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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of June, 2023.

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Flow banded rhyolite

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 22nd week of the year (May 30th to June 5st, 2023), at least 11 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with three reporting resources and developments of their properties, two communicating production and financial results, two disclosing deals and corporate issues, two informing on exploration results, one announcing financing issues, and one commenting on Mexican issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, GoGold and Vizsla reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of June, 2023. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Prismo commenced a trenching program at its Los Pavitos project. In Oaxaca, Vortex completed the field work for the environmental baseline study, and advanced surface geological investigations at its Zaachila project. ON MINING, Bear Creek reported Q1, 2023 production results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. Minera Alamos reported Q1, 2023 selected financial results.  ON FINANCING, Minera Alamos announced a USD $25M construction financing package termsheet executed for its Cerro de Oro Gold Project, Zacatecas. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GoGold announced additional drilling results from Los Ricos South, within the Eagle Deposit in Jalisco. Vizsla reported results from five holes drilled on the recently discovered La Luisa Vein at its Panuco property in Sinaloa. Zacatecas Silver increased its Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate at the Panuco South and North Deposits within its Zacatecas property in Zacatecas State.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Chesapeake granted stock options to its former Vice President Investor Relations & Corporate Development (Metates project, Durango). Golden Tag received approval from Mexico´s antitrust agency, the Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (COFECE) on May 25, 2023, for the previously announced acquisition of the La Parrilla Silver Mine Complex in Durango.   ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • GoGold Resources Inc., and Vizsla Silver Corp., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of June, 2023. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Prismo Metals Inc., commenced a trenching program at its Los Pavitos project in Sonora to better define the orientation and full width of the mineralized structures prior to starting the drill campaign. Samples collected will be sent to the lab for analysis and results will be released by the middle of June, 2023.
  • Vortex Metals Inc., completed the field work for the environmental baseline study, and advanced surface geological investigations at its Zaachila project in Oaxaca. The field work commenced on May 16th and included biological studies and surface geological work. “This information is foundational in the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement that SEMARNAT requires for the evaluation and approval of exploration drilling”. The results of this study will be an integral part of the Environmental Impact Assessment that Vortex Metals will submit in the coming weeks, bringing us one step closer to advancing the Zaachila copper project for mineral exploration of the previously identified significant anomalous copper mineralization.”

ON MINING

  • Bear Creek Mining Corporation reported Q1, 2023 production results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. The company mined 133,621 tonnes with an average grade of 2.93 g/t Au and processed 134,487 tonnes with an average grade of 2.91 g/t Au and metallurgical recovery of 95.96% to produce 12,038 Oz Au. The company also reported 9,304 Oz Au sold and 3,182 Oz Au streamed. Cash and AISC per Oz Au sold and streamed were USD $1,386 and USD $ 1,670 respectively. Bear Creek recorded revenue of USD $24.3M from the sale of gold and silver; cost of goods sold of USD $14.4M; depletion and amortization of USD $11.2M; and gross loss of USD $1.3M.
  • Minera Alamos Inc., reported Q1, 2023 selected financial results. It reported revenues of CAD $6.78M; cost of goods sold of CAD $2.25M; net income of CAD $1.48M; cash and cash equivalents of CAD $10.2M; and working capital of CAD $19.89M.

ON FINANCING

  • Minera Alamos Inc., announced a USD $25M construction financing package termsheet executed for its Cerro de Oro Gold Project, Zacatecas. The Company has signed a termsheet for a USD $15M Loan Facility and USD $10M Royalty that is expected to close on or around July 14th upon signing of definitive documentation as well as board and regulatory approvals.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GoGold Resources Inc., announced additional drilling results from Los Ricos South, within the Eagle Deposit in Jalisco. Drilling highlights include hole LRGAG-22-164 with 3.21 g/t Au and 33 g/t Ag (3.64 g/t AuEq or 273 g/t AgEq) over 22.1m, including 20.21 g/t Au and 87 g/t Ag (21.37 g/t AuEq or 1,603 g/t AgEq) over 3.2m; hole LRGAG-22-165 with 4.61 g/t Au and 780 g/t Ag (15.01 g/t AuEq or 1,126 g/t AgEq) over 50m, including 22.9 g/t Au and 4,617 g/t Ag (84.45 g/t AuEq or 6,334 g/t AgEq) over 7.8m, including 59.98 g/t Au and 11,858 g/t Ag (218 g/t AuEq or 16,357 g/t AgEq) over 2.9m, including 201 g/t Au and 31,747 g/t Ag (624.29 g/t AuEq or 46,822 g/t AgEq) over 0.8m; hole LRGAG-22-172 with 3.27 g/t Au and 124 g/t Ag (4.92 g/t AuEq or 369 g/t AgEq) over 53.8m, including 8.09 g/t Au and 193 g/t Ag (10.67 g/t AuEq or 800 g/t AgEq) over 19.4m, including 13.72 g/t Au and 289 g/t Ag (17.57 g/t AuEq or 1,318 g/t AgEq) over 5.2m; hole LRGAG-22-173 with 3.67 g/t Au and 282 g/t Ag (7.43 g/t AuEq or 557 g/t AgEq) over 40.5m, including 5.35 g/t Au and 1,267 g/t Ag (22.24 g/t AuEq or 1,668 g/t AgEq) over 4.1m, including 8.9 g/t Au and 1,879 g/t Ag (33.95 g/t AuEq or 2,546 g/t AgEq) over 1.4m, including 11.8 g/t Au and 1,430 g/t Ag (30.87 g/t AuEq or 2,315 g/t AgEq) over 1m; hole LRGAG-22-176 with 2.54 g/t Au and 120 g/t Ag (4.14 g/t AuEq or 310 g/t AgEq) over 15.9m, including 9.03 g/t Au and 627 g/t Ag (17.4 g/t AuEq or 1,305 g/t AgEq) over 1.6m; and hole LRGAG-22-177 with 1.21 g/t Au and 145 g/t Ag (3.15 g/t AuEq or 236 g/t AgEq) over 31.7m, including 3.03 g/t Au and 393 g/t Ag (8.27 g/t AuEq or 620 g/t AgEq) over 9.8m, including 10.15 g/t Au and 1,357 g/t Ag (28.25 g/t AuEq or 2,118 g/t AgEq) over 2.3m. “The Eagle Deposit adjoins the Main Deposit and represents a northern extension of the previously defined Mineral Resource Estimate in the Los Ricos South Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).”
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., reported results from five holes drilled on the recently discovered La Luisa Vein at its Panuco property in Sinaloa. Drilling highlights (true widths reported)  include hole NP-23-362 with 50 g/t Ag, 0.41 g/t Au, 0.5% Pb, and 2% Zn (163 g/t AgEq) over 0.8m, plus 372 g/t Ag, 5.82 g/t Au, 2.1% Pb, and 3.1% Zn (916 g/t AgEq) over 3.05m, including 1,418 g/t Ag, 21.54 g/t Au, 5.3% Pb, and 6.4% Zn (3,162 g/t AgEq) over 0.59m, plus 93 g/t Ag, 2.91 g/t Au, 1.4% Pb, and 2.4% Zn (410 g/t AgEq) over 5.2m, including 283 g/t Ag, 7.4 g/t Au, 5% Pb, and 3.9% Zn (1,054 g/t AgEq) over 0.76m; hole  NP-23-373 with 69 g/t Ag, 3.62 g/t Au, 0.6% Pb, and 2.7% Zn (426 g/t AgEq) over 4.30m, including 210 g/t Ag, 8.09 g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, and 7% Zn (1,032 g/t AgEq) over 0.77m; and hole NP-22-375 with 593 g/t Ag, 0.78 g/t Au, 2% Pb, and 1.9% Zn (734 /t AgEq) over 1.4m. “The new drill results expand the high-grade footprint at La Luisa to 350m long by 450m down dip. Additionally, surface mapping and sampling has identified a near surface exploration target located ~600m along strike to the northwest”.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., increased by 25% its Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate at the Panuco South and North Deposits within its Zacatecas property in Zacatecas State. Updated silver Inferred Mineral Resource now consists of 0.37M tonnes of 236 g/t Ag and 0.24 g/t Au (255 g/t AgEq) for a total of 2.8M Oz Ag and 2.7K Oz Au (3M Oz AgEq) at Panuco North, and 3.04M tonnes of 166 g/t Ag and 0.17 g/t Au (179 g/t AgEq) for a total of 16.2M Oz Ag and 16.4K Oz Au (17.5M Oz AgEq) at Panuco South. Inferred Mineral Resource in both deposits are 3.41M tonnes of 173 g/t Ag and 0.18 g/t Au (187 g/t AgEq) for a total of 19M Oz Ag and 19.2K Oz Au (20.5M Oz AgEq).

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., granted stock options to its former Vice President Investor Relations & Corporate Development, to purchase an aggregate of 100K common shares of the company at an exercise price of CAD $1.70 per share for a five-year term expiring May 29, 2028. The options will vest and be exercisable on the basis of 25% annually, commencing May 29, 2024, the first anniversary of the date of the grant (Metates project, Durango).
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd., received approval from Mexico´s antitrust agency, the Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (COFECE) on May 25, 2023, for the previously announced acquisition of the La Parrilla Silver Mine Complex in Durango. Golden Tag and First Majestic Silver Corp. have amended the Asset Purchase Agreement dated December 7, 2022 to reduce Golden Tag’s minimum required financing to $7.2M from $9M.

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, flow banded rhyolite in a prospect in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of May, 2023.

