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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of January 2023

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 3rd week of the year (January 16th to January 22nd, 2023), 20 companies working in Mexico released news on their properties. Two companies posted on exploration of non-advanced properties, six companies posted on Q4 2022 production figures, one released its 2023 production guidance and one announced the re-start of operations at a processing plant in Guanajuato. One company extended the maturity date of convertible debentures. Five companies informed on work at its advanced properties, including three that released drilling results and two that updated on mineral resources. One company restricted the NSR agreement on an advanced property, one informed on the acquisition of a past-producing mine and one other informed on the leasing of its processing plant for part of the profits. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Reyna Gold released sample results from its La Gloria project. In Jalisco, Almadex Minerals updated on exploration plans at San Pedro. ON MINING, Orla Mining, Avino Silver, Fortuna Silver, Gold Resource, Pan American Silver and First Majestic Silver presented production reports for Q4 2022. Torex Gold released its 2023 production guidance and Guanajuato Silver is to start processing at the Cata mill in Guanajuato. Capitan Mining released drill results from the Jesús María system at its Cruz de Piedra project in Durango.  ON FINANCING, Excellon Resources is to convert C$4.5 M of debentures into equity and extend the maturity of remaining principal. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GR Silver released drilling results from the SE zone of the San Marcial project in Sinaloa. Regency Silver updated the resource estimate at Dios Padre in Sonora. GoGold Resources posted drilling results from El Favor deposit at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Excellon Resources filed a PEA on La Negra deposit in Hidalgo. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Defiance Silver restructured an option agreement to acquire the NSR at the Tepal project in Michoacan. Excellon Resources announced last week the acquisition agreement on the past-producing La Negra mine in Hidalgo. Xali Gold signed a lease for part of the profits obtained in the processing of minerals by a private company at its San Dieguito de Arriba mill in Nayarit. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, First Majestic Silver received the “Silver Helmet Award” for underground mining with more than 500 workers for its health and safety performance.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No Relevant News.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Reyna Gold Corp. released sample results from district-scale exploration at its 24,215 hectare La Goloria property in Sonora. At Las Carmelitas 43 samples average 2.25% Cu, 89 gpt Ag, 0.21 gpt Au and 0.48% Sb defining a supergene enrichment zone on conglomerate, agglomerate and sandstone with a 2.5 Km by 1.7 km footprint continuing undercover in several directions. At the Western target new parallel structures have been discovered on a 1,500 by 450 m zone with eight samples returning 2.89 to 11.35 gpt Au, up to 27 gpt Ag and 22 to 135 gpt Tellurium. At La Republicana the northwest-southeast trend has now been extended with discontinuous veins and veinlets for 2.8 km, and a width of 625 m with grades of up to 103.5 gpt Au, 283 gpt Ag, 2.4% Cu, 5.33% Pb, 0.12% Zn. “At least 3 hydrothermal events have occurred in the zone: 1) veins and veinlets of white quartz (occasionally greyish) with the presence of galena, chalcopyrite, and covellite, 2) veins and veinlets of quartz-tourmaline (cutting first event structures) coarse pyrite is observed, traces of chalcopyrite and secondary minerals such as hematite, jarosite, malachite and chrysocolla, 3) filling of calcite and iron carbonates within second event structures”. Drilling is programmed for March 2023.
  • Almadex Minerals Ltd. updated on exploration plans for its San Pedro project in Jalisco. The breccias intercepted in 2022 drilling appear to have a sub horizontal distribution. “Further surface mapping is planned to confirm and refine this interpretation in order to optimise the next drilling program. The elevated base metals and copper seen in the breccia, along with acid sulphate altered fragments suggests that the breccia and related mineralisation may be a late feature in the lithocap environment”. It is interpreted that the acid sulphate lithocap present has potential for gold mineralization, and deep copper potential beneath.

ON MINING

  • Orla Mining Ltd. provided an operational update for the fourth quarter 2022. The Camino Rojo Oxide mine produced 32,017 Oz Au during the period, and 109,596 Oz Au throughout the full year. All-in sustaining costs (AISC) has been maintained at $600 to $700 per Oz Au for the year. Production for 2023 is expected to be between 100,000 to 110,000 Oz Au. “Income taxes accrued during 2022, including Mexican Special Mining Duty, totalling approximately $35 million, will be paid in a lump sum in March 2023. Thereafter, Orla expects to pay income tax instalments monthly, beginning in May 2023”. Orla ended the year with a cash position of $96.6 M.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. reported fourth quarter 2022 production results at the Avino mine in Durango. During the period 150.3 K tonnes were milled at an average grade of 70 gpt Ag, 0.62 gpt Au, 0.53% Cu, recovering 92% Ag, 81% Au, 88% Cu to produce 309.8 K Oz Ag, 2,426 Oz Au, 1.54 M Lb Cu (770 .1 K Oz AgEq). For the year 541.8 K tonnes were milled @ 62 gpt Ag, 0.42 gpt Au, 0.61% Cu, recovering 92% Ag, 78% Au, 89% Cu, to produce 985.2 K Oz Ag, 5,778 Oz Au, 6.50 M Lb Cu (2.65 M Oz AgEq). The dry-stack tailing facility was commissioned and is now fully operational.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. announced that the Cata mill has commenced precious metals processing at the Valenciana Mines Complex (VMC) in Guanajuato. The company is to start processing material at a rate of 8 K tonnes per month and to increase it later in the year to 20 K tonnes per month. The mill has a nameplate capacity of 36 K tonnes per month. “The Company plans to operate the Cata mill with production from both VMC and the San Ignacio mine …… intends to backfill tailings underground using a hydraulic fill system that will make use of select voids and open stopes that have been created at VMC over the past 450 years of underground mining”.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. provided operational guidance for 2023 and 5-year production outlook for the Morelos Complex in Guerrero, which comprises the El Limón Guajes (ELG) Complex and the Media Luna project. For 2023 at ELG the expected gold production is between 440 K and 470 K Oz Au at total cash costs $740 to $780 per OZ Au and all-in sustaining costs of $1,080 to $1,130. “The strip ratio for 2023 is expected to average 10.7:1 compared to 8.9:1 in 2022 given additional laybacks within the El Limón and El Limón Sur open pits. Based on the current mine plan, a higher portion of waste is expected to be mined in the second and third quarters compared with the first and fourth quarters”. Approximately $39 M are budgeted for exploration and drilling in 2023, including $20 M for Media Luna, $6 M for ELG underground, $8 M for exploration in near mine on early exploration targets and $5 M in definition and grade control drilling. For the next five years production is expected to be in the 400 K to 500 K Oz Au per year.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. reported production results for the fourth quarter 2022, including figures from its Mexican operations. During the fourth quarter 259.5 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 2,883 tonnes per day (tpd), averaging 194 gpt Ag, 1.13 gpt Au, recovering 91.1% Ag, 89.8% Au to produce 1.47 M Oz Ag, 8,499 Oz Au. For the year, 1.03 M tonnes were milled at a rate of 2,925 tpd, averaging 191 got Ag, 1.14 gpt Au, to produce 5.76 M Oz Ag, 34,124 K Oz Au. For 2023 the company plans to process 1.03 M tonnes @ 186 gpt Ag, 1.19 gpt Au, reflecting the declining grade profile of mineral reserves.
  • Gold Resource Corp. released fourth quarter 2022 production for the Arista mine in Oaxaca. During the period 97.8 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 1,353 tonnes per day, averaging 2.68 gpt Au, 91 gpt Ag, 0.37% Cu, 2.29% Pb, 4.79% Zn to produce 6,933 Oz Au, 265.8 K Oz Ag, 284 tonnes Cu, 1,808 tonnes Pb, 3,920 tonnes Zn.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. announced preliminary production results for the Q4 2022, including figures from its Mexican operations. At La Colorada, in Zacatecas, 1.34 M Oz Ag, 700 Oz Au were produced during the period, for a yearly total of 5.93 M Oz Ag, 3,300 Oz Au. At Dolores, in Chihuahua, 0.59 M Oz Ag, 34,600 Oz Au were produced during the quarter, for a yearly production of 2.24 M Oz Ag, 136,900 Oz Au.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. released total production results for the fourth quarter of 2022. The company’s consolidated production from its three operating mines in Mexico (San Dimas in Durango, Santa Elena in Sonora, La Encantada in Coahuila) was 2.39 M Oz Ag, 46,194 Oz Au (or 6.17 M Oz AgEq). The liquid natural gas powerplant at Santa Elena was expanded from 12 MW to 24 MW “to supply low‐cost, clean power to the Ermitaño mine and the recently completed dual‐circuit plant”. In exploration, four drilling rigs are operating at Dan Dimas, in Durango, three at Santa Elena in Sonora and one at La Encantada, in Coahuila.

ON FINANCING

  • Excellon Resources Inc. entered into a binding term sheet with holders representing approximately 66.67% of the principal “amount of outstanding convertible debentures to convert 25% of the debentures (C$4.5 M) into equity and reprice and extend maturity of remaining principal outstanding upon closing the acquisition of La Negra property in Queretaro, providing greater flexibility to the Company. Furthermore, reprice the conversion price of the remaining principal to C$0.535 per share, 6.5% interest rate or 10.0% payable in shares at the company’s election” (La Negra, Hidalgo).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. released surface drilling results from six holes in the Southeast Area of the San Marcial project in Sinaloa. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 5.6 m @ 1,223 gpt Ag, 1.4% Pb, 1.2% Zn (including 0.3 m @ 25,150 gpt Ag, 30% Pb, 18.6% Zn); 82.7 m @ 121 gpt Ag (including 0.4 m @ 3,386 gpt Ag and 1.1 m @ 1,391 gpt Ag); 112.6 m @ 61 gpt Ag (including 0.9 m @ 1,055 gpt Ag); 0.6 m @ 14.3 gpt Au. “The six holes represent extensions along strike or down dip, creating the potential to expand silver mineralization boundaries”.
  • Capitan Mining Inc. released drill assays for five holes on the Jesus Maria zone at the Cruz de Piedra project in Durango. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 16.8 m @ 0.35 gpt Au, 187 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn (including 1.5 m @ 1.36 gpt Au, 1,381 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 0.5% Zn); 4.6 m @ 0.63 gpt Au, 183 gpt Ag (including 1.5 m @ 1.45 gpt Au, 504 gpt Ag); 15.2 m @ 0.44 gpt Au, 21 gpt Ag, 0.5% Pb, 0.8% Zn (including 1.5 m @ 1.82 gpt Au, 81 gpt Ag, 3.2% Pb, 4.2% Zn). The Jesus Maria zone has been traced by trenching and drilling for 750 m of strike length to a depth of up to 150 m “On Dec 6 th, 2022, Capitan announced that it had entered into a transaction with a third party to consolidate the 2.5km high grade Jesus Maria trend”.
  • Regency Silver Corp. announced an updated resource estimate for its Dios Padre project in Sonora. The updated resource estimate incorporates 1,056 m of drilling in 8 holes drilled in 2022 and 10,425 m of historic drilling in 66 holes, to define inferred resources of 1.384 M tonnes @ 228 gpt Ag, 0.32 gpt Au (255.6 gpt AgEq) containing 10.14 M Oz Ag, 14,000 Oz Au. “The resource estimate contains information from the historic Dios Padre silver mine only and does not include any information from the recent discovery hole REG 22-01 which contained an intercept of 35.8 metres of 6.84 g/t gold, 0.88% copper and 21.82 g/t silver”.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released the results of eight holes from El Favor East deposit within Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 84.5 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 79 gpt Ag; 44.8 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 111 gpt Ag (including 17.3 m @ 0.71 gpt Au, 225 gpt Ag); 7.8 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 190 gpt Ag; 19.9 m @ 0.59 gpt Au, 392 gpt Ag (including 5.0 m @ 1.97 gpt Au, 1,300 gpt Ag, which includes 1.2 m @ 6.48 gpt Au, 3,722 gpt Ag); 18.3 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 97.4 gpt Ag; 35.2 m @ 0.18 gpt Au, 130 gpt Ag. “El Favor is located approximately 800 meters along strike to the east of the El Orito deposit. The combined systems cover approximately 2.9km in mineralized strike length over a 3.7km distance”.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. filed a preliminary economical assessment on La Negra project in Queretaro. The report summarizes the mineral resource estimate with 2.46 M tonnes @ 64 gpt Ag, 1.95% Zn, 0.50% Cu, 0.27% Pb, containing 5.1 M Oz Ag, 105.8 M Lb Zn, 27.1 M Lb Cu, 14.6 M Lb Pb in indicated resources and 6.42 M tonnes @ 80 gpt Ag, 1.80% Zn, 0.40% Cu, 0.65% Pb, containing 16.5 M Oz Ag, 254.8 M Lb Zn, 56.6 M Lb Cu, 92.0 M Lb Pb as inferred resources. The PEA envisages 7.4 years of mine life processing 6.22 M tonnes averaging 63 gpt Ag, 1.5% Zn, 0.4% Cu, 0.4% Pb at a daily rate of 2,500 tonnes.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Defiance Silver Corp. restructured the option agreement to acquire the 2.5% NSR at the Tepal project in Michoacan with Minera Tepal S.A. de C.V. “The company is making a payment of US $100,000 to defer all payments until June 30, 2024, at which time the remaining payment schedule will resume”.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. announced on January 9, 2023 a definitive acquisition agreement with Orion Resource Partners on the acquisition of the permitted, past-producing mine of La Negra, in Queretaro. The deal involves the payment on US$50 M paid through an upfront payment in shares of Excellon totaling US$20 M upon closing of the acquisition and a further US$30 M of deferred, “contingent consideration payable in common shares of the Company or in cash at the Company’s option, following the restart of commercial production”. La Negra property counts with 2.46 M tonnes @ 64 gpt Ag, 1.95% Zn, 0.50% Cu, 0.27% Pb, containing 5.1 M Oz Ag, 105.8 M Lb Zn, 27.1 M Lb Cu, 14.6 M Lb Pb in indicated resources and 6.42 M tonnes @ 80 gpt Ag, 1.80% Zn, 0.40% Cu, 0.65% Pb, containing 16.5 M Oz Ag, 254.8 M Lb Zn, 56.6 M Lb Cu, 92.0 M Lb Pb. The current PEA envisages 7.4 years of mine life processing 6.22 M tonnes averaging 63 gpt Ag, 1.5% Zn, 0.4% Cu, 0.4% at a daily rate of 2,500 tonnes.   
  • Xali Gold Corp. signed a binding letter of intent with Minera Cinco Reales S.A. de C.V. on the San Dieguito de Arriba plant in Nayarit. Xali will have the right to receive 15% of the net profits from any mineral that is processed at the plant, or minimum payments of US$10 K in the fourth month from the signing, US$20 K on the fifth month, US$30 K on the sixth month, US$40 k on the seventh to tenth months, US$50 K from month eleven on. Before the fourth month, Xali should receive US$6.5 K on January 30th, US$6.5 K on February 27th, US$6.5 K on March 22nd. “Upon the execution of this Agreement, MCR will act as the only operator of the plant and will have the exclusive option to obtain permits and refurbish the plant and equipment to operational status and to manage and operate the SDA plant for their benefit for an initial period of 14 months …… Minera Cinco Reales operates several mines and processing plants (150 to 300 tonnes per day) in Northern and Central Mexico producing gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • First Majestic Silver was awarded the prestigious “Silver Helmet Award” in the category of “Underground Mining of More Than 500 Workers” by the Mining Chamber of Mexico for its outstanding performance in occupational safety and health on its Santa Elena operations in Sonora.

