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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of November 2022

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 47th week of the year (November 21st to November 27th, 2022), 14 companies working in Mexico released news on their properties. One company declared share dividends, one more the partial repayment of two loan facilities and one more the intention to settle a debt with shares. Four companies updated on work at its advanced properties. One company announced the agreement to pursue an option in another company’s property.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, the AIMMGM pointed that Mexico is a mining country, but that it has neglected to inform of the goods of the trade. Arcelor Mittal announced a significant investment at the Las Truchas iron mine in Michoacan. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Radius Gold informed on work at Maricela. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold updated in work at Amalia and Plata Verde projects, with JV’s partners Pan American Silver and Fresnillo respectively. ON MINING, Discovery Silver, Impact Silver and Guanajuato Silver Company released Q3 2022 production and/or financial results. ON FINANCING, Alamos Gold declared a quarterly dividend per share. Guanajuato Silver Company announced the partial repayment of two loan facilities. Defiance Silver is to settle a $41.9 K debt through the issuance of shares. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Discovery Silver released results from drilling at Cordero, in Chihuahua. GR Silver Mining informed on results from drilling at the SE zone of the San Marcial project in Sinaloa, with an impressive silver intercept of 185.5 m @ 111 gpt Ag. Defiance Silver resumed drilling at the Veta Grande vein system in Zacatecas. Azucar Minerals received results from drilling on the Lithocap target at the El Cobre project in Veracruz. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Vizsla Silver entered into a LOI with Prismo Metals for a strategic investment and right of first refusal for the purchase of Prismo’s Palos Verdes project in Sinaloa.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Andrés Robles Osollo, Vicepresident of government relations of the AIMMGM (Asociación de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México) pointed that México is a mining country, but that the industry has neglected the promotion of the craft and the importance of México on the World production of minerals. México is the leader in silver production, and is within the first ten producers of gold, copper, lead and zinc.
  • Arcelor Mittal announced the investment of 3,000 million pesos at Las Truchas mine in Michoacan, to increase the production rate from 1 M tonnes/year to 2.3 M tonnes/year. The company complained on the illegal blockage of the railroad line for three months in 2021 by a teachers Union, and said that they are working closely with the Michoacan government to keep the rails free of blockades.  

ON EXPLORATION

  • Radius Gold Inc. provided an update on the company’s exploration activities at the 10,250 ha Amalia project, in Chihuahua. The JV with Pan American Silver Corp. has completed 23,059 m of drilling in 67 holes on the California, Amalia and El Cuervo vein systems. Recent mapping and sampling extended the target for 1.5 km at California, and several parallel structures were identified. Pan American “has completed its right to earn an initial 65% interest in the Amalia Project by making cash payments to Radius totalling US$1.5 million (paid) and expending US$2 million on exploration over four years (completed). Pan American may earn an additional 10% by advancing the property to preliminary feasibility”.
  • Radius Gold Inc. informed on work at the Plata Verde project in Chihuahua. Fresnillo PLC has an agreement since mid-2022 to negotiate an option agreement to earn 70% interest in the project. Since then, Fresnillo has funded US$100 K on the signature of the agreement, paid US$65 in underlying property option payments, paid US$103 K in back taxes and invested US$35 K in the project. Fresnillo has to spend over a four-year period US$5 M in exploration and make option payments to Radius of US$3.1 M which includes US$1.1 M to cover underlying property payments. “Should either Party’s interest fall below 10% interest in NewCo that interest would convert to a 2% NSR”.
  • Radius Gold Inc. notified on exploration at its Maricela project in Sonora. The project is 20 km south from the Cananea copper mine, and only a few kilometers from the Loma de Plata silver deposit discovered a few years ago by Azure Minerals. Radius has “mapped and sampled an epithermal silver and gold mineralized vein system extending approximately 1.5km long by 300m wide, within which occurs multiple veins, stockworks and breccias. Vein intersections have exposed widths of up to 25 metres”. Highlighted chip sampling results comprise 3 m @ 4.46 gpt Au, 1,335 gpt Ag; 6 m @ 1.03 gpt Au, 418 gpt Ag; 25.3 m @ 0.31 gpt Au, 62 gpt Ag. Radius is awaiting final registration of the option agreement, as already counts with the drilling permit.

ON MINING

  • Discovery Silver Corp. released financial results for the third quarter 2022. Results from the PFS metallurgical testwork program at Cordero in Chihuahua highlighted recoveries in the 90-95% range for Ag, Pb and Zn. The phase II drilling program of close to 80,000 m of drilling in over 250 holes was completed during the quarter. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments stood at $55.5 M at the end of the period.
  • Impact Silver Corp. announced its financing and operating results for the Q3 2022. During the quarter 39.8 K tonnes were processed at the mill at an average grade of 165 gpt. In response to higher operational costs and lower metal prices, Impact initiated a first round of lay-offs and reduced its exploration spending. “The cash position remains strong at $16.5 million with working capital of $17.6 million”.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. provided consolidated production results for the Q3 2022. The consolidated production from the El Cubo Mines Complex in Guanajuato, San Ignacio in Guanajuato and Topia in Durango during the quarter comprised 107.4 K tonnes mined, 107 K tonnes milled at a rate of 1,274 tonnes per day, recovering 88.5% Ag, 86.3% Au, to produce 329.3 K Oz Ag, 3,226 Oz Au, 537.6 K Lb Pb, 677.1 K Lb Zn (700.3 K Oz AgEq).

ON FINANCING

  • Alamos Gold Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.025 per common share. “The Company has paid dividends for 13 consecutive years during which time $285 million has been returned to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, including $48 million thus far in 2022” (Mulatos, Sonora).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. announced the partial repayment of the two loan/pre-payment facilities with Swiss-based precious metal trading firm OICM Precious Metals S A. “Guanajuato Silver has delivered an aggregate of 96,518 ounces of silver and 846 ounces of gold representing five months’ deliveries of silver and gold ounces to OCIM thereby reducing the total number of monthly delivery payments remaining to OCIM under both facilities to ten” (El Cubo, Guanajuato).
  • Defiance Silver Corp. intends to settle $41.9 K of debt through the issuance of common shares of the company (San Acacio, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Discovery Silver Corp. announced results from 15 drill holes of upgrade and expansion drilling of the proposed open pit, subsequent to the cut-off date for the pre-feasibility study (PFS) on its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 77 m @ 46 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 1.4% Zn; 22 m @ 83 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 1.8% Pb, 3.2% Zn; 96 m @ 33 gpt Ag, 0.03 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 1.8% Zn (including 36 m @ 44 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 0.9% Pb, 3.1% Zn); 43 m @ 62 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 1.4% Pb, 1.7% Zn; 52 m @49 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.7% Zn. “The Company has now completed approximately 17,000 m (52 holes) as part of its Feasibility Study drill program”. Total meters drilled in the project now is over 293,000 m in 735 holes.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. released surface drilling results from four holes on the Southeast Area of the San Marcial project in Sinaloa. Highlighted core length results comprise 14.1 m @ 186 gpt Ag (including 0.2 m @ 6,405 gpt Ag, 10.1% Pb, 17.9% Zn); 73.5 m @ 72 gpt Ag (including 1.1 m @ 905 gpt Ag and 0.8 m @ 1,039 gpt Ag); 185.5 m @ 111 gpt Ag (including 83.2 m @ 215 gpt Ag); 1.0 m @ 31.3 gpt Au. “The Company expects to complete three more drill holes in the SE Area prior to the December cut-off date for data to be incorporated into the 3D geological model, with the updated resource estimation expected to be released in Q1|2023”.
  • Defiance Silver Corp. resumed drilling at the Veta Grande vein system at the Zacatecas project in Zacatecas. “The approximate 4000m program is an extension of the previous phases of drilling, all of which returned high grades down plunge and outside of the current resource estimate”. Drilling is to focus on the recently discovered deep historic working to the East, down plunge of high-grade results below the current resource estimate, the footwall vein north of the main Veta Grande structure and the cross structures and vein splays with mineralization potential.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. received and compiled results from two holes completed at the Lithocap target at its El Cobre project in Veracruz. “Large intervals of brecciated rock were intersected possibly reflecting a diatreme like body that may have disrupted any earlier porphyry alteration zonation in this area”. No significant intervals of porphyry mineralization were intersected, with the most relevant result being a late sulfide vein which returned 0.7 m @ 0.95% Cu, 0.42 gpt Au.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Vizsla Silver Corp. entered into a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with Prismo Metals Inc. to make a strategic investment with right for first refusal to Purchase the Palos Verdes property, adjacent to Vizsla’s Panuco project in Sinaloa, and 4 M shares of Prismo for C$2 M. “The consideration for the Strategic Investment will consist of a cash payment of C$500,000 at closing and 1,000,000 common shares of Vizsla”. After completion of the deal VIZSLA will own 12% of Prismo shares on a basic basis and 17% on a partially diluted basis.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Vizsla Silver Corp. exceeded one million consecutive work hours without a lost time incident at its Panuco project in Sinaloa.
  • Discovery Silver Corp. released its environmental, social and governance report (ESG) “and subsequent to quarter end received its official ESR Distinction, which is issued by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy to organizations that have demonstrated they operate in a socially and environmentally responsible manner, and its Great Place to Work Certification, which recognizes companies that create an outstanding employee experience through building a workplace culture of trust, credibility, respect, pride and collaboration” (Cordero project, Chihuahua).
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. released its inaugural Climate Change Report with emphasis in carbon emission reduction, and confirmed having received the permitting from SEMARNAT (Environmental regulator) for construction of an 8.7 megawatt solar plant on its mining concessions and the awarding of a contract for battery electric vehicle scoop fleet at its Media Luna project in Guerrero.

On the image below puzzling boudin like siliceous bands in limestone on a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of November, 2022.

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Fault Plane showing slickensides

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 44th week of the year (October 31st to November 06th, 2022), at least 21 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 2 news published by the media with six reporting resources and developments of their properties, six disclosing deals and corporate issues, five informing on exploration results, three commenting on Mexican issues, two announcing financing issues, and one communicating production and financial issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Canadian government has told its Mexican counterpart that it is concerned about the investment climate in Mexico’s energy and mining sectors. The President of Mexico, Andres Manuel López Obrador stated that the rescue efforts of the bodies of 10 miners who were trapped in the El Pinabete mine, in Sabinas, Coahuila, were suspended due to a change of supplier. GoGold, GR Silver, Pan American Silver, and Southern Silver reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of November, 2022. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Ranchero Gold provided an exploration update on its Daniela project, and Reyna Gold announced results from its on-going, district-scale exploration program at its La Gloria property. In Sinaloa, Prismo signed a definitive surface agreement with the Francisco Villa Ejido and commenced drill permitting for its Los Pavitos project. In Jalisco, Almadex mobilised an exploration team to commence a follow-up drill program at its San Pedro project. In Coahuila, Monumental provided an update of its currently on-going exploration program at its Jemi project. ON MINING, Capstone reported Q3, 2022 production and financial results from its Cozamine mine in Zacatecas. ON FINANCING, Kootenay increased its previously announced private placement from $4M to $4.35M, and granted an option to Red Cloud Securities Inc, to offer for sale an additional 15% of the number of units of the company at a price of $0.09 per unit (Columba project, Chihuahua). Xali Gold received advance net profits interest payment from Sun River Gold for the El Orito Tailings project in the State of Mexico.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Sonoro Gold announced that it has engaged SRK to prepare an NI43-101 compliant updated Mineral Resource Estimate for its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. GoGold reported results from the second set of drill holes collared at the newly acquired Eagle concession on the Los Ricos South property in Jalisco. GR Silver released results from 38 infill drill holes in the resource update program underway at its Plomosas mine area in Sinaloa. Osisko provided an operational update on its San Antonio Gold project in Sonora. Pan American release results from 45 new infill and exploration drill holes collared at its La Colorada Skarn project in Zacatecas. Southern Silver announced results from its final 4 drill holes at its Cerro Las Minitas, Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Silverton Metals announced that its Board of Directors approved a change of the company’s name to Lodestar Battery Metals Corp (Peñasco Quemado project, Sonora). Ranchero Gold appointed its interim CEO and CFO (Santa Daniela project, Sonora). Pan American and Agnico delivered definitive binding offer to acquire Yamana. Sierra Madre entered into an amendment and restated the share purchase agreement with First Majestic in respect of the previously announced acquisition of La Guitarra mine in the State of Mexico.  Sierra Metals received letter of intent from Compañía Minera Kolpa for a proposed business combination. Xali Gold increased its ownership in the San Dieguito de Arriba plant in Nayarit from 30% to 50% by issuing 4,125,758 shares at a price of $0.066 to Magellan.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • The Canadian government has told its Mexican counterpart that it is concerned about the investment climate in Mexico’s energy and mining sectors. Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development of Canada, expressed this position to Raquel Buenrostro, Secretary of the Economy of Mexico. Minister Ng reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to advance in the implementation of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC) and to continue with the work carried out within the framework of initiatives such as the Economic Dialogue of Canada-Mexico High Level to deepen bilateral business, trade and investment ties and support inclusive and resilient economic growth. Two-way merchandise trade between the two countries was USD $41.7 billion in 2021. Mexico is Canada’s third-largest merchandise trading partner in a single country (after the United States and China).
  • The President of Mexico, Andres Manuel López Obrador stated that the rescue efforts of the bodies of 10 miners who were trapped in the El Pinabete mine, in Sabinas, Coahuila, were suspended due to a change of supplier, but will be resumed.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., , GR Silver Mining Ltd.,  Pan American Silver Corp.,  and Southern Silver Exploration Corp., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of November. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Ranchero Gold Corp., provided an exploration update on its Daniela project in Sonora. The company reported that it has completed the follow-up work of the nine priority targets previously identified at the property. Ranchero Gold stated that the San Francisco, Carboneras Sur, Carboneras Este, Rincón, and Moritas Este targets have shown evidence of gold mineralization, related alteration and lithologies known to host significant gold deposits in the district. “Subsequent field efforts currently underway will include detailed mapping, systematic sampling and drone-based magnetic surveys designed to identify potential mineralized host rocks below surface”.
  • Reyna Gold Corp., announced results from its on-going, district-scale exploration program at its La Gloria property in Sonora. The company identified multiple mineralized zones with high grade gold, silver, and copper that align with major geophysical anomalies, silica alterations, and structural controls on the property. Highlights of the 8 rock sampling collected at La Republicana Zone returned values from 4.03 g/t Au up to 56.90 g/t Au; 7 samples ranging from 13 g/t Ag up to 47 g/t Ag; and 2 samples with 0.2% Pb and 0.5% Pb, with a single assay of 2.41% Cu. At Las Carmelitas zone, 7 rock samples returned 3 values of 0.11 g/t Au, 0.33 g/t Au, and 10.52 g/t Au; 5 samples ranging from 67 g/t Ag up to 116 g/t Ag; and 6 samples ranging from 1.53% up to 2.25% Cu. At Western Zone, 7 rock samples returned values from 2.51 g/t Au up to 16.60 g/t Au; 2 samples with values of 21g/t Ag and 249 g/t Ag; and a single sample with 1.15% Cu, 3.4% Zn, 1.3% Pb, 0.1 g/t Au, and 27 g/t Ag. At El Sombrero Zone, 7 samples returned gold values ranging from 1.1 g/t Au up to 23.6 g/t Au; 4 samples ranging from 149 g/t Ag up to 733 g/t Ag; 4 samples ranging from 0.68% up to 3.60% Cu; 4 samples ranging from 0.2% Pb up to 1.4% Pb, and 4 samples ranging from 0.1%Zn to 0.2% Zn. The company is presently conducting an IP survey at four target zones: La Republicana, Western, Las Carmelitas, and Main Zone. After completion of the IP geophysical survey, drilling will recommence in this area focused on La Republicana, Western, Las Carmelitas and Main Zone targets.
  • Prismo Metals Inc., signed a definitive surface agreement with the Francisco Villa Ejido, the surface owners over the Los Pavitos project in Sinaloa. This agreement is for two years and allows Prismo to carry out exploration work including drilling. The company has commenced drill permitting planned to begin in early 2023. Meanwhile, Prismo will continue with the geological mapping and sampling program to cover the remaining area to identify drill targets.
  • Almadex Minerals Ltd., mobilised an exploration team to commence a follow-up drill program at its San Pedro project in Jalisco. The drill program will target a recently identified structural trend associated with float rock of vein material, soil anomalies and old mining workings, where channel sampling has encountered 0.02 g/t Au and 138 g/t Ag over an interval of 6.8m, and 3.7 g/t Au and 168 g/t Ag over an interval of 4.2m. A total of 14 grab and chip samples collected on this trend averaged 0.6 g/t Au and 180 g/t Ag.
  • Monumental Minerals Corp., provided an update of its currently on-going exploration program at its Jemi project in Coahuila, which consists of detailed geological mapping, regional stream sediment sampling, ground radiometric geophysical surveys, and litho geochemistry. To date, the stream sediment sampling program, consisting of 47 samples has been completed. It returned 5 samples with values greater than 7.8 ppm dysprosium (Dy), 65.3 ppm neodymium (Nd); and up to 14.1 ppm Dy and 160 ppm Nd, defining four general areas of interest along the west and south portions of the company’s concessions, of which two are associated with known HREE mineralized (eudialyte bearing) peralkaline rock (Jemi Dyke Area and Veladora North). The remaining two areas with anomalous Dy and Nd concentrations were previously unrecognized as being prospective (Zone 2 and Zone 4). Follow-up exploration work to identify the source of the high REEs at these two areas will be undertaken during the current field program for quick delineation.

