Manganese

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

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Banded calcite vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 32nd week of the year (August 08th to August 14th, 2022), at least 27 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 2 news published by the media with twelve communicating production and financial results, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, three commenting on Mexican issues, three reporting resources and developments of their properties, three informing on exploration results, two announcing financing issues, and two discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Vizsla Silver, GR Silver, and Defiance Silver reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of August, 2022. According to a report from the Secretariat of Labor and Social Security, in the last three years, 979 mine inspections have been carried out throughout the country, of which 387 have been carried out in the coal zone of Sabinas, Coahuila. The General Directorate of Mines of the Ministry of Economy provisionally suspended works on 10 mining concessions in Sabinas Coahuila. ON EXPLORATION, In Coahuila, Monumental Minerals announced results of a recently satellite multispectral interpretation covering its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth Elements project. In Durango, Silver Wolf released 155 grab sample results collected during the ongoing surface sample program at its Ana Maria project which has returned some high-grade values up to 1,536 g/t Ag, 34% Pb, and 19.4% Zn. In Zacatecas, Defiance Silver provided an update on the 4,750m maiden drill program at its Lucita project, within its Zacatecas Silver property.  ON MINING, Argonaut reported Q2, 2022 production results from their Mexican mining operations. Aura provided a production guidance for 2022 on its Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas where it expects to produce between 115-120K Oz AuEq at cash cost between USD $645-690 per Oz AuEq produced.  Avino reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Avino mine, Durango. Capstone reported Q2, 2022 production results from its Cozamin mine, Zacatecas. Endeavour reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from their Guanacevi and Bolañitos mines in Durango and Guanajuato respectively. Gatos Silver reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Cerro Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua. GoGold reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project, Chihuahua.  Golden reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Rodeo mine, Durango. Orla reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Camino Rojo mine, Zacatecas. SilverCrest reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Las Chispas project, Sonora. Americas reported Q2, 2022 production results from its Cosala mine in Sinaloa. ON FINANCING, Advance announced a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $200K (Sarape project, Sonora). Fabled informed about an extension of its non-brokered private placement (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua). Fortuna Silver reported Q2. 2022 from its San Jose mine, Oaxaca.  GoGold reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project, Chihuahua. Golden Minerals reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Rodeo mine, Durango. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GR Silver reported a new Ag discovery SE of its San Marcial Resource Area on its wholly-owned Plomosas project, Sinaloa. Pan American Silver reported Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources as at June 30, 2022 for their Mexican properties. Vizsla released results from 26 new drill holes targeting the Tajitos-Copala resource area at its 100%-owned flagship Panuco project in Sinaloa.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Prismo announced that its common shares are now eligible for electronic clearing and settlement in the United States through the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). Consolidated Zinc made several management changes (Plomosas mine, Chihuahua). Advance Lithium sold its royalty on three claims in Kenya to Orogen for USD $120K and the transfer of the 100% ownership of its Sarape property, Sonora. Kootenay amended the schedule on the final payment of its option agreement for 100% of the Columba high-grade silver project, Chihuahua.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, First Majestic released its 2021 Sustainability report. Peñoles and Fresnillo plc promote entrepreneurs.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Vizsla Silver, GR Silver and Defiance Silver reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of August, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:
  • According to a report from the Secretariat of Labor and Social Security, in the last three years, 979 mine inspections have been carried out throughout the country, of which 387 have been carried out in the coal zone, which means that “39% of all the mining inspections that have been carried out in the coal zone of Sabinas (Sabinas, Nueva Rosita, Palau)”. In the coal region, in these three years, 27 mining operations have been closed; that is, 84% of all mine closures in the country, due to non-compliance with security measures; to date 15 remain in force. In addition, the Ministry of Economy has been informed of the existence of 12 concessions that presumably could have irregularities.
  • The General Directorate of Mines of the Ministry of Economy provisionally suspended the works on 10 mining concessions in Sabinas Coahuila, on August 11, until the employers or representatives of each of the work centers certify compliance with the measures dictated in each one of the respective files after the inspections carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (STPS). The then General Director of Mines did not proceed with the provisional suspension of the works, arguing that the STPS information on the 10 previously mentioned mining concessions did not coincide with the registry data held by the General Directorate of Mines. Considering this and other possible irregularities, the Directors of Mines and Obligations were dismissed last June with the purpose of investigating and, where appropriate, establishing the corresponding responsibilities.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Monumental Minerals Corp., announced results of a recently satellite multispectral interpretation covering its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth Elements project in Coahuila. The interpretation highlighted discreet areas that may host eudialyte-bearing dykes, veins, and disseminations. Eudialyte is a Na, Ca, Fe/Mn, Zr silicate mineral that can contain up to 10% Rare Earth Elements, and 12% ZrO2. The Aster satellite spectral data also identified several areas prospective for Cu-Zn-Pb-Ag carbonate replacement deposits.
  • Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd., released 155 grab sample results collected during the ongoing surface sample program at its Ana Maria project, Durango, which has returned some high-grade values of Ag, Pb, and Zn.  From the 155 samples collected by Silver Wolf, 30 returned values >100 g/t Ag, 73 returned > 0.5% Pb, and 59 returned > 0.5% Zn with peaks of 1,536 g/t Ag, 34% Pb, and 19.4% Zn.  These results combined with the anomalies generated in the geophysical and remote sensing surveys will provide a basis for prioritizing drill targets.
  • Defiance Silver Corp., provided an update on the 4,750m maiden drill program at its Lucita project, within its Zacatecas Silver property. Drilling has encountered multiple intercepts over 199 g/t Ag and individual high-grade silver intervals. Drilling highlights include hole DDLU-22-10 with 0.20 g/t Au and 264 g/t Ag over 3.05m, including 0.19 g/t Au and 668 g/t Ag over 0.77m, plus 0.37 g/t Au and 166 g/t Ag over 4.01m, including 0.57 g/t Au and 220 g/t Ag over 22.72m, including 1.13 g/t Au and 416 g/t Ag over 1.22m, plus 0.08 g/t Au and 235 g/t Ag over 2.25m, including 0.19 g/t Au and 737 g/t Ag over 0.53m, plus 0.03 g/t Au and 189 g/t Ag over 0.75m, plus 0.04 g/t Au and 108 g/t Ag over 0.88m; and hole  DDLU-22-13 with 0.04 g/t Au and 147 g/t Ag over 1.57m, plus 0.04 g/t Au and 150 g/t Ag over 2m, including 0.2 g/t Au and 843 g/t Ag over 0.3m, plus 0.09 g/t Au and 109 g/t Ag over 1.15m. “The inaugural drill program at Lucita central (Palenque vein system) confirmed the presence of high-grade, Fresnillo-style, low to intermediate-sulfidation epithermal silver mineralization, consisting of mainly of pyrargyrite (high-level sulfosalt) and silver sulfides that potentially indicate the higher-level setting of a zoned epithermal system. Follow-up drilling is planned for later this year at the newly discovered zones of mineralization at Palenque and Tahures”.

ON MINING

  • Argonaut Gold Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production results from their Mexican mining operations. At El Castillo mine, Durango, Argonaut mined 1,471,000 tonnes of 0.30 g/t Au to produce 12,047 Oz Au and 10,407 Oz Ag (12,178 Gold Equivalent Ounces (GEOs)), and sold 11,463 Oz Au and 11,293 Oz Ag (11,603 GEOs) at a cash cost of  USD $1,513 per Oz Au sold. At San Agustin mine, Durango, the company mined 2,954,000 tonnes of 0.29 g/t Au to produce 18,033 Oz Au and 88,160 Oz Ag (19,135 GEOs), and sold 18,656 Oz Au and 93,420 Oz Ag (19,824 GEOs) at a cash cost of USD $1,009 per Oz Au sold. At La Colorada mine, Sonora, Argonaut mined 976,000 tonnes of 0.44 g/t Au to produce 12,950 Oz Au and 35,191 Oz Ag (13,390 GEOs), and sold 13,322 Oz Au and 38,194 Oz Ag (13,799 GEOs) at a cash cost of USD $1,003 per Oz Au sold.
  • Aura Minerals Inc., provided a production guidance for 2022 on its Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas where it expects to produce between 115-120K Oz AuEq at cash cost between USD $645-690 per Oz AuEq produced.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Avino mine, Durango. The company mined 118,224 tonnes to produce 225.5K Oz Ag, 1,350 Oz Au, and 1.64M Lb Cu (649.6K Oz AgEq), and sold 594.7K Oz AgEq at cash and AISC of USD $8.39 and USD $15.95 respectively per Oz AgEq sold. Avino reported revenues of USD $9.4M; operating income of USD $3.9M; non-cash depreciation and depletion of USD $4.4M; net income of USD $2.3M; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBIDTA) of USD $4.1M; adjusted earnings of USD $2.5M, operating cash flow (before working capital changes of USD $2.5M; and free cash flow of USD $1.5M. Cash balance reported at June 30, 2022 of USD $12.8M and working capital of USD $14.3M.
  • Capstone Copper Corp., reported Q2, 2022 production results from its Cozamin mine, Zacatecas. The company produced 14.33M Lb Cu at a cash cost of USD $1.25 per Lb Cu produced.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from their Guanacevi and Bolañitos mines in Durango and Guanajuato respectively. At Guanacevi, Durango, Endeavour processed 94,017 tonnes to produce 1.19M payable Oz Ag and 3,680 payable Oz Au at cash cost of USD $10.35 per Oz Ag, total  production cost of USD $12.90 per Oz Ag, direct operating cost per tonne of USD $170.75, and direct cost per tonne of USD $201.84 . At Bolañitos mine, Guanajuato, the company processed 107,344 tonnes to produce 155.7K payable Oz Ag and 5,609 payable Oz Au at cash cost of USD $8.01 per Oz Ag, total production cost of USD $24.66 per Oz Ag, direct operating cost per tonne of USD $99.25, and  direct cost per tonne of USD $101.05. Consolidated results summarize 201.4K tonnes processed to produce 1.36M payable Oz Ag and 9.3K payable Oz Au (2.1M Oz AgEq) at cash cost of USD $10.18 per Oz Ag, AISC of USD $19.56 per Oz Ag, total production cost of USD $14.26 per Oz Ag, direct operating cost per tonne of USD $132.63, and direct cost per tonne of USD $148.11. The company reported revenues of USD $30.8M from 602.9K Oz Ag sold and 9.8K Oz Au sold at realized prices of USD $22.72 and USD $1,840 per Oz Ag and Oz Au respectively. It also reported a net earnings (loss) of USD $11.9M, adjusted earnings (loss) of USD $4.3M), mine operating earnings of USD $4.5M, mine operating cash flow before taxes of USD $8.8M, operating cash flow before working capital changes of USD $3.6M, and working capital of USD $149.7M.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., reported Q2. 2022 from its San Jose mine, Oaxaca. The company mined 251.9K tonnes of 187 g/t Ag and 1.13 g/t Au, both with metallurgical recoveries of 91% to produce 1.38 M Oz Ag and 8.3K Oz Au. Fortuna sold 1.42M Oz Ag and 8.6K Oz Au at realized prices of USD $22.56 and USD $1,873 per Oz Ag and Au respectively at a production cash cost per tonne of USD $83.57, production cash cost per Oz Ag Eq of USD $11 and AISC per Oz AgEq of USD $15.41.
  • Gatos Silver Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Cerro Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua. The company milled 211,350 tonnes of 374 g/t Ag, 0.38 g/t Au, 2.79% Pb, and 5.03% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 90.4%, 48.9%, 90.5%, and 66.4% respectively to produce 2.3M Oz Ag, 1.27K Oz Au, 11.8M Lb Pb, and 15.6M Lb Zn. Gatos Silver reported unaudited sales of USD $57.2M, cost of sales of USD $27.8M, royalties of USD $1M, G & A expenses of USD 3.6M, other expenses of USD $0.7M, capital expenditures of USD $20.5M, and cash balance of USD $40M as of June 30, 2022.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project, Chihuahua. The company produced 213.5K Oz Ag, 3,081 Oz Au, and 219.5K Lb Cu at a cash and AISC of USD $13.17 and USD $17.73 per Oz AgEq respectively. GoGold reported revenues of USD $10.4M from the sale of 512.7K Oz AgEq at a realized price of USD $20.26 per Oz AgEq. It also reported cost of sales including depreciation of USD $7.9M, operating income of USD $221K, net income of USD $1.1M, free cash before working capital changes of USD $3.7M, and cash of USD $73.8M.
  • Golden Minerals Company reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Rodeo mine, Durango. Golden produced 3,004 payable Oz Au and 12,768 payable Oz Ag (3,158 payable Oz AuEq) and sold 3,219 Oz AuEq at a realized price of USD $1,865 per Oz Au and USD $22.49 per Oz Ag. The total cash cost net of Ag byproduct credits was USD $1,426 per Oz AuEq. Golden reported revenues of USD $5.9M, net operating margin of USD $1.3M, cash and cash equivalent balance as of June 30, 2022 of USD $9.5M, and a net loss of 2.8M or USD $0.02 per share.
  • Orla Mining ltd., reported production and financial results from its Camino Rojo mine, Zacatecas. The company produced 25,672 Oz Au and sold 25,431 Oz Au at an average price of USD $1,872 per Oz, and cash and AISC of USD $439 and USD $601 respectively. Orla reported revenues of USD $47.8M, cost of sales-operating cost of USD $10.8M, adjusted earnings of USD $11M, cash flow from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital of USD $20.7M, free cash flow of USD $28.7M, cash and cash equivalents as at June 30, 2022 of USD $66.7M, and a net debt of USD $100.3M.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Las Chispas project, Sonora. The company milled 12,700 tonnes of low-grade from historic stockpiles. At the end of June, 2022 it produced its first precious metal pour consisting of 312Kg of doré with approximately 2,200 Oz Ag and 100 Oz Au. SilverCrest reported cash and cash equivalents of USD $118.6M remaining under a USD $120M project financing facility, a value-added taxes (IVA) receivable in Mexico of USD $26.3M, an inventory of USD $19.4M, and mineral property, plant and equipment of USD $200M.
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corporation reported Q2, 2022 production results from its Cosala mine in Sinaloa. It produced 128K Oz Ag, 3.9M Lb Pb, and 9.9M Lb Zn. Americas provided 2022 production guidance and expect to produce between 0.7-0.9M Oz Ag, 13-15M Lb Pb, and 36-40M Lb Zn.

ON FINANCING

  • Advance Lithium Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $200K. Gross proceeds will be used to advance its Sarape project in Sonora and for general corporate purposes.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., informed about an extension of its non-brokered private placement by 30 days starting this August 8, 2022 (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., reported a new Ag discovery SE of its San Marcial Resource Area on its wholly-owned Plomosas project, Sinaloa. Hole SMS22-10 encountered 308 g/t Ag, 0.02 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 101.6m, including 7,139 g/t Ag, 0.04 g/t Au, 1,6% Pb, and 1.3% Zn over 0.8m, plus 3,065 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 0.3m, plus 1,774 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 0.1% Zn over 0.20m, plus 1,508 g/t Ag, 0.1% Zn over 0.2m, plus 1,285 g/t Ag, 0.04 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 0.3m, plus 1,004 g/t Ag, 0.06 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 4.1m, plus 1,579 g/t Ag, 0.06 g/t Au, and 0.1% Zn over 0.4m, plus 1,017 g/t Ag, 0.15 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 0.7% Zn over 0.3m, plus 414 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 0.9% Zn over 16.2m, including 1,405 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, and 1.9% Zn over 1.3m. “The hole was drilled 250 m to the SE of the San Marcial Resource Area, where the Company has been exploring the extension of the target contact between upper and lower volcanic units, which typically hosts the San Marcial Breccia Ag mineralization, together with strong ground magnetic anomalies delineated in 2021. This new, wide, high-grade silver discovery coincides with an inflexion in the NW-SE trending contact where it intersects with two key NE-SW trending faults. This defines a highly prospective target for continued drilling, both along strike and down dip”.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., reported Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources as at June 30, 2022 for their Mexican properties. At La Colorada, Zacatecas the company reported proven reserves of 3.8M tonnes with average grades of 340 g/t Ag and 0.23 g/t Au for a total of 41.5M Oz Ag and 27.5K Oz Au contained, and probable reserves of 6.2M tonnes with grades of 303 g/t Ag and 0.18 g/t Au for a total of 59.9M Oz Ag and 36K Oz Au contained. The company also reported measured resources of 1.9M tonnes with grades of 216 g/t Ag and 0.14 g/t Au for a total of 13M Oz Ag and 8.2K Oz Au, indicated resources of 3.4M tonnes with grades of 191 g/t Ag and 0.17 g/t Au for a total of 20.8M Oz Ag and 18K Oz Au contained, and inferred resources of 14.9M tonnes with grades of 195 g/t Ag and 0.2 g/t Au for a total of 93.9M Oz Ag and 98.4K Oz Au contained. At Dolores, Chihuahua, probable reserves reported are 4.1M tonnes of 18 g/t Ag and 0.6 g/t Au for a total of 2.4M Oz Ag and 77.7K Oz Au contained, while inferred resources are 2.5M tonnes with grades of 29 g/t Ag and 0.92 g/t Au for  a total of 2.4M Oz Ag and 74.4K Oz Au. At La Bolsa, Sonora, Pan American reported inferred resources of 13.7M tonnes with grades of 8 g/t Ag and 0.51 g/t Au for a total of 3.3M Oz Ag and 224.8K Oz Au contained. Reported mineral resources do not include amounts identified as mineral reserves. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves have no demonstrated economic viability.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. released results from 26 new drill holes targeting the Tajitos-Copala resource area at its 100%-owned flagship Panuco project in Sinaloa. Drilling highlights include hole CS-22-191 with 133 g/t Ag and 0.48 g/t Au (158 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 1.39m, plus 706 g/t Ag and 4.93 g/t Au (1,011 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 12.52m, including 3,880 g/t Ag and 27.7 g/t Au (5,602 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.26m, plus 1,245 g/t Ag and 8.24 g/t Au (1,751 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.26m, plus 1,425 g/t Ag and 10.65 g/t Au (2,092 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.42m; hole CS-22-173 with 663 g/t Ag and 2.90 g/t Au (826 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 14.46m, including 1,375 g/t Ag and 7.19 g/t Au (1,796 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.78m, including 1,501 g/t Ag and 5.49 g/t Au (1,791 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.93m, plus 1,655 g/t Ag and 8.05 g/t Au (2,118 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.78m, plus 1,505 g/t Ag and 5.93 g/t Au (1,826 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.37m; hole CS-22-159 with 285 g/t Ag and 2.12 g/t Au (418 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 10.50m, including 493 g/t Ag and 18.3 g/t Au (1,775 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.56m, plus 1,025 g/t Ag and 4.61 g/t Au (1,285 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.71m; and hole CS-22-181 with 165 g/t Ag and 0.52 g/t Au (191 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.70m, plus 832 g/t Ag and 3.85 g/t Au (1,051 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 3.44m, including 1,725 g/t Ag and 11 g/t Au (2,396 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.68, plus 1,501 g/t Ag and 4.98 g/t Au (1,754 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.81m.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Prismo Metals Inc., announced that its common shares are now eligible for electronic clearing and settlement in the United States through the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). It will simplify the process of trading and enhance liquidity of Prismo shares in the United States. The Company’s shares recently began trading on the OTCQB® Venture Market (“OTCQB”) under the ticker symbol PMOMF (Palos Verdes project, Sinaloa).
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited made several management changes. The company announced the retirement and replacement of its non-executive Chairman, the appointment of a new member of its Board of Directors, and the appointment of its Exploration Manager. All Board changes are effective September 1, 2022 (Plomosas mine, Chihuahua).
  • Advance Lithium Corp., sold its royalty on three claims in Kenya to Orogen Royalties Inc., for USD $120K and the transfer of the 100% ownership of the Sarape property, Sonora. Orogen will retain a 1.5% royalty on the Sarape property.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., amended the schedule on the final payment of its option agreement for 100% of the Columba high-grade silver project, Chihuahua. The amended agreement splits the final November 2022 payment into a series of payments due in August, November, December 2022 and January, April, and May of 2023. Payments range from USD $215K (August 2022 and May 2023) to USD $480K (November 2022) and USD $430K (December 2022, January, and April 2023).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • First Majestic Silver Corp., released its 2021 Sustainability report summarizing the Company´s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance. CEO of the company stated that their effort in 2021 demonstrated their commitment to sustainability and to improving lives and communities in our host regions while increasing shareholder value, as well as driving positive changes for society and delivering long-term benefits for all First majestic shareholders.
  •  Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V., and Fresnillo plc promote entrepreneurs providing tools to micro and small entrepreneurs from the communities neighboring their operations through a training and advisory program for the strengthening and creation of proudly local and Mexican companies. Both Peñoles and Fresnillo plc have given nearly 249 workshops for entrepreneurs, with the support of the social organization ProEmpleo. In parallel, the companies and the organization work on the abilities and skills of the participants who seek the continuity of their projects and reinforce them with actions to make them competitive in their local environment. To date, more than 3,800 people have benefited and 203 new companies have been created, which in turn generated 534 direct jobs; 74% of the total number of companies created continue to operate.