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Quartz blade texture in a low-sulphidation epithermal vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 20th week of the year (May 17th to May 21st, 2023), at least 16 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with four reporting resources and developments of their properties, four communicating production and financial results, three disclosing deals and corporate issues, two announcing financing issues, two informing on exploration results, and one commenting on Mexican issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Alamos Gold and Guanajuato Silver reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the third week of May, 2023. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Colibri reported a strong soil gas hydrocarbon gold anomaly at its Evelyn-Plomo project. In Oaxaca, Vortex initiated environmental and surface geological studies at its Zaachila project. ON MINING, Americas Gold and Silver reported Q1, 2023 production and financial results. Sierra Metals announced Q1, 2023 production and financial results from their Bolivar and Cusi mines in Chihuahua. Starcore reported Q4, 2023 production results from its San Martin mine in Queretaro. Excellon announced Q1, 2023 financial results.  ON FINANCING, Fabled announced that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $500K (Mecatona project, Chihuahua). Excellon announced a private placement financing for up to CAD $10M of subscription receipts (La Negra mine, Queretaro). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Guanajuato Silver released drill results from their San Ignacio mine in Guanajuato and Topia mine in Durango. Alamos Gold reported results from its ongoing drilling program at Puerto del Aire deposit and Capulin target within its Mulatos mine in Sonora. GoGold announced results of its initial Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Tocvan provided an update and sampling results from a bulk sample completed at its Pilar project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Vizsla granted stock options to Directors, Officers, Employees, and Consultants (Panuco project, Sinaloa).  Fabled provided an update on the agreement with Kootenay to acquire the Mecatona property in Chihuahua. Excellon provided corporate highlights for the three month ended March 31, 2023.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Alamos Gold Inc., and Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the third week of May, 2023. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Colibri Resource Corporation reported a strong soil gas hydrocarbon gold anomaly (SGH) south of the main Zone at its Evelyn-Plomo project in Sonora. To define this anomaly, a total of 110 soils samples were collected at 25m stations along 100m spaced lines. “Collectively, these interpreted features indicate a robust SGH response with a high degree of confidence that it is indicative of blind mineralization underlying the southern SGH gold anomaly”. Colibri plans to drill test this target with the hopes of expanding the Main Zone, as well as to continue evaluating the SGH method as a tool for future exploration on the Evelyn-Plomo project.
  • Vortex Metals Inc., initiated environmental and surface geological studies at its Zaachila project in Oaxaca. It will allow protecting the local environment and deepening the understanding of the project´s potential to advance its pursuit of multiple high-grade copper targets.

ON MINING

  • Americas Gold and Silver Corporation reported Q1, 2023 production and financial results from its Cosala operation in Sinaloa. The company produced approximately 265K Oz Ag, 2.7M Lb Pb, and 7.2M Lb Zn. Cash cost and AISC were USD $4.61 per Oz Ag and USD $9.52 per Oz Ag respectively. Production for 2023 is expected to be between 1.2-1.4M Oz Ag,11-13M Lb Pb, and 33-37M Lb Zn, benefiting from more production from the higher-grade silver areas in the Upper Zone of the San Rafael mine.
  • Sierra Metals Inc., announced Q1, 2023 production and financial results from their Bolivar and Cusi mines in Chihuahua. At Bolivar mine, the company processed 299K tonnes at a cash and AISC of USD $1.85 and USD $3.1 per CuEq payable pound. It reported cost of sales of USD $14.93M; a total cash cost of USD $13.16M; and a cash cost of USD $43.99 per ton processed. At Cusi mine, the company processed 59.1K tonnes at a cash and AISC of USD $23.02 and USD $29.8 per Oz AgEq payable. It reported cost of sales of USD $5.8M; a total cash cost of USD $5.23M; and a cash cost of USD $88.43 per ton processed.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., reported Q4, 2023 production results from its San Martin mine in Queretaro. The company milled 56,821 tonnes of 1.46 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 86.12% and 48.72% respectively to produce 2,409 Oz AuEq.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced Q1, 2023 financial results. Excellon reported a reversal of the USD $22M litigation liability relating to the previously disclosed judgment against one of the company’s subsidiaries in Mexico; a gain on the deconsolidation of San Pedro of USD $24.25M; other income of USD $1.58M; and a net income of USD $15.9M. The company announced in its 2022 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) a post-tax NPV (using a discount rate of 5%) of USD $132.4M and estimated restart capital of USD $20.9M, based on the PEA.

ON FINANCING

  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., announced that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $500K at a price of CAD $0.05 per unit. Gross proceeds will be used to complete a phase 1 exploration program at the Mecatona project in Chihuahua, and for general working capital purposes.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced a private placement financing for up to CAD $10M of subscription receipts at an offer price of CADS $0.35 per subscription receipt (La Negra mine, Queretaro).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., released drill results from their San Ignacio mine in Guanajuato and Topia mine in Durango. At San Ignacio mine, drilling highlights reported in true widths include hole UGSI23-008 with 1.95 g/t Au and 501 g/t Ag (657 g/t AgEq) over 1.90m, including 3.42 g/t Au and 744 g/t Ag (1,018 g/t AgEq) over 0.70m, plus 2.01 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag (163 g/t AgEq) over 0.22m, plus 0.23 g/t Au and 94 g/t Ag (113 g/t AgEq) over 0.35m; hole UGSI23-009 with 1.26 g/t Au and 415 g/t Ag (516 g/t AgEq) over 1.93m, including 4.14 g/t Au and 2,020 g/t Ag (2,351 g/t AgEq) over 0.22m, plus 0.25 g/t Au and 113 g/t Ag (133 g/t AgEq) over 0.77m, including 0.46 g/t Au and 215 g/t Ag (252 g/t AgEq) over 0.40m; and hole UGSI23-010 with 1.78 g/t Au and 557 g/t Ag (699 g/t AgEq) over 0.45m, plus 1.68 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag (142 g/t AgEq) over 1.68m, including 2.57 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag (215 g/t AgEq) over 0.64m, plus 1.72 g/t Au and 122 g/t Ag (260 g/t AgEq) over 1.72m, including 2.94 g/t Au and 151 g/t Ag (386 g/t AgEq) over 0.60m, plus 0.32 g/t Au and 334 g/t Ag (359 g/t AgEq) over 4.89m, including 1.25 g/t Au and 1,947 g/t Ag (2,047 g/t AgEq) over 0.37m. At Topia mine, drilling highlights reported in true widths include hole UT23-458 with 4.39 g/t Au, 660 g/t Ag, 3.2% Pb, and 8.5% Zn (1,435 g/t AgEq) over 0.45m, plus 13.89 g/t Au, 152 g/t Ag, 1% Pb, and 5.6% Zn (1,551 g/t AgEq) over 0.10m; hole UT23-459 with 2.02 g/t Au, 938 g/t Ag, 24.6% Pb, and 9.8% Zn (2,150 g/t AgEq) over 0.42m; hole UT23-460 with 8.16 g/t Au, 113 g/t Ag, 2.1% Pb, and 1.9% Zn (923 g/t AgEq) over 0.45m; hole UT23-461 with 3.53 g/t Au, 905 g/t Ag, 1.1% Pb, and 7.8% Zn (1,525 g/t AgEq) over 0.10m; hole UT23-463 with 6.55 g/t Au, 1,424 g/t Ag, 4.8% Pb, and 13.8% Zn (2,674 g/t AgEq) over 0.60m; and hole UT23-465 with 0.0 g/t Au, 731 g/t Ag, 4% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (851 g/t AgEq) over 0.15m.
  • Alamos Gold Inc., reported results from its ongoing drilling program at Puerto del Aire deposit and Capulin target within its Mulatos mine in Sonora. At Puerto del Aire deposit, drilling highlights reported in true widths and values > 40 g/t Au capped include hole 23MUL117 with 20.95 g/t Au (11.14 g/t Au cut) over 14.15m; hole 23MUL119 3.52 g/t Au over 17.05m, plus 8.33 g/t Au over 18m; hole 23MUL112 with 14.81 g/t Au (12.34 g/t Au cut) over 9.1m; hole 23MUL108 with 16.19 g/t Au (7.63 g/t Au cut) over 7.75m; hole 23MUL98 with 10.8 g/t Au over 3m, plus 33.14 g/t Au over 3.05m: and hole 23MUL115 with 15.49 g/t Au (13.89 g/t Au cut) over 6m. These results extend high-grade gold mineralization outside of Mineral Reserves and Resources at Puerto Del Aire. At Capulin target, drilling highlights include hole 23REF012 with 2.01 g/t Au over 82.45m, including 4.81 g/t Au over 16.40m, including 5.38 g/t Au over 12.35m. Capulin target is located 2km east of the former San Carlos open pit.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., announced results of its initial Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlights of the PEA include an after-tax NPV (using a discount rate of 5%) of USD $413M, with an after-tax IRR of USD $29%; a 13-year mine life producing a total of 110.3M payable Oz AgEq, consisting of 68M Oz Ag, 221.7K Oz Au, 22.8M Lb Cu, 144.1M Lb Pb, and 242.2M Lb Zn; an initial capital costs of USD $221M, including USD $29M in contingency costs, over an expected 18 month build, additional expansion capital of USD $137M, and sustaining capital costs of USD $6M over the life of mine (LOM); an average LOM operating cash costs of USD $9.50 per Oz AgEq, and all in sustaining costs (AISC) of USD $9.68 per Oz AgEq; an average annual production of 8.8M Oz AgEq in years one through twelve; and approximately 3/4 of LOM production is from four open pits containing oxide mineralization and approximately 1/4 is from a separate open pit which contains only sulphide mineralization.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., provided an update and sampling results from a bulk sample completed at its Pilar project in Sonora. Tocvan reported bulk sample material averaging grades of 1.9 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag from 148 samples ranging from 0.8 to 3.4 g/t Au and from 5 to 26 g/t Ag.  Additionally, 32 fine fraction samples excluded from heap leach process returned Au values from 1.2 to 2.8 g/t Au, with a weighted mean of 2.02 g/t Au, and Ag values from 9 to 25 g/t Ag, with a weighted mean of 16 g/t Ag. The fine fraction along with additional bulk sample material will be used in testing gravity recovery methods. “The heap leach process is currently underway for the Bulk Sample. Over 800 tonnes of Bulk Sample material have been prepared for heap leach processing, an additional 350 tonnes of crushed material and 250 tonnes of raw-bulk sample are available for gravity recovery and later agitated leach testing”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Vizsla Silver Corporation granted 3.85M stock options at an exercise price of $1.60 to Directors, Officers, Employees, and Consultants. The options are exercisable for a period of five years and will vest over the next two years (Panuco project, Sinaloa).
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., provided an update on the agreement with Kootenay to acquire the Mecatona property in Chihuahua. “The company has been in the process of preparing required documentation in respect of the Proposed Transaction including a NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Mecatona Property. The Company is continuing to correspond with the TSX Venture Exchange regarding the Proposed Transaction and will provide further updates in due course”.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., provided corporate highlights for the three month ended March 31, 2023. The company announced the acquisition of the post-producing La Negra mine in Queretaro. La Negra is a fully permitted mine with Indicated Mineral Resources of approximately 15.1M Oz AgEq at 191 g/t AgEq and Inferred Mineral Resources of approximately 41.8M Oz AgEq at 202 g/t AgEq.