On the image below: Tectonic breccia in granitic rock sealed by fine grained darker intrusive on a copper project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Abraham López.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

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

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

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

ON MINING

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

ON FINANCING

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

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

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

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No relevant news.

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

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

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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 Third Week of April, 2021

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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

  • No Relevant News.

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

On the 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.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico; Highlights on the Third Week of March, 2021

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 11h week of the year (March 15th to March 21st, 2021), at least 34 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, eight companies posted exploration advances on their properties, four presented quarterly results, five posted on financing or share options (including C$12 M, $10.3 M, C$14.1 M and C$80.4M), eight more on project development and five on corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, 25 Mining projects in Mexico are in line for 2028. At PDAC, a minister from Canada asked for a stable and predictable business environment in Mexico. The president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, threatened mining companies with voiding their concessions if they break the law. ON EXPLORATION, in Baja California, One World Lithium announced the incoming drilling at its Salar del Diablo project. In Sonora, Kootenay Silver informed of excellent grades in trenching at its Maria Elena project; Tocvan Ventures updated on exploration at Pilar; Prismo Metals filed a technical report for Los Pavitos project. In Durango, Mithril Resources informed on a high-grade gold intercept at Copalquin. In Guerrero, Pantera Silver commenced exploration in Nuevo Taxco. In Zacatecas, Zacatecas Silver is preparing a resource estimate on the Panuco deposit.  ON MINING, Comet Resources Excellon Resources, Starcore International and Sierra Metals released quarterly and/or full year 2020 reports. Activities at McEwen’s El Gallo mine in Sinaloa, which is in residual leaching, were suspended by an illegal blockade. ON FINANCING, Empress Royalty, Southern Silver, Almaden Minerals, Santacruz Silver Mining and Premier Gold released news on financing. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Almaden Minerals is resuming exploration at the Ixtaca property in Puebla. Discovery Metals released drilling results from Cordero in Chihuahua. Chesapeake Gold received approval for a bulk drilling program at Metates, Durango. GoGold Resources released drilling results from Los Ricos North in Jalisco. Southern Silver is doubling the size of its drilling program at Cerro Las Minitas in Durango. Consolidated Zinc released the updated mineral resource for the Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. Prime Mining released drilling results for Los Reyes in Sinaloa. Azucar Minerals released results from drilling at El Cobre, Veracruz. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Radius Gold optioned the Maricela property in Sonora. Sailfish is to prepare an updated mineral resource for Gavilanes in Durango. VanGold Mining signed the definitive agreement with Endeavour Silver for the acquiring the El Cubo mine in Guanajuato. Tarachi Gold completed the acquisition of El Magistral tailings project. Prospero Silver is changing name to Keon Capital. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Grupo Mexico and Fresnillo PLC informed on actions related to social betterment of communities near its operations.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • 25 Mining projects in Mexico are in line for 2028 with a total of US$7.8 B (US$7,800 M in Mexican notation). El Arco in Baja California (US$2,900 M), Media Luna in Guerrero (US$496 M), Expansion Herradura (US$490 M), Orysivo in Chihuahua (US$465 M), Juanicipio in Zacatecas (US$440 M) and Sonora Lithium (US$420 M) are among the largest of these.   
  • At the virtual PDAC (Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada) 2021 conference Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade for Canada and Tatiana Clouthier, head of the Economy Secretariat in Mexico met and spoke about the strengthening of commercial ties between the two countries, particularly in the energy and mining sectors. Minister Ng stressed the need to keep a stable and predictable business environment for Canadian companies working in Mexico, especially in mining, and expressed its worries for the recently approved energy law and its possible negative impact.
  • In his press conference the president highlighted the cases of Americas Gold and Silver, with his view that it is trying to evade the law on unionized work, and that of First Majestic which he accused of trying to evade taxes (as in other industries, the president disregards any effect on investment and employment by his rigid stance). He suggested the Canadian government should help make the companies comply as in Canada.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Pantera Silver Corp. has mobilized its field personnel to the Nuevo Taxco Silver project in Guerrero. The 1,100 hectares project displays 21 veins 150-350 meters in length within a 135 hectares portion of the property. Of 395 historical samples, 119 grade over 100 gpt Ag, including 18 between 500-900 gpt Ag and three samples over 1,000 gpt Ag. An initial 1,600 meter program is to test the 21 veins area.
  • One World Lithium Inc. is to start phase three drilling on April 15, 2021 at is Salar del Diablo project in Baja California. “If the results of DDH-3 warrant, the DDH-4 will be drilled in the same area…. DDH-3 (diamond drill hole) is located approximately 50 kilometers to the south of DDH-2” completed on the previous campaign.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp. is to prepare a current resource estimate for the Panuco silver deposit at the Zacatecas Silver project in Zacatecas. The historic inferred mineral resource hosts 3.95 M tonnes @ 136 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 0.12% Pb, 0.11% Zn (153.2 gpt AgEq), containing 19.5 M Oz Ag. Re-assaying of 15% of the core intervals used in the historic resource calculation is being performed to assist in the new resource estimation, as well as bench scale metallurgical test of mineralized core material.    
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. informed on the discovery of significant gold at its Maria Elena project in Sonora. Highlighted results from sampling in 8 trenches comprise 33 m @ 2.67 gpt Au (including  9 m @ 5.29 gpt Au, 1 m @ 23.7 gpt Au) in trench 6; 24 m @ 1.81 gpt Au (including 8 m @ 3.98 gpt Au, 1 m @ 17.25 gpt Au) in trench 4; 9 m @ 2.01 gpt Au (including 1 m @ 15.45 gpt Au) in trench 2. “Gold mineralization is hosted by stock works of quartz and quartz carbonate veins formed by conjugate sets of veins …. Numerous conjugate vein sets and associated stock work zones occur within a 1.5 by 1.5-kilometer area hosted within a diorite intrusion and are the source of the placer gold historically mined on the property”.
  • Canasil Resources Inc. informed on drilling at La Esperanza project in Zacatecas. Three holes in the La Esperanza  vein have already intersected the vein as projected, while a fourth is in progress. While the vein outcrops for 150 m, it has now been intersected for 525 m along strike and 350 m to depth.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. updated on exploration at its Pilar project in Sonora. On the Main Zone Extension, a 350 m section presents “altered vein zones” 5 to 20 m in width, strong oxidation and 800 m of anomalous soil samples with up to 106 and 911 ppb Au, and rock grab samples with 9.3 gpt Au. At the 4-Trench there is a 600 m trend that presents veins for 400 m of strike untested by drilling, rock grab samples with up to 24 gpt Au and historical artisanal workings for 350 m of strike.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd. informed on the drilling at El Refugio target in the Copalquin project in Durango. An exceptional core length interval of 4.17 m @ 62.0 gpt Au, 445 gpt Ag was drilled, and is characterized by abundant black sulfide and kaolinite, as well as by the presence of visible gold.
  • Prismo Metals Inc. filed a NI 43-101 technical report for its Los Pavitos project in Sonora. The 5,289-hectare concession is west of the Alamos district, displaying epithermal low sulfidation veins and orogenic gold shears. Highlighted rock sample results include 0.30 m @ 40.8 gpt Au, 0.65 m @ 4.86 gpt Au, 0.20 m @ 1.57 gpt Au, 2.5 m @ 1.5 gpt Au, 2.5 m @ 2.41 gpt Au, grab samples of up to greater than 10.0 gpt Au and dump samples with up to 5.26 gpt Au.

ON MINING

  • Comet Resources Ltd. presented its second half 2020 financial report. In the period the company spent US$2.35 M in mineral exploration and administration, raised US$3 M, acquired the Santa Teresa project in Baja California with 88.6 K Oz Au JORC compliant inferred resources.
  • McEwen Mining Inc. informed that activities at the El Gallo project in Sinaloa (currently on residual leaching) have been suspended as results of an illegal blockade of the main access to the property by members of nearby communities. “El Gallo has operated harmoniously with the local communities since mining started in 2012, having demonstrated a long-standing track record of supporting local communities. In this context, the current situation is surprising. The site remains minimally staffed to maintain appropriate safety and security, and the environmental systems. McEwen Mining is negotiating for a peaceful resolution to the issues”.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. reported financial results for the Q4 and full year 2020. During the quarter silver production at the Platosa mine in Durango increased to 355.6 K Oz, the strongest production since 2014, at an all-sustaining cost of $21.19 per Oz Ag. For the year, the revenue of $26.2 M was impacted by the temporary suspension related to the Covid pandemic. On the second half of the year 43.3 K tonnes were mined, producing 1.08 M Oz Ag.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. reported results for the quarter ended in January 2021. At the San Martin mine in Queretaro, 57.3 K tonnes were milled @ 1.66 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag, recovering 88.8% Au, 57.1% Ag, to produce 2.7 K Oz Au, 23.8 K Oz Ag or 3,063 Oz AuEq at cash cost US$1,042 per Oz AuEq and an AISC of US$1,361 per Oz AuEq.
  • Mexus Gold US. Informed it has received the necessary explosives permit to mine the high grade Mexus II and Julio vein structures at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. reported financial results for 2020. At Bolivar in Chihuahua, cash cost per CuEq Lb was $1.35 and AISC per CuEqLb was $1.88. At Cusi in Chihuahua, cash cost per AgEqOz was $15.70 and AISC per AgEqOz was $28.18. The company hold cash and cash equivalents of $71.5 M at the end of the period.

ON FINANCING

  • Empress Royalty Corp. entered into an agreement with Red Cloud Securities Inc. and Canaccord Genuity Corp. and a syndicate of underwriters that shall purchase shares of the company for gross proceeds of C$12 M. (Pinos, Zacatecas).
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. announced its common shares will be added to the S&P/TSX Composite and the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index (Terronera, Jalisco).
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. raised $14.2 million in Summer of 2020. “Since the closing of the equity raise and the working interest purchase in September 2020, the Company has received a total of $2,428,228 from shareholder exercises of share purchase warrants, inclusive of the recent 6,000,000 share purchase warrant exercise by Electrum Global Holdings LP for proceeds of $480,000. Additionally, the Company has received $477,470 from the exercise of incentive stock options and finders’ warrants”.
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. announced a US$10.3 M registered direct offering (Ixtaca, Puebla).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. has increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering, intending to raise now up to CDN$14.1 M (Zimapan, Hidalgo).
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. announced its wholly-owned subsidiary i-80 Gold Corp. closed its previously publicized private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C80.4 M. “Premier remains focused on creating i-80 as a Nevada-focused mining company…” (Mercedes, Sonora).
  • Minera Alamos Inc. informed the board of directors approved the issuance of 7.25 M options to management, directors, employees and consultants, tied to production milestones (Santana, Sonora).
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. received regulatory consent to extend its share repurchase program to up to 10 M shares or 4.5% of the outstanding shares of the company (San Dimas, Durango).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. has resumed exploration in the area of the Ixtaca project in Puebla. Initial work is to focus in identifying drill targets in the SE Alteration Zone, 1 km SE from the Ixtaca deposit. Argillic alteration with hyperspectral signatures for kaolinite, alunite and buddingtonite is present, along with several areas of veining with anomalous pathfinder elements.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. announced results from 14 diamond drill holes targeting high-grade veins at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Highlighted intercepts comprise 1.3 m @ 1,581 gpt Ag, 0.15 gpt Au, 9.9% Pb, 5.4% Zn; 8.9 m @ 267 gpt Ag, 0.91 gpt Au, 0.9% Pb, 0.8% Zn (including 1.0 m @ 1,280 gpt Ag, 4.24 gpt Au, 1.6% Pb, 3.4% Zn); 1.3 m @ 1,607 gpt Ag, 2.06 gpt Au, 5.2% Pb, 8.0% Zn; 10.0 m @ 92 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 2.4% Pb, 3.4% Zn in the Josefina vein; 2.9 m @ 992 gpt Ag, 0.73 gpt Au, 12.9% Pb, 2.4% Zn in the South corridor and 4.0m @ 377 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au, 7.1% Pb, 2.7% Zn (including 1.4 m @ 552 gpt Ag, 0.33 gpt Au, 11.0% Pb, 3.4% Zn); 1.2 m @ 241 gpt Ag, 0.52 gpt Au, 4.6% Pb, 10.4% Zn; 2.8 m @ 207 gpt Ag, 0.15 gpt Au, 3.7% Pb, 7.7% Zn on the Todos Santos vein. “The Company has completed 58,600 m (148 holes) as part of its expanded 65,000 m Phase 1 drill program. Assays from 24 holes are pending”.
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. has received the final permits to commence a bulk drilling program at the Metates project in Durango. The company plans to drill 2,500 meters to recover 10 tonnes of large diameter (PQ) core for metallurgical testing to support a potential sulfide heap leach mine operation.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released results from four more drill holes on the Casados area of the Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length results comprise 10.3 m @ 0.43 gpt Au, 116 gpt Ag; 21.4 m @ 0.44 gpt Au, 98 gpt Ag; 49.1 m @ 0.54 gpt Au, 250 gpt Ag; 13.3 m @ 0.67 gpt Au, 204 gpt Ag; 5.1 m @ 1.94 gpt Au, 1,270 gpt Ag (including 0.8 m @ 10.31 gpt Au, 6,842 gpt Ag; 52.0 m @ 0.47 gpt Au, 127 gpt Ag; 8.3 m @ 0.94 gpt Au, 279 gpt Ag; 23.6 m @ 0.58 gpt Au, 156 gpt Ag (including 10.9 m @ 1.05 gpt Au, 307 gpt Ag); 33.6 m @ 0.23 gpt Au, 95 gpt Ag. The Casados vein dips 45 degrees, is hosted in andesitic tuffs and is exposed for 400 m in the surface.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is doubling the size of the current drilling program from 10,000 m to 20,000 m on the Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. The current program has completed 28 core holes totaling 12,040 m since September 2020. “Drilling will continue with two drills targeting the east side of the Cerro where to date three near-surface sulphide lenses with Bonanza-grades of silver have been identified”. Assays from 11 drill holes are pending.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. announced its updated mineral resource for the Plomosas project in Chihuahua. The resource estimate is JORC compliant and contains indicated mineral resources of 152 K tonnes @ 13.3% Zn, 6.0% Pb, 33.6 gpt Ag containing 20.2 K tonnes Zn, 9.1 K tonnes Pb, 164.6 K Oz Ag and inferred resources of 788 K tonnes @ 13.0% Zn, 2.9% Pb, 17.2 gpt Ag containing 102.1 K tonnes Zn, 22.7 K tonnes Pb, 435.5 K Oz Ag.
  • Prime Mining Corp. reported initial results from its 15,000 m drilling program at Los Reyes, in Sinaloa. The first hole at Guadalupe East intersected 20.1 m @ 3.25 gpt Au, 380 gpt Ag (including 6.5 m @ 6.51 gpt Au, 587 gpt Ag), this intercept is 150 m below any previous drilling; 3.8 m @ 3.69 gpt Au, 305 gpt Ag (including 2.1 m @ 6.18 gpt Au, 507 gpt Ag). Chip sampling of adularia bearing banded quartz veins in a new area returned several mineralized intervals, including 3 m @ 29.8 gpt Au, 1,132 gpt Ag.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. released results from drilling at the Porvenir zone at the El Cobre project in Veracruz. Some of the highlighted results comprise 77.65 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 0.16% Cu (including 43.55 m @ 0.37 gpt Au, 0.21% Cu and 25.55 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 0.23% Cu) in one hole and 16.70 m @ 0.10 gpt Au, 0.09% Cu; 37.00 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 0.08% Cu.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Radius Gold Inc. has optioned the Maricela group of properties (155 ha) in Sonora. Radius can earn 100% interest in the property by paying US$1.25 M over three years. A total of US$30 K has been paid to date. The owner retains a 1% NSR which can be bought back for US$1 M. Mineralization is of low sulfidation epithermal style with 1-3 m massive quartz veins and stockworks over 10 meters in width hosted in andesitic volcanic rocks and felsic dykes emplaced sub-parallel to mineralized structures.
  • Sailfish Royalty Corp. announced on early February “that Mine Development Associates (“MDA”), a division of RESPEC, out of Reno, Nevada, was hired to prepare an updated mineral resource estimate on Gavilanes. The updated mineral resource estimate is a key milestone for the planned spinout of Gavilanes and the Company is pleased to report that MDA is expecting to complete their work in early Q2 2021”.
  • VanGold Mining Corp. signed a definitive purchase agreement with Endeavour Silver Corp. to acquire El Cubo mine and mill complex located 8 km from its El Pinguico project in Guanajuato. “According to the Company’s recently announced PEA from Behre Dolbear and Company (USA) Inc., (“Behre”) the Combined Project contains total indicated resources of 718,655 tonnes grading 160 gpt Ag and 1.90 gpt Au, or 306 gpt AgEq, which equates to 7.2 M oz AgEq; and total inferred resources of 1,453,000 tonnes grading 214 gpt Ag and 2.78 gpt Au, or 435 gpt AgEq, which equates to 20.4 M oz AgEq”. VanGold will pay $15 M as follows: $500 K (paid), $7 M on closing, anticipated to by the end of March 2021, $5 M on VanGold shares on closing and $2.5 M in promissory notes due 12 months from closing.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp. completed the acquisition from Manto Resources S.A. de C.V. of the Magistral mill and tailings project in Durango. A PEA is to be conducted to determine if modifications are needed on the mill’s flowsheet prior to commissioning. The tailings basin is to be tested with an auger drill rig, with six confirmation holes and eleven in-fill holes. Underground diamond core drilling has been progressing on the Jabali concession at its Tarachi project in Sonora.
  • Prospero Silver Corp. board of directors has approved the name change of the company to Keon Capital Inc., subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange (Bermudez, Chihuahua).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Fundación Grupo México and Granjas Carroll delivered fruit bearing trees to producers in Puebla.
  • Minera San Julian donated medical equipment in Chihuahua.