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 banded calcite vein with Manganese Oxides from an intermediate sulphidation epithermal vein system in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Hydrothermal breccia cemented by Manganese Oxides

By Miguel A Heredia

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

ON MEXICO ISSUE

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

ON EXPLORATION

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

ON MINING

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

ON FINANCING

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

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

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

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

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

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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

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

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

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

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Hydrothermal breccia cemented by MnOx.

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 24thweek of the year (June 13th to June 19th, 2022), at least 16 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 7 news were published by the media, with five informing on exploration results, four reporting resources and developments of their properties, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, four discussing social issues, three announcing financing issues, and three commenting on Mexican issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Arcelor Mittal announced that the strike broke out by the National Union of Mining, Metallurgical, Steel and Similar Workers of the Mexican Republic will affect the economy of Michoacan.  With the strike carried out by Napoleón Gómez Urrutia and his miners in Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan to the company Arcelor Mittal Mexico, they managed to jump the “cap” in the payment of utilities. The first International Mining Women’s Day was commemorated. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec-Kootenay JV reported final results from 2021-2022 RC drilling program on its Cervantes project, Colibri announced that its Phase 1 RC drilling program has been completed at its Evelyn project, and Prismo completed a LiDAR survey at its Los Pavitos project. In Coahuila, Monumental released sampling results from its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth Elements project. In Sinaloa, Prismo informed that it plans to drill a minimum of 2,000m at its Palos Verdes project. ON FINANCING, Prismo reached an agreement to exercise a total of up to 6,821,250 outstanding founder warrants for gross proceeds of $682,125 (Palos Verdes project, Sinaloa). Radius announced that it receives the final USD $700K option cash payment from Pan American Silver in order to earn its option for 65% of the Amalia property in Chihuahua. SilverCrest reported results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Las Chispas project, Sonora). Silver Wolf closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $602,160 (Ana Maria project, Durango). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Avino released results from Phase 2 of its 2021/2022 drilling program conducted at its Avino project, Durango. Silver Dollar reported initial results from the Phase II drilling ongoing program conducted at its La Joya project in Durango. Silver Tiger announced drilling results from the Sooy Vein at its El Tigre project, Sonora. Sonoro completed Phase IV drilling program at its Cerro Caliche project, Sonora.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Gatos silver announced the pass away of one of its Directors (Cerro Los Gatos, Chihuahua). Sierra Metals announced the appointment of a new member as Chair of its Board of Directors (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua). Silverton announced the appointment of its new CEO and Director (Peñasco Quemado project, Sonora). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Peñoles recognized the academic performance of sixteen young students of the Laguna del Rey Center for Technical Studies. Esperanza Silver de México, responsible for the Esperanza mining project, signed a collaboration agreement with the Zacatepec Technological Institute. Minera Cuzcatlán adopted a wastewater treatment plant in Ocotlán, Oaxaca. Industrias Peñoles announced the summer activities that will take place during June and July at the Community Center and in the Metals Museum.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Arcelor Mittal announced that the strike broke out by the National Union of Mining, Metallurgical, Steel and Similar Workers of the Mexican Republic will affect the economy of Michoacan and the metallurgical sector. The strike will have an impact and serious consequences in the short, medium and long term on labor and economic stability in the Lázaro Cárdenas region, in the state of Michoacán, in the production chain and in the country´s economy.
  • With strike, Napoleón Gómez Urrutia and his miners managed to jump the “cap” in the payment of utilities. With the work stoppage carried out by mining workers from section 271 in Lázaro Cárdenas Michoacán to the company Arcelor Mittal Mexico, on June 15, they managed to eliminate the “cap” on the payment of utilities that was included with the labor reform in April of 2021. This is not the first union organization to take action to pressure the company to grant a higher amount in the payment of utilities.
  • The first International Mining Women’s Day was commemorated. This June 15 marks the first World Mining Women’s Day as an initiative of the International Organization “Women in Mining”. Engaging the Women Mining Community, the International Day of Women in Mining will showcase the experiences, hopes and aspirations about the industry, and celebrate the personal achievements of women in the industry.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp – Kootenay Silver Inc. JV reported final results from 2021-2022 RC drilling program on its Cervantes project in Sonora. The program comprised 5,249 meters in 26 RC drill holes, testing 4 targets (Purisima East, California, Jasper, and California North). Hole CAL-22-018 drilled at California target intersected a high pyrite zone anomalous in copper, molybdenum, gold and silver that corresponds well with the top of large, strong IP chargeability anomaly. It encountered 0.22 g/t Au over 24.32m, plus 0.27 g/t Au over 10.64m, and 0.062% Cu over 68.4m, 1 g/t Ag over 28.88m, and 122 ppm Mo over 39.52m.
  • Colibri Resource Corporation announced that its Phase 1 RC drilling program has been completed at its Evelyn project in Sonora. The Phase 1 drill program consisted of 6,547m in 45 holes. Drill results from the first 22 holes were released previously and assays are pending for the remaining 23 holes.
  • Prismo Metals Inc., recently completed a LiDAR survey conducted over almost 40 square kilometers at its Los Pavitos project in Sonora. The company expects to receive the analysis of the LiDAR results in a few weeks to aid in the delineation of important structural trends and complete the work to identify drill targets this summer.
  • Monumental Minerals Corp., released results from 21 samples collected at its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth Elements project. Seven out of 21 samples returned values greater than 0.15% total rare earth oxide (TREO), including three samples that returned values greater than 0.25% TREO, and up to 0.54% TREO. “The assay results confirm that samples with the highest rare earth element content are those rocks that are classified as peralkaline (sodium plus potassium concentrations are greater than aluminum concentrations”. In addition, a single rock grab sample collected in the eastern claim area returned values of 13.5% Zn and 6.8% Pb and is classified as carbonate replacement-style mineralization.
  • Prismo Metals Inc., informed that it plans to drill a minimum of 2,000m at its Palos Verdes project in Sinaloa to test mineralization at depth under the high-grade intercepts from previous drilling campaigns.

ON MINING

  • No relevant news.

ON FINANCING

  • Prismo Metals Inc., reached an agreement to exercise a total of up to 6,821,250 outstanding founder warrants for gross proceeds of $682,125. Gross proceeds will be primarily used to drill a minimum of 2,000m at its Palos Verdes project, Sinaloa. Prismo also expects to use some of the proceeds to finalize surface exploration work on its Los Pavitos project in Sonora.
  • Radius Gold Inc., announced that it receives the final USD $700K option cash payment from Pan American Silver Corp., in order to earn its option for 65% of the Amalia property in Chihuahua.
  • Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $602,160. Net proceeds will be used for financing the ongoing drill program at its Ana Maria project in Durango, and for general working capital requirements.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., released results from phase 2 of its 2021/2022 drilling program conducted at its Avino project, Durango. Six underground holes were completed below the current level 17 mining area to define the continuity of economic mineralization at depth in the central part of the vein. Selected high grade intercepts include hole ET-22-01 with 0.06 g/t Au, 34 g/t Ag, and 0.66% Cu (127 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 0.80m on HW BX, including 0.12 g/t Au, 199 g/t Ag, and 2.75% Cu (577 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.10m, and 0.14 g/t Au, 21 g/t Ag, and 0.54% Cu (104 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 23.10m on HW STW, including 0.66 g/t Au, 759 g/t Ag, and 2.90% Cu (1,202 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.19m, including 1.35 g/t Au, 98 g/t Ag, and 1.92% Cu (466 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.34m, including 0.46 g/t Au, 72 g/t Ag, and 2.42% Cu (434 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.29m, including 0.15 g/t Au, 77 g/t Ag, and 3.17% Cu (514 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.24m, and 0.20 g/t Au, 61 g/t Ag, and 0.96% Cu (206 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 41m on Avino Vein, including 0.31 g/t Au, 71 g/t Ag, and 2.42% Cu (421 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.56m, including 0.09 g/t Au, 482 g/t Ag, and 1.40% Cu (678 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.75m, including 2.05 g/t Au, 99 g/t Ag, and 4.73% Cu (901 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.56m, including 2.75 g/t Au, 831 g/t Ag, and 3.82% Cu (1,568 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.19m, including 1.39 g/t Au, 246 g/t Ag, and 2.27% Cu (664 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.75, including 4.37 g/t Au, 1,234 g/t Ag, and 21.90% Cu (4,527 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.19m; and hole ET 21-08 with 0.28 g/t Au, 11 g/t Ag, and 0.6% Cu (112 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.94m on HW BX and 0.53 g/t Au, 41 g/t Ag, and 1.06% Cu (226 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 30m on Avino Vein, including 5.58 g/t Au, 86 g/t Ag, and 0.56% Cu (617 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.65m. “The drilling results have confirmed the down dip continuity of widths and grades of the Avino vein extending significant potential to a depth of at least 290 metre down dip below current development”.
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., reported initial results from 4 holes of the phase II drilling ongoing program at the unexplored La Noria portion of its La Joya project in Durango. Significant intersections were encountered in hole NOR-22-013 with 90 g/t Ag, 0.41 g/t Au, 0.08% Cu, 0.4% Pb, and 1% Zn (198 g/t AgEq) over 43,12m, including 192 g/t Ag, 0.27 g/t Au, 0.06% Cu, 1% Pb, and 2.2% Zn (363 g/t AgEq) over 19.35m, including 451 g/t Ag, 0.62 g/t Au, 0.07% Cu, 2.3% Pb, and 4.6% Zn (815 g/t AgEq) over 5m; and hole NOR-22-015 with 23 g/t Ag, 0.26 g/t Au, 0.07% Cu, 0.03% Pb, and 5.6% Zn (319 g/t AgEq) over 23.2m. To date, a total of 1,899m over 10 holes have been drilled in Phase II. Assay results are pending for the remaining 6 holes.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., announced drilling results from the Sooy Vein at its El Tigre project, Sonora. Highlights drill intercepts include hole ET-21-300 with 0.06 g/t Au, 239 g/t Ag, 0.3% Cu, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (281 g/t AgEq) over 4.9m, including 0.24 g/t Au, 2,230 g/t Ag, 2.85% Cu, 0.7% Pb, and 0.8% Zn (2,565 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m; and hole ET-21-289 with 0.12 g/t Au, 901 g/t Ag, 0.61% Cu, 3.1% Pb, 7.3% Zn (1,286 g/t AgEq) over 0.6m. The company also reported that over 370m of rehabilitation in Level 7 of the historic El Tigre mine have been completed. 
  • Sonoro Gold Corp., completed Phase IV drilling program at its Cerro Caliche project, Sonora, and reported results from the final seven holes. The company completed over 7,200m in 63 holes which returned multiple higher-grade gold intercepts and demonstrated the expansion of several known mineralized gold zones within the Cerro Caliche concession.  Highlights drill intercepts include hole SCR-321 with 1.34 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag (1.38 g/t AuEq) over 15.24m, including 3.66 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag (3.73 g/t AuEq) over 4.57m, plus 1.1 g/t Au and 0.8 g/t Ag (1.11 g/t AuEq) over 1.52m; and hole SCR-322 with 0.78 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag (0.81 g/t AuEq) over 18.29m, including 4.88 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag (4.97 g/t AuEq) over 1.52m. “Drilling results from the now completed Phase IV campaign will be included in an updated resource estimation scheduled to be announced in the fall of 2022. The economic impact of the updated resource on the proposed heap leach mining operation is also to be assessed and will be contemplated in a further technical report”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Gatos Silver Inc., announced the pass away of one of its independent non-executive Directors (Cerro Los Gatos, Chihuahua).
  • Sierra Metals Inc., announced the appointment of a new member as Chair of its Board of Directors (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua).
  • Silverton Metals Corp., announced the appointment of its new CEO and Director (Peñasco Quemado project, Sonora).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., reported results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Las Chispas project, Sonora).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Servicios Industriales Peñoles recognized the academic performance of sixteen young students of the Laguna del Rey Center for Technical Studies. The outstanding students are about to conclude their theoretical instruction as technical professionals, to then go on to put their knowledge into practice for an entire semester by joining the work teams of different mining units in different states of the Republic, with the possibility of in the end, they will be formally hired.
  • Esperanza Silver de México S.A. de C.V., responsible for the Esperanza mining project, signed a collaboration agreement with the Zacatepec Technological Institute, which will allow students from this important professional training institution in the state of Morelos, to carry out their professional residences at Minera Esperanza Silver.
  • Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.), adopted a wastewater treatment plant in Ocotlán, Oaxaca. The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP ) located in the municipality of Ocotlán de Morelos supplies 80% of the water it uses in its processes and the rest is obtained from rainwater harvested through a canal system
  • Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V., announced the summer activities that will take place during June and July at the Community Center and in the Metals Museum. 

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

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

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of December, 2020.

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Fault slickenside

By Miguel A Heredia

During the fifty one week of the year (December 14th to December 20th, 2020), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 4 news published by the media, with seven disclosing deals and corporate issues, five communicating production and financial results, four informing on exploration results, three announcing financial rounds, two discussing social issues, two reporting on resources and development of their mine operations, and two  commenting on Mexican issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Great Panther restarted operations at its Topia mine in Durango, after experiencing contagious of COVID-19 among the workforce. The Chihuahua Mining Cluster appointed its new board president. The Association of Miners of Sonora (AMSAC) decided to extend the current board for one year.  ON EXPLORATION, In Baja California Norte, Comet announced that a drilling program will commence in 2021 at its Santa Teresa project. In Sonora, Silver Viper released drill results from its El Rubi project. In Chihuahua, Monarca Minerals announced its intention to conduct an initial 5,000m of drilling at its San Jose project. In Sinaloa, Vizsla released surface and underground sampling results from its Panuco project. ON MINING, GoGold presented Q3, 2020 production and financial results from its Parral Tailing operation in Chihuahua. Prime reported Q2, 2020 financial results. ON FINANCING, Silver Dollar granted stock options to its directors, officers, and consultants (La Joya property, Durango). Gatos Silver provided an update and announced inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index, as well as in the VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) (Los Gatos, Chihuahua).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Southern Silver reported drill results from its Cerro Las Minitas property in Durango. Capitan Mining released RC drill results from three holes collared at its Peñoles project in Durango. Gatos Silver commenced a 58,000m infill and extensional drilling program at its Cerro Los Gatos deposit in Chihuahua. GR reported drill results from 2 holes collared at its Plomosas property in Sinaloa. Fabled started an 8,000m drilling program at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Aztec Minerals and Kootenay entered into a JV option agreement for the Cervantes project in Sonora. Defiance acquired option to purchase royalty at the Tepal property in Michoacan. Pan American appointed a new member to its board of directors (La Colorada, Zacatecas). Equinox announced friendly acquisition of Premier Gold (Mercedes Mine, Sonora). Canuc appointed a new special adviser to the company (San Javier property, Sonora). Santacruz reached an agreement with Peñoles to extend the Zimapan Mine lease until June 30, 2021.   ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Minera Media Luna, a subsidiary of Torex Gold invested MXP $1.8M to improve the Nuevo Balsas Health Center. Grupo Mexico donated eight thousand plants in Colima.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Great Panther Mining Limited, restarted operations at its Topia mine in Durango, after have experienced contagious of COVID-19 among the workforce. Mining resumed on December 17 and the plant is expected to begin processing ore on December 21.
  • The Chihuahua Mining Cluster appointed its new board president. This event was joined by the special presence of the state leadership of the Association of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico; the direction of the Mining Chamber of Mexico; guild suppliers, as well as the new director of mining for the state government.
  • The Association of Miners of Sonora (AMSAC) decided to extend the current board for one year as a result of the pandemic that paralyzed multiple activities in the sector.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Comet Resources Limited announced that a drilling program will commence in 2021 at its Santa Teresa project in Baja California Norte. Comet has identified sources of water for the drilling program and has improved roads to the drill sites. It is also in the process of getting the drill permit to commence the drilling in 2021. In addition, Comet has engaged a local geological consultancy to assist them with all geological programs, including permitting for drilling.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., released drill results from its El Rubi project in Sonora. The most significant drill interval was encountered in hole LV20-283 with 0.72 g/t Au and 50 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 13.89m, including several intersection as 2.55 g/t Au and 226 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.64m, 3.26 g/t Au and 215 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.92m, 1.58 g/t Au and 108 g/t Ag over a TW of 3.84m, 4.38 g/t Au and 282 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.64m, 33.8 g/t Au and 67 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.6m, and 77.9 g/t Au and 133 g/t Ag over a TW of 1m. Silver Viper informed also that it has conducted initial bottle roll leach tests on four 500 g composites of mineralized material from El Rubi with extracting recoveries of 90-95% for Au and 62-76% for Ag. The company plans to conduct more detail test work.
  • Monarca Minerals Inc., announced its intention to conduct an initial 5,000m of drilling at its San Jose project in Chihuahua. Monarca plans to drill 10 holes to test some IP targets to depths of up to 500m. Monarca is looking to sign a surface agreement with the local Ejido as well as to apply to obtain the drilling permit.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp., released surface and underground sampling results from its Panuco project. Sampling highlights include 11.55 g/t Au and 2,091 g/t Ag (3,042 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 1m, and 6.7 g/t Au and 723 g/t Ag (1,304 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.2m at Agua Zarca target; 2.23 g/t Au and 264 g/t Ag (456 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.9 at El Batel target; 0.77 g/t Au and 315 g/t Ag (368 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4.1m, including 1.28 g/t Au and 892 g/t Ag (958 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.3m at La Bomba target; and 0.67 g/t Au and 225 g/t Ag (275 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 10.5m, including 1.34 g/t Au and 371 g/t Ag (473 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4m at Huaco target. These results will help to generate drill targets for 2021.

