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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of February, 2025

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Orogenic Quartz Vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 9th week of the year (February 24th to March 02nd 2025), at least 33 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with eleven disclosing deals and corporate issues, ten announcing financing rounds, seven reporting resources and development of their properties, seven announcing financing rounds, six disclosing deals and corporate issues, three informing on exploration results, and one communicating production results, and one commenting on Mexican issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Torex Gold, Tocvan, Prime Mining, Southern Silver, and Minaurum Gold reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of February, 2025. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Riverside provided updates on H1, 2025 exploration programs of its Cuarentas, Ariel, and Union projects, and Minaurum reported results from its ongoing drilling program at its Alamos Silver project.  In Sinaloa, Prismo provided an update on its Palos Verdes project.  ON MINING, Heliostar reported Q4, 2024 financial results from their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Capitan Mining closed its previously announced private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $5.3M (Cruz de Plata project, Durango). Mexican Gold announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $160K (Las Minas project, Veracruz). Mithril confirmed that 7,000,000 ordinary shares will be released from escrow (Copalquin project, Durango).  Oroco upsized its oversubscribed private placement and received $2,303,555.75 in gross proceeds (Santo Tomas project, Sinaloa). Pinnacle closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $800K (Potrero project, Durango).  Sailfish declared Q1, 2025 dividend and announced dividend reinvestment plan (Gavilanes project, Durango). Southern Silver closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $3,583,680.03 (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango). Alamos Gold declared quarterly dividend (Mulatos mine, Sonora). Aura declared and approved the payment of a dividend respect of its Q4, 2024 financial results (Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas).  Reyna Silver closed a third tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $106.5K (Batopilas project, Chihuahua). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Torex reported drilling results from Media Luna West and Media Luna East in its Morelos Mine Complex in Guerrero. Southern Silver reported results from six core holes totalling 2,395m from its Q4, 2024 “proof of concept” drilling being conducted at its Cerro Las Minitas in Durango. Tocvan released results of 4 RC holes totalling 776.2m drilled at its Pilar project in Sonora. Prime Mining reported generative drilling results of 14 holes completed at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Mammoth Resources announced plans to initiate small-scale gold-silver production at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua.  Guanajuato Silver completed development to high-grade Santo Niño Vein in san Ignacio mine, Guanajuato. GoGold announced the filing of NI 43-101feasibility study technical report at its Los Ricos South project in Jalisco. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Equinox Gold and Calibre Mining entered into a definitive arrangement agreement to merge, forming New Equinox Gold (Los Filos mine, Guerrero). Apolo Silver appointed a new member to its Board of Directors (Cinco de Mayo project, Chihuahua). Pinnacle signed a definitive agreement for option to acquire El Potrero project in Durango. Chesapeake announced the appointment of its Chief Metallurgical Officer (Metates project, Durango). Plata Latina declared that a wholly subsidiary of Fresnillo plc has exercised its right to purchase the NSR on the Naranjillo property, Guanajuato. Roberto Resources announced a proposed acquisition of the Claudia Gold and Silver Project in Durango. Canasil announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors and its CFO (Nora project, Durango). Defiance Silver entered into an agreement for six month for investor relations services (San Acacio project, Zacatecas). Masivo Silver signed a letter of intent to acquire Cerro Colorado project in Sonora. Xali Gold entered into a binding letter of intent to option the Sarape project in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY,  no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., Tocvan Ventures Corp., Prime Mining Corp., Southern Silver Exploration Corp., and Minaurum Gold Inc., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of February, 2025. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Riverside Resources Inc., provided updates on H1, 2025 exploration programs of its Cuarentas, Ariel, and Union projects in Sonora, and on additional projects and partnerships. At Cuarentas project, Riverside has identified four priority drill targets using geochemical, geophysical, and mapping techniques. The project is drill-permitted and has a history of high-grade mining. At Ariel project, the company is focused on a large, undrilled porphyry copper system, with surface indicators suggesting deeper copper potential. Recent work includes mapping and geochemical sampling in the area. At Union project, Riverside has identified a high-grade carbonate replacement deposit with potential for a deeper porphyry system. It has been identified as a high-priority target for future exploration campaigns. Other projects in Riverside´s portfolio include the Suaqui Verde project, which is currently under option to Sothern Empire, and the neighboring Suaqui Grande copper project, which Riverside retains 100% ownership of.  “Exploration efforts for H1 2025 continue across multiple projects, with further results expected from Cecilia project and other key targets. Riverside also remains actively engaged in joint venture discussions, welcoming potential partnerships to advance its exploration programs”.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., reported results from its ongoing drilling program, which have further expanded the Promontorio vein zone and confirmed consistent grade continuity at the Alamos Silver Project, Sonora. Drilling highlights are shown in the table below:
  • Prismo Metals Inc., provided an update on its Palos Verdes project in Sinaloa, where this property involves a collaborative drilling program between Prismo Metals and Vizsla Silver Corp. This is the fourth phase of drilling and was focusing on three main targets to trace the mineralized vein system. The drilling began in September 2024, with two holes completed to test the down-dip extension of previously identified high-grade mineralization. However, the program faced challenges, including slow progress and budget constraints, leading to a curtailment in late November 2024, with assay results still pending.

 ON MINING

  • Heliostar Metals Ltd., reported Q4, 2024 financial results from their Mexican operations (all currency expressed in Canadian dollars). The company produced 5,429 Oz Au from re-leaching of the heap leach piles at la Colorada and San Agustin mines located in Sonora and Durango respectively, with some additional contribution from residual production from the heap leach pads at the Castillo mine in Durango. Heliostar sold 5,145 Oz Au (5,277 Oz AuEq) at cash cost and AISC of $1,755 and $2,089 per Oz AuEq respectively. Cost of sales was $1,849 per Oz AuEq.  The company also reported revenues of $19.5M; mine operating earnings of $9.56M; gain on bargain purchase of $90.4M; exploration expenses of $2.8M; net (loss) earnings of $84.4M or $0.41 per share; cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2024 of $7.7M; total assets of $174.7M; and working capital of $51.97M.The company had a debt facility of up to USD $10M but all debt was fully re-paid by February 2025. Heliostar also provided 2025 production and costs guidance. At La Colorada, Sonora, it expects to produce between 17K-23.3K Oz Au and 42.5K-51K Oz Ag (17.5K-23.8K Oz AuEq) at cash and AISC of USD $1,800-$1,950 and USD $1,850-$1975 per Oz AuEq respectively. At San Agustin, Durango, Heliostar expects to produce between 8.5K-11K Oz Au at cash and AISC of USD $1,500-$1,650 and USD $1,700-$1850 per Oz AuEq respectively. At San Agustin re-start, the company expects to produce between 4.5K-5.7K Oz Au and 34K-43K Oz Ag (5K-6.2K Oz AuEq) at cash and AISC of USD $2,350-$2,500 and USD $2,900-$3,035 per Oz AuEq respectively.Heliostaralso reported consolidated figures and expects to produce between 30K-40K Oz Au and 76.5K-94.5 Oz Ag (31K-41K Oz AuEq) at cash and AISC of USD $1,800-$1,950 and USD $1,950-2,100 per Oz AuEq.

