 1.4 m @ 719 gpt Ag, 14.2% Pb, 16.0% Zn; 0.4 m @ 541 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 8.8% Pb, 4.0% Zn in the South Skarn target, and 0.5 m @ 452 gpt Ag, 0.5 gpt Au, 2.8% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 0.5 m @ 312 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 2.8% Pb, 0.6% Zn in the Huizache chimney in the Mina La Bocona area. “Current modelling has identified three panels of mineralization at the South Skarn target, the largest of which can now be traced laterally for approximately 400 metres and up to 580 metres down-dip”.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released results of eight diamond drill holes from El Orito area in the Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 41.2 m @ 10 gpt Ag, 0.01 gpt Au, 0.06% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 33.3 m @ 19 gpt Ag, 0.03 gpt Au, 0.08% Cu, 1.1% Pb, 1.7% Zn; 13.0 m @ 30 gpt Ag, 0.02 gpt Au, 0.22% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 3.0 m @ 19 gpt Ag, 0.02 gpt Au, 0.34% Cu, 1.3% Pb, 1.6% Zn; 18.0 m @ 51 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.06% Cu, 0.4% Pb (including 1.9 m @ 230 gpt Ag, 0.34 gpt Au, 0.23% Cu, 1.0% Pb; 54.3 m @ 97 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 0.70% Cu, 2.9% Pb, 5.4% Zn; 38.1 m @ 32 gpt Ag, 0.03 gpt Au, 0.17% Cu, 1.9% Pb, 2.7% Zn; 69.1 m @ 26 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 0.14% Cu, 1.0% Pb, 1.6% Zn (including 4.0 m @ 149 gpt Ag, 0.25 gpt Au, 0.70% Cu, 3.2% Pb, 6.9% Zn). “The holes that the Company has drilled to date at El Orito have shown mineralization averaging approximately 30m in width for more than 700m in strike length and up to approximately 300m in vertical depth from surface and is open in all directions”.
  • Minera Alamos Inc. informed that its Santana project in Sonora continues to advance as programmed despite the above average rainfall to date in the area. The press release describes all the progress in leach solution systems, overliner placement, crushing and screening, grade procedures and mining.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. Entered into a purchase agreement with an option to joint venture with Industrial Minera México S.A. de C.V. (IMMSA) for the 357 ha. La Tigra project in Nayarit, 150 km north of its flagship’s Tepic project. The agreement involves payment of US$1.5 M over three years, with Sierra Madre obliged to produce a 43-101 technical report before the end of the period. IMMSA holds a 2.5% NSR royalty of which Sierra Madre can acquire 1.5% for US$1.5 M.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. signed a binding agreement with Minera Rio Panuco S.A. de C.V. and executed a binding option exercise notice with Silverstone Resources which together constitute the acceleration and exercise of the option to acquire 100% of the Panuco-Copala district in Sinaloa. Vizsla has to pay $US4.25 M upon signing, issue US$12 M in Vizsla shares before August 10, 2021; and make a cash payment of $US6.1 M before February 2022.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC  informed on the several projects that the companies support provide for the education of young people on several areas of Mexico, especially in digital platforms.
  • Conalep (Colegio Nacional de Estudios Profesionales y Tecnicos) and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology signed an agreement to enhance the learning of Mexican and American students.

On the image below:  Intense quartz veining in a granitic intrusive rock in Sinaloa. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 27th week of the year (July 5th to July 11th, 2021), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, six companies posted exploration advances on their properties, four on quarterly production and one about the end of an illegal blockade 17 months long, one posted on financing, five more on project development or resource definition and one posted an update on a law suite. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the illegal blockade on Americas Gold and Silver Cosalá operations in Sinaloa was terminated. Mexico has fallen 13 places on the Fraser’s Index on Mining Attractiveness, affected by perceptions on security and rule of law. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Benjamin Hill Mining released surface assay results high in Cu and Au; Tocvan Ventures released results from RC drilling at Pilar. In Sinaloa, Brigadier Gold released drilling and underground sampling results from Picachos. In Durango, Canasil started drilling at Nora. In Zacatecas, Zacatecas Silver signed surface access agreements to the San Gill zone at its Zacatecas Silver project. In Oaxaca, Madoro Metals updated on exploration at Yautepec. ON MINING, GoGold Resources, Gatos Silver, Endeavour Silver and Torex Gold presented second quarter 2021 production results. Americas Gold and Silver signed an agreement with several ministries to reopen Its Cosalá operations in Sinaloa.  ON FINANCING, Gold79 Mines commenced trading on the OTCQB Venture Market in USA. Minaurum Gold closed a financing round for C$9.2 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Southern Silver released drilling results from Cerro Las Minitas in Durango. GR Silver Mining, reported drill hole results from Plomosas in Sinaloa. Capitan Mining reported RC holes results from Peñoles, Durango. Guanajuato Silver provided drilling results from Pinguico, Guanajuato. Fabled Silver reported underground drilling results from Santa Maria, Chihuahua. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Excellon Resources informed on a legal suite regarding the Miguel Auza mine in Zacatecas. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fresnillo PLC, Minera Autlán and Newmont Peñasquito informed on activities supporting sports, the environment and community equipment in different localities.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mexico has fallen 13 places in the Fraser’s Index of Mining attractiveness from 2008 to 2020. Investment also saw a 42.8% reduction in the same period, including some effect by the pandemic. Security, labor regulations, political instability, lack of mining concessions and a nationalization streak in the current government were cited as deterrents to investment in the country. Those viewpoints are reflected in less investment, less employment and fewer opportunities to find new orebodies, factors that will lead to  reductions in production and taxes to be paid in the coming years.
  • The illegal blockade on Americas Gold and Silver Cosalá operations is off. After 17 months of illegal blockade, the negotiations aided by the federal government can hardly be called a success. Events like this one add to the deterioration on the global perception of Mexico as a good place for mining investment.
  • The AIMMGM (Asociación de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgista y Geólogos de México) stated through its president Sergio Almazán, that investment in the Mexican mining sector has been affect by the lack of certitude.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. released assay results from surface sampling at the Caracahui, Caracahui Norte and Sonora Copper areas from its Sonora Gold property in Sonora. Some of the highlighted comprise: 0.1 gpt Au, 12.2% Cu, 80 gpt Ag; 1.7 gpt Au, 10.2% Cu, 15 gpt Ag; 4.4% Cu, 8 gpt Ag; 0.2 gpt Au, 4.3% Cu, 25 gpt Ag; 1.2 gpt Au, 2.4% Cu, 98 gpt Ag; 0.1 gpt Au, 1.9% Cu, 3 gpt Ag; 0.6 gpt Au, 1.5% Cu, 24 gpt Ag; 2.2 gpt Au, 0.9% Cu, 17 gpt Ag; 15.9 gpt Au, 0.4% Cu, 3 gpt Ag; 3.3 gpt Au, 0.1% Cu, 47 gpt Ag; 2.5 gpt Au, 0.1% Cu, 65 gpt Ag; 2.4 gpt Au, 0.5% Cu, 7 gpt Ag; 2.2 gpt Au, 0.9% Cu, 17 gpt Ag; 2.0 gpt Au, 0.3% Cu, 53 gpt Ag. “The recent advancement of exploration on the Sonora Gold concession has identified expansive copper mineralization along broadly continuous structural trends which have not yet been fully explored”.
  • Canasil Resources Inc. announced the start of the 2021 drill program at the Nora project in Durango. The initial focus is to test below, between and on strike extensions from high-grade Au and Ag intercepts from the 2020 program. Highlighted true width intercepts from the previous campaign include 2.40 m @ 4.78 gpt Au, 351 gpt Ag; 1.49 m @ 11.86 gpt Au, 378 gpt Ag and 3.05 m @ 3.71 gpt Au, 489 gpt Ag, with Pb, Zn, Cu credits.
  • Brigadier Gold Ltd. released drilling and underground sampling results from its Picachos project in Sinaloa. Highlighted underground sampling results comprise 0.3 m @ 31.4 gpt Au, 11 gpt Ag, 0.2% Cu, 0.5% Pb, 2% Zn; 3.2 m @ 7.43 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 0.9 m @ 4.64 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 0.5 m @ 38.88 gpt Au, 22 gpt Ag, 0.4% Cu, 1.7% Pb, 1.5% Zn; 1.0 m @ 12.79 gpt Au, 8 gpt Ag, 0.1% Cu, 0.9% Pb, 0.9% Zn. A surface trench returned 8 m @ 2.14 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 6.5 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag; 60.3 m @ 0.41 gpt Au, 0.2% Zn (including 4.5 m @ 0.56 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn and 7.5 m @ 0.98 gpt Au, 0.1% Zn); 113 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn (including 1 m @ 6.89 gpt Au, 0.1% Zn; 4 m @ 1.85 gpt Au; 1 m @ 5.51 gpt Au, 0.1% Zn); 123 m @ 0.27 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn (including 4 m @ 1.08 gpt Au; 4 m @ 1.10 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 1.7% Zn; 1 m @ 3.51 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb).
  • Madoro Metals Corp. provided an update on recent exploration results from its Yautepec project in Oaxaca. A previously unknown 7 km long trend of epithermal alteration was found in the southern part of the project by company geologists. Highlighted results comprise 0.10 m @ 12.35 gpt Au, 1,250 gpt Ag in a quartz vein grab sample within a stockwork complex 400 by 200 m in the Tecolote zone; 0.10 m vein @ 0.54 gpt Au, 0.16% Cu, 1.3% Zn on the Southern Dike zone.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp. completed access agreements with landowners at the San Gill breccia zone and San Gill vein system at its Zacatecas Silver project in Zacatecas. Environmental reports have been sent to SEMARNAT for the drilling of the Panuco and San Gill systems, and a third one is being prepared for El Cristo zone.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. released results from six reverse circulation drill holes at its Pilar project in Sonora. The phase II program sunk over 3,500 m in 20 holes, highlighted core length intervals comprise 44.22 m @ 0.41 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag (including 7.63 m @ 1.66 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag); 47.27 m @ 0.75 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag (including 12.20 m @ 1.12 gpt Au and 19.82 m @ 1.06 gpt Au).

ON MINING

  • GoGold Resources Inc. reported production of 315.6 K Oz Ag, 3,170 Oz Au, 120 tonnes Cu during the second quarter of 2021 at its Parral tailings project in Chihuahua.
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. signed an agreement with the Mexican Ministries of Economy, Interior and Labour committing to a reopening of its Cosalá operations in Sinaloa, shut by an illegal blockade spanning 17 months. “After the long period of denied access, the agreement contemplates immediate right to possession of the property with a joint inspection coordinated by the Ministry of Labor this Thursday, so that the mine can restart operations in a safe and sustainable manner”.  
  • Gatos Silver Inc. released its production report for the second quarter of 2021, which constitute a record for the company. A total of 240 K tonnes were mined, 230.6 K tonnes were milled at a daily rate of 2,535 tonnes, with an average grade of 322 gpt Ag, 0.35 gpt Au, 2.51% Pb, 4.41% Zn, with recoveries of 89% Ag, 63% Au, 90% Pb, 75% Zn, to produce 2.1 M Oz Ag, 1.5 K Oz Au, 11.2 M lb Pb, 14.5 M Lb Zn in Pb and Zn concentrates.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. reported production results for the second quarter 2021. During the period 1.07 M Oz Ag, 11,166 Oz Au were produced. The El Cubo mine in Guanajuato was sold to Guanajuato Silver Corp..
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. released production results for Q2 2021. At its El Limón-Guajes mine in Guerrero, a total of 118,050 Oz Au was produced, with an average plant throughput of 11,980 tpd, average underground ore mined of 1,420 tpd and an average open pit ore mined of 12,430 tpd.