ON MINING

  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented Q3, 2020 production and financial results from its Parral Tailing operation in Chihuahua. The company produced 605,723 Oz AgEq at a cash and AISC of USD $11.97 and USD $14.31 per Oz AgEq respectively. GoGold reported revenue of USD $39.5M, a net income of USD $43.1M, and cash flow from operations before working capital changes of  USD $5.5M, including free cash flow from Parral of USD $6.5M.
  • Prime Mining Corp., announced Q2, 2020 financial results.   The company reported a net loss of CAD $1,656,466, cash, cash equivalent and short-term investment of CAD $7,678,959, total current liabilities of CAD $655,545, total liabilities of CAD $1,668,247, and total shareholder´s equity of CAD $19,921,788 (Los Reyes project, Sinaloa).

ON FINANCING

  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., granted stock options to its directors, officers, and consultants to purchase up to 2.55M shares of the company. Shares are exercisable at $1.75 per share for five years (La Joya property, Durango).
  • Gatos Silver Inc., provided an update and announced inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index small capitalization stocks index, effective December 2021. Gatos recently completed an IPO with gross proceeds of USD $173M resulting in the largest precious metals IPO since 2010 and the largest precious metals equity financing during 2020. The company also announced the inclusion in the VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) (Los Gatos property, Chihuahua). 

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., reported drill results from Mina La Bocona target area at its Cerro Las Minitas property in Durango. Significant drill intersects were encountered at hole 20CLM-125 with 1.41 g/t Au and 36 g/t Ag (201 g/t AgEq) over a 28.5m, including 5.1 g/t Au and 72 g/t Ag (552 g/t AgEq) over 2.8m, and a deeper intersection of 0.45 g/t Au, 421 g/t Ag, 5.5% Pb, and 1.9% Zn (704 g/t AgEq or 17.9% ZnEq) over 6.1m (true width of 4.0m), including 0.64 g/t Au, 1,420 g/t Ag, 16.8% Pb, and 00.6% Zn (2,012 g/t AgEq or 51% ZnEq) over 0.9m (true width of 0.6m). This drill result is part of a 10,000m, 2020-2021 core drilling program on the Cerro Las Minitas project. Two additional holes have been completed at Mina La Bocona target. Seven holes totaling 2,470 metres have now tested the Mina La Bocona target area with assays still pending from each hole.
  • Capitan Mining Inc., released drill results from three holes collared at its Peñoles project in Durango. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in holes 20-CARC-12 with 0.63 g/t Au over 73.15m, including 0.91 g/t Au over 36.5m; hole 20-CARC-09 with 0.69 g/t Au and 21 g/t Ag over 64.01m, including 1.26 g/t Au over 13.72m; and hole 20-CARC-08 with 0.58 g/t Au over 48.77m, including 0.82 g/t Au and 16 g/t Ag over 28.96m.
  • Gatos Silver Inc., commenced a 58,000m infill and extensional drilling program at its Cerro Los Gatos deposit in Chihuahua. The program is expected to cost USD $6.1M. Drilling has already begun with a program of 27,000m with an expected cost of USD $2.8M and is focused on definition and extension of the Cerro Los Gatos deposit. Completion of the program is anticipated by June 2021. A second program focused on expanding resources throughout the Los Gatos district is planned to initiate in early 2021.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., reported drill results from 2 underground holes collared at its Plomosas property in Sinaloa. Hole PLI20-01 intersected 30 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, and 2.8% Zn (254 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 16m, including 55 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 4% Pb, and 8.3% Zn (424 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4m; and hole PLI20-02 intersected 18 g/t Ag, 0.3 g/t Au, 1% Pb, and 1.7% Zn (130 g/t AgEq), including 107 g/t Ag, 1.7 g/t Au, 6.6% Pb, 9.6% Zn, and 0.2% Cu (778 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4.2m. GR also reviewed and validated historical data from holes SD-62 and SD-67, confirming the presence of Au-Cu rich mineralization in other levels of the Plomosas Mine area. Hole SD-62 encountered  31 g/t Ag, 0.12 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.4% Zn, and 1.3% Cu (200 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 25.3m, while hole SD-63 intersected 115 g/t Ag, 1.04 g/t Au, 11.3% Pb, 5.4% Zn, and 0.7% Cu (800 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 6.1m.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., started an 8,000m drilling program at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua to test 11 new IP anomalies identified during the first ever geophysical survey conducted at the property. A 3-D IP survey covered the entire property at 50m-line spacing and was 16 blocks in size with penetration to -500m minimum. In addition, 27km of ground magnetic was completed over the property resulting in the creation of several products such as total field, first derivate, reduce to pole, and 3D inversion magnetics.  “Fabled’s management team strongly believes that the Santa Maria Property is an under-explored, high-grade silver-gold project with significant exploration potential to expand mineral resources and identify new discoveries”. 

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Aztec Minerals Corp., and Kootenay Silver Inc., entered into a JV option agreement for the Cervantes project in Sonora. Aztec has already completed its earn-in and exercised its option to acquire a 65% interest in the property. Now Aztec hold 65% interest in the property while Kootenay the remaining 35%. Both parties will keep their interest at Cervantes through share ownership in Aztec Minerals JV Corporation through its wholly owned subsidiary, Minera Azteca Dorado S.A. de C.V.
  • Defiance Silver Corp., acquired option to purchase the 2.5% NSR of the Tepal property in Michoacan from Minera Tepal, over four years for a total consideration of USD $4.85M.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., appointed a new member to its board of directors (La Colorada, Zacatecas).
  • Equinox Gold Corp., announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Premier Gold Mines Limited to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Premier. Premier will spin-out to its shareholders shares of a newly created US-focused gold production and development company to be called i-80 Gold Corp. On closing of the transaction, existing Equinox Gold and Premier shareholders will own approximately 84% and 16% of Equinox Gold, and Equinox Gold and existing shareholders of Premier will own 30% and 70% of i-80 Gold, respectively, on an issued share basis.
  • Canuc Resources Corporation appointed a new special adviser to the company (San Javier property, Sonora). 
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reached an agreement with Minera Cedros S.A.de C.V., a subsidiary of Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V. to extend the Zimapan Mine lease from December 31, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Media Luna, a subsidiary of Torex Gold invested MXP $1.8M to improve the Nuevo Balsas Health Center, which will serve close to four thousand inhabitants of communities such as Nuevo Balsas, San Nicolás, La Fundición, Real del Limón, Acalmantlila, Balsas Sur, San Luis and Tomixtlahuacán. This center seeks to provide decent medical care since the areas that are farthest from the municipal capitals are severely affected in their health services due to the conditions of difficult access and remoteness.
  • Grupo Mexico donated eight thousand plants to the City Council and to the  Integral Development of the Family (DIF) of Colima to reforest the public gardens of the rural communities contributing to improve the environment and quality of life of the families of the municipality of Colima.

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

On the picture above, a fault slickenside in a Mn-Fe occurrence in a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

IMG_4731

By Jorge Cirett

During the 10th week of the year (March 2nd to March 8th, 2020), at least 25 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, several companies are interested exploring for lithium in Zacatecas-San Luis Potosí. Grupo Mexico plans to invest 78% more in 2020. Several mining companies are to invest more than $200 M in exploration in Mexico. The year 2019 was not good for the mining industry in the country, with an overall decrease in production. Durango’s governor announced mining investments for $100 M. The Peñasquito mine is expected to produce 1.6 M Oz AuEq per year for the next five years. The Industria Nacional de Autopartes (INA) is promoting the installation of a lithium battery plant. The Future of the Mexican Mining Industry seminar was held during the PDAC convention in Toronto, Canada.  Peñoles is to switch to LP gas its diesel truck fleet at one of its mines in Sonora (Milpillas?). ON EXPLORATION, in Durango, Chesapeake Gold optioned the Duraznito project, near the San Dimas mine. In Veracruz, Azucar Minerals released more drill results from its El Cobre project.  ON MINING, US Antimony reported the successful startup of the Los Juarez production facilities in Queretaro and Guanajuato. Mexus Gold announced small scale heap leach gold production at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Bacanora Lithium presented financial results for the last six months of 2019. Gold Resource presented production figures for 2019. Fresnillo PLC and Premier Gold Mines released financial results for 2019. ON FINANCING, One World Lithium announced the amendment of the terms on a number of  purchase warrants previously issued by the company. Consolidated Zinc entered into unsecured loan facilities with CZL major shareholders. Premier Gold closed its public offering, for gross proceeds of $38 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mag Silver released results from last year’s 28-hole program with over 33,000 m of drilling, including some exciting intercepts. Gold Resource Corp. updated annual reserve estimates for the Oaxaca Mining Unit. Aura Minerals provided mineral reserve and resource estimates to the end of 2019 for the Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas. SilverCrest released metallurgical test results for its Las Chispas project in Sonora.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Mithril Resources is acquiring the company that controls the Copalquin project in Durango. Oroco Resource closed the acquisition of Altamura Copper, furthering its interest on the Santo Tomás project in Sinaloa. Magna Gold is acquiring Alio Gold’s San Francisco mine in Sonora. Sable Resources appointed Ruben Padilla as CEO. Equinox Gold and Leagold Mining received approval for its merger. GR Silver Mining and First Majestic signed a binding agreement on the sale to GR of the Plomosas property in Sinaloa. Prime mining signed a long-term surface agreement on its Guadalupe de Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Cheaspeake gold optioned the El Duraznito project in Durango. Fortuna Silver is involved in legal proceeding regarding a royalty on one of its mining concessions. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Peñasquito  received two awards by Infonavit for its excellent compliance on payments.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Claudia Pavlovich, Sonora’s governor, praised the work women realize in the State, while on a trip visiting mining communities, like Turicachi, Nacozari de García and Cumpas, where she realized various activities.
  • Gustavo Puentes, Secretary of Economic Development, announced several companies are interested in investing in lithium exploration in the border between San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas.
  • Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) supports women collaborators that unite on the movement #UnDíaSinNosotras (One day without us) that is trying to eradicate genre violence.
  • The inauguration of Mexican Stand on the Prospectors and Developers of Canada Convention (PDAC) in Toronto counted with the participation of Graeme Clark, Canada’s ambassador in Mexico, Juan José Gómez Camacho, Mexico’s ambassador in Canada, Francisco Quiroga, subsecretary of Mining, José rosas Aispuro, Durngo’s governor and Salvador García, president of the Asociación de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México (AIMMGM). The Mexico stand was possible due to the support of the AIMMGM, Peñoles, Minera Media Luna, Newmont, Alamos Gold, Endeaavour Silver, Asociación de Mineros de Sonora, Construplan, Detector Exploraciones, SSR Mining Pitarrilla, Santacruz Silver Mining, Starcore, International Mines, MacClean, Diesel Cargo, Accendo Banco, ROD General Contractor and Ecodrill, as the Mexican government no longer supports international promotion.
  • Grupo Mexico plans to invest 78% more in 2020. On mining the budget is US$1,217 M to produce 1.12 M tonnes Cu, further US$367 M to invest in transport and US$412 M in the infrastructure division.
  • Mining industry companies are to invest more than US$200 M in exploration in Mexico during 2020. Torex Gold plans to invest US$13 M in the Media Luna project; Fresnillo will invest over US$135 M in exploration in Chile, Peru and Mexico; First Majestic Silver will invest US$28 M in San Dimas, Durango and Santa Elena, Sonora; Pan American Silver is to invest more than US$37 M at Dolores in Chihuahua and La Colorada in Zacatecas.
  • Mining did not have a good year in Mexico in 2019. Mining is ongoing in 25 States, produces 8.1% of the industrial GNP and had a 5.1% contraction as result of the policies of the actual Federal Government. Since December of 2018 no new mineral concession titles have been granted, and the environmental regulator, SEMARNAT has delivered just one Environmental Impact Report (Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental, or MIA). In Puebla, a local court maintains a suspension of work on El Gorrión mine (Ixtaca) based on a legal complaint by a communal group (ejido) on a mineral concession the company no longer has. The Cosalá mine in Sinaloa is paralyzed by a conflict between unions masterminded by Morena’s senator Napoleon Gómez Urrutia, reminiscent of the conflict suffered by Torex Gold a few months ago under the same terms. The projected investments for US$5,343 M were not achieved, with the projected real figure likely to be around 60%, and exploration at 36% of the expected. Coming interactions of the industry with the Environmental regulator the sub secretary of mining, Francisco Quiroga and Alfonso Romo are to try to better the condition of the industry.
  • The governor of Durango, José Rosas Aispuro announced at the PDAC convention in Toronto, the investment of US$100 M in the mining sector during 2020 in the State.
  • The Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas is the biggest gold mine in Mexico, the second largest for silver and one of the biggest producers of zinc and lead. The mine is expected to produce 1.6 M Oz AuEq per year during the next five years. The company is striving to reduce costs and optimize the operation.
  • The Industria Nacional de Autopartes (INA) promotes the installation of a battery plant based on lithium, to take advantage of the natural resources and the industrial prowess of the country. Bacanora Lithium plans to invest US$420 M on the installation of a processing plant in Bacadehuachi, Sonora, in order to produce 17 K tonnes a year. About 85% of the lithium producers are in Asia, and USA produces 20% of the batteries. The nearness to the USA and sea ports are other advantages for project owned by Bacanora Lithium.
  • During December 2019 mining grew by 0.9% thanks to the push given by a raise of 19.1% in lead production. For the year, mining decreased 1.5%, while lead production grew 13.3%. Los Gatos, in Chihuahua; Minera Capela in Guerrero; San Martin and Peñasquito in Zacatecas and production by Fresnillo aided in the growth seen by the bluish gray metal. Production rates from other metals show increments and decrements to the following tenor During December: Gypsum +14.4%, zinc +8.8%, silver +7.8%, sulphur +5.2%, coke -25.8%, iron pellets -7.3%, coal -5.2%, gold -2.2%, copper -0-8%. For the year: Overall -1.5%, gold -10.2%, silver +1.1%, copper +4.8%, zinc +7.0%, lead +13.3%, iron pellets -0.5%, coke -16.0%, Sulphur -14.7%, fluorite -5.0%, coal -2.0%, gypsum -0.6%. The trend reflects years of decreasing investment in mining, although some new developments might increase the production on lead, zinc, silver and copper.
  • The Future of the Mexican Mining Industry seminar was held during the PDAC convention in Toronto, Canada. Four environmentally focused conferences opened the seminar in which a dialogue table was set with the Mining Sub Secretary Francisco Quiroga, several governors, union leaders, mining company executives, financial analysts and congressmen.
  • Lithium exploration projects in Mexico: There are more than 20 lithium exploration projects in the country, most within Sonora, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Baja California and Coahuila. The most advanced is Bacanora Lithium’s Sonora project in Bacadehuachi, but other interesting properties are comprised by OrganiMax’s Salar La Salada in Zacatecas, and Salar Santa Clara and Salar Caliguey in San Luis Potosí; Litio Infinito’s project in Sonora, adjacent to the ground held by Bacanora Lithium and One World Lithium’s Salar del Diablo project in Baja California.
  • Industrias Peñoles intends to change the fuel used by its mining trucks fleet in a mine in Sonora. The change involves modifying the trucks to run on LP gas instead of diesel (Milpillas mine?).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. announced it has an option to acquire El Duraznito project in Durango, which is 18 Km East of First Majestic’s San Dimas mine. Mineralization is represented by quartz veins and quartz bearing breccias along 1,500 m of longitude and 300 m vertically. Those structures are parallel to the San Dimas veins, and appear to be also of epithermal low sulfidation character. A series of rock chip samples on sub-parallel quartz bearing breccias have returned 45 m @ 1.6 gpt Au, 16 gpt Ag; 30 m @ 3.9 gpt Au, 48 gpt Ag; 23 m @ 1.8 gpt Au, 58 gpt Ag; 15 m @ 3.1 gpt Au, 24 gpt Ag. Channel samples on quartz veins returned 10 m @ 4.8 gpt Au, 464 gpt Ag; 2.5 m @ 3.9 gpt Au, 756 gpt Ag; 2.5 m @ 9.7 gpt Au, 343 gpt Ag; 3.0 m @ 2.8 gpt Au, 113 gpt Ag.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. released results from its ongoing program at El Cobre project in Veracruz. Core length intercepts released include: 158.0 m @ 0.64 gpt Au, 0.26% Cu (including 19.6 m @ 0.83 gpt Au, 0.28% Cu); 71.7 m @ 0.16 gpt Au, 0.12% Cu (including 17.7 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 0.38% Cu); 179.5 m @ 0.20 gpt Au, 0.22% Cu (including 39.95 m @ 0.15 gpt Au, 0.63% Cu and 17.55 m @ 0.48 gpt Au, 0.32% Cu); 112.2 m @ 0.36 gpt Au, 0.26% Cu; 442.2 m @ 0.44 gpt Au, 0.23% Cu (including 158.0 m @ 0.64 gpt Au, 0.26% Cu); 197.5 m @ 0.32 gpt Au, 0.24% Cu (including 16 .0 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 0.81% Cu); 193.5 m @ 0.27 gpt Au, 0.14% Cu.