ON FINANCING

  • Capitan Silver Corp., Mining closed its previously announced private placement of 13,250,000 units at a price of CAD $0.40 per unit for gross proceeds of CAD $5.3M. Net proceeds will be used to fund exploration activities at its Cruz de Plata project in Durango, additional consolidation opportunities as well as to fund working capital, and general corporate expenses.
  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $160K through the issuance of 4,000,000 units at a price of CAD $0.04 per unit. Net proceeds will be used to fund claim fee payments and continuing operations of Las Minas project in Veracruz, as well as to fund to fund annual OTCQB listing fees, payment of outstanding invoices, and for general working capital.
  • Mithril Silver and Gold Limited confirmed that 7,000,000 ordinary shares will be released from escrow on March 4, 2025 at the conclusion of the four months from issue hold period (Copalquin project, Durango).
  • Oroco Resource Corp., upsized its oversubscribed private placement and received $2,303,555.75 in gross proceeds by the issuance of 9,214,223 units at a price of $ 0.25 per unit. Net proceeds will be used for the advancement of the Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa, as well as working capital, corporate marketing, and other general corporate purposes.
  • Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp., closed a non-brokered private placement and the associated staged option to acquire up to a 100% interest in the Potrero property in Durango, Mexico, for gross proceeds of $800K through the issuance of 20,000,000 units at a price of $0.06 per unit. Gross proceeds will be used for exploration and development of the Potrero Project, Durango, payment of the back-taxes, and for working capital.
  • Sailfish Royalty Corp., declared Q1, 2025 dividend of USD $0.0125 per share, payable on April 15, 2025. It also introduced a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) which allows shareholders to reinvest their dividends into additional shares. Participation in the DRIP is optional and does not affect cash dividend payouts unless shareholders choose to participate. Future dividends will be determined at the discretion of the Board based on the company’s financial situation and other relevant factors (Gavilanes project, Durango).
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $3,583,680.03 through the issuance of 19,909,335 units at a price of $0.18 per unit. Net proceeds will be used for working capital, the continued advancement and development of the Cerro Las Minitas property, Durango and the compilation of data and exploration of the newly acquired Nazas property, Durango, in preparation for permitting and drill testing of the property later in 2025.
  • Alamos Gold Inc., declared a quarterly dividend of USD $0.025 per common share, payable on March 27, 2025 to shareholders. The company has paid dividends for 15 consecutive years, including returning USD $41M to shareholders in 2024 (Mulatos mine, Sonora)
  • Aura Minerals Inc., declared and approved the payment of a dividend of USD $0.25 per common share (approximately USD $18.3M in total) respect of its Q4, 2024 financial results. The dividend will be paid on March 14, 2025 (Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas).
  • Reyna Silver Corp., closed a third tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of 1,420,000 units at a price of CAD $0.075 per unit for gross proceeds of CAD $106.5K. Gross proceeds of the third tranche will be used for ongoing exploration, maintenance and development of the company´s properties and general working capital and corporate purposes. In aggregate, the company has issued 37,749,899 units for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD $2,831,242.43 to date in the offering, inclusive of the first closing, second closing and third closing.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., reported drilling results from Media Luna West and Media Luna East in Guerrero. The ongoing drilling program is focused on unlocking additional near-mine opportunities at the Media Luna Cluster in order to further enhance and extend the production profile of the Morelos Complex. Drilling highlights include hole ML24-1043DB collared at Media Luna West, with 3.16 g/t Au, 2 g/t Ag, and 0.04% Cu (3.25 g/t AuEq) over 1.3m, plus 13.36 g/t Au, 2 g/t Ag, and 0.01% Cu (13.4 g/t AuEq) over 28.4m, including 22.66 g/t Au, 3 g/t Ag, and 0.02% Cu (22.73 g/t AuEq) over 13.1m, including 20.2 g/t Au and 1 g/t Ag (20.22 g/t AuEq) over 1m, and including 23.7 g/t Au, 3 g/t Ag, and 0.03% Cu (23.79 g/t AuEq) over 1m; and hole MLE-003 collared at Media Luna East, with 4.89 g/t Au, 49 g/t Ag, and 2.11% Cu (8.92 g/t AuEq) over 60.9m, plus 14.73 g/t Au, 26 g/t Ag, and 2.0% Cu (18.28 g/t AuEq) over 12m, including 28.82 g/t Au, 23 g/t Ag, and 2.3% Cu (32.83 g/t AuEq) over 4.4m, plus 18.84 g/t Au, 158 g/t Ag, and 4.52% Cu (28.12 g/t AuEq) over 18.3m. The advanced exploration drilling program at Media Luna West has defined a mineralized footprint of 600m by 400m with multiple high-grade intercepts, and the initial drill testing at Media Luna East returned strong results, with multiple high-grade intercepts, many with copper grades in excess of 2%.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., reported results from six core holes totalling 2,395m from its Q4, 2024 “proof of concept” drilling being conducted at its Cerro Las Minitas in Durango. “Drilling tested gaps within the current block model, lateral extensions of the mineralization and successfully intersected thick intervals of mineralized skarn in a hole which tested the depth projection of the main mineralized shoot of the South Skarn deposit”. The best drill intercept was encountered in hole 24CLM-198 with 19 g/t Ag, 1 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (105 g/t AgEq) over 1.8m, including 51 g/t Ag, 4.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (393 g/t AgEq) over 0.3m, plus 124 g/t Ag, 5.2 g/t Au, 4% Pb, and 0.4% Zn (682 g/t AgEq) over 0.9m, plus 135 g/t Ag, 1 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 0.6% Pb, and 0.3% Zn (267 g/t AgEq) over 0.7m, plus 81 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 0.4% Pb, and 3.9% Zn (267 g/t AgEq) over 5.6m, plus 61 g/t Ag, 0.1 g/t Au, 0.6% Cu, and 0.4% Zn (155 g/t AgEq) over 18.5m, including 97 g/t Ag, 0.1 g/t Au, 0.7% Cu, 0.1% Pb, and 0.7% Zn (222 g/t AgEq) over 12.6m, and including 154 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 5.6% Cu, and 0.1% Zn (834 g/t AgEq) over 0.6m.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., released results of 4 RC holes totalling 776.2m drilled at its Pilar project in Sonora on the 100% controlled expansion area immediately north of known mineralized trends. It was the first ever drill program on this area and the scout drilling intersected anomalous gold and silver. The best drill intercept was encountered in hole JES-24-101 with 0.61 g/t Au and 1 g/t Ag over 106.8m, including 3.06 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag over 19.8m, including 19.39 g/t Au and 4 g/t Ag over 3.1m.  “Recent soil sampling further north on the trend returned 519 ppb Au, more drilling will be planned on these corridors to further evaluate the full potential of area. Recent surface sampling and mapping has indicated mineralization continues 700 m north and 2,000 m east of this area”.
  • Prime Mining Corp., reported generative drilling results of 14 holes completed at Fresnillo and mariposa targets within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Drilling highlights (true widths reported) include holes 24NB-75 with 1.82 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag (1.99 g/t AuEq) over 9.6m, including 18.4 g/t Au and 125 g/t Ag (20.02 g/t AuEq) over 0.8m, plus 1.56 g/t Au and 30 g/t Ag (1.95 g/t AuEq) over 0.7m, plus 5.03 g/t Au and 82 g/t Ag (6.09 g/t AuEq) over 0.8m; hole 24NB-71 with 1.12 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag (1.15 g/t AuEq) over 1.2m, plus 2.52 g/t Au and 24 g/t Ag (2.83 g/t AuEq) over 6.2m, including 5.38 g/t Au and 47 g/t Ag (5.99 g/t AuEq) over 2.8m, plus 5.47 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag (6.07 g/t AuEq) over 1.1m; hole 24NB-69 with 1.08 g/t Au and 30 g/t Ag (1.46 g/t AuEq) over 9.8m, including 5.35 g/t Au and 109 g/t Ag (6.76 g/t AuEq) over 1.4m, plus 0.49 g/t Au and 16 g/t Ag (0.69 g/t AuEq) over 7.8m, including 1.55 g/t Au and 37 g/t Ag (2.03 g/t AuEq) over 0.9m; and hole 24FRE-29 with 1.14 g/T Au and 8 g/t Ag (1.24 g/t AuEq) over 1.2m, plus 1.17 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag (1.45 g/t AuEq) over 6.8m, including 1.76 g/t Au and 39 g/t Ag (2.26 g/t AuEq) over 1.9m, including 1.93 g/t Au and 29 g/t Ag (2.31 g/t AuEq) over 1.5m. These results are not included in the October 15, 2024 Mineral Resource Estimate.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., announced plans to initiate small-scale gold-silver production at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. The company is investigating custom milling and heap leaching scenarios. It is exploring opportunities to process mineralized material at a nearby 200-tonne per day flotation mill, which is under construction. The company is working with environmental consultants to investigate permitting pathways for mineral extraction, which could include either custom milling or small-scale heap leaching. Permitting could be approved in six months for heap leaching if the pad is under two hectares and uses non-cyanide dissolution methods. Preliminary tests using cyanide dissolution showed up to 90% gold recoveries. The current high gold prices, nearing USD $3,000 per ounce, have heightened their enthusiasm for these projects, as they could provide cash flow and valuable data to support further exploration efforts targeting a nearly 2M Oz Au resource at Tenoriba.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., completed development to high-grade Santo Niño Vein in san Ignacio mine, Guanajuato. The 430 Ramp has reached the Purisima vein where mining activity has been initiated. The advance of the ramp then continued to the west approximately another 10m where the Santo Nino vein was contacted. The Santo Nino vein offers the Company access to an entirely new mining area with comparatively higher gold content.  “Exploration at San Ignacio for 2025 will focus on infill drilling in the Melladito North area, exploring deeper extensions to the Nombre de Dios veins, and evaluating additional veins to the west of Santo Nino, supported by geophysics and geological surface mapping. 