ON FINANCING

  • Gold 79 Mines Ltd. commenced trading on the OTCQB Venture Market in the United States, operated by the OTC Markets Group Inc., under the stock symbol AUSVF (Taviche , Oaxaca).
  • Minaurum Gold Inc. closed a previously announced bought deal public offering, for gross proceeds of C$9.2 M. Due to the demand, the offering was upsized from the original gross proceeds of C$7 M. The offering included an investment from Crescat Capital (Alamos Silver, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. released drilling results that extend mineralization at the South Skarn and La Bocona areas at its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. True width core intervals comprise 1.8 m @ 161 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 4.9% Pb, 3.0% Zn (including 0.4 m @ 422 gpt Ag, 0.4 gpt Au, 13.2% Pb, 9.1% Zn); 2.6 m @ 159 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 2.4% Pb, 3.5% Zn; 14.0 m @ 162 gpt Ag, 0.2 gpt Au, 1.4% Pb, 0.5% Zn; 1.1 m @ 227 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 3.7% Pb, 1.9% Zn. As of May 2019, the indicated resources stood at 37.5 M Oz Ag, 40 M Lb Cu, 303 M Lb Pb, 897 M Lb Zn; and inferred resources at 45.7 M Oz Ag, 76 M Lb Cu, 253 M Lb Pb, 796 M Lb Zn.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. reported results from the final drill holes to be incorporated in to the incoming resource estimation on the Plomosas mine area of the Plomosas project in Sinaloa. True width highlighted intervals comprise 29.5 m @ 1.13 gpt Au, 0.1% Zn (including 9.1 m @ 2.12 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn); 6.4 m @ 0.81 gpt Au, 0.1% Zn; 3.6 m @ 163 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 6.4% Pb, 3.7% Zn, 0.2% Cu; 6.1 m @ 120 gpt Ag, 0.48 gpt Au, 2.8% Pb, 0.7% Zn, 0.1% Cu; 0.9 m @ 5.24 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 11.8 m @ 328 gpt Ag, 0.19 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 1.0 m @ 680 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 2.4% Zn; 4.9 m @ 143 gpt Ag, 1.2% Pb, 4.3% Zn.
  • Capitan Mining Inc. reported results for four reverse circulation drill holes from the Capitan deposit at its Peñoles project in Durango. Highlighted intervals comprise 56.4 m @ 0.58 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag (including 10.7 m @ 0.99 gpt Au, 16 gpt Ag); 38.1 m @ 0.26 gpt Au; 6.1 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 187.5 m @ 0.23 gpt Au, 1 gpt Ag (including 29.0 m @ 0.51 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag); 10.7 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag; 41.1 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag. Capitan Mining expects to complete a 6,000 m reverse circulation program during the summer whilst continuing exploration work on additional targets.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. provided drilling results from El Pinguico, Guanajuato. Highlighted core length results comprise 1.65 m @ 2.45 gpt Au, 125 gpt Ag; 7.95 m @ 1.35 gpt Au, 39 gpt Ag (including 0.75 m @ 8.81 gpt Au, 208 gpt Ag); 8.10 m @ 1.00 gpt Au, 93 gpt Ag (including 0.90 m @ 5.96 gpt Au, 476 gpt Ag). GS Silver is planning a 3,800 m 18-hole strong drill program, with the aim of estimating resources.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. announced results from underground drilling at the Santa Maria property in Chihuahua. Results comprise 9.90 m @ 0.08 gpt Au, 17 gpt Ag, minor (<0.1%) Pb-Zn-Cu; 1.20 m @ 0.08 gpt Au, 13 gpt Ag, minor Pb-Zn-Cu; 18.0 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag, minor Pb-Zn-Cu; 2.40 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 36 gpt Ag, minor Pb-Zn-Cu; 0.80 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 302 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.25% Zn; 6.30 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 17 gpt Ag, minor Pb-Zn-Cu.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Excellon Resources Inc. informed on the legal action regarding the Antigua concession within its Evolution project in Durango. A subsidiary of Excellon, San Pedro Resources SA de CV has been mandated in court to pay US$23 M in damages for not having in operation the Miguel Auza mine. “Excellon understands from an initial electronic notice that San Pedro’s appeal of this decision to the federal courts of Mexico was dismissed on July 1, 2021, despite the decision not being supported by the evidence, facts or law”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Fresnillo PLC informed on the re-activation of sports programs in Coahuila.
  • Minera Autlán supports an environmental project in Hidalgo.
  • Fresnillo PLC backs the environment in Durango, aiding the El Porvenir sustainable forest.
  • Newmont Peñasquito installed a solar powered pumping system at El Nuevo Vergel, Zacatecas.

On the image below:  Structure in andesitic rocks exposed on a road cut in Sonora. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 23rd week of the year (June 7th to June 13th, 2021), at least 25 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, six companies posted exploration advances on their properties, three posted on financing ($2.6M, $1.43 M, C$11.5 M) and one on a debt settlement with shares, six more on project development or resource definition and three posted on deals or corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The bodies of seven miners killed on a coal mine collapse in Coahuila have been recovered. ON EXPLORATION, in Baja, Comet Resources commenced a drill program at Santa Teresa. In Sonora, Minaurum is re-commencing drilling at its Alamos Silver project; Silver Spruce commenced phase II ground exploration at Jackie; Tarachi Gold released RC drilling results from La Dura mine at its Tarachi project. Radius gold released ground exploration results from Maricela. In Sinaloa, Kootenay Silver released good drilling results at Copalito.  ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, Santacruz Silver settled a C$4.5 M debt by issuing shares to debtors. Three companies informed on financing rounds: Silver Viper Minerals ($1.4 M, aggregate $6 M), Mammoth Resources ($2.6 M) and Defiance Silver (C$11.5 M). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GR Silver Mining reported drill results from Plomosas, in Sinaloa. Endeavour Silver released high-grade intercepts at Terronera, Jalisco. Advance Gold released (low) lithium drilling results from the Saldivar Salar in San Luis Potosi. GoGold Resources reported drilling results from Los Ricos North in Jalisco. Golden Tag Resources released drilling results from a bulk tonnage target at San Diego, Durango. Golden Minerals reported assay results from expansion drilling at Rodeo, Durango.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Millrock Resources and Tocvan Ventures signed a letter of commitment in relation to El Picacho project in Sonora. Telson Mining completed its change name to Altaley Mining. VanGold Mining announced its name change to Guanajuato Mining. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC informed on actions the companies realize to help the environment. Mazapil inhabitants evaluated the water quality they receive with Minera Peñasquito support.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The bodies of six of seven miners have been recovered after the collapse of a coal mine in Coahuila.
  • Luisa María Alcalde, head of the Secretariat of Work and Social Prevision informed the mine collapse in Coahuila that caused several fatalities was due to strong rains in the region.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Kootenay Silver Inc. released results from five holes at its Copalito project in Sinaloa. The holes are from the 5 Señores vein, which has now been tested on 600 m of its 1 km known extension. Highlighted core length results comprise 35 m @ 75 gpt Ag, 0.6 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb+Zn (126 gpt AgEq) which include 1.70 m @ 43 gpt Ag, 2.56 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb+Zn (218 gpt Ag) and 1.31 m @ 264 gpt Ag, 0.23 gpt Au, 2.3% Pb+Zn (326 gpt AgEq); 19.43 m @ 218 gpt Ag, 0.83 gpt Au, 1.5% Pb+Zn (306 gpt AgEq) including 7.97 m @ 330 gpt Ag, 1.23 gpt Au, 2.0% Pb+Zn (456 gpt AgEq); 15.0 m @ 61 gpt Ag, 0.75 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb+Zn (119 gpt Ag) including 2.0 m @ 220 gpt Ag, 3.79 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb+Zn (475 gpt AgEq); 12.0 m @ 66 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb+Zn (96 gpt AgEq) including 2.20 m @ 241 gpt Ag, 0.42 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb+Zn (289 gpt AgEq); 10.0 m @ 65 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb+Zn (79 gpt AgEq) including 1.68 m @ 210 gpt Ag, 0.45 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb+Zn (248 gpt AgEq).
  • Minaurum Gold Inc. informed on rig mobilization to its Alamos silver property in Sonora. “Drilling will focus on defining emerging silver shoots in previously explored veins as well as discovering new shoots in underexplored veins. Drill targets will be 100- to 150-metre step-outs of, up- and down-dip, and along-strike of mineralized vein zones, with allowances made for plunging shoots. Minaurum is also continuing reconnaissance work to the south and west in the Alamos project to develop new target veins for later drilling”. Some of the zones to be tested include the Europa-Guadalupe, San José, Minas Nuevas, Alessandra, Ana, Promontorio, Púlpito and Cotera.
  • Comet Resources Ltd. Commenced a 2,000 m diamond drilling program at Santa Teresa, in Baja California. This is the first drilling program since Premier Gold tested the property in 2008.
  • Radius Gold Inc. defined high grade and bulk tonnage targets at its Maricela project in Sonora. Rock chip sampling returned up to 3 m @ 4.46 gpt Au, 1,335 gpt Ag; 22.0 m @ 0.15 gpt Au, 39 gpt Ag; 4 m @ 1.23 gpt Au, 111 gpt Ag at Baby Gloria, 25.3 m @0.31 gpt Au, 62 gpt Ag; 10 m @ 0.62 gpt Au, 142 gpt Ag at Virgen de Plata, 4 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 98 gpt Ag; 10.5 m @ 0.50 gpt Au, 105 gpt Ag at EL Arco; 6 m @ 1.03 gpt Au, 417 gpt Ag at Central. “The project hosts an epithermal silver & gold mineralized vein system extending approximately 1.5km long by 300m wide, within which occurs multiple veins, stockworks and breccias which at intersections have exposed widths +25 meters. Recent mapping and sampling (273 rock chips) identified 6 major veins with combined strike approximately of 5km”.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. commenced phase II ground exploration at the 1,130 ha Jackie property in Sonora. “The work will be performed on a 100-hectare section of the Property with grid-controlled detailed geological mapping and rock sampling focused on a 25-hectare central block covering the core of the gold and silver discovery area with additional wider spaced grid mapping of the surrounding area”.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp. released results from surface reverse circulation holes drilled on La Dura mine within the Jabali concession at the Tarachi project in Sonora. Highlighted hole-length intervals comprise 3.0 m @ 0.63 gpt Au, 9.0 m @ 0.22 gpt Au, 3.0 m @ 0.37 gpt Au, 3.0 m @ 2.35 gpt Au; 1.50 m @ 1.56 GPT Au; 12.0 m @ 7.26 gpt Au (including 6.0 m @ 12.2 gpt Au); 3.0 m @ 1.68 gpt Au, 12.0 m @ 0.23 gpt Au. “The drill program tested the down-dip and potential southern plunge in areas of known gold bearing structures”. 