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, quartz blade texture in a low-sulphidation epithermal vein system in a prospect in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of February, 2023.

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By Miguel A Heredia

During the 8th week of the year (February 20th to February 26th, 2023), at least 23 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with ten reporting resources and developments of their properties, six communicating production and financial results, two informing on exploration results, two commenting on Mexican issues, one disclosing deals and corporate issues, one announcing financing issues, and one discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Almaden regretted the decision of Mexico´s Ministry of Economy to deny the two mineral title applications which were first made by Almaden in 2002 and 2008, and which in turn led to the grant of mineral titles in 2003 and 2009, respectively. GoGold, Bear Creek, GR Silver, and Guanajuato Silver reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of February, 2023. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Tocvan released results from surface channel sampling of selected area for a bulk sample at its Pilar project.  In Coahuila, Monumental Minerals provided an update and defined drill targets at its Jemi Heavy Earth Rare Element project. ON MINING, Coeur reported Q4 and full year 2022 production and financial results from its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. Starcore announced Q3, 2023 production results from its San Martin mine in Queretaro. Equinox provided 2023 guidance for its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. Bear Creek announced 2023 production guidance for its Mercedes mine in Mexico. Gatos Silver released 2023 production and cost guidance for its Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua. First Majestic reported Q4 and full year 2022 production and financial results from their Mexican mine operations. ON FINANCING, Silver Tiger closed its previously announced bought deal offering for gross proceeds of approximately CAD $18M (El Tigre project, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GoGold reported additional drilling results from Los Ricos South, within the Eagle and Main Deposits in Jalisco. Guanajuato Silver announced drill results from its San Ignacio mine in Guanajuato. Alamos Gold reported Mineral Reserves and Resources for the year-ended 2022 at its Mulatos project, Sonora. Bear Creek released results of recent drilling from its Marianas and Rey de Oro deposits at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. Chesapeake announced updated Minera Resource Estimate for its world class Metates deposit in Durango.  Minera Alamos informed the commencement of drilling at its Santana project in Sonora. GR Silver reported underground drilling results from 35 holes drilled as part of the 2022 infill and exploratory drilling program conducted at its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Silver Dollar identified five new mineralized target areas at its la Joya project in Durango. Regency Silver announced that two follow-up holes down-dip were completed at its Dios Padre project in Sonora. Vizsla provided a year-end 2022 summary of its activities carried out at its flagship Panuco project in Sinaloa.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Minera Alamos granted stock options to its management team, Board of Directors, and certain consultants (Santana project, Sonora).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Almaden signed a cooperation agreement with the Ejido Santa Maria Zotoltepec, the ejido located closest to its Ixtaca project in Puebla.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., regretted the decision of Mexico´s Ministry of Economy to deny the two mineral title applications which were first made by Almaden in 2002 and 2008, and which in turn led to the grant of mineral titles in 2003 and 2009, respectively. These mineral titles underpin the Ixtaca deposit which was discovered by Almaden in 2010. As previously reported, these mineral titles were reduced to application status as a result of an early 2022 decision of Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN). Almaden believes that this action by the Secretariat of Economy is inconsistent with the Mexican Mining Law, the SCJN decision, and international law. The Company expects to submit arguments challenging the Secretariat of Economy’s submissions to the District Court within the next few days.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., Bear Creek Mining Corporation, GR Silver Mining Ltd, and Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of February, 2023. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., released results from surface channel sampling of selected area from an up to 1,000 tonnes of oxide-gold bulk sample at its Pilar project in Sonora. Channel sampling was completed every 5m perpendicular to exposed mineralization and alteration at surface along the Main Zone and 4-T trends. Eight locations were sampled to test varying levels of exposed mineralization, all eight trench locations returned anomalous gold and silver values. Highlights include TR-2023-001 where seven samples over a 35m trend returned an average grade of 2.2 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag, ranging from 8.3 g/t Au to 0.1 g/t Au; TR-2023-002 where five samples over a 20m trend returned  an average grade of 2.8 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag, ranging from 7.1 g/t Au to 0.7 g/t Au; and TR-23-007 where five samples along a 25m trend returned an average grade of 2.2 g/t Au and 30 g/t Ag ranging from 7.3 g/t Au to 0.1 g/t Au. “Bulk Sample material will be extracted and prepared for processing by heap-leach method at a private mining operation less than 25km to the west of Pilar”.
  • Monumental Minerals Corp., provided an update and defined drill targets at its Jemi heavy earth rare element project, located in Coahuila State. The exploration program carried out by the exploration team of the company consisted of detailed mapping and rock sampling, regional stream sediment sampling, ground radiometric geophysical surveys, and lithogeochemical sampling. The exploration effort has been focused on the Jemi dikes and Veladora Norte areas, which host peralkaline intrusion related REE mineralization. “Of the 188 samples with assay results, over one third (76 samples) returned values greater than 0.15% total rare earth oxide (TREO), including 5 samples that returned values greater than 1.0% TREO to a maximum value of 2.4% TREO. The average TREO for all samples is 0.21%, and a minimum value of 9 parts per million (ppm), which was returned in an iron-oxide/calcite vein”. This rock sampling has defined a series of high priority drill targets.

ON MINING

  • Coeur Mining Inc., reported Q4 and full year 2022 production and financial results from its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. On Q4, 2022 the company milled 554,247 tonnes of 1.59 g/t Au and 98 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of  92.4% and 85% respectively to produce approximately 26K Oz Au and 1.49M Oz Ag. It sold 25.2K Oz Au and 1.49M Oz Ag at an average realized price of USD $1,519 per Oz Au and USD $21.10 per Oz Ag. Coeur reported metal sales of USD $69.5.4M; cost applicable to sales (CAS) of USD $47.1M; adjusted CAS per Oz Au of USD $1,027 and adjusted CAS per Oz Ag of USD $14.23; exploration expense of USD $1.5M; cash flow from operating activities of USD $18.9M; total capital expenditures of USD $8.1M; and free cash flow of USD $10.8M. On the full year 2022,  Coeur milled approximately 2.2M tonnes of 1.65 g/t Au and 113 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 92.1% and 84.2% respectively to produce approximately 106.8K Oz Au and 6.71M Oz Ag. It sold 107.1K Oz Au and  6.7M Oz Ag at an average realized price of USD $1,471 per Oz Au and USD $21.78 per Oz Ag. Coeur reported metal sales of USD $303.4M; cost applicable to sales (CAS) of USD $1822.6M; adjusted CAS per Oz Au of USD $883 and adjusted CAS per Oz Ag of USD $13.05; exploration expense of USD $6.6M; cash flow from operating activities of USD $88.4M; total capital expenditures of USD $42.6M; and free cash flow of USD $45.8M.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., announced Q3, 2023 production results from its san martin mine in Queretaro. The company milled 58,562 tonnes of 1.29 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 85.24% and 48.95% respectively to produce 2,182 Oz AuEq.
  • Equinox Gold Corp., provided 2023 guidance for its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. The company expects to produce between 160K-180K Oz Au at cash and all includes sustaining cost of USD $1,460-USD $1,620 and USD $1,680-USD $1,865 per Oz Au produced respectively; and a sustaining cost of USD $40M.
  • Bear Creek Mining Corporation announced 2023 production guidance for its Mercedes mine in Mexico. The company expects to produce 65K-75K Oz Au and 210K-243K Oz Ag during 2023 at an average cash cost per Oz Au in the range of  $830-$890 , and all in sustaining cost of $1,120-$1,290 per Oz Au.
  • Gatos Silver Inc., released 2023 production and cost guidance for its Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua. The company expects to produce between 7.4-8.2M Oz Ag, 57-63M Lb Zn in Zn concentrates, 36-40M Lb Pb in Pb concentrates, and 5.4-6.2K Oz Au in Pb concentrates (or 12.4-13.8M Oz AgEq). All in sustaining cost for silver production and silver equivalent production has been estimated in USD $11-13 and USD $15.50-17.50 per Oz payable respectively. Gatos Silver also estimated sustaining capital expenditures at USD $45M; and exploration and definition drilling expenditures at USD $13M, including drilling of the south-east deep zone and district exploration.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., reported Q4 and full year 2022 production and financial results from their Mexican mine operations. The tables below show figures by mine for the period Q4 and full year 2022:

ON FINANCING

  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., closed its previously announced bought deal offering of 58.1M of common shares at a price of CADS $0.31 per share for gross proceeds of approximately CAD $18M. Gross proceeds will be used to continue advancement of its El Tigre mine in Sonora, and for general corporate purposes.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GoGold Resources Inc., reported additional drilling results from Los Ricos South, within the Eagle and Main Deposits in Jalisco. Drilling highlights include hole LRGAG-22-110 on the Eagle Deposits with 1.43 g/t Au and 43 g/t Ag (2 g/t AuEq or 150 g/t AgEq) over 62.4m, including 4.57 g/t Au and 71 g/t Ag (5.52 g/t AuEq or 414 g/t AgEq) over 16m, including 17.05 g/t Au and 189 g/t Ag (19.57 g/t AuEq or 1,468 g/t AgEq) over 1.4m; hole LRGAG-22-113 on the Eagle Deposit with 3.29 g/t Au and 358 g/t Ag (8.06 g/t AuEq or 605 g/t AgEq), including 20.05 g/t Au and 2,000 g/t Ag (46.72 g/t AuEq or 3,504 g/t AgEq) over 1.8m, including 40 g/t Au and 3,490 g/t Ag (86.53 g/t AuEq or 6,490 g/t AgEq) over 0.8m, plus 2.32 g/t Au and 58 g/t Ag (3.09 g/t AuEq or 232 g/t AgEq) over 29.5m, including 5.20 g/t Au and 72 g/t Ag (6.16 g/t AuEq or 462 g/t AgEq) over 12.3m, including 21.10 g/t Au and 170 g/t Ag (23.37 g/t AuEq or 1,752 g/t AgEq) over 1m; hole LRGAG-22-115 on the Eagle Deposit with 1.44 g/t Au and 75 g/t Ag (2.45 g/t AuEq or 183 g/t AgEq) over 31.5m, including 3.38 g/t Au and 147 g/t Ag (5.34 g/t AuEq or 400 g/t AgEq) over 11m, including 12.85 g/t Au and 64 g/t Ag (13.70 g/t AuEq or 1,028 g/t AgEq) over 1; and hole LRGAG-22-227 on the Main Deposit with 1.28 g/t Au and 105 g/t Ag (2.68 g/t AuEq or 201 g/t AgEq) over 29m, including 4.84 g/t Au and 352 g/t Ag (9.54 g/t AuEq or 715 g/t AgEq) over 6.3m, including 24 g/t Au and 335 g/t Ag (28.47 g/t AuEq or 2,135 g/t AgEq) over 0.7m. The Eagle Deposit adjoins the Main Deposit and represents a northern extension of the previously defined Mineral Resource Estimate in the Los Ricos South PEA.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., announced drill results from its San Ignacio mine in Guanajuato. Drilling highlights include hole UGSI22-005, the best drill hole the company has drilled at any of its mines acquired from Great Panther, with 5.11 g/t Au and 810 g/t Ag (1,219 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 4.92m, including 25.84 g/t Au and 4,914 g/t Ag (6,981 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.42m, including 28.23 g/t Au and 1,693 g/t Ag (3,951 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.42m. This significant drill result on the Melladito vein will be followed up with additional drill holes attempting to follow the down dip extension of the vein within the Company’s 2023 drill campaign. In addition, the company is in the midst of driving a 400m access ramp from Melladito to the analogous Purisima vein, which offers the potential for expanded production at San Ignacio mine. Guanajuato Silver also confirmed that it will provide an updated mineral resource estimate which is expected to be completed by Q3, 2023.
  • Alamos Gold Inc., reported Mineral Reserves and Resources for the year-ended 2022 at its Mulatos project, Sonora. The company reported Proven + Probable Mineral Reserves of 26,734,000 tons with an average grade of 1.95 g/t Au for a total of 1,679,000 Oz Au contained. Alamos Gold also announced Measured + Indicated Mineral Resources (exclusive of Mineral Reserves) for 10,302,000 tonnes of 2.52 g/t Au for a total of 502K Oz Au contained, and Inferred Resources for 1,774,000 tonnes of 1.27 g/t Au for a total of 72K Oz Au contained. In addition, the company has budgeted a total of USD $17M for exploration in 2023. This budget comprises 16,000m of surface exploration drilling at Puerto del Aire, Gap Victor, and Estrella Zones, and 34,000m for regional exploration on high priority targets, including Halcon, Halcon West, Carricito, Bajios, and Jaspe.
  • Bear Creek Mining Corporation released results of recent underground drilling from its Marianas and Rey de Oro deposits at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. Drilling highlights (reported in true widths) include hole UG-MR22-105 collared on Marianas Deposit with 5.68 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag over 2.8m, plus 12.43 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag over 2.8m; hole UG- MR22-106 on Mariana Deposit with 41 g/t Au and 24 g/t Ag over 0.8m; hole UG-MAR22-113 on Mariana Deposit with 8.47 g/t Au and 32 g/t Ag over 3m, plus 5.02 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag over 3m; hole  UG-RDO23-075 collared on Rey de Oro Deposit with 10.23 g/t Au and 182 g/t Ag over 3.5m; hole UG-RDO22-077 on Rey de Oro Deposit with 15.35 g/t Au and 109 g/t Ag over 1.03m; and hole M22-934D on GAP Deposit with 6.47 g/t Au and 58 g/t Ag over 2.2m. “The Marianas and GAP drilling represent step-outs from the existing underground mining operations along the main Mercedes vein zone.  The Rey de Oro drilling represents extensions downdip and along strike of the existing reserves and underground operations”.
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., announced updated Minera Resource Estimate (MRE) for its world class Metates deposit in Durango. The updated MRE incorporates an additional 23 holes drilled by Chesapeake and has an effective date of January 28, 2023.  It include Measured + Indicated Resources for 921.2M tonnes with average grades of 0.57 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag for a total of 16.77M Oz Au and 423.2M Oz Ag contained, and Inferred Resources for 139.5M tonnes with average grades of 0.47 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag for a total of 2.13M Oz Au and 59 M Oz Ag contained. “This updated MRE together with on-going metallurgical work will form the basis of a new Pre-Feasibility Study”.
  • Minera Alamos Inc., informed the commencement of drilling at its Santana project in Sonora. The company plans to drill a number of gold bearing breccia pipes in the cluster that comprise the Santana project. Some of these priority targets such as Zata and Benjamin Hill have never been drilled before. Over 10,000m of drilling in up to 80 holes have been planned by the company`s exploration team to drill-test the targets.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., reported underground drilling results from 35 holes drilled as part of the 2022 infill and exploratory drilling program conducted at its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Drilling highlights ( reported in true widths) include hole PLIP22-30 with 69 g/t Ag, 2.67 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn, and 0.2% Cu (353 g/t AgEq) over 14.1m, including 227 g/t Ag, 5.39 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn, and 0.4% Cu (808 g/t AgEq) over 1.6m, including 219 g/t Ag, 40.18 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, and 1% Cu (4,075 g/t AgEq) over 0.6m; hole PLIP22-52 with 2 g/t Ag and 1.91 g/t Au (182 g/t AgEq) over 8.1m, including 33 g/t Ag and 64.5 g/t Au (6,033 g/t AgEq) over 0.2M; hole PLIP22-29 with 55 g/t Ag, 1.01 g/t Au, 3.1% Pb, 4.8% Zn, and 0.2% Cu (441 g/t AgEq) over 21.7m, including 299 g/t Ag, 5.42 g/t Au, 1.8% Pb, 9.7% Zn, and 0.6% Cu (1,291 g/t AgEq) over 2.8m; hole PLIP22-35 with 20 g/t Ag, 1.8 g/t Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.5% Zn, and 0.3% Cu (221 g/t AgEq) over 14.2m, including 44 g/t Ag, 1.1 g/t Au, 10.4% Pb, 15.3% Pb, and 0.3% Cu (1,059 g/t AgEq) over 0.2m, including 46 g/t Ag, 6.09 g/t Au, 2.7% Pb, 8.4% Pb, and 0.8% Cu (1,105 g/t AgEq) over 0.8m; and hole PLIP22-42 with 30 g/t Ag, 0.76 g/t Au, 7.9% Pb, 7.9% Zn, and 0.3% Cu (669 g/t AgEq) over 8.3m, including 49 g/t Ag, 0.41 g/t Au, 7.8% Pb, 10.9% Zn, and 1.1% Cu (846 g/t AgEq) over 0.9m, including 50 g/t Ag, 1.97 g/t Au, 19.7 g/t Pb, 15.6% Zn, and 0.3% Cu (1,422 g/t AgEq) over 2.7m.
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., identified five new mineralized target areas at its la Joya project in Durango. These areas are located in the unexplored portion of the property and were outlined during the last exploration campaign which consisted of geological mapping and sampling. The Verde and Hueco Areas were partially drilled by a previous operator, while Dyke North, Dyke South, and South-East Areas never have been drill tested before.
  • Regency Silver Corp., announced that two follow-up holes down-dip from REG-22-01 were completed at its Dios Padre project in Sonora. Hole REG-22-01 intersected 6.84 g/t Au, 22 g/t Ag, and 0.88% Cu over 35.8m, including 13.97 g/t Au, 50 g/t Ag, and 1.11% Cu over 9.8m. Hole REG-23-14 encountered 32m of pyrite-specularite-chalcopyrite supported breccia from approximately 454-486m within a broader zone of disseminated and vein hosted mineralization approximately 25m down dip from REG-22-01, while hole REG-23-15 intersected 120m of specularite-pyrite-chalcopyrite supported breccia from approximately 400-520m within a broader zone of disseminated and vein hosted mineralization approximately 85m down-dip from REG-22-01 and about 62m down-dip from REG-23-14.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., provided a year-end 2022 summary of its activities carried out at its flagship Panuco project in Sinaloa, and outlined the goals for 2023. During Q1, 2022 the company announced its initial mineral resource estimate (MRE) centered on the western portion of the Panuco district.  In 2022, Vizsla completed over 121,000m of additional drilling to conclude in an updated MRE on January 2023, with a significant increase in gold and silver as well as in the overall grade. The company also discovered other near-surface, high-grade structures, demonstrating the growth potential outboard of the known resource boundaries. “For 2023, our focus is on incremental expansion and de-risking of the current resource base. With a fully funded +90,000m drill program utilizing seven drill rigs, we plan to update the current Panuco resource estimate in the second half of 2023, which will be followed in due course by an initial Preliminary Economic Assessment”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Minera Alamos Inc., granted stock options to its management team, Board of Directors, and certain consultants. The Board of Directors approved the issuance of a total of 2.25M options at an exercise price of $0.51, and 6.9M at an exercise price of $0.45. All the options will expire in 5 years and vest 50% on the first anniversary of their grant and 50% on the second anniversary (Santana project, Sonora).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., signed a cooperation agreement with the Ejido Santa Maria Zotoltepec, the ejido located closest to its Ixtaca project in Puebla, to support an agro-technological package aimed at sustainable plan nutrition and soil enrichment.