ON MINING

  • Capstone Copper Corp., reported Q3, 2022 production and financial results from its Cozamine mine in Zacatecas. The company mined 3,829 tonnes per day with an average grade of 1.86% and metallurgical recovery of 96.8%, to produce 36.74 M Lb Cu at a cash cost of USD $1.20 per Lb produced.

ON FINANCING

  • Kootenay Silver Inc., increased its previously announced private placement from $4M to $4.35M, and granted an option to Red Cloud Securities Inc, to offer for sale an additional 15% of the number of units of the company at a price of $0.09 per unit. If the offer for sale from Red Cloud is exercised in full, the total gross proceeds to the company will be $5M (Columba project, Chihuahua).
  • Xali Gold Corp., received advance net profits interest (NPI) payment from Sun River Gold, LLC for the El Orito Tailings project in the State of Mexico. Sun River has started making advance NPI payments of USD $15K per month to Xali Gold as part of the second extension agreement on the El Oro Tailings project, in El Oro, State of Mexico. Advanced NPI payments of USD $50K per month will be paid by Sun River once commercial production is reached (or first concentrate is produced or dore gold is poured) and during the first year of operation, after which normal 5% NPI payments are to be made.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Sonoro Gold Corp., announced that it has engaged SRK Consulting Inc., to prepare an NI43-101 compliant updated Mineral Resource Estimate for its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. This updated Mineral Resource Estimate is to include an additional 7,200m of drilling completed in May 2022 which returned multiple higher grade gold intercepts and expanded several known mineralized gold zones within the concession.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., reported results from the second set of drill holes collared at the newly acquired Eagle concession on the Los Ricos South property in Jalisco. Highlights of the drilling include hole LRGAG-22-035 with 1.64 g/t Au and 265 g/t Ag (5.17 g/t AuEq or 387 g/t AgEq) over 110.6m, including 11.31 g/t Au and 2,198 g/t Ag (40.62 g/t AuEq or 3,047 g/t AgEq) over 11.5m, including 30.24 g/t Au and 6,392 g/t Ag (115.48 g/t AuEq or 8,661 g/t AgEq) over 3.5m, including 63.24 g/t Au and 12,729 g/t Ag (232.96 g/t AuEq or 17,472 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m, including 104.50 g/t Au and 13,742 g/t Ag (287.73 g/t AuEq or 21,580 g/t AgEq) over 0.90m; and hole LRGAG-22-032 with 1.36 g/t Au and 108 g/t Ag (2.79 g/t AuEq or 210 g/t AgEq) over 65.8m, including 2.96 g/t Au and 217 g/t Ag (5.85 g/t AuEq or 439 g/t AgEq) over 28.1m, including 7.17 g/t Au and 1,013 g/t Ag (20.68 g/t AuEq or 1,551 g/t AgEq) over 4.3m, including 25 g/t Au and 3,020 g/t Ag (65.27 g/t AuEq or 4,895 g/t AgEq) over 0.6m. “Mapping and geophysics indicate the Eagle structure extending in excess of 2.5km to the northwest, at which point it continues onto the Company’s previously owned Jamaica concessions”. “The Eagle concession connects the Company’s concessions held in the southern portion of its Los Ricos South project, including the Main area where the Initial Resource was released, to its northern concessions in Los Ricos South, which includes the Jamaica exploration target.  As a result, all of the concessions in Los Ricos South are now contiguous”. This offers the potential for an additional bulk tonnage target in Los Ricos South, with continuity from the Main Area and Eagle.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., released results from 38 infill drill holes in the resource update program underway at its Plomosas mine area in Sinaloa. Highlights of the drilling include hole PLI22-38 with 301 g/t Ag, 0.41 g/t Au, 1.6% Pb, and 2.1% Zn (471 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 15.9m, including 856 g/t Ag, 0.70 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, and 2.3% Zn (1,052 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 3.9m; hole PL!22-23 with 268 g/t Ag, 1 g/t Au, 2.4% Pb, 1.7% Zn, and 0.2% Cu (518 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 36.5m, including 626 g/t Ag, 0.03 g/t Au, 1% Pb, 0.6% Zn, and 0.1% Cu (684 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4.9m, plus 1028 g/t Ag, 5.11g/t Au, 8.3% Pb, 7% Zn, and 0.9% Cu (2,101 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 5.9m, including 2,667 g/t Ag, 1.27 g/t Au, 12.2% Pb, 6.9% Zn, and 0.3% Cu (3,431 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.2m; hole PLI22-24 with 1,159 g/t Ag, 0.53 g/t Au, 1.4% Pb, 1% Zn, and 0.8% Cu (1,354 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.20m, plus 135 g/t Ag, 0.39 g/t Au, 4% Pb, 1.7% Zn, and 0.2% Cu (365 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 7.1m, including 292 g/t Ag, 0.13 g/t Au, 3.1% Pb, 1.3% Zn, and 0.1% Cu (453 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2m; hole PLI22-25 with 629 g/t Ag, 0.56 g/t Au, 9.2% Pb, 4% Zn, and 0.4% Cu (1,146 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 11.4m, including 1,791 g/t Ag, 0.23 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, 1.4% Zn, and 0.1% Cu (1,917 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.4m; hole LP122-27 with 109 g/t Ag, 0.91 g/t Au, 3.5% Pb, 1.7% Zn, and 0.1% Cu (371 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 7.2m, including 212 g/t Ag, 2.74 g/t Au, 10.9% Pb, 4.1% Zn, and 0.22 % Cu (961 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.1; hole PLI22-30 with 344 g/t Ag, 0.04 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn, and 0.1% Cu (370 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1m, plus 2,251 g/t Ag, 0.12 g/t Au, 1.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn, and 0.6% Cu (2,365 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.5m, plus 1,697 g/t Ag, 0.21 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn, and 0.6% Cu (1,792 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.1m, plus 134 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 0.6% Pb, 2.7% Zn, and 0.1% Cu (273 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 3m, including 328 g/t Ag, 0.08 g/t Au, 1.1% Pb, 5% Zn, and 0.2% Cu (576 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.9m; hole PLIP22-30 with 69 g/t Ag, 2.67 g/t Au, 0.1% b, 0.2% Zn, and 0.2% Cu (353 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 10.8m, including 227 g/t Ag, 5.39 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn, and 0.4% Cu (809 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.2m, plus 219 g/t Ag, 40.18 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, and 1% Cu (4,074 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.5m; and hole PLIP22-42 with 40 g/t Ag, 0.9 g/t Au, 10.5% Pb, 9.8% Zn, and 0.4% Cu (852 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 6.5m. “GR Silver Mining’s infill drilling program is continuing in the Plomosas Mine Area, and to date has added 105 holes (7,330 m) of new drilling inside the historic Plomosas Mine since completion of the Company’s 2021 NI 43-101 mineral resource estimation”.
  • Osisko Development Corp., provided an operational update on its San Antonio Gold project in Sonora. The company reported that 1.1M tonnes of 0.58 g/t Au and 0.25 g/t Ag have been placed on the heap leach pad for an estimated total of 20,090 oz of Au and 8,818 oz of Ag. Osisko also reported that 10,149 Oz Au and 3,516 Oz Ag at recoveries to the end of the third quarter of 2022 of 50.5% for gold and 39.9% for silver total production have been produced from the heap leach pad as of October 27, 2022, of which 7,350 Oz Au were sold.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., release results from 45 new infill and exploration drill holes collared at its La Colorada Skarn project in Zacatecas. Highlights of the drilling are shown in the table below:

With the inclusion of these new drill holes, this area has been expanded to measure approximately 200 metres in diameter and up to 250 metres vertically.

  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., announced results from its final 4 drill holes on the North Felsite-North Skarn targets at its Cerro Las Minitas, Durango. Highlights of the drilling include hole 22CLM-194 with 140 g/t Ag, 0.04 g/t Au, 0.01% Cu, 1.9% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (212 g/t AgEq or 5.2% ZnEq) over a true width (TW) of 2.3m, plus 386 g/t Ag, 0.17 g/t Au, 0.25% Cu, 6% Pb, and 4.7% Zn (827 g/t AgEq or 20.1% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.7m, plus 336 g/t Ag, 0.14 g/t Au, 0.16% Cu, 6.5% Pb, and 4.7% Zn (780 g/t AgEq or 18.9% ZnEq) over a TW of 2.6m, including 746 g/t Ag, 0.09 g/t Au, 0.12% Cu, 17.1% Pb, and 13.2% Zn (1,904 g/t AgEq or 46.3% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.6m; and hole 22CLM-193 with 124 g/t Ag, 0.02 g/t Au, 0.03% Cu, 1.4% Pb, and 0.4% Zn (195 g/t AgEq or 4.7% ZnEq) over a TW of 5.6m, including 219 g/t Ag, 0.02 g/t Au, 0.04% Cu, 2.5% Pb, and 0.6% Zn (333 g/t AgEq or 8.1% ZnEq) over a TW of 3m. “Drilling on these targets, which started in September 2021, has now tested a 400 metre strike-length of mineralization which wraps around the eastern and northern perimeter of the Central Intrusion and links previously identified mineralization in the Mina La Bocona and Skarn Front deposits. Twenty-five holes totaling 11,275 metres were completed in the two target areas to depths of up to 450 metres below surface”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Silverton Metals Corp., announced that its Board of Directors approved a change of the company’s name to Lodestar Battery Metals Corp., to better reflects the company’s focus on exploration and development of lithium and silver projects (Peñasco Quemado project, Sonora).
  • Ranchero Gold Corp., made the appointments of its interim CEO and CFO (Santa Daniela project, Sonora).
  • Pan American Silver Corp. and Agnico Eagle Limited delivered definitive binding offer to acquire Yamana Gold Inc. Pan American would acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Yamana, and Yamana would sell certain subsidiaries and partnerships which hold Yamana´s interest in its Canadian assets to Agnico Eagle, including the Canadian Malartic mine. “The consideration consists of 153,539,579 common shares in the capital of Pan American (“Pan American Shares”); USD$1.0 billion in cash contributed by Agnico Eagle; and 36,089,907 common shares in the capital of Agnico Eagle (“Agnico Eagle Shares”). Under the Binding Offer, each Yamana Share would be exchanged for approximately USD$1.04 in cash, 0.1598 Pan American Shares and 0.0376 Agnico Eagle Shares, for an aggregate value of USD$5.02 per Yamana Share based on the closing price of each Pan American Share and Agnico Eagle Share on November 3, 2022. The Binding Offer is not subject to any financing condition or additional due diligence”.
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd., entered into an amendment and restated the share purchase agreement with First Majestic Silver Corp., in respect of the previously announced acquisition of La Guitarra mine in the State of Mexico. The amendment states that (a) the 2% net smelter return royalty on La Guitarra will now be granted by Compañía Minera La Guitarra S.A. de C.V., to First Majestic prior to closing of the transaction, rather than rather than concurrently with closing as previously anticipated; and (b) certain governmental approvals will be required prior to closing of the transaction. All other material terms of the transaction remain unchanged. The company expects to complete the transaction by the end of 2022.
  • Sierra Metals Inc., received letter of intent from Compañía Minera Kolpa S.A. for a proposed business combination. A Special Committee of the independent members of Sierra Metals´ Board of Directors is exploring, reviewing and considering financing, restructuring and strategic options in the best interest of Sierra Metals.
  • Xali Gold Corp., increased its ownership in the San Dieguito de Arriba (SDA) plant in Nayarit from 30% to 50% by issuing 4,125,758 shares at a price of $0.066 to Magellan. The company also informed that has received interest from third parties desiring to enter into JV in the SDA plant and near-surface high grade mineralization near the plant.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No relevant news.

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

On the picture above, a fault plane from an intermediate-sulphidation epithermal Au-Ag-Pb-Zn vein system in a project in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

Mexico’s Best Drilling Intercepts, First Week of November 2022

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This week’s best intercepts were to be dominated by the long good-grade gold-silver intercepts of GoGold Resources on the Eagle zone of the Los Ricos South project in Jalisco…… if not by the release by Pan american Silver of lengthy intercepts of zinc-lead-silver-copper at its La Colorada Skarn deposit in Zacatecas, which is steadily confirming the presence of a World Class Mineral Deposit. Los Ricos South and the Plomosas mine, in Sinaloa, projects represent both intermediate sulfidation epithermal systems in veins and stockwork zones, while La Colorada Skarn and Cerro Las Minitas intercepts represent skarn systems.

At Los Ricos South the best intercept comprises 110.60 m @ 1.64 gpt Au, 265 gpt Ag, including a high grade zone of 11.50 m @ 11.35 gpt Au, 2,198 gpt Ag, whilst at Plomosas, in Sinaloa, the best intercept comprised 36.50 m @ 1.00 gpt Au, 268 gpt Ag, similar grades but lesser thickness, although true width and not core length as the former. Some of the core intervals at La Colorada Skarn are high-grade in silver, like the 58.30 m @ 417 gpt Ag, although far from representative of the overall grade. At Cerro Las Minitas, in Durango, the best intercept silver intercept is 1.90 m @ 599 gpt Ag, interesting, but obscured by the shadow of La Colorada Skarn, Los Ricos South and Plomosas and Plomosas silver results.