ON MINING

  • No relevant news.

ON FINANCING

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. announced the settling of a debt of C$4.47 M by issuing 10.3 M shares to Empresa Minera Manquiri S.A. and Minas Guilloyna S.A. de C.V. (Zimapan, Hidalgo).
  • Mammoth Resources Corp. closed its previously announced oversubscribed non-brokered private placement financing to raise up to $2.6 M in gross proceeds (Tenoriba, Chihuahua).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp. closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement for aggregate proceeds of $1.43 M. Aggregate profits under the offering were $6 M (La Virginia, Sonora).
  • Defiance Silver Corp. closed the previously announced brokered private placement for Gross proceeds of C$11.5 M (San Acacio, Zacatecas; Tepal, Michoacan).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. reported drill results from the Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width (TW) intercepts on the northern portion of the Plomosas mine area of polymetallic hydrothermal breccia comprise 16.2 m @ 75 gpt Ag, 0.25 Au, 0.7% Pb, 0.8% Zn, 0.1% Cu (including 5.8 m @ 171 gpt Ag, 0.41 gpt Au, 1.1% Pb, 0.7% Zn, 0.2% Cu); 7.6 m @ 227 gpt Ag, 0.27 gpt Au, 1.7% Pb, 1.4% Zn, 0.1% Cu; 10.7 m @ 12 gpt Ag, 2.48 gpt Au, 1.1% Pb, 1.5% Zn (including 1.5 m @ 17 gpt Ag, 15.81 gpt Au, 1.1% Pb, 3.9% Zn); 3.6 m @ 100 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 1.1% Zn, 0.5% Cu; 21.0 m @ 25 gpt Ag, 0.67 gpt Au, 1.6% Pb, 2.4% Zn, 0.1% Cu).
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. announced high-grade intercepts in a number of structures near the Terronera vein at Terronera, Jalisco. True width intercepts comprise 1.12 m @ 0.32 gpt Au, 170 gpt Ag; 2.14 m @ 3.97 gpt Au, 73 gpt Ag; 5.59 m @ 2.17 gpt Au, 177 gpt Ag; 1.35 m @ 9.78 gpt Au, 214 gpt Ag at San Simón, 1.41 m @ 2.20 gpt Au, 54 gpt Ag; 2.88 m @ 6.05 gpt Au, 1,056 gpt Ag; 1.98 m @ 3.38 gpt Au, 347 gpt Ag; 1.39 m @ 2.04 gpt Au, 66 gpt Ag at Fresno, 1.08 m @ 2.63 gpt Au, 25 gpt Ag at Lindero, 1.08 m @ 1.09 gpt Au, 445 gpt Ag at Pendencia, and 1.95 m @ 9.52 gpt Au, 148 gpt Ag; 1.07 m @ 2.81 gpt Au, 54 gpt Ag at Los Cuates.
  • Advance Gold Corp. announced results from four core holes at its Saldivar Salar in San Luis Potosí. One hole averaged 84 m @ 136 ppm Li (232 ppm peak value), 225 ppm B, 1.3 % K; a second hole averaged 77 m @ 142 ppm Li (229 ppm peak value), 213 ppm B, 1.3% K; a third hole averaged 53 m @ 130 ppm Li (214 ppm peak value), 230 ppm B, 1.2% K; a fourth hole returned 50 m @ 137 ppm Li (231 ppm peak value), 226 ppm B, 1.4% K. 
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released results from drilling on El Orito prospect at it Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intersections comprise 9.5 m @ 20 gpt Ag, 0.03 gpt Au, 0.10% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 12.4 m @ 38 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 0.23% Cu, 2.1% Pb, 3.8% Zn (including 2.6 m @ 93 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.61% Cu, 5.3% Pb, 9.9% Zn); 3.0 m @ 222 gpt Ag, 1.93 gpt Au, 0.29% Cu, 2.7% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 44.3 m @ 23 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 0.08% Cu, 0.7% Pb, 1.2% Zn (including 4.9 m @ 44 gpt Ag, 0.16 gpt Au, 0.16% Cu, 2.5% Pb, 3.5% Zn); 26.6 m @ 14 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 0.07% Cu, 1.1% Pb, 1.3% Zn (including 5.1 m @ 38 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, 0.20% Cu, 4.5% Pb, 1.9% Zn); 29.4 m @ 36 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.23% Cu, 2.2% Pb, 4.1% Zn; (including 6.3 m @ 90 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.65% Cu, 5.2% Pb, 9.5% Zn); 23.0 m @ 61 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 0.40% Cu, 2.4% Pb, 4.9% Zn; 58.0 m @ 31 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 0.19% Cu, 1.2% Pb, 2.6% Zn. “mineralization averaging approximately 30m in width for more than 700m in strike length and up to approximately 300m in vertical depth from surface and is open in all directions….. The known strike length of the El Orito – El Favor structure is now approaching 2,500 meters and is still open in both directions”.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. released results from a diamond hole at the Trovador zone of its San Diego project in Durango. Highlighted results comprise 8.40 m @ 0.58 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.4% Zn, 0.09% Cu; 86.64 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 39 gpt Ag, 0.9% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 169.83 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 32 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.8% Zn, 0.05% Cu (including 14.47 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 81 gpt Ag, 1.9% Pb, 2.2% Zn, 0.12% Cu); 116.45 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 2.71 m @ 0.05 gpt Au, 97 gpt Ag, 0.5% Pb, 3.1% Zn, 0.35% Cu.
  • Golden Minerals Co. released initial results from its expansion drill program at its Rodeo open pit mine in Durango. Highlighted results comprise 14.65 m @ 3.94 gpt Au, 8 gpt Ag; 9.30 m @ 5.38 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag; 3.70 m @ 7.02 gpt Au, 21 gpt Ag (including 0.90 m @ 21.09 gpt Au, 50 gpt Ag); 13.75 m @ 2.64 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag, 6.35 m @ 1.41 gpt Au, 36 gpt Ag; 3.80 m @ 2.69 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. reported drill results from high-grade epithermal veining from La Colorada and San Juan veins at Plomosas, Sinaloa. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 9.0 m @ 710 gpt Ag, 1.82 gpt Au, 1.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn, 0.1% Cu (including 0.7 m @ 8,519 gpt Ag, 18.77 gpt Au, 8.9% Pb, 0.7% Zn, 0.2% Cu); 33.0 m @ 20 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 11.1 m @ 139 gpt Ag, 0.69 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 7.0 m @ 341 gpt Ag, 1.00 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, p.6% Zn; 2.1 m @ 480 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn. “The La Colorada vein is a hydrothermal breccia that contains Au-Ag-Pb-Zn values in a mineralized quartz and hematite matrix. It is hosted in andesite and ignimbrite country rock. Sphalerite, galena and acanthite (Ag-bearing mineral) are found in the quartz veins.”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Millrock Resources Inc. signed a letter of commitment with Tocvan Ventures Corp. in relation to 2,414 ha El Picacho gold project in Sonora, west of the San Francisco mine. Tocvan must make make cash payments of US$2 M to the underlying concession owners over a five-year term to acquire 100% interest in the project, pay back taxes and Millrock is to retain a 2% NSR, of Which Tocvan may purchase back 1% for US$1 M.
  • Telson Mining Corp. is completing its name change to Altaley Mining Corp. on June 11, 2021 (Campo Morado, Guerrero).
  • VanGold Mining Corp. announced the name change to Guanajuato Mining Corp. to be effective from June 10, 2021 (El Cubo and El Pinguico, Guanajuato).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC informed on actions the companies realize to help the environment.
  • Mesas Mazapil inhabitants informed on the supervision they do on the water source delivered by Minera Peñasquito.