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

On the picture above, an outcrop of a flow banded rhyolite in a low-sulphidation epithermal veins prospect in Sonora Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of February, 2023.

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By Miguel A Heredia

During the 6th week of the year (February 6th to February 12th, 2023), at least 14 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with five disclosing deals and corporate issues, three reporting resources and developments of their properties, three announcing financing issues, two informing on exploration results, and one commenting on Mexican issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Golden Minerals Corporation was the only mining company reporting drilling results on the second week of February, 2023.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Prismo filed a drilling permit application for its Pavito project. In Chihuahua, Golden Minerals reported results from the final 10 holes of the third drill program conducted at its Yoquivo project.  ON MINING, no relevant news.  ON FINANCING, Barksdale announced that 8,050,287 common share purchase warrants were exercised prior to their expiration (San Javier project, Sonora). GoGold closed its previously announced bought deal offering for gross proceed of CAD $65M (Los Ricos North and South projects, Jalisco). MAG Silver completed its previously announced bought deal public offering for gross proceeds of USD $42,558,250 (Juanicipio project, Zacatecas). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Sonoro Gold announced an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora.  Prime Mining announced the details of its 2023 work program objectives and strategy at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa and will provide a 2022 progress report in February, 2023. Torex provided an inaugural quarterly update on its Media Luna project in Guerrero. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Colibri and its partner Silver Spruce declared that have earned 50% ownership interest in the Diamante property in Sonora. Discovery Silver announced that its shares will be listed and commence trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (Cordero project, Chihuahua). Consolidated Zinc entered into a binding conditional share sale agreement with Impact to sell its Plomosas project in Chihuahua. Vizsla, as part of its incentive compensation plan, granted stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the company (Panuco project, Sinaloa). Heliostar announced that their shares remain in a trading halt due to the acquisition of the Ana Paula project in Guerrero from Argonaut Gold.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Golden Minerals was the only mining company reporting drilling results on the second week of February, 2023. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Prismo Metals Inc., filed a drilling permit application for its Pavito project in Sonora. The company anticipates the drilling permit will be approved in early March, 2023. Prismo plans to conduct an initial 2,500m drill program in the first half of 2023.
  • Golden Minerals Company reported results from the final 10 holes of the third drill program conducted at its Yoquivo project. Drilling highlights (widths reported are true widths) include hole YQ-22-028 with 3.81 g/t Au and 1,585 g/t Ag over 0.76m on the New Vein, plus 1.16 g/t Au and 105 g/t Ag over 0.80m on the Pertenencia Hangingwall Vein, plus 4.25 g/t Au and 449 g/t Ag over 1.16m on the Camila Hangingwall Vein, plus 1.45 g/t Au and 510 g/t Ag over 4.80m on the Camila Vein; hole YQ-22-031 with 3.86 g/t Au and 668 g/t Ag over 2.29m on the Pertenencia Vein; and hole YQ-22-034 with 1.3 g/t Au and 545 g/t Ag on the San Francisco Hangingwall Vein.

ON MINING

  • No relevant news.

ON FINANCING

  • Barksdale Resources Corp., announced that 8,050,287 common share purchase warrants, with an exercise price of $0.55 were exercised prior to their January 31, 2023 expiry. “The warrant exercises generated gross proceeds of approximately $4.4M, with approximately $3.8M coming from warrant exercises in January 2023. As of February 3, the Company’s unaudited cash position is approximately $6.6M with issued capital of 80,239,886 common shares. (San Javier project, Sonora).
  • GoGold Resources Inc., closed its previously announced bought deal offering of 28.9M common shares at a price of CAD $2.25 for gross proceed of approximately CAD $65M. Net proceeds will be used to advance the Los Ricos North and South projects in Jalisco. A syndicate of underwriters hold an option to purchase up to an additional 4,335,000 common shares at a price of CAD $2.25 per common share, exercisable in whole or in part, on or before March 10, 2023.
  • MAG Silver Corp., completed its previously announced bought deal public offering of 2,905,000 common shares, including 170,000 common shares issued upon the partial exercise of the over-allotment option, at a price of USD $14.65 per common share for gross proceeds of USD $42,558,250. Net proceeds will be used to fund exploration on the Juanicipio and MAG´s other projects, certain sustaining capital requirements at the Juanicipio project, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Sonoro Gold Corp., announced an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora, in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101.  The MRE, with an effective date of January 26, 2023 is based on 59,500m of drilled data including 544 drill holes, 17 trenches and assays for 57,500m of the drilled data. The pit constrained MRE include an indicated resource of 19.9M tonnes with grades of 0.44 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag (0.46 g/t AuEq) for a total of 280K Oz Au and 2.23M Oz Ag (290K Oz AuEq) contained, and inferred resources of 10.55M tonnes with grades of 0.42 g/t Au and 4 g/t Ag (0.44 g/t AuEq) for a total of 140K Oz Au and 1.34M Oz Ag (150K Oz AuEq).
  • Prime Mining Corp., announced the details of its 2023 work program objectives and strategy at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa and will provide a 2022 progress report in February, 2023. The company has completed 110,000m of drilling in 2021 – 2022 to contribute to an updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) which is expected to be released in Q2, 2023. For 2023, Prime has budgeted initial 35,000m in  step-out drilling along the three known deposits (Guadalupe, Z-T, and Central), as well as in generative exploration drilling at key targets in the Los Reyes mining district. Additionally, Prime plans to continue metallurgical test work and metallurgical domain classification of the deposits; to complete preliminary geotechnical analysis of the resource areas; and further mining assessment to advance the property to a potential future development. The company also will continue with the environmental base line work as well as the work dialogue with the community with strong emphasis on water programs and education.  All these programs are fully funded for 2023 with the completion of an over-subscribed $21M private placement on December 22, 2023.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., provided an inaugural quarterly update on its Media Luna project in Guerrero. Development of Media Luna is well underway with the project tracking to schedule and to budget. Capital expenditures related to the development of Media Luna are unchanged at USD $874.5M. As at year-end, Torex had commitments in place for USD $229.7M of project expenditures, including USD $124.7M of expenditures incurred. Torex expects to incur USD $390M to USD $440M of capital expenditures at Media Luna in 2023, which is forecasted to be the peak year of investment. All critical path engineering is on track, focused on finalization of key process equipment sizing and specifications as well as continued detailing of the new flotation plant. The Guajes Tunnel and South Portals advanced steady. Breakthrough of the Guajes Tunnel on the south side of the Balsas River remains on track for Q1 2024. The tunnel has successfully crossed under the Balsas River with no issues related to ground conditions or water. Additionally, multiple surface constructions have advanced steady. The company anticipates first production in late 2024.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Colibri Resource Corporation and its partner Silver Spruce Resources declared that have earned 50% ownership interest in the Diamante property in Sonora. The vendor, Bimsa Minera S.A. de C.V. , retains the remainder 50% ownership interest in the property.
  • Discovery Silver Corp., announced that its shares will be listed and commence trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol “DSV”, effective as February 3, 2023 (Cordero project, Chihuahua).
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited entered into a binding conditional share sale agreement with Impact Silver Corp., to sell its 100% legal and beneficial interest in Minera Latin American Zinc S.A.P.I. de C.V., a subsidiary of the company that owns the Plomosas project in Chihuahua for USD $6M. The sale agreement for the proposed transaction consist of USD $3M in cash and USD $3M in Impact Silver shares, and the payment of a 12% net profit interest royalty.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., as part of its incentive compensation plan, granted 2,130,000 stock options at an exercise price of $1.60 and 1,133,572 restricted share units to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the company (Panuco project, Sinaloa).
  • Heliostar Metals Inc., announced that their shares remain in a trading halt due to the acquisition of the Ana Paula project in Guerrero from Argonaut Gold, since this kind of transactions require a number of key documents for the security exchange.

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, an old adit driven along low-angle sheeted quartz veins in an orogenic gold prospect in Sonora Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Cu silicates (chrysocolla)

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 22ndweek of the year (May 30th to June 5th, 2022), at least 19 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with seven reporting resources and developments of their properties, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, two communicating production and financial results, two announcing financing issues, two commenting on Mexican issues, and two informing on exploration results. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Advance Lithium provided an update on the recent mining law changes. Prime Mining, Vizsla Silver and Zacatecas Silver reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of June, 2022. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Benjamin Hill reported drill results from the El Fierro Zone at its Sonora Gold project, Sonora. In Coahuila, Monumental announced plans for follow-up exploration work at its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth project.  ON MINING, Santacruz reported Q1, 2022 production results from its Zimapan mine in Hidalgo. Minera Alamos reported Q1, 2022 financial results from its Santana project, Sonora. ON FINANCING, Reyna Silver announced a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $3M (Guigui and Batopilas projects, Chihuahua). Alamos Gold declared a quarterly dividend of USD $0.025 per common share (Mulatos mine, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Zacatecas Silver commenced its work plans to prepare a current resource estimate at its Esperanza project, Morelos. Discovery Silver reported positive metallurgical results and provided an update on its flagship Cordero project, Chihuahua. Prime reported additional phase 2 drill results from 12 step out drill holes at the Guadalupe East deposit within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Magna Gold filed an independent technical report for its Margarita project, Chihuahua. Minera Alamos provided an update on the continuing progress at its Santana project in Sonora. Vizsla reported results from eighteen new holes drilled at the southern extension of the Napoleon Vein at its flagship Panuco project, Sinaloa.  Zacatecas Silver released results from the Panuco Norte drilling program at its Zacatecas project, Zacatecas. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Azure entered into a binding sale agreement to sell its subsidiary companies that own and operate its Mexican assets to Bendito Resources for a combination of cash and shares valued at A $20M. Silverton entered into a share purchase agreement with Zapata to acquire the Margaritas property in Durango. Pantera Silver announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Nuevo Taxco project, Guerrero). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

Advance Lithium Corp., provided an update on the recent mining law changes that states that all the activities related to the exploration, exploitation and profit of lithium shall be the responsibility of the yet to be formed national lithium company. Advance has identified large zones of lithium, potassium and boron mineralization at their claims which are in good standing, with work completed and all legal filings in order. It should be noted that the analysis of the company’s deposits show that the composition of the mineralization is approximately equal parts lithium and potassium. While lithium is covered by this new legislation in Mexico, potassium is not. The potential of near term production of both lithium and potassium products puts the Company in a unique position with its salars/salt lakes deposits and looks forward to discussing the lithium opportunities with the newly formed Mexican national lithium company.