  • GoGold Resources Inc., announced the filing of NI 43-101 feasibility study (FS) technical report at its Los Ricos South project in Jalisco. The FS includes a re-engineered 2,000 tonne per day underground mine plan compared to the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) which was released in September 2023 and incorporates an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). Highlights of the FS, with a silver price of USD $26.8/Oz, gold price of USD $2,330/Oz, and copper price of USD $4/Lb include (all figures in US dollars): an after-tax net present value (using a discount rate of 5%)  of $355M, with an after-tax IRR of 34%; 15 year mine life producing a total of 80M payable Oz AgEq, consisting of 41M Oz Ag, 424K Oz Au, and 11M Lb Cu; initial capital cost of $227M, including $21M in contingency costs, over an expected two year build, and sustaining capital cost of $100M over the life of mine(LOM); average operating cash cost of $9.91 per Oz AgEq, and all in sustain cost (AISC) of $11.19 per Oz AgEq over the first 5 years of production, with average AISC of $12.32 per Oz AgEq over the underground mine life; average annual production of 7.3M Oz AgEq over first 5 years; successful conversion of Mineral Resources to Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves totalling 10.2M tonnes grading 276 g/t AgEq containing 91M Oz AgEq, including 7.5M underground tonnes grading 326 g/t AgEq; and average underground mining width of 11 metres using bulk mining method of longitudinal sublevel long-hole mining.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Equinox Gold Corp., and Calibre Mining Corp., entered into a definitive arrangement agreement to merge, forming New Equinox Gold, which will become the second largest gold producer in Canada. Equinox will acquire all the issued and outstanding common shares of Calibre pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement. The combined company is expected to produce approximately 950K Oz Au in 2025, not including production from Valentine in Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada or Los Filos in Guerrero, Mexico.  “Calibre shareholders will receive 0.31 Equinox common shares for each Calibre common share held immediately prior to the effective time of the transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, existing Equinox shareholders and former Calibre shareholders will own approximately 65% and 35% of the outstanding common shares of the combined company, respectively, on a fully diluted in-the-money basis. The implied market capitalization of the combined company is estimated at CAD $7.7 B”.
  • Apolo Silver Corp., appointed a new member to its Board of Directors. The company granted an aggregate of 300K incentive stock options to its new Director (Cinco de Mayo project, Chihuahua).
  • Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp., signed a definitive agreement for option to acquire a 100% interest in the El Potrero project in Durango, spanning 1,074 hectares. Pinnacle plans to explore and develop the property, leveraging its experienced management team and aiming for production in a cost-effective manner. The transaction for acquiring the El Potrero project is structured as a staged earn-in, allowing Pinnacle to progressively acquire a 100% interest in the property through a series of cash payments and share issuances, totaling approximately USD $7.5 million in cash and 3.5M shares. Key terms include an initial payment of USD $50K cash and 500K shares upon signing the definitive agreement (DA); USD $200K in cash and 1M shares  at 8 months from signing; USD $750K cash and 1M shares at a year of signing; USD $1M cash for a 50% interest when the plant is upgraded and all permits are received or 4 years from signing; USD $1.5M cash for an additional 20% interest 1 year after commencing production or 5 years from signing;  USD $3M cash for another 20% totaling 90% interest 2 years after commencing production or 7 years from signing; a contingent bonus of USD $1M cash and 1M shares if a Mineral Resource Estimate of at least 350K Oz Au is established; and a royalty of 2% NSR on the remaining interest held by the vendor after Pinnacle completes the acquisition. Pinnacle will also pay back taxes estimated at USD $183K for the property through a payment plan with Mexican authorities.
  • Prismo Metals Inc., has previously announced a notice of termination of Los Pavitos project option agreement with Minera Cascabel, as the company is currently unable to support the project due to market conditions and ongoing funding requirements. This decision reflects a strategic move to focus resources on more promising projects.
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., announced the appointment of its Chief Metallurgical Officer, effective February 26, 2025 (Metates project, Durango).
  • Plata Latina Minerals Corporation declared that a wholly subsidiary of Fresnillo plc has exercised its right to purchase the 3% NSR on the Naranjillo property, Guanajuato, for a total of USD $6M. The transaction is expected to close before the end of March, 2025.
  • Roberto Resources announced a proposed acquisition of the Claudia Gold and Silver Project in Durango, Mexico, which covers an 11,876-hectare area with known high-grade gold and silver mineralization. Previous drilling campaigns identified multiple mineralized zones and indicated the potential for significant discoveries along various structures, specifically the Aguilareña and Guadalupana veins. The company plans to conduct further exploration and drilling after the acquisition is complete, aiming to enhance its understanding and development of the project. Key terms of the agreement include a payment of USD $25K in cash at closing, the issuance of 10M shares to an escrow agent, which will be distributed to Durango´s shareholders, an assumption up to USD $500K in current accounts payable related to the project; and an obligation to make a bonus payment if a measured and indicated resource exceeds 500K Oz Au.
  • Canasil Resources Inc., announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors and its CFO (Nora project, Durango).
  • Defiance Silver Corp., entered into an agreement for six months with Triomphe Holdings Ltd. (dba Capital Analytica) for investor relations services, effective March 1, 2025 for a fee of $120K. The company also granted 2,888,500 stock options to employees and directors at an exercise price of $0.22, with a five-year term and three-year vesting schedule. Additionally, various other equity incentives, including 643,500 Deferred Share Units were granted to certain Directors, 55,000 Performance Share Units were granted to certain employees, and 252,475 Restricted Share Units, were also granted to certain employees (San Acacio project, Zacatecas).
  • Masivo Silver Corp., signed a letter of intent to acquire the Cerro Colorado project in Sonora, which is located near significant mining operations, including the Piedras Verdes copper mine. The Cerro Colorado project consists of two mineral concessions covering a total of 2,649 hectares. Initial exploration activities, including mapping, sampling, and induced polarization on an area where strong brecciation with strong phyllic alteration, mainly sericite and iron oxides is observed. This initial exploration campaign has revealed promising mineralization, with historical samples showing high grades of silver and gold, such as 2,200 g/t Ag and 4.57 g/t Au in an old collapsed tunnel; 1,840 g/t Ag, 4.8 g/t Au, 3.06% Cu, 4.5% Pb and 2.92 % Zn in another collapsed tunnel; and a trench that returned 7.2m true-wide with 0.75 g/t Au, 159 g/t Ag, 0.24% Cu, 0.52 % Pb, and 0.29% Zn. The company plans to drill 8 holes to utilize a $75K drill credit for the upcoming drilling program.
  • Xali Gold Corp., entered into a binding letter of intent to option the Sarape project in Sonora, from Advanced Lithium Corp. The Sarape project covers 57 square kilometers within a promising mining district known for high-grade silver and gold deposits, including proximity to SilverCrest´s Las Chispas Mine. The project exhibits significant exploration potential with extensive mineralization and favorable geological characteristics associated with low-sulphidation epithermal deposits. Xali Gold plans to implement an accelerated exploration program and sees immense potential for the discovery of deeper high-grade mineralization. The acquisition involves earning a 90% interest in the Sarape Project through a series of stages; an initial payment of 1M shares to Advanced Lithium upon signing the definitive agreement; cash payments totaling CAD $450K in stages to fund exploration drilling, not exceeding 10% of each financing;  partial earn-in of 51% interest in Sarape once Xali has completed 10,000m of drilling and issuing 26.6M shares; second earn-in of 70% interest in Sarape by completing an additional 5,000m of drilling and issuing an additional 21M shares, along with complete cash payments of the CAD $450K; A final interest of 90% in Sarape upon completing an additional 5,000m of drilling (cumulative total of 20,000m) and an additional 91.4M shares are issued (total of 104M which is 50% of shares outstanding on date of signing). Xali Gold anticipates the timing for the earn-in of the 90% interest to be between 12-18 months post regulatory approval.  The Project is subject to a 1.5% Net Smelter Return, with no current buyout option.

