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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 51st week of the year (December 19th to December 25th, 2022), 10 companies working in Mexico released news on their properties. One company posted an exploration update on its property, one on financial results for the end of its fiscal year, one informed on a rolling stock plan and another one on the repurchase share plan. One company informed on work at its advanced property. December proved to be a busy month for deals, with four more companies announcing this week the purchase of properties, strategic investments or royalty purchases.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, CAMIMEX presented its third 2022 sustainability report. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Colibri Resource announced plans for a bulk sample program at the Pilar project. ON MINING, GoGold Resources released financial results for the end of its fiscal year. ON FINANCING, Oroco Resource approved a rolling stock plan. Alamos Gold announced its share repurchase plan. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Guanajuato Silver Company provided drilling results from its Topia mine in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Prismo Metals and Vizsla Silver entered into a binding strategic investment agreement. Southern Empire Resources announced the staking of a large property in Durango, and the staking of additional ground adjacent to one other project, also in Durango. Silver Viper Minerals and Canasil Resources extended the date for the definitive agreement on their merger/acquisition. Metalla Royalty & Streaming announced a royalty purchase agreement concerning the silver stream from the Esperanza project in Morelos. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, The Esperanza project in Morelos incorporates the sustainable development concept, promoted on the UN’s 2030 agenda.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • CAMIMEX (Cámara Minera de Mexico) presented its third report on sustainability 2022, expanding on actions and results by its affiliates on social, environment and economic matters, as part of its compromise to further the sustainable development of México.     

ON EXPLORATION

  • Colibri Resource Corp. reported that its option partner on the Pilar project in Sonora, Tocvan Ventures Corp. is to complete a bulk sample test at the property. Up to 1,000 tonnes of material will be processed in a neighboring mining company heap leach facilities 25 km west from Pilar. “Total duration of the processing and analysis of the bulk sample is expected to span three to four months. The information provided from the sample will be used for planning in coordination for permitting of full-scale mine and process facilities on-site at Pilar“.

ON MINING

  • GoGold Resources Inc. announced the financial results for the year ending on September 30, 2022. During the period $36.1 M in revenue were generated on the sale of 1.7 M Oz AgEq from its Parral tailings project in Chihuahua; the metal was produced at cash cost $13.35 per Oz AgEq, and an AISC of $18.36. Also, USD$12.3 M of tax recoverable relating to VAT receivable were recovered from the Mexican Federal Government, including $5.1 M in interest.  At the end of the period GoGold balance was $73.3 M in cash and no debt.