  • Prime Mining, Vizsla Silver and Zacatecas Silver reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of June, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION
·         Benjamin Hill Mining Corp., reported drill results from the El Fierro Zone at its Sonora Gold project, Sonora. This drill program explored for the presence and continuity of metallic mineralization found in outcroppings at surface, in epithermal veins, skarn zones and hydrothermal breccias, as well as for possible magmatic source of mineralization as indicated by chargeability highs. Drilling highlights include hole SGB-22-23 with 0.25% Cu over 1.25m; hole SGB-22-24 with 0.67% Cu over 1.25m; hole SGB-22-26 with 0.39 g/t Au over 0.95m, plus 0.26% Cu over 1.45m; and hole SFB-22-21 with 3.54% Cu over 3m, including 10% Cu, 2.11 g/t Au and 52 g/t Ag over 0.6m.
·         Monumental Minerals Corp., announced plans for follow-up exploration work at its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth project. The follow-up work program will be divided in two phases. The first phase will consists of detailed geological mapping and collection of structural data, along with a ground radiometric survey to identify drill targets. The second phase will consists of a stream sediment geochemical survey to assess areas within and beyond the 8km2 area of highest priority.
ON MINING
·         Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported Q1, 2022 production results from its Zimapan mine in Hidalgo. The company processed 191,413 tonnes to produce 901.2K Oz AgEq. It sold 872.7K Oz AgEq and reported cash and All Included Sustaining Costs (AISC) of USD $17.04 and USD $23.38 per Oz AgEq sold respectively.
·         Minera Alamos Inc., announced Q1, 2022 financial results from its Santana project, Sonora. The company reported revenues of CAD $5.16M from approximately 65% of its gold production (the remaining gold was sold post quarter end); income from operation of CAD $1.53M; a net income of CAD $1.06M; and cash and cash equivalents of CAD $8,17M.
ON FINANCING
·         Reyna Silver Corp., announced a brokered private placement with Red Cloud Securities Inc. (the “Agent”), for gross proceeds of up to CAD $3M. The Agent will have an option, exercisable in full or in part up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering, to sell up to an additional 2,777,778 Units at the Offering Price for additional gross proceeds of up to CAD $M. The company plans to use part of the gross proceeds to explore their Guigui and Batopilas projects in Chihuahua.
·         Alamos Gold Inc., declared a quarterly dividend of USD $0.025 per common share. The Company has paid dividends for 13 consecutive years during which time USD $264M has been returned to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, including USD $27M thus far in 2022. This includes 1M shares repurchased under the normal course issuer bid in May 2022 at a cost of USD $7.4M, or USD $7.42 per share. The dividend is payable on June 30, 2022 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 16, 2022 (Mulatos mine, Sonora).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
·         Zacatecas Silver Corp., commenced its work plans to prepare a current resource estimate at its Esperanza project, Morelos. The Esperanza project has a historical resource estimate of a measured and indicated resource of 34,352,000 tonnes of 0.98 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag for 1.08M Oz Au and 8.9M Oz Ag and an inferred resource of 718,000 tonnes of 0.80 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag for 18.4K Oz Au and 347.2K Oz Ag. Measured and indicated resources are 1.22M Oz AuEq of 1.11 g/t AuEq. Immediate steps to confirm resource estimate include: Extensive verification through sampling at least 10% of the historical drill core and new metallurgical test work by SGS Minerals. Additionally, the company is to commence work to identify and prioritize expansion and exploration targets throughout the project.
·         Discovery Silver Corp., reported positive metallurgical results and provided an update on its flagship Cordero project, Chihuahua. Initial results from the metallurgical testwork showed recoveries typically ranging from 90-95% for Ag, Pb, and Zn from very coarse grind size and with lower reagent consumption than what was assumed earlier. The company also announced the project study team for the Pre-Feasibility Study on Cordero project, in which plans to release an updated resource estimate in Q4, 2022. The updated resource estimate will be based on a total of 283,000m in 683 drill holes.
·         Prime Mining Corp., reported additional phase 2 drill results from 12 step out drill holes at the Guadalupe East deposit within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Highlights drill intercepts include hole 22GE-53 with 9.67 g/t Au and 314 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 0.80m, plus 3.01 g/t Au and 220 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.90m, plus 13.65 g/t Au and 311 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.50m, plus 61.99 g/t Au and 978 g/t Ag over a TW of 3.10m, including 200 g/t Au and 2,830 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.90m, plus 5.90 g/t Au and 341 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.60m; hole 22GE-48 with 2.93 g/t Au and 62 g/t Ag over a TW of 3.90m, including 4.41 g/t Au and 105 g/t Ag over a TW of 2m, plus 1.16 g/t Au and 79 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.40m, plus 1.78 g/t Au and 82 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.50m, plus 4.29 g/t Au and 125 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.40m, plus 1.62 g/t Au and 120 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.1m, plus 1.24 g/t Au and 88 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.10m, plus 3.19 g/t Au and 34 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.10m, plus  2.31 g/t Au and 98 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.40m, including 3.68 g/t Au and 161 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.80m; hole 22GE-45 with 12.79 g/t Au and 300 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.50m, including 16.96 g/t Au and 392 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.80m; hole 22GE-51 with 3.01 g/t Au and 161 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.60m; and hole 22GE-46 with 1.95 g/t Au and 155 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.30m, including 3.11 g/t Au and 249 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.30m.
·         Magna Gold Corp., filed an independent technical report for its Margarita project, Chihuahua, dated May 24, 2022, with an effective date of April 8, 2022. The technical report contains an initial mineral resource estimate.
·         Minera Alamos Inc., provided an update on the continuing progress at its Santana project in Sonora. The company announced that the development of the Nicho Main Zone is now underway with haulage and access road largely completed. First mineralized material should be stacked on the Santana leach pad as operation move into the second half of the year. At Nicho Norte, the gold mined and stacked on the leach pad to date total approximately 18K Oz with roughly 7K Oz recovered in concentrate.
·         Vizsla Silver Corp., reported results from eighteen new holes drilled at the southern extension of the Napoleon Vein at its flagship Panuco project, Sinaloa. Drilling highlights include hole NP-22-258 with 1,139 g/t Ag, 11.48 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, and 0.8% Zn (2,098 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 4.30m; hole NP-22-271 with 223 g/t Ag, 2.76 g/t Au, 1.5% Pb, and 5% Zn (677 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 7m, including 789 g/t Ag, 18.5 g/t Au, 5.7% Pb, and 11.7% Zn (2,871 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.46m, including 343 g/t Ag, 5.11 g/t Au, 1.7% Pb, and 2.9% Zn (909 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.61m, including 403 g/t Ag, 5.04 g/t Au, 1% Pb, and 4% Zn (985 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.91m, including 191 g/t Ag, 1.12 g/t Au, 2.9% Pb, and 10.9% Zn (774 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.99m; hole NP-22-277 with 151 g/t Ag, 2.63 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn (389 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 7m, including 315 g/t Ag, 2.32 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, and 0.4% Zn (524 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.5m. including 630 g/t Ag, 4.94 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 0.5% Zn (1,055 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.75m, including 189 g/t Ag, 2.7 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, and 1.8% Zn (495 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.79m; and hole NP-22-281 with 202 g/t Ag, 1.55 g/t Au, 0.7% Pb, and 1.1% Zn (387 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 5.4m, including 1,275 g/t Ag, 6.25 g/t Au, 3.5% Pb, and 4% Zn (2,2027 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.34m, including 398 g/t Ag, 3.75 g/t Au, 1.9% Pb, and 2.7% Zn (855 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.84m, including 386 g/t Ag, 3.09 g/t Au, 1.8% Pb, and 2.5% Zn (779 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.59m. These results are part of the ongoing 12,000m resource/discovery-based drill program.
·         Zacatecas Silver Corp., released results from the Panuco Norte drilling program at its Zacatecas project, Zacatecas. Drilling highlights include hole PAN2022-057 with 224 g/t Ag and 0.15 g/t Au (224 g/t AgEq) over 1.83m; hole PAN2022-56 with 151 g/t Ag and 0.16 g/t Au (163 g/t AgEq) over 3.71m; and hole PAN2022-61 with 231 g/t Ag and 0.22 g/t Au (248 g(/t AgEq) over 1.28m. The Company has now completed 63 drill holes at Panuco North for a total of 7,240 meters. “Drilling in the eastern and central part of the Panuco North Vein has now intercepted near-surface mineralization over a strike length of 700 m, with the vein remaining open along strike and open at depth. Assay results from 22 Panuco North holes are pending”.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
·         Azure Minerals Limited entered into a binding sale agreement to sell its subsidiary companies that own and operate its Mexican assets to Bendito Resources for a combination of cash and shares valued at A $20M, consisting of A $10M cash and A $10M shares in Bendito. The portfolio consists of eight properties, but Alacrán, Oposura, and Promontorio projects will form the core assets of Bendito, all located within the Laramide Copper Province in N-NW Mexico. Alacrán, in Sonora State, hosts the high-grade Mesa de Plata silver deposit and adjacent Loma Bonita gold-silver deposit which together contain 32 M Oz Ag and 150K Oz Au in JORC Mineral Resources. A Scoping Study / Preliminary Economic Assessment on Oposura, in Sonora State,showed robust results for a high-quality, high-grade massive sulphide Zn-Pg-Ag development opportunity. The project holds significant exploration upside for resource expansion. At Promontorio, Chihuahua, Azure established a high-grade, near-surface Cu-Au-Ag resource and identified prospectivity for an underlying copper porphyry system.
·         Silverton Metals Corp., entered into a share purchase agreement with Zapata Exploration Ltd., to acquire the Margaritas property in Durango by acquiring all of the issued and outstanding shares of Zapata´s Mexican subsidiary, Impulsora de Proyectos Mineros S.A. de C.V. The Margaritas property comprises two mining concessions totalling 500 hectares, and consists of a 3.5km long and 240m of vertical extension of an under-explored, high-grade epithermal vein system hosted in productive volcanic rocks of the Sierra Madre Occidental. This vein system has returned grades up to 73.7 g/t Au in dump samples and 31.6 g/t Au in rock chip channel samples with grades between 1-38 g/t Ag. To acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Impulsora, Silverton has agreed to issue 750K common shares and grant a net smelter return royalty of 0.5%, which may be repurchased at a price of USD $250K.
·         Pantera Silver Corp., announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors. In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized the granting of incentive stock options under its Stock Option Plan to purchase 300K common shares of the Company at an exercise price of CAD $0.20 per share for a five-year term expiring June 1, 2027. The stock options are being granted to certain directors and advisors of the Company (Nuevo Taxco project, Guerrero).
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, Cu silicates (chrysocolla) in a Carbonate Replacement Deposit in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Quartz Vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 8th week of the year (February 21st to February 27th, 2022), at least 24 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 6 news published by the media, with eight reporting resources and developments of their properties, six disclosing deals and corporate issues, four informing on exploration results, three discussing social issues, three communicating production results, three announcing financial issues, and three commenting on Mexican issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Magna Gold announced that after several inspections at its San Francisco mine in Sonora, the suspension of the crushing and laboratory areas has been lifted. Mexico was the largest silver producer country in 2021. Marisol Barragán swore in as President of the Mexico City District of Mujeres WIM Mexico.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec-Kootenay JV released results from the ongoing RC drilling program conducted at the Cervantes project, and Ranchero Gold released the final results from its recently completed phase 1 drill program at its Maíz Azul prospect within its Santa Daniela project.  In Chihuahua, Radius announced results from its ongoing drill program at its Amalia project. In Nayarit, Sierra Madre informed that it received the drilling permit from the Mexican Federal Environmental Permitting Agency (SEMARNAT) and entered into formal surface rights exploration agreement with the surface owners for its La Tigra project.  ON MINING, Americas Gold and Silver provided silver production guidance for 2022 for its Cosala Operations in Sinaloa. Orla provided a 2022 production, operating costs, capital costs, and exploration spending guidance for the full year 2022 for its Camino Rojo property, Zacatecas. Equinox Gold reported Q4 and full year 2021 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Golden Tag increased its previously announced non-brokered private placement by up to 5M unit for aggregate proceeds of up to 1.25M (San Diego project, Durango). Pan American Silver declared dividend to shareholders of $0.12 per common share (La Colorada mine, Zacatecas). Gold Resource declared Q1, 2022 dividend to shareholders (Arista mine, Oaxaca). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Silver Dollar announced that it completed a 2,424 m drill program in 11 holes at its La Joya project in Durango. Silver Tiger informed that it will commence the rehabilitation of the historic El Tigre mine. Alamos Gold updated mineral reserves and resources as of December 31, 2021 (Mulatos Mine, Sonora). Pan American Silver released results for 20 new infill and exploration holes drilled at its la Colorada mine in Zacatecas. Prime Mining announced results from its first drill program at the Guadalupe West deposit within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Stroud commenced its phase 2 diamond drilling program at its Santo Domingo project in Jalisco. Mithril reported positive results from the metallurgical testwork conducted at its Copalquin project in Durango. Newmont reported mineral reserves and resources for their Peñasquito and Noche Buena properties in Zacatecas.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Benjamin Hill granted options to directors, officers and a consultant (Sonora Gold project, Sonora). Monumental announced the appointment of its CEO (Jemi project, Coahuila). Orla Mining announced the appointment of its Chief Sustainability Officer (Camino Rojo, Zacatecas). SSR informed that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Pitarrilla silver project in Durango to Endeavour. Riverside signed an agreement with Agnico Eagle for the sale of the Pima property located in Sonora. Sierra Metals announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua). Great Panther announced senior management changes (Topia mine, Durango). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Esperanza Silver supported the first generation of the education program in Morelos. Grupo México offered employment to 100 women in Santa Bárbara, Chihuahua. Minera Peñasquito delivered the remodeling and rehabilitation of a plaza to the community of Nuevo Peñasco, Mazapil in Zacatecas.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Magna Gold Corp., announced that after several inspections at its San Francisco mine in Sonora, the suspension of the crushing and laboratory areas has been lifted.
  • Mexico was the largest silver producer country in 2021 with 5,600 tonnes, followed by China with 3,400 tonnes and by Peru with 3,000 tonnes.
  • Marisol Barragán swore in as President of the Mexico City District of Mujeres WIM Mexico, with the primary purpose of boosting initiatives that promote equal opportunities and working conditions for women in the mining industry in Mexico,

