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

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Flow Banded Rhyolite Dome

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 26th week of the year (June 28th to July 04th, 2021), at least 25 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 5 news published by the media, with nine disclosing deals and corporate issues, seven announcing financial rounds, three reporting on resources and developments, three informing on exploration results, three communicating production and financial results, three commenting on Mexican issues, and two discussing social issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) authorized the expansion of the El Boleo mine in Baja California. Guanajuato Silver announced that it will restart activities at its El Cubo mine in October 2021. Mexico was the world’s leading silver producer in 2020. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Silver Spruce announced it has contracted regional ASTER and LANDSAT spectral analysis on their Mezquite, Jackie and Diamante mining properties. In Chihuahua, Reyna Silver announced that it has started a 10,000m drilling program at its Batopilas project, and reported that a second drill rig has been added to speed up the completion of the current drilling  program conducted at its Guigui project.  ON MINING, Consolidated Zinc provided an operation update of its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. Magna Gold announced it has achieved full-scale commercial production at its San Francisco mine in Sonora. Mexus Gold announced that it has sold gold doré as a result of recent production at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora.  ON FINANCING, Altaley restructured a USD $$26,027,240 debt with Trafigura and Nyrstar (Campo Morado mine, Guerrero). Comet issued 5M of fully paid ordinary shares (Santa Teresa property, Baja California Norte).  Defiance Silver granted stock options to certain directors and officers (San Acacio property, Zacatecas). Orla subscribed a non-brokered prospectus financing for gross proceeds of USD $35M (Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas). Silver Wolf received approval from OTC Markets Group Inc. to commence trading on the OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker symbol “GYRRF” (Ana Maria and El Laberinto properties in Durango). Silver Bull closed a private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $500K (Sierra Mojada project, Coahuila). Vista Gold received a final payment for $1M from Prime Mining to complete the agreement on the Guadalupe de Los Reyes property in Sinaloa.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Chesapeake drilled five core drill holes at its Metates project in Durango to provide core for a comprehensive metallurgical testwork program and to confirm the higher-grade nature of the Metates intrusive hosted mineralization. Prime Mining reported new results from its ongoing drill program conducted at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Silver Tiger released results from its ongoing drilling program conducted at its El Tigre project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Capstone published its 2020 sustainability report (Cozamine mine, Zacatecas). Discovery Silver presented results of its annual general meeting of shareholders (Cordero project, Chihuahua). Fortuna and Roxgold completed its previously announced business combination (San Jose mine, Oaxaca). GoGold presented its first sustainability report (Los Ricos project, Jalisco). Gold79 announced results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Taviche project, Oaxaca). GR Silver appointed its Chairman of the Board of Directors (Plomosas project, Sinaloa).  Maverix acquired royalty portfolio from Pan American Silver, including Hernandez property in Sonora.  Sonoro presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, The company Minera Media Luna (MML), a subsidiary of Torex Gold Resources, convened the second edition of the “Enchulemos Juntos Nuestra Comunidad” (let’s improve our community together) program in the town of Nuevo Balsas, Guerrero. The Secretary of Tourism, Eduardo Yarto delivered two S stamps to Fresnillo plc, after it concluded its processes of renewal of procedures within its facilities to implement good sustainable practices.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) approved on a conditional basis the expansion of the Environmental Impact Manifestation (MIA) requested by Minera y Metalúrgica del Boleo for the exploitation of copper, cobalt and zinc in 446 hectares for 16 years in the municipality of Mulegé, in Baja California. 2,481 participants representing 89% voted In favor of the expansion.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., announced that it will restart activities at its El Cubo mine, Guanajuato in October 2021, which is expected to employ more than 200 miners in the capital, with priority in hiring those who were fired in the closure two years ago.
  • Mexico was the world’s leading silver producer in 2020 maintained the leadership in silver production on a global scale in 2020, with 5,541M tonnes. The Mexican mining company Fresnillo plc owned by Grupo Bal and linked to the Baillères family, is the largest company primary silver producer in the world.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., announced it has contracted Strategic Consultants IGIS for a regional ASTER and LANDSAT spectral analysis on their Mezquite, Jackie and Diamante mining properties in Sonora. This study will help to understand the structural and lithological controls in a regional context and provide additional detail on the mineral by mineral distribution over each of the properties. It also will help to outline alteration pattern for enhanced target definition in each of the mining properties.
  • Reyna Silver Corp., announced that it has started a 10,000m drilling program at its Batopilas project in Chihuahua. The program is focused on testing targets identified in the spring of 2021 exploration campaign, which discovered multiple extensions to the 30 known veins in the district, of which two new veins returned high-grade values up to 42,302 g/t Ag and 210.4 g/t Au. The company also announced that a second drill rig has been added to its Guigui project in the Santa Eulalia mining district in Chihuahua to extend and speed up the completion of the ongoing drilling program. The company has completed 8,000m of the 12,000m planned and this second rig will allow to speed up the completion of the entire Phase 1 drilling by the end of July, 2021. Results of the Phase 1 drilling campaign will be released soon after.

ON MINING

  • Consolidated Zinc Limited provided an operation update of its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The company announced that it processed 3,958 tonnes of ore in May, 2021 for 719 tonnes of zinc concentrates and 184 tonnes of lead concentrates at its Plomosas and Aldama plants in Chihuahua. The company intends to continue processing through both plants until ore stockpiles are depleted and the Plomosas plant sustains the targeted 4,500tpm process rate.
  • Magna Gold Corp., announced it has achieved full-scale commercial production at its San Francisco mine in Sonora. Magna is on track to achieve its earlier stated 2021 guidance of 55K-65K Oz Au production, since it has completed the necessary pre-stripping and substantially lowered the mine strip ratio from ~8:1 to ~3:1. At San Francisco, the company anticipates a production run rate of ~6K Oz Au/month in Q3 and looks to exit the year at a run rate of ~7.5K Oz Au/month.
  • Mexus Gold US announced that it has sold gold doré as a result of recent production at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. The sales netted the company $24K. “The company is in the process of shipping activated carbon to the U.S. for processing. It is believed that this material contains up to 75 OZ Au.  Mexus is also adding liner to the existing heap leach pad which will allow for increased production. Material currently being mined continues to test in the 5.66g/t Au range”.

ON FINANCING

  • Altaley Mining Corporation restructured a USD $26,027,240 debt with Trafigura Mexico S.A. de C.V., and Nyrstar Canada (Holdings) Ltd.  Terms of the total debt restructured was USD $14,720,840 on the Tahuehueto project in Durango for a term of 32 months, an London interbank offered interest rate (LIBOR) of 6% (1 year), and a grace period of 8 months; USD $4,024,678 on the Campo Morado mine in Guerrero for a term of 26 months, a LIBOR of 5% (3 months), and a grace period of 8 months; and USD $7,281,722 on the Campo Morado mine in Guerrero for a term of 26 months and a LIBOR of 10%.
  • Comet Resources Ltd., issued 5M of fully paid ordinary shares upon the exercise of unlisted options exercisable at $0.02 each on or before 30 June 2021.  (Santa Teresa property, Baja California Norte).
  • Defiance Silver Corp., granted stock options to certain directors and officers to purchase an aggregate of 1.425M of common shares at an exercise price of $0.90. The options are exercisable for a ten-year term expiring June 30, 2031 (San Acacio property, Zacatecas).
  • Orla Mining Ltd., subscribed a non-brokered prospectus financing for gross proceeds of USD $35M, consisting of 9,085,263 common shares priced at CAD $4.75 per common share. Part of the net proceeds will be used for development activities at its Camino Rojo Oxide Gold project in Zacatecas. The offering is expected to close on or about July 14, 2021.
  • Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd., received approval from OTC Markets Group Inc. to commence trading on the OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker symbol “GYRRF” (Ana Maria and El Laberinto properties in Durango).
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc., closed a private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $500K. Net proceeds of the private placement will be used by Silver Bull for general working capital purposes   (Sierra Mojada project, Coahuila).
  • Vista Gold Corp., received a final payment for $1M from Prime Mining Corp. to complete the agreement on the Guadalupe de Los Reyes property in Sinaloa. With this $1.0M payment, Vista has no remaining right to be granted the royalties and back-in rights.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., drilled five core drill holes at its Metates project in Durango to provide core for a comprehensive metallurgical testwork program and to confirm the higher-grade nature of the Metates intrusive hosted mineralization. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole CKG21-086 with 1.15 g/t Au and 49 g/t Ag (1.80 g/t AuEq or 135 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 432m, including 1.21 g(t Au and 417 g/t Ag (6.77 g/t AuEq or 508 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 9m, including 2.49 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag (2.78 g/t AuEq or 20+9 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 69m, and including 2.13 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag (2.25 g/t AuEq or 170 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 57m; hole CKG21-085 with 1.13 g/t Au and 29 g/t Ag (1.53 g/t AuEq or 114 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 282m, including 1.34 g/t Au and 32 g/t Ag (1.76 g/t AuEq or 132 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 150m; and hole CKG21-084 with 1.06 g/t Au and 17 g/t Ag (1.29 g/t AuEq or 97 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 135m, plus 0.86 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag (1.01 g/t AuEq or 75 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 90m.
  • Prime Mining Corp., reported new results from its ongoing drill program conducted at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. The most significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole 21Mina-02 with 4.44 g/t Au and 1,060 g/t Ag over an estimated true width (ETW) of 4.8m, including 6.62 g/t Au and 1,398 g/t Ag over an ETW of 2m, including 6.3 g/t Au and 1,881 g/t Ag over an ETW of 1.2m; hole 21Mina-05 with 3,243 g/t Ag over an ETW of 0.74m, plus 1.45 g/t Au and 29 g/t Ag over an ETW of 1.85m; and hole 21Mina-06 with 1.72 g/t Au and 30 g/t Ag over an ETW of 3.20m.  These results are from six holes completed at Mina Area during phase I drilling. To date, 15,000m Phase I is complete and the 30,000m Phase 2 program has been started.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., released results from its ongoing drilling program conducted on the Sooy Vein at its El Tigre project in Sonora. Highlights include hole ET21-233 with 0.13 g/t Au, 491 g/t Ag, 0.08% Pb, and 0.01% Zn (510 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m, plus  0.25 g/t Au, 2,041 g/t Ag, 0.65% Cu, 1.2% Pb, and 3.6% Zn (2,271 g/t AgEq), including 4,048 g/t Ag, 0.45 g/t Au, 1.31% Cu, 0.6% Pb, and 7.3% Zn (4,461 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m; hole ET21-230 with 0.15 g/t Au, 704 g/t Ag, 0.14% Cu, 0.05% Zn (731 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m, plus 0.12 g/t Au, 193 g/t Ag, 0.09% Cu, 0.03% Pb, and 0.15 % Zn (217 g/t AgEq) over 3m, including 0.2 g/t Au, 1,080 g/t Ag, 0.55% Cu, 0.1% Pb, and 0.75% Zn (1,176 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m, plus 0.28 g/t Au, 199 g/t Ag, 0.06% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.3% Zn (241 g/t AgEq) over 0.5, plus 0.41 g/t Au, 161 g/t Ag, 0.04% Cu, 0.2% Pn, and 0.4% Zn (214 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m; and hole ET21-229 with 0.13 g/t Au, 63 g/t Ag, 0.21% Cu, 0.8% Pb, and 1.6% Zn (165 g/t AgEq) over 13.5m, including 0.11 g/t Au, 83 g/t Ag, 0.27% Cu, 1% Pb, and 2% Zn (209 g/t AgEq) over 9.9m, including 0.21 g/t Au, 114 g/t Ag, 0.38% Cu, 3.7% Pb, and 8.7% Zn (542 g/t AgEq) over 1.8m.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Capstone Mining Corp., published its 2020 sustainability report.  (Cozamine mine, Zacatecas)
  • Discovery Silver Corp. presented results of voting at its annual general meeting of shareholders (Cordero project, Chihuahua).
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., and Roxgold Inc., completed its previously announced business combination to create a global premier growth-oriented intermediate gold and silver producer (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).
  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented its first sustainability report that sets out the company’s priorities with respect to its environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) practices (Los Ricos project, Jalisco).
  • Gold79 Mines Ltd., announced results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Taviche project, Oaxaca).
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., appointed its Chairman of the Board of Directors (Plomosas project, Sinaloa).
  • Maverix Metals Inc., acquired royalty portfolio from Pan American Silver, including Hernandez property in Sonora. The Hernandez property, currently on exploration, is owned by First Majestic and includes a 2.5% NSR.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp., presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora). 

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Media Luna (MML), a subsidiary of Torex Gold Resources, convened the second edition of the “Enchulemos Juntos Nuestra Comunidad” (let’s improve our community together) program in the town of Nuevo Balsas, Guerrero. During the cleaning day, about 300 people participated, including contractors, residents and collaborators of the mining company, remodeling four public spaces: the vehicular roundabout on Gerardo Reyes Norte Street, the camellones on that same street, the sports area in the southern part and the perimeter fencing of the downtown court. The investment of the work done amounted to MXP $1.3M. Members of the Public and Community Relations areas of MML, the collaborators of 11 contractor companies, members of the Participatory Community Development Committee (CODECOP) and residents of Nuevo Balsas cleaned and reforested green areas, painted fences and garrisons, and assisted in various activities that together aim to maintain the program to improve public spaces that the mining company began last year. The effort achieved the painting of 2,300 meters of trimmings, the planting of 90 trees, the collection of five tons of garbage, and the painting of 300 square meters of fences.
  • The Secretary of Tourism in Zacatecas, Eduardo Yarto delivered two S stamps to Fresnillo plc, after it concluded its processes of renewal of procedures within its facilities to implement good sustainable practices. The Secretary underlined the disposition of Fresnillo plc, with the renewal of the certification for the golf course and the ecological park Fresnillo PLC, to offer quality services to users.