ON MINING

  • United States Antimony Corp. reported the successful start up of the Los Juarez Au and Ag production at Los Juarez, Queretaro. Detailed mapping delineated jasperoid silica-rich mineralized pipes over an E-W strike length of three kilometres, and a maximum width of one kilometre. Highlighted individual 1.0-1.5 m assays on drill holes range from trace to 25 gpt Au, 13 to 451 gpt Ag and 0.08 to 1.19% Sb. With a mean grade of 1.09 gpt Au, 102 gpt Ag, 0.65% Sb, and recovery rates of 90% Au, 85% Ag, 70% Sb. The ore is being treated by flotation mill, flotation mill and caustic leach and flotation mill tailings and cyanide leach.
  • Mexus Gold US. Announced it is now producing gold daily at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake with First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora). Mexus plans to produce 5 to 7 Oz Au daily, and then increase to 10 Oz Au per day by the end of the month.
  • Bacanora Lithium Plc. provided financial results for the second half of 2019. During the period Bacanora concluded an investment and offtake agreement with Ganfeng Lithium Co, Ltd., raised UK$14.4 M and retained a US$150 M conditional senior debt facility. Engineering work has continued, while full development capital for construction is being pursued.
  • Gold Resource Corp. presented production figures for last year, including figures from its Oaxaca mining unit. During the year, 29,435 Oz Au, 1.72 M Oz Ag, 1,859 tonnes Cu, 2,286 tonnes Pb, 5,734 tonnes Zn were produced. Apporting to that production, 629 .9 K tonnes were milled @ 1.73 gpt Au, 82 gpt Ag, 0.38%Cu, 1.88% Pb, 4.64% Zn at the Arista mine, part of the Oaxaca Mining Unit.
  • Fresnillo Plc. announced financial results for the year 2019. Silver and gold production diminished 11.6% and 5.1% respectively during the period. Total silver production was 47.4 M Oz, with most of such production coming from Saucito (15.9 M Oz Ag), Fresnillo (24.8 M Oz Ag), San Julián DOB (7.4 M Oz Ag), Ciénega (5.3 M Oz Ag) and San Julián veins (4.2 M Oz Ag). A total of 848 K Oz Au were produced, mostly from Herradura (496 K Oz Au), Noche Buena (105 K Oz Au), Saucito (72 K Oz Au), San Julián veins (62 K Oz Au), Ciénega (62 K Oz Au), Fresnillo (46 K Oz Au). The company also produced 49 K tonnes of lead, from Saucito (19.7 K tonnes Pb), Fresnillo (19.5 K tonnes Pb), Ciénega (4.4 K tonnes Pb ), San Julián (5.4 K tonnes Pb), and 78.6 K tonnes of zinc from Fresnillo (26.3 K tonnes Zn), Saucito (25.6 K tonnes Zn), San Julián (19 K tonnes Zn), Ciénega (7.6 K tonnes Zn). Cash cost per silver ounce varied between ($0.2) and $7 per Oz Ag on the different mining units, and gold between $818.6 and $847.8 per Oz Au.
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. released operating results for the quarter ending on December of 2019 and full year 2019 results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At the Mercedes mine in Sonora, 667.7 K tonnes were mined @ 2.91 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag, recovering 95.8% Au, 34.0% Ag, to produce 59,901 Oz Au, 191.3 K Oz Ag. Co-product cash cost was $1,034 per Oz, and co-product AISC $1,263 per Oz Au. For the full year total capital expenditures were $18.8 M, focusing on underground mine infrastructure and development, as well as exploration and replacement of old mining equipment.

ON FINANCING

  • One World Lithium Inc. announced the amendment of the terms of 14.5 M outstanding common share purchase warrants, previously issued by the company (Salar del Diablo, Baja California).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. entered into unsecured loan facilities with CZL major shareholders, the Copulos and Retzos Groups. The loan facilities are for A$400 K at an interest rate of 10% per annum, repayable by the end of June 2021 (Plomosas, Chihuahua).
  • Alamos Gold Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.015 per common share and introduced a dividend reinvestment and share purchase plan (Mulatos, Sonora).
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. closed its previously announced public offering for gross proceeds of $38 M, paying a 5% cash commission, with a reduced 2.5% cash commission on the Orion purchase (check note for further details) (Mercedes, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mag Silver Corp. announced results from the 2019 28-hole program with 33,864 m of drilling on the Juanicipio JV property in Zacatecas. The latest exploration results confirm and expand the wide, high-grade mineralization in the Valdecañas Deep zone and the Anticipada vein, as well as confirming and expanding the Venada vein, and the discovery of the NE trending Valentina and Venadas II veins through drilling and development. Exceptional true width intercepts comprise: 5.7 m @ 3,884 gpt Ag, 8.4 gpt Au, 6.5% Pb, 9.7% Zn, 0.3% Cu; 21.1 m @ 129 gpt Ag, 1.7 gpt Au, 3.5% Pb, 7.8% Zn, 0.2% Cu; 21.2 m @ 147 gpt Ag, 1.2 gpt Au, 3.9% Pb, 8.8% Zn, 0.3% Cu; 1.0 m @ 187 gpt Ag, 10.6 gpt Au, 1.3% Pb, 4.4% Zn; 2.5 M @ 918 gpt Ag, 1.8 gpt Au; 1.2 m @ 279 gpt Ag, 0.7 gpt Au; 0.7 m 1,216 gpt Ag, 3.6 gpt Au.

Gold Resource Corp. updated annual reserve estimates, including figures for its Mexican operations. At the Oaxaca Mining Unit that comprises the Arista and the Mirador mine, 2.83 M tonnes @ 1.97 gpt Au, 122 gpt Ag contain 179,300 Oz Au and 11.1 M Oz Ag in proven and probable reserves.Gold Resource Reserve table 20192Gold Resource Corp Resource table 20191

  • Aura Minerals Inc. provided mineral reserves and resources estimates to the end of 2019, including figures for its Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas.Aranzazu Reserves 20191
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. released metallurgical test results with increased precious metals recoveries at Las Chispas property in Sonora. After nine months of intensive metallurgical tests involving all veins, the results show an increase on recoveries to 96.1% Au and 93.9% Ag. The design criteria envisages a single stage crushing, a sag mill single stage, gravity recovery of 40% to 50% precious metals, leach recovery for gravity concentrate on a 96 hours leach circuit and leach recovery for gravity tails on 96 hours leach circuit.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Mithril Resources Ltd. presented the 2019 end of year report. The most significant event is the ongoing acquisition of Sun Minerals Pty Ltd., which holds an option on the Copalquin project in Durango. The said acquisition is expected to be completed during the present quarter, with field work and drilling to be undertaken shortly after, as the statutory permits have already been obtained.
  • Oroco Resource Corp. closed the acquisition of the balance of the ownership of Altamura Copper Corp., giving the company 100% control of the Santo Tomás porphyry copper project in Sinaloa. The Company holds a 56.7% interest in 1,172.9 ha core concessions of the project, and may increase the interest up to an 81% interest with an investment of up to CAD$30 M. Oroco also holds a 77.5% interest in 7,807.9 ha of mineral concessions surrounding and adjacent to the core concessions.
  • Alio Gold Inc. entered into a definitive share purchase agreement to sell Molimentales del Noroeste S.A. de C.V., which owns 100% interest on the San Francisco mine in Sonora, with Magna Gold Corp.. Under the agreement Alio Gold will receive 9.74 M shares of Magna and an additional $5M in cash a year from the closing.
  • Sable Resources Ltd. announced the appointment of Dr Ruben Padilla to the position of company president & CEO (Margarita, Chihuahua).
  • Equinox Gold Corp. and Leagold Mining Corp. received the clearance decision “from the Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (“COFECE”) with respect to the pending merger between Equinox Gold and Leagold. COFECE approval was the final government agency approval required before completing the merger, which is anticipated to occur in the second week of March” (Los Filos, Guerrero).
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. announced the signing of the definitive binding share purchase agreement to acquire all the shares of Minera La Rastra S.A. de C.V. from First Majestic Silver Corp., and the ownership of the Plomosas Silver project in Sinaloa. The 8,515 ha project includes the old Plomosas mine, four targets at the drill/resource stage and 16 exploration targets and and exploration database with more than 500 historical drill holes.
  • Prime Mining Corp. signed a long-term surface access agreement on its Guadalupe de Los Reyes property in Sinaloa. The agreement signed with the Ejido Tasajera, envisions an initial 15-year term that can be extended for another 15 years. Under the terms of the agreement US$38.3 K were paid on signature, with a following payment of US$20K on year four and US$30 K on year five. If construction begins prior to the fifth year, the annual payment increases to US$30 K, and the payment under commercial production to US$200 K.
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. announced it has an option to acquire El Duraznito project in Durango, which is 18 Km East of First Majestic’s San Dimas mine. Chesapeake is to pay US$228 K in instalments to two concession owners for three years to gain a 60% participation at El Duraznito, and US$500 K to obtain an additional 20%. At the start of commercial production Chesapeake is to make a final payment of US$550 K to the vendors.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc. Provided an update on the status of the legal proceedings related to a disputed royalty on one of its extracting mining concessions at the San Jose mine in Oaxaca. Fortuna initiated legal proceedings against the Dirección General de Minas (DGM) to contest the procedure taken by the DGM to cancel one of its mining concessions if the disputed royalty plus VAT is not paid before March 15, 2020. A permanent stay of execution (amparo) was granted, but the final ruling might take months and the company might be required to pay the disputed royalty.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • INFONAVIT executives from the Zacatecas Direction provided the Peñasquito mine with two awards for its excellent compliance with the payments of dues to the housing fund of its workers.

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

On the image below: Hydrothermal breccia sealed by silica in a thermal spring in Baja California, picture by Jorge Cirett.

IMG_4731

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of February, 2020.

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Mn-Silica breccia hosted in ignimbritic rhyolites

By Miguel A Heredia

During the ninth week of the year (February 24th to March 1st, 2020), at least 33 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with seven announcing financial rounds, seven commenting on Mexican issues, five informing on exploration results, five reporting on resources and developments, four communicating production and financial results, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, and one discussing issues on social responsibility.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Majors are called to receive the Mining Fund.  The Technical Committee of the Federal Mining Fund allocated resources for 16 projects in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango and Guerrero.  The Municipalities of Aquiles Serdán and Ocampo in the state of Chihuahua will receive MXP $18.6M from the Mining Fund. The President of Mexico, Andres Manuel López Obrador, was requested by workers of Minera Cosalá to end the illegal strike that affects that mine site. Oaxaca’s mining potential could be profiled as one of the most important in Mexico. The official spokesperson of Esperanza Silver de Mexico stated that the company will comply 100% with Mexican standards not only with the community of Tetlama, but throughout the Municipality of Temixco, Morelos. In recent years, Mexico has registered the suspension of dozens of mining projects, whose assets have been victims of price volatility, licensing obstacles, adverse political factors, and community opposition. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Colibri announced the commencement of its initial 5-holes diamond drilling program at its Evelyn project, and Silver Viper released drilling results from its El Rubi project. In Durango, Chesapeake provided an update on the exploration program at its Crisy and San Javier prospects located in the vicinity of its Metates project. In Jalisco, GoGold released drilling results from nine holes collared at its Los Ricos project. In the State of Mexico, Impact Silver reported sampling results from its Chapanial project. ON MINING, Telson provided an update on its mine operation at Campo Morado, Guerrero. Argonaut, Avino, and Golden Minerals reported Q4 and full year 2019 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Aztec announced the re-pricing of a package of stock options of the company (Cervantes project, Sonora).  GoGold closed a bought deal offering for gross proceeds of approximately CAD $25M (Los Ricos project, Jalisco). Santacruz closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $734,150 (Veta Grande, Zacatecas). Ridgestone closed the final tranche of its private placement financing for gross proceeds of $339,549.90 (Rebeico project, Sonora). Gold Resource declared its February 2020 monthly dividend to its shareholders (Arista mine, Oaxaca). Minera Alamos received approval from its shareholders for final phase of its Santana, Sonora project financing for CAD $5M. Riverside announced the spin-out of its Peñoles project in Durango.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, First Majestic released infill drilling results from it’s the Ermitaño project in Sonora. Prime Mining reported surface trenching, road cuts, and adits sampling results from its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Sonoro announced its plan to expand its drilling program at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. Fresnillo and its JV partner Mag Silver provided an update on its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Radius Gold and pan American Silver included Palmillas property within the Amalia JV project in Chihuahua. Oroco informed that its Board of Directors has approved the Altamura Copper Corp acquisition (Santo Tomas project, Sinaloa). Silver Spruce announced management changes and appointed its new President, CEO and Director (Pino de Plata project, Chihuahua). Fresnillo plc exercised its option to purchase Plata Latina´s Naranjillo property in Guanajuato. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Grupo Peñoles and UNAM conducted a Health Day in Zacatecas.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Majors of 23 of the 38 Municipalities of Coahuila state are called to receive the Mining Fund. An urgent request was made to 23 Majors of Municipalities benefited with resources from the Mining Fund in order to make this benefit effective. To achieve this objective, the projects in which the resources will be applied must be presented.
  • The Director of the Mining Fund of the Secretariat of Economy, María del Socorro Gómez Leyja, indicated that the Technical Committee of the Federal Mining Fund allocated resources for 16 projects in the states of Chihuahua (MXP $ 18.6M), Coahuila (MXP $ 3.1M), Durango (MXP $ 7.6M) and Guerrero (MXP $ 4.6M).
  • MXP $18.6M from the Mining Fund was allocated to Chihuahua. The Municipalities of Aquiles Serdán and Ocampo in the state of Chihuahua, will have resources from the Mining Fund that will be used for paving, dome, well and water network, thanks to the approval by the Technical Committee of the Mining Fund.
  • The President of Mexico, Andres Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) was requested by workers of Minera Cosalá to end the illegal strike that affects that mine site. The same workers, said to AMLO that the leader of its Union affiliated with the CTM, negotiated the collective work contract with the company Minera Cosalá SA de CV, and determined that the operation was normal and there were no irregularities on the part of the company. However, workers close to the senator of the Morena party and mining leader Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, asked the company for salaries higher than normal. They mentioned that the mine has been working since 2003 and they have a safe job for at least six more years, in excellent working conditions and that their only desire is to work, regardless of which Union won the collective agreement.
  • Oaxaca´s mining potential, according to specialists, government and private capital, could be profiled as one of the most important in Mexico, to generating jobs and strengthening the regional economy of indigenous communities. Currently the state has not been explored outside the mining districts and known mineralized areas, but contains promising areas for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, Sb, and non-metallic minerals such as micas, zeolites, marble, travertine, and granite among others. Data from some civil organizations indicate that Oaxaca’s mining production represents 0.72% of the total national value, with Ag first, second Au and third Pb.
  • Ricardo Sierra Oteiza, official spokesperson of the Esperanza project in Morelos State, said that through the new model of social end environmentally responsible mining, the company Esperanza Silver de Mexico will comply 100% with Mexican standards not only with the community of Tetlama, but throughout the Municipality of Temixco, Morelos. In addition, he stressed that there will be an investment of over USD $400M in the 10 years that the company plans to carry out work in the state.
  • In recent years, Mexico has registered the suspension of dozens of mining projects, whose assets have been victims of price volatility, licensing obstacles, adverse political factors, and community opposition. BNamericas accounts for 59 Mexican projects suspended in its database, compared to 95 active projects. Of the 11 suspended projects for which financial information is available, combined capital expenditure totals USD $ 2.4B.This compares to 42 active projects whose combined capital expenditure amounts to USD $ 14.2B. The greater projections for Au and Ag, along with political changes at the state level, have improved the prospects for the resumption of some of the suspended projects. However, the depressed prices of Cu and Zn and not minor problems with obtaining permits and other legal aspects continue to put important obstacles on others. Some of the largest suspended projects are La Verde in Michoacan, Sierra Mojada in Coahuila, Angangueo in Michoacan, Ixtaca in Puebla, Ana Paula in Guerrero and Esperanza in Morelos. Other suspended projects are Monterde in Sonora, Caballo Blanco in Veracruz, San Antonio, Baja California Sur, and La Bolsa in Sonora.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Colibri Resource Corporation, announced the commencement of its maiden drill program at its Evelyn project in Sonora. The initial 5-diamond holes drilling program will be focused on two mineralized corridors named Cerro Rojo and El Sahuaro and is expected to be completed in three weeks.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., provided drilling results from its El Rubi project in Sonora. All holes encountered mineralized zones, with several significant interceptions in hole LV20-217 with 4.45 g/t Au and 401 g/t Ag (10.18 g/t AuEq or 713 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 4.56m, including 15.55 g/t Au and 1,436 g/t Ag (36.06 g/t AuEq or 2,524 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 1.14m; 1.79 g/t Au and 91 g/t Ag (3.1 g/t AuEq or 217 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 7.41m, including 7.49 g/t Au and 586 g/t Ag (15.86 g/t AuEq or 1,110 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 0.57m; and 2.05 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag (2.70 g/t AuEq or 189 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 6.27m, including 8.44 g/t Au and 201 g/t Ag (11.3 g/t AuEq or 791 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 1.14m. Hole LV20-218 also intersected several mineralized zones with 5.82 g/t Au and 530 g/t Ag (13.39 g/t AuEq or 937 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 1.89m, including 14.4 g/t Au and 1,253 g/t Ag (32.3 g/t AuEq or 2,261 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 0.63m; 9.15 g/t Au and 569 g/t Ag (17.28 g/t AuEq or 1,210 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 5.04m, including 22.63 g/t Au and 1,431 g/t Ag (43.08 g/t AuEq or 3,015 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 1.89m. The El Rubi mineralized structure has now been intercepted on seven sections for a total 300m of strike extent.
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., provided an update on the exploration program at its Crisy and San Javier prospects, located 15Km south and 12 km southeast respectively from its Metates project in Durango. These both projects cover several zones of Au-Ag mineralization along regional, deep-seated northwest-trending fault zones, associated with intermediate intrusive rocks that have altered the enclosing sedimentary rocks over an area more than 15 km in diameter. At Crisy, Chesapeake competed 4 trenches totaling 350m in length and returned 1.1 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag over 57m; 1 g/t Au and 10 g7t Ag over 11m; 1.1 g/t Au and 33 g/t Ag over 12m; and 2.2  g/t Au and 29 g/t Ag over 7m. In addition, an initial 15km IP survey is underway over the trenched area at Crisy and preliminary results correlate well with the Au-Ag mineralization and suggest that the outcropping quartz bx zone extend to over 200m depth. It also indicates that the anomaly is continues along strike and remains open. The IP survey also defined a large NW-SE trending high chargeability anomaly about 200m to the SW of the bulldozer trenching. The IP survey indicates a more than 500m long by 500m wide on which limited sampling has returned 1.2 g/t Au over 4m wide, and 1 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag over 5m wide. Four Km to the NW of the area of bulldozer trenching, multiple quartz structures within a corridor over 800m long by 200ms wide and with 150m of vertical extent were identified returning 1 g/t Au over 9m wide; 0.8 g/t Au over 12m; and 3.1 g/t Au and 10 g(/t Ag over 1.3m wide. Regional exploration has now identified several distinct target areas hosting quartz veins, bx and local stockwork along the 7 kilometer long hydrothermal system at Crisy. At San Javier, the company identified a 1.2km long, high-grade Au-Ag quartz vein structures over 300m in elevation. Channel sampling on these structures  returned encouraging results as 9.6 g/t Au and 143 g/t Ag over 2.8m; 3.3 g/t Au and 391 g/t Ag over 1m; 2.3 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag over 1.4m; and 2.1 g/t Au and 113 g/t Ag over 1m. Trenching and IP survey is being carried out on San Javier to test the potential for disseminated Au hosted in highly altered intrusive rocks.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented drill results from nine holes collared at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Significant drill intersections were encountered in hole LRGG-20-100 with 1.51 g/t Au and 204 g/t Ag (4.23 g/t AuEq or 317 g/t AgEq) over 17.3m, including 6.56 g/t AuEq or 492 g/t AgEq over 6.9m; hole LRGG-20-98 with 1.78 g/t Au and 319 g/t Ag (452 g/t AgEq) over 7.5m; and hole LRGG-20-93 with 1.27 g/t Au and 113 g/t Ag (2.78 g/t AuEq or 208 g/t AgEq) over 19m. GoGold is undertaking two drilling and exploration projects at its Los Ricos property: the South Project began in March 2019 and includes the ‘Main’ area, which is focused on drilling around a number of historical mines including El Abra, El Troce, San Juan, and Rascadero. The South Project also includes the Cerro Colorado and Las Lamas targets. The North Project was launched this month and includes the Monte del Favor, Salomon, La Trini, and Mololoa targets.
  • Impact Silver Corp., reported channel sampling results from its Chapanial project, located 1.7Km to the north along the projection of the La Faly vein system. Significant sampling results include 97.5 g/t Au, 98 g/t Ag, 0.25% Pb, and 0.10% Zn over a true wide (TW) of 0.8m; 18.25 g/t Au, 75 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 0.08% Zn over a TW of 0.20m; 8.98 g/t Au, 105 g/t Ag, 5.4% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over a TW of 0.3m, and 8.53 g/t Au, 498 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.04% Zn over a TW of 0.4m. The vein at El Chapanial area is hosted in interbedded shales and volcanics and is associated with a major fault structure which hosts a sulphide bearing polymictic breccia up to 8m in width.