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:  Core from Azure Mineral’s Oposura project in Sonora. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 7th week of the year (February 15th to February 21st, 2021), there were at least 42 press releases by companies working in Mexico. To note, nine companies posted exploration advances on their properties (with GoGold’s Casados discovery deemed the most significant), six presenting quarterly results, two informing on power cuts, six posting on financing or share options, nine on project development and two on corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the Mexican mining sector is dealing with several (government induced) challenges and great opportunities. The Nuevo Leon State government intends to push its mining sector. Camimex points out the goal of the energy bill should be to promote the reduction of the electricity cost. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tarachi Gold released drilling results from the San Javier concession; Tocvan Ventures initiated the next exploration campaign at Pilar. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold released drilling results from the Amalia project; Silver Spruce is to carry a LidDar survey at Pino de Plata; Mammoth Resources released observations by independent consultants on its Tenoriba property. In Sinaloa, Prismo Metals presented drilling results on Palos Verdes; Vizsla Silver informed seven rigs are now churning at Panuco; Brigadier Gold released drilling results from its Picachos project. In Jalisco, Stroud Resources informed on the approval of its drilling permit for Santo Domingo, Hostotipaquillo. ON MINING, Starcore International, Pan American Silver, Golden Minerals, Hecla Mining, Newmont, and First Majestic released quarterly and full year 2020 reports. Excellon and Gatos Silver informed on work affected by the power cuts in the north of the country. ON FINANCING, SGold79 Mines and Vizsla Silver granted options to directors, officers and employees; Consolidated Zinc, Orogen Royalties, Van Gold Mining and Brigadier Gold informed on their financing rounds. Heliostar Metals qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Avino Silver will drill 12,000 m on the Avino property. Sonoro Gold released results from 24 holes at Cerro Caliche. VanGold released positive results from the PEA on El Cubo and El Pinguico in Zacatecas. McEwen Mining filed the FS on the Fenix project. GoGold Resources made a discovery at Los Ricos North. Coeur Mining released the 2020 resource estimate for Palmarejo. Capitan Mining released drilling results from the Peñoles project. Golden Tag released results from drilling at San Diego, Velardeña. GR Silver Mining reported drilling results from Plomosas.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Azure Minerals is divesting its Mexican portfolio. Premier Gold shareholders had to vote in February 19 on the arrangement with Equinox Gold. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Minera Media Luna is to make a large investment during the next three years at the Media Luna project in Guerrero, with a significant impact in the communities of the area.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Mexican Mining Sector is dealing with several challenges and great opportunities, according to mining companies executives. The outright denial to grant mining concessions, the lack of a medium term regulatory view, security issues, the blockage by SEMARNAT of several projects, the lack of clarity and rules and lagging paperwork have to be weighed against the great mineral potential of the country, and its qualified workforce.  
  • The Nuevo Leon State government seeks to foster the mining activity on the southern part of the state. Nuevo Leon has significant deposits of barite, clays, limestone, dolostone, gypsum, phosphorite and talc, among other minerals.
  • Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) pointed out that the goal of an energy bill should be to promote the reduction of the electricity cost, not to favor any given company. With the introduction of the auto supply figure a few years ago mining companies saw the electricity cost go down from US$0.12-$0.13 Kw/hr to US$0.065 Kw/hr, while those that rely on the government supplied electricity pay US$0.08 and $0.09 Kw/hr. Miners in Perú and Chile pay US$0.06 Kw/hr and those in USA and Canada US$0.04 Kw/hr and US$0.02 Kw/hr respectively.
  • Newmont’s Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas produced 520 K ounces of gold and 934 K gold equivalent ounces in 2020. Production for 2021 is estimated at 660 K ounces of gold and 1.12 M gold equivalent ounces.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Radius Gold Inc. reported results from its phase four drilling program operated by Pan American Silver Corp. at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Highlighted true width results comprise 6.5 m @ 0.59 gpt Au, 151 gpt Ag; 0.60 m @ 1.48 gpt Au, 475 gpt Ag; 5.0 m @ 1.73 gpt Au, 70 gpt Ag; 5.5 m @ 0.93 gpt Au, 99 gpt Ag. The high-grade San Pedro ore shoot has been defined for 410 meters down-dip.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp. released assay results from the first nine diamond holes completed on the San Javier concession, at its Tarachi project in Sonora. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 3.0 m @ 1.58 gpt Au, 1.0 m @ 1.80 gpt Au, 1.0 m @ 6.08 gpt Au, 14.4 m @ 0.21 gpt Au; 9.0 m @ 0.61 gpt Au; 4.0 m @ 0.86 gpt Au, 2.6 m @ 1.52 gpt Au, 2.0 m @ 11.90 gpt Au (including 1.0 m @ 21.10 gpt Au); 12.0 m @ 0.63 gpt Au; 5.6 m @ 5.39 gpt Au; 1.0 m @ 15.70 gpt Au; 17.0 m @ 0.62 gpt Au; 10.6 m @ 1.6 gpt Au. “the gold mineralization is situated along open brittle structures containing over 20 percent sulphides, mainly pyrite with minor quartz veining/veinlets”.
  • Prismo Metals Inc. presented results from its initial five-hole 573 m diamond drilling program at its Palos Verdes project in Sinaloa. The program was designed to test for mineralization continuity to depth and along strike to previous reconnaissance drilling. Highlighted true width results comprise 3.2 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 69 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 2.5 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 17 gpt Ag, 0.09% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 1.3 m @ 0.73 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag, 0.19% Cu, 0.6% Pb, 3.9% Zn; 0.9 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag, 0.06% Cu, nil Pb, 1.4% Zn.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. has contracted Eagle Mapping Ltd. to carry out a LiDar survey on the Pino de Plata property in Chihuahua. The survey is to produce an orthorectified color aerial photography and an accurate digital elevation model (DEM).
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. announced the arrival of two drill rigs to its Panuco property in Sinaloa. With these, a total of seven rigs is now operating in Panuco. The company completed over 28,000 m of drilling last year and plans to complete more than 40,000 m in the first half of 2021.
  • Brigadier Gold Ltd. provided results from its diamond drill and underground sampling programs at Picachos, Sinaloa. Drill core length highlighted true width (TW) intervals comprise 30 m @ 1.27 gpt Au, 212 gpt Ag; 3.5 m @ 1.07 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag, 0.39% Cu, 0.15% Zn; 6.4 m @ 0.15% Zn; 10.8 m @ 0.22% Zn; 1.6 m @ 5.08 gpt Au, 35 gpt Ag, 1.90% Cu, 0.22% Zn; 183.5 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 2 gpt Ag, 0.19% Pb, 0.37% Zn (including 0.9 m @ 10.65 gpt Au and 1.0 m @ 6.26 gpt Au, 0.54% Pb, 0.28% Zn). Highlighted trench TW intervals comprise 0.4 m @ 49.60 gpt Au, 31 gpt Ag, 0.34% Pb, 0.37% Zn; 0.8 m @ 9.70 gpt Au, 0.52% Pb, 0.32% Zn; 2.6 m @ 2.32 gpt Au, 0.14% Zn; 1.0 m @ 20.14 gpt Au, 36 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu, 0.74% Pb, 2.51% Zn; 2.0 m @ 11.55 gpt Au, 0.12% Cu, 0.23% Pb, 0.47% Zn; 0.7 m @ 7.95 gpt Au, 43 gpt Ag, 3.26% Cu, 0.22% Pb; 0.5 m @ 109.14 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag; 4.5 m @ 2.56 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag, 0.19% Cu, 0.64% Pb, 0.86% Zn; 1.2 m @ 23.45 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag, 0.19% Pb, 0.12% Zn “Of the 28 holes drilled to date, fourteen (1704 metres) were drilled to test the San Agustín Vein, 10 holes (1029 metres) tested surface exploration targets defined by trenching, 2 holes (168 metres) tested under the historic San Antonio Mine and one hole tested under the historic La Gloria Mine”. A second drill rig is being added for the commencement of the phase two drilling campaign.
  • Stroud Resources Ltd. informed the drill permit application has been approved for its Santo Domingo property in Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco. The first phase consists of 12 drill holes, and a second phase comprises 38 holes to expand the mineral resources. “Stroud’s exploration of the two main mineralized zones has drilled through many of the workings. These zones; La Rayas and Guadalupe, are a series of banded to breccia style epithermal quartz carbonate vein systems represented with miargyrite, galena, sphalerite, argentite and native silver and gold. La Rayas is 30 to 35 metres wide and Guadalupe is 15 to 30 metres wide. Both are parallel structures with greater than a 700-metre strike length and about 300 metre depth”.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp. released observations by independent consultants on its Tenoriba property in Chihuahua. According to them the mineralization in the area is of epithermal high sulfidation type and occurring near the angular unconformity between the Lower and Upper Volcanic Groups. A thorough 2-year exploration program was recommended to evaluate the main prospect areas and to address areas that have to date seen little or no work.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. announced the start of the next phase of exploration at El Pilar in Sonora. The planned work is to include mapping and sampling of key target areas across the project. The property is interpreted as a structurally controlled low-sulfidation epithermal system in andesitic and rhyolitic volcanic rocks.

ON MINING

  • Excellon Resources Inc. informed it is looking for alternative energy sources for its Platosa mine in Durango. The energy utilised by the company is generated with natural gas, and it has seen its price multiplied up to a hundred times due to the intense cold wave in Texas. The price increase is expected to be a short-term event.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. announced production results for the third quarter ended January 31, 2021. At its San Martin mine in Queretaro, 57.3 K tonnes were milled @ 1.66 gpt Au, 22.9 gpt Ag, recovering 88.8% and 57.1% respectively to produce 3,063 Oz AuEq. A 6,000 m drill program has been implemented on the northwestern and eastern parts of the mine, matched with a development program of approximately 1,200 meters to cover both zones under exploration.
  • Mexus Gold US. continues mining at its Santa Elena project in Sonora. After a slowdown due to a Covid outbreak, operations are now gaining pace.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. reported audited financial results for 2020 and the Q4 of the same year, including some figures from its Mexican operations. At La Colorada, in Zacatecas, 1.19 M Oz Ag, 800 Oz Au were produced in Q4 and 5.02 M Oz Ag, 3,500 Oz Au during the year. At Dolores, in Chihuahua, 0.76 M Oz Ag, 30,500 Oz Au were produced in Q4 and 5.02 M Oz Ag, 98,000 Oz Au during the year. Cash cost and AISC per Ag Oz for the year stood at $6.99 and $10.80 for La Colorada and ($2.48) and $6.17 for Dolores.
  • Golden Minerals Co. released financial results for 2020. During the year the Rodeo open pit in Durango was started, with ore to be processed at the Velardeña oxide mill and an expected production between 12 K and 14 K Oz Au for 2021. In Yoquivo, Chihuahua, several new veins were discovered. The lease of the Velardeña mill to Hecla was terminated in November 2020, gathering $5.6 M in revenue. The Santa María property was farmed out for $4 M, whilst the Velardeña mine and sulfide mill might restart late in 2021. Cash and cash equivalents of $9.7 M by the end of the period.
  • Hecla Mining Co. presented 2020 results, including some figures from its Mexican operations. At San Sebastian, in Durango, 1.0 M Oz Ag, 7,223 Oz Au were produced in the year (0.2 M Oz Ag, 1,159 Oz Au in Q4), with the mill operating at 474 tpd when in production. Also in San Sebastian, El Tigre and El Bronco veins that were discovered under thick soil cover in 2020, can be up to 8.5 m in width and extend for more than 1.6 km. The best true width intercepts are 2.90 m @ 1,384 gpt Ag, 6.84 gpt Au for El Bronco vein and 1.07 m @ 504 gpt Ag, 2.80 gpt Au for El Tigre vein.
  • Newmont Corp. announced Q4 and full year 2020 results, including figures from its Peñasquito operations in Zacatecas. During the quarter 201 K Oz Au and 246 K Oz AuEq were sold at an AISC of $746 and $795 per Oz respectively. For the year, 512 K Oz Au were produced and 934 K Oz AuEq at an AISC of $806 and $828 per Oz respectively. For 2021 production from Peñasquito is expected to reach 660 K Oz Au and 1,120 K Oz AuEq.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. released its financial results for the fourth quarter and year 2020. For the year, 2.21 M tonnes were processed to produce 11.6 M Oz Ag, 20.38 M Oz AgEq at a cash cost of $5.09 per Oz Ag and an AISC of $13.92 per Oz AgE.
  • Gatos Silver Inc. reported electricity from Mexico’s national power grid supplying its Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua has been restricted, due to recent severe winter storms in Texas. The project facilities have power generators capable of sustaining the mine and field camp operations, but not the processing plant; underground mining will continue at a reduced rate and a planned shutdown for the processing plant will be completed during this temporary power restriction.