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 flow banded rhyolite dome intruding a clay-altered rhyolitic ignimbrite sequence in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Quartz Vein-Breccia

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 24th week of the year (June 14th to June 20th, 2021), at least 15 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 6 news published by the media, with seven reporting on resources and developments, five informing on exploration results, four commenting on Mexican issues, two announcing financial rounds, two discussing social issues, and one disclosing deals and corporate issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Dhipna Yanssen Weichselbaum, head of the Federal Programs in Baja California explained that 12,000 people will be consulted in Mulegé to carry out the consultation of El Boleo. The Argentine Embassy in Mexico along with the Ministry of Mining of that country carried out a working seminar with the Mexican company Baluarte Minero (Industrias Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC). The consultation for the nationalization of lithium, proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, is not necessary, since, it is already owned by Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Tocvan and its JV partner Colibri reported drill results from its the El Pilar project, and Tarachi started a second drilling program on its San Javier mining concession at La Colorada gold bearing breccia pipe. In Chihuahua, Mammoth reported results from an additional 1.7km of 3D geophysical modeling conducted at its Tenoriba project. In Nayarit, Sierra Madre provided an update on the activities developed at its Tepic project. ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, Azucar granted stock options to certain directors and officers of the company (El Cobre project, Veracruz). Advance Gold closed a private placement financing for gross proceeds of $200K (Tabasqueña project, Zacatecas). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Almaden completed a surface induced polarization geophysical (IP) program at its Ixtaca project in Puebla. GoGold released results from eight drill holes collared at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Silver Viper filed on SEDAR a NI 43-101 technical report supporting the maiden mineral resource estimate for its La Virginia project in Sonora. Torex released an updated mineral resource estimate for its media Luna project in Guerrero. Zacatecas Silver announced positive preliminary metallurgical test results from its Zacatecas Silver property. Excellon filed on SEDAR an independent NI 43-101 technical report for its La Platosa mine in Durango. Ridgestone announced that it filed on SEDAR a NI 43-101 technical report for its Guadalupe y Calvo project in Chihuahua.    ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, SilverCrest presented results of its annual general meeting of shareholders (Las Chispas project, Sonora).    ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Peñoles community center received population from 40 to 49 years for anticovid vaccine in Torreón. Peñoles and Fresnillo plc announced that they are training young Mexicans in seven states.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Dhipna Yanssen Weichselbaum, head of the Federal Programs in Baja California explained that 12,000 people will be consulted in Mulegé to carry out the consultation of El Boleo. the procedure will consist of 2 phases: one is the publication of the call to know the expansion of the MIA project and then the citizen consultation that will take place in the communities of Santa Rosalía and San Ignacio, among others, which are related to the El Boleo mining company.
  • The Argentine Embassy in Mexico along with the Ministry of Mining of that country carried out a working seminar with the Mexican company Baluarte Minero (Industrias Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC). The group’s interest was particularly focused on the provinces of Neuquén, Rio Negro, Salta, Mendoza and San Juan, where Mexican businessmen expressed their intention to evaluate the possibility of investing in mining projects in the region. Technical experts and professionals from Baluarte Minero were informed about prospects for gold, silver, copper, potassium and lithium in Argentina.
  • According to experts of the Association of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico (AIMMGM), the consultation for the nationalization of lithium, proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, is not necessary, since, it is already owned by Mexico. Article 27 of the constitution clearly states that all mineral deposits that are in Mexican territory are property of the Nation, so it would not be necessary to nationalize lithium.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., and its JV partner Colibri Resource Corporation reported drill results from four RC holes collared at its the El Pilar project in Sonora. Highlights includes a drill intersection of 0.66 g/t Au over a length of 35.1m in hole JES-21-43 drilled at the Main Zone. This drill intercept includes 1.7 g/t Au over 13.7m, including 6.8 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag over 3.1m. Tocvan is currently completing 3,500m of RC drilling in 20 holes comprising its Phase II program at Pilar. Thirteen RC holes are still pending of assay results.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., started a second drilling program on its San Javier mining concession at La Colorada gold bearing breccia pipe. The plan is to drill four holes down-dip of the breccia pipe to test the continuity of the positive results encountered from the 2020 drill program performed at the property, which returned high grade intersections.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., reported results from an additional 1.7km of 3D geophysical modeling conducted at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. “This additional 3D modelling shows similar strong correlation between IP/Mag  geophysical features and anomalous surface gold-in-soil, chips and channel samples together with numerous gold intervals in diamond drilling and extends these coincident features over this additional 1.7Km of a total of 4km of IP/Mag coverage over a larger 6km east-west trend of surface gold-silver mineralization at Tenoriba”.
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd., provided an update on the activities developed at its Tepic project in Nayarit. The company has already drilled over 80% of the 2,000m and is expected to be completed soon. This is part of the 20 RC holes panned for its phase 1 drilling program. RC drill results will be released once assaying is completed. Sierra Madre is preparing new drill permits to conduct a Phase 2 drill program for additional 100-200 holes. The company also has commenced a 2,700m Phase 1 trenching program for the central project area. It will help to provide information to consider designing the Phase 2 drill program. The company also announced that, mapping and sampling continue in the northern and eastern project areas with an emphasis on prospecting arroyos and creek beds for signs of mineralization.

ON MINING

  • No relevant news.

ON FINANCING

  • Azucar Minerals Ltd., granted stock options to certain directors and officers of the company to purchase an aggregate of 413K common shares at an exercise price of $0.13 per share which expire on June 14, 2023 (El Cobre project, Veracruz).
  • Advance Gold Corp., closed a private placement financing for gross proceeds of $200K. The company plans to use the proceeds to advance their lithium-potassium boron prospective salars in central Mexico and for general corporate purposes.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., completed a surface induced polarization geophysical (IP) program at its Ixtaca project in Puebla. The IP results are being processed and combined with geological, geochemical and geophysical data collected in the past to outline drill targets beneath the Southeast Alteration Zone and at depth beneath the Ixtaca deposit.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., released results from eight drill holes collared at the Casados deposit at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. The most significant drill intersection was encountered in hole LRGCS-21-043 with 0.12 g/t Au and 270 g/t Ag (3.72 g/t AuEq or 279 g/t AgEq) over 0.9m, plus 0.46 g/t Au and 135 g/t Ag (2.25 g/t AuEq or 169 g/t AgEq) over 0.46m, plus 0.43 g/t Au and 132 g/t Ag (2.19 g/t AuEq or 164 g/t AgEq) over 33.6m, including 0.88 g/t Au and 270 g/t Ag (4.48 g/t AuEq or 336 g/t AgEq) over 15.3m, including 1.78 g/t Au and 539 g/t Ag (8.97 g/t AuEq or 673 g/t AgEq) over 6.7m, including 3.77 g/t Au and 930 g/t Ag (16.17 g/t AuEq or 1,213 g/t AgEq) over 1.9m.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., filed on SEDAR a NI 43-101 technical report supporting the maiden mineral resource estimate for its La Virginia project in Sonora. El Rubi Zone contains an indicated resource of 6,179,000 tonnes of 0.78 g/t Au and 35 g/t Ag for 154.3K Oz Au and 6.93M Oz Ag, and inferred resources of 3,255,000 tonnes of 0.9 g/t Au and 36 g/t Ag for 94.1K Oz Au and 3.75M Oz Ag in open pit category. Virginia, El Oriental, Las Huatas and Las Huatas South add and inferred resource of 6,622,000 tonnes of 0.71 g/t Au and 41 g/t Ag for 152.2K Oz Au and 8.74M Oz Ag in open pit category, and 277K tonnes of 1.92 g/t Au and 62 g/t Ag for an additional 14K Oz Au and 451.5K Oz Ag in the underground category. Gold and Silver Equivalents for Indicated resource equal 253,286 Oz AuEq or 17,730,000 Oz AgEq. Gold and Silver Equivalents for Inferred resource equal 445,176 Oz AuEq or 31,162,300 Oz AgEq.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., released an updated mineral resource estimate for its media Luna project in Guerrero. Torex reported indicated resources for 20.9M tonnes of 3.21 g/t Au, 32 g/t Ag, and 1.07% Cu (5.27 g/t AuEq) to contain 2.15M Oz Au, 21.3M Oz Ag, and 492M Lb Cu (3.54M Oz AuEq), and inferred resources for 18.9M tonnes of 2.11 g/t Au, 28 g/t Ag, and 1.04% Cu (4.08 g/t AuEq) to contain 1.28M Oz Au, 17.1M Oz Ag, and 431M Lb Cu (2.48M Oz AuEq).
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., announced positive preliminary metallurgical test results from its Zacatecas Silver property, for both bulk flotation and sequential flotation recovery options,  with the bulk floatation flow-path producing a single gold, silver, lead and zinc rougher concentrate (15 minutes of floatation and 23% mass pull) with 697 g/t silver, 0.97 g/t gold, 1.67% zinc and 0.58% lead and recovering 96.2 % of the silver, 93.6% of the gold, 96.5% of the zinc and 92.1 % of the lead.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., filed on SEDAR an independent NI 43-101 technical report. This technical report documents a mineral resource statement for the Platosa Mine in Durango. The company reported measured + indicated resources for 317K tonnes of 485 g/t Ag, 5.3% Pb, and 5.5% Zn to contain 4.9M Oz Ag, 36.79M Lb Pb, and 38.78M Lb Zn, and inferred resources for 42K tonnes of 749 g/t Ag, 4.3% Pb, and 5.4% Zn to contain 1M Oz Ag, 4M Lb Pb, and 5M Lb Zn.
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc., announced that it filed on SEDAR a NI 43-101 technical report to support the maiden mineral resource estimate for its Guadalupe y Calvo project in Chihuahua. Ridgestone reported indicated resources for 6,427,444 tonnes of 50 g/t Ag and 1.05 g/t Au (1.72 g/t AuEq) to contain 10.43M Oz Ag and 217K Oz Au (356K Oz AuEq), and inferred resources for 3,074,146 tonnes of 94 g/t Ag and 3.4 g/t Au (4.65 g/t AuEq) to contain 9.3M Oz Ag and 335.6K Oz Au (460K Oz AuEq).

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., presented results of its annual general meeting of shareholders held in Vancouver, BC, Canada (Las Chispas project, Sonora). 

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V., community center received population from 40 to 49 years and pregnant women of more than nine weeks of gestation for anticovid vaccine in Torreón. The inoculation is carried out by personnel of the General Hospital of the Zone from the Mexican Social Security Institute  # 18 (IMSS) as well as nurses from said mining company.
  • Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V., and Fresnillo plc announced that they are training young Mexicans in seven states. Both companies recognize that education plays an important role in people’s lives, because it provides them with new tools that contribute to improve their quality of life. In this sense, they teach specialized courses for girls, children and young people in various areas such as science, technology, engineering, human development, health, entrepreneurship and children’s literacy, among others.