ON MINING

  • Telson Resources Corporation, provided an update on its mine operation at Campo Morado in Guerrero, which was brought back into production last January 26, 2020. Since the re-start through to February 22, 2020, the company has milled 40,839 tonnes to produce approximately 3,151 tonnes of Zn concentrate with grades of 46.3% Zn, 498 g/t Ag, and 0.90g/t Au, and 636 tonnes of Pb concentrate with grades of 21.7% Pb, 4.55% Cu, 636 g/t Ag, and 3.66 g/t Au. Average recoveries achieved are 71.7% Zn, 32.2% Pb, 45.4% Ag, and 13.1% Au.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc., reported Q4 and full year 2019 production and financial results from its Mexican operations. It also provided 2020 production and cost guidance. At its El Castillo mine in Durango, Argonaut mined in Q4 2019, 1,890,000 tonnes of 0.52 g/t Au to produce 13.6K Oz Au and 21K Oz Ag (13.9K Oz GEOs), at a cash cost of USD $1,264 per Oz Au sold. For the full year, it mined 8,914,000 tonnes of 0.41 g/t Au to produce 65.1K Oz Au and 102.3K Oz Ag (66.5K GEOs), at a cash cost of USD $1,030 per Oz Au sold. For the Q4, 2019, the company mined 2,460,000 tonnes of 0.35 g/t Au at its San Agustin mine in Durango to produce 19.86K Oz Au and 85.45K Oz Ag (21K GEOs) at a cash cost of USD $829 per Oz Au sold. For the full year, it mined 8,453,000 tonnes of 0.38 g/t Au to produce 61.8K Oz Au and 219.5K  Oz Ag (64.77K GEOs), at a cash cost of USD $842 per Oz Au sold. At its La Colorada mine in Sonora, during the period Q4 2019, the company produced 1,115,000 of 0.49 g/t Au to produce 12.14K Oz Au and 35.86K Oz (12.62 GEOs) at a cash cost of USD $879 per Oz Au sold. For the full year 2019, it mined 4,676,000 tonnes of 0.51 g/t Au to produce 53.8K Oz Au and 159.7K Oz Ag (55.71 GEOs) at a cash cost of USD $884 per Oz Au sold. Argonaut also provide a 2020 production and cost guidance and plans to produce at El Castillo Complex between 115-120K GEOs at a cash cost of USD $900-1,000 per Oz Au sold, and between 60-65K GEOs at a cash cost of USD $900-1,000 per Oz Au sold. Argonaut plans to invest between USD $40-$50M (USD $12-16M at El Castillo Complex, USD $17-20 at La Colorada, and the rest between  Magino & Cerro del Gallo).
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., reported Q4 and full year 2019 production and financial results from its Avino mine in Durango. In Q4 2019, the company processed 107,310 tonnes from its Avino mine of 51 g/t Ag, 0.64 g/t Au, and 0.62% Cu, recovering 87%, 76%, and 89% respectively to produce 153.6K Oz Ag, 1,676 Oz Au, and 1.29M Lb Cu, for a total of 495.5K Oz AgEq. From its San Gonzalo mine, it processed 2,908 tonnes of 53 g/t Ag and 0.38 g/t Au, recovering 78% and 72% respectively, to produce 4,106 Oz Ag and 26 Oz Au for a total of 6,964 Oz AgEq. From its Historic Above Ground Stockpile, Avino processed 78,218 tonnes of 51 g/t Ag, 0.25 g/t Au, and 0.18% Cu, recovering 50%, 53%, and 31% respectively, to produce  63K Oz Ag, 330 Oz Au, and 96K Lb Cu for a total of 106.2K Oz AgEq. For the full year 2019, the company processed from its Avino mine, 427,147 tonnes of 44 g/t Ag, 0.45 g/t Au, and 0.46% Cu, recovering 85%, 73%, and 86% respectively, to produce  3K Oz Ag, 4,473 Oz Au, and 4.56M Lb Cu for a total of 1.66M Oz AgEq. From its San Gonzalo mine, it processed 56,179 tonnes of 118 g/t Ag and 0.46 g/t Au, recovering 69% and 66%, to produce 153.4K Oz Ag and 580 Oz Au for a total of 215.1K Oz AgEq. From its Historic Above Ground Stockpile, the company processed 306,334 tonnes of 55 g/t Ag, 0.36 g/t Au, and 0.18% Cu, recovering 54%, 53%, and 35% respectively, to produce 295.2K Oz Ag, 1,859 Oz Au, and 407K Lb Cu, for a total of 525.8K Oz AgEq.
  • Golden Minerals Company, reported full year 2019 results from its Mexican operations. It reported revenue of USD $7.7M and a net operating margin of USD $5.3M in 2019. Expenditures during 2019 totalized USD $11.4M and a cash and equivalents balance of USD $4.6M. Cash inflows during 2019 totaled USD $12.7M.

ON FINANCING

  • Aztec Minerals Corp., announced the re-pricing of 200K stock options of the company from $0.25 to $0.12 per common share, and a total of 1,950,000 stock options of the company from $0.35 to $0.105 per common share (Cervantes project, Sonora).
  • GoGold Resources Inc., closed a bought deal offering for gross proceeds of approximately CAD $25M. Net proceeds will be used to fund additional exploration on its Los Ricos project, Jalisco, and particularly at the Monte del Favor target, and for corporate development, and general corporate purposes.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., closed the first tranche of a non-brokered CAD $3M private placement to raise gross proceeds of CAD $734,150. Net proceeds will be used for general working capital and for corporate purposes (Veta Grande project, Zacatecas).
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc., closed the final tranche of a private placement financing for gross proceeds of $339,549.90. Net proceeds will be used for ongoing working capital requirements relating to its Rebeico project in Sonora. In total, the company raised gross proceeds of $1,051,801.95in the financing. Ridgestone also announced that it has entered into shares for debt settlement for the aggregate amount of $105K due to Leede for consulting services fees accrued pursuant to a consulting agreement between Ridgestone and Leede dated Nov 1, 2019.
  • Gold Resource Corporation, declared its February 2020 monthly dividend of one third of a cent per common share to its shareholders (Arista mine, Oaxaca).
  • Minera Alamos Inc., received approval from its shareholders for final phase of its Santana, Sonora project financing for CAD $5M. It is working on completing final documentation for execution no later than the end of Q1 2020.
  • Riverside Resources Inc., announced that its board of directors approved a spin-out of its Peñoles project in Durango to its shareholders by way of a share capital reorganization effected through a stationary plan of arrangement. Peñoles property is wholly owned by its subsidiary Capitan Mining Inc. Under the arrangement, Riverside will distribute the common shares of Capitan to Riverside´s shareholders.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • First Majestic Silver Corp., released infill drilling results from it’s the Ermitaño project, located 4km away from the company´s producing Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Drilling highlights include the following drill intersections: hole EW-19-67 with 12.84 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag (1,106 g/t AgEq) over 10.8m; hole EW-19-74 with 9.46 g/t Au and 383 g/t Ag (1,164 g/t AgEq) over 6.4m; hole EW-19-85 with 31.63 g/t Au and 459 g/t Ag (3,068 g/t AgEq) over 2.4m; hole EW-19-91 with 11.61 g/t Au and 45 g/t Ag (1,003 g/t AgEq) over 13m; hole EW-19-103 with 16.37 g/t Au and 111 g/t Ag (1,462 g/t AgEq) over 7.7m; hole EW-19-111 with 17.98 g/t Au and 79 g/t Ag (1,562 g/t AgEq) over 4.5m; and hole EW-19-113 with 14.22 g/t Au and 130 g/t Ag (1,302 g/t AgEq) over 9.1m. Next month, the company expects to present an updated resource estimate for it’s the Ermitaño project. First Majestic is planning to drill 15,000m in 50 drill holes for resource expansion. It is also working on several engineering studies for detailed mine design and initial production. It expects to complete 3,800m of underground development in 2020, to reach the mineralized area and prepare five production levels.
  • Prime Mining Corporation, presented surface trenching, road cuts and adits sampling results from the El Zapote South and El Zapote North target areas within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Significant sampling results are 6.75 g/t Au and 58 g/t Ag over 39m, including 9.88 g/t Au and 62 g/t Ag over 18m; 7.76 g/t Au and 80 g/t Ag over 12m, including 48.3 g/t Au and 117 g/t Ag over 1.5m; 6.21 g/t Au and 697 g/t Ag over 7.5m, including 14.4 g/t Au and 1,875 g/t Ag over 1.5m. This sampling is part of the initial phase of exploration designed to better map the surface expression of the mineralized structures and integrate the results into a new resource model, currently underway.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., announced the plan to complete the assessment of 17 zones of Au mineralization identified at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora, with the purpose of increase the current 201K Oz AuEq resource. The compnay plans to carry out a combined RC and core drill program in several phases for up to 50,000m. Phase III of this program will commence in March and will consists of 10,000m of drilling. In Phase I and II, a total of 10,328m were drilled in 96 holes.
  • Fresnillo plc and its JV partner Mag Silver, provided an update on its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas. Mine construction at Juanicipio project is well underway, detailed engineering is nearing completion, and all major process equipment has been purchased and received on site. Over 25Km of underground development has been completed to date. Pre-operative CAPEX has increased by 11.4% from USD $395M to USD $440M. Production is expected to start in mid-2020 with initial production stopes to be processed at the Fresnillo beneficiation plant from June 2020 pending completion of the Juanicipio plant. Total average annual anticipated production has been estimated in 11.7M Oz Ag, 43.5K Oz Au, with an initial life of mine (based on Indicated Resources only) of 12 years. Additional years of production expected to be supported by the current Inferred Resources, which are being converted into the Indicated category. Further exploration opportunities exist in the JV license area with potential to scale-up operations in the future.  Commissioning of the flotation plant will be underway mid-2021. Exploration is ongoing on the property with the intention to increase the deeper resources and targeting new veins.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Radius Gold Inc., declared that Pan American Silver Corp., has elected to exercise a right to include the 800 Has Palmillas property to its Amalia JV project in Chihuahua. Palmillas contains multiple exploration targets, including high grade Au-Ag mineralization, 1.8km away and along strike on the San Pedro Zone.
  • Oroco Resource Corp., informed that its Board of Directors approved the acquisition of 100% interest of Altamura Copper Corp. Closing of the acquisition is expected to occur on March 02, 2020. Oroco has to issue 39.8M shares of the company to Altamura shareholders. Oroco also confirmed the appointment of its new President effective on March 01, 2020.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., announced management changes and appointed its new President, CEO, and Director, effective March 01, 2020 (Pino de Plata project, Chihuahua).
  • Fresnillo plc, exercised its option to purchase Plata Latina´s Naranjillo property in Guanajuato. The Naranjillo Project is a grassroots epithermal Ag-Au discovery made by the Company in 2012 and is located in the Mexican Silver Belt, approximately 35 km southeast of the Guanajuato mining district. The transaction and transfer of the property was closed on February 24, 2020.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Madero (Grupo Peñoles) and National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), conducted a Health day in Zacatecas. At least one thousand people will benefit from the Fourth Health Day, opened this week by Grupo Peñoles and the UNAM. Minera Madero, as a host company, made its facilities available to serve the residents of the communities of Francisco I. Madero, Noria de Gringos, El Maguey, Rancho Nuevo, San Antonio de los Negros, Cieneguillas, Morelos and the Ejido Morelos in specialties such as dentistry, optometry and psychology.

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 Mn-silica Bx in an epithermal system prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Mn-Fe/calcite fault-bx in rhyolitic tuffs.

By Miguel A Heredia

During the first week of the year (December 31st to January 05th, 2020), at least 19 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with six announcing financial rounds, three disclosing deals and corporate issues, three commenting on Mexican issues, two communicating production results, two reporting on resources and development of their projects, two discussing issues on social responsibility, and one informing on exploration results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, La Caridad mine in Sonora, one of the most precious jewels of the Mexican mining. Lithium can turn Mexico into the planet´s rechargeable battery. Mexico announced USD $4.65B in capital expenditure for new mining projects in 2020-2021.  ON EXPLORATION, In Jalisco, GoGold filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report on its Los Ricos project. ON MINING, Telson reported some of the reactivation activities carried out at its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero to bring it back into production by mid January 2020. Newmont Goldcorp provided an outlook for the year 2020 on its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. ON FINANCING, Sonoro Metals received proceeds of $875K from the sale to Agnico of the 1% NSR on the Chipriona property in Sonora. First Mexican closed the third tranche of its private placement for gross proceeds of $95K (Guadalupe project, Sonora).  Great Panther announced USD $10M concentrate prepayment (Guanajuato mine complex, Guanajuato). Telson announced its intention to conduct a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $3M (Campo Morado mine, Guerrero). SilverCrest announced that SSR mining elected to exercise its SilverCrest equity participation with CAD $13.25M private placement (Las Chispas project, Sonora).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Sierra Metals updated mineral resource estimate for its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua.  Leagold announced expansion plans for its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Prospero sold its Mexican subsidiary Minera Fumarola S.A. de C.V. to an arm’s length purchaser, Aquatio S.A. de C.V. of Jalisco State, Mexico (Pachuca SE project, Hidalgo). Equinox Gold and Leagold mailed management information in order to approve business combination and create a premier Americas Au producer (Los Filos mine, Guerrero). Goldgroup provided a legal update on its dispute with DynaResources concerning the San Jose de Gracia mine in Sinaloa. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fresnillo plc created more than 9,000 jobs in 2019. Zacatecas students created a protective device for miners to reduce accidents.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • La Caridad mine in Sonora, owned by the Grupo Mexico, is one of the most precious jewels of the Mexican mining. Its activity dates back to the pre-Hispanic era, but which had its greatest boom in the early twentieth century and that today is recognized in the history of our country as a factor of advancement and economic development for all Mexicans. Today it is the best integrated mine in the world, a mine where Cu is split and extracted for plate refinement. But this is not the only thing that is exploited in La Caridad, because large quantities of refined Au and Ag are also obtained, as well as Moly, a metal highly prized for its ability to create alloys with steel. But beyond its metallurgical production, La Caridad is also important for the entire region and the surrounding villages, as the mine generated multiple infrastructure works, thus generating a chain of well-being for its inhabitants. Developing new schools, cultural, sports facilities, housing, personnel transport systems and a supply network for workers, known as the “miner’s stores”, in addition to thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
  • Lithium can turn Mexico, in the planet´s chargeable battery. After one of the biggest Li deposit was discovered in Sonora by Bacanora, a Canadian mining company. The technology industry has set its sights on the country with multiple requests from mining companies that want to exploit it, including Chinese corporations. Given this news, the head of the SEMARNAT, Victor Manuel Toledo, described the potential that this represents for Mexico in terms of tax collection and economic recovery, saying that worldwide Lithium has become “the new oil.” Bacanora, in collaboration with the Chinese Ganfeng already plans to raise at least USD $400M to request a license from the Mexican government for the exploitation of a Li quarry allegedly made up of 4.5 M tonnes of this element that has detected, which would later generate profits for these companies of at least USD $1B.
  • Mexico announced USD 4.65B in capital expenditure for new mining projects in 2020-2021. A series of mining companies will commence to build various mining projects in Mexico in 2020. Minera Alamos, expects to initiate construction of its Santana-Los Verdes project in Sonora in Q1, 2020 with an investment of USD $7.55M, which includes the construction of a coal plant, platforms, ponds and various earthworks at the mine site. The complex should start producing in Q3, 2020. It also plans to begin construction of its la Fortuna mine in Durango at the end of 2020 at a total cost of USD $26.9M. Torex Gold Resources Inc., expects to start the construction of its Media Luna mine in Guerrero in Q1, 2021, with a capital expenditure of USD $482M. Media Luna has a capacity of 47M Lb Cu, 170K Oz Au, and 1.7M Oz Ag per year. Prime Mining Corp., plans to begin construction of its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa in June 2021 and end in December of the same year. The capital expenditure of the project is set as USD $89.5M and its capacity is 35K Oz Au and 253K Oz Ag per year, with a useful mine life of 11 years. VVC Exploration Corp., owns the USD $4B Samalayuca copper project in Chihuahua. Samalayuca, currently awaiting a construction decision, has an estimated useful mine life of 16 years. Southern Copper Corporation, is the owner of Mina Pilares in Sonora, which will produce Cu in concentrates to be processed in the La Caridad mine. Mina Pilares, currently awaiting a construction decision, should start producing in H2, 2021. Southern reported that it has already obtained environmental permits and is currently trying to acquire additional land.

ON EXPLORATION

  • GoGold Resources Inc., filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report on its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Work done by GoGold confirms that the drilling program continues to intersect wide zones of Au & Ag from surface to vertical depths of 300m. The Los Ricos deposit is still open along strike to the north and at depth. It also concludes that although high-grade portions of the vein have been mined out, the structures still have wide mineralized intervals potentially amenable to surface mining methods. A budget of USD $5.3M was proposed to continue the exploration work at Los Ricos project in Jalisco for the year 2020. The company also announced that plans to complete an NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate on Los Ricos in 2020.

ON MINING

  • Telson Mining Corporation, reported some of the reactivation activities carried out at its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero to bring it back into production by mid January 2020. The company has already restored electrical power to the mine site, and personnel have commenced dewatering the mine. Access has been restored to the El largo Zone where there are approximately 50K tonnes of ore available to transport to the mill site that along with 20K tonnes of ore previously transported to the mill will be available for processing upon start-up. Personnel are also advancing on the process of checking, servicing, and repairing as necessary, all mill processing equipment, mobile mining equipment, underground mining equipment, ventilation systems and safety equipment, etc.
  • Newmont Goldcorp, provided a 2020 outlook for its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. It plans to produce 575K Oz Au at a cash cost of $570 per Oz Au and AISC of $725 per Oz Au. In addition, the company plans to produce 30 M Oz Ag, 200M Lb Pb, and 425M Lb Zn, at a cash cost of $515 per Oz AuEq and AISC of $805 per Oz AuEq.