ON FINANCING

  • SGold79 Mines Ltd. granted 500 K common shares to Mr. Paul Carrelo, the newly appointed independent director (Higo Blanco, Oaxaca).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. informed there are firm commitments to raise A$2.55 M in gross proceeds. The funds are required to relieve short term cashflow pressure due to operational issues at third-party processing facilities since November 2020. (Plomosas, Chihuahua).
  • Orogen Royalties Inc. cancelled the previously announced private placement (royalties in Ermitaño, Sonora).
  • VanGold Mining Corp. has further expanded its non-brokered private placement financing for gross proceeds of $16.95 M (El Cubo, Guanajuato).
  • Heliostar Metals Ltd. announced it has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market, upgrading from the OTCQB Venture Market (La Lola, Sonora).
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. granted 2.14 M options to directors, officers, employees and consultants (Panuco, Sinaloa).
  • Brigadier Gold Ltd. announced a non-brokered private placement financing to raise up to $1 M.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Avino Silver and Gold Mines Ltd. has a 12,000 meters drilling program for its 1,104 hectares Avino property in Durango. Of these, 2,000 meters are planned on El Trompo vein, 3,000 meters on the Santiago vein, 2,500 meters on the Avino ET area and 4,500 meters on the Avino West area. Other areas that area to see investment include a dry stack tailings and improvements on circuit 4. Capital expenditures are expected to be between $6 to $8 M.
  • Vangold Mining Corp. announced positive results from the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for the combined El Cubo and El Pinguico project in Guanajuato. There are 718.6 K tonnes @ 160 gpt Ag, 1.90 gpt Au containing 7.2 M Oz AgEq as indicated resources and 1.45 M tonnes @ 214 gpt Ag, 2.78 gpt Au containing 20.4 M Oz AgEq as inferred resources. “On an after-tax basis, the Combined Project generates a Base Case NPV (5%) of $32.9 M and an IRR of 105%, excluding El Cubo acquisition costs. Using commodity prices of $22.41/oz Ag and $1756/oz Au, which are +15% above the Base Case (yet still lower than current spot prices), the after-tax NPV(5%) is $79.0 M and the IRR is 344%”.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. released assay results from 24 holes at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. Some of the highlighted core length intervals comprise 6.10 m @ 0.73 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag; 7.62 m @ 3.09 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag; 4.57 m @ 0.75 gpt Au, 1 gpt Ag; 6.10 m @ 0.78 gpt Au, 1 gpt Ag; 3.04 m @ 1.15 gpt Au, 1 gpt Ag; 3.05 m @ 2.32 gpt Au 2 gpt Ag. The Buena Suerte zone strike length is now 900 m long, and continuous mineralization has been confirmed along 2 kilometers of the El Rincón-Veta de Oro-Abejas vein and stockwork. A new zone, Bellotoso, has been identified, with a 2 kilometers strike length.   
  • McEwen Mining Inc. filed the feasibility study (FS) on the Fenix project, Sinaloa. The report envisions a 9.5-year mine life with after-tax IRR of 28% using $1,500/Oz gold and $17/Oz silver. Average annual production is projected at 26 K Oz Au in Phase 1 and 4.5 M Oz AgEq in Phase 2.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released results of nine diamond drill holes from the Casados deposit in the Los Ricos North project. Limited historical mining averaged 1.5 m in width at the Casados vein, but the present drilling intercepted mineralized widths over 20 m, and a second vein, also greater than 20 m in width. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 6.4 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag; 6.9 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag; 56.5 m @ 0.37 gpt Au, 144 gpt Ag; 22.5 m @ 0.32 gpt Au, 97 gpt Ag (including 4.9 m @ 1.05 gpt Au, 307 gpt Ag); 27.5 m @ 0.48 gpt Au, 214 gpt Ag (including 1.3 m @ 4.67 gpt Au, 2,390 gpt Ag); 59.9 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 84 gpt Ag; 20.3 m @ 0.51 gpt Au, 143 gpt Ag; 22.5 m @ 0.29 gpt Au, 84 gpt Ag; 53.3 m @ 0.40 gpt Au, 99 gpt Ag; 21.4 m @ 0.63 gpt Au, 136 gpt Ag; 21.3 m @ 0.34 gpt Au, 104 gpt Ag; 19.3 m @ 0.42 gpt Au, 135 gpt Ag.
  • Coeur Mining Inc. reported its 2020 mineral reserves and resources, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Palmarejo in Chihuahua, 68,850 m were drilled in 180 holes across 11 targets. Highlighted results include 6.9 m @ 4.3 gpt Au, 151 gpt Ag; 5.2 m @ 6.4 gpt Au, 179 gpt Ag at the La Patria zone; 3.4 m @ 2.8 gpt Au, 525 gpt Ag at the Bavisa zone and 6.8 m @ 9.7 gpt Au, 640 gpt Ag; 11.2 m @ 6.1 gpt Au, 430 gpt Ag; 6.0 m @ 9.1 gpt Au, 568 gpt Ag on the Hidalgo zone.
  • Capitan Mining Inc. reported results from the last two holes of its 2020 drill campaign at Peñoles, in Durango.  Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 64 m @ 0.50 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag (including 13.7 m @ 0.93 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag); 21.3 m @ 0.25 gpt Au; 15.2 m @ 0.25 gpt Au; 42.7 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 35.1 m @ 0.31 gpt Au; 35.1 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag. The Hanging Wall zone has been confirmed and delineated for over 600 m.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. released results from its ongoing 4,500 m drilling program at the San Diego property in Durango. The infill sampling of historic holes highlighted core intercept results comprising 9.36 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 51 gpt Ag, 0.26% Pb, 0.23% Zn; 50.52 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 25 gpt Ag, 0.24% Pb, 0.29% Zn; 175.30 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag, 0.64% Pb, 0.55% Zn (including 48.41 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 34 gpt Ag, 0.69% Pb, 0.80% Zn and 27.30 m @ 0.16 gpt Au, 58 gpt Ag, 1.30% Pb, 0.76% Zn) in one hole; 50.05 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 0.43% Pb, 0.41% Zn; 9.90 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 19 gpt Ag, 0.51% Pb, 0.37% Zn; 298 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag, 0.67% Pb, 0.70% Zn.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. reported results from the current drilling program in the San Juan area of its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 2.5 m @ 2,195 gpt Ag, 1.12 gpt Au, 0.3% Cu; 8.8 m @ 87 gpt Ag, 0.31 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.9% Zn; 1.1 m @ 244 gpt Ag, 0.53 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 2.1% Zn, 0.4% Cu; 22 m @ 70 gpt Ag, 0.15 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 15.0 m @ 42 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 3.4 m @ 578 gpt Ag, 0.20 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 8.7 m @ 0.4% Zn; 18.3 m @ 2 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.7% Zn. These drilling results continue to define high-grade epithermal mineralization in the San Juan area and towards the nearby San Francisco vein.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Azure Minerals Ltd. announced it is looking to divest its Mexican properties portfolio. The company “has commenced a strategic review of its precious metals and base metals projects in Mexico, including the 100%-owned Alacrán silver-gold-copper and Oposura zinc-lead-silver projects”.
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. reminded its shareholders of the meeting that was to be held on February 19th to vote on the arrangement between Premier Gold and Equinox Gold Corp. regarding the acquisition of the company (Mercedes, Sonora).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Media Luna announced an investment of 12 billion pesos (12 thousand million pesos, or US$600 M) in the next three years at its Media Luna project in Guerrero. Currently, at its Limon-Guajes mine 70% of the 900 employees and 1,300 contractors are from the state. It was also stated that about 40% of its workforce is composed by women.

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 vein on the old Mazatlán-Durango road, geologist Guillermo Contreras for scale. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Hydrothermal breccia

By Miguel A Heredia

During the second week of the year (February 08th to February 14th, 2021), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 11 news published by the media, with nine disclosing deals and corporate issues, six announcing financial rounds, six reporting on resources and development of their mine operations, six commenting on Mexican issues, five informing on exploration results, five discussing social issues, and two communicating production and financial results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) criteria are a key factor in Accendo Banco’s investments in Mexico’s mining sector, according to its CEO, Javier Reyes. Mining in Mexico registered a 19.5% rebound during October, 2020, according to the Monthly Indicator of Industrial Activity by Federal Entity (IMAIEF) released by the Institute National Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Tatiana Clouthier, head of the Secretariat of Economy declared that mining in Mexico must become a sustainable activity that prioritizes three issues: economic, human and nature. The energy policies that the federal government is following are already affecting the development of projects for the self-supply of energy by the mining sector. Experts detailed the main challenges that the Mexican mining sector will face in 2021, the year in which the industry is expected to play a leading role in the economic reactivation after confinements. Almost a year of delay accumulates the USD $60M of Chinese investment to construct the industrial park at Guadalupe, Zacatecas.   ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Canuc commenced a drill program at its San Javier project, Carlyle and Riverside initiated a phase one drilling program at its Cecilia project, Tocvan and Colibri reported drill results from its El Pilar project, and Minaurum released results from its phase II drilling program conducted at its Alamo Silver project.   ON MINING, Equinox provided 2021 guidance and outlined growth and investment plan (Los Filos mine, Guerrero). GoGold reported Q4, 2020 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, Bacanora announced that 106,995,885 New Ordinary Shares were admitted to trading on London Stock Exchange market (Sonora Lithium project, Sonora). Silver Tiger announced that it entered into a CAD $20M bought deal financing (El Tigre, Sonora). Comet raised $1M in strategic investor placement (Santa Teresa project, Baja California). Orogen announced a private placement for gross proceeds of $2.7M (Ermitaño property, Sonora). Prospero Silver announced a consolidation of its common shares (Pachuca SE property, Hidalgo). SilverCrest entered into a bought deal financing agreement for aggregate gross proceeds of USD $120M (Las Chispas project, Sonora).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Bacanora commenced initial site activities at its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. Excellon provided an update on ongoing exploration at its Platosa mine in Durango. GR Silver released underground and surface drilling results from its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Newmont reported 2020 mineral reserves and resources for its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. Orla filed updated FS on its Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas. Southern Silver released drill results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Carlyle announced that it has now met its first-year exploration commitments of its option agreement with Riverside Resources to acquire 100% of the Cecilia Gold-Silver project. Fabled granted an aggregate of 350K stock options to certain consultants, to acquire one common share of Fabled at an exercise price of $0.22 per common share until September 1, 2021 (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua). Fortuna announced management changes (San Jose mine, Oaxaca). Gold Resource announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Arista mine, Oaxaca). Gold79announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors and granted him with 500K common shares at a price of $0.10 per share and expire on February 12, 2031 (Taviche project, Oaxaca). Orogen announced that its current President and Chief Executive Officer has been appointed to the Board of Directors (Ermitaño project, Sonora). Premier announced that two independent adviser firms have recommended that holders of Premier´s common shares and options approve the proposed acquisition of Equinox (Mercedes mine, Sonora). Tarachi Gold signed a purchase agreement with Manto Resources to acquire the Magistral del Oro mill and tailings project in Durango. Vizsla announced it will change its name to Vizsla Silver Corp (Panuco project, Sinaloa).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Coanzamex (GoGold) supported the Municipal Shelter of Parral, Chihuahua with blankets. Fresnillo plc organized literary caravan and delivered books to children from rural communities. Peñoles signed an alliance with the UNAM Foundation so that medical fellows serve the communities near its operating units in Durango, State of Mexico, Guerrero and Zacatecas. Peñoles encourages the presence of women in the areas of science, innovation and technological development. Santa Elena Mine (First Majestic) in connection with the Sonora A.C. Mining Cluster are carrying out a support program for merchants in the Banámichi and Río Sonora region.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) criteria are a key factor in Accendo Banco’s investments in Mexico’s mining sector, according to its CEO, Javier Reyes. Investment deals recently advanced by the bank include a proposed USD $12M loan to finance construction of Telson Mining’s Tahuehueto gold mine in Durango. Candelaria Mining also signed a USD $9M loan agreement with Accendo in June 2020 for the construction of its Pinos gold project in Zacatecas. Lastly, Accendo signed a strategic alliance with Vancouver-based Empress Royalty in August last year. The agreement aims to acquire royalties, cash flows and other investments in Mexico’s mining sector.
  • Mining in Mexico, registered a 19.5% rebound during October, 2020 according to the Monthly Indicator of Industrial Activity by Federal Entity (IMAIEF), released by the Institute National Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
  • Tatiana Clouthier, head of the Secretariat of Economy declared that mining in Mexico must become a sustainable activity that prioritizes three issues: economic, human and nature. On the other hand, Clouthier highlighted the work that mining companies of all levels have done to accelerate the economic reactivation of the country. “The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that is generated through mining is about 3.2% and we are pleased to see that these numbers can continue to move in favor of the economy and Mexican families,” she said. “In the Ministry of Economy we have already invited large, medium and small companies and associations that are linked to this issue to be able to find solutions, to be able, within the framework of the law, to activate what we have to activate for this task it can be managed better and it can yield better results in favor of our country”, she assured.
  • The energy policies that the federal government is following are already affecting the development of projects for the self-supply of energy by the mining sector. According to data from the Mexico Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), electricity for this industry is 33% and up to 350% more expensive compared to other countries, which increases its production costs. That is why the mining companies have decided to invest and develop electricity generation projects, which range from combined cycle plants to solar or wind farms. Despite this, many of these plans have been affected by current policies on energy and the action of regulatory bodies, such as the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), which reduced the granting of permits to a minimum. President of CAMIMEX assured in recent days that half of the energy consumed by the mining industry is under the self-supply model.
  • Experts detailed the main challenges that the Mexican mining sector will face in 2021, the year in which the industry is expected to play a leading role in the economic reactivation after confinements. The main problems for the sector are the current health complications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of directly or indirectly legislative proposals with potential negative impacts on the mining sector such as the direct initiatives to try to raise taxes at the state of federal level or indirect initiatives as the elimination of the outsourcing or initiatives of the electricity industry. Deputies of Mexico received in January a proposal from a legislator of the ruling party Morena aimed at reviewing the fees paid for mining concessions. It proposed replacing per hectare fees with potentially much higher charges linked to production. Another problem is the “profound ignorance” of the importance of the mining industry.
  • Almost a year of delay accumulates the USD $60M of Chinese investment to construct the industrial park at Guadalupe, Zacatecas. This delay has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.   