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp – Kootenay Silver Inc JV released results from the ongoing RC drilling program conducted at the Cervantes project. Drilling highlights include hole CAL22-004 with 1 g/t Au over 167.2m, including 4.25 g/t Au over 24.4m; hole CAL22-002 with 0.37 g/t Au over 99.1m; and hole CAL22-003 with 0.45 g/t Au over 45.7m, including 0.87 g/t Au over 13.7m. Gold appears to be widely distributed in disseminations, fractures and veinlets within quartz-feldspars porphyry, feldspar porphyry stocks, and related hydrothermal breccias.
  • Ranchero Gold Corp., released the final results from its recently completed phase 1 drill program at its Maíz Azul prospect within its Santa Daniela project in Sonora. The drill program consisted of 3,122m in 16 holes. Hole MA22-25 intersected 1.2 g/t Au over 15.6m at the La Colmena target. The company will update its geological mapping to further identify new structures that control mineralization. It also will plan the phase II drill program with the goal of expanding the newly discovered gold mineralization as well as testing additional targets including the X-structure. 
  • Radius Gold Inc., announced results from its ongoing drill program at El Cuervo area within its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Drill highlights include hole AMDD21-47 with 167 g/t Ag and 0.54 g/t Au over 96m, including 232 g/t Ag and 0.65 g/t Au over 61.20m, including 290 g/t Ag and 0.8 g/t Au over 45.20m, including 302 g/t Ag and 1.13 g/t Au over 17.35m, including 592 g/t Ag and 0.65 g/t Au over 7.35m, including 438 g/t Ag and 1.12 g/t Au over 7.85m; and hole AMDD21-46 with 44 g/t Ag and 0.13 g/t Au over 31m, including 158 g/t Ag and 0.49 g/t Au over 3.7m, including 233 g/t Ag and 0.31 g/t Au over 1.7m, and 203 g/t Ag and 0.53 g/t Au over 3.50m, including 381 g/t Ag and 1.31 g/t Au over 1.1m.  “The initial drilling at El Cuervo has confirmed a significant mineralized system and drilling is ongoing to define the size potential”.
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd., informed that it received the drilling permit from the Mexican Federal Environmental Permitting Agency (SEMARNAT) authorizing the use of 30 drill pads within its La Tigra project in Nayarit. The company also informed that it entered into formal surface rights exploration agreement with the ejido Santa Maria Picachos, the surface owners at La Tigra project that allows for the commencement of the drilling program.

ON MINING

  • Americas Gold and Silver Corporation provided silver production guidance for 2022 for its Cosala Operations in Sinaloa. Silver production from the Cosala Operations in 2022 is forecast to be between 0.7 to 0.9M Oz Ag, 13-15M Lb Pb, and 36 to 40M Lb Zn. “
  • Orla Mining Ltd., provided a 2022 production, operating costs, capital costs, and exploration spending guidance for the full year 2022 for its Camino Rojo property, Zacatecas. The company expects to produce from Camino Rojo over 90-100K Oz Au for the full year 2022 with an AISC of USD $600-700 per Oz Au sold. Total sustaining cost and exploration spending are expected to total USD $5M and USD $10M respectively.
  • Equinox Gold Corporation reported Q4 and full year 2021 production and financial results from their Los Filos and Mercedes mines located in Guerrero and Sonora respectively. At Los Filos mine, Guerrero, Equinox mined 3.4M tonnes of 0.77 g/t Au (open pit) and 162K tonnes of 3.11 g/t Au (underground) to produce 54.7K Oz Au. It sold 55,144 Oz Au during Q4, 2021 and reported revenue of USD $98.8M, and cash and AISC of USD $1,311 and USD $1,433 per Oz Au sold respectively. For the full year, the company mined 7.09M tonnes of 0.71 g/t Au (open pit) and 519K tonnes of 3.23 g/t Au to produce 144.1K Oz Au. It sold 143.8K Oz Au during the full year 2021, and reported revenue of USD $257.2M, and cash and AISC of USD $1,575 and USD $1,753 per Oz Au sold. Equinox provided production and guidance cost for 2022. It expects to produce between 160-180KOz Au at cash and AISC of USD $1400-1600 and USD $1,625-1,700 per Oz Au sold respectively. At Mercedes mine, Sonora, the company mined 125K tonnes and processed 161K tonnes of 2.30 g/t Au during Q4, 2021 to produce 11,35K Oz Au. It sold 10.3K Oz Au and reported revenue of USD $18.9M and cash and AISC of USD $1,091 and USD $1,584 respectively. For the full year, the company mined 348K tonnes and processed 398K tonnes of 2.59 g/t Au to produce 31.8K Oz Au, It sold 30.9K Oz Au, and reported revenue of USD $56.9M , and cash and AISC of USD $966 and USD $1,357 per Oz Au respectively. On Dec 16, 2021, Equinox entered into an agreement to sell Mercedes mine to Bear Creek.