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, orogenic quartz vein in an orogenic gold project in Sonora, Mexico. Photo taken by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fifth Week of October 2024

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett
During the 44th week of the year (October 28th to November 3rd, 2024), companies working in Mexico posted at least 23 press releases. Not a single company informed on exploration advances on its properties, two companies presented quarterly results and one other actualized its production forecast for 2024. Two companies released drilling results from their advanced properties while one also provided channel sample results and one more informed on the advance of mine construction. Two companies disclosed the status of their merger process, one the acquisition of a company with a past producing mine, one the sale of a project and one other on the optioning of a property. Two companies presented the results of their AGMs, one the appointment of a well-known industry leader, one the optioning of several adjacent mining concessions to their property and one more on the final approval for transferring assets. ON MEXICO ISSUES, a Supreme Court minister commented on the Judiciary Reform. ON EXPLORATION, no relevant news. ON MINING, Agnico Eagle and Capstone Copper released Q3 production results. Torex Gold increased its forecast on production for 2024. ON FINANCING, Mithril Gold and Silver is to raise A$12.5 M. Pinnacle Silver and Gold intends to make a private placement for US$800 K. Americas Gold and Silver completed a bought deal private placement for C$50 M. Guanajuato Silver closed a private placement for C$8.7 M and settled a US$1.8 M debt with shares. Defiance Silver paid a minor debt with shares. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Heliostar Metals reported drilling results from Ana Paula, in Guerrero. Mithril Gold and Silver presented drilling results and channel sample results from Copalquin, in Durango. Torex Gold informed on the construction status at Media Luna project, in Guerrero. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Minera Alamos entered into an agreement to acquire Sabre Gold Mines, which owns the past producing Copperstone mine in Arizona. Reyna Silver completed the acquisition of Reyna Gold. Golden Minerals is selling its Yoquivo project in Chihuahua to Advance Metals. Pinnacle Silver and Gold signed a LOI to acquire a mining property in Durango. Florida Canyon Gold received final approval on the sale of its Mexican assets to Heliostar Metals. Defiance Silver acquired six mining concessions adjacent to its Tepal project in Michoacan. Silver Spruce Royalties and Orogen Royalties informed on their AGMs. Capitan Silver informed on the appointment of Fernando Alanís to its board. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Vizsla Silver received the Socially Responsible Company Distinction (ESR) for the third year since 2022.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Juan Luis González Alcántar Carrancá, a Supreme Court minister, stated that México is to be left without a Supreme Court if the federal government (the Ejecutive branch) does not abide by the Supreme Court ruling on the invalidation of the recent Judiciary Power Reform, adding that the sudden changes on the appointment of judges and ministers can impact on economic matters.

ON EXPLORATION

  • No Relevant News.

ON MINING

  • Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. reported third quarter 2024 results, including information on its Mexican operations. At San Nicolás (50% AEM, 50% Teck), in Zacatecas, “Progress continues on the feasibility study work and execution strategy development, with plans to begin detailed engineering in the first half of 2025. Project approval is expected to follow, subject to receipt of permits and the results of the feasibility study”. At Pinos altos, in Chihuahua, 446 K tonnes were milled at a 4,848 tpd rate, grading 1.58 gpt Au, to produce 21,371 Oz Au at $2,174 per Oz Au production cost and total cash cost of $1,532 per Oz Au. At La India, in Sonora, residual leaching produced 4,259 Oz Au with a production cost of $2,300 per Oz Au and a total cash cost of $2,872 per Oz Au.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. increased the forecast production for 2024 from 400 K – 450 K to 450 K – 470 K Oz Au at its Morelos Complex in Guerrero. The total cash cost estimate remains at $860 – $910 per Oz Au and the AISC at $1,100 to $1,160 per Oz Au (El Limón-Guajes, Guerrero).
  • Capstone Copper Corp. reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The company produced a total of 47,460 tonnes Cu at cash cost $2.83 per Lb Cu. At Cozamin, in Zacatecas, 6 K tonnes were produced, driven by a milling rate of 3,609 tpd and having a cash cost of $1.82 per Lb Cu. The company has a total debt of $750.7 M, presenting $138.6 M in cash and short-term investments by the end of the period, as well as $377 M of undrawn amounts on the corporate revolving credit facility.