ON EXPLORATION

  • Canuc Resources Corporation, commenced a drill program at its San Javier project. The program will be focused on testing geophysical anomalies and mineralized breccia and stockwork zones as reported previously.
  • Carlyle Commodities Corp. and Riverside Resources Inc., initiated a six drill holes, phase one program at its Cecilia project designed to test down to roughly 250m in depth over the Cerro Magallanes rhyolitic dome. The drill program will commence to test the San Jose structure where sampling returned values up to 48.3 g/t Au over 0.75m at surface.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. and Colibri Resource Corporation reported drill results from its phase one drilling program performed at its El Pilar project in Sonora, which consisted of nine RC holes for a total of 1,505m. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole JES-20-32 with 1.6 g/t Au over 94.6m, including 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag over 9.2m; hole JES-20-33 with 1.1 g/t Au over 41.2m, including 6 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag over 3.1m; and hole JES-20-36 with 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag over 24.4m, including 6.3 g/t Au and 192 g/t Ag over 9.2m, including 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag over 1.5m.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., released results from its phase II drilling program conducted at its Alamo Silver project. “Drilling at the Europa-Guadalupe target outlined a prospective south-west (“SW”) plunging silver shoot along with the potential for additional high-grade mineralization to the north and south of the area drilled. At the Promontorio target, drilling returned high-grade mineralization in excess of 100m below historical workings, indicating the potential for two SW-plunging silver shoots”. At Europa-Guadalupe Zone, Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole AL20-054 with 342 g/t Ag, 0.76% Cu, and 1% Zn over 3.85m, including 1,185 g/t Ag, 2.19% Cu, and 1.2% Zn over 0.8m; and hole AL20-050 with 196 g/t Ag, 0.26% Cu, 0.35% Pb, and 1.1% Zn over 3.25m, including 784 g/t Ag, 1.05% Cu, and 2.5% Zn over 0.55m. At Promontorio Zone, hole AL20-064 intersected 528 g/t Ag, 0.8 g/t Au, 0.83% Cu, 2.4% Pb, and 1.5% Zn over 3.7m, including 1,203 g/t Ag, 2.45 g/t Au, 1.4% Cu, 5.1% Pb, and 2.8% Zn over 1.05m; and hole AL20-069 with 161 g/t Ag, 0.5 g/t Au, 0.24% Cu, 2.15% Pb, and 5.9% Zn over 4m, including 327 g/t Ag, 0.9 g/t Au, 0.23% Cu, 2.5% Pb, and 6.6% Zn over 1m. At San Jose Zone, hole AL20-066 encountered 314 g/t Ag, 0.27% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 4.45m, and hole AL20-075 with 460 g/t Ag, 0.15% Cu, 0.5% Pb, and 0.85% Zn over 2.15m. At Travesia Zone, hole AL20-077 intersected  210 g/t Ag, 0.59% Cu, 1.3% Pb, and 1.3% Zn over 4.4m, including 355 g/t Ag, 0.7 g/t Au, 1.02% Cu, 4.6% Pb, and 3.2% Zn over 0.9m.

ON MINING

  • Equinox Gold Corp., provided 2021 guidance and outlined growth and investment plan. It expects to produce 170K-190K Oz Au from its Los Filos mine in Guerrero at cash and AISC of USD $1,125-1,200 and USD $1,330-1,390 respectively. The company has planned a total sustaining and non-sustaining capital spend of USD $133M for the year.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., reported Q4, 2020 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. The company produced 298.6KOz Ag, 3,632 Oz Au and 280K Lb Cu (614.15K Oz AgEq) at cash and AISC of USD $12.27 and USD $15.19 per Oz Ag sold. GoGold reported revenue of USD $14,078M, a net income of USD $4.23M, and a cash flow from operation of USD $5.86M.  

ON FINANCING

  • Bacanora Lithium plc., announced that 106,995,885 New Ordinary Shares were admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange market (Sonora Lithium project, Sonora).
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., announced that it entered into a CAD $20M bought deal financing with Sprott Capital Partners LP.  Net proceeds will be used to fund continued exploration at its El Tigre project in Sonora, as well as for general working capital and business development purposes.
  • Comet Resources Ltd., announced that it raised $1M in strategic investor placement. Part of the raised funds will be used to support exploration activities at its (Santa Teresa project in Baja California.
  • Orogen Royalties Inc., announced a private placement for gross proceeds of $2.7M (Ermitaño property, Sonora).
  • Prospero Silver Corp., announced a consolidation of its common shares on the basis of one new post-consolidation common share for every three pre-consolidation common shares effective as of February 11, 2021.  There will be no name change or trading symbol change in conjunction with the consolidation (Pachuca SE property, Hidalgo).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., entered into a bought deal financing agreement for aggregate gross proceeds of USD $120M. Net proceeds of the offering will be used to expand resources and reserves at its Las Chispas project in Sonora through further drilling, to optimize the mine and processing plant design, to explore regional targets, and for general working capital purposes. 

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Bacanora Lithium plc., commenced initial site activities at its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. Bacanora engaged a local specialist ecological service company to rescue and remove surface vegetation and topsoil in the area proposed for the construction of the processing plant. The company is also upgrading the main access road for providing access to heavy equipment to commence the bulk site earthworks later in the year.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., provided an update on ongoing exploration at its Platosa mine in Durango. The company is drilling regional targets such as Jaboncillo and the PDN areas, as well as drilling the Platosa extensions and Platosa Underground to support resource definition and expansion. At Jaboncillo zone, located 11 km north of Platosa mine, Excellon identified in a previous drilling campaign a 1.2km length gossans mineralization.  The current drilling program is targeting the source of these gossans and the existence of massive sulphides. At PDN zone, located 2 km north of Platosa mine, it is testing a large 800m by 60m target generated with multiple sets of geophysical data, surface mapping and sampling. This target is interpreted as a deeper skarn related to the Rincon del Caido  skarn discovered in 2012 where a previous drill intercept encountered 132 g/t Ag, 3.1% Pb, 1.7% Zn, and 0.075 g/t Au (278 g/t AgEq) over 55.5m. At the 10-20 target, the company has been conducting drilling surface to add mineralization over approximately 300m of strike with a vertical extent of 30-40m. This zone has potential to significantly increase the current 800m by 600m mineralized footprint of the Platosa mine.  At Platosa mine, Excellon is conducting underground drilling to define mineralization ahead of mine development and add mineralized inventory in areas not adequately tested by surface drilling. This underground drilling program follows up on previous drilling of the Pierna and NE-1 mantos and depth extensions of the 623 and NE-1S mantos.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., released underground and surface drilling results from its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Significant mineralization was encountered in hole PLI-20-05 with 2.63 g/t Au, 39 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 4m, including 8.95 g/t Au, 136 g/t Ag,0.4% Cu,  0.6% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (1,101 g/t AgEq) over 1.0m, and other deeper intersection of 2.77 g/t Au, 25 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over 9.2m, including 19.95 g/t Au, 227 g/t Ag, 1% Cu, 1.3% Pb, and 4.7% Zn (2,507 g/t AgEq) over 0.20m; and hole PLI17-32 with 1.37 g/t Au, 68 g/t Ag, 0.1% Cu, 0.4% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (245 g/t AgEq) over 10.6m. “The underground drilling program is targeting high-grade Ag-Au epithermal mineralization and bulk tonnage-style polymetallic mineralization in the Plomosas Mine Area, with the objective to delineate high margin precious and base metals mineralization for planned resource estimation”.
  • Newmont Corporation reported 2020 mineral reserves and resources for its Peñasquito and Noche Buena mines. Figures are shown in the tables below:

(Resources are reported exclusive of reserves)

  • Orla Mining Ltd., filed updated FS on its Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas. Highlights include a total ore to leach pad of 67.4M tonnes of 0.73 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag for a total of 1.59M Oz Au and 31.5M Oz Ag at metallurgical recoveries of 62% and 20% respectively to recover 980K Oz Au and 6.19M Oz Ag. The mine life of Camino Rojo has been estimated in 10.4 years with a throughput rate of 18,000 tonnes per day for an annual production of 94K Oz Au, at a cash and AISC cost of USD $490 and USD $543 per Oz Au respectively. The FS reported a Pre-Tax and NVP (5% discount rate)  of USD $668M, Pre-Tax IRR of 82%, an After-Tax and NVP (5% discount rate) of USD $542M,and an After-Tax IRR of %62%, for a payback time of 1.5 years.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., released drill results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. The company intersected bonanza grades at La Bocona Chimney in hole 20CLM-131 with 1,072 g/t Ag, 18.8% Pb, and 7.5% Zn (2,040 g/t AgEq or 51.7% ZnEq) over a true width (TW) of 8m, which includes subintervals of 3,180 g/t Ag, 58.8% Pb, and 2.3% Zn over a TW of 0.6m, and 2,340 g/t Ag, 35.9% Pb, and 1.6% Zn over a TW of 0.8m. Additional mineralized intervals intersected further down-hole include 121 g/t Ag, 2.5% Pb, and 2.5% Zn (311 g/t AgEq or 7.9% ZnEq) over a TW of 8.5m, including 413 g/t Ag, 8.7% Pb, and 9.3% Zn (1,103 g/t AgEq or 28% ZnEq) over a TW of 1.6m, including 59 g/t Ag, 0.6 g/t Au, an 3.7% Cu (489 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.5m. Additional assays results were also received from the Muralla and the South Skarn targets located 500m away of the Mina La Bocona. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole 20CLM-134 with 205 g/t Ag, 0.16 g/t Au, 4% Pb, and 0.9% Zn (377 g/t AgEq or 9.5% ZnEq) over a TW of 4.1m, including 575 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 9.9% Pb, and 2.2% Zn (972 g/t AgEq or 24.7% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.6m in the Muralla target; hole 20CLM-126 with 95 g/t Ag, 0.7% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (174 g/t AgEq or 4.4% ZnEq), including 398 g/t Ag, 0.16 g/t Au, 2.7% Pb, and 4% Zn (679 g/t AgEq or 17.2% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.7min the South Target Zone, and hole 20CLM-130 with 327 g/t Ag, 5.6% Pb, and 11.5% Zn (960 g/t AgEq or 24.4% ZnEq) over a TW of 1m in the South Target Zone.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Carlyle Commodities Corp., announced that it has now met its first-year exploration commitments of its Option Agreement with Riverside Resources to acquire 100% of the Cecilia Gold-Silver project, by having advanced at least CAD $750K for exploration expenditures.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., granted an aggregate of 350K stock options to certain consultants, to acquire one common share of Fabled at an exercise price of $0.22 per common share until September 1, 2021 (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua).
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., announced the resignation of its Director and Chair of the Board, and the appointment of its replacement (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).
  • Gold Resource Corporation announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Arista mine, Oaxaca).
  • Gold79 Mines Ltd., announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors and granted him 500K common shares at a price of $0.10 per share and expires on February 12, 2031 (Taviche project, Oaxaca).
  • Orogen Royalties Inc., announced that its current President and Chief Executive Officer has been appointed to the Board of Directors (Ermitaño project, Sonora).
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited announced that two independent adviser firms have recommended that holders of Premier´s common shares and options approve the proposed acquisition of Equinox Gold Corp. (Mercedes mine, Sonora). 
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., signed a purchase agreement with Manto Resources SA de CV to acquire the Magistral del Oro mill and tailings project in Durango.  Magistral project consists of a 1,000 tons per day (TPD) Merrill-Crow tailings reprocessing  plant and tailing disposal facility, and access to an estimated 1.3M tonnes of tailings with a historic average grade of between 2.06 g/t Au and 2.11 g/t Au. In order to acquire the property, Tarachi has to issue 4M of its common shares, grant Manto with a 15% net profits royalty on the estimated 1.3M tonnes of tailings material expected to be processed and reimburse Manto for USD $1,179,500 of cash outlays, and will satisfy certain obligations of Manto by paying a total of USD $1,111,000 plus any Mexican value add tax (IVA) and issuing 1,685,916 common shares within 90 days of closing. Manto will be entitled to the following staged bonus payments: an additional 4M common shares 60 days after the closing date, 4M common shares 180 days after the closing date, 4M of common shares 365 days after the closing date, USD $500K in cash following 6 months of commercial production at Magistral, USD $500K in cash following 12 months of commercial production at Magistral, upon the company earning USD $15M in revenue from Magistral, the company will pay Manto USD $1M. Finally, a finder´s fee of 1M common shares will be issued to Spirit Exploration Corp.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp., announced it will change its name to Vizsla Silver Corp. The name change is expected to be effective on February 9, 2021 (Panuco project, Sinaloa). 

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Coanzamex (GoGold Resources Inc.) delivered blankets to the Parral Municipality Shelter. Major of Parral thanked the spirit of solidarity that has characterized the mining company that has operated in Parral, Chihuahua for several years.
  • Fresnillo plc organized literary caravan and delivered 10,000 books to children and adolescents from 23 communities in Caborca, Sonora.  It should be mentioned that Fresnillo plc, in alliance with the IBBY México organization, encourages children’s reading through the “Picando Letras” program, which has been implemented for some time more than 8 years and, to date, approximately more than 2,500 infants and adolescents have participated in the various actions.
  • Industrias Peñoles SAB de CV signed an alliance with the UNAM Foundation so that medical fellows serve the communities near its operating units Durango, State of Mexico, Guerrero and Zacatecas. For more than 10 years, Peñoles has carried out Health Days to the communities near its operations, to provide free medical care to its neighbors. To give continuity to preventive health programs among the population with fewer resources, Peñoles ratified an agreement with the UNAM Foundation whereby eight social service providers of the University will provide medical care to the communities surrounding the Velardeña, Sabinas, Tizapa, and Capela mines.
  • Industrias Peñoles SAB de CV encourages the presence of women in the areas of science, innovation and technological development. Its General Director, Rafael Rebollar, points out that, fortunately, more women are joining the different mining processes, contributing their talent and skills. The Central Laboratory and the Center for Research and Technological Development (CIDT) of Peñoles stand out, with 35 women who carry out functions key to mining and metallurgical processes. Thus, Peñoles reiterates its commitment to society by integrating more women scientists in the industry, through programs that expand their knowledge and allow them to innovate in the processes, which contributes to strengthening the activity mining and make it more sustainable.
  • Santa Elena Mine (First Majestic) in connection with the Sonora A.C. Mining Cluster are carrying out a support program for local merchants in the Banámichi and Río Sonora region. Through a workshop, they seek to provide the necessary tools to promote the economic reactivation of businesses and overcome the barriers of the pandemic using new digital marketing tool to offer its products and services. This training was offered in virtual mode where the last session was completed in person, ending with the delivery of recognitions to the participants.