ON FINANCING

  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd., increased its previously announced non-brokered private placement by up to 5M unit for aggregate proceeds of up to $1.25M. The company plans to use the gross proceeds to fund advancement of its San Diego project in Durango.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., declared dividend of $0.12 per common share under new dividend policy. The cash dividend of $0.12 per common share, or approximately $25.3M in aggregate cash dividends, is payable on or about March 21, 2022 (La Colorada mine, Zacatecas).
  • Gold Resource Corporation declared its quarterly dividend of $0.01 per common share for Q1, 2022 to shareholders (Arista mine, Oaxaca).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., announced that it completed a 2,424 m drill program in 11 holes on the Noria portion at its La Joya project in Durango. Aim of the drill program was target development and testing for possible structural extensions of known mineralized zones identified in historical drilling. Assays are pending and drilling is on standby until the company receives assay results and gets an interpretation.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., informed that it has contracted Cominvi, an underground mine contractor, to commence the rehabilitation of the historic El Tigre mine. “Initial rehabilitation will begin on the Level 7 main entry to the Historic El Tigre Mine to allow access to the Sooy Vein, El Tigre Vein and the Seitz Kelly Vein in contemplation of underground channel sampling, drilling and bulk sampling on those veins and the black shale horizon”.
  • Alamos Gold Inc., updated mineral reserves and resources as of December 31, 2021. The company increased its mineral reserves at Mulatos mine 14% to 1.5M Oz Au (29.4M tonnes of 1.64 g/t Au) with a 32% increase in grades reflecting the addition of higher-grade underground mineral reserves at Puerto del Aire, which is adjacent to the main Mulatos pit. The company reported proven + probable reserves for 29.36M tonnes of 1.64 g/t Au for a total of 1.54M Oz Au contained. It also reported Measured + Indicated resources for 8.2M tonnes of 1.34 g/t Au for a total of 353K Oz Au and Inferred resources for 1.72M tonnes of 1.06 g/t Au for a total of 59K Oz Au contained. The remaining mineral reserve mine of life of the Mulatos district is approximately six years as of December 31, 2021 (excluding the underground mineral reserves of Puerto del Aire Deposit.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., released results for 20 new infill and exploration holes drilled at its la Colorada mine in Zacatecas. Drill highlights include hole U-83-21 with 64 g/t Ag, 0.06% Cu, 1.9% Pb, and 3.8% Zn over 322.85m, including 178 g/t Ag, 0.06% Cu, 4.3% Pb, and 6.3% Zn over 64.90m; hole S-73-21 with 76 g/t Ag, 0.36% Cu, 4.2% Pb, and 9.5% Zn over 78.55m, including 91 g/t Ag, 0.46% Cu, 5.2% Pb, and 11.4% Zn over 58.1m; hole D-73-01-21 with 79 g/t Ag, 0.29% Cu, 2.2% Pb, and 5.7% Zn over 159 m, including 112 g/t Ag, 0.45% Cu, 3.2% Pb, and 8.1% Zn over 99.2m; hole D-71-01-21 with 48 g/t Ag, 0.05% Cu, 3% Pb, and 5.8% Zn over 44.65m, including 100 g/t Ag, 0.28% Cu, 7.3% Pb, and 7.1% Zn over 15.95m; hole D71-03-21 with 60 g/t Ag, 0.09% Cu, 2.1% Pb, and 3.2% Zn over 22.1m, and 42 g/t Ag, 0.07% Cu, 1.2% Pb, and 3.9% Zn over 55.60m, and 91 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 4.8% Pb, and 8% Zn over 191.85m; and hole D-21-02-21 with 59 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 1.2% Pb, and 3.8% Zn over 219.90m, including 51 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 2% Pb, and 6.1% Zn over 91.3m.
  • Prime Mining Corp., announced results from its first drill program at the Guadalupe West deposit within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Twelve new holes, of which seven were diamond holes and 5 were RC holes are reported and drill highlights include hole 21GW-12R with 1.68 g/t Au and 26 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 19.8m; hole 21GW-07 with 1.6 g/t Au and 50 g/t Ag over a TW of 8.6m, and 1.92 g/t Au and 34 g/t Ag over a TW of 17.7m; hole 21GW-02 with 1.82 g/t Au and 52 g/t Ag over 4.8m, and 0.53 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag over a TW of 27.6m; hole 21GW-01 with 1.08 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag over a TW of 3.6m; and hole 21GW-11R with 0.9 g/t Au and 63 g/t Ag over a TW of 4.3m.
  • Stroud Resources Ltd., commenced its phase 2 diamond drilling program, which will consist of 3,500m targeting the newly discovered Zopilotes Vein, the Guadalupe Vein, and the La Raya Vein, within its Santo Domingo project in Jalisco. “The company’s current drilling permit covers 13 drill pads (drill setups) located across the property. A second drilling permit will be submitted seeking additional drill pad locations to facilitate further delineation of the three known mineralized vein systems and other exploration targets”. 
  • Mithril Resources Ltd., reported positive results from the metallurgical testwork conducted at its Copalquin project in Durango. The company reported that the final overall recoveries after leaching of the flotation products were 96.5% for gold and 96.1% for silver.
  • Newmont Corporation reported mineral reserves and resources for their Peñasquito and Noche Buena properties in Zacatecas as of December 31, 2021. At Peñasquito, Zacatecas, Newmont reported Proven Reserves of 115M tonnes of 0.61 g/t Au, 38 g/t Ag, 0.9% Zn, and 0.4% Pb for a total of 2.25M Oz Au, 141.5M Oz Ag, 2.38 B Lb Zn, and 940M Lb Pb and Probable Reserves of 247M tonnes of 0.51 g/t Au, 32 g/t Ag, 0.7% Zn, and 0.3% Pb for a total of 4.08M Oz Au, 252.4M Oz Ag, 3.87 B Lb Zn, and 1.64 B Lb Pb. Proven + Probable Reserves are 362M tonnes of 0.54 g/t Au, 34 g/t Ag, 0.8% Zn, and 0.3% Pb for a total of 6.33M Oz Au, 393.9M Oz Ag, 6.25 B Lb Zn, and 2.58 B Lb Pb. Measured Resources are 31.4M tonnes of 0.27 g/t Au, 26 g/t Ag, 0.7% Zn, and 0.3% Pb for a total of 280K Oz Au, 26M Oz Ag, 460M Lb Zn, and 200M Lb Pb, and Indicated Resources of 176.6M tonnes of 0.27 g/t Au, 26 g/t Ag, 0.6% Zn, and 0.3% Pb for a total of 1.5M Oz Au, 149.6M Oz Ag, 2.2 B Lb Zn, and 1.02 B Lb Pb. Measured + Indicated Resources are  208M tonnes of 0.27g/t Au, 26 g/t Ag, 0.6%Zn, and 0.3% Pb for a total of 1.78M Oz Au, 175.6M Oz Ag, 2.69 B Lb Zn, and 1.23 B Lb Pb. Inferred Resources are 89.8M tonnes of 89.8M tonnes of 0.4 g/t Au, 28 g/t Ag, 0.5% Zn, and 0.2% Pb for a total of 1.16M Oz Au, 80.84M Oz Ag, 1.07 B Lb Zn, and 480M Lb Pb. At Noche Buena, Zacatecas (50% attributable to Newmont), it reported Indicated Resources of 21M tonnes of 0.37 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag for a total of 250K Oz Au and 9.4M Oz Ag, and Inferred Resources of 1.6M tonnes of 1.07 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag for a total of 230K Oz Au and 570K Oz Ag. Resources are reported exclusive of Reserves.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Benjamin Hill Mining Corp., granted 1.4.M options exercisable at $0.44 per common share of which 980K options granted to directors/officers shall have a term of 5 years, and 500K options granted to a consultant shall have a term of 2 years (Sonora Gold project, Sonora).
  • Monumental Minerals Corp., announced the appointment of its CEO (Jemi project, Coahuila).
  • Orla Mining Ltd., announced the appointment of its Chief Sustainability Officer, effective march 1, 2022 (Camino Rojo, Zacatecas).
  • SSR Mining Inc., informed that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Pitarrilla silver project in Durango to Endeavour Silver Corp., for a total consideration of up to USD $127M. This consideration includes USD $35M in cash, USD $35M in Endeavour shares, and a 1.25% Net Smelter Return (“NSR”) royalty on the Pitarrilla property.
  • Riverside Resources Inc., signed an agreement with Agnico Eagle for the sale of the Pima property located in Sonora. Riverside will receive cash and completes the pass through royalty transfer with Millrock Resources Inc. 
  • Sierra Metals Inc., announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua).
  • Great Panther Mining Limited informed about the resignation of its President and CEO and announced the appointment of his replacement on an interim basis (Topia mine, Durango).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Esperanza Silver, supported the first generation of 14 people between women and men who accredited the upper secondary level as a results of an alliance in favor of the education integrated for inhabitants of the community of San Agustin Tetlama and Esperanza Silver.
  • Grupo México offered employment to 100 women in Santa Bárbara, Chihuahua. Andrés Torres, general secretary of the Section 11 Miners’ Union reported that by 2022 there is a goal of employing a hundred women in the different areas of the companies.
  • Minera Peñasquito (Newmont) delivered the inhabitants of the community of Nuevo Peñasco, belonging to Ejido Cedros, in Mazapil, the remodeling and rehabilitation of their plaza, as part of Newmont Peñasquito’s commitment to creating shared value in the communities in its area of influence. Additionally, the company provided 27 trees of different species, the same that were planted throughout the square.

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

On the picture above, a quartz vein from a low sulphidation epithermal vein project in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.