ON FINANCING

  • Mithril Silver and Gold Ltd. informed firm commitments for an oversubscribed capital raising of A$12.5 M, with Jupiter Gold and Silver Fund confirming Mithril shareholding at 16% and 1832 Fund (Bank of Nova Scotia) maintaining 8% post placement. The proceeds are to be used to complete the current 9,000 m drill program to expand the JORC resource, the upgrade of the access road and prepare targets Las Brujas-El Peru and Constancia-Jabali for drilling in 2025 (Copalquin, Durango).
  • Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp. will be arranging a private placement to raise up to US$800 K in gross proceeds (El Potrero, Durango).
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. completed its previously announced “bought deal” private placement raising C$50 M in gross proceeds, which included 12.5 M subscription receipts issued pursuant to the exercise, in full, of the underwriter’s option agreement granted to the underwriters in connection with the private placement (Cosala, Sinaloa).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. closed the previously announced private placement for gross proceeds of C$8.72 M. “The Private Placement includes an anchor order of C$3,000,000 by a corporation beneficially owned and controlled by Mr. Eric Sprott”. Additionally, the company has settled a US$1 M contingent payment upon the production of 3 M Oz AgEq at El Cubo mine, entirely with shares. Also, Guanajuato Silver settled US$1.8 M in outstanding liabilities to Ocean Partners UK Ltd. by issuing shares, and C$77.5 K in outstanding liabilities to three arm’s length third party entities (El Cubo, Guanajuato).
  • Defiance Silver Corp. entered into an agreement with a non-arm’s length administrative services agreement for services provided by an officer of the company for $7,980 (Zacatecas Silver, Zacatecas; Tepal, Michoacan).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Heliostar Metals Ltd. reported results from the 2024 drill program at Ana Paula, in Guerrero. The focus of the program is to extend the High Grade and Parallel panels to the west, testing the down-dip extension of the High Grade Panel while infilling the Parallel Panel target. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 6.05 m @ 8.24 gpt Au; 5.00 m @ 2.10 gpt Au; 16.0 m @ 1.74 gpt Au, 16.0 m @ 16.7 gpt Au; 2.5 m @ 3.57 gpt Au. “Drilling is ongoing, with five holes completed to date for a total of 1994.8 meters”.
  • Mithril Silver and Gold Ltd. on October 18, 2024, released further results from resource expansion drilling at El Refugio mine target at its Copalquin project in Durango. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 4.60 m @ 5.51 gpt Au, 182 gpt Ag (including 0.60 m @ 28.0 gpt Au, 997 gpt Ag); 9.00 m @ 2.06 gpt Au, 90 gpt Ag (including 1.00 m @ 2.14 gpt Au, 259 gpt Ag); 1.60 m @ 5.09 gpt Au, 299 gpt Ag (including 0.50 m @ 12.15 gpt Au, 758 gpt Ag). Drilling the second half of the 9,000 m program is to recommence late in October. The 2021 MRE stands at 691 K tonnes @ 5.43 gpt Au, 114 gpt Ag, containing 121 K Oz Au, 2.5 M Oz Ag as indicated resources and 1.7 M tonnes @ 4.55 gpt Au, 152 gpt Ag, containing 252 K Oz Au, 8.4 M Oz Ag.
  • Mithril Silver and Gold Ltd. provided results from channel sampling from remnant wall rock of historic workings on the El Refugio area of its Copalquin project in Durango. At La Soledad, reported results comprise 1.75 m @ 9.19 gpt Au, 653 gpt Ag; 1.50 m @ 13.6 gpt Au, 545 gpt Ag at Lumbrera vein, 2.00 m @ 8.99 gpt Au, 736 gpt Ag; 0.90 m @ 9.57 gpt Au, 361 gpt Ag; 0.80 m @ 6.87 gpt Au, 267 gpt Ag; 1.50 m @ 1.72 gpt Au, 22 gpt Ag at Soledad Level 1, 0.94 m @ 8.81 gpt Au, 51 gpt Ag; 0.80 m @ 5.36 gpt Au, 143 gpt Ag; 1.80 m @ 4.58 gpt Au, 193 gpt Ag; 3.40 m @ 1.56 gpt Au, 101 gpt Ag; 2.00 m @ 4.23 gpt Au, 481 gpt Ag; 2.80 m @ 1.62 gpt Au, 106 gpt Ag at Soledad Level 2, 1.90 m @ 0.38 gpt Au, 17 gpt Ag; 1.80 m @ 0.83 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag; 2.70 m @ 1.21 gpt Au, 56 gpt Ag at Soledad Level 3, 0.70 m @ 6.00 gpt Au, 76 gpt Ag at Leon vein and 2.00 m @ 2.10 gpt Au, 94 gpt Ag; 3.50 m @ 2.89 gpt Au, 180 gpt Ag; 2.00 m @ 0.94 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag; 4.00 m @ 2.28 gpt Au, 78 gpt Ag at El Cometa underground workings.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. informed development and construction at Media Luna in Guerrero now stands at 87%. Detailed engineering is now complete “and procurement is nearing completion at 97%. Underground development/construction and surface construction are advancing, with completion levels at 77% and 70%, respectively.” First copper concentrate it scheduled to be produced on Q1 2025.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Minera Alamos Inc. entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Sabre Gold Mines Corp., which owns the past producing Copperstone gold mine in Arizona. (Santana, Sonora).
  • Reyna Gold Corp. and Reyna Silver Corp. announced the completion of the previously announced acquisition of all the issued and outstanding common shares of Reyna Gold by Reyna Silver (La Gloria, Sonora; Guigui, Chihuahua).
  • Golden Minerals Co. signed a binding agreement to sell to Advance Metals Ltd. its Yoquivo project in Chihuahua. The agreement involves the payment of US$20 K on October 24, 2024, US$275 K on November 1, 2024 and US$275 K on November 21, 2024, for a total consideration of US$570 K plus VAT.
  • Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp. singed a letter of intent (LOI) on a staged option to acquire the 1,074 ha El Potrero project in Durango. The property lies within 35 km of four operating mines, including Fresnillo plc’s La Cienega, Luca Mining’s Tahuehueto and Guanajuato Silver’s Topia. The property is said to host a low sulfidation epithermal breccia system in andesitic rocks of the Lower Volcanic Group, with an historic resource of 45.6 K tonnes @ 8 gpt Au, 186 gpt Ag. The property has never been explored by modern methods and a 100 tpd plant on site can be rehabilitated. The deal comprises US$50 K on signature, 500 K shares and the payment of US$160 K back taxes on the property; US$200 K and 1 M shares at eight months from signature; US$750 K in cash and 1 M in shares on the first anniversary; US$ 1 M and 1 M shares at 2.5 years from signature, or when a 350 K Oz Au inferred resource is established; US$ 1 M in cash at the fourth anniversary, or when the plant is ready and permitted to start production, with Pinnacle obtaining 50% of the property; US$ 1.5 M in cash on the fifth anniversary, or one year after commencing production, receiving a further 20% of the property; US$3 M after the seventh anniversary or two years after starting production, with Pinncale receiving a further 20% interest, to a total of 90%; The vendor has the option to convert the remaining 10% interest to a 2% NSR royalty. The total is US$7.5 M, US$160 K in back taxes and 3.5 M shares for a 100% interest subject to a 2% NSR royalty.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. informed that its annual general meeting has been adjourned to the new date of November 5, 2024, as the 10% requisite quorum was not achieved on the October 29 meeting (Pino de Plata, Chihuahua).
  • Orogen Royalties Inc. held its annual general meeting (AGM) on October 29, 2024, with all matters approved (Ermitaño, Sonora).
  • Capitan Silver Corp. announced the appointment of Fernando Alanís Ortega to its board of directors. Fernando Alanís is a past CEO of Industrias Peñoles, one of Mexico’s most emblematic mining companies, and is also past president of the Mexican Mining Chamber known as CAMIMEX (Cruz de Plata, Durango).
  • Defiance Silver Corp. extended the San Acacio project (in Zacatecas) option agreement and acquired six additional mining concessions at its Tepal project in Michoacan. At San Acacio, the scheduled payment to be made in September 24, 2024, has now been changed to December 31, 2024.
  • Florida Canyon Gold Inc. received the final order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice with respect to the pending arrangement transaction with Integra Resources Corp., the final substantive approval required prior to closing the arrangement, anticipated to occur in November and which includes the sale of Florida Canyon Mexican assets to Heliostar Metals Ltd. (La Colorada, Sonora).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Vizsla Silver Corp. received the Socially Responsible Company Distinction (ESR) for the third year since 2022. The distinction is awarded jointly by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (CEMEFI) and the Foundation for Sustainability and Equity (ALIARSE).