On the image below:  Felsic volcanic rocks autobreccia with hematite rich matrix in Sinaloa. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 21st week of the year (May 24th to May 30th, 2021), at least 33 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, seven companies posted exploration advances on their properties, three presented mining related news, seven posted on financing (C$6M, $60 M, C$5 M, C$10 M, $2.6 M, $C$11.5 M) and one on share distribution, six more on project development or resource definition and two posted on corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, CanCham complained on the lack of clear policies and opacity on the rule of law that are affecting Canadian investments in Mexico.  The push from the Mexican government to create an institution to manage the lithium industry from the optics of sovereignty sees opposition from the mining industry, and reality. Camimex released a list of mining investments to be realized in the next few years, amounting to several billion dollars. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Ridgestone Mining applied for drilling permits at Rebeico. Tocvan Ventures released results from drilling at Pilar. In Chihuahua, Kootenay Silver released high-grade results from drilling at Columba. In Durango, Mithril Resources, updated on drilling at Copalquin. In Sinaloa, Riverside Resources released surface sample results; Vizsla Silver informed on geophysical results supported by drilling, and more surveys to come; Brigadier Gold discovered bulk tonnage copper mineralization in trenching of soil anomalies. ON MINING, Impact Silver and Telson Mining presented Q1 2021 results. Magna Gold informed it has exceeded 3 M man-hours of work without lost-time incidents. ON FINANCING, Silver Bull Resources is to distribute 34.2 M shares of Arras Minerals among its shareholders. Six companies informed on financing rounds: Silver Viper Minerals (C$6 M), Vizsla Silver ($60 M), Reyna Silver (C$5 M), Sable Resources (C$10M, Defiance Silver (C$11.5 M) and Mammoth Resources ($2.58 M). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Prime Mining released drilling results from Los Reyes. GR Silver Mining reported near surface drill results from Plomosas. GoGold Resources released drilling results from the Casados deposit at Los Ricos North. Discovery Silver released results from 12 drill holes targeting high-grade vein trends at Cordero. Sailfish Royalty filed a technical report with a new resource estimate for Gavilanes. Discovery Silver updated on exploration at Cordero, with 75,000 m of drilling completed on 178 holes, and four drills continuing the phase 2 program. Golden Tag announced the discovery of a shallow zone of epithermal mineralization at San Diego.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Mexus Gold informed Fresnillo PLC is reviewing its Santa Elena mine. Riverside Resources announced BHP is funding a third year of generative work in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC informed on their policies and programs to aid in education on a wide range of communities. Minera San Xavier informed Cerro San Pedro in San Luis Potosi has been declared as “Cyanide Free Site” by the International Cyanide Management Institute.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • CanCham (Cámara de Comercio de Canadá en México) pointed out that the lack of clear policies and the opacity on rule of law is affecting Canadian investments, which show an 18% decrement in the last year, holding the investment of thousands of millions (Mexican number notation) of dollars in the energy, mining, pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors. These remarks were expressed by Enrique Zorrilla, Cancham’s president, in the meeting between the Commerce ministers of Mexico, Canada and the United States.
  • Mexico is preparing its strategy to develop the lithium market. The federal government intends to become a lithium producer by controlling several deposits, Bolivia’s advice and a commerce treatise to facilitate establishing an electric battery factory. The current government senate fraction is preparing a proposal to create the Instituto Nacional del Litio. (Lithium National Institute) and to declare lithium as Nation’s exclusive property (Note. – This federal initiative push misses the point that so far there is not a single lithium mine in Mexico, that its lithium in brines potential is limited at best, and that the economics of lithium extraction from clays -like in the Bacanora Lithium’s deposit in Sonora- is not yet clear).
  • Fernando Alanís, president of Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) informed that lithium deposits in Mexico have a very low grade, and lack the technology for its extraction, reason for which the country is far from becoming a world power in lithium production. Lithium presents in three kind of deposits: hard rock (pegmatites), brines (from salt lakes) and clays. Rock and brine lithium extraction accounts for 100% of the world production, whereas the extraction of lithium from clays is very energy intensive and expensive, not having a single producing mine in the entire planet.
  • Camimex released a table with the Mexican Mining Developments programmed for the next few years, same that reach US$7,820 Million in investment (Mexican number notation, equivalent to US$7.8 billion).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Mithril Resources Ltd. provided an update on drilling at its Copalquin project in Durango. The current program main focus is to extend the Refugio ore shoot down dip (presently 600 m along strike, 200 m down dip, 5 m in width), maiden drilling at Los Pinos target, extend three holes and deep exploration drilling at La Soledad and extend near-surface intercepts at El Cometa.
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc. commenced permitting for drill programs at Guadalupe y Calvo, Chihuahua, and Rebeico, Sonora.
  • Riverside Resources Inc. reported surface sample results from its La Silla project in Sinaloa. The highlighted samples from the El Ciruelo and El Roble targets returned 6.1 gpt Au, 80 gpt Ag; 5.6 gpt Au, 81 gpt Ag; 4.4 gpt Au, 35 gpt Ag; 3.5 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag; 3.3 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag; 2.6 gpt Au, 41 gpt Ag, on quartz veining, gossanous breccia and strongly oxidized andesite. El Ciruelo target extends for at least 1 km with a 1-5 m wide chalcedonic vein zone. El Roble vein extends for at least 300 m, reaching up to 2 m in width, with mineralization occurring also in the host rock.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. provided an update on the recently completed geophysical survey completed at Panuco, in Sinaloa. A fixed loop electromagnetics (FLEM, or EM) was trialed and detected massive sulfide mineralization on the Napoleon and Josephine veins, proved with three massive sulfide intercepts in the latter. The Josephine vein has no known surface expression and runs parallel to the west of the main Napoleon trend. Mineralization at Tajitos is not related to massive sulfides and was not detected with EM. Vizsla is planning a property wide airborne EM-magnetic survey at Panuco.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. announced high-grade results from the 5,000 m core drill program currently underway at Columba, Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intervals in the Hanging-Wall, F, and Footwall veins comprise 1.55 m @ 189 gpt Ag, 0.1%Pb, 0.2% Zn; 1.0 m @ 104 gpt Ag, 0.1% Zn; 2.44 m @ 217 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 2.94 m @ 321 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.6% Zn (including 1.94 m @ 428 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.7% Zn); 8.0 m @ 130 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn (including 2.9 m @ 265 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.5% Zn); 1.95 m @ 104 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 9.0 m @ 354 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn (including 2.63 m @ 809 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.4% Zn); 30.0 m @ 86 gpt Ag (including 2.37 m @ 425 gpt Ag, 0.2% Zn).
  • Brigadier Gold Ltd. announced the discovery of bulk tonnage type copper mineralization at its Picachos project in Sinaloa. Fifty meters on trenching of historic copper anomalies has returned XRF copper values ranging from 0.05 to 1.34% Cu and 20 to 284 ppm Ag. Brigadier has also completed mapping and sampling of the historic La Gloria mine, where a drill hole intercepted 1.0 m @ 6.26 gpt Au.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. released results for the first three holes of its phase-II drill program at Pilar, in Sonora. The drill program consists of 2,900 m of reverse circulation drilling in 17 holes, of which 14 are pending results. Highlighted down-hole intercepts comprise 29 m @ 0.71 gpt Au (including 6.1 m @ 1.9 gpt Au); 24.4 m @ 0.56 gpt Au (including 9.2 m @ 1.3 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag); 6.1 m @ 0.48 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag; 4.6 m @ 0.50 gpt Au, 11 gpt Ag.

ON MINING

  • Impact Silver Corp. presented its financial and operating results of Q1 2021. During the period 36.4 K tonnes were processed @ 162 gpt Ag to produce 156.9 K Oz Ag. “continued exploration on the north and south extensions of the Veta Negra Mine, trenching on the bulk tonnage gold target at Manto America in the central part of the district and exploration on the northwest (Pachuqueno) extensions of the Guadalupe Mine”.
  • Magna Gold Corp. has exceeded 3 M man-hours of work without lost-time incidents within all its operations, including contractors and suppliers. The last lost-time incident was in 2018, and the mine has not had a fatal accident in its 11 years history.
  • Telson Mining Corp. presented its first quarter 2021 financial and operating results. At Campo Morado in Guerrero, 174.4 K tonnes were processed to produce 11,013 tonnes Zn (74% Zn recovery), 1,908 tonnes Pb at cash cost $0.70 per Lb Zn and AISC of $0.90 per Lb Zn. During the period gross revenue was $21.2 M (Q1 2020: $19.0 M) and mine operating profit $5.25 M (Q1 2020: $0.26 M loss).

ON FINANCING

  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. announced its intent to distribute 34.2 M shares of Arras Minerals Corp. to Silver Bull shareholders. Silver Bull transferred mineral properties in Kazakhstan and received 36 M shares of Arras in return, making Arras an approximately 88%-owned subsidiary of Silver Bull (Sierra Mojada, Coahuila).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp. intends to undertake a non-brokered private placement financing to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$6 M (La Virginia, Sonora).
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. entered into an agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters to buy units of the company for gross proceeds of $60 M (Panuco, Sinaloa).
  • Reyna Silver Corp. entered into an agreement with Eight Capital and Red Cloud Securities Inc. in connection with a private placement intended to raise up to C$5 M (Guigui and Batopilas, Chihuahua).
  • Sable Resources Ltd. entered into an agreement with Sprott Capital Partners LP and Eight Capital in connection with a bought deal private placement financing to raise up to C$10 M (Vinata, Chihuahua).
  • Mammoth Resources Corp. Announced a non-brokered private placement financing aiming to raise up to $2 M, same that by the next day had been increased to $2.58 M (Tenoriba, Chihuahua).
  • Defiance Silver Corp. has increased the size of its previously announced private placement with Red Cloud Securities Inc. for gross proceeds of up to C$11.5 M (Bolañitos and Pinguico, Guanajuato).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Prime Mining Corp. released additional results from its ongoing 15,000 m drill program at Los Reyes, Sinaloa. The Highlighted true width intercepts are from the Guadalupe East, Zapote South and the Estaca vein: 11.6 m @ 8.12 gpt Au, 725 gpt Ag; 5.6 m @ 11.95 gpt Au, 1,221 gpt Ag; 2.1 m @ 21.63 gpt Au, 1,960 gpt Ag; 2.0 m @ 11.17 gpt Au, 909 gpt Ag; 2.4 m @ 2.00 gpt Au, 121 gpt Ag; 1.4 m @ 10.50 gpt Au, 300 gpt Ag; 3.9 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 37 gpt Ag; 0.6 m @ 93.80 gpt Au, 829 gpt Ag.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. reported near surface drill results from the Plomosas mine area in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intervals comprise 11.9 m @ 84 gpt Ag, 2.3% Pb, 2.7% Zn, 0.1% Cu; 16.7 m @ 7 gpt Ag, 0.22 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 10.8 m @ 3 gpt Ag, 0.20 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 4.2 m @ 10 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.1%Pb, 0.6% Zn, 0.1% Cu; 2.1 m @ 350 gpt Ag, 1.0% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 1.9 m @ 348 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 1.3 m @ 26 gpt Ag, 0.19 gpt Au, 3.3% Pb, 3.3% Zn; 1.0 m @ 128 gpt Ag, 1.00 gpt Au, 9.0% Pb, 9.7% Zn, 0.2% Cu; 2.6 m @ 45 gpt Ag, 0.60 gpt Au, 3.0% Pb, 0.9% Zn; 4.7 m @ 187 gpt Ag, 0.18 gpt Au, 2.2% Pb, 1.2% Zn, 0.1% Cu; 2.0 m @ 277 gpt Ag, 0.22 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 1.9 m @ 283 gpt Ag, 0.82 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 1.0% Zn, 0.1% Cu.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released results of nine holes on the Casados deposit at the Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intersects comprise 29.9 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 70 gpt Ag; 15.5 m @ 0.27 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag; 34.4 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag; 5.3 m @ 0.65 gpt Au, 305 gpt Ag; 9.2 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 109 gpt Ag (including 1.9 m @ 0.61 gpt Au, 442 gpt Ag); 60.5 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag; 2.1 m @ 0.57 gpt Au, 322 gpt Ag; 54.1 m @ 0.37 gpt Au, 92 gpt Ag; 28.5 m @ 0.43 gpt Au, 100 gpt Ag (including 1.8 m @ 2.09 gpt Au, 418 gpt Ag); 14.0 m @ 0.46 gpt Au, 134 gpt Ag (including 5.3 m @ 1.04 gpt Au, 304 gpt Ag); 2.6 m @ 2.93 gpt Au, 610 gpt Ag.
  • Discovery Silver Corp. released results from 12 diamond drill holes testing the Josefina and Todos Santos high-grade vein trends at the Cordero project in Chihuahua. Highlighted intercepts on the Josefina vein trend comprise 41.5 m @ 97 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 2.5% Zn (including 4.1 m @ 520 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 3.0% Pb, 9.8% Zn and 3.3 m @ 182 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 3.4% Pb, 7.1% Zn); 13.1 m @ 112 gpt Ag, 0.13 gpt Au, 1.3% Pb, 2.2% Zn; 36.4 m @ 66 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 87.4 m @ 38 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 3.6 m @ 343 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 1.7% Pb, 2.7% Zn; 19.3 m @ 40 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 1.4% Zn); 22.4 m @ 156 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 1.7% Pb, 2.3% Zn (including 3.7 m @ 299 gpt Ag, 0.16 gpt Au, 3.9% Pb, 5.7% Zn). The Josefina vein trend includes two subparallel veins that run for 1.5 km, and has been tested to 370 m depth and remains open. The Todos Santos vein trend consists of two closely spaced veins, extends for at least 1.5 km along strike and 400 m of depth in old workings and drill holes. Highlighted intercepts comprise 62.0 m @ 19 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 21.4 m @ 46 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 1.9 m @ 113 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 2.4% Pb, 3.2% Zn; 3.7 m @ 96 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 1.8% Pb, 3.0% Zn; 2.1 m @ 160 gpt Ag, 0.27 gpt Au, 3.3% Pb, 3.6% Zn.
  • Sailfish Royalty Corp. filed a NI-43-101 technical report and estimate of mineral resources for the Gavilanes project in Durango.
  • Discovery Silver Corp. updated on its Cordero project in Chihuahua and informed that by the end of the first quarter 2021 had cash and cash equivalents for $94.7 M. At Cordero 75,000 m of drilling were completed in 178 holes in phase 1 drilling, providing information to be used in the bulk-tonnage preliminary economic assessment (PEA) underway. Phase 2 drilling continues with four rigs, focused on reserve definition, resource expansion and high-grade vein delineation. Bulk tonnage targeted drilling has returned up to 128.2 m @ 65 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 1.2% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 131.6 m @ 48 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.1% Zn (including 37.1 m @ 119 gpt Ag, 0.22 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 1.2% Zn); 110.0 m @ 37 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 85.6 m @ 53 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 1.4% Pb, 1.7% Zn. Drilling on high-grade veins has returned up to 4.1 m @ 520 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 3.0% Pb, 9.8% Zn in the Josefina vein; 4.0 m @ 377 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au, 7.1% Pb, 3.4% Zn in the Todos Santos vein and 4.4 m @ 246 gpt Ag, 0.39 gpt Au, 6.5% Pb, 0.4% Zn on the Parcionera vein.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. discovered a new zone of epithermal mineralization at the San Diego project in Durango. The new drill hole intercepted 10.0 m @ 0.55 gpt Au, 628 gpt Ag, 1.1% Pb, 3.6% Zn, 0.12% Cu, in a zone where previous drilling had returned 2.0 m @ 0.33 gpt Au, 161 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.2% Zn, 0.04% Cu; 3.75 m @ 0.32 gpt Au, 125 gpt Ag, 1.5% Pb, 4.0% Zn, 0.12% Cu. “The hole intersected a series of epithermal breccias and quartz-carbonate veins within the Central Diorite intrusion from 73.0 to 92.70 m which are characterized by cavity filling banded quartz and carbonate veins with fluorite and associated sulfides comprised primarily of pyrite, sphalerite, galena, boulangerite, and arsenopyrite”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Mexus Gold US. informed personnel from Fresnillo PLC is reviewing its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. The geologists are checking the potential for a disseminated deposit, as well as the quartz vein currently worked by Mexus.
  • Riverside Resources Inc. announced BHP and Riverside “have agreed on moving forward with a third year of generative funding for copper exploration in Sonora. The new budget is US$1.3 M for generative exploration work.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC informed on their policies and programs to aid on education in a widespread communities.
  • Minera San Xavier has been declared as “Cyanide Free Site” by the International Cyanide Management Institute. Cerro San Pedro is the first mine in the world that has realized the dismantling process of the 110 m high heap that covers 102 hectares (1 square kilometer).

Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group. On the image below:  Quartz-tourmaline breccia from a project in Sinaloa. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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Rich-silver banded quartz vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 20th week of the year (May 17th to May 23th, 2021), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 7 news published by the media, with nine reporting on resources and development, six informing on exploration results, five disclosing deals and corporate issues, five commenting on Mexican issues, five announcing financial rounds, three communicating production results, and two discussing social issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Minera Penmont (Fresnillo plc) thanked the President of Mexico for his comments on the insecurity registered in Sonora. Maria Luisa Albores, Head of the Ministry of Environmental and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), travel to Santa Rosalia to meets with businessmen and workers from El Boleo mining company. Plenary of the Guerrero State Congress approved recently the creation of the Mining Commission. Maria Luisa Albores, Head of the Ministry of Environmental and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) made a series of unfortunate statements against the Mexican mining industry.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Tocvan received permit for trenching and drilling at its the El Pilar project, Silver Spruce, JV partner of Colibri Resources on Jackie project, discovered a new high-grade exploration target in the property, Ridgestone completed another phase of exploration at its Rebeico project, and Minaurum provided an exploration update on their Alamos and Aurifero projects. In Sinaloa, Vizsla presented results from ten holes drilled on Tajitos Vein at its Panuco project. In Oaxaca, Minaurum provided an update on their Santa Marta and Aurena projects.  ON MINING, Consolidated Zinc provided an update of its Plomosas plant in Chihuahua. Minera Alamos announced that it has successfully executed the first planned production blasts at its Santana project in Sonora. Mag Silver presented Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas. ON FINANCING, Canasil closed an oversubscribed non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $790K (La Esperanza project, Zacatecas). Defiance announced a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $7.2M (San Acacio project, Zacatecas). Sonoro granted, under its share option plan, incentive stock options to certain directors, officers and consultants to purchase an aggregate of 2M (Cerro Caliche, Sonora). Telson granted incentive stock options to newly appointed directors totaling 2M (Campo Morado, Guerrero). Southern Silver announced that its common shares have commenced to trade on the OTCQX (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Silvertone announced the appointment of a mining contractor and commences to access underground workings at its La Frazada mining property in Nayarit. Azucar Minerals recommenced drilling at its El Cobre property in Veracruz. Capitan Mining released results from eight RC drill holes from its 2021 program on the Capitan gold zone in Durango. Endeavour announced drill results from its Bolañitos property in Guanajuato. GoGold presented results from eight drill holes collared at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Orex contracted SRK Consulting to conduct a resource estimation study on its Coneto property in Durango. Tarachi Gold completed a tailings drilling program at its Magistral project in Durango. Silver Tiger released drill results from its El Tigre project in Sonora.  Sailfish presented an updated mineral resource estimate on its Gavilanes property in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES; Fabled announced proposed spinout of its copper assets into Fabled Copper Corp (Santa Maria property, Chihuahua). Chesapeake announced results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Metates property, Durango). Comet Resources executed a binding agreement to acquire 100% interest in the La Sorpresa III tenement (Santa Teresa property, Baja California). Xali signed a new exploration and production agreement on El Dorado property in Nayarit. Riverside announced that it has recovered from Hochschild the Los Cuarentas project in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Minera San Xavier (New Gold) and the Archdiocese of San Luis Potosí, announced the reopening of the temple of San Pedro Apóstol in Cerro San Pedro, San Luis Potosi. The Mining Cluster of Sonora AC announced that it will promote a comprehensive safety and work-family balance in mining.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Minera Penmont (Fresnillo plc) thanked the President of Mexico for his comments on the insecurity registered in Sonora. Two years ago, Minera Penmont denounced before state authorities the commission of various crimes, including the invasion of their property, perpetrated by a criminal group that claims to be part of the ejido. This group has absolutely no legal arguments and intends to take over the private property of the company to carry out mining exploitation actions outside the law, without the concession required for it, nor the corresponding environmental permits, using dangerous and controlled materials, directly affecting the Mexican State, the environment, the company and maintaining its criminal acts in the region.
  • Maria Luisa Albores, Head of the Ministry of Environmental and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), traveled to Santa Rosalia to meets with businessmen and workers from El Boleo mining company.  She was entrusted with a consultation to find out the opinion of the population about the expansion of the environmental impact statement (MIA). Minera Boleo requested to expand the area of extraction, processing and shipment of copper minerals.
  • Plenary of the Guerrero State Congress approved recently the creation of the Mining Commission.  The president of the Political Coordination Board (Jucopo) of the local Congress, Alfredo Sánchez Esquivel pointed out that there is a real problem in the case of mining companies and the environment, for which the creation of this Commission was necessary. For his part, the state secretary of Promotion and Economic Development, Álvaro Burgos Barrera, considered the incorporation of a legislative commission to monitor the mining sector as highly relevant. He reported that in the current state administration headed by Héctor Astudillo Flores, governance allowed mining companies to invest approximately USD $2B in Guerrero.
  • Maria Luisa Albores, Head of the Ministry of Environmental and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) made a series of unfortunate statements against the Mexican mining industry. She assured that the country’s mining activity has caused strong environmental effects, monopolizing water and causing social inequality. Her statements are full of biased and wrong information and caused immediately the strong reaction of different actors of the mining sector. Specialists of the sector declared that the view of the federal government has on mining is wrong. CAMIMEX has indicated that of the total water consumption in Mexico, 77% is used by agriculture; 14% is for public use; 5% to generate energy and 4% for industrial use and of the latter only 0.9% corresponds to milling. CAMIMEX also stated that 74% of the water used by this industry is recycled and, of that amount, 55% is continuously reused. In addition, the mining sector has 70 sewage treatment plants in the communities where it operates. There are dams that capture rainwater, which is given to the municipality, piped and sent to homes, when it is necessary. A large percentage of companies carry out social and human rights proceedings. They generate social and environmental programs. In 2019, mining companies allocated MXP $7,450M to actions in favor of the environment and MXP $1,756M to community development, in addition to the MXP $3,496M that were paid to the Mining Fund. Many companies have the largest plant nurseries in the country and have large animal rescue zoos that are delivered to the State. Mining is one of the industries that produces and plants the most trees, 6.6M million trees produced in the nurseries of mining companies; 2.93 million trees planted reforesting an area of more than 3,000 hectares in 2019. The Mexican mining industry is over-regulated and has to comply with seven environmental permits in the stage of exploration and nineteen environmental permits throughout the life of a mine. For the reasons stated above, the mining sector rejects the indications that point to that its activity does not respect the norms of protection of the environment and that it does not generate social welfare for the neighboring communities. That is why the sector unlocks the doors to the authorities with an open invitation to visit the operations and verify for themselves these realities of the mining sector and reliably inform the population.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., received permit for additional seven trenches and forty four drill pads at its the El Pilar project in Sonora. The additional drill pads will be used during the current program and during a phase III program planned for the fall of 2021.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., JV partner of Colibri Resources Corp on Jackie project, discovered a new high-grade exploration target in the property. Silver Spruce discovered a high quality, broadly-zoned geochemical anomaly with multiple mineralized surface rock samples with >0.1 g/t Au and anomalous to highly anomalous base metal and pathfinders element values, ranging up to 9.65 g/t Au and 515 g/t Ag. The target is characterized by an extensive and intense oxide and silicate alteration, which consists of bleached and oxidized argillic zones with anomalous clay minerals and muscovite. Silver Spruce plans to conduct a grid sampling and mapping around this exploration target.
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc., completed another phase of exploration at its Rebeico project, which consisted of geologic mapping, prospecting and sampling around the past producing El Cobre mine. A total of 93 samples were collected and assays are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., provided an exploration update on their Alamos and Aurifero projects in Sonora, and Santa Marta and Aurena projects in Oaxaca.  At Alamos project, the company is planning to resume the phase II of its drilling program shortly, has completed a total of 30,000 m of drilling and discovered 26 separate vein zones. Minaurum is focused on systematically expanding silver shoots discovered in Phase I as well as continuing with aggressive exploration drilling focusing on new discoveries at unmined veins. At Aurifero project, the company has completed compilation of historical exploration data at Aurifero and has re-logged some of the available drill core from the project.  Minaurum will design a drill program and apply for necessary permits in the second half of 2021.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., presented results from ten holes drilled on Tajitos Vein at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. The most significant drill intersection was encountered in hole NP-21-29 with 1.56 g/t Au and 391 g/t Ag (513 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 7.76m, including 3.60 g/t Au and 1,157 g/t Ag (1,423 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.22m. Vizsla has drilled 32 holes at Tajitos Vein, showing an average weighted grade of 2.1 g/t Au and 329 g/t Ag (505 g/t AgEq) over an average vein TW of 3.08m. Mineralization extends over 575 metres in length, 250 metres deep and remains open to the northeast, southwest and at depth.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., provided an update on their Santa Marta and Aurena projects in Oaxaca. At Santa Marta project, the company has acquired regional mapping and sampling data indicate the likely presence of additional nearby VMS exploration targets that lie within Minaurum’s property holdings.  Minaurum has designed an initial drill program and submitted a drill permit for environmental approval. At Aurena project, it intends to continue holding and ultimately conducting a Phase II drill program, most efficiently in conjunction with an initial drill program at the nearby Santa Marta project.