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 vein-bx in a low sulphidation epithermal system in a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Quartz Blade Texture

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 22nd week of the year (May 31st to June 06th, 2021), at least 24 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 1 news published by the media, with six disclosing deals and corporate issues, six announcing financial rounds, five informing on exploration results, four reporting on resources and developments, three discussing social issues, and one communicating production and financial results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, No relevant news.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Benjamin Hill Mining released additional sampling results from its Benjamin Hill property, Silver Spruce and its JV partner Colibri commenced the phase 1 exploration drilling at its Mezquite project, and Heliostar presented results from its mapping and sampling program at its Oso Negro project. In Zacatecas, Zacatecas Silver completed the geological mapping and sampling program of the San Manuel Vein System. ON MINING, Santacruz reported Q1, 2021 production and financial results from their Zimapan and Rosario mines in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi States respectively. ON FINANCING, Alamos Gold declared quarterly dividend of USD $0.025 per common share (Mulatos mine, Sonora). Chesapeake reported that it granted 73,500 incentive stock options at an exercise price of $4.37 per share (Metates project, Durango). Colibri announced that its previously announced private placement has been oversubscribed for an additional 399,139 units at $.10 per unit (El Pilar project, Sonora). Silver Viper closed the first tranche of a $6M private placement for gross proceeds of $4.57M (La Virginia project, Sonora).  VanGold signed a definitive agreement to obtain a non-dilutive USD $7.5M in the form of a silver and gold loan (El Cubo mine, Guanajuato). Vizsla closed a bought deal financing offering for gross proceeds of CAD $69M (Panuco project, Sinaloa). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Barksdale outlined a 5,000m drilling program at its San Javier project in Sonora. GoGold released results from six holes collared at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Oroco presented results from the 3D IP survey conducted at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Sonoro completed the nine final RC holes at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora and moves towards an updated technical report and new PEA. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Capstone announced the resignation of a member of its Board of Directors (Cozamine mine, Zacatecas). VanGold announced that it will change its name to Guanajuato Silver Company, Ltd. (El Cubo mine, Guanajuato). Gatos Silver announced the appointment of its President and CEO, effective June 1, 2021 (Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua). Great Panther appointed its new CFO and COO (Topia mine, Durango). First Majestic released results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (San Dimas property, Durango).  Fortuna Silver provided an update of the legal dispute against the Mexican Geological Survey (SGM) if the royalty in one of its claims at San Jose mine in Oaxaca is not paid.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Minera Alamos released its 2020 Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) Report (Mulatos mine, Sonora).  Grupo México delivered seed capital for productive and social projects in the community of Sombrerete, Zacatecas. Newmont Corporation launched its 2020 Annual Sustainability Report.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Benjamin Hill Mining Corp., released additional assays from 45 samples collected at the new La Salada East Area within its Benjamin Hill property in Sonora. Chip samples returned multiple results ranging from 1 g/t Au to 3.8 g/t Au with peaks of 10 g/t Au and 10.1 g/t Au. Gold values are associated with quartz veining and quartz breccias often with chalcopyrite, galena and hematite, limonite and “boxwork” pyrite. These results extend the known gold mineralization previously reported. The company also announced that it is finalizing drill program planning to test the most prospective targets generated to date and expects to receive drill permits in early June.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., and its JV partner Colibri Resource Corporation commenced the 2,000m phase 1 exploration RC drilling at its Mezquite project in Sonora. Six holes are planned to drill test an area of 400m by 600m with elevated values to 3.41 g/t Au and 387 g/t Ag.
  • Heliostar Metals Limited presented results from its mapping and sampling program at its Oso Negro project in Sonora. High grade channel samples defined drill targets at the Prospecto Vein zone including 5.14 g/t Au, 953 g/t Ag, 1% Pb, and 1.9% Zn (1,428 g/t AgEq) over 1.2m; 2.55 g/t Au, 346 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (588 g/t AgEq) over 1.8m; and 3.29 g/t Au, 89 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.6% Zn (362 g/t AgEq) over 2.4m. This target has a length of 360m of strike, and has a weighted average grade of 420 g/t AgEq over and average width of 1.3m. Heliostar also announced the stacking of a new claim, Angel de Plata 2, increasing its land position to 120 square kilometers. Two new vein corridors have been discovered on the new claim with mine dump samples from historic workings up to 1,810 g/t AgEq.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., completed the first pass of its geological mapping and sampling program on the San Manuel Vein System. The company defined eight sets of oxidized, silver-base metal mineralized veins for over at least 3 km in length, with a dilation zone that is at least 600m wide. This extensional zone represents robust drill targets. The company has already commenced an environmental study at San Gill-San Manuel, concurrent with planning of first phase drilling at this target, which should be completed within 4 weeks.

ON MINING

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., Santacruz reported Q1, 2021 production and financial results from their Zimapan and Rosario mines in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi states respectively.  At Zimapan, Hidalgo, the company processed 156, 433 tonnes to produce 646K Oz AgEq at cash and AISC of USD $19.91 and USD $27.19 per Oz AgEq respectively. At Rosario, San Luis Potosi, Santacruz processed 19,806 tonnes to produce 60.9K Oz AgEq at cash and AISC of USD $27.19 and USD $52.57 respectively. The company reported consolidated revenues of USD $11.1M, gross profit of USD $2.2M, EBITDA of USD $983K, and cash and marketable securities of USD $6.8M (Zimapan and Rosario mines in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi respectively).

ON FINANCING

  • Alamos Gold Inc., declared quarterly dividend of USD $0.025 per common share. The company also implemented a dividend reinvestment plan. It gives the shareholders the option of increasing their investment by electing to receive common shares instead of cash dividend at a 3% discount to the prevailing market price (Mulatos mine, Sonora).
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., reported that it granted 73,500 incentive stock options at an exercise price of $4.37 per share. The Options will vest and be exercisable on the basis of 25% annually, commencing May 31, 2022, the first anniversary of the date of the grant. (Metates project, Durango).
  • Colibri Resource Corporation announced that its previously announced private placement of 23,482,000 units has been oversubscribed for an additional 399,139 units at $.10 per unit with each unit consisting of one common share and one common share purchase warrant exercisable at $0.15 for one common share for a period of twenty-four months from the date of issue. (El Pilar project, Sonora).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., closed the first tranche of a $6M private placement for gross proceeds of $4.57M (La Virginia project, Sonora).  The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes.
  • VanGold Mining Corp., signed a definitive agreement to obtain a non-dilutive USD $7.5M in the form of a silver and gold loan. The company estimates that the amount of gold and silver required to repay this loan facility will represent approximately 25% of the projected gold and silver to be produced by VanGold from its operations at the El Cubo mill in Guanajuato during the 12-month repayment period of the loan.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., closed a bought deal financing offering for gross proceeds of CAD $69M. The net proceeds of the Public Offering will be used to advance the exploration and development of the Company’s Panuco project, to make option payments and pursue potential future acquisitions, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Barksdale Resources Corp., outlined a 5,000m drilling program at its San Javier project in Sonora. The plan is to start drilling in July 2021 at the Cerro Verde area to confirm near surface copper oxide and gold mineralization up to 200m and test structures believed to control higher grade mineralization.  Cerro Verde has historic indicated + inferred resources for 86M tonnes of 0.33% Cu for a total of 630M Lb Cu. The company also plans to run metallurgical tests to better understand the potential processing routes for both copper and gold mineralization.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., released results from six holes collared at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. The most significant results was encountered in hole LRGF-21-041 with 0.38 g/t Au and 84 g/t Ag (1.5 g/t AuEq or 113 g/t AgEq) over 1.7m, plus 0.31 g/t Au and 82 g/t Ag (1.41 g/t AuEq or 105 g/t AgEq) over 56.1m, including 3.57 g/t Au and 975 g/t Ag (16.57 g/t AuEq or 1,243 g/t AgEq) over 1.3m, plus 0.19 g/ Au and 90 g/t Ag (1.39 g/t AuEq or 104 g/t AgEq) over 2.3m.
  • Oroco Resource Corporation presented results from the 3D IP survey conducted at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. The 3D IP results show a good correlation of chargeability and resistivity features with known mineralization and alteration zones in the area of historical drilling and resource delineation. “Final survey data displays a very extensive distribution of chargeability / resistivity features beyond the confines of the historical work at Santo Tomas”. 
  • Sonoro Gold Corp., completed the nine final RC holes at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora and moves towards an updated technical report and new PEA. The most significant drill intersections were encountered in hole SCR-262 collared at Buena Suerte Area with 0.37 g/t Au and 0.6 g/t Ag (0.38 g/t AuEq) over 21.33m, and ole SCR-264 also collared at Buena Suerte area with 0.29 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag (0.47 g/t AuEq) over 21.34m, including 1.59 g/t Au and 135 g/t Ag (3.52 g/t AuEq) over 1.53, plus 0.76 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag (0.87 g/t AuEq) over 15.24m, including 2.4 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag (2.43 g/t AuEq) over 1.52m. These results indicated a coalescence of the Buena Suerte and Los Japoneses areas into a single orebody of shallow, oxide gold mineralization. Sonoro expects two independent 43-101 compliant reports to update the resource size and classification and determine whether it is sufficient to support the Company’s proposed heap leach mining operation with a conceptual operation of up to 15,000 tonnes per day.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Capstone Mining Corp., announced the resignation of a member from its Board of Directors (Cozamine mine, Zacatecas).
  • VanGold Mining Corp., announced that it will change its name to Guanajuato Silver Company, Ltd., for which it has reserved the stock symbol GSVR with the TSX Venture Exchange (El Cubo mine, Guanajuato).
  • Gatos Silver Inc., announced the appointment of its President and CEO. He will assume its role, effective June 1, 2021 (Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua).
  • Great Panther Mining Limited, appointed its new CFO and COO, effective June 30, 2021 (Topia mine, Durango).
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., released results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (San Dimas property, Durango). 
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., provided an update of the legal dispute against the Mexican Geological Survey (SGM) if the royalty in one of its claims at San Jose mine in Oaxaca is not paid. Effective May 27, 2021, the General Direction of Mines (DGM) provided notice to the Company of the termination of the cancellation procedure, as it has determined that the required cause for cancellation of the concession was not established.   As a result, the Company has discontinued the Amparo Proceedings in the Collegiate Court in Mexico. In light of these constructive developments, the Company is now engaged in goodwill discussions with the SGM to reach an agreement to the satisfaction of both parties with respect to the royalty claim.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Alamos Gold Inc., released its 2020 Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) Report. It outlines the company’s progress on its ESG performance in 2020 across its operations, projects and offices, and provides direction on planned initiatives for 2021 (Mulatos mine, Sonora). 
  • Grupo México delivered seed capital for productive and social projects in the community of Sombrerete, Zacatecas, which contribute to promoting development and building a more competitive community. This project that has been carried out since 2009 has approved more than 600 projects. On this occasion, seven new projects were approved whose support is MXP $1M, which is distributed among the projects, according to the scope presented by each one.
  • Newmont Corporation launched its 2020 Annual Sustainability Report. This is part of the suite of reports on the Company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices in key areas that include health, safety and security, human rights, the environment, social acceptance, governance, and inclusion and diversity.

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

On the picture above, quartz blade texture in a hot spring and epithermal vein system in a project in Hidalgo, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Rich-silver banded quartz vein

By Miguel A Heredia

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

ON MEXICO ISSUES

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

ON EXPLORATION

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

ON MINING

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

ON FINANCING

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

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

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

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

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

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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

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

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

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

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Quartz vein displaying boiling texture.