Base metals best drilling intercepts are dominated by those from La Colorada Skarn (LCS), as even a tenth of its length at those grades in lead and zinc would be considered a good intercept. The best lead intercepts from LCS comprise 58.30 m @ 11.95% Pb and 92.95 m @ 7.01% Pb, those of Plomosas 11.40 m @ 9.20% Pb and 36.50 m @ 2.40% Pb; and 1.90 m @ 16.90% Zn at Cerro Las Minitas. For zinc the results are not that different, with 197.50 m @ 7.21% Zn, 194.45 m @ 4.26% Zn and 90.85 m @ 9.08% Zn at LCS, 16.90 m @ 4.80% Zn and 6.50 m @ 6.80% Zn at Plomosas and 1.90 m @ 10.20% Zn at Cerro Las Minitas. Copper intercepts made it to this list not by the grade, but for the length of the intercepts at LCS, with 194.45 m @ 0.21% Cu and 197.50 @ 0.09% Cu.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of October, 2022.

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Banded Quartz

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 40th week of the year (October 03rd to October 09th, 2022), at least 20 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 4 news published by the media with seven reporting resources and developments of their properties, four announcing financing issues, four discussing social issues, three informing on exploration results, two communicating production and financial results, two commenting on Mexican issues, and two discussing deals and corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Discoveries Mining Conference 2022 was held in Hermosillo, Sonora on October 4-6, 2022. The Governor of Guerrero, Evelyn Salgado announced the reinstatement of the State Mining Council and confirmed that Acapulco will host the 35th edition of the Mining Convention in 2023. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Canuc reported that recent work at its San Javier project has identified eight targets within four distinct mineralized zones.  In Durango, Orex announced the completion of the Phase-1 reconnaissance exploration drilling program on its Sandra project.  In Oaxaca, Vortex provided an update of the exploration work completed to date at its Riqueza Marina project.  ON MINING, Bear Creek presented Q3, 2022 production results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. Guanajuato Silver provided an update highlighting the impact of additional production from the Topia and San Ignacio mines in Durango and Guanajuato states respectively. ON FINANCING, Advance Lithium closed a previously announced private placement financing for gross proceeds of $75K (Sarape project, Sonora). Capitan Mining announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $3M (Cruz de Plata project, Durango). Guanajuato Silver has arranged to issue 2,468,750 common shares of the company in settlement of outstanding accounts payable and accrued liabilities to various parties totaling approximately CAD $987K (Pinguico mine, Guanajuato).  Barksdale announced that Teck Resources has elected to exercise its pro-rata equity participation rights for gross proceeds of $264K (San Javier project, Sonora).   ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Azucar Minerals completed second hole into the large porphyry lithocap target at its El Cobre project in Veracruz. Gatos Silver provided updates on its Cerro Los Gatos Mineral Resources, Mineral Reserves, and Life of Mine. Minera Alamos announced positive results of an independent Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for its Cerro de Oro project in Zacatecas. Oroco announced that, based on drill results, expanded the North Zone mineralization, and confirmed higher grade at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa.  Tarachi Gold received final metallurgy results for its Magistral Mill and Tailings project in Durango. Torex received key environmental permit for its Media Luna project in Guerrero. Prime Meridian provided an update on its La Verde project in Michoacan. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Starcore announced results of its annual general meeting of shareholders (San Martin mine, Queretaro). Riverside regained 100% control of the La Union project in Sonora after Hochschild announced its decision to not to proceed with the option. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Peñoles and Fresnillo Plc work together for an appropriate and healthy habitat. Peñoles and Fresnillo Plc were awarded with a distinction in Ethics and Values ​​of the Industry 2022. GoGold presented its second annual sustainability report that sets out the company´s performance and achievements with respect to its environmental, social, and governance practices. MAG Silver announced the publication of its inaugural Sustainability Report.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Discoveries Mining Conference 2022 was held in Hermosillo, Sonora on October 4-6, 2022, and included more than 50 talks covering topics ranging from the latest geological discoveries, new technologies applied to mining and exploration, social, legal and political issues affecting the industry, and the challenges and obstacles confronted and overcome on the way to production.
  • The Governor of Guerrero, Evelyn Salgado announced the reinstatement of the State Mining Council and confirmed that Acapulco will host the 35th edition of the Mining Convention in 2023. She also recognized this industry, which each year leaves an approximate spill of MXP $3,400M. The Governor pointed out that the mining sector is one of the main economic activities in Guerrero, which has a presence in 29 municipalities in the Central, Tierra Caliente and North regions of the state, with an important gold production that places the entity in the first places. She stressed that the mining industry in Guerrero generates more than 4,500 direct jobs and more than 22,000 indirect jobs, with an economic benefit of more than MXP $3,400M, which translates into development and well-being, for which she urged that the Mining Council in Guerrero, be a space for dialogue and consensus that allows the construction of shared strategies and programs hand in hand with the various sectors with a comprehensive perspective seeking the development of Guerrero. In addition, she declared that Guerrero is the state of the country with the largest investment announced for this year for more than USD $1,327M for new mining projects, estimating growth with a favorable environment.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Canuc Resources Corporation reported that recent work at its San Javier project in Sonora has identified eight targets within four distinct mineralized zones, which now merit-follow-up work. At the Silver Zone, about additional 100 soils samples were collected to better define a strong Ag and Au anomaly. Now, the Ag soils anomaly is 750m in strike length with values up to 21 g/t Ag and 1.65 g/t Au, and remains open in both the southwest and northeast direction. Recent prospecting and rock sampling (10 samples) on the northeast end of this zone, approximately 400m of the soil survey has returned Ag values from 38 g/t Ag to 1,533 g/t Ag associated to magnetite veins which daylight near the margins of a magnetic high. Additionally, seven samples were collected near old artisanal workings and assayed from 27g/t Ag to 604 g/t Ag and from 0.1 g/t Au to 1.2 g/t Au. More sampling is planned throughout this area. At the Gold Zone South and Gold Zone Central, the company collected 1,829 channel samples from 11 bulldozed trenches. All the trenches contain elevated Au values ranging from 0.2 g/t Au to 40 g/t Au. At the South Gold Zone, two targets measuring 300m to 400m in diameter have been outlined. Sampling on one of those called La Cascada returned 0.16 g/t Au and 0.48% Cu over a width of 13m, while the other called Loma Pelona assayed 0.59 g/t Au and 0.47% Cu over a width of 10.5m. The Central Gold Zone contains 3 distinct targets measuring 300 to 400m in diameter. La Mesa target includes elevated Au values ranging from trace to 1.42 g/t Au. One section returned 0.28 g/t Au over 16m. At La Curva target the trenching sampling returned 0.45 g/t Au over 6m; 0.48 g/t Au over 4m; and 0.45 g/t Au over 4m. At La Quebrada target, trenching sampling returned 0.68 g/t Au over a width of 14m. Six channel samples collected over a an area of 100mlong by 50m wide, located approximately 80m southeast of the trench area, returned an average grade of 3.09 g/t Au, ranging from 0.018 g/t Au to 11.4 g/t Au. At the North Zone, a target called Chapoteados was prospected and sampled on an area of  600m long by 200m wide. Twenty two samples were taken and contained an average grade of 0.38% Cu, 0.3 g/t Au, and 4 g/t Ag. A second target called Arroyo Hondo, located 800m northeast of the Chapoteados target also was sampled. Twenty five samples collected on an area of 300m by 100m averaged 15 g/t Ag, (ranging from trace to 145 g/t Ag), 0.14 g/t Au, (ranging from  0.01 g/t Au to 1.19 g/t Au), and 220 ppm Cu, (ranging from 20 ppm to 0.38% Cu).
  • Orex Minerals Inc., announced the completion of the Phase-1 reconnaissance exploration drilling program on its Sandra project in northwest Durango. Sandra project is a JV agreement between Pan American Silver Corp., (60%) and Orex Minerals (40%). Phase-1 consisted of 2,665.30m in 8 diamond drill holes.  Four holes were drilled on targets in the Central Corridor aand four holes were drilled in the Eastern Corridor. Drilling highlights include hole SA-22-066 collared in the Central Corridor with 1.04 g/t Au over a true width (TW) of 1.53m; and hole SA-22-.073 collared in the Eastern Corridor with 39 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over a TW of 14.5m, including 51 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.,2% Zn  over a TW of 5.1m.
  • Vortex Metals Inc., provided an update of the exploration work completed to date at its Riqueza Marina Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide project in Oaxaca. The company completed a gravity and magnetic survey at the Rhyolite Dome target that produced extensive geophysical anomalies coincident with geochemical anomalies, including the West and East Gossan Areas.   Rock sampling  returned 12 samples with more than 1% Cu, up to 20.2% Cu and an additional 34 samples contain more than 1,000 ppm Cu. Vortex plans to drill this target once the drill permits are secured.

ON MINING

  • Bear Creek Mining Corporation, presented Q3, 2022 production results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. The company mined 128,698 tonnes and processed 148,211 tonnes of 2.45 g/t Au with metallurgical recovery of 95.53% to produce 11,169 Oz Au. Bear Creek sold 12,310 Oz Au. It also reported a gold stream of 2,759 Oz Au.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., provided an update highlighting the impact of additional production from the recently acquired Topia and San Ignacio mines in Durango and Guanajuato states respectively. Guanajuato Silver increased 85% its production from July to August 2022. The company reported that in August, 2022 it mined from the El Cubo & San Ignacio mines in Guanajuato, and Topia mine in Durango 41,372 tonnes and milled 36,948 tonnes to produce 128,780 Oz Ag, 1,091 Oz Au, 348,137 Lb Zn, and 266,881 Lb Pb (267,525 Oz AgEq) with metallurgical recoveries of 88.9%, 85.6%, 81.8%, and 89.5% respectively, at a cash cost of $15.09 per Oz AgEq.

ON FINANCING

  • Advance Lithium Corp., closed a previously announced private placement financing for gross proceeds of $75K. Proceeds will be used to advance the Lithium and Sarape projects, and for general corporate purposes (Sarape project, Sonora).
  • Capitan Mining Inc., announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $3M. It will consists of 15M of common shares at a price of CAD $0.20 per share. Net proceeds will be used to advance drilling and work program at the Cruz de Plata project in Durango, as well as for working capital and general corporate expenses.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., has arranged to issue 2,468,750 common shares of the company at a deemed price of CAD $0.40 per share in settlement of outstanding accounts payable and accrued liabilities to various parties totaling approximately CAD $987K (Pinguico mine, Guanajuato). 
  • Barksdale Resources Corp., announced that Teck Resources Limited has elected to exercise its pro-rata equity participation rights for gross proceeds of $264K. Teck will hold approximately 9.9% of Barksdale’s equity on a partially diluted basis. Net proceeds from the financing will be used to advance the Company’s mineral projects and for general corporate and working capital purposes (San Javier project, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Azucar Minerals Ltd., completed second hole into the large porphyry lithocap target at its El Cobre project in Veracruz. “This hole passed trough typical clay dominant lithocap alteration into phyllic alteration. Large intervals of brecciated rock were intersected possibly reflecting a diatreme like body that may have disrupted any earlier porphyry alteration zonation in this area. Alteration data has been collected from the core using a Terraspec infrared spectrometer along with samples for assay and fluid inclusion analysis. Any future drilling in this area will be guided by the results and interpretation of these analyses from both holes”.
  • Gatos Silver Inc., provided updates on Mineral Resources, Mineral Reserves, and Life of Mine for its Cerro Los Gatos and Esther mines in Chihuahua. Figures are shown in the tables below:

Cerro Los Gatos – Mineral Reserves as at July 1, 2022.

Cerro Los Gatos – Mineral Resources as at July 1, 2022.

Esther – Mineral Resources as at July 1, 2022.

*Mineral Resources are exclusive of Mineral Reserves.

As for the Cerro Los Gatos Life of Mine plan using only the 2022 Mineral Reserves, the company reported that the current reserve mine life continues to 2028; the average annual production of 7.8M Oz Ag will generate an average annual cash flow of USD $79M (after tax) through 2028 at USD $22 per Oz Ag price; an all in sustaining cost (AISC) of  USD $7.06 per Oz of payable Ag, net of by-product credits; an average cost of USD $89.76 per tonne milled ; and a net present value (NVP) at a discount rate of USD $491M(USD $337M after tax).