ON MINING

  • Consolidated Zinc Limited provided an update of its Plomosas plant in Chihuahua. The Plomosas pant had its first continuous run performing at or better than designed operating capacity. The company also announced that the expansion of Plomosas plant from 100tpd to 200tpd is expected to be completed in Q4, 2021.
  • Minera Alamos Inc., announced that it has successfully executed the first planned production blasts at its Santana project in Sonora. After this, Minera Alamos has already begun on subsequent blasting as the Nicho Norte pit is opened up. This first material will be used to test the leaching circuit and commission the carbon plant prior to continuous loading of the heap leach pad as the Company takes a prudent approach to ramping up operations at Santana throughout the remainder of 2021 ahead of more steady state operation in 2022 and beyond.
  • Mag Silver Corp., presented Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas. The company processed 36,395 tonnes through the Fresnillo plant with 458 g/t Ag to produce 431.2K Oz Ag, 631 Oz Au, 306.9K Lb Pb, and 445.8K Lb Zn. Mag reported net sales of USD $10.1M, gross profit of USD $8.2M, net income before tax of USD $6.75M, net income after tax of USD $1.44M, resulting in a MAG equity pick up (44%) of USD $632K. The company also reported a CAPEX of USD $440K, and a cash and cash equivalent of USD $92.8K.

ON FINANCING

  • Canasil Resources Inc., closed an oversubscribed non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $790K. Gross proceeds will be used to fund continued drill programs on their projects in Durango and Zacatecas, and for working capital purposes (La Esperanza project, Zacatecas).
  • Defiance Silver Corp., announced a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $7.2M. Net proceeds will be used for exploration of their projects as well as for general working capital purposes (San Acacio project, Zacatecas).
  • Sonoro Gold Corp., granted, under its share option plan, incentive stock options to certain directors, officers and consultants to purchase an aggregate of 2M at a price of $0.3 per common share (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Telson Mining Corporation granted incentive stock options to newly appointed directors totaling 2M. The options will be exercisable at a price of $0.45 per share for a period of five years (Campo Morado, Guerrero).
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., announced that its common shares have commenced to trade on the OTCQX under the ticker symbol SSVFF (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Silvertone Metals Corp., announced the appointment of a mining contractor and commences to access underground workings at its La Frazada mining property in Nayarit. Over 3km of underground workings has been identified as being potentially accessible, work has commenced to clean and making safe adits and drifts which will be geologically mapped and systematically channel sampled. “Gaining access to the underground working, will give valuable geological information and help to confirm historical measured & indicated resource of 4.7M Oz Ag and Inferred resource of 3.86M Oz Ag. The information gained from underground will also assist in targeting diamond drilling to test for extensions of the mineralization.”
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd., recommenced drilling at its El Cobre property in Veracruz. The focus for the current drill program in 2021 will be in the Pedregal, Villa Rica, and Encinal Zones of the property. Initially one hole is planned for each area.
  • Capitan Mining Inc., released results from eight RC drill holes from its 2021 program on the Capitan gold zone in Durango. The most significant drill interception  was encountered in hole 21-CARC-24 which returned 0.34 g/t Au over 42.7m, including 0.56 g(/t Au over 10.7m. These last eight holes drilled at the property, completed the previously announced 6,000m drilling program, which consisted of 28 RC holes. All of the RC holes encountered dominantly oxide gold mineralization. “To date, the Capitan gold zone has been traced for over 1.2km long and up to 450m down-dip and remains open in all directions except to the north.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., announced drill results from its 2021 drilling program at its Bolañitos property in Guanajuato. The drilling program is focused on expanding the Melladito and Belen orebodies. Significant drill intersections were encountered in hole BN-64 collared on the Melladito HW vein which returned 8.09 g/t Au and 1,044 g/t Ag (1,611 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 1m, including 14.2 g/t Au and 1,974 g/t Ag (2,966 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.26m; and hole BL1.5S-4 collared on the Belen HW vein which returned 4.43 g/t Au and 148 g/t Ag (458 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.34m, including 13.22 g/t Au and 129 g/t Ag (1,054 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.19m. The company is currently producing from four orebodies at Bolañitos: Plateros, Lucero, San Miguel and Melladito.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented results from eight drill holes collared at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. The most significant drill intersections were encountered at El Orito area in holes LRGO-21-020 with 2.02 g/t Au, 168 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (331 g/t AgEq) over 11.8m, including 11.63 g/t Au, 832 g/t Ag, 0.05% Cu, 0.5% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (1,729 g/t AgEq) over 1.8m; and hole LRGO-21-027 with 0.1 g/t Au, 57 g/t Ag, 0.24% Cu, 2.2% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (145 g/t AgEq) over 53.4m, including 0.06g/t Au, 150 g/t Ag, 0.47% Cu, 7.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn (376 g/t AgEq) over 4.2m, plus another deeper interval of  0.04 g/t Au, 44 g/t Ag, 0.04% Cu, 0.4% Pb, and 0.3% Zn (72 g/t AgEq). The holes that the company has drilled to date at El Orito have shown mineralization averaging 30m in width over 700m in strike length and 200m in vertical depth from surface, and is open in all directions.
  • Orex Minerals Inc., Gold contracted SRK Consulting to conduct a Resource Estimation Study on its Coneto property in Durango. The database for Coneto includes 106 diamond drill holes totaling 38,516 metres on 12 vein targets. In addition to this study, a separate Metallurgical Study will be performed on each of the mineralized lodes.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., completed 37 drill holes at depths ranging from 1.3 to 14.5m using an auger drill and 70cm-long Shelby sample capture tubes at its Magistral Tailings project in Durango. The drilling program was part of the resource estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) being prepared by Ausenco Engineering. The drill samples will be assayed and representative composites prepared as part of the metallurgical test work being overseen by Ausenco Engineering.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., released drill results from its El Tigre project in Sonora. Hole ET-21-208A collared on the Benjamin Vein intersected 0.06 g/t Au, 382 g/t Ag, 0.17% Cu, 0.8% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (463 g/t AgEq) over 14.8m, including 0.06 g/t Au, 615 g/t Ag, 0.27% Cu, 1.2% Pb, and 1.9% Zn (735 g/t AgEq) over 8.8m, including 0.13 g/t Au, 2,451 g/t Ag, 1.12% Cu, 4.4% Pb, and 9.5% Zn ( 3,000 g/t AgEq)  over 1.3m. Hole ET 21-221 collared on the Sooy Vein intersected 4.22 g/t Au, 466 g/t Ag, 0.07% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (799 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m, plus 0.35 g/t Au, 80 g/t Ag,  0.02% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn (129 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m, and plus 0.2 g/t Au, 197 g/t Ag, 0.07% Cu, 0.1% Pb, and 0.02% Zn (222 g/t AgEq) over 1.2m.
  • Sailfish Royalty Corp., presented an updated mineral resource estimate on its Gavilanes property in Durango. The estimated underground inferred resources using a cutoff of 100 g/t AgEq,  are 2,883,000 tonnes of 207 g/t Ag, 0.15 g/t Au, 0.12% Cu, 0.6% Pb, and 0.4% Zn to contain 27.15M Lb Zn. 18.9M Oz Ag, 13.7K Oz Au, 7.77M Lb Cu, 37.9M Lb Pb, and 27.2M Lb Zn.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., announced proposed spinout of its copper assets into Fabled Copper Corp. Fabled will continue to focus on advancing its drill program on the Santa Maria silver property in Chihuahua.
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., announced results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Metates property, Durango).
  • Comet Resources Limited executed a binding agreement with American International Ventures Inc (AIVN) to acquire 100% interest in the La Sorpresa III tenement to extend its Santa Teresa project in Baja California. La Sorpresa is interpreted as the extension of the existence JORC resource at Santa Teresa. Comet has the right to acquire 51% through acquiring 51% of the shares of a newly established Mexican Company (NewCo) in consideration for Comet paying AIVN a total of AUD $600K to be satisfied by issuing AUD $400K in Comet shares and paying AUD $200K in cash at first completion. To obtain the remainder 49% interest, Comet will have to pay AUD $500K to be satisfied by issuing AUD $300K in Comet shares and paying AUD $200K in cash at second completion. In addition to the above, NewCo has to grant to AIVN a 1.5% NSR.
  • Xali Gold Corp., signed a new exploration and production agreement with Ingenieros Mineros, S.A. de C.V. (IMSA) on El Dorado property in Nayarit. Xali has the obligation to pay IMSA USD $30K per year until the commencement of commercial production, maximum of five years; USD $60K per year after five years or upon commencement of production. Once in production, Xali will pay a NSR of 3.5% until payments reach an aggregate amount of USD $350K of which USD $200K is payable in cash and USD $150K in Xali shares; 3% NSR to an aggregate of USD $600K; 2.5% NSR to an aggregate of USD $850K; and 1% NSR through the life of mine/operations. All annual payments are to be credited towards NSR payments.
  • Riverside Resources Inc., announced that it has recovered from Hochschild Mining the Los Cuarentas project in Sonora. Hochschild terminated the earn-in option after spending approximately USD $1.2M, including a 1,500m drilling program in nine holes. Riverside believes there are still untested seven targets with discovery potential.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera San Xavier (New Gold) and the Archdiocese of San Luis Potosí, announced the reopening of the temple of san Pedro Apóstol in Cerro San Pedro, San Luis Potosi. The conservation of the cultural and historical heritage of the place is one of the priorities of the Comprehensive, Inclusive and Participatory Plan for the Closure of Mina, which is why, from the beginning of the extractive activity, implemented a periodic program of topographic measurements to monitor the structural behavior of the building. All the works were coordinated with the Cerro de San Pedro City Council, the Archdiocese of San Luis Potosí and under the strict supervision of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
  • The Mining Cluster of Sonora AC announced that it will promote a comprehensive safety and work-family balance in mining. Mining is recognized for working with the highest safety standards and is even below the national average in accident rate according to data from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) and the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX). Mining is an industry that is always in constant training and promotes strategies to generate healthy work environments.