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 18th week of the year (May 3th to May 9th, 2021), at least 39 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with ten communicating production results, ten disclosing deals and corporate issues, eight informing on exploration results, six reporting on resources and development, and five announcing financial rounds.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Benjamin Hill Mining released additional sampling results from its Benjamin Hill property, Tocvan and its partner Colibri reported results of preliminary metallurgical testing from the El Pilar project, Tarachi presented drilling results from three holes collared at its La Dura mine, and Silver Spruce engaged Eagle Mapping to run a LiDAR survey at its Diamante project . In Chihuahua, Kootenay presented results from six holes drilled at its Columba project.  In Sinaloa, Brigadier announced drilling and rock sampling results from its Picachos property. In Durango, Mithril reported that it continues intersecting high-grade mineralization at El Refugio zone, within its Copalquin project.  ON MINING, Argonaut reported Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Mexican mine operations. Equinox announced consolidated Q1, 2021 production and financial results from all their mine operations, including Los Filos and Mercedes mines in Guerrero and Sonora states respectively. Golden Minerals reported Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Rodeo mine in Durango. First Majestic released Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Mexican mine operations. Gatos Silver announced Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Los Gatos property in Chihuahua. Great Panther presented Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Topia and Guanajuato mines. McEwen reported the production of 1,300 Oz AuEq (GEOs) from residual leaching at El Gallo mine in Sinaloa during the first quarter of 2021. Mexus announced a successful blast at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora to produce approximately 10-15K tonnes of mineralized material. Santacruz reported consolidated 2020 full year production and financial results from its Mexican operations.  Sierra Metals announced Q1, 2021 production results from its Bolivar and Cusi mines in Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, Advance Gold granted stock options to its Directors, key employees, and consultants entitling them to purchase, in total, up to 1.8M options over a five year term (Tabasquena project, Zacatecas). Capitan Mining closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $3.2M (Peñoles property, Durango). GoGold closed a bought deal offering of 10M common shares for gross proceeds of CAD $25M (Los Ricos property, Jalisco). Heliostar closed a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $5.6M (Cumaro project, Sonora). Telson informed that it has received the initial USD $2M proceeds from the total USD $5M silver stream agreement with Empress Royalty (Tahuehueto project, Durango). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Endeavour intersected high-grade silver-gold mineralization at the Guanacevi mine in Durango. Zacatecas Silver announced it will commence a 10,000m drilling program at its Panuco silver project in Zacatecas, once it received the final drill permit. Golden Tag identified mineralized skarn shoots 265m above the current Fernandez Zone resource envelope at its San Diego property in Durango. GR Silver reported results from its ongoing drilling program at its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. VanGold provided initial results from its ongoing diamond drill program at its El Pinguico project in Guanajuato. Silver Viper released a maiden Au-Ag mineral resource estimate at its la Virginia project in Sonora.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Advance Gold appointed a new member to its Board of Directors (Tabasquena property, Zacatecas). Equinox announced results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Los Filos mine, Guerrero). Great Panther announced the nomination of two new directors for election to its Board of Directors at its annual general meeting to be held on June 9, 2021 (Topia mine, Durango).  One World Lithium announced the engagement of an European consultant that may include individual introduction and corporate presentations (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California). Colibri signed a definitive deal with Silver Spruce on Diamante Gold and Silver project in Sonora.   GR Silver made the final option payment to SSR Mining to close the acquisition of 100% interest of San Marcial Silver project in Sinaloa. Magna Gold announced that it has made the final payment for the acquisition of its San Francisco mine in Sonora. Oroco entered into an agreement to increase its interest on Santo Tomas property in Sinaloa. Orogen provided an update about the royalty on the Ermitaño property in Sonora. Chinas’ Ganfeng Lithium said it has offered to buy the shares it does not already own in Mexico-focused Bacanora Lithium for up to 190M pounds (USD $264.5M).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Benjamin Hill Mining Corp., released additional sampling results from its Benjamin Hill property, in Sonora state, which comprises Sonora Gold and Sonora Copper concessions. A total of 447 chip/channel samples were collected during March and April, 2021 returning encouraging results with multiple samples ranging from 4 to 8 g/t Au, with a peak of 31.4 g/t Au.  The company has extended the mineralized structure for over 500m to the north-west, increasing the length of the mineralized structure now to 2,400m. “Fifty-nine samples returned gold values over 2 g/t Au with eight samples ranging from 7.5 g/t Au to 31.4 g/t Au. Nine samples taken from the Caracahui vein returned copper values over 1.0% with three samples above 2% and the best sample returning an impressive 8.3% Cu”. Geologists were also able to identify a large area of disseminated gold ranging from 350m to 600m in width. The company is planning to commence a drill testing program. It has already applied for drill permits and expects to receive permits within the next several weeks.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., and its partner Colibri Resource Corporation reported results of preliminary metallurgical testing from the El Pilar project in Sonora, which includes Au recoveries of 91.6% and 90.6% at a retention time of 48 hours from two composite samples collected from drill hole JES-20-32.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., presented drilling results from three underground holes collared at its La Dura mine in Sonora. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole JAB-21-009 with 6.91 g/t Au over 63.4m, including 17.42 g/t Au over 9.3m, plus another interval with 17.37 g/t Au over 13.9m, including 33.66 g/t Au over 5.6m; and hole JAB-21-10 with 1.79 g/t Au over 42m. These drill results confirm the continuation of gold mineralization down-dip towards the east. “Based on the drilling and mapping done to date, gold is hosted in a 10-20m thick panel of heavily silicified rhyodacite striking roughly north-south, dipping to the east at an approximate angle of 30 and plunging to the south at 25°”.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., engaged Eagle Mapping to run a LiDAR survey at its Diamante project in Sonora. “The LiDAR mapping over the property will provide another value-added 3D element to complement the geological and structural mapping, and enhance the topographic control for the Phase 1 drilling program”.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., presented results from six holes drilled at its Columba project in Chihuahua. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole CDH-21-90 with 503 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 1.2m, including 889 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 0.55m, and 185 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 3.94m, including 245 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 2.4m, including 365 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over 0.6m; hole CDH-21-89 with 285 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.8% Zn over 6.9m, including 439 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 1.5% Zn over 0.27m, including 533 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 1.2% Zn over 0.65m, and other interval of 233 g/t Ag, 0.03% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 4m, including 411 g/t Ag, 0.03% Pb, and 0.05% Zn over 1m; and hole CDH-21-87 with 200 g/t Ag over 4m, including 559 g/t Ag over 1.09m.
  • Brigadier Gold Limited, announced drilling and rock sampling results from its Picachos property located in Sinaloa. Hole DH-BGR-043 encountered 0.52 g/t Au, 5 g/t Ag, and 0.07% Cu over 14.5m, including 7.63 g/t Au, 11 g/t Ag, and 0.26% Cu over 0.5m. Brigadier has completed 4,538m in 43 holes to date. On the other hand, Brigadier continues mapping and sampling prospects and workings in the entire property. Encouraging results were obtained from El Placer Norte with samples returning 12.79 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag over 1m wide, and 38.88 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag over 0.5m. At El Cobre area, located about 650m NW of El Placer Norte area, the rock sampling returned 57 g/t Ag, 2.12% Cu, and 0.12% Pb over a width of 1.7m from the El Cobre Vein; 108 g/t Ag, 3.2% Cu, and 0.5% Pb over a width of 0.5m from El Herrero Vein; and 148 g/t Ag, 0.33% Cu, and 0.26% Pb over a width of 0.7m from the Calzada Vein.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd., reported that it continues intersecting high-grade mineralization at El Refugio zone, within its Copalquin project.  Highlights include hole CDH-63 with  5.32 g/t Au, 105 g/t Ag over 8m, including 29.9 g/t Au and 273 g/t Ag over 1.09m; hole CDH-62 with 4.12 g/t Au and 107 g/t Ag over 4.82m, including 7.94 g/t Au and 211 g/t Ag over 1.6m, plus 4.68 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag over 2.1m, plus 0.48 g/t Au and 36 g/t Ag over 3.1m; and hole CDH-61 with 0.95 g/t Au and 25 g/t Ag over 7.75m, plus 0.95 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag over 0.95m, plus 1.44 g/t Au and 76 g/t Ag over 15.77m. The drill results extended the high-grade mineralization 80m down dip and 180m further to the west and up to further 75m down dip. El Refugio continues to grow as a large high-grade Au-Ag target.

ON MINING

  • Argonaut Gold Inc., reported Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Mexican mine operations. At El Castillo Complex in Durango The company milled 5,274,000 tons of 0.28 g/t Au to produce 29,243 Oz Au and 164,226 Oz Ag (31,175 AuEq Oz (GEOs)). Argonaut reduced the cash cost per Oz Au sold to USD $916. At La Colorada in Sonora , Argonaut mined 1,227,000 tonnes of 0.54 g/t Au to produce 15,894 Oz Au and 52,912 Oz Ag (16,516 GEOs). It reduced the cash cost per Oz Au sold to USD $765. The company also announced the discovery of  high-grade gold veins below  the El Crestón open pit which returned 44.6 g/t Au and 275 g/t Ag over 21.3m, including 98.9 g/t Au and 30 g/t Ag over 12.2m.
  • Equinox Gold Corp., announced consolidated Q1, 2021 production and financial results from all their mine operations, including Los Filos and Mercedes mines in Guerrero and Sonora states respectively. The company produced 129,233 Oz Au and sold 128,555 Oz Au at cash and AISC of USD $1,141 and USD $1,482 per Oz Au respectively. The company reported revenues of USD $229.7M, net income of USD $50.3M, adjusted EBITDA of USD $60.5M, cash and cash equivalents of USD $317.5M, net debt of USD $2290.8M, and operating cash flow before changes in non-cash working capital of USD $62M. Equinox also provided a 2021 production guidance of 600K to 665K Oz Au, of which 170K-190K will be produced at its Los Filos mine in Guerrero and 30K to 35K Oz Au, will be produced at its Mercedes mine in Sonora.
  • Golden Minerals Company reported Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Rodeo mine in Durango. It produced 1,559 Oz AuEq in doré and sold 1,054 Oz AuEq. Golden reported revenue of USD $1.8M, cost of metals sold of USD $1.5M, and net operating margin of USD $0.2M.The company also reported cash and cash equivalents balance of USD $ 8M as of March 31, 2021, and a net loss of USD $3.2M.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., released Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Mexican mine operations. The table below shows figures by mine:

First Majestic reported revenues of USD $100.5M, mine operating earnings of USD $28.1M, net earnings of USD $1.9M, and a strong working capital of USD $232.8M, including USD $65M of undrawn revolving credit facility.

  • Gatos Silver Inc., announced Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Los Gatos property in Chihuahua. Gatos mined 209,832 tonnes to produce 6,312 tonnes of Pb concentrates with grades of 6,314 g/t Ag, 5.6 g/t Au, 54.8% Pb, and 12.9% Zn, and 7,036 tonnes of Zn concentrate of 757 g/t Ag, 0.6 g/t Au, 1.4% Pb, and 55.2% Zn, to recover 1.5M Oz Ag, 1.1K Oz Au, 7.6M Lb Pb, and 8.6M Lb Zn, at an AISC cost, net of by-product credits of $19.76 per Oz Ag, which includes approximately $2.50 per Oz Ag related to non-recurring costs attributed to COVID-19 and lower produced ounces related to the power outage experienced earlier in the year. Gatos reported sales for $46.3M, operating expenses of $35.5M, other expenses of $3.9M, and net income of $6.9M.
  • Great Panther Mining Limited presented Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Topia and Guanajuato mines. At Guanajuato mine complex, Guanajuato, it mined 40,321 tonnes and milled 39,665 tonnes of 124 g/t Ag and 1.53 g/t Au to produce 135,737 Oz Ag and 1,689 Oz Au (279,306 Oz AgEq) at cash and AISC of $22.57 and $33.42 per payable Oz Ag respectively. At Topia, Durango,  the company  mined 16,654 tonnes and milled 19,004 tonnes of 398 g/t Ag, 0.87 g/t Au, 2.93% Pb, and 3.6% Zn to produce 224,333 Oz Ag, 293 Oz Au, 1.18M Lb Pb, and 1.39M Lb Zn (363,318 Oz AgEq) at cash and AISC of $15.88 and $18.71 per payable Oz Ag respectively.
  • McEwen Mining Inc., reported the production of 1,300 Oz AuEq (GEOs) from residual leaching at El Gallo mine in Sinaloa during the first quarter of 2021.  Operations were disrupted for three weeks by a blockade of the mine entrance by members of the local community, which has been resolved.
  • Mexus Gold US announced a successful blast in the Quartz 2 vein area at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora to produce approximately 10-15K tonnes of mineralized material. The company believes this material will show between 2 to 4 g/t Au average.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining ltd., reported consolidated 2020 full year production and financial results from its Mexican operations. The company processed 201,585 tonnes to produce 1M Oz AgEq at cash and AISC of $23.04 and $24.41 per Oz AgEq respectively. The company sold 662.5K Oz AgEq. The company recorded revenues of $33,097 and a net loss of $1,493.
  • Sierra Metals Inc., announced Q1, 2021 production results from its Bolivar and Cusi mines in Chihuahua. At Bolivar mine, the company processed 371,608 tonnes of 0.19 g/t Au, 20 g/t Ag, and 0.77% Cu to produce 1,591 Oz Au, 197K Oz Ag, and 5.2M Lb Cu 7.28M Lb CuEq), at a cash and AISC of USD $1.58 and USD $2.91 per Lb CuEq respectively. At Cusi mine, Sierra Metals processed 76,602 tonnes of 0.16 g/t Au, 157 g/t Ag, and 0.2% Pb to produce 155 Oz Au, 313K Oz Ag, and 268K Lb Pb (334K Oz AgEq), at cash and AISC of USD $18.72 and USD $30.28 per Oz AgEq respectively.