On the image below: Drilling under the scarp in Sonora. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of October 2024

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett                                             

During the 40th week of the year (September 30th to October 6th,2024), companies working in Mexico posted at least 12 press releases. One company informed on exploration advances on its property, one other company updated on mining operations, one company notified on the extension of a financing round, two companies granted stock options/deferred-share-units, two companies announced share consolidation programs, two companies reported drilling results on its advanced property/mine, another reported AGM results, one informed on appointments to the board and two more on their merger. ON MEXICO ISSUES, an illegal mining operation was terminated in Sonora. Vulcan Materials warned on the intensification of its legal dispute with the Mexican government. ON EXPLORATION, in Nayarit, Angel Wings Metals provided an exploration update on La Reyna project. ON MINING, Luca Mining updated on planned activities at its Campo Morado and Tahuehueto mines, in Guerrero and Durango respectively. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Vizsla Silver reported drilling results from Panuco, in Sinaloa. Gatos Silver released drilling results from two areas of the Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Vizsla Silver presented results of its AGM. Apollo Silver made directors appointments. Coeur Mining and SilverCrest Metals announced their merger. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • An illegal gold mining operation was closed down in Sonora. The mining operation was being conducted without permits on La Cienega area in the Sonoran Desert, which is an historically active dry placer mining area. Eight persons were detained and diverse equipment sequestered.
  • Vulcan Materials warned that it is to intensify its legal dispute with the government of Mexico, under which the company demands the payment of US$1.5 billion.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Angel Wing Metals Inc. provided an exploration update on La Reyna project, in Nayarit. The exploration focus is on the El Polo-Dolorosa target area, where historic trench results include 21 m grading 5.01 gpt Au, 12.7 m grading 1.21 gpt Au and 15.52 m grading 0.92 gpt Au. “Principal prospects include the former El Polo open pit mine, and the Dolorosa, San Ramon, La Feña, and El Zorillo shallow workings. The Company intends on commencing a diamond drill program in Q4 of this year”. Exploration is focused on bulk tonnage size potential in altered and brecciated volcanic rocks with stockwork quartz veining. The first 2,500 m drill phase is to test five widely spaced prospects from near surface depths to 175 m.

ON MINING

  • Luca Mining Corp. updated on planned activities at its two mines in Mexico. At Campo Morado, in Guerrero, a mining contractor was hired to increase performance and exceed 2,000 tpd rates, improvements to metallurgy processes have been made and the first drilling program in over a decade is commencing. At Tahuehueto, in Durango, construction has been completed and commercial production is expected to be declared during Q4. A significant drilling campaign is to commence during the quarter. “Luca will commence repayments of its debt owed to Trafigura, from cashflow, in October 2024 under the terms of the restructured debt agreement”.

ON FINANCING

  • Aztec Minerals Corp. granted 1.57 M stock options to directors, management, and consultants of the company (Cervantes, Sonora).
  • GRSilver Mining Ltd. granted 97.5 K deferred share units (DSU) to non-executive directors for director’s fees to Q3 2024. eligible persons in accordance with the Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan. “Once vested, each DSU entitles the holder thereof to receive either one common share of the Company, the cash equivalent of one common share or a combination of cash and common shares, as determined by the Company, net of applicable withholdings” (Plomosas, Sinaloa).
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. proposed to consolidate its common shares on a 1:15 basis on its annual and special meeting on October 29, 2024 (Pino de Plata, Chihuahua).
  • Apollo Silver Corp. announced a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$10 M. Following the closing of the offering, the company intends to consolidated its issued and outstanding shares on a five to one basis. (Cinco de Mayo, Chihuahua).
  • Colibri Resource Corp. announced the extension of its non-brokered private placement to raise up to C$450 K, to close on or before November 3, 2024 (EP project, Sonora)