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 quartz hydrothermal breccia in a low sulphidation epithermal system in a prospect in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia., Mexico.

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

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 46th week of the year (November 9th to November 15th, 2020), at least 23 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, five companies posted exploration advances on their projects and six more posted on project development. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Canadian mining investment increased during the COVID pandemic; a webinar about lithium in Mexico was held; the illegal blockade on Equinox’s Los Filos mine in Guerrero ended and the Discoveries Conference was held in Guadalajara, the first in-person gathering of the mining community since the pandemic began. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Colibri released trench results from Evelyn; Tarachi Gold is mobilizing a portable diamond drill to the San Javier concession on its Tarachi property. In Sinaloa, Vizsla released assays from drilling at Panuco; Kootenay released drill results from Copalito. In Zacatecas, Advance Gold completed an IP survey.  ON MINING, Sierra Metals, Equinox and Americas Gold and Silver released third quarter 2020 results. Americas Gold and Silver updated on the Cosalá Complex situation in Sinaloa. ON FINANCING, Silver Bull and Candente Gold raised US$150 K and $200 K respectively. Aura Minerals made some clarifications on its latest public offering. Reyna Silver is now trading in USA and Germany. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexican Gold released high grade drill results from its resource expansion program at Las Minas, Veracruz. Endeavour Silver released high-grade intercepts on Guanaceví, Durango. Discovery Metals released interesting results from drilling at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. GoGold informed on additional drill results from Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Southern Silver Exploration informed on drill results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango, some of which are high-grade. SilverCrest Metals updated on development activities at its Las Chispas project in Sonora.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Magna Gold optioned the Margarita project from Sable Resources (a property brought to Sable’s attention by Gambusino Prospector). VanGold Mining amended its option agreement to re-purchase three of four underlying royalties at its El Pinguico project in Guanajuato. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Fresnillo PLC promotes the creation of micro and small businesses in the Caborca region in Sonora.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The COVID-19 pandemic saw investments by Canadian miners increase in Mexico, from US$30 M to US$160 – US$170 M a month during last September, according to Douglas Coleman, CEO of Mexico Mining Center. The increase in precious metal prices brought also an average increase of 30% on the valuation of companies in the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (BMV) during the first 10 months of the current year.
  • The illegal blockade by the Carrizalillo community on Equinox’s Los Filos mine in Guerrero has been lifted, according to Jorge Zuriel de los Santos, head of the Fiscalía General del Estado de Guerrero (State Prosecutor).
  • The webinar “The truth about lithium in Mexico” was held on November 11, 2020, sponsored by Mundo Minero, the Colegio de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México (CIMMGM) and the Asociación de Ingenieros Mineros, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México (AIMMGM).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Colibri Resource Corp. released assay results from the trenching program at its Evelyn project in Sonora. Highlighted results include 0.40 m @ 4.01 gpt Au on a quartz vein with oxidized pyrite, sericite and iron carbonate; 1.5 m @ 2.44 gpt Au in an andesite with quartz veining with oxidized pyrite and iron carbonate; Colibri has been granted a permit to complete up to 2.2 Km of trenching, and has collected 77 rock samples so far in these 1.5 m to 2.5 m deep trenches.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp. provided assay results from drilling on the Papayo and San Carlos prospects at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. “Drilling has continued to expand the known extents of mineralization at Papayo” with highlighted true width (TW) results comprising: 0.74 m @  7.96 gpt Au, 1,515 gpt Ag, 0.50% Pb, 1.21% Zn; 1.29 m @ 0.61 gpt Au, 125 gpt Ag; 0.78 m @ 2.66 gpt Au, 474 gpt Ag, 1.04% Pb, 2.80% Zn; 0.95 m @ 21.60 gpt Au, 216 gpt Ag, 1.91% Pb, 6.02% Zn; 1.49 m @ 1.0 gpt Au, 207 gpt Ag, 0.56% Pb, 1.32% Zn; 1.37 m @ 1.31 gpt Au, 168 gpt Ag; 5.61 m @ 1.05 gpt Au, 89 gpt Ag, 0.74% Pb, 1.9% Zn. “The San Carlos structure is wide lower grade bulk tonnage target with an average width of 11.5m and a range from 3.35m to 22.8m” with highlighted TW intercepts comprising 15.62 m @ 0.91 gpt Au, 110 gpt Ag (including 4.78 m @ 2.19 gpt Au, 230 gpt Ag); 19.20 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 53 gpt Ag; 17.18 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag (including 4.59 m @ 0.97 gpt Au, 147 gpt Ag); 22.76 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 43 gpt Ag.
  • Advance Gold Corp. completed an induced polarization (IP) survey on its Tabasqueña project in Zacatecas. The new IP survey highlights two wide and closely spaced high chargeability anomalies, with the strongest being on the western part of the new grid. “For both targets, the associated chargeability anomaly is deeply seated (> 250 to 300m) while their origin is linked to two distinct wide mineralized systems. The western anomaly appears to remain open laterally to the north and south within the property limits”.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp. is mobilizing a man portable diamond drill rig to commence drill testing the high-grade gold bearing structures on the San Javier concession, part of its Tarachi project in Sonora. The drill program will focus on a NW trending shear structure where previous drill holes intercepted 5.0 m @ 34.5 gpt Au and 3.0 m @ 24.3 gpt Au. Mineralization is hosted in andesitic volcanic rocks, flanked by an intrusive rock, and the shear zone at San Javier remains open along strike and to depth, with the possibility of an extension under cover.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. released results from the last seven holes on its 4,153 m drilling program at Copalito, in Sinaloa.  Highlighted intercepts comprise 9.05 m @ 2.09 gpt au, 124 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb+Zn (including 2.25 m @ 6.65 gpt Au, 335 gpt Ag, 2.6% Pb+Zn, including 0.51 m @ 16.95 gpt Au, 369 gpt Ag, 3.74% Pb+Zn); 27.4 m @ 60 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb+Zn; 10 m @ 128 gpt Ag, 0.65 gpt Au, 1.13% Pb+Zn (including 2.25 m @ 484 gpt Ag, 2.18 gpt Au, 2.86% Pb+Zn).

ON MINING

  • Sierra Metals Inc. Released consolidated third quarter results for 2020, with some figures from its Mexican operations. The Bolivar Mine in Chihuahua processed 410.5 K tonnes in the quarter, a record representing a 24% increase over Q3 2019, at 4,691 tpd, and in track to reach the targeted 5,000 tpd during Q4 2020. The Cusi mine, also in Chihuahua, produced a record 304 K Oz Ag, with an ore throughput of 1,074 tpd.
  • Equinox gold Corp. reported its third quarter 2020 financial and operating results, without detailing figures from its Mexican operations. At Los Filos, the Guadalupe open pit and Bermejal underground proceeded for July and August, but were suspended by an illegal blockade by the community on September 3rd. “Optimization study for new carbon-in-leach plant, heap leach expansion, updated mine planning and a Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource update targeted for completion in early 2021”.
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. reported financial and operational results for the third quarter 2020, including an update on its Mexican operations. At Cosalá, in Sinaloa “In August 2020, the Company announced that the illegal blockade had been resolved to permit some Company personnel the opportunity to re‐enter the mine operations.    This access has not been maintained.  With the re‐opening of Mexican government offices in August, the Company’s employees were expected to vote in September 2020 for new union representation and did so on September 17.  In advance of the vote, a number of irregularities came to light, which indicated that there could not be a fully democratic vote with freedom of association. As a result, the Company does not believe there are conditions currently present to invest the required capital to re‐start the Cosalá Operations.  The Company continues to work with all legitimate stakeholders and remains hopeful that a resolution, consistent with the rule of law and featuring an election free from threats and intimidation, can be achieved so that operations can re‐commence in the near term”. The company also finalized the option agreement with Hochschild to acquire 100% of the San Felipe project in Sonora.

ON FINANCING

  • Aura Minerals Corp. made some clarifications regarding the secondary public offering of Brazilian depositary receipts issued by Itaú Unibanco S.A. as depositary. “The total gross proceeds of the Secondary Offering to the Selling Shareholders are R$87,300,000.00, of which an aggregate of R$19,400,000 is in respect of the Shares offered, severally, by the ARC Funds and R$67,900,000 is in respect of the Shares offered by Ruffer. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Secondary Offering” (Aranzazú, Zacatecas).
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. completed the second and final tranche of the previously announced private placement, for gross proceeds of US$150 K, and aggregate gross proceeds of US$1.7 M (Sierra Mojada, Coahuila).
  • Reyna Silver Corp. announced its common shares have been approved for listing on the OTCQB Market Exchange in the United States and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany.
  • Candente Gold Corp. advised that the previously announced non-brokered private placement has been fully subscribed, for gross profits of $200K (El Oro, Estado de Mexico).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp.  released further assay results from the 2020 drilling program at its Las Minas project in Veracruz. Most of the 52 holes drilled so far have been targeting potential extensions to the El dorado resource, which remains open in several directions. Highlighted true width (TW) intercepts comprise 4.6 m @ 1.41 gpt Au, 0.55% Cu; 15.3 m @ 1.21 gpt Au, 1.1% Cu; 3.2 m @ 3.74 gpt Au, 3.76% Cu; 8.5 m @ 4.86 gpt Au, 1.17% Cu; 17 m @ 1.2 gpt Au, 0.85% Cu; 11.6 m @ 1.56 gpt Au, 1.03% Cu; 11.6 m @ 4.38 gpt Au, 1.84% Cu; 28.5 m @ 2.8 gpt Au, 1.12% Cu; 8.0 m @ 1.9 gpt Au, 0.36% Cu; 7.4 m @ 3.46 gpt Au, 5.08% Cu; 5.3 m @ 0.4 gpt Au, 0.83% Cu.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. continues to intersect high-grade mineralization in the Santa Cruz vein on the El Curso property of the Guanaceví mine in Durango. Highlighted TW intersections on eleven holes comprise 3.2 m @ 2,307 gpt Ag, 3.15 gpt Au (2,559 gpt AgEq); 3.1 m @ 1,409 gpt Ag, 3.13 gpt Au (1,659 gpt AgEq) and 11.5 m @ 381 gpt Ag, 0.5 gpt Au.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. released results from seven diamond drill holes targeting bulk-tonnage mineralization in the South Corridor at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Some of the highlighted results comprise 71.2 m @ 18 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 139.1 m @ 47 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 1.6% Zn (138 gpt AgEq); 26.6 m @ 56 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 19.4 m @ 41 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 29.6 m @ 52 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 0.8% Zn; 92.1 m @ 27 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 32.4 m@ 72 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 38.4 m @ 36 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 33.9 m @ 30 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 62.2 m @ 38 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 57.1 m @ 18 gpt Ag, 0.01 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 1.0% Zn. Assays from 27 holes are pending and four rigs are operating at the site.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released additional drill results from the La Trini deposit at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 25.9 m @ 0.34 gpt Au, 52 gpt Ag (including 4.7 m @ 0.81 gpt Au, 124 gpt Ag); 2.4 m @ 0.05 gpt Au, 300 gpt Ag; 18.7 m @ 0.58 gpt Au 46 gpt Ag; 18.2 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 48 gpt Ag; 15.2 m @ 0.71 gpt Au, 71 gpt Ag (including 2.0 m @ 3.55 gpt Au, 284 gpt Ag and 1.3 m @ 4.20 gpt Au, 733 gpt Ag).
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. reported initial assay results from the recently started 10,000 m core drilling program at Cerro Las Minitas, Durango. Highlighted true width results from holes in the South Skarn target comprise 4.0 m @ 109 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 0.02% Cu, 1.8% Pb, 2.1% Zn (including 0.9 m @ 412 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 0.06% Cu, 7.8% Pb, 9.2% Zn); 0.8 m @ 132 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 0.02% Cu, 2.8% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 1.1 m @ 54 gpt Ag, 2.83 gpt Au, 0.01% Cu, 3.6% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 3.2 m @ 99 gpt Ag, 0.27 gpt Au, 0.01% Cu, 0.7% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 6.7 m @ 625 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.03% Cu, 11.8% Pb, 7.5% Zn; 1.2 m @ 112 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 2.2% Pb, 2.1% Zn.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. provided an update on activities for 2020. During the first nine months of the year the company has drilled 146,000 m of in-fill and expansion drilling at Las Chispas project in Sonora. Furthermore, 4.1 km of underground decline and lateral drifting, stockpiling an accumulated 47 K tonnes @ 1,130 gpt AgEq (7.21 gpt Au, 590 gpt Ag). “Las Chispas site activities continued with the building of the administration and warehouse facilities, phase 1 of the temporary quarantined COVID-19 camp, communication system, and water pumping stations”. Since inception of the project, 461,000 m have been drilled in 1,712 holes. As October 31, 2020, SilverCrest has cash and cash equivalents of $184 M (US$138.2 M).

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Magna Gold Corp. entered into a definitive option acquisition agreement with Sable Resources Ltd. To acquire Sable’s option to acquire 100% interest in the 125.6 ha Margarita silver property in Chihuahua; the property lies 15 Km northwest on strike with the recently commissioned Sunshine Silver Corp’s Los Gatos mine. Magna is to acquire the option by paying CAD$1.5 M cash, plus additional CAD$800 K VAT and CAD$3.5 M in common shares of Magna. The purchaser will exercise the option to acquire the property by payment of CAD$500 K in cash, plus $368 K in VAT to the titleholders of the concessions and CAD$1.8 M in Magna shares. Sable drilled 35 holes for a total of 5,245 m, with intercepts like: 4.25 m @ 430 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 12.4 m @ 446 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 14.05 m @ 306 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 1.9% Zn; 11.3 m @ 229 gpt Ag, 1.0% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 33.3 m @ 283 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.8% Zn (including 9.9 m @ 579 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 1.7% Zn); 20.6 m @ 83 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn (including 5.1 m @ 198 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn); 48.65 m @ 102 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 37.35 m @ 117 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn (including 5.5 m @ 400 gpt Ag, 1.07 gpt Au, 1.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn).
  • VanGold Mining Corp. amended its option agreement to re-purchase three of the four underlying royalties on its Pinguico project, Guanajuato. Under the new terms the option is exercisable by making payments to EMBSA (Exploraciones Mineras del Bajío, S.A. de C.V.) of $200 K cash and 3.75 M shares before November 20, 2020; $325 K in cash before February 22, 2021; $525 K in cash before February 22, 2022 and $625 K in cash before February 22, 2023. After these payments are made, the only NSR on the property will cover the above ground and below ground stockpiles. 