ON FINANCING

  • Advance Gold Corp., granted stock options to its Directors, key employees, and consultants entitling them to purchase, in total, up to 1.8M options over a five year term expiring May 2025 at an exercise price of $0.08 per share.  (Tabasquena property, Zacatecas).
  • Capitan Mining Inc., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $3.2M. Gross proceeds will be used to advance exploration and corporate development activities at its Peñoles property in Durango.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., closed a bought deal offering of 10M common shares at a price of CAD $2.50 per common share for gross proceeds of CAD $25M. Underwriters of the offering exercised their overallotment option in full for an additional 1.5M common shares for gross proceeds of approximately CAD $3.75M.  The net proceeds of the offering will be used to support the continued advancement of the Company’s Los Ricos North and South projects in Jalisco and for general corporate purposes.
  • Heliostar Metals Limited closed a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $5.6M. Part of the gross proceeds will be used to advance Cumaro, Lola and Oso Negro projects in Sonora, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. 
  • Telson Mining Corporation informed that it has received the initial USD $2M proceeds from the total USD $5M silver stream agreement with Empress Royalty for its Tahuehueto project in Durango. The stream is part of a USD $25M full financing solution being provided by Empress, Accendo Bank and Endeavour Financial.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Endeavour Silver Corp., intersected high-grade silver-gold mineralization to expand the El Curso orebody at its Guanacevi mine in Durango. Significant drill interceptions were encountered in hole UCM-48 with 3.27 g/t Au and   2,753 g/t Ag (2,982 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 4.1m, including 0.6 g/t Au and 18,752 g/t Ag (18,794 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.3m; and hole UCM-50 with 4.29 g/t Au and 3,464 g/t Ag (3,764 g/t AgEq)  over a TW of 2.6m, including 25.7 g/t Au and 19,390 g/t Ag (21,189 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.3m. The Company is currently producing from three orebodies at Guanacevi: Milache, El Curso and SCS.  Exploration drilling is ongoing at El Curso and SCS.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., announced it will commence a 10,000m drilling program at its Panuco silver project in Zacatecas, once it received the final drill permit. The plan is to start drilling at its Panuco silver deposit and San Gill Breccia Zone by securing an access agreement with the Ejido “Panuco”. The Panuco Silver Deposit has an historic inferred mineral resource of 19,472,901 Oz AgEq (cut-off 100 g/t AgEq) from 3,954,729 tonnes at 153.2 g/t AgEq (136 g/t Ag, 0.14 g/t Au, 0.012% Pb, and 0.11% Zn). “San Gill Breccia Zone has a strike length of approximately 800m, is up to 40 m wide, and is most likely vertical.  The north-south orientation of the breccia is highly significant as gold-rich epithermal veins within the district are generally oriented north-south”.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd., identified mineralized skarn shoots 265m above the current Fernandez Zone resource envelope at its San Diego property in Durango.   Significant drill assays were encountered in hole 21-54 with 0.09 g/t Au, 27 g/t Ag, 0.7% Pb, 0.6% Zn, and 0.03% Cu (92 g/t AgEq) over 99.53m, including 0.25 g/t Au, 81 g/t Ag, 2.1% Pb, 2.2% Zn, and 0.1% Cu (286 g/t AgEq) over 18.43m, and others mineralized intervals of  0.12 g/t Au, 109 g/t Ag, 2.5% Pb, 1.7% Zn, and 0.04% Cu (287 g/t AgEq) over 1.64m and 0.5 g/t Au, 15 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.3% Zn, and 0.01% Cu (83 g/t AgEq) over 12.35m; and hole 21-55 with 0.08 g/t Au, 37 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn, and 0.02% Cu (85 g/t AgEq) over 25.55m, including 0.04 g/t Au, 44 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, 0.8% Zn, and 0.02% Cu (100 g/t AgEq) over 10.9m, including 0.14 g/t Au, 45 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn, and 0.02% Cu (94 g/t AgEq) over 9.10m. This hole also intersected 0.96 g/t Au, 59 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.4% Zn, and 0.03% Cu (183 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m, 0.2 g/t Au, 50 g/t Ag, 1% Pb, 0.5% Zn, and 0.02% Cu (125 g/t AgEq) over 0.79m, and 0.09 g/t Au, 83 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, 0.4% Zn, and 0.04% Cu (130 g/t AgEq) over 0.6m. “Drill results, in conjunction with results from previous drilling, have identified the existence of potential shoots of skarn mineralization commencing approximately 265 m above the Fernandez Zone, which could connect or be parallel to the western edge of Fernandez”.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., reported results from its ongoing drilling program at the San Juan Vein within its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole  SJS21-04 with 242 g/t Ag, 0.31 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 0.8% Zn (310 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 10.5m, including 954 g/t Ag, 1.29 g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, 1.6% Zn, and 0.1% Cu (1,177 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2m, including 1,184 g/t Ag, 2.27 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, and 0.9% Zn (1,486 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1m; hole LRD-52 with 311 g/t Ag, 0.08 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (354 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 3.9m, including 781 g/t Ag, 0.21 g/t Au, 1.5% Pb, and 0.3% Zn (863 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1m; and hole LRD-37 with 62 g/t Ag, 0.31 g/t Au, 0.6% Pb, and 0.4% Zn (126 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 20.2m, including 154 g/t Ag, 0.96 g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, and 0.4% Zn (308 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 5.7m. “The high-grade silver mineralization encountered in the San Juan Vein confirms continuity of the mineralization close to surface, 100m to the north along strike, and also correlates with previously identified high-grade mineralization at depth”.
  • VanGold Mining Corp., provided initial results from its ongoing diamond drill program at its El Pinguico project in Guanajuato.  Eight holes were drilled of which the two first holes were collared outside of the mine in the patio of the portal of adit 4. These holes were not intended as traditional exploration holes. Holes P21-01 and P21-02 were collared to test the purchased rig but encountered noticeable visible vein material, which the company now interprets to be extensions of the San Jose vein. A third hole, P21-03, was collared to test the area for further vein extensions, and intersected several intervals of significant gold and silver values, including 0.38 g/t Au and 88 g/t Ag (116 g/t AgEq) over 4.05m, including 1.5 g/t Au and 122 g/t Ag (242 g/t AgEq) over 1m, plus an additional higher-grade interval of  2.11 g/t Au and 505 g/t Ag (674 g/t AgEq) over 0.55m. The rig was moved into El Pinguico mine where the company drilled holes P21-05 to P21-08. Holes P21-05 and P21-06 intercepted   long sections of alteration crossing both San Jose and El Pinguico veins but only moderate widths of moderate Ag-Au values were encountered.  Hole P21-07 encountered quartz and carbonate material of an unknown vein and at the San Jose contact the hole intercepted broken, unconsolidated material (approximately 35% recovery) and a void causing to abandon the hole. Hole P21-08 encountered numerous intervals of good grade material, being the most significant one returning 8.81 g/t Au and 208 g/t Ag (913 g/t AgEq) over 0.75m. Four additional holes (P21-09 to P21-12) were drilled from San Jose Cross Cut #1 but assay results are pending.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., released a maiden Au-Ag mineral resource estimate at its la Virginia project in Sonora.   El Rubi Zone contains an indicated resource of 6,179,000 tonnes of 0.78 g/t Au and 35 g/t Ag for 154.3K Oz Au and 6.93M Oz Ag, and inferred resources of 3,255,000 tonnes of 0.9 g/t Au and 36 g/t Ag for 94.1K Oz Au and 3.75M Oz Ag in open pit category. Virginia, El Oriental, Las Huatas and Las Huatas South add and inferred resource of 6,622,000 tonnes of 0.71 g/t Au and 41 g/t Ag for 152.2K Oz Au and 8.74M Oz Ag in open pit category, and 277K tonnes of 1.92 g/t Au and 62 g/t Ag for an additional 14K Oz Au and 451.5K Oz Ag in the underground category. Gold and Silver Equivalents for Indicated resource equal 253,286 Oz AuEq or 17,730,000 Oz AgEq. Gold and Silver Equivalents for Inferred resource equal 445,176 Oz AuEq or 31,162,300 Oz AgEq.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Advance Gold Corp., appointed a new member to its Board of Directors (Tabasquena property, Zacatecas).
  • Equinox Gold Corp., announced results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Los Filos mine, Guerrero).
  • Great Panther Mining Limited announced the nomination of two new directors for election to its Board of Directors at its annual general meeting to be held on June 9, 2021 (Topia mine, Durango). 
  • One World Lithium Inc., announced the engagement of an European consultant that may include individual introduction and corporate presentations. The Agreement is for one year to May 04, 2022. The Consultant will be paid a monthly fee of 5,000 Euros   (CAD $7,400) and an option to purchase up to 800K common shares of the company at an exercise price of $0.11 per common share, being the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the Canadian Stock Exchange on May 4, 2021. The stock options are exercisable on or before May 04, 2023 and will be vested as to 200K options every two months from June 01 to December 01, 2021 (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California).
  • Colibri Resources Corporation signed a definitive deal with Silver Spruce on Diamante Gold and Silver project in Sonora.  Silver Spruce will have an option to acquire up to 50% of the property. To acquire 25% of the property, Silver Spruce has to pay USD $75K in cash to Colibri. Yaque and Silver Spruce will each then hold a 25% interest and manage the project as equal partners. To earn its initial 50% of the Diamante project from the original vendor, Yaque (together with Silver Spruce)agree to jointly design, permit and drill a minimum of 2,000 metres on the property within 24 months from the Execution Date of Yaque’s final agreement with the original Vendor.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., made the final option payment to SSR Mining to close the acquisition of 100% interest of San Marcial Silver project in Sinaloa. GR paid CAD $2.5M and issued 1.5M common shares to SSR.
  • Magna Gold Corp., announced that it has made the final payment of USD $5M to Argonaut Gold Inc., for the acquisition of its San Francisco mine in Sonora, and provided a promissory note for the remaining balance of USD $2,675,000 to be paid in four monthly installments commencing July, 6, 2021 and ending October 6, 2021. The promissory note bears uncompounded interest at a rate of 5% per annum.
  • Oroco Resource Corp., entered into an agreement to increase its interest on Santo Tomas property in Sinaloa.  Oroco will acquire 25 shares of Xochipala Gold SA de CV for USD $1.5M.
  • Orogen Royalties Inc., provided an update about the royalty on the Ermitaño property in Sonora, operated by its JV partner First Majestic Silver Corp. Orogen holds a 2% NSR of an indicated resources of 355K Oz Au and 5M Oz Ag, and inferred resources of 522K Oz Au and 11M Oz Ag.
  • Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd., said it has offered to buy the shares it does not already own in Mexico-focused Bacanora Lithium plc for up to 190M pounds (USD $264.5M). Ganfeng, which in February announced a plan to raise its stake in Bacanora from 17.41% to 28.88%, will acquire the remaining shares in the company for $67.5 pounds a share. The increase in Ganfeng’s stake to 28.88% is expected to complete shortly.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No relevant news.

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

On the picture above, a quartz vein with stibnite displaying boiling texture in a low-sulphidation epithermal system in a prospect in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Mesothermal sheeted quartz veins

By Miguel A Heredia

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

ON MEXICO ISSUES

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

ON EXPLORATION

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

ON MINING

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

ON FINANCING

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

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

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

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

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

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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

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

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

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

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Magnetite-rich Fe skarn manto

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 14th week of the year (April 05th to April 11th, 2021), at least 35 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 4 news published by the media, with nine informing on exploration results, eight disclosing deals and corporate issues, seven announcing financial issues, six reporting on resources and development, six communicating production and financial results, two discussing social issues, and one commenting on Mexican issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver) declared that it pays taxes and reiterated its attachment to the government mechanisms that drive Mexico’s socio-economic development (San Jose mine, Oaxaca). ON EXPLORATION, In Baja California, One World Lithium announced that a drill crew will be mobilizing to its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California, to drill a third diamond drill hole. In Sonora, Colibri informed that it will commence a 3D IP survey at its Evelyn project, Heliostar released first pass sampling and mapping results from its Cumaro project, Ridgestone announced encouraging results from geophysical surveys and follow-up work on its Rebeico project, and Silver Tiger reported drill results in the Benjamin vein zone at its El Tigre project. In Sinaloa, Vizsla provided results from eighteen holes collared along the Napoleon Vein corridor at its Panuco project. In Zacatecas, Alien reported sampling results from dumps/floats at its San Celso property, and Zacatecas Silver completed geological and structural mapping at its El Cristo project.  In San Luis Potosi, Advance Gold started a drilling program at its Saldivar lithium salar project. ON MINING, Endeavor reported Q1, 2021 production results from its Mexican mine operations. GoGold presented Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. Magna Gold reported year end 2020 financial results from its San Francisco mine in Sonora, and provided production guidance for 2021. Mexus Gold announced its plans to blast at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Telson reported Q1, 2021 production results from its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero. Torex presented Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its El Limon-Guajes Mine Complex in Guerrero.  ON  FINANCING, Aura Minerals announced a clarification of its payments of dividends (Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas). Canuc granted 6M incentive stock options to officers, directors, employees, and consultants (San Javier project, Sonora). Capitan Mining announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $3.2M (Peñoles property, Durango). GR Silver entered into a bought deal private placement financing agreement for gross proceeds of $ 8M (Plomosas project, Sinaloa). Santacruz announced a private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $14.1M (Zimapan mine, Hidalgo). Silver Spruce granted 759K stock options to its CEO (El Mezquite project, Sonora).  Tarachi Gold commenced to trade on the OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker symbol “TRGGF” (Magistral Mill and Tailings project, Durango).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Almadex announced its intention to drill at least three of its Mexican mining properties in 2021, and discussed plans for El Cobre and Ixtaca properties located in Veracruz and Puebla respectively. Consolidated Zinc reported that mill and flotation circuits commissioning commenced over Easter at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. Prime released drill results from el Zapote South, Noche Buena, and San Miguel East deposits at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Sonoro reported results from 12 RC holes drilled at its flagship property Cerro Caliche in Sonora. VanGold filed a PEA for combined El Pinguico-El Cubo projects in Guanajuato. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Discovery Metals announced name change to Discovery Silver (Cordero project, Chihuahua).  Equinox completed the acquisition of Premier Gold and the spin out of i-80 Gold Corp. (Los Filos mine, Guerrero and Mercedes mine, Sonora). Gatos Silver appointed Rodrigo Monroy as General Counsel effective April 1st, 2021 (Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua). Minaurum engaged Digital Marketing Firm and granted 3,825,000 common share stock options to Directors, Officers and Consultants (Alamo Silver project, Sonora). Minera Autlán announced the appointment of Pedro Rivero González as its General Management of the company as of April 5, 2021 (Molango mine, Hidalgo). Santacruz announced that the acquisition of the Zimapan assets is now expected to close on or before April 16, 2021. Tarachi Gold appointed a new member to its Board of Directors and announced the change of Auditor (Magistral Mill and tailings project, Durango). Torex announced that it received a key environmental permit for its Media Luna project in Guerrero.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Arcelor Mittal delivered a donation of MXP $140K to the Red Cross Delegation of Lázaro Cárdenas in Michoacan. Fresnillo plc., supported workshop members of the El Obligado Community in Fresnillo, Zacatecas who make face masks for the population of nearby communities.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.) declared that it has complied in due time and form with more than MXP $600M for the total federal taxes caused, corresponding to the 2020 annual fiscal year. The payment from an effective tax rate to the mining sector of 45%is one more sample strict adherence to legality and government mechanisms that promote the socio-economic development of the country (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).