ON FINANCING

  • Sonoro Metals Corp., received proceeds of $875K from the sale to Agnico of the 1% NSR on the Chipriona property, located in the Mulatos mining district in Sonora. The NSR originated from the sale of the Chipriona property to Agnico in December 2019 for the amount of $4M plus the NSR.
  • First Mexican Gold Corp., closed the third tranche of its private placement for gross proceeds of $95K. In total, the company issued 20M shares for gross proceeds of $1M (Guadalupe project, Sonora).
  • Great Panther Mining Limited, entered into a USD $10M prepayment agreement with the IXM Group for 100% of the Au-Ag concentrates produced from the Guanajuato mine complex in 2020 and 2021. The prepayment will be repaid on December 31, 2020 and will bear interest at an annual rate of 3-month USD LIBOR plus 5%.
  • Telson Mining Corporation, announced its intention to conduct a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $3M (Campo Morado mine, Guerrero).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., announced that SSR Mining elected to exercise its shareholder participation right, pursuant to an agreement between the company and SSR Mining dated November 28, 2018. Accordingly, SSR Mining has agreed to purchase 1,819,074 shares of SilverCrest for aggregate proceeds of CAD $13.25M at the same price of CAD $7.28 as the bought deal public offering announced by SilverCrest on December 3, 2019. SSR entered into a transaction with a third party to divest of the 1,819,074 SilverCrest common shares to be acquired pursuant to the private placement at a price of CAD $8.45 per common share for a pre-tax gain of approximately CAD $2.1M. Net proceeds raised by SilverCrest will be used to continue exploration and development of its Las Chispas project in Sonora.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  •  Sierra Metals Inc., updated mineral resource estimate for its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua. This mineral resource update includes 13,698m of infill drilling and 41,553m of exploration drilling. Total indicated mineral resources are 11.63M tonnes of 0.95% Cu, 18 g/t Ag, and 0.24 g/t Au (or 1.16% CuEq) for a total of 244.3M Lb Cu, 6.8M Oz Ag, and 90.4K Oz Au (300.1M Lb CuEq). Total inferred mineral resources are 16.69M tonnes of 0.93% Cu, 17 g/t Ag, and 0.30 g/t Au (or 1.16% CuEq) for a total of 342.1M Lb Cu, 9M Oz Ag, and 162.7K Oz Au (428.1M Lb CuEq). Sierra Metals plans to update a PEA for the Bolivar mine which is expected to be released in Q3, 2020. Goal of the PEA is to increase tonnage throughput in excess of 5,000 tonnes per day, which is expected to be reached by the end of 2020.
  • Leagold Mining Corporation, announced a USD $180M expansion plans for its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. Expansion began in July, with the final phase of development scheduled to conclude by end-2021. The Los Filos expansion will play a key role to consolidate the recently merged Equinox-Leagold combined company as a producer of 1M Oz Au per year in 2021, based on output from current mines in Brazil, Mexico and USA. This expansion will position Los Filos mine as one of the Mexico´s biggest Au mines, combining underground and open pit operations across the Los Filos, Bermejal and Guadalupe deposits. The expansion is expected to roughly double production at Los Filos in 2021 from around 200K Oz Au produced in 2019 to 400K Oz Au.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Prospero Silver Corp., sold its Mexican subsidiary Minera Fumarola S.A. de C.V. to an arm’s length purchaser, Aquatio S.A. de C.V. of Jalisco State, Mexico, for a cash purchase price of USD 5K, and assumption of all statutory liabilities and obligations of the subsidiary in Mexico, including property maintenance and abandonment, statutory employee severance, and tax obligations, estimated to aggregate to USD $95K.
  • Equinox Gold Corp., and Leagold Mining Corporation, mailed management information to approve business combination to create a premier Americas Au producer. “Pursuant to the transaction, Leagold shareholders will receive 0.331 of an Equinox Gold share for each Leagold share held. At closing, existing Equinox Gold and Leagold shareholders will own approximately 55% and 45% of the combined company, respectively, on an issued share basis. The combined company will continue as Equinox Gold under the ticker symbol “EQX” on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE American Stock Exchange” (Los Filos mine, Guerrero).
  • Goldgroup Mining Inc., provided a legal update on its dispute with DynaResources concerning the San Jose de Gracia mine in Sinaloa. It is awaiting the written judgment of the 11th Federal Circuit Collegiate Court in Mexico to be published to assess its contents and reason for judgment. The Company will continue to pursue all legal avenues in Mexico to achieve a favorable resolution to the DynaUSA dispute. It also will continue the enforcement of the final judgment from the US District Court for the District of Colorado which confirmed the company´s previously announced favorable award in the arbitration against DynaUSA.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Fresnillo plc., generated more than 9,000 jobs in 2019. The company is making every effort to be competitive, to continue generating jobs for Fresnillo and generate economic benefits for the population.
  • Zacatecas students, created a protective device for miners to detect risk of fatigue, heart rate and blood pressure. The intelligent device called EPIMIN is set inside the hard hat of the miners to detect fatigue of the miners, based on heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature, with the variable that, in case of presenting any irregularity, the device will issue a sensory alert to the user and will alert a monitoring center located on surface with the person in charge. “An investment in technology like this will allow mining companies to control work risks, anticipate them, prevent them and get to the longed for zero accidents.”

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 Mn-Fe/calcite fault-bx hosted in rhyolites in a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of November, 2019.

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Mn oxide-calcite fault vein-bx

By Miguel A Heredia

During the forty-five week of the year (November 4th to November 10th, 2019), at least 37 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with nine communicating production and financial results, eight disclosing deals and corporate issues, six announcing financial rounds, five informing on exploration results, four reporting on resources and development of their projects, three commenting on Mexican issues, and two discussing issues on social responsibility.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, according to the Director of Mines of Zacatecas, there are five new mine projects in the state to be developed in 2020. Newmont-Goldcorp restated the dialogue process with the Cedros community on its Peñasquito mines in Zacatecas. Local communities and small local merchants expressed their support for the continuity of the Peñasquito mine. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Silver Viper mobilized an exploration crew to its Virginia project to commence a drilling program at the El Rubi target area, and Oceanus reported underground and surface sampling results from its El Tigre project. In Sinaloa, Vizsla reported underground sampling from its Panuco-Copala project.  In Zacatecas, Advance Gold outlined a km long by 400-500m wide chargeability anomaly at its Tabasqueña project. In Jalisco, GoGold released drill results from 4 holes collared at its Los Ricos project.  ON MINING, Alio Gold, Argonaut, Coeur, Endeavour, Excellon, First Majestic, Hecla, Leagold, and Pan American presented Q3 2019 production and financial results from its Mexican operations.  ON FINANCING, Discovery Metals closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $19M (Cordero project, Chihuahua). Goldplay closed a brokered private placement for $3M (San Marcial project, Sinaloa).Solaris Copper announced its intention to undertake a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to  CAD $5.5M (La Verde, Michoacan). Advance Gold closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $113K (Tabasqueña project, Zacatecas). Orex announced that intends to undertake a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $1M (Sandra-Escobar project, Durango). San Marco revised its previously announced non-brokered private placement and now intends to rise gross proceeds for up to CAD $376.6K. It also closed subscription books for unit and flow through shares private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $40K (Chunibas project, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Capstone announced high grade Cu-Ag results from 103 infill and step-out drill holes at its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. Vizsla closed its option agreement to acquire 100% interest of Panuco-Copala project in Sinaloa. Torex extended mineralization 150m below current reserves at its El Limon Deep deposit in Guerrero. Mexus announced that its Merrill Crowe Au recover plant is complete and operational at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Mag Silver informed about the activities carried out at its Juanicipio project mine development in Zacatecas during Q3, 2019. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Colibri received TSX approval for its acquisition of Yaque Minerals (Mezquite and Jackie projects, Sonora). Vizsla closed its option agreement to acquire 100% interest in Panuco-Copala property in Sinaloa. Great Panther announced the appointment of its VP Exploration and VP People & Culture (Topia mine, Durango). Solaris Copper announced management changes of its team (La Verde project, Michoacan). Starcore presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (San Martin mine, Queretaro). Mako Mining provided a corporate update and status of its Mexican operation. Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán, a subsidiary of Fortuna Silver Mines revealed that it is analyzing to invest in a new plant in Mexico (San Jose mine, Oaxaca). Minera Autlán announced its intention to raise its commitment to gold (Lluvia de Oro-La Jojoba, Sonora). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Agnico Eagle participated in the reconstruction of the drinking water system at Yepachi, Chihuahua, with a total investment of MXP $4M. Argonaut participated in multiple social programs related to their Mexican operations.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Secretariat of Economy in Zacatecas, through its Director of Mines, revealed that new five mines will be developed in the state in 2020, standing out Juanicipio in Fresnillo, Camino Rojo in Mazapil , and San Nicolas in Villa Garcia municipalities. Zacatecas is one of the most prolific areas for mining in the country; however, he is aware of the social problems faced by some of the mining companies which operate in the state. He informed that the local government seeks to generate the conditions for mining companies to invest safely in new projects.
  • Newmont-Goldcorp Corporation, restated the dialogue process with the community of Cedros, municipality of Mazapil on Peñasquito mine. A new agreement was signed for the community delegates, with a strong commitment of both parties, by the community not to block again the mine and from the company to attend on time the concerns and proposal from the Ejido.
  • Local communities and small local merchants, expressed their support for the continuity of Peñasquito mine. The communities of Cedros, El Rosario, La Pardita, Sábana Grande, Tanquecillos, Tecolotes, Mazapil and El Trigo said they are in favor of the Peñasquito Mine, stating that it has provided benefits to their families. At a press conference, representatives of the aforementioned communities reported that thanks to the company they have work, so they asked the state government to support them and that, through the dialogue avoids a new block. They affirmed that they are against the blockades and the definitive closure of the mine, since this one supports around 25 communities. They said the mining company has provided a source of work to the people of the communities and do not want it to disappear.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., mobilized an exploration crew to its Virginia project in Sonora to commence a phase II drilling program at El Rubi target area, where previous drilling carried out in 2018 intersected 3.18 g/t Au and 228 g/t Ag (6.42 g/t AuEq) over 6m of true width. Phase II will test the extension of this structure along trend and at depth on 50m sections with the aim of generating enough information for maiden resource estimation at El Rubi.
  • Oceanus Resources Corporation, presented underground and surface sampling results from the Caleigh, Canon Combination and Protectora Veins at its El Tigre project in Sonora. In the Caleigh Vein, underground channel sample ETU-1007 returned 1,896 g/t Ag and 6.4 g/t Au (2,376 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 0.50m, and ETU-1006 returned 1,971 g/t Ag and 4.64 g/t Au (2,318 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 0.50m. In the Canon Combination Vein, underground channel sample ETU-1012 returned 1,794 g/t Ag and 0.25 g/t Au (1,813 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 0.50m. In the Protectora Vein, underground channel sample returned 378 g/t Ag and 2.01 g/t Au (529 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 0.50m. Surface samples collected on this vein reported 374 g/t Ag and 3.32 g/t Au over 0.7m wide; 192 g/t Ag and 0.57 g/t Au (235 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m wide; and 169 g/t Ag and 1.0 g/t Au (244 g/t AgEq) over 0.50m wide. “The results from the mapping and sampling of the underground workings and at surface present a series of high priority drill targets over a 2 kilometer strike length north of the old El Tigre Mine, which we intend to drill.”
  • Vizsla Resources Corp., reported encouraging underground sampling results from its Panuco-Copala project in Sinaloa. Highlights results from the underground sampling at the San Carlos mine are 5.65 g/t Au and 612 g/t Ag (1,120 g/t AgEq) over  6m on development level 4, including 10.5 g/t Au and 1,120 g/t Ag (1,960 g/t AgEq) over 3m; 2.55 g/t Au and 517 g/t Ag (721 g/t AgEq) over 4.5m on development level 5, including 3.51 g/t Au and 721 g/t Ag (1.002 g/t AgEq) over 3m; and 2.12 g/t Au and 298 g/t Ag (468 g/t AgEq) over 5.5m on development level 4, including 3.76 g/t Au and 591 g/t Ag (892 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m. These results are part of a mapping and sampling program to better understand mineralization at Panuco project.
  • Advance Gold Corp., completed a second phase of a 3D-IP survey and has outlined a N-S trending chargeability anomaly of 1km long by 400-500m wide on its Tabasquena project in Zacatecas. It remains open in both directions as well as at depth. A number of boreholes are now planned to intersect this anomaly.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., released drill results from 4 new holes collared at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Three of the 4 holes were drilled at El Troce area and significant intersections were encountered in hole LRGG-19-059 with 0.94 g/t Au and 134 g/t Ag (2.72 g/t AuEq) over 11m, including 1.95 g/t Au and 277 g/t Ag (5.65 g/t AuEq) over 3.5m; and hole LRGG-19-60 with 0.32 g/t Au and 66 g/t Ag (1.19 g/t AuEq) over 16m, including 83 g/t Au and 162 g/t Ag (2.98 g/t AuEq) over 3m. Hole LRGG-19-57 was drilled at the Main area and intersected 0.91 g/t Au and 131 g/t Ag (2.65 g/t AuEq) over 14.1m, including 2.14 g/t Au and 253 g/t Ag (5.50 g/t AuEq) over 5.3m. GoGold completed in Mid-October 2019, a phase 1 drilling program which consisted of 10,000m, and has already started a second phase of drilling, adding a third rig  machine to the program.

ON MINING

  • Alio Gold Inc., continued with processing of low grade stock pile at its san Francisco mine in Sonora, resulting in the placement of 12.8K Oz Au on the pad. The company announced that the low grade stock pile will be exhausted in Q4, 2019, after which crushing will cease, and operations will solely focus on recovery of the residual inventory ounces.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc., presented Q3, 2019 production and financial results from its Mexican operations. The company produced 44.7K Oz AuEq at a cash cost of USD $901 per Oz Au produced and sold 45.6K Oz Au at an AISC of USD $1,134 per Oz Au sold. It also reported revenue for USD $66.8, cash flow from operating activities before changes in operating working capital of USD $17.2M, net income of USD $4.9M, adjusted net income of USD $6.5M, and a net cash increase of USD $11.7M. Argonaut also reported mine by mine production results for the period Q3, 2019. At El Castillo Complex in Durango, it milled 4.8M tonnes of 0.35 g/t Au to produced 30.3K Oz AuEq. At El Castillo, 2.4M tonnes of 0.39 g/t Au were milled to produce 14.3K Oz Au and 23.3K Oz Ag. This mine sold 14.6K Oz Au and 16.3K Oz Ag in this quarterly period, at a cash cost of $1,038 per Oz Au sold. At San Agustin, 2.4M tonnes were milled with a grade of 0.32 g/t Au to produce 15.2K Oz Au and 36.9K Oz Ag. This mine sold 15.7K Oz Au and 15K Oz Ag in this quarterly period, at a cash cost of $848 per Oz Au sold. At La Colorada, Sonora, the company milled 1.45M tonnes of 0.6 g/t Au, to produced 14K Oz Au and 33.6K Oz Ag. La Colorada sold 13.8K Oz Au and 34K Oz Ag at a cash cost of $800 per Oz Au sold.
  • Coeur Mining Inc., announced Q3, 2019 production and financial results from its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. It milled 442,464 tons of 2.8 g/t Au and 152 g/t Ag to, with a metallurgical recoveries of 81.7% and 79.6% respectively, to produce 31.8K Oz Au and 1.72M Oz Ag. Adjusted costs applicable to sales were USD $660 per Oz Au and USD $8.95 per Oz Ag. Coeur reported cash flow from operating activities of USD $36.3M and total capital expenditures of USD $7.8M for a total free cash flow of USD $28.5M.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., reported consolidated Q3, 2019 financial and production results from its four Mexican operations: Guanacevi mine in Durango, Bolañitos and El Cubo in Guanajuato, and El Compas in Zacatecas. The company processed 234, 196 tonnes to produce 948.5K Oz Ag and 9.7K Oz Au (1.72M Oz AgEq), at a cash cost of $11.51 per Oz Ag produced and AISC of $21.53.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., reported Q3, 2019 production and financial results from its Platosa mine in Durango. The company mined 18,167 tonnes and processed 17,235 tonnes with grades of 512 g/t Ag, 4.4% Pb, and 6% Zn, to produce 257.5K Oz Ag, 1.3M Lb Pb, and 1.65M Lb Zn (427.1K Oz AgEq), at a cash cost per Oz Ag payable of $18.18 and AISC net of by-products per Oz Ag payable of $28.46. Metallurgical recoveries were 87.2%, 77.7%, and 76.5% for Ag, Pb, and Zn respectively. Excellon reported revenues for $5.9M, a net loss of $2.9M, and a net working capital of $$9.0M.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., presented Q3 production results from its Mexican operations. The company reported revenues for $97M, a net loss of $8.6M, operating cash flow before movements in working capital and taxes of $34.6M, cash and cash equivalent of $118.6M, and a working capital of $149.2M. The below table shows the mine by mine production results:

  • Hecla Mining Company, announced Q3 production and financial results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. It produced 541.6K Oz Ag and 3.7K Oz Au at an AISC of $$7.21 per Oz Ag.
  • Leagold Mining Corporation, produced from its Los Filos mine in Guerrero, 40,922 Oz Au at an AISC of $1,001 per Oz Au produced, and sold 41,343 Oz Au during Q3, 2019, with associated revenue of $58.6M.
  • Pan America Silver Corp., reported Q3, 2019 production and financial results from its la Colorada, Zacatecas and Dolores, Chihuahua mines. At La Colorada, the company produced 2.1M Oz Ag and 1,200 Oz Au, at a cash cost of $2.82 per Oz Ag and an AISC of $4.03 per Oz Ag. At Dolores, it produced 1.5M Oz Ag and 33.1K Oz Au, at an AISC of $7.45 per Oz.