  • Minera Alamos Inc., announced positive results of an independent Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for its Cerro de Oro project in Zacatecas. Highlights of the PEA include an average annual gold production approaching 60K Oz (approx. 60K-to 70K Oz in years 1 through 4); a 8.2 mine life based on initial mineable total of 59M tonnes of 0.37 g/t Au, heap leached at an average rate of  approximately 20K tonnes per day of over 0.4 g/t Au in years 1 through 4; 477K Oz Au produced in loaded carbon/doré; a  life of mine (LOM) strip ratio of 0.3:1(waste: mineralization); a LOM all included sustaining cost (AISC) of USD $873 per Oz Au , averaging USD $763 per Oz Au in years 1 through 4; an after tax NPV at 5% discount rate of USD $150.5M and an internal rate return (IRR) of USD $111%; a pre-production capital cost of USD $28.1M (includes 30% contingency); a payback period of 11 months; and used crushing plant already purchased to reduce up-front capital requirements. The company also reported an updated mineral resource estimate containing 67M tonnes of 0.37 g/t Au(790K Oz Au contained) based on an upward revision of the base case resource metal price to USD $1,700 per Oz.
  • Oroco Resource Corp., announced that, based on drill results, expanded the North Zone mineralization, and confirmed higher grade at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Extension drilling highlights include hole NO19 with 0.26% and 0.006% Mo over 127.8M, plus 0.21% Cu and 0.008% Mo over 126m; hole   NO21 with 0.34% Cu and 0.008% Mo over 81.4m, plus 0.41% Cu and 0.018% Mo over 32.9M, and hole NO24 with 0.30% Cu and 0.016% Mo over 86.6m, plus 0.22% Cu and 0.007% Mo over 90.1m. High grade drilling highlights include hole NO22 with 0.37% Cu and 0.009% Mo over 152.1m, plus 0.21% Cu and 0.005% Mo over 102m; hole NO23 with 0.31% Cu and 0.005% Mo over 139m, including 0.55% Cu and 0.006% Mo over 56.7m; hole NO25 with 0.40% Cu and 0.004% Mo over 286m; and hole NO26 with 0.6% Cu and 0.01% Mo over 92.2m, plus 0.25% Cu and 0.009% Mo over 69.8m. A total of 35 holes (22,769m of drilling) have now been completed in the North Zone, spanning approximately 1,300m of strike length, with intersections of good grade mineralization returned in all holes for which the company has received assays.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., received final metallurgy results for its Magistral Mill and Tailings project in Durango. Highlights include up to 99% of Cu in solution precipitated into high-grade in sulphidation, acidification, recycling and thickening (SART) concentrate; more gold expected to report to Merrill-Crowe circuit for greater metal value payability compared to assumptions used in Preliminary Economic Assessment; and lower mercury CN-solubility than previously assumed and potential for 2-stage SART process to remove mercury from concentrate.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., received approval from Mexico’s Secretariat of Environmental and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) on the key, culminating environmental permit for its Media Luna project in Guerrero. The approval (MIA Integral) allows for operations to begin at Media Luna and builds on the receipt of the MIA Modification received last year, which allowed for the execution of development activities on the south side of the Balsas River. The Company has also received approval to increase the power draw at site to 45 megawatts.
  • Prime Meridian Resources Corporation provided an update on its La Verde project in Michoacan. The company and the vendor have elected to modify the La Verde project purchase agreement by changing the requirement for two USD $200K option payments due under the current agreement to USD $20K minimum monthly payments. With this modification, the work program expenditures for the next six months are projected as follow: USD $165,600 for monthly options payment; USD $22,434 for La Verde project-mining duties; and USD $262,200 for La Verde project-Phase 1 work program. The Phase 1   program will consist of Structural Mapping / Magnetometer Study; Prospecting / Geochemical Sampling; and 1,200m of Definition Drilling.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., announced results of its annual general meeting of shareholders (San Martin mine, Queretaro).
  • Riverside Resources Inc., regained 100% control of the La Union project in Sonora after Hochschild Mining Corporation announced its decision to not to proceed with the option. Riverside was reimbursed for past taxes and fees with more than USD $500K of new mineral exploration and consolidation work completed to-date as per the option agreement with Hochschild. “Exploration work completed to-date includes extensive field mapping, sampling, and geochemistry. The newly mapped and sampled areas show alteration features typical of CRD targets and particularly the gossan oxidation of potential sulfide bodies at shallow depths (<100m) that remain wide open for relatively low-risk, high-potential exploration”. Riverside will integrate all of the data and evaluate new partnership opportunities in the near future.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de and Fresnillo plc., work together for an appropriate and healthy habitat. Both companies have the purpose of contributing to the well-being of the population through sustainable mining practices. Therefore, they recognize the shared responsibility to create, maintain and develop an appropriate habitat for the life of all species, including people. Octavio Alvídrez, CEO of Fresnillo plc., stated that “promoting the urban development of the communities in which we operate, as well as preserving and restoring the biodiversity of the areas surrounding our facilities, is a priority in our management and a constant throughout the life cycle of each of our mining units”.
  • Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de and Fresnillo plc., were awarded with a distinction in Ethics and Values ​​of the Industry 2022 in recognition of their corporate responsibility practices. Both Peñoles and Fresnillo plc have a social impact strategy through various outreach programs and thereby contribute to the well-being of families in the communities where they operate, in addition to promoting values ​​and self-development among their neighbors.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented its second annual sustainability report that sets out the company´s performance and achievements with respect to its environmental, social, and governance practices (ESG). Highlights of this report include 0.006 tCO2 per Oz AgEq produced; 0.004 tCO2e per tonne of ore processed; 9,500 hours of safety and professional development training; awarded the ESR distinction (Empresa Socialmente Responsables – Corporate Social Responsibility); USD $17.1M spent in local purchases, including USD $422K in community investment; and adoption of new policies related to Environment, Human Rights, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Climate Change, and Water Resources.
  • MAG Silver Corp., announced the publication of its inaugural 2021 Sustainability Report. Highlights of this report include zero fatalities at the Juanicipio project and MAG Silver´s exploration projects; a Juanicipio project(one million hours) lost time injury frequency rate  of 10.8 (employees and mine contractors; excluding construction contractors; over 51,000 hours dedicated to safety training in 2021 at the Juanicipio project; risk management system reviewed and updated in 2021 and 2022; a freshwater use ratio of 4% and a renewable power ratio of 84% at the Juanicipio Project while in the construction phase; in 2021, MAG Silver benchmarked current Climate-related risk and opportunities performance with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures; MAG’s 2021 commitment to increase Board and senior management diversity means that currently 38% of MAG’s Board and 40% of MAG’s employees are female; and MAG’s Human Rights Policy and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy were updated and approved, complementing and enhancing pre-existing commitments.

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

On the picture above, banded quartz from an intermediate sulphidation vein system in a project in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of September 2022

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By Jorge Cirett
During the 37th week of the year (September 12th to September 18th, 2022), at least 27 companies working in Mexico released news on their properties. Four companies posted exploration advances on their properties, one on the resumption of activities after an illegal blockade, one updated on its work plan for the rest of 2022 and one more updated on the commissioning of its new mine. One company begun trading on the OTCQB Venture Market, one more is to pay services with shares, one cancelled its public offering due to market conditions and one more closed its private placement raising $264 K. Eleven companies released drilling results, informed on exploration, updated resource estimates, provided metallurgical test results, released historic drill results and about commissioning on their advanced properties. One company sold a mine in care and maintenance, one is awaiting permits for the operation of a processing plant, one is to switch a mining property to exploration and pursue acquisition opportunities, and two more announced the formation of a JV to mine a deposit.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Grupo Mexico’s VP alerted on the risk of insufficient supply of minerals for the energy transition. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Infinitum Copper released drilling results from La Adelita; Tocvan Ventures defined a solid target at El Picacho. In Chihuahua, Golden Minerals released drilling results from Yoquivo; Reyna Silver provided results from surface and underground sampling at Batopilas. ON MINING, Equinox Gold informed on the termination of an illegal blockade at Los Filos. Golden Minerals updated on plans for Velardeña, and Rodeo. SilverCrest Metals updated on the commissioning of Las Chispas mine. ON FINANCING, Regency Silver begun trading at the OTCQB Venture Market. Bear Creek Mining had the payment in shares to a service provider approved. Ranchero Gold withdrew the announced public offering due to market conditions. Silver Spruce closed its financing round having raised $264 K.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GR Silver Mining released drilling results from its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Vizsla Silver reported drilling results from the Panuco project in Sinaloa, including one of the highest silver intercepts here recorded. Orla Mining updated on exploration results at the Camino Rojo Sulfides project and exploration on regional targets in Zacatecas. Americas Gold and Silver updated on resources and exploration at its Cosalá property in Sinaloa. Chesapeake Gold informed on metallurgical test results from Metates, in Durango. Guanajuato Silver Company released historic drill hole results from the Valenciana complex in Guanajuato. Mag Silver updated on the commissioning of Juanicipio in Zacatecas Silver Tiger released results from drilling at El Tigre, in Sonora, and on rehabilitation of underground workings. Torex Gold released drilling results from ELG Underground in Guerrero. Pan American Silver provided an updated resource estimate on the La Colorada Skarn deposit in Zacatecas. GoGold Resources released drilling results on Los Ricos North, in Jalisco. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Endeavour Silver entered into an agreement to sell El Compas property in Zacatecas to a Mexican company. Xali Gold informed Sun River Gold is about to receive the permit for the processing of tailing at El Oro, in Estado de Mexico. Excellon Resources is evaluating the creation of a spin-out company to pursue acquisitions and looking for partners to explore the Platosa property in Durango. Teck Resources and Agnico Eagle Mines reached an agreement to form a JV to mine the San Nicolás VMS deposit in Zacatecas. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
·        Xavier García de Quevedo, V.P. of Grupo Mexico, alerted about the risks on the energy transition if the mining industry does not rise its production of minerals. The race to zero emissions is augmenting the demand for lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite for the elaboration of batteries, as well of copper, aluminum, zinc, silicon and rare earths for electricity transmission and renewable energy generation. He pointed out that the time frame to obtain environmental permits, land acquisition, water usage permitting, resolution of social conflicts, community development and human capital are founding stones for the future development of mining.
ON EXPLORATION
·        Golden Minerals Co. reported assay results from 15 holes on the third drill program at Yoquivo, in Chihuahua. “Drilling was designed to follow up on high-grade intercepts reported in earlier drill campaigns and to explore the Pertenencia vein system with sufficient drill density to enable a maiden resource estimate in Q1 2023”. Highlighted true width (tw) intervals comprise 4.4 m @ 1.58 gpt Au, 205 gpt Ag; 5.6 m @ 0.83 gpt Au, 110 gpt Ag; 3.7 m @ 2.53 gpt Au, 379 gpt Ag; 24.8 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 66 gpt Ag; 2.1 m @ 6.70 gpt Au, 339 gpt Ag. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 3.7 m @ 4.49 gpt Au, 767 gpt Ag; 9.3 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 209 gpt Ag; 1.7 m @ 2.72 gpt Au, 646 gpt Ag; 4.6 m @ 11.42 gpt Au, 155 gpt Ag.
·        Infinitum Copper Corp. released results from two drill holes at La Adelita, in Sonora. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 20.60 m @ 1.91% Cu, 2.00 gpt Au, 41 gpt Ag; 9.15 m @ 0.14% Cu in the Cerro Grande zone. “The mineralization consists of chalcopyrite, bornite and covellite …….. The magnetite content is estimated to vary from 15% to 75% over the 20.60 m length and iron values average 24%”.
·        Tocvan Ventures Corp. completed the compilation and surface evaluation of the San Ramon prospect within El Picacho project in Sonora. “The target area currently consists of a 500-meter by 500-meter area focused around historic workings trending south along the contact of a regional fault”. Historic sampling at one old working returned an average of 3.6 gpt Au in nine samples and an average of 5.0 gpt Au in 23 samples on a second old working. Three historic reconnaissance holes returned 59.3 m @ 0.2 gpt Au: 39.0 m @ 0.2 gpt Au; 15.0 m @ 0.1 gpt Au.
·        Reyna Silver Corp. provided results from surface and underground sampling from Batopilas in Chihuahua. The 2021 and 2022 work has outlined two gold zones, the East Belt and the Teodoro Gold zone, and better defined the high-grade Silver Zone (that made the district famous with its hypogene native silver) with 300 to 1,500 m extensions to the veins. Six percent of 1,458 samples returned 199 to 14,170 gpt Ag and more than 10% between 1.1 to 32.6 gpt Au. Two geochemical distinct gold events have been recognized to be superimposed on earlier silver. Highlighted results comprise 0.6 gpt Au, 14,170 gpt Ag; 0.1 gpt Au, 3,120 gpt Ag; 32.6 gpt Au, 16 gpt Ag; 30.6 gpt Au, 16 gpt Ag; 22.9 gpt Au, 22 gpt Ag; 16.4 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag; 8.8 gpt Au, 91 gpt Ag; 19 gpt Au, 2,090 gpt Ag. “a new district-scale magneto-telluric (MT) geophysical survey and a detailed structural reanalysis….. will be combined to define targets for the next round of drilling”.   
ON MINING
·        Equinox Gold Corp. reported that after a meeting with Mezcala community leaders, the illegal blockade at the Los Filos mine in Guerrero was removed and operations were resumed.
·        Golden Minerals Co. announced that “Further review of the results from the Company’s test-mining activities at Velardeña (Durango) over the summer and a review of the mine plans have led Golden to the decision to undertake a development and exploration drill program at Velardeña prior to proposing the restart of mining”. At Rodeo, in Durango, Golden maintains its production guidance for 2022 of 12 to 14 K Oz Au and 42 to 47 K Oz Ag.
·        SilverCrest Metals Inc. provided an update on the commissioning of Las Chispas mine in Sonora. Daily throughput and metallurgical recoveries are trending ahead of projections with actual average recoveries of 96.2% Au, 85.6% Ag and 784 tonnes per day (tpd) processing. The project is fully energized by grid power still to achieve complete reliability. Underground mining is ramping up to 600 to 700 tpd (750 tpd design) with continued focus in dilution and recovery. “In 2022, an additional 5.1 km of underground development has been completed at the Mine, bringing the total to 22.6 km. In-vein drifting represents 5.5 km of this total. A total of 109,000 tonnes of ore have been mined from development and stoping activities in 2022 up to the end of August 2022, approximately 9% below the Feasibility Study target”.
ON FINANCING
·        Regency Silver Corp. announced that its common shares have begun trading on the OTCQB Venture Market, a US platform that is operated by the OTC Markets Group in New York (Dios Padre, Sonora).
·        Bear Creek Mining Corp. has received approval for its shares for services with Unison Mining Consulting Pte. Ltd. Bear Creek issued Unison 555 K common shares (Mercedes, Sonora).
·        Ranchero Gold Corp. terminated its marketed public offering due to market conditions. The company is in discussion with investors to fund the continued exploration work that is currently underway at its Santa Daniela gold project and will provide a financing update shortly (Santa Daniela, Sonora).
·        Silver Spruce Resources Inc. announced a second and final closing of its private placement for gross proceeds of $147 K to reach a total of $264 K on the private placement (El Mezquite and Diamante in Sonora).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
·        GR Silver Mining Ltd. released drilling results that are part of the ongoing resource update program at Plomosas, in Sinaloa. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 5.7 m @ 514 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 0.5% Zn (including 1.0 m @ 1,634 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au, 1.2% Pb, 1.0% Zn. 7.3 m @ 55 gpt Ag, 8.66 gpt Au, 2.7% Pb, 6.6% Zn, 0.5% Cu; 5.0 m @ 88 gpt Ag, 0.33 gpt Au, 5.1% Pb, 2.8% Zn, 0.2% Cu; 21.2 m @ 2.1% Pb, 1.3% Zn. “The Company’s underground drilling and mapping program, currently in progress in the Plomosas Mine Area, has identified un-mined zones that will be incorporated into the upcoming resource estimate.
·        Vizsla Silver Corp. reported results from nine holes from the Copala structure at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width (TW) intervals comprise 10.20 m @ 1,404 gpt Ag, 10.94 gpt Au (including 0.38 m @ 23,058 gpt Ag, 205.0 gpt Au); 7.31 m @ 743 gpt Ag, 2.59 gpt Au (including 1.01 m @ 3,560 gpt Ag, 8.60 gpt Au); 14.24 m @ 632 gpt Ag, 4.30 gpt Au (including 0.71 m @ 1,575 gpt Ag, 11.00 gpt Au and 1.07 m @ 3,510 gpt Ag, 22.80 gpt Au). “The drilling in the northwestern portion of Copala has traced mineralization along approximately 1,000 metres of strike length and approximately 400 metres down dip”.
·        Orla Mining Corp. provided an update on the 2022 exploration program. Phase 2 drilling continues at Camino Rojo Sulfides, with highlighted core length intercepts of 41.5 m @ 2.56 gpt Au; 52.5 m @ 3.08 gpt Au; 61.2 m @ 1.95 gpt Au; 36.60 m @ 3.20 gpt Au; 27.0 m @ 2.13 gpt Au. Orla expects the new drilling to support a new underground development scenario. Reverse circulation drilling on regional exploration targets is to continue through the second half of 2022. The 2022 exploration budget for Mexico was $10 M.
·        Americas Gold and Silver Corp. informed the measured and indicated resources are almost unchanged year-over-year at Cosalá, in Sinaloa. “The Company recently reinterpreted historic geophysical information and, after incorporating new data from an IP survey completed this summer, has identified seven major IP/Mag anomaly trends on property near San Rafael and EC120.  A 17‐hole drill program is planned to test this area”.
·        Chesapeake Gold Corp. provided a metallurgical update for its Metates project in Durango. Samples of ½” material stored for several years were subject to oxidation and then leached with a standard lime cyanide solution for 90 days with recoveries of almost 60% Au and just over 50% Ag. Further tests of new material with no pre-oxidation returned 35% Au, 20% Ag, but when subjected to oxidation, the oxidation rate was slower than at the first test. A second round of testing is underway, including “crushing finer to ¼”, using High Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGR) to crush finer, different reagent strengths, different pH’s, on/off irrigation, and varying air addition rates”.
·        Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. provided an exploration update emphasizing historical drill hole data from the Valenciana mines complex in Guanajuato, which “encompasses approximately 4.2 km of strike length along the Veta Madre regional fault structure”. Highlighted true width intervals comprise 1.54 m @ 4.94 gpt Au, 658 gpt Ag; 6.16 m @ 0.97 gpt Au, 140 gpt Ag; 3.07 m @ 2.86 gpt Au, 367 gpt Ag; 12.49 m @ 1.6 gpt Au, 213 gpt Ag; 8.42 m @ 2.84 gpt Au, 389 gpt Ag; 0.62 m @ 14.38 gpt Au, 1,565 gpt Ag; 2.01 m @ 5.0 gpt Au, 866 gpt Ag; 5.25 m @ 0.95 gpt Au, 145 gpt Ag; 1.24 m @ 2.97 gpt Au, 101 gpt Ag.