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Vizsla Silver Corp. reported results from 11 holes targeting the Copala resource area at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 2.88 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 92 gpt Ag; 1.46 m @ 15.47 gpt Au, 1,935 gpt Ag; 0.55 m @ 6.26 gpt Au, 437 gpt Ag; 2.30 m @ 37.30 gpt Au, 2,851 gpt Ag; (including 1.05 m @ 73.10 gpt Au, 5,410 gpt Ag); 1.70 m @ 1.35 gpt Au, 238 gpt Ag; 5.80 m @ 14.85 gpt Au, 2,551, gpt Ag (including 0.46 m @ 146.50 gpt Au, 21,953 gpt Ag); 2.30 m @ 0.98 gpt Au, 79 gpt Ag; 4.15 m @ 3.29 gpt Au, 732 gpt Ag (including 1.37 m @ 7.56 gpt Au, 1,634 gpt Ag); 5.65 m @ 26.06 gpt Au, 3,007 gpt Ag (including 1.48 m @ 96.11 gpt Au, 10,869 gpt Ag); 0.65 m @ 1.99 gpt Au, 384 gpt Ag; 7.50 m @ 1.23 gpt Au, 222 gpt Ag; 4.90 m @ 1.06 gpt Au, 145 gpt Ag; 1.00 m @ 5.39 gpt Au, 874 gpt Ag; 0.90 m @ 12.05 gpt Au, 1,830 gpt Ag; 4.35 m @ 3.00 gpt Au, 781 gpt Ag (including 0.73 m @ 12.45 gpt Au, 2,990 gpt Ag). “Exploration and resource focused drilling at Copala has traced mineralization along ~1,770 metres of strike length and ~400 metres down dip”.
  • Gatos Silver Inc. updated on the drilling exploration programs in the 70%-owned Los Gatos district in Chihuahua. Positive results have been obtained on the Central Deeps target and the South-East Deeps zone at the Cerro Los Gatos mine, as well as key developments on the regional exploration program. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 7.5 m @ 0.20 gpt Au, 101 gpt Ag, 0.17% Cu, 5.5% Pb, 11.1% Zn; 3.3 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 153 gpt Ag, 0.08% Cu, 6.6% Pb, 17.5% Zn; 2.8 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 40 gpt Ag, 0.22% Cu, 0.7% Pb, 3.0% Zn; 1.3 m @ 0.57 gpt Au, 151 gpt Ag, 0.09% Cu, 3.0% Pb, 3.8% Zn; 6.5 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 47 gpt Ag, 0.26% Cu, 1.1% Pb, 2.4% Zn; 4.5 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 88 gpt Ag, 0.52% Cu,1.8% Pb, 3.2% Zn; 7.8 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 90 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu, 4.9% Pb, 5.8% Zn; 4.4 m @ 0.20 gpt Au, 55 gpt Ag, 0.37% Cu, 3.4% Pb, 1.6% Zn, 2.8 m @ 0.07 gpt Au,122 gpt Ag, 0.56% Cu, 3.4% Pb, 9.5% Zn; 5.0 m 0.14 gpt Au, @ 126 gpt Ag, 0.35% Cu, 5.5% Pb, 15.8% Zn; 1.1 m @ 2.03 gpt Au. Drilling below the Central Zone has intercepted a new zone of mineralization, and the “latest results in the South-East Deeps zone show further extension potential to the south-east of the current mineral reserves in this area. Moreover, we continue to pursue the longer term potential across the broader Los Gatos district”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Vizsla Silver Corp. held its annual general meeting, fixing the number of directors at seven persons, elected the directors for the ensuing year, re-appointed the auditor of the company and approved the company’s omnibus equity incentive compensation plan. (Panuco, Sinaloa).
  • Apollo Silver Corp. announced the appointment of Alex Tsakumis to its board of directors and of Amandip Singh as vice president, corporate development (Cinco de Mayo, Chihuahua).
  • Coeur Mining Inc. and SilverCrest Metals Inc. entered into a definitive agreement in which Coeur is to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of SilverCrest. All SilverCrest shareholders will receive 1.6022 Coeur common shares. The exchange ratio implies $11.34 per SilverCrest shares, representing an 18% premium and a total equity value of $1.7 billion based on SilverCrest’s shares outstanding. “Upon completion of the Transaction, existing Coeur stockholders and SilverCrest shareholders will own approximately 63% and 37% of the outstanding common stock of the combined company, respectively” (Palmarjo, Chihuahua; Las Chispas, Sonora).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Drilling under the scarp in Sonora. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of September 2024

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett                                             

During the 36th week of the year (September 2nd to September 8th, 2024), companies working in Mexico posted at least 17 press releases. One company informed on exploration advances on its property, one company closed a financing tranche and one other its intentions to make a private placement. A company granted stock options, one other informed on the purchase of debentures and one more on the inclusion of its stock in another index. Two companies released drilling results from its advanced properties, one more of the inclusion of a satellite deposit on its mining plans and one other on the test mining and processing of an historical operation. A company informed on the agreement to acquire another enterprise with a mining operation and a good land package. One company appointed a director, one other informed on the sale of its Mexican assets, and one other on the optioning of an interesting property. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the USA’s House of Representatives sent a letter to its Commercial Representative urging to seek assurance from the Mexican outgoing and incoming government to not pass rules on the proposed constitutional reforms that infringe T-MEC’s rules. ON EXPLORATION, In Durango, Silver Wolf commenced drilling at Ana Maria. ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, Guanajuato Silver granted 330 K options. Argonaut Gold announced the total value of debentures to be purchased is US$58.2 M. Capstone announced its addition to another Stock Index. Colibri Resource closed a first tranche of private placement for $305 K. Luca Mining is seeking a “best efforts” private placement for C$8.5 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Prime Mining reported expansion drilling results at Panuco, in Sinaloa. Alamos Gold reported surface drilling results for Cerro Pelon and Puerto del Aire, at the Mulatos district in Sonora, seeking to augment resources for underground mining. Torex Gold reported an updated mining plan to include the EPO deposit at the Morelos Complex in Guerrero, which is to allow mining at a 450 K Oz Au yearly rate up to at least 2030. Sierra Madre Gold and Silver updated on test mining and processing at its La Guitarra mine in Estado de Mexico. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Chesapeake Gold engaged automated market making services. Guanajuato Silver Company appointed a director. The note of the week was the announcement of the merger of Gatos Silver and/by First Majestic Silver. Riverside Resources optioned the Union property to Questcorp. Golden Minerals informed on the state of affairs of its Mexican assets. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Discovery Silver released its 2023 ESG report.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • An influential group in the USA’s House of Representatives sent a letter to Katherine Thai, Commercial Representative of USA urging her involvement with the actual president of Mexico, the elected president Claudia Sheinbaum and the recently installed Congress, to assure the proposed reforms by the actual president do no go against obligations under the T-Mex (formerly NAFTA). “We recognize the sovereign right of each government to update its constitution and deeply value the strong partnership between the United States and Mexico. However, many of the proposed reforms appear to compromise US investors’ access to a stable, predictable and impartial regulatory framework”. Of the ten signatories, nine are members of the Ways & Means Committee, which plays a crucial role in overseeing the implementation of the USMCA in the House of Representatives.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd. announced the commencement of drilling on the El Soldado claim at the Ana Maria project in Durango. The 2,500 m program envisages the drilling of 15 holes, targeting classic carbonate replacement deposits.

ON MINING

  • No Relevant News.