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Fresnillo PLC promotes the creation of micro and small businesses by means of its “Emprende en Línea” (Online Entrepreneurship) program, to develop administrative and managerial capabilities to consolidate businesses. For more than two decades Minera Penmont has contributed to the growth of the Caborca region through the implementation of social programs.

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: Base metal veinlet in core from Cerro San Pedro, San Luis Potosí. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 36th week of the year (August 31st to September 6th, 2020), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. The dominant news on the country relating to the mining industry during the week, was the cancellation of the Sub Secretary of Mining (created during the last presidential term), headed by Francisco Quiroga, who had gained the trust of the enterprises and organizations of the industry by his relentless and hands-on daily effort to help better the mining industry in Mexico. He will be missed, unlike his predecessor. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the Sub Secretary of Mining was cancelled, its role absorbed within the Economy Secretary; loud complaints from the mining industry organizations followed, to fall on deaf ears. Pending investments in mining for the near future of US$1991 M. The Sonora Mining Fund Committee approved the investment of US$3.5 M on an aqueduct. FIFOMI has US$164 M in current credits to the mining industry. The Mining Fund is gone, for the purposes it was created for. (This is a measure taken by the actual federal government against the opinion of all mining enterprises and organizations. In my personal point of view, it opens the way to the use of the funds in a very centralized manner, same that can be exploited for political gains by those in power. There was just no need for this change). The very Mexican “illegal mine blockade roulette” now struck Equinox’s Los Filos mine in Guerrero. ON EXPLORATION, in Baja, Comet Resources updated on its Santa Teresa property. In Sonora, Redstar Gold updated on its Cumaro project. In Sinaloa, Viszla Resources released drilling results at Panuco. In Veracruz, Azucar Minerals released drilling results from El Cobre.  ON MINING, Santacruz Silver reported second quarter 2020 results. Equinox Gold’s Los Filos mine in Guerrero is affected by an illegal blockade. ON FINANCING, seven companies made announcements regarding the opening or closing of financing rounds: Southern Silver Exploration ($456 K), Barksdale Resources ($6.3 M), GoGold Resources (C$30 M), Silver Dollar Resources ($10.5 M), Inomin Mines ($400 K), Americas Gold and Silver (C$39.4 M), Alien Metals (£1.25 M). Gold79 Mines, Golden Tag Resources and Redstar Gold granted stock options to officers, directors and consultants. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Silver Bull Resources updated on the legal battle and an illegal blockade at its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Odyssey Marine Exploration received funds for the legal battle to obtain the government permit to mine its Exploraciones Oceánicas phosphate project offshore Baja California Sur. Tarachi Gold acquired the Juliana group of properties, increasing the size of its Tarachi property to 3,708 hectares. Inomin Mines executed the agreement on the acquisition of the La Gitana and Peña Blanca properties in Oaxaca. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Peñasquito, First Majestic, Minera San Javier, Alamos Gold and SilverCrest informed on donations, community involvement and safety measures on the areas near their operations.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Francisco Quiroga, in his last day as Sub-Secretary of Mining, called for the AIMMGM (Asociación de Ingenieros Mineros, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México) to play a leading role in the transformation of the industry and its relationship with the public sector.
  • The AIMMGM installed the newly elected board for the 2020-2022 period.
  • The Secretaría de Economía announced the cancellation of the Mining Sub-Secretary, onward from September 1st, 2020.
  • The cancellation of the Mining Sub-Secretary by the federal government brought loud complaints from companies and organisms within the industry (not that these complaints are to be attended to). The Cámara Minera de México (CAMIMEX), the Asociación de Ingenieros Mineros, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México (AIMMGM), the Mining Task Force of the Cámara de Comercio del Canadá en México, the Sonora, Chihuahua, Guerrero, Sinaloa and Zacatecas Mining clusters, the Colegio de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México (CIMMGM) and the organization Mujeres en la Minería (WIM Mexico) extended its congratulations to Francisco Quiroga, departing Mining Sub-Secretary and expressed the profound disagreement for the disappearance of the Sub Secretary of Mining.   
  • Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) informed Mexico has a list of projects that add up to $1,991 M dollars in programmed investment. Amongst these are the Campo Morado mine in Guerrero, La Yaqui Grande in Sonora, as well as the Orysivo project in Chihuahua, the Centauro Profundo project in Sonora and the Media Luna project in Guerrero. Mexico had a production peak of 123,364 kg of gold in 2015, same that has declined to 73,451 kg in 2019.
  • The Mining Fund Sonora Committee approved the investment of MX$75 M pesos (US$3.5 M) for the construction of the Macoyahui-Alamos aqueduct. The project includes 24.5 Km of PVC tubing and five pumping stations.
  • INEGI informed the mining activity is resuming after the COVID lockdown. Sulphur, iron,, lead, gold, copper, silver, fluorite are among the commodities that have seen their production significantly increased. In January 2020 the industry generated 381,456 direct jobs and more than 2 M indirect jobs, according to the IMSS.
  • Request for the Mining Sub Secretary to stay in Chihuahua by Omar Bazán, deputy, and the Chihuahua Mining Cluster.
  • The Fideicomiso de Fomento Minero (FIFOMI) has $3,530 M pesos (US$164 M) on current credits to the mining sector.
  • The Mining Fund is gone, for the purposes it was created for. Graciela Márquez, Economy Secretary confirmed the resources no longer are going to be distributed among mining municipalities, but through different agreements with government organisms and federal programs to help mining communities.
  • Graciela Márquez, Economy Secretary, stated the disappearance of the Mining Sub-Secretary is not to affect the mining industry as all relevant structures stay in place (We beg to disagree).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Radius Gold Inc. informed on exploration at its Amalia and Plata Verde projects in Chihuahua. At Amalia, “phase 4 drilling funded by JV partner Pan American Silver remains on stand-by due to COVID-19. Semarnat, the permitting agency in Chihuahua, has returned to work on a limited scale and Pan American has recently provided updated information requested by Semarnat”. At Plata Verde, there is advance in the signing of agreements to expand the property package. “The next phase of field work will consist of geophysical programs to identify feeder systems and expansions of the known mineralization under the thin (>100m) cover volcanics”.
  • Redstar Gold Corp. announced its Cumaro project in Sonora is adjacent to SilverCrest’s Picacho property. “Previous drilling on SilverCrest Metals’ Picacho vein, two kilometres north of the Cumaro property, returned intersections including 13.9 metres at 16.22 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 33.9 g/t silver in hole PDD07-013, and 4.1 metres at 3.86 g/t gold and 35.0 g/t silver…” in other hole on the Dos Amigos vein. The company believes there is a down-thrown block on the eastern side of the property, where the extensions of the veins exposed on the western side could be present on a much shallower level.
  • Comet Resources Ltd. Informed in a corporate presentation on its Santa Teresa property in Baja California. Santa Teresa is a high-grade mesothermal lode gold deposit (ie.- orogenic gold) with an existing NI 43-101 inferred resource of 64 K Oz Au capped at 20 gpt Au, with a cutoff grade of 4 gpt Au and average grade of 8 gpt Au. Historical drilling has intersected quartz veins grading up to 958 gpt Au over 1 m, and multiple other drill results above 30 gpt Au. The deposit is open along strike and at depth.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp. announced a fourth new discovery at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. The first four drill holes at the Tajitos vein have been completed on the Cinco Señores vein corridor. Highlighted intercepts from the three first drill holes comprise 4.5 m @ 1,200 gpt Ag, 7.29 gpt Au (including 1.15 m @ 2,210 gpt Ag, 16.13 gpt Au); 1.15 m @ 812 gpt Ag, 4.59 gpt Au. ”The Tajitos vein zone is composed of a quartz breccia vein with an early white locally banded quartz supporting andesite lithic clasts, followed by a later white to greyish quartz supporting brecciated clasts of earlier white quartz veins. This zone was then cut by a later white to clear quartz vein with local dark bands or patches of fine-grained sulphides that is cutting a zone of quartz psuedomorphs after bladed calcite and pink rhodochrosite. The better grades are in the earlier breccias associated with dark bands or dark patches of very fine-grained disseminated sulphides. This vein zone is hosted in a package of andesite flows and tuffs”.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. released drilling results from its El Cobre project in Veracruz. The holes in the Primo target returned 23.75 m  @ 0.22 gpt Au, 0.08% Cu; 8.50 m @ 0.71 gpt Au, 0.24% Cu; 123.50 m @ 0.14 gpt Au, 0.14% Cu. Azucar is currently preparing its facilities  and implementing the health protocols required to enable a safe return to work.

ON MINING

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. Reported operating and financial results for the second quarter 2020. At Veta Grande in Zacatecas, 37.1 K tonnes were milled to produce 204.6 K Oz AgEq at cash cost $17.68 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $19.70 per Oz AgEq. At Rosario in San Luis Potosi, 20.8 K tonnes were milled to produce 141.4 K Oz AgEq at cash cost $14.23 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $15.59 per Oz AgEq.
  • Equinox Gold Corp. reports that “mining activities at its Los Filos mine in Mexico have been suspended since September 3, 2020 as the result of an illegal road blockade by members of the nearby Carrizalillo community. The individuals allege non-compliance with the community social collaboration agreement signed in 2019. The mine remains staffed with a reduced workforce to maintain appropriate safety, security and environmental systems. Equinox Gold is in active discussions with the Carrizalillo community leaders to resolve the issues”.

ON FINANCING

  • Gold79 Mines Ltd. Approved the granting of 6 M stock options to officers, directors and consultants of the company (Taviche, Oaxaca).
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. plans to conduct a non-brokered private placement to raise $456 K (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango).
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. Granted 9.9 M incentive stock options to management and directors (San Diego, Durango).
  • Barksdale Resources Corp. increased the size of its non-brokered private placement financing for gross proceeds of up to $6.3 M (San Javier, Sonora).
  • GoGold Resources Inc. entered into an agreement on a bought deal basis with a syndicate of underwriters for the acquisition of shares for gross proceeds of C$30 M (Los Ricos, Jalisco).
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc. has arranged a non-brokered private placement to raise up to $10.5 M (La Joya, Durango).
  • Redstar Gold Corp. announced the granting of 20.73 M stock options to directors, officers and consultants of the company (Cumaro, Oso Negro and La Lola, Sonora).
  • Inomin Mines Inc. announced a non-brokered private placement to raise up to $400 K in gross profits (La Gitana, Oaxaca).
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. closed its previously announced and up-sized bought deal financing for aggregate gross proceeds of C$39.4 M (Cosalá, Sinaloa).
  • Alien Metals Ltd. announced that it has conditionally raised £1.25 M (Los Campos and Los Celsos, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. updated on its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. Sociedad Cooperativa de Exploración Minera Mineros Norteños, S.C.L. (Mineros Norteños), the group which is illegally blocking the Sierra Mojada project, has filed an appeal in the recently reopened Mexican courts to try and overturn a favorable ruling for Silver Bull on their lawsuit against the Company filed in 2014. The company sees the whole lawsuit as frivolous (looking for payment of an NSR on production that has not taken place), and explains Mineros Norteños has lost already three rulings, and Silver Bull expects a final ruling on the case, which cannot be appealed by Mineros Norteños, to be handed down from the courts within the next 6 months. Mineros Norteños has illegally blocked access to the project since September 2019.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. had a financing transaction that provides the company with $11.3 M, a portion of which will be used to fund operating expenses of the “Exploraciones Oceánicas” phosphate project offshore Baja California Sur. “The investor group was anchored by Odyssey’s existing NAFTA funding partner, Poplar Grove LLC. Poplar Grove is managed by Drumcliffe LLC, a private investment management firm that oversees high-value litigation funding portfolios of over $14 billion in claims”.   
  • Telson Mining Corp. announced the resignation from its board of directors by Remigio Martínez Muller.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp. entered into an arm’s length option agreement with Exploradora Cobre de Bacanoras S. de R.L. de C.V. to acquire 100% interest in the group of mining concessions known as the Juliana, Juliana No.1, Juliana No.2 and Las Morita mining concessions covering 1,140 hectares in Sonora. “Tarachi’s projects now consist of the San Javier, Pretoria, Chivitas, Jabali, Juliana, Texana and Tarachi concessions for a total of 3,708 ha in the Mulatos District. The deal involves the payment of $40 K on the execution date, $30 K on six months, $30 K on 12 months, $30 K on 18 months, $60 K on 24 months, $60 K on 30 months, $150 K on 36 months, $150 K on 42 months, $150 K on 48 months, $700 K on 54 months and $700 K on 60 months, and the issue of 4 M common shares, 400 K of those on the execution date, 1 M shares on 12 months, 1 M shares on 24 months and 1.5 M shares on 26 months. The transfer of the concessions is subject to a 3% NSR from production, with the company having the right to buy at any time 1/3 of the NSR for $1 M.
  • Inomin Mines Inc. announced the execution of the agreement to acquire the La Gitana and Peña Blanca projects in Oaxaca. Inomin is acquiring 100% interest on both properties for 1 M common shares of Inomin, $25 K cash and the grant of 1.5 % NSR on the Peña Blanca property, of which 0.5% can be bought at any time for $1 M.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Peñasquito continues to apply bio-security protocols. Up to date 27,359 fast test have been applied in the facilities and neighboring communities, resulting in six confirmed cases.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. invested during 2019 US$3.8 M in local community, health youth programs, infrastructure and access to clean water. Over 25,600 medical consultations were provided in local communities. Planted 105,730 native plant species through reforestation initiatives .
  • Minera San Javier (NewGold) donated personal medical equipment to hospitals in San Luis Potosí, and personal medical equipment and sanitization supplies to the Cerro San Pedro municipality health clinics. The company continues to deliver food pantries to persons in need in Planta del Carmen, La Zapatilla, Monte Caldera, Cuesta de Campa, Calderón, Portezuelo and Cerro San Pedro.
  • Alamos Gold donated medical equipment and a mobile unit to the Sahuaripa DIF (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia) in Sonora.
  • SilverCrest’s Las Chispas project has accumulated 600 days without accidents in Sonora.