ON EXPLORATION

  • One World Lithium Inc., announced that a drill crew will be mobilizing to its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California, to drill a third diamond drill hole. DDH-3 will be located approximately 50Km to the south of DDH-2.
  • Colibri Resource Corporation, informed that it will commence a 3D IP survey at its Evelyn project in Sonora. The 3D IP survey will be focused on the Sahuaro and Cerro Rojo targets and will cover an area of approximately 6 square km. The Company is planning a drill program to test currently defined mineralized trends and structures, to evaluate the emerging geological and structural model for the property, and to test results of the IP survey.
  • Heliostar Metals Limited released first pass sampling and mapping results from its Cumaro project in northern Sonora. Heliostar identified a silicified structure with pyrite and returned 1m channel sample grading 390 g/t Ag, and remains open to expand. Additionally, eleven channel and rock samples returned values >1 g/t Ag in a coherent anomaly that cover an area of 500m by 600m, being this area the extension of the Dos Amigos vein into the eastern block. This mineralization indicates a robust silver endowment and shows the potential for high grades in the eastern block of the El Picacho district.
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc., announced encouraging results from geophysical surveys and follow-up work on its Rebeico project. The IP survey outlined a strong IP high chargeability anomaly of 1,400m north-south and 800m east-west at the south portion of the Alaska vein, at depths of 250 to 300 metres below surface, progressively increasing in width and intensity toward the south.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., reported drill results in the Benjamin vein zone at its El Tigre project in Sonora. Significant drill intersects were encountered in hole ET-21-204 with 140 g/t Ag, 0.12 g/t Au, 0.08% Cu, 3% Pb, and 8.5% Zn (519 g/t AgEq) over 14.2m, including 273 g/t Ag, 0.14 g/t Au. 0.18% Cu, 5.5% Pb, and 17 % Zn (1,013 g/t AgEq) over 5.6m; hole ET-21-206 with 181 g/t Ag, 0.07 g/t Au, 0.05% Cu, 0.6% Pb, and 1.8% Zn (267 g/t AgEq) over 12.3m, including 1,034 g/t Ag, 0.18 g/t Au, 0.29% Cu, 2.7% Pb, and 8.8% Zn (1,443 g/t AgEq) over 2m; and hole ET-20-199 with 222 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 0.09% Cu, 0.5% Pb, and 1.7% Zn (305 g/t AgEq) over 7.7m, including 699 g/t Ag, 0.11 g/t Au, 0.2% Cu, 2% Pb, and 7% Zn (1,016 g/t AgEq) over 1.1m.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., provided results from eighteen holed collared along the Napoleon Vein corridor at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. The company estimated from 54 drill holes, an average vein true width of 4m, a weighted average grade of 155 g/t Ag, 2.74 g/t Au, 0.5% Pb, and 1.3% Zn (441 g/t AgEq), and mineralization extends over 300m in length, 300m  deep, and remains open north, south, and at depth. The best drill intercept was encountered in hole NP-21-80 with 469 g/t Ag, 5.84 g7t Au, 0.5% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (1, 027 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 4.61m, including 1, 321 g/t Ag, 15.1 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, and 2.6% Zn (2, 740 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.51m.
  • Alien Metals ltd., reported encouraging dump/floats sampling results from its New Andromeda concession adjacent to its San Celso property in Zacatecas. Highlights include 734 g/t Ag, 0.44 g/t Au and 0.6% Zn; 163 g/t Ag, 0.42 g/t Au and 1.9% Zn; 488 g/t Ag; 270 g/t Ag; and 180 g/t Ag and 0.13% Zn. “The samples are all composed of quartz and carbonate dominant vein material with varying amounts of sulphides, hence they are very similar to the mineralization seen in the San Celso vein systems to the north”.  
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., completed geological and structural mapping at its El Cristo project located immediately to the northwest of the Veta Grande deposit. The Veta Grande vein has reported historical production of over 200 M Oz Ag in the region. The geological and structural mapping identified at least eight veins to date which are associated with a sigmoidal zone of extension that is at least 800 m wide, over a strike length of at least 4 km extending the previous reported strike length of 2.5 to 3.0km. Zacatecas Silver has commenced an extensive soil sampling program to assist with location of veins beneath cover of thin soils. “The cumulative strike length of all veins at El Cristo is at least 12 km long. El Cristo an extremely prospective system with numerous high value targets at vein intersections, splays and flexures. Veins display multiphase and brecciated textures, indicative of multiple mineralizing events. Zacatecas Silver is planning an aggressive rock-chip and channel sampling program to better define the silver-base metal grade distribution of the outcropping veins, to ensure that the highest value targets are drill tested”.
  • Advance Gold Corp., started a drilling program at its Saldivar lithium salar project in San Luis Potosi to test near surface lithium grade distribution of the salar for bulk sampling preparation. The drilling program will be carried out on a grid basis using 100m spacing with holes drilled down to 50m. The company also plans to drill deeper in one of the holes to test the depth to bedrock.

ON MINING

  • Endeavor Silver Corp., reported production results from its Mexican mine operations. The table below shows figures for Q1, 2021 by mine:
  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. GoGold produced 302.9K Oz Ag, 3,208 Oz Au, and 192.6K Lb Cu (551.2K Oz AgEq), generating free cash flows exceeding USD $5.5Mthis quarter.
  • Magna Gold Corp., reported year end 2020 financial results from its San Francisco mine in Sonora. The company sold 20,235 Oz Au and 9,188 Oz Ag. Magna reported metal revenues of USD $37M, net cash flow provided by operating activities of USD $9.4M, net cash provided by financial activities of USD $9.4M, and income from mining operations of USD $1.9M. “The Company is setting guidance expectations for gold production during 2021 of between 55K to 65K Oz Au. The Company expects to have the San Francisco Mine fully commissioned before the end of Q2 2021”.
  • Mexus Gold US announced its plans to blast at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. The blasts will produce 10K tonnes of 2.2 g/t Au, and Mexus expects to be producing gold from this material within 30 days of the blast.
  • Telson Mining Corporation reported Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero. Telson milled 174.4 K tonnes of 1.1 g/t Au, 116 g/t Ag, 1% Pb, and 3.9% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 21%, 41%, 27%, and 74% respectively. To produce 11 tons of Zn concentrate and 1.9 tonnes of Pb concentrate. The company reported revenues of $10.04M from Zn concentrates and $1.9M from Pb concentrate for total revenues of $11.9M.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., presented Q1, 2021 production results from its El Limon-Guajes Mine Complex in Guerrero.  The company produced 129K Oz Au from an average underground ore mined of 1, 360 tonnes per day and an average open pit ore mined of 15,090 tonnes per day, and an average plant throughput of 12,340 tonnes per day. Torex provided full year production guidance for 2021 of 430K to 470K Oz Au.

ON FINANCING

  • Aura Minerals Inc., announced a clarification with respect to its payments of a dividend of USD $0.38 per common share, as previously announced by the company on March 15, 2021 (Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas).
  • Canuc Resource Corporation, granted 6M incentive stock options to officers, directors, employees, and consultants. 3.5 M of these options will vest immediately. The remaining 2.5 M options will vest 12 months from April 2nd, 2022. The stock options have an exercise price of $0.35 and a three-year term, expiring on April 2nd, 2024 (San Javier project, Sonora).
  • Capitan Mining Inc., announced a non-brokered private placement for net proceeds of CAD $3.2M from 16M common shares at a price of CAD $0.20 per share. Capitan Mining plans to use the net proceeds to advance drilling and work programs at Peñoles property in Durango, as well as for working capital and general corporate expenses.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., entered into a bought deal private placement financing agreement for gross proceeds of $ 8M at a price of $0.59 per unit. Net proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes (Plomosas project, Sinaloa). 
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., announced a private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $14.1M (Zimapan mine, Hidalgo).
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., granted 750K stock options to its CEO at an exercise price of $0.05 per share and an expiry date of April1, 2026. The stock options will vest 1/3 on the date of the grant, 1/3 on the first anniversary of the grant and the final 1/3 on the second anniversary of the grant (El Mezquite project, Sonora).   
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., commenced to trade on the OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker symbol “TRGGF” (Magistral Mill and Tailings project, Durango). 

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Almadex Minerals Ltd., announced its intention to drill at least three of its Mexican mining properties in 2021, and discussed plans for El Cobre and Ixtaca properties located in Veracruz and Puebla respectively. At El Cobre, Veracruz, Almadex previously reported  an indicated resource containing 748K Oz Au and 221M Lb Cu (47.2 M tonnes grading 0.49 g/t Au, 0.21% Cu and 1.4  g/t Ag) and an inferred resource containing 860K Oz Au and 254 M Lb Cu (64.2M tonnes grading 0.42 g/t Au, 0.18% Cu and 1.3 g/t Ag).  Almadex looks forward to further developments at this high potential project. At Ixtaca, Puebla, a FS reported a proven and probable reserve containing 1.38M Oz Au and 85.1M Oz Ag (73.1M tonnes grading 0.59 g/t Au and 36.3 g/t Ag). The Ixtaca project is currently in the mine permitting phase, which has taken longer than expected. Almaden has recently noted the exploration potential remaining at the Ixtaca project and the Company looks forward to the results of the Ixtaca exploration programs over the course of 2021.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, reported that mill and flotation circuits commissioning commenced over Easter at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. It also announced that the tailings dam earthworks is completed, laying of the impervious liner is 70% complete, and the power supply installed, commissioned, and operated.  
  • Prime Mining Corp., released drill results from el Zapote South, Noche Buena, and San Miguel East deposits from its ongoing 15,000m phase 1 drill program at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. At El Zapote South deposit, significant mineralized drill intercepts have been encountered at hole 21ZAP-04 with 8.95 g/t Au and 74 g/t Ag over 4.5m; hole 21ZAP-03 with 0.76 g/t Au and 33 g/t Ag over 13m, including 1.66 g/t Au and 41 g/t Ag over 4.6m; and hole 21ZAP-08 with 1.96 g/t Au and 63 g/t Ag over 18.7m, including 2.44 g/t Au and 85 g/t Ag over 7.2m. At Noche Buena deposit, hole 21NB-02 encountered 3.17 g/t Au and 141 g/t Ag over 2.9m within a broader zone of 39m with 0.7 g/t Au and 29 g/t Ag; and hole 21NB-03 with 1.12 g/t Au and 30 g/t Ag over 6m. At San Miguel deposit, hole 2SME-01 intersected 1 g/t Au and 131 g/t Ag over 4.5m. Zapote-South, Noche Buena and San Miguel East deposits are three of eight known deposits that comprise the current mineral resource at Los Reyes property.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp., reported results from 12 RC holes drilled at its flagship property Cerro Caliche in Sonora. Highlights include hole SCR-223 in the north western extension of Buena Suerte zone with 0.6 g/t Au over 74.67m, including three intervals of 1.52m with 3.67 g/t Au; hole SCR-222 in the Buena Vista northwest extension of Japoneses zone with 2.04 g/t Au over 15.24m, including 3.15 g/t Au over 6.1m; hole SCR-227 in the northern extension of Japoneses zone with 1.74 g/t Au over 3.05m, including 2.54 g/t Au over 1.53m; and hole SCR-225 at El Colorado zone with 1.16 g/t Au over 7.62m, including 2.31 g/t Au over 3.05m.
  • VanGold Mining Corp., filed a PEA for combined El Pinguico-El Cubo projects in Guanajuato. Results of the PEA analysis were previously announced in the Company’s news release dated February 16, 2021. The company also announced that it obtained permits for El Pinguico road expansion. New route will lessen impact on the Calderones Community. “This road will become El Pinguico’s major thoroughfare for production, exploration, administration, and for safely purposes. The Company anticipates it will reduce driving time between the destinations from 40 minutes to 10 minutes, significantly reducing costs and wear on vehicles”. 

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Discovery Metals Corp., announced name change to Discovery Silver Corp. The company´s common shares will commence trading under the TSX Venture Exchange under its current ticker symbol “DSV” and on the OTCQX where its ticker symbol will change from “DSVMF” to “DSVSF” from April 14, 2021, pending final regulatory approvals from the TSXV and FINRA (Cordero project, Chihuahua).
  • Equinox Gold Corp., completed the acquisition of Premier Gold Mines Limited and the spin out of i-80 Gold Corp. (Los Filos mine, Guerrero and Mercedes mine, Sonora).
  • Gatos Silver Inc., appointed Rodrigo Monroy as General Counsel effective April 1st, 2021, and strengthens its executive management team (Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua).
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., engaged Digital Marketing Firm to assist with online communication to the company, with the goal of increasing market awareness. Minaurum will pay to the Digital Marketing Firm a fee of CAD $64K for six months. The company also granted 3,825,000 common share stock options to Directors, Officers and Consultants. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.52 from a period of ten years from issue date (Alamo Silver project, Sonora).
  • Compañía Minera Autlán, S.A.B. de C.V., reported that, with the prior favorable opinion of the Corporate Practices Committee and approval of its Board of Directors, in a session of February 24, 2021, it was resolved that Pedro Rivero González will assume the General Management of the company as of April 5, 2021 (Molango mine, Hidalgo).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., announced that the acquisition of the Zimapan assets, together with the USD $17.6 M loan facility from Trafigura Mexico, S.A. de C.V., are now expected to close on or before April 16, 2021.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., appointed a new member to its Board of Directors and announced the change of Auditor (Magistral Mill and tailings project, Durango).
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., announced that it received from Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (“SEMARNAT”) the MIA, a key environmental permit for its Media Luna project in Guerrero. The MIA allows Torex to execute construction activities to access its Media Luna deposit in Guerrero.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Arcelor Mittal México SA de CV, delivered a donation of MXP $140K in the framework of its 2021 annual collection to the Red Cross Delegation of Lázaro Cárdenas in Michoacán. ”Arcelor Mittal has made annual donations without interruption. since 2008 to the delegational Red Cross, in addition to collaborating with the worthy institution in different ways: through donations in its annual collections, in kind when necessary, such as the provision of equipment and various supplies, the delivery of an ambulance in 2016 and the repair of three ambulances last year, in addition to the support with facilities for their training”.
  • Fresnillo plc., supported workshop members of the El Obligado Community in Fresnillo, Zacatecas who make face masks for the population of nearby communities. The workshop workers are also suppliers of face masks for the Directorate of Engineering and Construction Department of Industrias Peñoles (DIC). To date, they have sold around 3,000 masks, the same that meet the specifications dictated by the World Health Organization.