ON FINANCING

  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. granted stock options to purchase 300 K shares at $0.25 (El Cubo, Guanajuato).
  • Argonaut Gold Inc. announced that more than 90% of its outstanding 4.625% senior unsecured convertible debentures were tendered to the offer to purchase de debentures launched by the company on July 24, 2024, in connection with the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Argonaut by Alamos Gold Inc. The total value of the debentures to be purchased or redeemed is expected to be US$58.2 M (La Colorada, Sonora).
  • Capstone Copper Corp. announced that the CHESS Depositary Interests (CDI) of the company will be added to the Standard & Poors/ASX 300 Index by the S&P Dow Jones (Cozamin, Zacatecas).
  • Colibri Resource Corp. closed the first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for aggregate proceeds of C$305 K. Certain insiders of the company acquired an aggregate of 550 K units of the offering for gross proceeds of C$27.5 K. Colibri also sold its RC drill rig to a private company in Hermosillo for a total consideration of C$395 K consisting in cash and drill credits. “A portion of the proceeds is expected to be applied to an upcoming drilling program at the EP Gold Project where the Company intends to complete its first drilling program at the high priority San Perfecto target”.
  • Luca Mining Corp. entered into an agreement with Stifel in connection with a “best efforts” private placement for aggregate proceeds of C$8.5 M, with the LIFE Units to be issued pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption (LIFE). “The net proceeds from the Offering are expected be used for ongoing work on the Campo Morado Improvement Program, exploration drilling at both Campo Morado and Tahuehueto, commissioning of the Tahuehueto mill and for general corporate purposes”.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Prime Mining Corp. reported expansion drilling results from the Z-T Trend at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 10.5 m @ 2.63 gpt Au, 522 gpt Ag (including 8.0 m @ 2.89 gpt Au, 572 gpt Ag); 4.1 m @ 2.87 gpt Au, 130 gpt Ag (including 2.1 m @ 5.23 gpt Au, 218 gpt Ag); 4.6 m @ 2.92 gpt Au, 49 gpt Ag (including 2.7 m @ 4.84 gpt Au, 57 gpt Ag); 4.1 m @ 2.88 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag (including 0.7 m @ 12.95 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag); 2.3 m @ 4.08 gpt Au, 12 gpt Ag (including 0.6 m @ 13.40 gpt Au, 40 gpt Ag). These intercepts highlight the potential to discover more high-grade shoots for underground development below and away from the planned pit.
  • Alamos Gold Inc. reported results from ongoing surface exploration drilling on Puerto del Aire (PDA) and Cerro Pelon, within the Mulatos District in Sonora. Drilling at Cerro Pelon is following up on wide high-grade underground oxide and sulphide intersections below the open pit. Also, surface drilling has extended high-grade mineralization across multiple zones within the PDA area. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 27.90 m @ 5.45 gpt Au; 6.46 m @ 12.47 gpt Au (including 1.09 m @ 58.10 gpt Au); 15.82 m @ 4.79 gpt Au; 15.40 m @ 4.46 gpt Au; 12.16 m @ 5.64 gpt Au; 9.81 m @ 5.77 gpt Au; 13.85 m @ 4.01 gpt Au at Cerro Pelon, 18.05 m @ 5.77 gpt Au at the GAP-Victor Zone, 28.40 m @ 3.03 gpt Au; 5.50 m @ 6.63 m at the PDA3 Zone and 0.90 m @ 36.20 gpt Au; 5.05 m @ 3.51 gpt Au; 4.20 m @ 4.16 gpt Au at the PDA Extension Zone. At Cerro Pelon high-grade Au-Ag mineralization is in pipe-like geometries at the intersection of hundred of meters long structures, 50 to 200 m below the pit bottom. “PDA is a higher-grade underground deposit located adjacent to the main Mulatos pit and is comprised of multiple mineralized zones including PDA, Gap, Victor, and Estrella … A development plan for PDA will be released … based on Mineral Reserves as of the end of 2023.”
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported “an updated life-of-mine plan for the Morelos Complex which incorporates the EPO underground deposit following completion of an internal pre-feasibility study on the deposit”. The production profile is now established at a minimum of 450 K Oz AuEq per year through 2030 on the mineral reserve case alone. EPO’s upfront capital expenditures are estimated at $81.5 M, by leveraging the investment made in infrastructure part of the Media Luna project. The EPO project hosts probable reserves of 5 M tonnes @ 2.27 gpt Au, 29.8 gpt Ag, 1.29% Cu (or 4.83 gpt AuEq), containing 367 K Oz Au, 4.8 M Oz Ag, 143 M Lb Cu (or 781 K Oz AuEq), indicated resources (inclusive of mineral reserves) of 7 M tonnes @ 2.66 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag, 1.27% Cu (or 5.14 gpt Au), containing 597 K Oz Au, 6.7 M Oz Ag, 195 M Lb Cu (or 1.15 M Oz AuEq) and inferred resources of 5 M tonnes @ 2.00 gpt Au, 37 gpt Ag, 1.24 % Cu (or 4.52 gpt Au), containing 318 K Oz Au, 5.9 M Oz Ag, 136 M Lb Cu (or 721 K Oz Au). “Development of EPO is anticipated to commence in mid-2025 with first ore production expected in late 2026. EPO will be accessed via a 650 m ramp off the Guajes Tunnel with ore transported back to the ore handling system at Media Luna via a 1,000 m truck haulage tunnel”. For an interesting review on the geology of the EPO deposit, please take a look to the press release.
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd.  updated on the progress of test mining and processing at the Guitarra mine complex in Estado de Mexico. A total of 20.4 K tonnes have been processed on the flotation plant since late June at a rate of 300 tpd, and 335 tonnes of dry concentrate have been shipped. Test mining began with development from the La Guitarra mine, transitioning to in situ material. Production of back fill material from stopes mined in the 1990’2 and 2000’s was increased as planned. Once emptied, these stopes will receive the tailings paste fill.     

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. engaged the services of ICP Securities Inc. to provide automated market making services (Metates, Durango).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. welcomed Juan Martin Peña to the role of VP operations in Mexico. The company also announced the retirement of the father and son team of Gerardo and Hernan Dorado to pursue new business interests (El Cubo, Guanajuato).
  • Golden Minerals Co. “the Company sold its wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary, Minera Labri S.A. de C.V. (“Minera Labri”), to a private Mexican company for approximately US$445,500. Minera Labri previously owned the Velardeña Properties’ Plant 1, which together with the Velardeña mines, was sold to another privately-held Mexican group earlier in 2024. Upon consummation of that transaction, Minera Labri held no assets but held net operating losses and inflation-adjusted capital contributions. Under Mexican law, the balance of Minera Labri’s capital contribution accounts (“CUCAs”) may be bought and sold. All funds related to the sale of the CUCAs have now been received and are expected to be deployed to reduce existing liabilities of the Company and its subsidiaries.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. and Gatos Silver Corp. entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which First Majestic will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Gatos Silver. “The proposed Transaction implies a total equity value for Gatos of approximately US$970 million. Following completion of the Transaction, existing Gatos shareholders will own approximately 38% of First Majestic shares on a fully-diluted basis.” Consolidates the Santa Elena, San Dimas and Cerro Los Gatos districts under one banner, with a combined annual production of 30-32 M Oz AgEq including 15-16 M Oz Ag at an AISC of US$18.00-US$20.00 per Oz AgEq. The deal adds 103 K hectares of really prospective ground to the 245 K hectares First Majestic already holds in Mexico.
  • Riverside Resources Inc. and Questcorp Mining Inc. entered into a letter of intent (LOI) granting an option to Questcorp for the acquisition of 100% interest in the La Union project in Sonora. Riverside will receive C$100 K and 19.9% interest in the ownership of Questcorp upon investing C$5.5 M in the project. The envisaged deal includes payment of C$100 K in four years, 19.9% in shares and C$5.5 M on exploration expenditures. Riverside will retain a 2.5% NSR royalty on commercial production of the property. Union is a carbonate-hosted gold district with high grade gold-zinc in a 22 square km land package.

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On the image below: Chloritized porphyritic diorite with variable grain size and oriented crystals, HQ core. Picture by Jorge Cirett.