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

On the image below: The whitish ledge from left to center is a silicified paleo water table in the Mexican Altiplano. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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238 - copia

By Jorge Cirett

During the 28th week of the year (July 6th to July 12th, 2020), at least 31 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. Notably, six of those were exploration updates and six more related to financing. ON MEXICO ISSUES, a 12,000 years old ochre mining operation (now submerged) was discovered in the Yucatan peninsula. Avino Silver is the new victim of an illegal blockade. Mining in Mexico has extensive benefits to isolated communities, workers and the government. The Mining Fund rules have been changed, granting more political freedom on its assignment. Mines in the country prepare for production recovery in the second half of 2020.  ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tarachi Gold is mapping and sampling on its Tarachi concessions, announced the finding of a porphyry copper system. In Sinaloa, Brigadier Gold is now exploring the Picachos property; Vizsla Resources released high-grade results on its Panuco property. In Durango, Canasil is now drilling the Nora project.  ON MINING, Argonaut Gold, Endeavour Silver, Great Panther, and Hecla released production results for the Q2, 2020. The figures presented reveal the extent of the Coronavirus emergency lockdown effects.  ON FINANCING, Aura Resources is aiming to raise up to $1 M. Prospero Silver consolidated its shares on a 10 to 1 basis. Mithril Resources intends to raise A$3.5 M. Solaris Resources is to trade in the TSX Venture Exchange. Advance Gold raised $301 K. Vizsla Resources announced a private placement for C$25 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexican Gold commenced a 10,000 m drill program at its Las Minas project in Veracruz. GR Silver released more historic drilling results from Plomosas, Sinaloa. GoGold Resources released drilling results from eight more holes at Los Ricos Sur, Jalisco. Golden Minerals is drilling the Rodeo project in Durango. Magna Gold is producing gold from leaching heaps as it prepares to restart mining at the San Francisco mine in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Aura Resources is to change its name to Gold79 Mines. Brigadier Gold entered into a LOI with Minera Camargo to option 100% of the Picachos property in Sinaloa. First Mexican Gold changed its name to QcX Gold. Candente Gold informed the due diligence work on Magellan Acquisition assets in Nayarit has been conducted, results pending. Silver Tiger Metals is sampling historic workings on veins north of the El Tigre mine in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Gold Resources, Torex Gold, Fortuna Silver, Fresnillo PLC and Peñoles informed on support activities and investments related to the Coronavirus emergency, community work supplies and/or about the “Day of the Tree”.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Researchers discovered 12,000 years old submerged ochre mines in the Yucatan peninsula. Multiple artifacts and evidences of mining were found in this cave system that was above sea level up to 8,000 years ago.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines reports that members from the Mexican mining union have blocked the entrance to the Avino Mine in Durango. The group (that illegally blockades) includes the company’s unionized workers. As a result of the strike at the site, mining and mill processing operations have been halted.
  • Mining in Mexico supports 696 communities in 21 States, and often is the only option to take basic services and jobs to regions far away. The mining sector provides 2.6 percent of the GDP and accounts for 8.2 percent of the industrial output. Salaries at US$779/month (17,521 pesos/month) are 39 percent higher than the national average of $513/month (11,549 pesos/month). There are 379 thousand direct jobs and 2.3 M indirect jobs generated by the industry. Mining paid US$1.91 billion ($43,095 million pesos) in mining concession fees in 2019, and US$7,755 billion ($174,500 million pesos) in taxes in the 2016-2019 period.
  • The Mining Fund rules have been changed. The changes in the rules were published in the Diario Oficial de La Federación (Official Gazette), with the aim of speeding the process to deliver benefits to the communities, according to the document. The changes (which were opposed by the mining community because of the increased political control of the funds) include the elimination of necessary cost-benefit assessment of the projects deemed for social infrastructure, discarding also the obligation to establish coordination agreements in the request and delivery of said funds. The Mining Fund distributes part of the 7.0% of royalties and the 0.5% special tax on precious metal exploitation.
  • Mines in all the country prepare for a production recovery in the second half of 2020, as all companies have scrambled to operate under health safeguards brought by the Coronavirus pandemic.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Advance Gold Corp. provided an update on exploration of its Tabasqueña property in Zacatecas. The exploration that started trying to define epithermal vein mineralization has modified its target to a volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS). A large chargeability anomaly more than 3 km long was defined in a geophysical survey, and subsequent drilling has intersected disseminated sulfides. Drilling of the disseminated sulfides has returned up to 39 ppb Au, 7 ppm Ag, 351 ppm Cu, 54 ppm Pb, 295 ppm Zn.
  • Brigadier Gold Ltd. entered into a binding letter of intent with Minera Camargo S.A. de C.V. for an option to acquire 100% interest in the Picachos property in Sinaloa. The area has more than 160 known historic underground workings, a recently identified porphyry copper prospect and drill permits in place. “The largest vein system trends northeasterly for seven kilometers along a major fault zone, and host the past-producing San Agustin underground mine”. Regional stream sediment results from a government survey shows several highly anomalous basins with up to 2.6 ppm Au, 299 ppm Cu, 13.9 ppm Mo, 639 ppm Pb and 1,716 ppm Zn.
  • Vizsla Resources Inc. released additional drilling results from the Napoleon vein corridor at the Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted core length drill intercepts comprise 6.0 m @ 66.8 gpt Au, 1,808 gpt Ag (including 3.7 m @ 107.8 gpt Au, 2,889 gpt Ag); 1.78 m @ 2.49 gpt Au, 59 gpt Ag; 3.5 m @ 1.11 gpt Au, 57 gpt Ag; 10.65 m @ 1.34 gpt Au, 134 gpt Ag. The corridor “ hosts two main quartz veins that are separated by some 10 to 20 metres and appears to dip very steeply to sub-vertical. So far it has been mapped along strike for over 2,000 m. Between the two main veins are a series of smaller splay veins with variable orientations, that are related to dilation along the structure under strike slip movement …. Vizsla has an option to acquire 100% of the newly-consolidated 9,386.5 Ha Panuco district in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlán. The option allows for the acquisition of over 75 km of total vein extent, a 500 tpd mill, 35 km of underground mines, tailings facilities, roads, power and permits”.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp. updated on field work activities on the concessions known as the Tarachi project, in Sonora. Detailed mapping and sampling on the La Dura and Virginia areas of the southern Jabali concession is near completion. Preliminary field work on the northern concessions of San Javier, Pretoria and Chivitas was also conducted, finding porphyry copper mineralization that is currently being defined. Environmental applications for drilling are ready for submission.
  • Canasil Resources Inc. started the drill program to test the Candy vein at its Nora project in Durango. Mineralization at Nora is hosted within structurally-controlled epithermal veins, of which the Candy vein is to be tested in a 500 m stretch.

ON MINING

  • Argonaut Gold Inc. announced second quarter production of 31,531 Oz AuEq from its Mexican operations. For the full-year 2020 the company expects to produce 45 K – 50 K Oz AuEq at El Castillo, 62 K – 68 K Oz AuEq at San Agustín (both in Durango) and 53 K – 55 K Oz AuEq at La Colorada (Sonora), for a total production of 160 K – 173 K Oz AuEq in Mexico.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. presented Q2 2010 production figures, which were down 42% because of the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown. On the bright side, significant true width high-grade intercepts were made near current mine workings, like 1.5 m @ 24.3 gpt Au, 3,217 gpt Ag in Bolañitos, Guanajuato, and 10.0 m @3.25 gpt Au, 1,410 gpt Ag at Guanaceví, Durango.Endeavour Q2 2020 Production1
  • Great Panther Mining Ltd. released second quarter 2020 production results, with figures from its Mexican operations. At Topia, Durango, 7,781 tonnes were processed @ 352 gpt Ag, 0.87 gpt Au, recovering 92.5% Ag, 54.0% Au to produce 81.4 K Oz Ag, 118 Oz Au, 163 tonnes Pb, 223 tonnes Zn. At the Guanajuato mine complex, Guanajuato, 16,755 tonnes were processed @ 133 gpt Ag, 1.80 gpt Au, recovering 85.4% Ag, 84.7% Au, to produce 61 K Oz Ag, 819 Oz Au.
  • Hecla Mining Co. released preliminary production results for the second quarter 2020. At San Sebastian, in Durango, 2 M Oz Ag, 1,331 Oz Au were produced. Mining of oxide material is expected to be completed in the third quarter and milling in the fourth quarter of 2020. The viability of mining the sulfide Hugh Zone continues to be assessed. The mill operated at an average of 528 tpd.

ON FINANCING

  • Aura Resources Inc. initiated a non-brokered private placement aiming to raise between $500 K and $1 M (Taviche, Oaxaca).
  • Prospero Silver Corp. announced that the previously disclosed proposed consolidation of its shares, on a 10 to 1 basis, should have taken effect on July 7, 2020 (Pachuca East, Hidalgo).
  • Mithril Resources Ltd. received firm commitments to raise A$3.5 M through a share placement. Funds are to be used for the maiden drill program at its Coplaquin property in Durango.
  • Solaris Resources Inc. announced its common shares have been approved to list on the TSX Venture Exchange, and expects the trading is to be effective on July 13, 2020 (La Verde, Michoacan).
  • Advance Gold Corp. closed the previously announced private placement, for gross proceeds of $301 K (Tabasqueña, Zacatecas).
  • Vizsla Resources Corp. announced a bought deal private placement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. on behalf of an underwriting syndicate to raise C$25 M (Panuco, Sinaloa).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp. announced the commencement of a 10,000 m drill program to test all targets at Las Minas, Veracruz. A focus of the drilling is to expand and upgrade the current resource at El Dorado, follow up a previous 5.2 m pyrite rich quartz vein intersection @ 8.94 gpt Au at Cinco Señores, two high-grade vein trends at the Changarro zone, and the Las Minillas skarn occurrence. Other activities in preparation of the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) include the environmental baseline study, an enhanced metallurgy study and a Lidar digital terrain model.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. released historic drilling results from the San Juan area at its Plomosas property in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width (tw) intervals comprise 1.5 m @ 2.1 Gpt Au, 8 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 4.1% Zn; 21.8 m @ 1.0 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag, 1.5% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 2.4 m @ 15.1 gpt Au, 45 gpt Ag, 3.1% Pb, 0.9% Zn; 10.4 m @ 0.7 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag, 1.6% Pb, 2.3% Zn; 25 m @ 0.3 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.8% Zn. These results extend mineralization 600 m on the San Juan system, to a total of 1 km in longitude.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released the assay results from eight diamond drill holes at the Los Ricos South project in Jalisco. The San Juan, Rascadero, and East vein zones were tested, with highlighted results comprising 8.8 m @ 0.23 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag at San Juan; 41.0 m @ 1.36 gpt Au, 168 gpt Ag (including 4.0 m @ 11.85 gpt Au, 1,295 gpt Ag); 18.4 m @ 5.18 gpt Au, 500 gpt Ag (including 3.2 m @ 26.2 gpt Au, 2,372 gpt Ag); 12.6 m @ 0.70 gpt Au, 111 gpt Ag at Rascadero; 3.0 m @ 0.33 gpt Au, 40 gpt Ag; 6.1 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 36 gpt Ag at the East vein.
  • Golden Minerals Co. has commenced drilling at its Rodeo property in Durango. “The upcoming drill program will expand on the historic drilling campaigns that successfully tested multiple gold-quartz veins and breccias of the Rodeo low sulfidation vein system with encouraging results”. Highlighted historic drills results include 28.44 m @ 3.04 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 25.4 m @ 3.79 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag; 22.35 m @ 3.28 gpt Au, 17 gpt Ag; 28.45 m @ 4.87 m @ 10 gpt Ag31.2 m @ 5.99 gpt Au, 12 gpt Ag; 19.15 m @ 2.58 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 19.2 m @ 1.93 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag.
  • Magna Gold Corp. provided an operational update on its San Francisco mine in Sonora. “During the first two months of operations, the San Francisco Mine reported sales of US$8.53 million and operating costs of US$3.77 million with an operating margin of US$4.76 million. The Company produced 5,087 ounces of gold and sold 4,977 ounces of gold at an average cost of US$741 per ounce of gold produced and an average cost of $758 per ounce of gold sold. Gold production in May was 2,349 ounces and in June reached 2,738 ounces”. The company intends to complete the pre-feasibility study (PFS) by the end of July, when the processing of new fresh mineralized material is to start. Cash at the end of June at the San Francisco mine was US$8.4 M.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Aura Resources Inc. expects to change its name to Gold79 Mines Ltd. following the closing of the Territory Metals acquisition (Taviche, Oaxaca).
  • Brigadier Gold Ltd. entered into a binding letter of intent with Minera Camargo S.A. de C.V. for an option to acquire 100% interest in the Picachos property in Sinaloa. To acquire the 3,954 ha property Brigadier has to pay Minera Camargo US$275 K over five years and issue a total of 4 M shares over the same period, and 1 M shares when defining a 350 K Oz Au resource and US$725 K and 1 M shares when a feasibility report is completed, US$2 M upon commercial production commencement and a 2% NSR.
  • First Mexican Gold Corp. announced the change name to QcX Gold Corp. has been made effective on July 6, 2020 (Hilda, Sonora).
  • Candente Gold Corp. informed its due diligence team conducted the visits to the San Dieguito de Arriba processing plant and the historic El Dorado mine in Nayarit. The due diligence visit is part of the Memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Candente and Magellan Acquisition Corp. “The results of these tests along with recommendations for rehabilitation work and projections of ongoing operating expenses will provide the basis for a cost estimate to return the plant to operational status with feed material from the El Dorado Property.” (El Oro, Estado de México).
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc. commenced underground channel sampling on the high-grade silver veins north of the historic El Tigre mine, in Sonora. “The areas of focus includes the Caleigh vein, the Canon Combination vein (unmined portion of the El Tigre vein), the Protectora vein and the Fundadora vein, all of which are located in the three kilometers of exposed veins at surface north of the historic El Tigre Mine”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Don David Gold Mines (Gold Resources) informed on the actions taken to work under the Coronavirus pandemic emergency at its operations in Oaxaca. The company supports the Mining Fund with US$8.34 M ($187.7 M pesos) and US$533 K ($12 M pesos) for community deals and infrastructure.
  • Minera Media Luna (Torex Gold) in coordination with local and State authorities released 300 K tilapia alevins (juvenile fish), with a shared company-authorities investment of $44.4 K ($1 M pesos). Also, $39.2 K ($881,764 pesos) were delivered to help the fishermen to modernize their engines and boats.
  • Minera Cuzcatan (Fortuna Silver) announced its plan to plant 13,500 seedlings of native species of the central valleys of Oaxaca in 15 ha of ground. The company has planted already 25,000 seedlings over the last three years on 25 ha.
  • Fresnillo PLC made a recount of the activities that the company has done regarding reforestation as years go by. The Bosque Sustentable Porvenir in Durango was established in 977 ha in association with the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias. In Juanicipio, Zacatecas, 21,596 plants were relocated, and 14.3 ha were re-forested with 6,787 greenhouse seedlings. At La Herradura, in Sonora, 4,975 plants have been relocated in eight ha, and reforested 2 hectares more. Overall, 1.4 M seedlings have been produced since 2003 by the company.
  • Industrias Peñoles created in Torreon, Coahuila, the 18 ha Bosque del Centenario in 2001, which is now a green space in the city. The company’s greenhouse produces and donates to the community and its members 80,000 seedlings per year.

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:   Vapor whiffs on a cool morning in a hot spring field in Queretaro. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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