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 magnetite-rich Fe skarn manto in a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Orogenic Gold Vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the twelfth week of the year (March 22th to March 28th, 2021), at least 26 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 4 news published by the media, with seven disclosing deals and corporate issues, seven reporting on resources and development, five announcing financial rounds, five informing on exploration resources, three commenting on Mexican issues, two discussing social issues, and one communicating production and financial results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Americas Gold and Silver announced that its Cosala mine in Sinaloa continue on care and maintenance after a group of individuals blocked illegally their operation since last February 2020. The head of the Tax Administration Service (SAT), Raquel Buenrostro, declared that Mining companies pay only 0.0002% of their income in taxes, however, Fernando Alanís, president of the Mexican Mining Chamber (Camimex), stated that mining in Mexico has higher taxes than those of its direct competitors. Mexico’s rich mining industry has been the basis for the success of the automotive industry for more than 500 years. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Silver Tiger reported results from two holes collared at its El Tigre project. In Chihuahua, Radius completed the phase four drilling at its Amalia project.  In Sinaloa, Kootenay commenced a 3,500m core drilling program at its Copalito project, and Brigadier reported that it has rehabilitated, mapped and sampled over 29 newly discovered historic mine workings in the central part of its Picachos project. In Durango, Mithril provided an update on the exploration activities carried out at its Copalquin property. ON MINING, Impact Silver reported the 2020 full year production and financial results from its Zacualpan mine in the State of Mexico. ON  FINANCING, Empress closed its previously announced bought deal offering for gross proceeds of CAD $15.75M, and also closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $650K (Pinos project, Zacatecas). Fabled commenced to trade on the OTCQB Venture Marketplace under the symbol “FBSGF” (Santa Maria property, Chihuahua). Gold Resource declared March 2021 monthly dividend (Arista mine, Oaxaca). Silver Spruce granted 250K stock options to a consultant of the company with an exercise price of $0.06 per share (El Mezquite project, Sonora). VanGold granted stock options to officers and directors of the company (El Pinguico property, Guanajuato).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Fabled release assay results of hole SM 20-06 from its ongoing 8,000m drilling program on its Santa Maria project at Chihuahua. Golden Minerals announced expansion drilling at its Rodeo project in Durango. GR Silver released assay results from the current core drilling program from its Plomosas property in Sinaloa. Orla provided an update on the construction of its Camino Rojo mine operation in Zacatecas. Sonoro reported results from 20 RC holes drilled at its flagship property Cerro Caliche in Sonora. Torex announced results from the 2020 infill drilling program at its Media Luna property in Guerrero. Zacatecas Silver reported results from the re-sampling of drill core from its Panuco property in Zacatecas.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Agnico announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Pinos Alton mine, Chihuahua). Chesapeake announced the resignation of its Director (Metates property, Durango). GoGold presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Los Ricos project, Jalisco). Inomin completed the 100% acquisition of the La Gitana and the Peña Blanca properties in Oaxaca from Gunpoint. Orogen appointed a new member to its Board of Directors (El Ermitaño, Sonora). Telson engaged RB Milestone Group LLC to provide corporate communications advisory, non-deal roadshow advisory, market intelligence advisory, and business referrals to the management team of the company (Tahuehueto project, Durango). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, AIMMGM Sonora District Ladies Committee recycles to help children with cancer. Peñasquito mine (Newmont) awarded scholarships to students of the Ignacio López Rayón elementary school.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Americas Gold and Silver Corporation announced that its Cosala mine in Sinaloa continue on care and maintenance after a group of individuals including a small minority of the company´s hourly workforce blocked illegally the operation since last February 2020. Americas has participated in a number of meetings and discussions with senior members of the Mexican federal government to regain access to the operations but the last comments made by the Mexican President on March 17, 2020 related to a possible cancelation of the mining concessions are concerning. The company is confident that there is no basis in the fact or in the law that would diminish the company´s property rights.”The company looks forward to continuing to work with the Canadian government, the Mexican Minister of Economy and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in providing the facts, providing solutions and resolving the issues to avoid an arbitration issue between Canada and Mexico. The company looks with optimism to getting our employees back on the job as soon as possible”.
  • The head of the Tax Administration Service (SAT), Raquel Buenrostro, declared that Mining companies pay only 0.0002% of their income in taxes, however, Fernando Alanís, president of the Mexican Mining Chamber (Camimex), stated that mining in Mexico has higher taxes than those of its direct competitors. “Surely the SAT will have its figures, but what the figures tell us is that mining pays taxes and that it has a higher tax rate than any other economic activity in the country and that if a higher tax burden continues to be imposed, mining it will not be attractive in Mexico”. Raquel Buenrostro assured that in order not to raise taxes, the institution that she heads would review the form of payment in the mining sector. In this same theme, figures contained in a study by Price Waterhouse Coopers assure that in Mexico the tax burden for the mining sector is 51.3% of fiscal profit, which places it well above countries such as Canada, Chile, Peru and the United States, which have tax rates of 30 to 39%. In addition, as of this year, the possibility of deducting 50% of the payment of rights on concessions was removed, so the tax rate rose to 52.6%.
  • Mexico’s rich mining industry has been the basis for the success of the automotive industry for more than 500 years. It was stated by Sergio Almazán, president of the Association of Engineers of Mines, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico (AIMMGM). For Francisco Quiroga, former Undersecretary of Mining of the Ministry of Economy, mining has allowed Mexico to extract iron to produce, along with carbon, steel, a key product for automotive manufacturing. Karen Flores, general director of the Mexican Mining Chamber (Camimex), agreed, highlighting that the mining sector contributes 8.3% to the industrial GDP and 2.5% to the national GDP. Mexican auto exports totaled USD $40,495M in 2020.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., reported results from two holes collared at its El Tigre project in Sonora. Hole ET-21-211 collared in the Sooy Vein encountered 0.11 g/t Au, 131 g/t Ag, 0.06% Cu, and 0.44% Pb (156 g/t AgEq) over 14m, including 0.24 g/t Au, 325 g/t Ag, 0.14% Cu, and 1.21% Pb (385 g/t AgEq) over 4.9m, including 0.67 g/t Au,  1,149 g/t Ag, 0.47% Cu, and 4.3% Pb (1,347 g/t AgEq) over 1.4m, while hole ET-21-213 intercepted 0.02 g/t Au, 246 g/t Ag, 0.29% Cu, 0.05% Pb, and 0.05% Zn (279 g/t AgEq) over 8.4m in the Sooy Vein, including 0.05 g/t Au, 1,260 g/t Ag, 1.41% Cu, 0.04% Pb, and 0.25% Zn (1,355 g/t AgEq), and encountered 0.22 g/t Au, 266 g/t Ag, 0.13% Cu, 0.21% Pb, and 0.14% Zn (304 g/t AgEq) over 7.6m in the Sooy Footwall Zone, including  0.12 g/t Au, 808 g/t Ag, 0.35% Cu, 0.45% Pb, and 0.26 % Zn (871 g/t AgEq) over 2.3m, including 0.17 g/t Au, 3,046 g/t Ag, 1.35 % Cu, 1.54% Pb, and 0.86% Zn (3,254 g/t AgEq) over 0.6m.
  • Radius Gold Inc., drilled 4,386m in ten holes to complete the phase four drilling at its Amalia project in Chihuahua, through its JV partner Pan American Silver Corp. Results for holes AMDD20-22 to AMDD21-25 have been previously reported, with results for holes AMDD21-26 to 31 pending. “Geological teams are now conducting detailed mapping and sampling of the El Cuervo extensions and California vein system. New environmental permits have been submitted for drilling of these targets later this year”.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., commenced a 3,500m core drilling program at its Copalito project in Sinaloa, to test continuity and size in zones already identified in a previous drilling campaign, as well as to test other undrilled target areas in the property.
  • Brigadier Gold Limited reported that it has rehabilitated, mapped and sampled over 29 newly discovered historic mine workings in the central part of its Picachos project in Sinaloa, near the intersection of the ENE trending Cocolmeca Vein system and northwesterly trending El Placer system. The underground workings are concentrated in two areas named El Cobre and El Placer Norte. Sampling results are pending.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd., provided an update on the exploration activities carried out at its Copalquin property, Durango. Hole CDH-054, collared at La Soledad target returned 10.36 g/t Au and 81 g/t Ag over 4.88m, extending the high-grade mineralization further to the west and down dip. The company also reported that a total of 697 soil samples collected at Los Pinos/El Indio, Los Reyes, Refugio and Zaragoza target areas were analyzed with the XRF analyzer identified strong silver anomalies in the district, with values ranging from less than detection (approximately 2 ppm) to 154 ppm Ag. Samples were considered anomalous at or above 5 ppm Ag. Anomalous silver was identified in all targets. Silver is considered to be a good indicator for hidden veins or portions of known veins that are better mineralized. The soil samples were shipped to the lab for Au assays. Results are pending.

ON MINING

  • Impact Silver Corp., reported the 2020 full year production and financial results from its Zacualpan mine in the State of Mexico. The company milled 140,069 tonnes of 172 g/t Ag to produced 646.5K Oz Ag, at a production cost of $80.82 per tonne produced. Impact reported a net income of $2.3M on $15.6 M in revenue and EBITDA of $2.5 M, and mine operating earnings before amortization and depletion of $3.3M. Cash position at December 31, 2020 was $20.4M and working capital of $20.3M.

ON FINANCING

  • Empress Royalty Corp., closed its previously announced bought deal offering for gross proceeds of CAD $15.75M. In addition to the offering, the company closed a non-brokered private placement by the issue of an additional 1.3M units of the company for gross proceeds of CAD $650K (Pinos project, Zacatecas).
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., commenced to trade on the OTCQB Venture Marketplace under the symbol “FBSGF” (Santa Maria property, Chihuahua).
  • Gold Resource Corporation declared March 2021 monthly dividend. The company will paid on April 23, 2021, one-third of a cent for common share to shareholders (Arista mine, Oaxaca).     
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., granted 250K stock options to a consultant of the company with an exercise price of $0.06 per share and an expiry date of March 23, 2026. The stock options will vest 1/3 on the date of the grant, 1/3 on the first anniversary of the grant and the final 1/3 on the second anniversary of the grant (El Mezquite project, Sonora).
  • VanGold Mining Corp., granted 6.45M stock options, including 3.45M options to officers and directors of the company. The options, which shall vest over a two-year period, are exercisable up to five years from the grant date and have a strike price of $0.51 (El Pinguico property, Guanajuato). 