·        Mag Silver Corp. informed it has been notified by Fresnillo PLC, operator of the Juanicipio project JV in Zacatecas, that the connection of the processing plant installations to the national grid is being tested under caution to protect the grid from undue fluctuations. “The Fresnillo project team indicates that power for final commissioning and start of operations should be available by the end of October, and that production ramp up will commence in Q4 of this year”.

·        Silver Tiger Metals Inc. released drilling results from El Tigre project in Sonora. Highlighted core length results comprise 8.1 m @ 554 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, 0.92% Cu, 2.5% Pb, 3.6% Zn (including 2.0 m @ 1,270 gpt Ag, 0.2 gpt Au, 1.66% Cu, 2.8% Pb, 4.3% Zn);  0.5 m @ 2,010 gpt Ag, 0.27 gpt Au, 2.51% Cu, 1.5% Pb, 5.0% Zn; 1.1 m @ 3,096 gpt Ag, 1.79 gpt Au, 0.68% Cu, 1.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 0.6 m @ 3,097 gpt Ag, 2.47 gpt Au, 0.32% Cu, 1.0% Pb, 0.8% Zn. Silver Tiger “contracted Cominvi, a Mexican underground contract mining and development company to rehabilitate the Historic El Tigre Mine. Cominvi are progressing well in the underground rehabilitation of the Historic El Tigre Mine and have already completed over 400 meters of rehabilitation in Level 7, which was the main portal to the mine”.

·        Torex Gold Inc. reported assay results from the drill program at El Limón Guajes (ELG) underground mine in Guerrero, including the Sub-Sill and El Limón Deep zones. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 17.5 m @ 16.96 gpt Au; 9.7 m @ 16.87 gpt Au, 0.22% Cu; 11.7 m @ 10.39 gpt Au; 5.5 m @ 13.49 gpt Au, 8 gpt Ag, 0.22% Cu; 8.2 m @ 8.52 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag, 1.69% Cu; 5.0 m @ 10.37 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag, 0.51% Cu; 12.5 m @ 5.48 gpt Au, 0.15% Cu; 21.3 m @ 7.18 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag, 0.77% Cu; 9.7 m @ 10.01 gpt Au, 11 gpt Ag, 0.30% Cu; 8.9 m @ 7.66 gpt Au, 0.12% Cu; 12.1 m @ 7.65 gpt Au, 0.40% Cu; 5.1 m @ 9.72 gpt Au, 0.15% Cu. The drilling budget for ELG Underground is $6 M for 27,000 meters. For Media Luna, a total of $19 M is budgeted for 64,000 m of infill, step-out and initial infill drill program at the adjacent EPO deposit. An additional $9 M is budgeted for 28,500 m of drilling across the broader land package and further $5 M for ore control and definition drilling in the ELG open pit and underground. “The ELG mining complex…. is hosted in the Mesozoic carbonate-rich Morelos Platform, which has been intruded by Paleocene granodiorite stocks, sills, and dikes. Skarn-hosted gold mineralization is developed along the contacts of the intrusive rocks and the enclosing carbonate-rich sedimentary rocks…. The style of mineralization at Sub-Sill South is like Sub-Sill and ELD, and is characterized by gold, which is strongly associated with bismuth and variable amounts of silver and copper. Gold occurs in variably sulfidized, pyrrhotite-rich skarn, while silver and copper mineralization is controlled primarily by the degree of sulfidation of the host skarn. Mineralization is associated with retrograde alteration characterized by the occurrence of phlogopite, amphibole, chlorite, calcite and lesser amounts of quartz and epidote, and local magnetite”.

·        Pan American Silver Corp. released an updated mineral resource estimate for its La Colorada Skarn deposit in Zacatecas. The estimated indicated mineral resource totals 95.9 M tonnes containing 94.4 M Oz Ag, 2.7 M tonnes Zn, 1.2 M tonnes Pb, with the estimated inferred mineral resource totaling 147.8 M tonnes containing 132.9 M Oz Ag, 3.4 M tonnes Zn, 1.5 M tonnes Pb. A total of 234,000 m of drilling have been completed to date on the deposit. “The polymetallic skarn mineralisation is concentrated in three zones, which cover an area of 1,500 metres by 1,100 metres laterally, and a depth of between 600 metres and 1,900 metres below surface…. The deposit is oriented in a north-northwest to south-southeast direction and is below the currently active Candelaria mine workings.

·        GoGold Resources Inc. released results from 21 holes at El Nayar and Gran Cabrera areas within Los Ricos North property in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 10.5 m @ 0.18 gpt Au, 61 gpt Ag; 5.3 m @ 0.38 gpt Au, 66 gpt Ag; 0.9 m @ 6.66 gpt Au; 9.3 m @ 0.15 gpt Au, 89 gpt Ag; 18.2 m @ 1.54 gpt Au, 125 gpt Ag at El Nayar, and 60.10 m @ 45 gpt Ag; 18.0 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 105 gpt Ag; 18.0 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 62 gpt Ag; 9.6 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 74 gpt Ag; 6.8 m @ 0.31 gpt Au, 78 gpt Ag; 8.7 m @ 0.23 gpt Au, 128 gpt Ag; 4.1 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 200 gpt Ag; 30.7 m @ 64 gpt Ag; 17.3 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 118 gpt Ag (including 1.6 m @ 1.28 gpt Au, 809 gpt Ag). “The Gran Cabrera mega-system contains stockworks, breccia hosted ore bodies, and large vein feeder sub-systems…”. Dozens of historical underground workings are present along an E-W trending structure over 1,700 m along strike with widths extending more than 20 m. El Nayar consists of multiple subvertical veins and stockwork mineralization and limited historical workings.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
·        Endeavour Silver Corp. entered into an agreement with Grupo ROSOGO S.A. de C.V. to sell a 100% interest on the El Compas property and the lease on the La Plata processing plant in Zacatecas. ROSOGO is to pay Endeavour $5 M cash over five years, with an initial payment of $250 K. Installment payments of $500 K will be made every six months other than the third payment, which will be $750 K.
·        Xali Gold Corp. informed Sun River Gold expects to receive the permit for tailings removal at El Oro, in Estado de Mexico, within a month. Sun River is also working on a permit to install and operate a reprocessing plant outside of El Oro town. “Xali Gold is to receive a 5% Net Profits Interest as well as the first US$1.5M due to the Municipality of El Oro from SRG’s El Oro tailings operations”. In Nayarit Xali is in negotiations to partner with a local Mexican mining group to operate the San Dieguito de Arriba plant and explore nearby mining properties. At El Dorado in Nayarit the company is in the process to obtain the drilling permit. The Cocula property in Jalisco exploration agreement has been terminated.
·        Excellon Resources Inc. provided a corporate update stating the evaluation of a spin-out exploration company, the pursue of acquisitions opportunities with emphasis in Mexico and exploring partnership opportunities to take Platosa in Durango from production to an interesting exploration prospect.
·        Teck Resources Ltd. and Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. announced an agreement under which Agnico Eagle is to gain 50% interest in the San Nicolás project in Zacatecas. “Teck and Agnico Eagle will become 50/50 joint venture partners at San Nicolás”. Agnico Eagle is to buy US$580 M in shares of a Teck subsidiary. These proceeds will be used for study and development costs, and the contributions made as the costs are incurred, with no up-front payment by Agnico and funding for the first two years estimated at US$50 M. “post-closing costs with subsequent funding to be contributed according to each partner’s ownership percentage”.  San Nicolás is the largest undeveloped volcanic hosted massive sulfide deposit in Mexico, estimated to contain 105.2 M tonnes of proven and probable mineral reserves averaging 1.12% Cu, 1.48% Zn, 0.4 gpt Au, 22 gpt Ag. The development capital costs are estimated to be in the range of US$1,000 M to US$1,100 M, for an open pit operation with a 15 year mine life.    
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
·        No Relevant News.
On the image below: Bladed calcite casts in an epithermal quartz vein in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of July, 2022. 

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Hydrothermal breccia cemented by Manganese Oxides

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 28th week of the year (July 11th to July 17th, 2022), at least 21 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with six communicating production and financial results, five disclosing deals and corporate issues, five reporting resources and developments of their properties, two announcing financing issues, one informing on exploration results, one commenting on Mexican issues, and one discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mammoth Resources, Discovery Silver, GR Silver, and Oroco reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of July, 2022.  ON EXPLORATION, In Chihuahua, Mammoth released results from 4 holes drilled at its Tenoriba project.  ON MINING, GoGold reported Q2, 2022 production results from its Parral Tailings project, Chihuahua. Fortuna Silver announced Q2, 2022 production results from its San Jose mine, Oaxaca. Gatos Silver reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua. Orla announced Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas. Torex Gold reported Q2, 2022 production results from its El Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero. Golden announced Q2, 2022 production results from its Rodeo mine in Durango.  ON FINANCING, Monarca announced that it will be extending the exercise period of a total of 55,900,000 share purchase warrants, all of which are exercisable at $0.075 per share (San Jose project, Chihuahua). Excellon announced that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) accepted its plan to regain compliance with the continued listing standards of the NYSE American Company Guide (La Platosa mine, Durango). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GR Silver released first assay results from the 2022 resource expansion drill program being conducted at its San Marcial project, Sinaloa. Discovery Silver reported results of 22 holes from its phase 2 drill program from its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Bear Creek provided and operational and exploration update on its Mercedes mine, Sonora. Oroco released results from 14 holes drilled at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa.  Tarachi provided an update on the progress of its Magistral Mil and Tailings project in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Silverton announced the appointment of its new CFO, and the resignation and new replacement of its Director (Pluton project, Durango). Excellon announced the appointment of its new President and CEO (La Platosa mine, Durango).  Fresnillo plc and Radius signed an exclusivity agreement on Plata Verde project, Chihuahua to earn a 70% interest in the project. Sierra Madre reported results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (La Tigra project, Nayarit). SilverCrest announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Las Chispas project, Sonora).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Aura released its 2021 sustainability report (Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas).

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Mammoth Resources, Discovery Silver, GR Silver, and Oroco reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of July, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Mammoth Resources Corp., provided results from 4 drill holes completed, for a total of 320.7m, at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. The most significant drill intercept were encountered in hole TEN-21-14 drilled at the Moreno Zone with 0.32 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag (0.40 g/t AuEq) over 9m; hole TEN-21-15 drilled at Carneritos Zone with 0.52 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag (0.63 g/t AuEq) over 30m, including 0.85 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag (1.02 g/t AuEq) over 6m, including 0.86 g/t Au and 26 g/t Ag (1.21 g/t AuEq) over 3m; hole TEN 21-16 drilled at Carneritos Zone with 0.6 g/t Au and 1 g/t Ag (0.61 g/t AuEq) over 12m, and 0.44 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag (0.47 g/t AuEq) over 85.7m, including 0.92 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag (0.97 g/t AuEq) over 6m; and hole TEN-21-17 drilled at Carneritos Zone with 0.6 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag (0.64 g/t AuEq) over 33m, including 1.06 g/t Au and 1 g/t Ag (1.07 g/t AuEq) over 9m. To date, the company has drilled 2,234.6m in 17 holes.

ON MINING

  • GoGold Resources Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production results from its Parral Tailings project, Chihuahua. The company produced 315,632 Oz Ag, 3,170 Oz Au, and 268,800 Lb Cu (575,301 Oz AgEq).
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., announced Q2, 2022 production results from its San Jose mine, Oaxaca. The company milled 251,945 tonnes of 187 g/t Ag and 1.13 g/t Au, with metallurgical recoveries of 91-33% and 90.5% respectively, to produce 1.38M Oz Ag and 8.3K Oz Au.
  • Gatos Silver Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua. The company milled 211,350 tonnes of 374 g/t Ag, 0.38 g/t Au, 2.8% Pb, and 5% Zn, with metallurgical recoveries of 90.4%, 48.9%, 90.5%, and 66.4% respectively, to produce 2.3M Oz Ag, 1.27K Oz Au, 11.8M Lb Pb, and 15.6M Lb Zn. Gatos Silver paid its first dividend of $20M to its partners in April 2022, and expects to receive another dividend in Q3, 2022. It also reported a cash balance of $450M as of June 30, 2022.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., announced Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas. The company mined 2,038,831 tonnes of 0.71 g/t Au consisting of 1,657,327 tonnes of ore processed with an average grade of 0.8 g/t Au and 381, 504 tonnes of low grade ore-stockpiled with an average grade of 0.33 g/t Au. In Q2, 2022 Orla produced 25,672 Oz Au, and provided gold production guidance for the full year 2022 of 90K-100K Oz Au. Orla reported a cash balance of $66.7M at June, 2022.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production results from its El Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero. The company produced 123,180 Oz Au and sold 123,360 Oz Au, and is firmly on track to deliver on full year production guidance of 430K – 470K Oz Au.
  • Golden Minerals Company announced Q2, 2022 production results from its Rodeo mine in Durango. The company mined 213,925 tonnes of 2.6 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 75.1% and 82.3% respectively to produce 3,004 Oz Au and 12,678 Oz Ag (3,158 Oz AuEq). Golden sold in doré 3,060 Oz Au and 13,180 Oz Ag (3,219 Oz AuEq).