ON FINANCING

  • Discovery Metals Corp., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $19M, including $5M investment from Eric Sprott, which represents 19.9% of the interest of Discovery on a non-diluted basis. Proceeds will be used to continue the exploration programs at its exploration properties (Cordero project, Chihuahua, Puerto Rico project, Coahuila).
  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd., closed a brokered private placement financing of $3M. Gross proceeds will be used to continue resource expansion drilling including underground and surface exploration on its san Marcial project in Sinaloa.
  • Solaris Copper Inc., announced its intention to undertake a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to CAD $5.5M. Gross proceeds will be used to advance permitting, exploration, and drilling activities at their projects. (La Verde project, Michoacan).
  • Advance Gold Corp., closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $113K. The company will use the gross proceeds to advance its Tabasqueña project in Zacatecas.
  • Orex Minerals Inc., announced its intention to undertake a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $1M. Orex will use the net proceeds to maintain its 40% share of the Sandra Escobar project in Durango and fund its 40% share of the upcoming work program, and to make the necessary payments under its option to acquire 100% of the San Luis del Cordero project, Durango, and for general corporate and capital purposes.
  • San Marco Resources Inc., revised its previously announced non-brokered private placement and now intends to rise gross proceeds for up to CAD $376.6K. It also closed subscription books for unit and flow through shares private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $40K (Chunibas project, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  •  Capstone Mining Corp., announced high grade Cu-Ag results from 103 infill and step-out drill holes from 200 hole program at its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. Aim of this program is more than double the current reserve base. Significant drill intersection were encountered in hole CG-19-U498 with 5.02% Cu, 0.4% Zn, and 72 g/t Ag over a true width of 12.3m, including 9.02% Cu, 0.7% Zn, and 127 g/t Ag; in hole CG-18-S381 with 7.27% Cu, 0.3% Zn, and 220 g/t Ag over a true width of 5.1m; in hole CG-18-S372 with 5.53% Cu, 0.2% Zn, and 117 g/t Ag over a true width of 20.1m, including 11.32% Cu, 0.3% Zn, and 242 g/t Ag over a true width of 6.4m.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., reported drilling results from its 2019 exploration program at its El Limon-Guajes complex deposit in Guerrero. The drilling program has been successful in extending mineralization 150m below current reserves at its El Limon Deep deposit. Significant mineralization was encountered in hole LDUG-039 with 15.6 g/t Au over 38m; in hole LDUG-049 with 20.9 g/t Au over 12m, and in hole LDUG-056 with 15.7 g/t Au over 16.8m. El Limon Deep deposit remains open down dip and along strike.
  • Mexus Gold US, announced that its Merrill Crowe Au recovery plant at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora is complete and operational. “The plant is capable of handling Mexus’3000 ton a week mining operation and will allow for future expansion as well”.
  • Mag Silver Corp., informed about the activities carried out at its Juanicipio project mine development in Zacatecas during Q3, 2019. The company reported that “earthmoving and foundation preparation commenced for the construction of the 4,000 tpd beneficiation plant. Mill fabrication is progressing on schedule, and both the SAG and ball mills are expected to be shipped to site early 2020. Flotation cells, processing tanks and minor process equipment pieces are starting to arrive on site. Thickener tanks and drive and rakes fabrication are well advanced. Underground development has now reached 23Km of development and continues. According to the operator, Fresnillo plc, permitting for the tailings impoundments should be completed in the fourth quarter of this year and mill construction is on track for commissioning by late 2020”.

 ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Colibri Resources Corporation, received TSX approval for its acquisition of Yaque Minerals by a CAD$ 1M payment by way of a 5-years convertible debenture bearing 2.5% annual interest and carries a $0.20 per share conversion privilege. The Yaque´s acquisition includes two projects in Sonora: El Mezquite and Jackie, located less than 10Km east of the Nicho deposit owned by Minera Alamos, which is expected to start production in 2020, with initial production of 25K-30K Oz Au per year, with a mine life of more than 6 years. El Mezquite is a 2km by 1km N-S trending hydrothermal alteration zone on silicified feldspar porphyry, with a potential Au target area of at least 600m by 300m. A 3D-IP survey was carried out on this anomalous area which resulted in the identification of chargeability and resistivity anomalies underlying the surface area of potential. 321 grab samples have been collected of which 13% returned Au values oscillating from 0.1 to 3.41 g/t Au. Jackie is located 2km south of the El Mezquite but it has seen very little exploration work to date. Some prospecting work is planned for 2020.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp., closed its previously announced option agreement on November 5, to acquire 100% interest in Panuco-Copala property in Sinaloa. Vizsla confirmed that it has previously loaned USD $700K to Canam in order to satisfy the initial payment due under the terms of the options.
  • Great Panther Mines Limited, announced the appointment of its VP Exploration and VP People & Culture (Topia mine, Durango).
  • Solaris Copper Inc., announced management changes of its team, appointed its CEO, CFO, VP Corporate Affairs and Corporate Secretary, and a new member to its Board of Directors (La Verde project, Michoacan).
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., reported results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (San Martin mine, Queretaro).
  • Mako Mining Corp., provided a corporate update and status of its Mexican operation. At its la Trinidad mine in Sinaloa, Au production is nearing conclusion, with Au sales being used to fund ongoing reclamation and severance costs. Mining and process plant equipment has been moved to USA and the lab equipment will be moved to Nicaragua soon. Mako has reported that has not been successful in receiving any insurance for damages caused by Hurricane Willa at its Trinidad mine in October, 2018. It has filed a lawsuit for over USD $7M against the Insurance Company. Mako also announced that it has reached an agreement with the primary mining contractor on the debt of approximately USD $11.3M. “Despite being ring-fenced from the rest of Mako’s corporate structure, the Company chose to settle with the contractor by making a USD $4M upfront payment and agreeing to make two additional USD $1M payments 12 months and 24 months from signing of the settlement agreement.  As this liability was being accounted for at approximately USD$11.3M, a substantial accounting gain is expected in the next quarterly report.
  • Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán , a subsidiary of Fortuna Silver Mines, analyzes to invest in a new mining plant located 40km from its San Jose mine, Oaxaca. The company asked government support to mediate between the company and the communities, since the new plant will require between USD $200-300M. The decision has to be taken next year, so they need the support of the authorities to reach a social agreement with the communities.
  • Compañía Minera Autlán, A.B .de C.V., announced its intention to raise its commitment to gold. The intention of that business and the integration towards gold was always to reach 20 to 25% of the top line and about 30 to 35% of the operating cash flow (EBITDA). In addition, the company estimates they will close this year with and investment of USD $35M to support other areas of its business, to add USD $45 M in an integrated way (Lluvia de Oro-La Jojoba, Sonora).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, participated, along with the municipal presidency of Yepachi, Chihuahua, in the reconstruction of the drinking water system for this community. Yepachi is the second largest community in this area and has years of lag in terms of the supply and quality of drinking water. A total of MXP $4M will be invested, an amount that will be contributed by 50% by the municipal presidency and the other part will be borne by Agnico Eagle, which operates within the territory of the Yepachi Ejido.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc., has participated in several programs with the communities where the company operates. At La Colorada, Sonora, Argonaut signed a health collaborative agreement with the Centro de Rehabilitación Integral Teletón and hosted a cultural event with the Cultural Institute of Sonora. In Durango, participated in collaboration with the local government in an interactive learning pavilion where local attendees and families could know about the company´s mining activities and projects. It also sponsored an international forum on geological and mining heritage organized by the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, to discuss possible historical tourism and ecotourism in mining communities. Finally, Argonaut hosted students’ interactive workshops in the municipality of Dolores, Hidalgo in the village of san Anton in Guanajuato, Mexico, and hosted a soprano singer and the Latin American quartet at the Mining Cultural Centre of the Mexican chamber of commerce in Mexico City.

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 Mn oxides-calcite fault vein-bx structure from a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of October, 2019.

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Chalcedonic quartz breccia

By Miguel A Heredia

During the forty-one week of the year (October 7th to October 13th, 2019), at least 29 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with eight communicating production results, seven announcing financial rounds, five informing on exploration results, three commenting on Mexican issues, three reporting on resources and developments of their projects, two disclosing deals and corporate issues, and one notifying on social responsibility.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Newmont-Goldcorp confirmed that the illegal blockade of its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas was lifted on October 8, 2019. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Azure released high grade results from 21 dump samples at its Alacran project, and announced the identification of five new targets.  In Chihuahua, Sable completed a ground geophysical survey at its Vinata project, and the Pan American-Radius JV announced the commencement of the phase 3 exploration work on its Amalia project. In Durango, Chesapeake provided updated results from its on-going regional exploration program near its Metates project. In Zacatecas, Advance Gold initiated the second phase of a geophysical survey on its Tabasquena project. ON MINING, Newmont-Goldcorp, Coeur, Consolidated Zinc, Endeavour, GoGold, Great Panther, Hecla, and US Antimony presented Q3, 2019 production results from their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Advanced Gold announced its plan to rise up to $250K through a non-brokered private placement (Tabasquena project, Zacatecas). Discovery Metals announced its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceed of up to $17M (Cordero deposit, Chihuahua).  First Mexican announced the share cancellation, consolidation, and reinstatement of its common shares, as well as its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $0.5M (Guadalupe property, Sonora). Fortuna Silver announced the closing of convertible debenture of the over-allotment option for gross proceeds of $46M (San Jose mine, Oaxaca). Goldplay announced its plan to complete a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $2.5M (San Marcial property, Sinaloa).  Magellan announced agreements to convert an aggregate of $2.45M of outstanding debt obligations into a newly-created series of preferred shares of the company (San Dieguito de Arriba flotation plant, Nayarit). Vizsla received conditional approval from TSX for the acquisition of Canam Alpine Ventures LTD, and resumed trading on October 9, 2019 (Copala-Panuco project, Sinaloa). Santacruz reported that the Silva Family acquired an aggregate of 30M common shares, at a deemed price of CAD $0.05 per share for total deemed consideration of CAD $1.5M (Veta Grande project, Zacatecas). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, SilverCrest announced expansion drill results and the discovery of a new vein at its Las Chispas project in Sonora. Mexus Gold reported that the Merrill-Crow Au recovery plant for its Santa Elena mine in Sonora is en route. Mexican Gold presented a new NI 43-101 resource estimate for its Las Minas project in Veracruz. US Antimony informed that the fencing of the tailings pond, completion of the water well, and most of the major construction has been completed at its Puerto Blanco mill for its Los Juarez mine in Queretaro. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Canuc completed its final payment for the El Tule 1 claim at its San Javier project in Sonora. Santacruz completed the acquisition of Carrizal Mining and reported that the Silva Family acquired an aggregate of 30M common shares.    ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Alamos Gold received the corporate social responsibility (CSR) best practices award, for its achievements in social, economic and environmental sustainability (Mulatos mine, Sonora).

 ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Newmont-Goldcorp Corporation, confirmed that the illegal blockade of its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas was lifted on October 8, 2019, however, operations remain temporarily suspended pending to further assurances. “The company continues to work closely with the federal and state governments toward a sustainable, long-term solution, and lifting of the blockade paves the way for the government-sponsored dialogue to resume”.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Azure Minerals Limited, released high grade results from samples collected from 21 dumps that surround some of the historical old workings in the southeast area of its Alacran project in Sonora, and announced the identification of five new targets. This sampling returned very high grades with maximum values of 3,675 g/t Ag, 24.1 g/t Au, 2.3% Cu, 33.5% Pb, and 21.0% Zn. 10 samples returning values greater than 1,000 g/t Ag (average of 21 samples = 1,073g/t Ag); 17 samples returning values greater than 1.0g/t Au (average of 21 samples = 4.43g/t Au); 10 samples returning values greater than 1.0% Cu (average of 21 samples = 0.95% Cu); 12 samples returning values greater than 10.0% Pb (average of 21 samples = 14.92% Pb); and 10 samples returning values greater than 10.0% Zn (average of 21 samples = 9.28% Zn). “This first-pass sampling is very encouraging and further systematic sampling and detailed mapping of the veins will commence shortly to provide targets for follow-up trenching and drilling”.
  • Sable Resources, completed 170km of GroundMag conducted along E-W lines spaced 200m apart, and 8,950m of CSAMT surveys in nine lines at its Vinata project in Chihuahua. “The outcropping NNE epithermal vein system, which represents the main target at the project, appears coincident with a MagLow running on the western margin of the rhyolite intrusion for over 3 km in strike. Some stratigraphic features are also defined on the Mag sections; including a well-defined MagLow feature observed at the contact between the rhyolite intrusion and the interpreted limestones that underlie the upper volcanic sequence; this contact constitutes an additional potential target zone. At Vinata Sur the outcropping faults and breccias containing Fe-Mn oxides and associated Mn, Ba, Sb, As, Mo, Zn anomalies, hosted by volcanic rocks, are coincident with an elliptical shape NS oriented MagLow”. These geophysical surveys were carried out as preparation work for the first ever upcoming drilling campaign, which will consists of 2,000m to test for high-grade precious metal horizons approximately 200 metres below anomalous surface samples. This Phase 1 drill program will be expanded should positive results warrant additional drilling.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., – Radius Gold Inc JV, announced the commencement of the phase 3 exploration work on its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Pan American will operate this phase of exploration work, which will be focused on preparation and execution of the phase 3 drilling program that includes an additional 2,500m of diamond drilling.
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., provided updated results from its on-going regional exploration program near its Metates project. “Three significant Au-Ag prospects, Crisy, San Javier and Cerro Pelon, continue to demonstrate district scale potential within different regional structural settings associated with intermediate composition intrusive rocks”. The most significant trench sampling results at Crisy prospect were 1.4 g/t Au and 75 g/t Ag over 43m; 1.9 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over 38m; and 2.4 g/t Au and 80 g/t Ag over 24m. At San Javier prospect, channel samples returned 1.6 g/t Au and 25 g/t Ag over 12m and 8.3 g/t Au and 1,972 g/t Ag over 1.6m. At Cerro Pelon prospect, channel samples collected on a new identified NW trending breccia yielded significant results such as 33 g/t Au over 3m, and 3.4 g/t Au over 10m.
  • Advance Gold Corp., initiated the second phase of a 3D IP survey on its Tabasquena project in Zacatecas. The goal is to explore to the south the 800m by 500m chargeability anomaly detected during the first phase IP survey, where the anomaly comes closest to surface.

ON MINING

  • Newmont-Goldcorp Corporation, reported Q3, 2019 production results from its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. It produced 58K Oz Au, 7.4M Oz Ag, 51.1M Lb Pb, and 83.1M Lb Zn. The illegal blockade impacted Peñasquito’s third quarter production by approximately 11K Oz Au, 1.7 M Oz Ag, 13.7 M Lb Pb and 22.8 M Lb Zn, and is expected to impact the company’s full-year results for the operation.
  • Coeur Mining Inc., presented Q3, 2019 production results from its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. The company milled 442,464 tonnes of 2.8 g/t Au and 152 g/t Ag, to produce 31.8K Oz Au and 1.7M Oz Ag. Metallurgical recoveries were 81.7% and 79.6% for Au and Ag respectively. Coeur announced that its full-year production guidance remains unchanged at 95K-105K Oz Au and 6.5-7.2M Oz Ag.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, announced production results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua for the period September, 2019. The company milled 1,363 tonnes with grades of 10.4% Zn, 7.5% Pb, and 32 g/t Ag, to produce 318K Lb Zn, 228.5K Oz Pb, and 1,402 Oz Ag. It also reported that 3,607 tonnes were milled and processed at the Aldama facility with grades of 10.4% Zn, 7.5% Pb, and 32 g/t Ag. The ore material processed produced high-quality clean Zn and Pb concentrates free to smelting and refining.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., reported Q3, 2019 production results from their four Mexican operations. Consolidated production was a total of 234,196 tonnes of 144 g/t Ag and 1.49 g/t Au with metallurgical recoveries of 87.6% and 86.7% respectively, to produce 5K Oz Ag and 9.7K Oz Au. The table below shows the production figures  by separate mine:

  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented production results from its Parral tailings project in Chihuahua for the period Q3, 2019. The company produced 326.6K Oz Ag and 2,921 Oz Au (580.7 Oz AgEq).
  • Great Panther Mining Limited, announced Q3, 2019 production results from their Topia and Guanajuato mines. At Topia mine in Durango, it processed 21,761 tonnes of 0.86 g/t Au and 418 g/t Ag, with metallurgical recoveries of 4% and 93.8% respectively, to produce 344 Oz Au, 274.2K Oz Ag, 1.2M Lb Pb, and 1.5M Lb Zn (501.5K OZ AgEq). At its Guanajuato mine complex, the company processed 44K tonnes of 2.47 g/t Au and 119 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 85.4% and 85.6% respectively, to produce 3K Oz Au and 143.8K Oz Ag (383K Oz AgEq).
  • Hecla Mining Company, presented Q3, 2019 production results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. The mill at San Sebastian operated at an average of 586 tonnes per day, to produce 0.6M Oz Ag and 4,719 Oz Au.
  • US Antimony Corporation, reported estimated sales for the period Q3, 2019 from their Mexican operations. It sold 381.7K Lb Sb, 12.5 Oz Au, and 3.4K Oz Ag.

ON FINANCING

  • Advance Gold Corp., announced its intention to rise funds up to $250K through a non-brokered private placement. Net proceeds will be used to advance its Tabasquena project in Zacatecas.
  • Discovery Metals Corp., announced its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $17M, including an investment of 5M from Eric Sprott. “The balance of Mr. Sprott’s investment will be completed with the purchase of subscription receipts, which if converted, will increase his interest in the company to approximately 22%, assuming the private placement is fully subscribed (Cordero deposit, Chihuahua)”.
  • First Mexican Gold Corp., announced a number of administrative tasks that the company had to work diligently to get a reinstatement of trading of its common shares on the TSX. First Mexican cancelled 9M shares that it had issued without obtaining prior TSX approval, and then, 1M shares without TSX approval as payment to arrange a credit facility. Once this problem was solved by the director and offices of the compnay, First Mexican consolidated its common shares on a ten for one basis, reducing the number of its outstanding common shares from 81,844,360 to 8,184,429. It also announced its intention to complete a post-consolidation basis private placement for gross proceeds of up to $0.5M but TSX notified that it will be unable to complete the offering until the company shares are reinstated for trading. As such, the company has cancelled the offering and will look to complete it at a future time. First Mexican has worked diligently looking the revocation of a cease trade order issued by the various commission securities. The company finally reported that the trading of its common shares will reinstate on October 11, 2019 (Guadalupe property, Sonora).
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., announced the closing of convertible debenture of the over-allotment granted to CIBC Capital Markets, Scotiabank, and BMO Capital Markets. The company sold unsecured convertible debentures for gross proceeds of USD $6M in connection with the bought deal offering completed on October 2, 2019 for gross proceeds of USD $40M, bringing the total aggregate gross proceeds to USD $46M (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).
  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd., announced its intention to complete a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $2.5M. It also has granted the agent an option to increase the size of the offering by up to 20% of the number of shares. Net proceeds will be used for exploration work on its San Marcial property in Sinaloa.
  • Magellan Gold Corporation, announced agreements with its primary secured creditors and largest shareholder to convert an aggregate of $2.5M of outstanding debt obligations into a newly-created series of preferred shares of the company. The Preferred Shares will carry a $2.45 million liquidation preference, subject to adjustments, be convertible into common stock at $1.00 per share and bear a 10% annual dividend payable in kind at the option of the company. “The agreements release and reduce liens on certain assets of the company and convert portions of both its secured and unsecured debt holdings to preferred shares in order enhance the balance sheet and facilitate new financing arrangements (San Dieguito de Arriba flotation plant, Nayarit).
  • Vizsla Resources Corp., received conditional approval from TSX for the acquisition of Canam Alpine Ventures Ltd., and resumed trading on October 9, 2019 (Copala-Panuco project, Sinaloa).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported that the Silva Family acquired an aggregate of 30M common shares, at a deemed price of CAD $0.05 per share for total deemed consideration of CAD $1.5M. This transaction represents approximately 14.7% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the company on a non-diluted basis and 15.3% on a partially-diluted basis assuming the exercise of the stock options owned by Mr. Silva (Veta Grande project, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., reported the results of 31 expansion drill holes for Giovanni, Blanquita, and Las Chispas veins and the discovery of a new vein (Blanquita Dos vein) at its Las Chispas project in Sonora. The most significant expansion drill results were encountered in hole LC19-111 (Giovanni Vein) with 8.99 g/t Au and 1,424 g/t Ag (2,098 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 1.6m; hole LC19-107 (Las Chispas Vein) with 7.72 g/t Au and 1,105 g/t Ag (1,584 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 1.2m; and hole LC19-101 (Giovanni Vein), with 4.17 g/t Au and 642 g/t Ag (955 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 2.5m. These drill results confirmed that deeper mineralization which could expand the current resource estimate at Las Chispas project. SilverCrest also reported the discovery of a new vein called Blanquita Dos Vein. “The La Blanquita Dos Vein is a new near-surface discovery located in the hanging wall of the La Blanquita Vein. The most significant drill intersection encountered on this vein was in hole LC19-98 with 6.58 g/t Au and 274 g/t Ag (767 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 0.8m, including 13.1 g/t Au and 392 g/t Ag (1,375 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 0.4m. This vein is approximately 50 metres from La Blanquita and was discovered while drilling to depth for the Giovanni Vein and the Las Chispas Vein. “There are currently 18 core drills operating at Las Chispas; 16 surface and 2 underground. This includes one rig completing process plant site condemnation, 16 rigs completing in-fill and known vein expansion holes in the Babicanora Area veins, and one rig working on new vein targets in the Las Chispas Area with two more to be re-allocated after in-fill drilling completion. Approximately 80 holes for 30,000 metres remain to be completed in 2019 of which 25 to 35 holes (8,000 metres) are for the Las Chispas Area veins. An updated resource estimate, including the Las Chispas Area veins, is expected in H1, 2020, along with the ongoing feasibility study”.
  • Mexus Gold US, reported that the Merrill-Crow Au recovery plant for its Santa Elena mine in Sonora is en route, as well as a 80Kw generator which is necessary to run the plant. The company expects the new equipment to be operational by November 1st, 2019.
  • Mexican Gold Corp., presented a new 43-101 resource estimate for its Las Minas project in Veracruz. The new resource estimate as of September 12, 2019. Indicated resources are 5,457,000 tons of 1.78 g/t Au, 6.5 g/t Ag, and 1.25% Cu (3.67 g/t AuEq), for a total of 313K Oz Au, 1.15M Oz Ag, and 150.3M Lb Cu (645K Oz AuEq).  Inferred resources are 2,514,000 tons of 1.25 g/t Au, 5.5 g/t Ag, and 0.94% Cu (2.68 g/t AuEq) for a total of 101K Oz Au, 446K Oz Ag, and 51.96M Lb Cu (217K Oz AuEq).
  • US Antimony Corporation, informed that the fencing of the tailings pond, completion of the water well, and most of the major construction has been completed at its Puerto Blanco mill for the Los Juarez mine in Querétaro. Testing will proceed during the completion of the laboratory.

 ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Canuc Resources Corporation, completed its final payment to Minerales y Carbones de Mexico S.A. de C.V., for the El Tule 1 claim. Canuc has expanded its san Javier project area in Sonora State by 151.14 ha. The company now owns 17 contiguous mineral concessions along the San Javier mineralized corridor, extending to 3km from the historical Santa Rosa mine old workings.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., completed the acquisition of Carrizal Mining S.A. de C.V., after purchasing the remaining 50% of outstanding shares of PCG Mining S.A. de C.V., which is the parent holding of Carrizal Mining S.A. de C.V, in consideration for the issue of 30M common shares of the compnay. It also reported that the Silva Family acquired an aggregate of 30M common shares, which represent approximately 14.7% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on a non-diluted basis and 15.3% on a partially-diluted basis assuming the exercise of the stock options owned by Mr. Silva.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Alamos Gold Inc., received the corporate social responsibility (CSR) best practices award, for its achievements in social, economic and environmental sustainability (Mulatos mine, Sonora).This award created by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy and the alliance for CSR was granted to Minas de Oro Nacional, a subsidiary of Alamos Gold as its program called “A new horizon for the families of Mulatos and Matarachi” was the winner in the category of community engagement.

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, chalcedonic quartz breccia with disseminated pyrite in a project in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of September, 2019.

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

 

Fault-bx with Mn oxides

By Miguel A Heredia

During the thirty-seven week of the year (September 09th to September 15th, 2019), at least 31 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with ten informing on exploration results, ten reporting on resources and development of their projects, four announcing financial rounds, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, and one commenting on Mexican issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Karen Flores was appointed as general director of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX).  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aloro released drilling results from its Los Venados project, Riverside identified three targets from mapping and sampling its recently acquired Los Cuarenta project, Tamino announced its exploration expenditure guidance for 2019-2020, and Oceanus announced the commencement of the 2019 exploration program at its El Tigre project. In Chihuahua, Radius and Pan American Silver announced the commencement of the phase 3 drilling work at its Amalia project. In Durango, Gainey awarded drilling contract for its Las Margaritas project.  In Jalisco, GoGold reported drill results from its Los Ricos project, and Silver Spruce announced high grade Au assay values from surface rock sampling conducted at its Cocula project. In Veracruz, Mexican Gold discovered a new resistivity anomaly at Cinco Señores area within its Las Minas project. ON MINING, US Antimony reported estimated sales for August 2019. Consolidated Zinc announced August 2019 production from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua.  ON FINANCING, Consolidated Zinc announced a plan to rise $3.5M via private placement and pro-rata non-renounceable rights offer (Plomosas mine, Chihuahua). Fortune announced a USD $40M bough deal financing (San Jose mine, Oaxaca), and granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional USD $6M aggregate. Silver Viper increased its private placement to $4M (La Virginia project, Sonora). Defiance announced that it has applied for approval to extend by one year the expiry date of 5.75M of outstanding warrants (San Acacio project, Zacatecas).   ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Almaden provided an update of the progress achieved to build its Ixtaca mine in Puebla. Discovery Metals announced mobilization for a 35,000m drilling program at its recently acquired Cordero project in Chihuahua. Azure reported that Au-Ag exploration is underway on its Alacran project in Sonora. Impact released drilling results and expands at depth the San Ramon mine in its Zacualpan mining district in Mexico state.  Leagold announced drilling results from its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. Orla awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas. US Antimony reported progress on its Los Juarez Au-Ag project in Queretaro.  Oroco filed a geological technical report regarding its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Sonoro reported that a program of 3D modelling, mapping and sampling is underway at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Almaden appointed its new VP Project Development to oversee detailed engineering and construction of its Ixtaca project in Puebla. Golden Goliath granted stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants (San Timoteo project, Chihuahua). Golden Minerals announced termination of sale agreement with Autlan regarding the sale of certain of its Mexican properties. Millrock completed the sale of certain of their Mexican mining concessions to Riverside. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

 ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Karen Flores, was appointed as general director of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX). It will be the first time since its foundation in 1906 that CAMIMEX will be run by a woman.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aloro Mining Corp., released drilling results from the last four holes collared in the southeastern area of its Los Venados project in Sonora for a total of approximately 1,347m drilled. The drilling intersected a felsic dome with 3-10 weight percent pyrite content in pervasive altered volcanic flow units and intrusive dome rock unit up to 200 meters thick. Assay results were discouraging showing very low grade Au, between 0.1-0.2 g/t Au, in scattered intercepts from 1.5-7.6m wide throughout the broad zone of pyritized felsic dome. No more work is planned in this area of the concession.
  • Riverside Resources Inc., completed the acquisition of Los Cuarenta project in Sonora from Millrock, where it has identified three targets. The Santa Rosalia target is the highest priority of the 3 targets and is defined by past open cut and underground vein mining where recent sampling has shown a strike length of more than 500 m and open to the east and west.
  • Tamino Minerals Inc., announced its business development plan and exploration expenditure guidance for the period 2019-2020. The plan is to identify and acquire high-quality, advanced-stage exploration projects and discover early-stages opportunities that can be strategically tested and quickly progressed to key decision point. Exploration expenditure guidance are planned to be $5M in 2019-2010, with $2M in the Amalia project, $1.2M in the El Volcan project, and $1.8M in other small exploration projects and acquisitions.
  • Oceanus Resources Corporation, announced the commencement of the 2019 exploration program at its El Tigre project in Sonora. The Company has recently mobilized the exploration team back to the property to continue prospecting and mapping, as well as, sampling in the area of the Caleigh vein. The objective of this program is to establish drill targets.
  • Radius Gold Inc., and Pan American Silver Corp., announced the commencement of the phase 3 drilling program at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Pan American Silver intends to complete further geological mapping, re-logging of previous drill core, and drilling an additional 2,500 m as part of the phase 3 program.
  • Gainey Capital Corp., announced that it has finalized the reparation and construction of approximately 39Km of road and a water reservoir system to support its planned drilling program at its Las Margaritas project in Durango. The company received the approval from SEMARNAT to drill up to 32 targets. Gainey has already awarded the drilling contract and will commence soon a first phase of drilling comprising 2,190m to test 16 drill targets.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., released drill results from four new holes drilled at the Main Zone, and underground channel sampling results from its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Significant intersections were encountered in hole LRGG-19-034 with 0.92 g/t Au and 177 g/t Ag (3.28 g/t AuEq) over 20.1m, including 3.41 g/t Au and 621 g/t Ag (11.68 g/t AuEq) over 4.9m; and in hole LRGG-19-035 with 1.29 g/t Au and 127 g/t Ag (2.99 g/t AuEq) over 24.4m, including 3 g/t Au and 258 g/t Ag (6.44 g/t AuEq) over 9.8m. In addition, GoGold rehabbed the historic El Troce old working where a mapping and channel sampling program was conducted. Encouraging results were obtained with grades varying from 0.98-6.8 g/t Au, and 44-492 g/t Ag over 2-3 m wide. Given the results, the company has decided to move a drill to test the targets at El Troce area.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., reported high grade Au assay values from surface rock sampling conducted at its Cocula project in Jalisco. Nine out of twenty six rock chip samples recently taken from surface outcrop returned Au assay values of 0.88 g/t Au up to 12.55 g/t Au, Ag values of 13 g/t Ag up to 53 g/t Ag, and Pb values of 0.2% Pb up to 7.4% Pb. These recent sample assays continue to confirm the presence of widespread Au mineralization at surface, along with Ag and Pb values. The company also announced that it filed the first ever 43-101 technical report for its advanced Au Cocula project. Silver Spruce will continue its due diligence activities designed to support a definitive purchase decision of the property.
  • Mexican Gold Corp., discovered a new resistivity anomaly at the Cinco Señores target area in its Las Minas project in Veracruz. This notable TEM resistivity anomaly, similar in size to the El Dorado Au-Cu-Ag resource, extends more than 700m towards the Las Minillas target. The company plans to drill test this anomaly in the near future.

ON MINING

  • US Antimony Corporation, reported estimated sales for August 2019. It sold 146.6K Lb Sb and 1159 tons of zeolites. “The Company continues to take steps to reduce its costs of producing Sb products in response to the lower global sale prices.”
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, provided August 2019 production results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The company mined 2,794 tonnes of 14% Zn, 8% Pb, and 42 g/t Ag, and processed 2,913 tonnes of 13.5% Zn, 8% Pb, and 39 g/t Ag.

ON FINANCING

  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, announced a plan to rise A$3.5M to fund the Plomosas mine operations in Chihuahua, to process the pending sale of Zn-Pb concentrate currently stockpiled, and for working capital. A$2.48M will be rised through pro-rata non-renounceable rights offer, and A$1M through a private placement.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., entered into an agreement to rise USD $40M via a bought deal financing. The company also granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to and additional USD $6M aggregate (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., increased its private placement from $3M to $4M. The net proceeds will be used to continue exploration and development of its La Virginia project in Sonora.
  • Defiance Silver Corp., announced that it has applied for TSX Venture Exchange approval to extend by one year the expiry date of an aggregate of 5.75M of outstanding warrants exercisable at $0.45 per share (San Acacio project, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  •  Almaden Minerals Ltd., provided an update to their shareholders of the progress achieved to build its precious metal Ixtaca mine in Puebla. The company reported that the waste rock and flotation tailings have low potential for metal leaching. It also reported that the mine plan considers a dry stack filtering tailings facility, and co disposal with waste rock with no tailings dam, eliminating the risk of a tailings dam failure. Almaden has received letters from INAH clearing the area for development, from PROFEPA confirming it has conducted exploration work in accordance with the environmental code, and from the authority responsible for indigenous affairs confirming that no indigenous communities are located in the mine impact area. Local community members have publicly expressed their support of the project. One key aspect to develop the Ixtaca mine was the strong support granted for over 800 people from the local community. They signed a declaration of support for the project and delivered to the environmental authorities, and a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with local water users. The Municipality has included mining as one of its accepted investment and development activities. Based on the FS, an initial investment of USD $174M is required to generate an after-tax internal rate of return of 42% and NVP of USD $310M, using a discount rate of 5% and precious metals prices of USD $1,275/Oz Au and USD $17/Oz Ag. The project would employ over 400 people during an 11-year mine life and would also provide updated infrastructure to a highly marginalized region.
  • Discovery Metals Corp., announced mobilization to conduct a 30,000 – 35,000 m drilling program at its recently acquired Cordero project in Chihuahua. The company plans to commence it in about five weeks from now and expect to be completed in twelve months, with the focus of delineating and discovering the highest-grade phases and domains of the mineralized system, and testing new high priority targets. The company has estimated 20,000-25,000m of drilling at the Cordero deposit and 10,000m on six regional areas that require follow-up work and drill testing.
  • Azure Minerals Limited, reported that Au-Ag exploration is underway around Mesa de Plata and Loma Bonita deposits on its Alacran project in Sonora. The Mesa de Plata deposit (10.5M tonnes of 82 g/t Ag for 27.4M Oz Ag, including 1.8M tonne of 275 g/t Ag for 15.5M Oz Ag) remains open to the west but is constrained in this direction by the concession boundary. To the north and east the mineralization has been truncated by erosion, however the mineralized zone remains open to the south.  Potential for repetitions of Mesa de Plata exist further to the north, where outcropping vuggy silica forms similar-looking silicified ridges. Further exploration is planned for this area. At the Mesa Bonita deposit (5.4M tonnes of 0.9 g/t Au and 28 g(/t Ag for 150K Oz Au and 4.8M Oz Ag), the mineralized zone is constrained to the west by erosion into a valley but remains open to the north, south, east and at depth down-dip. Being open in several directions, there is good potential that further drilling will significantly increase the size of the resource.
  • Impact Silver Corp., presented drilling results from its Zacualpan project in Mexico state and extended the mineralization 50m to depth at the San Ramon mine. Significant drill intersections were encountered in hole MPZ-284-19 with 321 g/t Ag, 0.38 g/t Au, 0.19% Pb and 0.60% Zn over 2.62m true width, hole MPZ-285-19 with 1,393 g/t Ag, 2.15 g/t Au, 2.4% Pb, and 6.4% Zn over 1.58m true width and 305 g/t Ag, 0.97 g/t Au, 0.7% Pb, and 1.7% Zn over 1.38m true width, hole MPZ-287-19 with 418 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 2.14m true width, and hole MPZ-288-19 with 214 g/t Ag, 0.9 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 1.87m true width, and 317 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 1.22m true width. Known mineralization over the total San Ramon workings has a down dip length of over 500m. Further drilling is planned to further test the extent of this prolific zone.
  • Leagold Mining Corporation, announced drilling results from its Los Filos underground and the Guadalupe open pit mines in Guerrero. Highlights from the Los Filos underground mine include 8.86 g/t Au over 45m and 6.59 g/t Au over 15.46m. Highlights from the Guadalupe open pit include 1.4 g/t Au over 32.73m, including 7.71 g/t Au over 2.67m, and 6.2 g/t Au over 10.61m, including 10.55 g/t Au over 5.2m. The drill program at Los Filos will contribute to the reserve base and extend the mine life. At Guadalupe, the drilling program is testing for extensions of the mineralization at depth and also confirming the limited nature of old underground workings prior to open pit mining in this area.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas. Orla expects to begin the detailed engineering work by mid-September to build a mine that begins to produce Au in mid-2021. Au production is expected to average 97K Oz Au per year at an estimated AISC of USD $576 per Oz Au. Orla submitted permits applications to SEMARNAT for the MIA and change of land use at the end of August. The legislated timelines for the review of properly prepared MIA and change of land use applications and mine operating permits for a project that does not affect federally protected biospheres or ecological reserves are 120 working days and 105 working days, respectively, which can be completed concurrently.
  • US Antimony Corporation, announced progress on its Au-Ag Los Juarez project in Queretaro. It completed the installation of the ponder liner in the 2 hectares tailings pond and the deepening of the water well to 222m to provide more than 240 gallons per minute. “The pond and the well will be more than adequate to ramp production from 100 tons per day to 400 tons per day. Projects remaining include fencing the pond, completion of the laboratory for fire assaying precious metals, and atomic adsorption equipment for assaying Sb, Ag, and Au in the leach circuit. The mil fine ore bin has been filled with crushed ore from the mine. Initial testing could start within 30 to 60 days.
  • Oroco Resource Corp., filed a geological technical report regarding its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. “The report summarizes a data set now controlled by the company that comprises 90 historical drill holes totaling 21,075 m, and recommends a significant program of phased surface exploration, deep geophysical surveys, and diamond drilling that aims to verify and build upon a key new geological model and a substantial body of historical drilling, mineral resource estimates, and pre-feasibility studies. The Report provides the company with a current, technical foundation upon which to advance the Santo Tomás project by confirming the technical analysis of the mineralization on the property”.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., reported that a program of 3D modelling, mapping and sampling is underway at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. It also launched a phase 3 drilling program to test the Veta de Oro, La Espanola, Cuervos and Guadalupe/Cabeza Blanca zones, where previous scout holes reported intervals of high-grade vein Au mineralization. “The program is a continuation of the company’s strategy of systematically exploring Cerro Caliche as it concurrently advances its proposed heap leach pilot operation (HLPO). Drilling to date continues to outline shallow, bulk tonnage Au mineralized zones with grades similar to operating heap leach mines in the region”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., appointed its new VP Project Development to oversee detailed engineering and construction of its Ixtaca project in Puebla.
  • Golden Goliath Resources Ltd., granted 3M stock options to directors and officers, and 400K to employees and consultants. The incentive stock options are exercisable for a period of five years at a price of $0.10 (San Timoteo project, Chihuahua).
  • Golden Minerals Company, announced termination of sale agreement with Compañia Minera Autlan S.A.B. de C.V., regarding the sale of certain of its Mexican properties. The CEO of Golden informed that unfortunately they could not come to terms with Autlan and now they are in position to consider future options for the properties that were included in the Autlan agreement (Velardeña and Rodeo in Durango, and Santa Maria project in Chihuahua).
  • Millrock Resources Inc., completed the sale of five of their Mexican properties to Riverside Resources Inc. La Union, Los Cuarenta, El Pima, El Valle and Llano del Nogal, all located in Sonora state, were the mineral concessions sold to Riverside along with a copy of its exploration database and various exploration equipments and vehicles. Consideration paid to Millrock is $35K cash and 300K Riverside shares. Additionally, Riverside will grant a 0.5% NSR royalty on the El Pima and El Valle claims, and in the event that Riverside exercises the option on Santa Rosalia (Los Cuarenta project), it will grant a 0.5% NSR royalty on that claim to Millrock.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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

On the picture above, a fault-bx with Mn oxides in a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.