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., release assay results of hole SM 20-06 from its ongoing 8,000m drilling program on its Santa Maria project at Chihuahua. Hole 6 intersected six silver bearing structures including five new mineralized north-south trending structures. It encountered 0.06 g/t Au and 49 g/t Ag (53 g/t AgEq) over 0.4m; 0.15 g/t Au and 45 g/t Ag (53 g/t AgEq) over 5.4m; 0.15 g/t Au and 43 g/t Ag (48 g/t AgEq) over 5.3m; and 0.15 g/t Au and 37 g/t Ag (45 g/t AgEq) over 14.7m, including 0.19 g/t Au and 55 g/t Ag (65 g/t AgEq) over 3m, including 0.2 g/t Au and 79 g/t Ag (89 g/t AgEq) over 0.9m. Fabled has completed drill holes SM 20-07 – 09 for a total of 2,134 meters of the ongoing 8,000 meter drilled program completed to date. Holes SM20-07 – 09 have been sampled and submitted to lab for analysis.  Hole SM 20-10 is in progress. 
  • Golden Minerals Company announced expansion drilling at its Rodeo project in Durango. The drill program will consist of 2,000m to test targets adjacent to the current pit with the aim to extend the life of the Rodeo mine well beyond the currently estimated life around 2.5 years.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., released assay results from the current core drilling program from its Plomosas property in Sinaloa.  The most significant drill interception was encountered in hole PL121-107 with a shallower intercept of 63 g/t Ag, 0.03 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (73 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 12.9m, including 126 g/t Ag, 0.03 g/t Au, and 0.1% Zn (132 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4.8m, and a deeper intercept of 377 g/t Ag, 0.23 g/t Au, 0.7% Pb, and 1.5% Zn (466 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 13.5m, including 633 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, and 1.5% Zn (726 g7t AgEq) over a TW of 4.5m, including 1,987 g/t Ag, 0.58 g/t Au, 1.9% Pb, and 4% Zn (2,218 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1m.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., provided an update on the construction of its Camino Rojo mine operation in Zacatecas. Orla reported that 94% of the detailed engineering is competed and 93% of the project purchase orders have been made. “Current construction activities include earthworks, installation of the camp and offices, drilling of back-up water wells and site fence erection. Process pond and reclaim tunnel areas are being excavated and foundations are being prepared for the Merrill Crowe plant, crusher, camp, as well as ancillary buildings. The 33-kV power line to site was approved by the Mexican federal electricity commission in 2020 and construction is currently 73% complete. Fabrication of crushing, conveying, and stacking equipment and the Merrill Crowe plant remain on schedule. Process plant equipment began arriving on site in the fourth quarter of 2020. Deliveries thus far include crushing, stacking, conveying equipment and the Merrill Crowe plant as well as heap leach and solution ponds piping and liners”.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp., reported results from 20 RC holes totalling 1,792m drilled at Buena Suerte and Japoneses zones within its flagship property Cerro Caliche in Sonora. Highlights from Buena Suerte area include hole SCR-201 with 0.74 g/t Au over 14m, including 2.09 g/t Au over 1.52m; hole SCR-203 with 0.71 g/t Au over 9m, including 2.04 g/t Au over 1.53m; hole SCR-205 with 0.59 g/t Au over 14m, including 1.53 g/t Au over 1.53m: hole SCR-207 with 0.62 g/t Au over 5m, including 1.3 g/t Au over 1.52m; hole SCR-209 with 0.77 g/t Au over 57m, including 1.79 g/t Au over 1.53m; hole SCR-211 with 4.77 g/t Au over 5m; and hole SCR-219 with 1.43 g/t Au over 16.76m, including 6.47 g/t Au over 1.52m. Highlights from Japoneses area include hole SCR-204 with 1.35 g/t Au over 10.67m, including 6.33 g/t Au over 1.53m; hole SCR-214 with 0.58 g/t Au over 18.29m, including 1.97 g/t Au over 1.52m;  hole SCR-215 with 0.52 g/t Au over 12.2m, hole SCR-218 with 0.5 g/t Au over 22.86m, including 1.95 g/t Au over 1.52m; and hole SCR-220 with 0.53 g/t Au over 22.86m, including 1.84 g/t Au over 1.53m. “Spacing between the Buena Suerte and Japoneses zones has been reduced to approximately 100 meters in the northern extensions indicating the zones may merge with further infill drilling”.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., announced results from the 2020 infill drilling program at its Media Luna property in Guerrero. Aim of the infill drilling program is to upgrade the inferred mineral resources to the indicated category. Highlights include hole ML20-407D with 6.16 g/t Au, 79 g/t Ag, and 3.58% Cu (12.73 g/t AuEq) over a true width (TW) of 13.66m; hole ML20-417D with 11.25 g/t Au, 12 g/t Ag, and 0.64% Cu (12.4 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 11.92M; hole ML20-418D with 5.45 g/t Au, 43 g/t Ag, and 2.48% Cu (9.84 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 22.47m; hole ML20-433D with 9.37 g/t Au, 190 g/t Ag, and 6.6% Cu (22.05 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 14.59m; hole ML20-443D with 9.88 g/t Au, 44 g/t Ag, and 1.72% Cu (13.11 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 13.68m; hole ML20-454D with 9.16 g/t Au, 9 g/t Ag, and 0.85% Cu (10.6 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 16.57m; hole ML20-458D with 5.9 g/t Au, 8.7 g/t Ag, and 0.7% Cu (7.11 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 25.47m; and hole ML20-492DA with 25.46 g/t Au, 36 g/t Ag, and 0.83% Cu (27.21 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 22.95m. The infill drilling conducted to date has increased drill density in specific areas of the resource model to an approximate 30-metre spacing (from an approximate 100-metre spacing). The final, upgraded Mineral resource estimate for Media Luna, due for completion in Q1 2022, is expected to provide for a more robust mine plan in the upcoming Feasibility Study.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., reported results from the re-sampling of drill core from its Panuco property in Zacatecas being undertake with regards to the resource confirmation process.  A 57 kg sample composite of historic Panuco drill core from one of the higher grade shoots has assayed higher than the grade described in the historic resource, with the sample returning assays of 198 g/t AgEq. (146 g/t Ag, 0.30 g/t Au, 0.13% Zn, and 0.42 % Pb). In addition, a 100Kg composite sample of drill core used in the Panuco resource estimation was sent to the lab for benchmark metallurgical work. Panuco has an historic inferred mineral resource of 19,472,901 Oz AgEq (cut-off 100 g/t AgEq.) from 3,954,729 tonnes at 153 g/t AgEq (136 g/t Ag, 0.14 g/t Au, 0.012% Pb, 0.11% Zn).

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Agnico Eagle Mines Limited announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Pinos Altos mine, Chihuahua).
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., announced the resignation of its Director (Metates property, Durango).
  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Los Ricos project, Jalisco).
  • Inomin Mines Inc., completed the 100% acquisition of the La Gitana and the Peña Blanca properties in Oaxaca from Gunpoint Exploration Ltd, by exchanging 1M common shares of the Company, $25K cash, and the grant of a 1.5% NSR payable to Gunpoint on the Pena Blanca property (with an option for Inomin to purchase 0.5% of the NSR at any time for $1M). La Gitana is subject to an existing 3% NSR to a third-party which will be assumed by Inomin.
  • Orogen Royalties Inc., appointed a new member to its Board of Directors (El Ermitaño, Sonora).
  • Telson Mining Corporation engaged RB Milestone Group LLC for twelve months to provide corporate communications advisory, non-deal roadshow advisory, market intelligence advisory, and business referrals to the management team of the company (Tahuehueto project, Durango).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • AIMMGM Sonora District Ladies Committee sent 790 kilos of plastic caps to the association “Banco de Tapitas”, so that the material is recycled and the proceeds are donated to minors suffering from cancer. Banco de Tapitas A.C. operates throughout Mexico on a non-profit basis, collecting plastic caps to recycle them and generate resources to fund treatments, transfers, medicine and comprehensive support mainly for children with cancer, although it extends its help to people up to 21 years of age.
  • Peñasquito mine (Newmont) awarded scholarships to students of the Ignacio López Rayón elementary school. One of the most important achievements for this school, which has 23 students in the Regular Education Support Unit (three of them with a motor disability), is the construction of two functional ramps for those with this type of disability. One was installed at the entrance of the school and one more within the facilities, so that these students can move freely in their place of study and have autonomy in this space.

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

On the picture above, an outcropping Orogenic Au vein in a project in Sonora, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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 Fifth Week of December, 2020.

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Hydrothermal Breccia

By Miguel A Heredia

During the fifty three week of the year (December 28th to January 03rd, 2021), at least 9 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 2 news published by the media, with three announcing financial rounds, two disclosing deals and corporate issues, two reporting on resources and development of their mine operations, two commenting Mexican issues, one informing on exploration results, and one discussing social issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, The economic impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has left in the country has not affected mining companies they grew 50% their market value in the Mexican Stock Exchange. Four mining projects will start operations in Zacatecas in 2021.  ON EXPLORATION, In Zacatecas, Advance Gold released drill results from three holes collared at its Tabasquena project. ON MINING, no relevant information. ON FINANCING, Gold Resource declared December 2020 monthly dividend (Arista mine, Oaxaca). Mexican Gold announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1.4M (Las Minas project, Veracruz). Silver Dollar closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $560K (La Joya project, Durango). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, McEwen presented results of a positive Feasibility Study (FS) for its 100% owned Fenix project in Sinaloa. GoGold provided an outlook for 2021 (Los Ricos project, Jalisco). ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Megastar announced results of its 2020 annual general meeting for shareholders (Yautepec property, Oaxaca). GR Silver and Mako amended an agreement in which the first would acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Marlin Gold Mining Ltd from Mako.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Gold Resource reported a fatality at its Arista mine in Oaxaca.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The economic impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has left in the country, has not affected mining companies since they grew 50% their market value in the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV).  For comparison purposes, at the beginning of the year, the stock market value of the four largest mining companies in the country (Grupo Mexico, Industrias Peñoles, Minera Frisco and Autlan) on the BMV was MXP $524.5 billion and currently stands at around MXP $796.5 billion, according to the stock market data. The foregoing contrasts with the general mining panorama, since according to the Mexican Mining Chamber, it is estimated that investment in exploration will register an annual decrease of approximately 25%, thus reaching its worst level in 14 years. The foregoing, according to the agency, is the result of the pandemic, but also of the lack of certainty on the part of the government, higher tax burdens and delays or denial of permits, since 84 mining projects were postponed last year.
  • Four mining projects will start operations in Zacatecas in 2021:  Camino Rojo, from Orla Mining; Distrito Pinos, from Candelaria Mining, San Nicolás from Teck Resources Limited, and Juanicipio, from Grupo Peñoles.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Advance Gold Corp., released drill results from three holes collared at its Tabasquena project in Zacatecas. Significant drill intersects were encountered in hole AGT-18 with 139 g/t Ag over 4.5m, including 240 g/t Ag over 2.3m; hole AGT-19 with 172 g/t Ag over 1.45m, including 383 g(t Ag over 0.8m, and hole AGT-20 with 40 g/t Ag over 1.2m. The drill program will continue to test a 3,500m long continuous high chargeability induced polarization anomaly.

ON MINING

  • No relevant information.

ON FINANCING

  • Gold Resource Corporation, declared December 2020 monthly dividend and paid one-third of a cent per common share to shareholders (Arista mine, Oaxaca).
  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1.4M (Las Minas project, Veracruz).
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $560K. First Majestic Silver Corp., subscribed for 200,000 shares or $280,000 of the Offering Net proceeds will be used to fund exploration and development work on its projects (La Joya project, Durango).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • McEwen Mining Inc., announced positive results of a Feasibility Study (FS) of its 100% owned Fenix project in Sinaloa. The FS envisions a 9.5 year mine life, and involves two sceneries. Scenery 1 with an after tax IRR of 28% using $1,500/ Oz Au and $17/ Oz Ag; an after tax NPV (8% discount) of $32M; an after tax payback period of 3.2 years, and an average after tax cash flow per year of full production of $12M. Scenery 2 with an after tax IRR of $55% using $1,900/Oz Au and $25/ Oz Ag; an after tax NPV (8% discount) of $98M; an after tax payback period of 2.8 years and an average after tax cash flow per year of production of $25M. The Fenix FS development involves two phases: Phase 1 (years 1-6) with an average annual gold production of 26K Oz Au, $42M initial capex, and cash and AISC costs of $1,035 and $1,042 per Oz Au produced respectively; and phase 2 (years 7-9.5) with an average annual silver production of 4.2M Oz AgEq, $24M incremental capex in year 6, and cash and AISC costs of $14.20 and $14.28 per Oz AgEq produced respectively. Measured and indicated (M+I) resources for the Fenix project are 10M tonnes of 1.6 g/t Ag and 0.59 g/t Au for a total of 518K Oz Ag and 190K Oz Au, and Inferred resources of 0.1M tonnes of 1.64 g/t Ag and 0.66 g/t Au for a total of 7K Oz Ag and 3K Oz Au. For El Gallo Silver, M+I resources are 4.5M tonnes of 133 g/t Ag and 0.12 g/t Au for a total of 19M Oz Ag and 18K Oz Au, and Inferred resources of 0.1M tonnes of 129 g/t Ag and 0.14 g/t Au for a total of 286K Oz Ag and 0.3K Oz Au. M+I combined resources are 14.5M tonnes of 42 g/t Ag and 0.45 g/t Au for a total of 19.5M Oz Ag and 208K Oz Au and Inferred resources of 0.2M tonnes of 46 g/t Ag and 0.48 g/t Au for a total of 293K Oz Ag and 3K Oz Au. The company also reported proven + probable reserves of 10.1M tonnes for the Fenix project with grades of 1.g g/t Ag and 0.58 g/t Au for a total of 517K Oz Ag and 190K Oz Au; proven + probable reserves of 4.4M tonnes for the El Gallo Silver project with grades of 133 g/t Ag and 0.12 g/t Au for a total of 18.7M Oz Ag and 17K Oz Ag. Proven + probable combined reserves are 14.5M tonnes of 41 g/t Ag and 0.44 g/t Au for a total of 19.2M Oz Ag and 207K Oz Au.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., provided an outlook for 2021 and plans to deliver a PEA at Los Ricos South in January; to conduct an aggressive 10,000m drill program at Los Ricos North to test 10 of the more than 100 targets identified to date; and deliver an initial mineral resource at Los Ricos North in the summer of 2021.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Megastar Development Corp., announced results of its 2020 annual general meeting for shareholders (Yautepec property, Oaxaca).
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., and Mako Mining Corp., amended an agreement in which the first would acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Marlin Gold Mining Ltd., and to enter into a definitive agreement on or before December 31, 2020.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Gold Resource Corporation reported a fatality at its Arista mine in Oaxaca. The incident involved a light vehicle in an unauthorized and inactive area of the Arista underground mine. The Company is working with authorities in an ongoing investigation to establish the exact cause of the accident. 

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 hydrothermal breccia in a prospect in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.