ON FINANCING

  • Monarca Minerals Inc., announced that it will be extending the exercise period of a total of 55,900,000 share purchase warrants, all of which are exercisable at $0.075 per share. The Warrants were issued pursuant to a private placement which closed on August 20, 2020. The Company proposes to extend the expiry by one year, and accordingly, the new expiry date for the Warrants will be August 20, 2023 (San Jose project, Chihuahua).
  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) accepted its plan to regain compliance with the continued listing standards of the NYSE American Company Guide related to insufficient stockholders’ equity. Excellon submitted its plan on May 31, 2022, and has been granted a plan period through October 30, 2023 (La Platosa mine, Durango).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., released first assay results from the 2022 resource expansion drill program being conducted at its San Marcial project, Sinaloa. Drilling highlights include hole SMSP22-003 with 547 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over a true width (TW) of 15.2m, including 1,179 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over a TW of 2m; hole SMSP22-012 with 324 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over a TW of 14.9m, including 1,541 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over a TW of 1m; hole SMSP22-02 with 128 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over a TW of 14m; and hole SMSP22-10 with 193 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over a TW of 7.1m, including 921 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over a TW of 2m.
  • Discovery Silver Corp., reported results of 22 holes from its phase 2 drill program from its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Drilling highlights include holes C22-610 with 115 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 3.7% Pb, and 4.1% Zn (388 g/t AgEq) over 32.6m, including 187 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 6.5% Pb, and 7.2% Zn (660 g/t AgEq) over 17.8m, and 55 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, and 1.6% Zn (147 g/t AgEq) over 15.7m; hole C22-605 with 89 g/t Ag, 0.13 g/t Au, 1.8% Pb, and 3% Zn (265 g/t AgEq) over 38.6m, including 137 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 2.8% Pb, and 3.8% Zn (380 g/t AgEq) over 22.3m; hole C22-596 with 49 g/t Ag, 0.06 g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, and 2.5% Zn (184 g/t AgEq) over 60.3m, and 21 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (70 g/t AgEq) over 36.4m; and hole C22-609 with 104 g/t Ag, 0.14 g/t Au, 3.2% Pb, and 4.4% Zn (375 g/t AgEq) over 4.9m, and 35 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, and 1.4% Zn (115 g/t AgEq) over 17.7m, and 64 g/t Ag, 0.06 g/t Au, 1% Pb, and 1.4% Zn (150 g/t AgEq) over 33.1m. “The current set of results is focused on expansion of the open pit and the resource in the northeast of the deposit and will be incorporated in a resource update and Pre-Feasibility Study scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of this year”.
  • Bear Creek Mining Corporation provided and operational and exploration update on its Mercedes mine, Sonora since its acquisition on last April, 2022.  The company has implemented operating strategies to improve Mercedes’ annual gold production and to initiate an aggressive exploration program. Bear Creek increased development work which resulted in having 15 working faces available, doubling the historical average of work areas. On exploration, the company is conducting Greenfield exploration at San Martin, Diluvio Scout, Margarita, and Neo Zones, where highly prospective structure related to Mercedes mine extend beneath post mineral cover. Drilling highlights include hole L22-652D drilled at Margarita Zone with 6.7 g/t Au and 68 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 2.2m; hole L22-649D drilled at Margarita Zone with 4.34 g/t Au and 53 g/t Ag over a TW of 1m; hole L22-655D drilled a Neo Zone with 2.44 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.2m; and hole L22-659D drilled at Neo Zone with 4.43 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.3m, and 2.98 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over a TW of 3.3m. To date, a total of 5,166m of RC / diamond have been drilled since the acquisition but additional 3,312m of greenfield exploration drill are planned for the remainder of 2022.
  • Oroco Resource Corporation released results from 14 holes (10,293m) drilled on the North Zone at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. A total of 20 holes have been completed in the North Zone to date. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole N001 with 0.39% Cu, 0.01% Mo, 0.045 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag (0.46% CuEq) over 255m; hole N002 with 0.38% Cu, 0.012% Mo, 0.025 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag (0.44% CuEq) over 280.1m; hole N003 with 0.39% Cu, 0.014% Mo, 0.019 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.45% CuEq) over 207.7m; hole N004 with 0.38% Cu, 0.012% Mo, 0.017 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.44% CuEq) over 63.7m; hole N006 with 0.39% Cu, 0.004% Mo, 0.051 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.44% CuEq) over 188.5m; hole N007 with 0.32% Cu, 0.005% Mo, 0.029 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.37% CuEq) over 191.3m, and 0.32% Cu, 0.012% Mo, 0.018 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.38% CuEq) over 109.9m; hole N008 with 0.38% Cu, 0.01% Mo, 0.038 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.45% CuEq) over 328.3m; hole N009 with 0.76% Cu, 0.011% Mo, 0.021 g/t Au, and 5 g/t Ag (0.82% CuEq) over 32m, and 0.31% Cu, 0.027% Mo, 0.013 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.42% CuEq) over 21.9m, and 0.29% Cu, 0.014% Mo, 0.011 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.35% CuEq) over 123.6m, and 0.45% Cu, 0.016% Mo, 0.022 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.53% CuEq) over 15.2m; hole  N010 with 0.36% Cu, 0.011% Mo, 0.029 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.42% CuEq) over 311m; hole N011 with 0.39% Cu, 0.007% Mo, 0.039 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.45% CuEq) over 230.8m; hole N012 with 0.35% Cu, 0.015% Mo, 0.025 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.42% CuEq) over 296.9m; and hole N013 with 0.27% Cu, 0.009% Mo, 0.023 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.32% CuEq) over 128m, and 0.36% Cu, 0.02% Mo, 0.018 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.45% CuEq) over 95m, and 0.24% Cu, 0.009% Mo, 0.014 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.29% CuEq) over 126m. The 2021-2022 drill program has now spanned 1,100m of strike length along the core of the North Zone mineral deposit at Santo Tomas project.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., provided an update on the progress of its Magistral Mill and Tailings project in Durango. The company reported that the final stages of the metallurgical test work are nearing completion and results are expected to arrive within the next few weeks. It also commented that the design and engineering activities will commence upon receipt of the final metallurgical work. Tarachi´s Board and management are confident that its Magistral Mill and Tailings project will be a high-return, high-margin Au producer with the following metrics from the USD $1600-base price Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA): All in Sustaining Cost (AISC) of USD $705/ Oz Au; After-tax IRR of 85%; and After-tax payback period of 12 months.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Silverton Metals Corp., announced the appointment of its new CFO, and the resignation and new replacement of its Director (Pluton project, Durango). 
  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced the appointment of its new President and CEO, effective July 28, 2022 (La Platosa mine, Durango).
  • Fresnillo plc, through its subsidiary Minera san Julian, and Radius Gold Inc., through its subsidiary Geonorte signed an exclusivity agreement to earn a 70% interest in Plata Verde project, Chihuahua. Fresnillo has to spend over a four year period a minimum cumulative amount of USD $5M on exploration activities at the Plata Verde project and make option payments to Radius totalling USD $3.117M, which include USD $1.117M to cover underlying property agreements to have the right to earn a 70% interest in the property. If the option is exercised, a new company (NewCo) would be set up to own the Plata Verde Project; NewCo would be owned 70% by Minera San Julian and 30% by Geonorte. Should either Party’s interest fall below 10% interest in NewCo that interest would convert to a 2% NSR.
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd., reported results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (La Tigra project, Nayarit).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors effective immediately (Las Chispas project, Sonora).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Aura Minerals Inc., released its 2021 sustainability report. This report underscored the Company’s commitment to being an innovative, safe, responsible, and sustainable mining Company, and highlights initiatives planned across eight Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Pillars (Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas).

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

On the picture above, a quartz hydrothermal breccia cemented by Mn Ox from an epithermal vein system in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of July, 2022

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 27th week of the year (June 4th to July 10th, 2022), at least 26 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, three companies posted exploration advances on their properties, one company poured its first gold and silver, one presented production results for the second quarter. Four companies reported on the opening or closing of financing rounds for a total of US$4.5 M and C$13.3 M, one company reported on a relevant investor share purchase. Five companies posted on work at its advanced properties, one company is to produce a PFS report and one other presented a NI 43-101 compliant report on reserves and resources of its recently acquired mine. One company informed on details of government resolutions on its mining concessions and an incoming indigenous consult.  One more company agreed with the Union representing its workforce on a profit-sharing scheme. The completion of the acquisition of a large silver property was announced.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mining companies on the BMV are resenting the lower prices on metals. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tocvan Ventures released surface sample results from El Picacho. In Chihuahua, Golden Minerals reported drilling results from nine holes at Yoquivo. In Zacatecas, Zacatecas Silver released drilling results at the El Cristo project, within its Zacatecas Silver concessions. ON MINING, SilverCrest Metals reported the first pour of gold and silver on its Las Chispas mine in Sonora. Endeavour Silver presented Q2 production results. ON FINANCING, Sonoro Gold closed its oversubscribed financing for $3 M. Silver Viper Minerals closed the final tranche of the private placement raising $306 K. Guanajuato Silver increased its private placement to C$13.3 M.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Zacatecas Silver is to prepare a PFS on its Esperanza project in Morelos. Bear Creek Mining filed a NI 43-101 compliant report on reserves and resources for its Mercedes mine in Sonora. GoGold Resources released results from drilling at El Favor deposit on its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Vizsla Silver reported drilling results from the San Antonio vein at the Panuco project in Sinaloa. Torex Gold released results from resource expansion and exploratory drilling in the broader Media Luna area in Guerrero. Mithril Resources released drilling results from El Refugio at its Copalquin project in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Almaden Minerals has been notified its Ixtaca mining concessions in Puebla are “ineffective”, but the filing of applications made in conformity with the law. Newmont Corp. reached a profit-sharing agreement with the Union representing the workforce of its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. Endeavour Silver completed the acquisition of the Pitarrilla project in Durango.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Almaden Resources will participate on a pilot program conducted by United Nations Expert Group Resource Management and the Economy Secretariat on sustainable development. Grupo Mexico continues to work on cultural development of mining communities.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mining companies on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (BMV) impacted by lower metal prices. From the start of the year to now, Industrias Peñoles shares have fallen 21.7%, Fresnillo 23.2%, Frisco 16.9% and Grupo Mexico 8.9%. During the year the year gold has depreciated 5.2%, silver 18.2% and copper 21.6%.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. released surface rock sample results from its El Picacho project in Sonora. A total of 65 samples were collected at the Murcielago prospect, of which 14 returned values over 0.1 gpt Au. Selected results from the sampling program comprise 7.19 gpt Au, 36 gpt Ag, 4.3% Pb; 4.52 gpt Au, 197 gpt Ag, 0.17% Cu; 4.8% Pb, 7.1% Zn; 3.25 gpt Au, 66 gpt Ag, 1.6% Pb; 2.71 gpt Au, 25 gpt Ag, 1.9% Zn; 2.71 gpt Au, 12 gpt Ag, 1.6% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 2.18 gpt Au, 15 gpt Ag, 1.3% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 1.50 gpt Au, 176 gpt Ag, 1.2% Zn. The samples are from a brecciated dolomitic limestone unit along a 450 m long trend with historic artisanal workings showing significant lead and zinc mineralization with gold and silver, in Jurassic sedimentary rocks.
  • Golden Minerals Co. reported results from the first nine holes on the third drill program at its Yoquivo project in Chihuahua. Highlighted true width results comprise 80.1 m @ 0.89 gpt Au, 64 gpt Ag (including 8.2 m @ 3.93 gpt Au, 120 gpt Ag; which includes 2.2 m @ 10.21 gpt Au, 139 gpt Ag); 0.4 m @ 30.80 gpt Au, 5,260 gpt Ag; 4.2 m @ 0.16 gpt Au, 229 gpt Ag; 1.7 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 355 gpt Ag. “This most recent drilling has focused on testing the Pertenencia vein system to extend the known mineralized strike length into previously untested areas. The Pertenencia vein has continued to return strong gold-silver grades, and the vein remains open to depth and to the north”.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp. released results from drilling at El Cristo project, on its Zacatecas Silver property in Zacatecas. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 9.53 m @ 167 gpt Ag; 1.45 m @ 11 gpt Ag, 0.18 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.6% Zn; 0.8 m @ 94 gpt Ag; 1.08 m @ 90 gpt Ag; 0.65 m @ 1.2 gpt Au, 565 gpt Ag, 1.3% Pb, 2.7% Zn; 1.2 m @ 134 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 0.2% Zn; 4.36 m @ 48 gpt Ag, 0.19 gpt Au, 1.5% Pb, 2.7% Zn; 0.5 m @ 20 gpt Ag, 0.23 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 17.5% Zn. The epithermal intermediate sulfidation system at El Cristo crops out within a dilational zone that is at least 4 km long and up to 600 m wide.

ON MINING

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. reported the first pour of silver and gold at Las Chispas mine, in Sonora. The plant commissioning is on track to reach its 1,250 tonnes per day capacity. “The plant started in late May 2022 and milled an estimated 12,700 tonnes of low-grade ore during June 2022”.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. presented second quarter production results of 1.36 M Oz Ag, 9,289 Oz Au, or 2.1 M Oz AgEq. At Guanaceví, in Durango, 94 K tonnes were processed at 1,045 tonnes per day (tpd), grading 465 gpt Ag, 1.37 gpt Au, recovering 85.0% Ag, 88.9% Au, to produce 1.19 M Oz Ag, 3,680 Oz Ag. At Bolañitos, in Guanajuato, 107.3 K tonnes were processed at 1,193 tpd, averaging 54 gpt Ag, 1.77 gpt Au, recovering 88.6% Ag, 91.8% Au, to produce 165 K Oz Ag, 5,609 Oz Au. On other developments: Recent drilling has intercepted high-grade gold and silver at Guanceví; Drilling continued to intersect high-grade mineralization on the La Colorada structure at Parral, in Chihuahua; In the coming months the company expects to make a formal construction decision on La Terronera, in Jalisco.    