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, rich-silver banded quartz vein in an intermediate –sulphidation epithermal system in a project in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Mesothermal sheeted quartz veins

By Miguel A Heredia

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

ON MEXICO ISSUES

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

ON EXPLORATION

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

ON MINING

  • Golden Minerals Company reported Q1, 2021 production results from its Rodeo mine in Durango. The company processed 18,791 tonnes of 3 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 84.3% and 86.6% respectively to produce 1,390 Oz Au and 11,289 Oz Ag. It also announced its full year 2021 production guidance in which it expects to process between 125K-135K tonnes to produce 12K-14K Oz Au, and 25K-30K Oz Ag.
  • Gold Resource Corporation announced Q1, 2021 preliminary production results from its Oaxaca Mining Unit in Oaxaca. The company produced 5,019 Oz Au, 253,061 Oz Ag, 855.7K Lb Cu, 2.6M Lb Pb, and 7M Lb Zn.
  • McEwen Mining Inc., reported the production of 1,300 Oz AuEq (GEOs) from residual leaching at El Gallo mine in Sinaloa during the first quarter of 2021. 

ON FINANCING

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

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

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

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

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

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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

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

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

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

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 15th week of the year (April 12th to April 18th, 2021), as a sign of the strong current activity, at least 43 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, ten companies posted exploration advances on their properties, seven presented mining related news, six posted on financing or share options (including C$2.35 M, $3 M, C$14.1 M, C$5.6 M and $25 M), eight more on project development or resource definition and three posted on corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Francisco Quiroga, the ex-secretary of Mining has been appointed ambassador in Germany. The Sonora Mining Cluster has two new female counselors. Napoleon Gomez Urrutia and its SNTMMS Union have been condemned to pay US$54 M to some of its affiliates. A new Coordination has been created in the Economy Secretariat to promote mining. The CTM Union opposes the outsourcing reform that would decrease the participation of workers in the profits of mining companies. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Silver Spruce signed a LOI on the Diamante 1 and Diamante 2 projects; Ridgestone announced its exploration plan for the Rebeico property; Tocvan Ventures commenced phase II RC drilling at Pilar; Carlyle Commodities released good drilling results from Cecilia; Orogen informed its Lola and Sarape properties are being drilled by partners; Canuc Resources released information on the first drill hole on the present campaign at its San Javier Au-Ag project. In Chihuahua, Monarca Minerals signed a surface access agreement for its San Jose project; Kootenay Silver updated on drilling of its Columba project. In Sinaloa, Viszla Silver released drilling results from the Napoleon zone at its Panuco project. In San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas Advance Gold released results from auger sampling at several salars. ON MINING, Magna Gold, Fortuna Silver Mines, Sierra Metals, Excellon and First Majestic Silver released Q1 2021 production results. Consolidated Zinc announced the commencement of concentrate production from the recently refurbished plant at Plomosas in Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, Colibri Resources, Sonoro Gold, Santacruz Silver Mining, Heliostar Metals and Candelaria Mining released news on financing (with C$2.35 M, $3 M; $14.1 M, C$4 M and up to $25 M respectively). Defiance Silver completed its uplisting to the OTCQX Best Market ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Equinox Gold commenced the development of the Bermejal underground mine in Guerrero. Xali Gold submitted permit applications for the Mexico Mines Tailings project in El Oro, Estado de Mexico. Gatos Silver presented good drilling results from both extensions of the Cerro Los Gatos deposit in Chihuahua. Fabled Silver Gold released results from drilling at Santa Maria, Chihuahua. SilverCrest Metals released high-grade drilling results from several veins at Las Chispas, Sonora. Almaden Minerals is conducting an induced polarization survey at the Ixtaca deposit in Puebla. GoGold Resources released drilling results from El Favor zone at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Golden Tag Resources released results from drilling at its San Diego property in Durango.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, VanGold Mining closed with Endeavour Silver the acquisition of the El Cubo mine and mill complex in Guanajuato. Silver Spruce Resources signed a LOI with Colibri Resource on the Diamante 1 and Diamante 2 properties in Sonora. Empress Royalty executed a $5 M Silver Stream agreement with Telson Mining. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Francisco Quiroga Fernández, Mining ex-subsecretary was appointed ambassador of Mexico in Germany. Rare in the present administration, he’s a competent professional with experience in the private industry, and more than capable to develop and strengthen political and economic ties between the two countries.  
  • The Sonora Mining Cluster named Silvia Álvarez and Maria López Rosas as new counselors to the organism.
  • The Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros, Metalúrgicos y Similares de La República Mexicana (a strong Mining Union) and its leader Napoleón Gómez Urrutia have lost a legal law suit and have been condemned by the Junta Federal de Conciliación y Arbitraje to pay US$54 M. The Union received these funds from the sale of the Cananea mine 15 years ago, and was supposed to deliver that money to the at the time workers of the company in charge. The union failed to deliver the funds to the miners.
  • The Mexican president ordered by decree the creation of the Coordination of Extractive Activities on the Economy Secretariat. Said unit is to coordinate the mining activities of the State and actions to promote national and foreign investments in mining, among other activities.
  • The CTM Union (Confederación de Trabajadores de México) opposes the reform on outsourcing that would lower the amount the miners receive as participation on the company’s annual profits.  

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. signed a letter of intention (LOI) on two properties in Sonora, Diamante 1 and Diamante 2 covering 1,057 hectares. Historical assays from samples in the Diamante 1 and Diamante 2 properties, which display epithermal intermediate sulfidation mineralization have returned up to 39.8 gpt Au, 3,460 gpt Ag, 7.3% Pb, 5.6% Zn. Diamante 1 has already six main targets, including the La Prieta-El Aguaje vein system, which runs for 2,000 m averaging 1 m in width. At Diamante 2 The Calton area displays two vein 900 m and 1,100 m in length, ranging from 0.30 m to 1.70 m in width. The El Cumbro-Mezquite Raizudo veins follow a structural trend 900 m long, displaying an average width of 1 meter.
  • Advance Gold Corp. released results from auger drilling sampling at all the salars it recently acquired in Zacatecas and San Luis Potosí. The 0.5 m to 1 m of depth samples returned highlighted results of up to 650 ppm boron (B), 1.91% Potassium (K) and 620 ppm Lithium (Li). The average grade of the samples was 247 ppm B, 1.17% K and 215 ppm Li.
  • Monarca Minerals Inc. executed and ratified by a Notary Public the surface access agreement with both the Ejido and Colonia on its San Jose silver project in Chihuahua. The company is now to apply for the environmental permit that will allow it to conduct its planned 5,000 m drilling campaign.
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc. announced an exploration plan for its 3,459 hectares Rebeico project in Sonora. The current phase will comprise geologic mapping, sampling and prospecting, with focus on the New Year zone, the Santa Elena outcrop and El Cobre mine.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. announced the start of phase II of its drilling program at the Pilar project in Sonora. The two-stage 4,000 m reverse circulation (RC) drill program will focus first on the “definition and expansion of the Main Zone, which during Phase I returned 94.6-meters at 1.6 g/t Au including 9.2m at 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag”, and then to test the new targets across the property.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. reported it has completed 12 core drill holes totalling 1,800 m as part of its 5,000 m campaign at its Columba project in Chihuahua. Kootenay has tested the F vein and is now testing an area east of the J-Z zone.
  • Carlyle Commodities Corp. released the first batch of drill results from the Cecilia project in Sonora. The program consisted of seven holes, of which results have been received for five. The best intercept was 24.2 m @ 1.51 gpt Au. Other core-length highlighted intervals comprise 1.30 m @ 0.69 gpt Au; 5.95 m @ 0.20 gpt Au, 3.10 m @ 0.52 gpt Au; 9.45 m @ 0.23 gpt Au; 1.00 m @ 0.55 gpt Au; 3.45 m @ 0.35 gpt Au; 4.30 m @ 0.29 gpt Au; 6.10 m @ 0.43 gpt Au; 3.00 m @ 0.87 gpt Au. “The first drill program from Carlyle and Riverside was focused on targeting the hydrothermal system identified at two principal elevations: 2,200 m and 1,900 m, respectively corresponding to the San Jose Target and the North Breccia Target…… to test the continuity of the mineralized structures at shallow depth”.  
  • Orogen Royalties Inc. announced the commencement of drilling programs on two of its properties in Sonora. At La Lola, partner Heliostar Metals Ltd. has initiated a 1,500 m drilling program. At the 57.8 square km Sarape project, Orogen and partner Hochschild PLC commenced a planned 3,000 m program. Eight holes will be drilled on 2.5 km of the Sarape vein. “In 2019, nine holes drilled within a 380-metre-long segment of the vein defined a structural dilation zone at 100-350 metres depth (Figure 2). In this zone the vein thickens to 23.6 metres in width..…. A deeper horizon will also be drilled to identify if the grade of the vein improves with depth”.
  • Canuc Resources Corp. informed on drilling advance at its San Javier Ag-Au project in Sonora. The first hole of a planned 6,000 m program was ended at 89.5 m in a fault zone. It intersected brecciated sedimentary rocks with stockwork veining and three intervals of massive magnetite breccia. “The 20-hole program is designed to test at least 4 magnetic features that underlie areas where a 2020 mapping and rock sampling program identified silver, gold and copper mineralization. At surface, the host rocks for three of these features are found to be magnetite breccia”. The program is focused on magnetic anomalies identified by a previous survey.
  • Viszla Silver Corp. released drilling results from step out drilling at the southern extension of the Napoleon prospect at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. The Napoleon vein has been mapped for more than 2.5 km and has four rigs drilling at the time. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 4.46 m @ 890 gpt Ag, 19.99 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 1.8% Zn (including 0.92 m @ 3,804 gpt Ag, 91.91 gpt Au, 1.5% Pb, 3.5% Zn); 1.92 m @ 105.9 gpt Ag, 7.28 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 2.9% Zn (including 1.45 m @ 131 gpt Ag, 9.39 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 3.1% Zn)