ON FINANCING

  • Sonoro Gold Corp. closed an oversubscribed non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $3 M (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. approved a non-brokered private placement in July 4, 2022, to raise up to $1.2 M in gross proceeds. On the next day Starcore reported the closing of the placement confirming $1.2 M in gross proceeds (El Creston, Sonora; San Martin, Queretaro).
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. informed that R. Stuart Angus reported the acquisition in June of $485 K in shares of Sonoro Gold, operation after which he owns 9.95 M shares and 8.35 M warrants of the corporation, representing 7.1% of the outstanding shares on a non-diluted basis and 12.4% on a partially diluted basis (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp. closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $306 K (La Virginia, Sonora).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. expanded the size of its previously announced brokered private placement to C$13.3 M with the option to increase the financing an additional 15%. (Topia, Durango; El Cubo, Guanajuato).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Zacatecas Silver Corp. announced the engagement of Palaris Ltd. to lead a pre-feasibility study (PFS) on the Esperanza project in Morelos.
  • Oroco Resource Corp. resumed drilling at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Operations started at the end of federal military operations in the area. “Core logging and assaying have continued during the period of drill stoppage, with an improvement in methods of handling and analysis, thereby better preparing the geological team for an increase in the rate of core processing”.
  • Bear Creek Mining Corp. filed a NI 43-100 compliant technical report on its Mercedes mine, in Sonora. The report provides a mineral reserves and resources estimate to December 31, 2021.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released results from six holes from El Favor East deposit at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 18.8 m @ 0.62 gpt Au, 156 gpt Ag (including 7.4 m @ 1.50 gpt Au, 344 gpt Ag); 11.4 m @ 0.37 gpt Au, 90 gpt Ag; 4.5 m @ 0.27 gpt Au, 76 gpt Ag; 2.8 m @ 0.36 gpt Au, 76 gpt Ag; 2.0 m @ 0.37 gpt Au, 127 gpt Ag; 1.8 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 138 gpt Ag; 2.2 m @ 0.80 gpt Au, 227 gpt Ag; 9.3 m @ 0.64 gpt Au, 155 gpt Ag (including 0.7 m @ 5.23 gpt Au, 1,196 gpt Ag); 0.7 m @ 4.34 gpt Au, 1,295 gpt Ag.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. reported results from seven holes on the San Antonio vein of the Cordon de Oro corridor at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 6.40 m @ 5.76 gpt Au, 621 gpt Ag (including 0.57 m @ 34.2 gpt Au, 2,940 gpt Ag); 6.0 m @ 0.37 gpt Au, 124 gpt Ag; 4.89 m @ 0.60 gpt Au, 122 gpt Ag; 7.50 m @ 1.15 gpt Au, 213 gpt Ag; 3.15 m @ 2.29 gpt Au, 549 gpt Ag; 4.20 m @ 1.19 gpt Au, 202 gpt Ag; 2.0 m @ 4.75 gpt Au, 355 gpt Ag; 2.01 m @ 1.29 gpt Au, 226 gpt Ag.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. released results from resource expansion and exploratory drilling completed in the broader Media Luna area in Guerrero. The work extends mineralization to the south and west of the EPO deposit and identified a potential new zone of mineralization between the Media Luna deposit and the Media Luna West target. Highlighted true width results comprise 9.73 m @ 8.51 gpt Au, 33 gpt Ag, 1.57% Cu; 17.25 m @ 4.18 gpt Au, 25 gpt Ag 1.74% Cu; 35.63 m @ 2.05 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag, 1.05% Cu; 16.48 m @ 8.70 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag, 0.54% Cu; 6.31 m @ 4.00 gpt Au, 19 gpt Ag, 0.78% Cu; 5.10 m @ 2.79 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag, 0.27% Cu. Infill, step-out, exploration, ore control and definition drilling budgeted includes $19 M at Media Luna, $6 M at ELG Underground, $9 M in near mine and regional and $5 M in definition and grade control in the ELG open pit and underground. “The Media Luna deposit is hosted within the Mesozoic carbonate-rich Morelos Platform, which has been intruded by Paleocene stocks, sills, and dykes of granodioritic to tonalitic composition. Skarn-hosted gold-silver-copper mineralization is developed within the sedimentary rocks along the contacts of intrusive rocks as well as within altered dykes of the skarn envelope….Mineralization at Media Luna is hosted in skarn that developed at the contact of the intrusive granodiorite and overlying sedimentary rocks. The skarn is characterized by a mineral assemblage of pyroxene, garnet, and magnetite. Metal deposition and sulfidation occurred during retrograde alteration and is associated with a mineral assemblage comprising amphibole, phlogopite, chlorite, and calcite ± quartz ± epidote as well as variable amounts of magnetite and sulfides, primarily pyrrhotite. Additional mineralization is associated with skarn developed within and along dykes and sills above the main granodiorite intrusion”.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd. released drilling results from deep drilling at El Refugio, at its Copalquin project in Durango. Highlighted core length results comprise 5.67 m @ 4.37 gpt Au, 174 gpt Ag (including 1.67 m @ 9.64 gpt Au, 399 gpt Ag); 1.0 m @ 1.68 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 1.27 gpt Au, 46 gpt Ag; 0.50 m @ 2.13 gpt Au, 118 gpt Ag; 0.90 m @ 1.04 gpt Au, 11 gpt Ag.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. informed the Ministry of Economy has officially notified Almaden that the company’s mining concessions titles relating to the Ixtaca project in Puebla are “ineffective”, but that the title applications were filed in conformity with the law. This is understood to mean that “the mineral title has reverted to application status, and that these applications preserve the mineral rights for Almaden but do not allow the Company to engage in exploration, until such time as Economia completes its court-ordered indigenous consultation in the area covered by the mineral title applications”. Almaden also announced that the environmental permit application will be submitted once the Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) and the indigenous consultation process are finalized.
  • Newmont Corp. announced it has reached a profit-sharing agreement with the Union at its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. Newmont will pay its unionized workforce an uncapped profit-sharing bonus up to 10%, “with an immediate cost equivalent of $70 million, which is representative of the payments related to 2021 results”.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. announced the completion of its acquisition of the Pitarrilla project in Durango. The deal involved the bought of $70 M in shares from Silver Standard Ventures Inc. subsidiary (SSR Durango S.A. de C.V.) and a further 1.25% NSR on Pitarrilla. Endeavour plans to invest $1.8 M for drilling and exploration to verify the historical data and define a current resource in 2022.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. reported the Ixtaca project in Puebla was selected to be included in a pilot project conducted by the United Nations Expert Group Resource Management (UNRMS) in coordination with Mexico’s Ministry of Economy (Secretaría de Economía). The UNRMS “considers a range of socio-economic, technological, and knowledge factors that are important for the sustainable development of each project”.
  • Grupo Mexico continues with its support for cultural development of the mining communities. This week the Orchestras and Choruses from Buenavista and La Caridad made a presentation in Hermosillo, Sonora, along with other cultural institutions and organizations, under the event “El Cobre Hecho Arte”.

On the image below: Weathered monzonite porphyry on a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of June, 2022

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 25th week of the year (June 20th to June 26th, 2022), at least 24 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, four companies posted exploration advances on their properties, there were no relevant news in the mining section, four companies reported on the opening or closing f financing rounds for a total of US$6.4 M and C$5 M, five companies posted on work at its advanced properties. One company announced a LOI on a property, another is on a legal fight for its mining concessions and one more is suing the Mexican government on the cancellation of a project.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Congress released the reform on nationalization of lithium extraction. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Silver Spruce collared the first hole at Diamante; Tocvan Ventures recommenced drilling at Pilar. In Zacatecas, Minera Alamos updated on regional exploration at Melchor Ocampo. In Veracruz, Azucar Minerals commenced a second hole on a new target at El Cobre. ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, Sonoro Gold increased its financing round to $2.4 M; Fabled Silver it to raise up to $1 M; Heliostar Metals is carrying a financing round to raise $3 M; Reyna Silver closed its non-brokered placement raising C$5 M.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Alamos Gold poured first bullion from La Yaqui Grande, in the Mulatos district, Sonora. Minera Alamos obtained surface access to Cerro de Oro in Zacatecas. Vizsla Resources reported drill results from Panuco, in Sinaloa. Guanajuato Silver reported high-grade tailings drilling results at El Cubo, in Guanajuato. GR Silver released drill results from Plomosas, in Sinaloa. Orex Minerals resumed drilling at Sandra, in Durango, within a JV with Pan American Silver. Oroco Resources released drilling results from the north part of the Santo Tomás project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Economy Secretariat (Secretaría de Economía) is the government entity that is to run the Lithium State company.  The reform sealed by Congress nationalized the extraction of the metal, and mandates the government has 90 days to create the organization.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Colibri Resources Corp. announced that its partner in the Diamante project in Sonora, Silver Spruce Resources Inc. has collared the first holes of a 2,000 m reverse circulation drilling program, starting on the Pillado zone and to continue at La Prieta.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. recommenced drilling at its Pilar project in Sonora. Drilling will focus on priority exploration targets as well as parallel trends and extensions.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. has commenced a second hole at the lithocap target at El Cobre, Veracruz. “the first hole passed through typical clay dominant lithocap alteration into phyllic alteration which transitioned to propylitic and at depth intense biotitic potassic alteration and is interpreted to have intersected a peripheral part of a porphyry system beneath the lithocap”. The target has been shown as likely to contain a medium to large sized porphyry systems based on mineral vectoring studies with chlorite and epidote.
  • Minera Alamos Inc. updated on regional exploration activities in the Melchor Ocampo area of Zacatecas. The company owns 6,405 ha of mining concessions in the area around its Cerro de Oro project, in development. A new mineralized trend has been identified 4.5 km southwest of the Cerro de Oro area, with 22 out of 40 samples running over 0.5 gpt Au “in a sedimentary sequence of interbedded siltstone, sandstones and limestones that have been intruded by granitic dikes and sills”. An internal historic report by Echo Bay calculated 2.8 M tonnes @ 0.75 gpt Au, and also pointed to the possibility of large tonnage Ag-Pb-Zn mineralization.

ON MINING

  • No Relevant News.

ON FINANCING

  • Sonoro Gold Corp. is increasing its previously announced non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $2.4 M. (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. announced a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1 M (Santa Maria, Chihuahua).
  • Heliostar Metals Ltd. is carrying a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $3 M (Cumaro, Oso Negro and La Lola, in Sonora).
  • Reyna Silver Corp. closed its previously announced “best efforts” private placement, for gross proceeds of C$5 M. The offering was upsized from its originally aimed C$3 M (Guigui, Chihuahua).  

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Alamos Gold Inc. announced initial gold production from the La Yaqui Grande mine in Sonora. Construction was completed ahead of schedule this month. A total of 991 Oz was poured, with production expected to reach 3,000 Oz Au in June. This large-scale construction project will extend the life of the Mulatos Complex for at least five years. “La Yaqui Grande was completed ahead of schedule generating more than 1,000 jobs during the construction phase and will continue to sustain 450 direct jobs”.
  • Minera Alamos Inc. presented executed surface rights agreements for its Cerro de Oro project in Zacatecas. These permits, which cover 816 ha in the Melchor Ocampo Municipality and 160 ha in the Ejido San Pedro de Ocampo, with allow the company to pursue the permit application for the project. Additional activities for 2022 include metallurgical test work, in-fill and local resource expansion drilling, ongoing regional exploration, equipment procurement, mine contractor discussions and project financing discussions.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp. reported results from 24 drill holes targeting the Tajitos-Copala resource area at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. The results are from the Copala structure, extending it to 600 meters along strike and 400 m downdip. Highlighted true width results comprise 20.45 m @ 780 gpt Ag, 4.23 gpt Au; 14.50 m @ 667 gpt Ag, 3.89 gpt Au; 9.35 m @ 1,010 gpt Ag, 5.44 gpt Au (including 1.30 m @ 3,548 gpt Ag, 17.78 gpt Au); 4.40 m @ 802 gpt Ag, 6.89 gpt Au; 3.40 m @ 1,642 gpt Ag, 6.67 gpt Au. “The Copala Vein is a shallow dipping structure …. on the hangingwall side of the Tajitos structure. Copala is marked by high precious metals grades …. hosted within a broader envelope of vein-breccia up to 82 metres thick…”.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. reported the discovery of high-grade material in an historical tailings area of El Cubo Mine Complex in Guanajuato. The Mastranto tailings facility has material from El Cubo Santa Cecilia area, mined between 1986 and 2003, covering an area of 4.35 ha. with approximately 1.5 m of tailings material. Some of the highlighted hole length results comprise 1.3 m @ 4.14 gpt Au, 328 gpt Ag; 1.6 m @ 3.07 gpt Au, 169 gpt Ag; 0.8 m @ 3.42 gpt Au, 446 gpt Ag; 1.1 m @ 3.18 gpt Au, 405 gpt Ag; 1.2 m @ 3.17 gpt Au, 427 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 3.54 gpt Au, 405 gpt Ag; 1.2 m @ 3.65 gpt Au, 435 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 3.42 gpt Au, 437 gpt Ag; 1.2 m @ 3.03 gpt Au, 419 gpt Ag; 1.1 m @ 3.46 gpt Au, 40 gpt Ag; 1.1 m @ 3.32 gpt Au, 316 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 4.02 gpt Au, 220 gpt Ag. “the Company plans to extract the gold and silver content from Mastrantos IV using a gravity extraction circuit”.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. released results from drilling at the San Juan and Plomosas mine areas of its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width results comprise 4.3 m @ 4.52 gpt Au, 56 gpt Ag (including 1.1 m @ 10.17 gpt Au, 340 gpt Ag); 0.5 m @ 30.09 gpt Au, 76 gpt Ag; 0.9 m @ 0.38 gpt Au, 459 gpt Ag. Channel sampling at Las Teresas returned 3.4 m @ 1.21 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag (including 0.4 m @ 9.44 gpt Au, 394 gpt Ag).
  • Orex Minerals Inc. resumed diamond drilling on the Sandra project in Durango. This is a joint venture between Pan American Silver Corp. (60%) and Orex (40%) that aims to drill 2,500 to 3,000 meters in this new Phase-I program. “The Project covers almost 70 square kilometres of contiguous mineral concessions and includes multiple mineralized epithermal quartz veins, disseminated horizons and breccia structures”. The Sandra project has an inferred resource of 9.8 M tonnes @ 106 gpt hosting 33.3 M Oz Ag in the Boleras deposit.
  • Oroco Resources Corp. released results from the Brasiles area of the Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Core length highlighted results comprise 166 m @ 0.36 % Cu (including 59.0 m @ 0.46% Cu and 17.4 m @ 0.44% Cu); 33.5 m @ 0.14% Cu in one hole; 24.0 m @ 0.33% Cu; 14.0 m @ 0.17% Cu; 16.0 m @ 0.14% Cu in a second hole; 213.5 m @ 0.28% Cu (including 37.5 m @ 0.50% Cu) in a third hole. “Brasiles West Zone has strong geological similarities to the North Zone, if somewhat attenuated. Like the North Zone, monzonite dikes cutting the Cretaceous limestone (marble) are accompanied by skarn development and minor base metal mineralization”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • QNB Metals Inc. announced the execution of a binding letter of intent (LOI) with Analog Gold Inc. on the proposed acquisition of the Tres Oro property in Sinaloa. “The LOI provides for a business combination of QNB Metals and Analog, which would be implemented by way of a “Reverse Takeover” of QNB Metals by Analog”. The deal envisages consolidation of QNB Metals shares on a 2 to 1 basis, completion of a financing round, the payment of $38.3 M through the issuance of shares. The Tres Oros property is an active pilot mine exploiting a polymetallic structure open on strike and at depth, with access to a 600 tpd flotation plant.
  • Defiance Silver Corp. has “become aware that certain mineral concessions concerning its Tepal Project have been illegally and fraudulently transferred to a third-party individual without the Company’s knowledge or consent. These concessions are the property of Defiance and have consistently been kept in good standing by the Company, with all obligations and filings under applicable laws being systematically completed”. Defiance is pursuing all legal avenues to restore its rightful claim to the concessions (Tepal. Michoacan).
  • Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. has gathered US$15 M to pursue legal actions against environmental authorities in Mexico, under the arbitration provided by NAFTA. The complaint asks for US$2 billion in damages on the cancellation of the offshore phosphate mining project.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Locally foliated intrusive rock, with minor quartz and specularite veining in the Sonora Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of June, 2022

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 23rd week of the year (June 6th to June 12th, 2022), at least 11 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. This number reflects the summer decrease in press releases with one of the lowest numbers recorded since 2015 (the lowest being 9); notably, news in shares/financing were more than half of the total. There was no relevant news in the Mining and Resources and Development sections. To note, two companies posted exploration advances on their properties, two companies are to undertake financing rounds for up to $3 M and C$2 M, two companies increased/closed oversubscribed financing rounds to C$3.4 M and C$4 M, one company was upgraded to the OTCQX Best Market, one other cashed in a warrants exercise for C$18 M. A royalties company already with business in Mexico made an agreement on one other property. One company posted on metallurgical results on its property.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Instituto Politecnico Nacional celebrated the careers of five of its graduates on the Mexican mining industry. The Sonora Mining Cluster is hosting the Fifth International Forum on Full Safety. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tocvan Ventures presented drill results from Pilar; Benjamin Hill Mining released drilling results from the Sonora Copper zone at its Sonora Gold project. ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, Silver Viper and Sonoro Gold are to undertake non-brokered private placements to raise up to $3 M and C$2 M respectively. Aztec Minerals closed a non-brokered oversubscribed private placement for CAD$3.4 M. Reyna Silver increased the size of its private placement from C$3 M to C$4 M. Prime Mining informed on its upgrading to the OTCQX Best Market. Discovery Silver informed that the exercise of warrants resulted in C$18 M in gross proceeds. Orogen Royalties reported positive metallurgical results from tests at its San Javier project in Sonora.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Barksdale Resources released positive metallurgical results from its San Javier project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Instituto Politecnico Nacional (IPN) recognized the professional lifework on the Mexican mining industry of five of its graduates: Sergio Almazan Esqueda (current AIMMGM president),  Jaime Gutiérrez (current Camimex president), Karina Neri (Mining concession manager at Peñoles), Marco Gustavo Monroy (Centro de Estudios, Servicios y Consultorías Ambientales) and Armando Alatorre (current Colegio de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México president).
  • The Sonora Mining Cluster is hosting in Hermosillo, Sonora, the Fifth International Forum on Full Safety in Mining (Quinto Foro Internacional de Seguridad Integral en Minería), during June 23 and 24, 2022.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. presented drill results for two more reverse circulation holes at its Pilar project in Sonora. Both holes targeted parallel trends to the Main zone. Highlighted hole-length intervals on one hole comprise 54.9 m @ 0.3 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag (including 13.7 m @ 0.6 gpt Au, 13 gpt Ag and 9.2 m @ 0.6 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag). The other hole did not intercept relevant gold mineralization. ”Three zones of mineralization have been identified ….. the Main Zone, North Hill and 4-Trench. Structural features and zones of mineralization within the structures follow an overall NW-SE trend of mineralization. Over 24,200 m of drilling have been completed to date”. 
  • Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. released further drilling results from the Sonora Copper zone at its Sonora Gold project in Sonora. “The Sonora Copper quartz breccia vein system consists of two major sub-parallel veins …… Outcrops of the Sonora Copper vein system have been mapped over a surface length of approximately 850 m ….. The vein structures are composed of quartz with barite, sulfides and primary oxides …. The veins are hosted in granitoids and volcano-sedimentary rocks, with a close relationship to porphyry dikes”. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 1.45 m @ 0.62% Cu, 4.2 m @ 0.52% Cu (including 1.7 m @ 0.5% Cu, 1.08 gpt Au); 8.7 m @ 0.58% Cu (including 1.85 m @ 1.77% Cu, 0.25 gpt Au and 1.25 m @ 0.4% Cu, 0.49 gpt Au). The presence of a porphyry copper system at depth is suggested by historical magnetometry surveys by the SGM, induced polarization anomalies along wide structures kilometers in length on a geophysical survey completed this year and the high copper, gold, molybdenum and bismuth numbers on geochemical samples and core.

ON MINING

  • No Relevant News.

ON FINANCING

  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp. intends to undertake a non-brokered private placement financing to raise up to $3 M in gross proceeds (La Virginia, Sonora).
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. is to undertake a non-brokered private placement to raise up to C$2 M (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Aztec Minerals Corp. closed an oversubscribed CAD$3.4 M non-brokered private placement equity financing. Alamos Gold Inc. participated with CAD$2.4 M, after which Alamos holds a security percentage of 9.9% of shares on an undiluted basis, and 18% on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of warrants (Cervantes, Sonora).
  • Reyna Silver Corp. increased the size of its previously announced private placement from C$3 M to C$4 M (Guigui and Batopilas, Chihuahua).
  • Prime Mining Corp. reported that the company has been upgraded and qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market from the OTCQB Venture Market (Los Reyes, Sinaloa).
  • Discovery Silver Corp. announced that exercise of purchase warrants resulted in gross proceeds of C$18 M. Mr. Eric Sprott owns, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., 26.2% of outstanding shares on a non-diluted basis and 27.3.% on a partially diluted basis (Cordero, Chihuahua).
  • Orogen Royalties Inc. signed an agreement with Advanced Lithium Corp. to purchase 3% net smelter royalties on three prospective mineral licences in the Lake Victoria gold fields in western Kenya. “Upon closing of the Agreement, Orogen will pay Advance US$120,000 for the Royalties and transfer its interest in the Sarape Gold project to Advance. Orogen will retain a 1.5% net smelter return royalty on the Sarape project” (Sarape, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Barksdale Resources Corp. reported positive results from the first phase of metallurgical test work at the San Javier project in Sonora. The study by McClelland Labs Inc. envisaged eight column tests on one inch material from four large diameter diamond core holes drilled on late summer of 2021. Oxide dominant samples had recoveries between 77% and 93% of acid soluble copper and between 72% and 89% for acid and cyanide soluble copper, with recovery still increasing after the 120 days of column tests. Significantly, acid agglomeration does not increase copper recovery, pointing to a favorable net acid consumption of approximately 2 to 3 kg per tonne.  

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • No Relevant News.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Quartz-specularite-barite vein in the Sonora Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of May, 2022

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 21st week of the year (May 23rd to May 29th, 2022), at least 25 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, six companies posted exploration advances on their properties, one released first quarter 2022 reports, one announced the commissioning commencement on its project, one updated on a merger, one on the significant ownership by one investor, one on the compliance to issue by-weekly reports until its management cease trade order is lifted, three released drilling results from their advanced projects and one commissioned a company to prepare a resource estimate for its property.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, SEMARNAT, the Mexican environmental agency, voiced its support for anti-mining organizations in Morelos. A miner’s Union has taken legal steps to get back to previous profit-sharing schemes by mining companies. The president of Mexico expressed the likelihood of its government going to court to stop a company from mining limestone in Quintana Roo. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Benjamin Hill Mining released results from drilling at its Sonora Gold property; Ranchero Gold updated on exploration at Santa Daniela; Silver Spruce Resources is preparing ground for drilling at Diamante; Tocavan Ventures released drill results from Pilar. In Nayarit, Sierra Madre Gold and Silver released results from drilling at La Tigra. In Veracruz, Azucar Minerals completed the first hole near the center of a large target at El Cobre. ON MINING, SilverCrest Metals announced the completion of construction of the processing plant at Las Chispas, in Sonora. Magna Gold presented its Q1 2022 operating and financial report. ON FINANCING, Sailfish Royalty received a lead order commitment in its path to create a silver exploration company starting with the Gavilanes project in Durango.  Eric Sprott owns 26.2% of outstanding shares of Discovery Silver. Gatos Silver is providing a by-weekly default status report.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Avino Silver & Gold Mines released drill results from the Oxide Tailings project at Avino, Durango. GR Silver released results from underground drilling at Plomosas, in Sinaloa. Sonoro Gold reported results from drilling at Cerro Caliche, in Sonora. Barksdale Resources engaged a company for the elaboration of the resource estimate at San Javier, in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Sierra Madre Gold and Silver signed an agreement with First Majestic to acquire La Guitarra, in Estado de Mexico. Bear Creek Mining has been placed on the default list by the British Columbia Securities Commission, on concerns regarding the credentials of consultants that signed a technical report on the Mercedes mine, in Sonora. Discovery Silver updated on activities at Cordero, in Chihuahua.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • SEMARNAT, the Mexican environmental agency, pointed that it backs those against mining projects in Morelos. This statement was done regarding Alamos Gold’s Esperanza project near Temixco, in the process of acquisition by Zacatecas Silver Corp.. The agency stressed that the Mexican government maintains its commitment to not authorize any new open pit development in the country, based on ideological ideas (No mention was done whatsoever about the project complying or not with the law).
  • The Union “Sindicato Nacional Minero Metalúrgico FRENTE” informed on legal procedures taken by the organization to fight for the 10% of profits that previously were distributed among the workforce of mining companies in Mexico, same that were recently capped at three months of salary per worker.
  • The president of Mexico, Andrés M. López Obrador, stated that Mexico will take Vulcan Materials, a company mining limestone in Quintana Roo, to court if necessary. The company has stated in the past that it has all the needed permits for its operations.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. released results from diamond drilling at its Sonora Gold project in Sonora. A total of 34 holes were completed covering 5,800 m on seven targets in the 6,400 hectares property. Assays have been received for the first 20 holes. Highlighted intervals from the Sonora Copper area comprise 28.2 m @ 0.42% Cu (interval that includes 16 m @ 0.3 gpt Au; 3.5 m @ 26 gpt Ag; 1.44 m @ 2.99% Cu, 0.664 gpt Au, 103 gpt Ag) and 9.21 m @ 0.92% Cu (including 5.36 m @ 1.7% Cu, 1.95 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag) in one hole; and 20.55 m @ 0.55% Cu (including 2 m @ 1.05% Cu, 0.379 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag; 3.96 m @ 1.12%) in a second hole. Highlighted intervals from other areas comprise 1.2 m @ 0.43% Cu, 1.52 gpt Au; 0.90 m @ 0.14% Cu, 1.73 gpt Au; 0.60 m @ >10% Cu, 2.11 gpt Au, 52 gpt Ag).
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. announced results from the three first holes of its drilling program at La Tigra project, Nayarit. Highlighted core length intervals (interpreted as 90% of the core interval) comprise 9.0 m @ 0.46 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag; 6.60 m @ 0.49 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag; 5.10 m @ 2.21 gpt Au, 24 gpt Ag; 32.0 m @ 1.00 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag (including 4.0 m @ 3.03 gpt Au and 4.45 m @ 2.72 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag). An application was filed for a new 1,653 ha claim to the west of La Tigra, named Sabra.
  • Ranchero Gold Corp. provided an update on exploration at its Santa Daniela concessions in Sonora. Machine-learning technology has been applied in the 2,220 hectares land package to identify 47 exploration targets, of which nine are high priority. Follow-up field visits are ongoing to Rincon, San Francisco and Yaqui Sur.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is preparing access trails and pads for its incoming 2,000 m reverse circulation drilling campaign at its 1,057 hectares Diamante project in Sonora. The drilling company it to mobilize to site next week.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. announced the completion of the first hole (1,280 m of depth) in a large lithocap target at El Cobre, in Veracurz. This area has been targeted for drilling based on a mineral vectoring study utilizing chlorite and epidote that indicates a fertile medium to large sized porphyry system, a coinciding deep IP geophysical anomaly, surface pyrophyllite, spectral mineral mapping and high crystallinity illite over the entire target. Drill hole results are pending. “The closest hole to this deep core IP anomaly, which did not test the anomaly, intersected intense quartz pyrite sericite (QSP) phyllic alteration which provides further support to this new target representing a possible porphyry centre”.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. released diamond drill results from its Pilar property in Sonora. An infill hole in the Main zone intercepted a core-length interval of 108.6 m @ 0.8 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag (including 31.9 m @ 2.4 gpt Au, 2 gpt Ag and 9.4 m @ 7.6 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag). As part of the Phase III program, nine drill holes totaling 1,562 m have been completed.

ON MINING

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. announced that Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. has completed the construction of the processing plant at Las Chispas in Sonora. The processing plant commissioning is now underway, and expected to reach commercial production in Q4, 2022.
  • Magna Gold Corp. released operating and financial results for the first quarter of 2022. At San Francisco, in Sonora, 7.3 M tonnes were mined with a strip ratio of 6.7:1, processing 1.4  M tonnes to produce 11,874 Oz Au at cash cost $1,675 per Oz Au and AISC at $2,467 per Oz Au. The San Francisco deposit has measured and indicated resources of 99.7 M tonnes @ 0.446 gpt Au, containing 1,430 K OZ Au and inferred resources of 11.4 M tonnes @ 0.446 gpt Au, containing 171 K Oz Au.

ON FINANCING

  • Sailfish Royalty Corp. has received a lead order commitment from Barnwell Investments LLC. in connection to the private placement contemplated as part of a combination transaction with Swordfish Silver. The proposed transaction includes a private placement of Swordfish shares for US$5 M. The goal of the proposed transaction is to create a silver focused exploration and development company, resulting in the transfer of Sailfish’s Gavilanes property in Durango.
  • Ontario Ltd., a company Eric Sprott owns, announced the exercise of warrants on Discovery Silver Corp. for an aggregate consideration of $7 M. As a result of the warrant exercise Mr. Sprott owns 26.2% of the outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and approximately 27.3% on a partially diluted basis.
  • Gatos Silver Inc. is providing a by-weekly default status report in accordance with National Policy 12-203 – Management Cease Trade Orders. “The Company believes that it will be able to file its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 in the second half of 2022. The Company is also evaluating the material weaknesses in its internal controls over financial reporting related to the mineral reserve reporting errors”.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. released results from 17 short holes drilled on its Oxide Tailings project at Avino, in Durango. “The 2022 drill program included 17 drill holes for a total of 209 metres of drilling”. The average of 90 m drilled on the sulphide zone of the tailings returned 0.34 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag, whereas those from the oxide zone averaged 0.49 gpt Au, 41 gpt Ag on a total of 90 m.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. announced results from underground infill drilling at the Plomosas Project in Sinaloa. Highlighted apparent width intervals comprise 2.9 m @ 190 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 14.0 m @ 146 gpt Ag; 6.5 m @ 1,458 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. reported results from 10 holes completed at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. The highlighted core length results from the El Colorado and Buena Suerte zones comprise 21.34 m @ 0.557 gpt Au (including 3.04 m @ 1.52 gpt Au); 1.52 m @ 2.19 gpt Au; 7.62 m @ 0.72 gpt Au; 10.67 m @ 1.183 gpt Au; 4.57 m @ 1.09 gpt Au; 1.52 m @ 9.57 gpt Au; 28.95 m @ 1.021 gpt Au (including 3.05 m @ 2.706 gpt Au). Results from further seven drill holes at Las Abejas are pending.
  • Barksdale Resources Corp. engaged Independent Mining Consultants Inc. (IMC) to prepare a resource estimate and NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Cerro Verde copper zone on the San Javier project in Sonora. Approximately 30,000 m of drilling data will be utilized in the process to create the report. The resource estimate is expected to be delivered to Barksdale within the next 30 days.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. signed an arm’s length definitive agreement with First Majestic Silver Corp. to acquire the 39,714 hectare La Guitarra property in Estado de Mexico. La Guitarra is a past-producing underground mine with an on-site process facility that operated until 2018. Historical measured and indicated resources in the property amount to 7.45 M Oz AgEq and inferred resources to 10 M Oz AgEq. Sierra Madre will issue to First Majestic 69.06 M of its common shares, for an aggregate value of $35 M. Upon completion of the transaction First Majestic will become the largest shareholder of Sierra Madre.
  • Bear Creek Mining Corp. has been placed on the default list by the British Columbia Securities Commission. This as a result of the BCSC’s concerns regarding the credentials of certain independent third-party consultants to act as qualified persons under National Instrument 43-101 in respect of certain chapters of the Aprill 22 technical report on the Mercede mine, in Sonora. “Bear Creek estimates that the Amended Mercedes Report will be filed within approximately 30 days”.
  • Discovery Silver Corp.released its financial results for the first quarter 2022 and an update on activities. The Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) work for the Cordero project in Chihuahua is to be delivered on the fourth quarter 2022, the metallurgical test work on sulfides is 60% complete, the reserve definition drilling is now complete, and the first of three open pit geotechnical drill holes is underway. More than 30,000 m of drilling are planned this year on resource expansion targets and the first ever drilling of five targets within 10 km of Cordero. Cash and cash equivalents by the end of the period was at $61.2 M

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Sampling of quartz-barite vein in the Sonora Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.