ON MINING

  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. released production results for the first quarter 2021, including figures from its Mexican operations. At San José, in Oaxaca, 259.8 K tonnes @ 217 gpt Ag, 1.36 gpt Au were milled, recovering 90.8% Ag, 90.5% Au to produce 1.65 M Oz Ag, 10,301 Oz Au.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. announced the 2021 zinc concentrate “benchmark treatment charge (TC) has been agreed between the major miners and smelters at US$159.00/t of concentrate, a reduction of 47% from last year’s benchmark treatment charge of US$299.75/t”. Treatment charges in 2020 represented 33% of total operating costs (before by-product credits) being the single largest operating cost (Plomosas, Chihuahua).
  • Magna Gold Corp. informed production levels have benefited from the accelerated stripping program, resulting in month to month growth in gold production, with 3,085 ounces in January, 2,670 ounces in February and 4,030 ounces in March. Magna anticipates the mine will return to full scale commercial production by June of this year, with 2021 guidance in the range of 55,000 to 65,000 Oz Au. During the Q1 2021, 619 K tonnes were mined @ 0.34 gpt Au, with 5.2 M tonnes of waste moved (8.40 strip ratio) to produce 9,785 Oz Au, 8.1 K Oz Ag.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. reported first quarter 2021 production reports, including figures from its Mexican properties. At Bolivar, in Chihuahua, 371.6 K tonnes were processed @ 0.77% Cu, 19.7 gpt Ag, 0.19 gpt Au, recovering 82.8% Cu, 83.6% Ag, 69.6% Au, to produce 5.2 M Lb Cu, 197 K Oz Ag, 1,591 Oz Au (7.3 M Lb CuEq). At Cusi, also in Chihuahua, 76.6 K tonnes were processed @ 15.2 gpt Ag, 0.16 gpt Au, 0.22% Pb, recovering 80.9% Ag, 39.6% Au, 81.5% Pb, to produce 313 K Oz Ag, 155 Oz Au, 298 K Lb Pb (334 K AgEq Oz Ag).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. announced the first concentrate from the newly refurbished plant at its Plomosas property in Chihuahua has been produced.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. released Q1 2021 production results from the Platosa mine in Durango. At the site 21,212 tonnes were mined, 21,764 tonnes were milled @ 524 gpt Ag, 5.35% Pb, 6.73% Zn, recovering 89.7% Ag, 81.8% Pb, 74.7% Zn to produce 328.7 K Oz Ag, 2.1 M Lb Pb, 2.4 M Lb Zn, or 516.7 K Oz AgEq.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. produced during the Q1 2021 2.9 M Oz Ag, 23,873 Oz Au, or 4.5 M Oz AgEq from its three mines in Mexico: San Dimas in Durango, Santa Elena in Sonora and La Encantada in Coahuila. The company completed 39,552 m in exploration drilling during the quarter, with 10 rigs at San Dimas, seven rigs at Santa Elena and two rigs at La Encantada.

ON FINANCING

  • Colibri Resource Corp. has closed a non-brokered private placement for CAD$2.35 M in gross profits. (Evelyn, Sonora).
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. has increased its non-brokered private placement to raise an aggregate of $3 M thorough the exercise of over allotment options (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. closed its non-brokered private placement offering, for gross proceeds of CDN$14.1 M (Carrizales, Hidalgo).
  • Defiance Silver Corp. successfully completed an uplisting to the OTCQX Best Market (San Acacio, Zacatecas).
  • Heliostar Metals Ltd. is increasing the size of its C$4 M marketed private placement to raise up to C$5.6 M (La Lola, Sonora).
  • Candelaria Mining Corp. intends to raise up to $25 M to fund exploration activities at the Caballo Blanco district in Veracruz, and the Pinos project in Zacatecas.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Equinox Gold Corp. is commencing development of the Bermejal underground mine at its Los Filos project in Guerrero.
  • Xali Gold Corp. submitted permit applications for the Mexico Mines Tailings project in El Oro, Estado de México. The permits are to allow both the transportation and re-processing of the tailings at a new 25 hectares plant site located 5 Km from the current location. Xali’s is to pay the El Oro municipality an 8%  net profit interest (NPI). The project has an inferred resource of 1.27 M Tonnes grading 2.94 Au g/t, 75.12 Ag g/t, containing 119,900 Oz Au and 3.06 M Oz Ag.
  • Gatos Silver Inc. reported drilling results of delineation drilling at Cerro Los Gatos in Chihuahua. The program has demonstrated continuity in both the southeast and northwest projections of the current reserve. Highlighted true width drill results include: 9.5 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 51 gpt Ag, 2.1% Pb, 3.1% Zn; 3.4 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 122 gpt Ag, 5.0% Pb, 9.8% Zn, 0.2% Cu; 5.4 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 121 gpt Ag, 1.5% Pb, 2.9% Zn; 7.2 m @ 0.14 gpt Au, 106 gpt Ag, 3.5% Pb, 3.4% Zn, 0.1% Cu; 2.6 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 327 gpt Ag, 9.2% Pb, 3.8% Zn, 0.14% Cu; 12.0 m @ 0.15 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag, 1.1% Pb, 4.0% Zn, 0.15% Cu; 2.8 m @ 0.20 gpt Au, 111 gpt Ag, 1.6% Pb, 3.9% Zn, 1.3% Cu; 1.9 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 132 gpt Ag, 3.2% Pb, 9.9% Zn, 0.4% Cu; 7.2 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 25 gpt Ag, 1.0% Pb, 10.3% Zn, 0.2% Cu; 5.7 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 152 gpt Ag, 3.0% Pb, 4.4% Zn, 0.30% Cu.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. released drilling results from its Santa Maria property in Chihuahua. The last sample on the last drill hole returned 75.9 gpt Ag, with 6.4 m of similar material awaiting results. Fabled is making a reinterpretation of previous work and testing the new targets identified. The ongoing 8,000 m drill program has been increased to at least 9,200 m. “This program will be focused underground to delineate the Santa Maria Central Structure with multi underground drill stations being prepared”.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. released additional in-fill and expansion drill results s from the Babi Vista vein splay, Babi Vista vein, Granaditas 1 vein, Granaditas 2 vein, and adjacent hangingwall and footwall veins in the Babicanora Area of its Las Chispas Project in Sonora. The results are from 78 holes totaling 29,308 m completed since the last news release for these veins, in areas with mineral resources or in close proximity. Average results for the Babi Vista vein splay comprise 0.91 true width @ 16.12 gpt Au, 1,351 gpt Ag, with individual intercepts of up to 1.04 m @ 185.65 gpt Au, 13,959 gpt Ag. Babi Vista Footwall and Granaditas 1 average 1.04 m @ 12.89 gpt Au, 1,884 gpt Ag, with the highest intercept running 0.40 m @ 114.0 gpt Au, 78,872 gpt Ag (7.89% Ag). The Babi Vista and Granaditas 2 vein average 0.67 m @ 4.56 gpt Au, 414 gpt Ag, while the Babi Vista Hangingwall averages 0.43 m @ 2.55 gpt Au, 249 gpt Ag.
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. is conducting an induced polarization geophysical survey at the Ixtaca deposit in Puebla. “The work is designed to help define drill targets beneath the area of hydrothermal alteration called the Southeast Alteration (SE) zone and at depth beneath the Ixtaca deposit (“Ixtaca Deeps”). It is hoped that this geophysical survey, along with past survey results, will identify potential zones of veining like those in the Ixtaca deposit. The discovery drill hole in the original Ixtaca deposit area was planned in part based on high resistivity and chargeability results obtained in an earlier IP geophysical survey”.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released results from six diamond drill holes from El Favor area at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 69.3 m @ 108 gpt Ag, 0.49 gpt Au (including 15.3 m @ 392 gpt Ag, 1.76 gpt Au); 9.6 m @ 112 gpt Ag, 0.39 gpt Au; 59.0 m @ 119 gpt Ag, 0.32 gpt Au (including 5.0 m @ 361 gpt Ag, 0.90 gpt Au); 2.8 m @ 110 gpt Ag, 0.16 gpt Au; 16.1 m @ 97 gpt Ag, 0.21 gpt Au; 12.0 m @ 86 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au; 3.2 m @ 204 gpt Ag, 0.15 gpt Au; 7.2 m @ 135 gpt Ag, 0.76 gpt Au; 23.3 m @ 92 gpt Ag, 0.22 gpt Au; 12.9 m @ 254 gpt Ag, 0.81 gpt Au (including 8.2 m @ 392 gpt Ag, 1.25 gpt Au).
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. released results from the first three holes of a 4,500 m campaign at its San Diego project in Durango. A hole in the Fernandez zone returned 50.17 m @ 105 gpt AgEq; Another hole intersected 127.3 m of skarn/Fernandez style mineralization, intersecting 35.46 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag, 0.14% Pb, 0.24% Zn, 0.01% Cu (52 gpt AgEq) and 91.84 m @ 0.07 gpt Au, 15 gpt Ag, 0.31% Pb, 0.34% Zn, 0.01% Cu (49 gpt AgEq). Other holes intercepted 1.11 m @ 0.90 gpt Au, 142 gpt Ag, 0.13% Pb, 0.21% Zn, 0.02% Cu; 3.25 m @ 0.02 gpt Au, 237 gpt Ag, 0.41% Pb, 0.82% Zn, 0.08% Cu; 1.10 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 195 gpt Ag, 1.70% Pb, 1.92% Zn, 0.07% Cu; 2.69 m @ 0.05 gpt Au, 355 gpt Ag, 0.30 % Pb, 0.41% Zn, 0.02% Cu; 8.41 m @ 0.02 gpt Au, 24 gpt Ag, 0.61% Pb, 0.49% Zn, 0.06% Cu.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • VanGold Mining Corp. closed the acquisition of El Cubo mine and mill complex in Guanajuato with Endeavour Silver Corp..  The deal involved the payment of US$7 M in cash plus VAT and the delivery of 21.33 M shares of VanGold and a promissory note for $2.5 M a year from closing. El Cubo has 508 K tonnes grading 194 gpt Ag, 2.44 gpt Au containing 3.17 M Oz Ag, 39,860 Oz Au as indicated resources and 1.45 M tonnes @ 214 gpt Ag, 2.78 gpt Au containing 10 M Oz Ag, 129,900 Oz Au as inferred resources.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. signed a letter of intention (LOI) with Colibri Resource Corp. to acquire up to 50% interest in four concessions in Sonora, comprising two properties, Diamante 1 and Diamante 2 covering 1,057 hectares. The projects are separated by 700 meters, and in close proximity to other Colibri properties. The initial cash payment by Silver Spruce is to be of $75 K (Note.- The details of the deal are lengthy and involve a third party, please take a look to the appropriate press release if interested in it).
  • Empress Royalty Corp. executed the US$5 M silver stream agreement on the Telson Mining Corp. owned Tahuehueto project in Durango. “Empress has now executed the US$5M silver stream agreement on production from Telson’s Tahuehueto project in Mexico. The US$5M Stream is on 100% of the payable silver production from Tahuehueto for the first 1,250,000 payable ounces; thereafter, the percentage will stepdown to 20% of the payable silver production to a maximum of 10 years from first production after which the Stream terminates”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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

On the image below:  Disseminated and vein constrained sulfides in a porphyritic intrusive rock in split diamond core from Cerro San Pedro in San Luis Potosi. Picture by Jorge Cirett.