ON FINANCING

  • Oroco Resource Corp. shareholders approved a maximum of 10% rolling stock option plan for the company (Santo Tomás, Sinaloa).
  • Alamos Gold Inc. filed and received acceptance from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) for a notice of intention to make a normal course issuer bid, permitting Alamos to purchase for cancellation up to 10% of the company’s public float of the common shares as of December 2022 (Mulatos, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. provided recent drill results from the Topia mine in Durango. The company is focusing on delineating resources and increasing mine life on the La Prieta, Rosario and Dos Amigos structures. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 0.43 m @ 1.22 gpt Au, 455 gpt Ag, 1.4% Pb, 2.1% Zn; 0.81 m @ 1.38 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag, 4.0% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 1.09 m @ 373 gpt Ag, 1.3% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 0.50 m @ 1.73 gpt Au, 394 gpt Ag, 0.9% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 0.60 m @ 944 gpt Ag, 9.2% Pb, 4.2% Zn; 1.55 m @ 206 gpt Ag, 1.2% Pb, 2.8% Zn; 0.20 m @ 9.74 gpt Au, 404 gpt Ag, 7.2% Pb, 1.9% Zn; 0.50 m @ 3.98 gpt Au, 808 gpt Ag, 8.1% Pb 4.4% Zn; 1.12 m @ 1.74 gpt Au, 39 gpt Ag, 3.4% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 0.98 m @ 4.48 gpt Au, 107 gpt Ag, 8.0% Pb, 13.7% Zn; 1.15 m @ 3.38 gpt Au, 2,173 gpt Ag, 6.7% Pb, 12.9% Zn. “Epithermal mineralization at Topia exists as a system of narrow, high-grade veins measuring up to 1.50m in thickness and occurring within an undulating band of mineralized material that ranges vertically from 100m to 200m, within a lateral extension continuing for several kilometers”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Prismo Metals Inc. entered into a binding strategic investment agreement with Vizsla Silver Corp. Pursuant to the agreement Vizsla is to acquire C$2 M in shares of Prismo, and will have the right of first refusal to purchase the Palos Verdes project from Prismo. Once the investment is complete, Vizsla will own 10.1% of Prismo on a basic basis and 14.4% on a partially diluted basis.
  • Southern Empire Resources Corp. announced the staking of the 23,750 hectare La Loma property in Durango, located 50 km SE from its San Pedro project. The property covers Mesozoic sedimentary rocks with Au-As-Sb-Mo-Pb anomalies in stream sediment samples by the Servicio Geológico Mexicano (SGM). Planned exploration work for the spring of 2023 includes stream sediment sampling, prospecting and geological mapping. The company also expanded the optioned 600 ha Centauro property in Durango by staking two claims totaling 3,832 ha. The new claims cover areas of silica and kaolinite alteration, as identified with hyperspectral satellite images. “These suites of probable alteration mineralization are often spatially associated with “Carlin-style” and/or low sulphidation epithermal gold mineralization observed at Centauro to date”.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp. entered into an agreement to amend the non-binding letter of intent with Canasil Resources Inc. with respect to the proposed acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Canasil, in exchange for common shares of Silver Viper, extending the date to enter into a definitive agreement from December 20, 2022 until January 31, 2023 (La Virginia, Sonora; Esperanza, Zacatecas).
  • Metalla Royalty & Streaming Ltd. announced a royalty purchase agreement with Alamos Gold Corp., pursuant to which Metalla will acquire from Alamos Gold one silver stream and three royalties for $5 M of common shares of Metalla. The portfolio adds a silver stream on the Esperanza Gold project in Morelos, which is being advanced by Zacatecas Silver Corp. The project envisions the mining by open pit of an oxidized Au-Ag skarn to produce 111 K Oz Au and 225 K Oz Ag per year. “Metalla will acquire the 20% silver stream on Esperanza subject to ongoing payments of 20% of silver spot price. The stream is subject to a maximum of 500 K Oz silver delivery if commercial production occurs prior to 2029. Metalla will also acquire the right of first refusal on future royalty and stream financing for the Esperanza project”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Camimex informed that the Esperanza mining project in Morelos, on the grounds of the San Agustín Tetlama community incorporates the sustainable development concept, promoted on the UN’s 2030 agenda, with social, environmental, cultural and economic procurement plans.

On the image below: Underground historic workings scanning by geologist Abraham López with an iPhone on a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 9th week of the year (February 28th to March 06th, 2022), at least 26 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, nine companies posted exploration advances on their properties, one released Q4 and full year 2021 reports, one has started to receive a royalty from mining, three announced the opening or closing of private placements, six reported on drilling results or resource estimations and three on deals and corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the governor of Zacatecas is fostering the relationship with the Zacatecas Mining Cluster. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Heliostar Metals informed on drilling at Cumaro; Aztec Minerals released RC drilling results at Cervantes; Minaurum Gold presented drilling results from Alamos Silver; Silver Spruce initiated exploration at Diamante; In Chihuahua, Golden Minerals reported results from the last seven holes at Yoquivo. In Estado de Mexico, Xali Gold defined drill targets at El Oro. In Nayarit, Sierra Madre Gold and Silver mobilized a second rig to its Tepic project. In Guerrero, Pantera Silver completed a drilling campaign at Nuevo Taxco. ON MINING, Argonaut Gold presented 2021 production figures for El Castillo-San Agustin and La Colorada. Maverix Metals commenced to receive NSR payments from the Camino Rojo mine. ON FINANCING, Golden Tag, Osisko Development and Zacatecas Silver opened or closed tranches of financing for $1.46 M (Total $3.25 M), $84.8 M and $15 M respectively. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Torex Gold updated the mineral resource estimate at Media Luna in Guerrero. Osisko Development announced 2021 drilling results from Sapuchi and Golfo de Oro, at its San Antonio project in Sonora. Vizsla Silver presented, then retracted and corrected the maiden resource estimate for Panuco, in Sinaloa. Great Panther Mining updated the mineral resource estimate for San Ignacio and the Guanajuato Mine Complex in Guanajuato. Sonoro Gold reported RC drilling results on its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Zacatecas Silver is acquiring from Alamos Gold the Esperanza gold deposit in Morelos. Tocvan Ventures updated on exploration activities in Pilar and Picacho, in Sonora. Capstone Mining merge with Mantos Copper Bermuda has been approved in British Columbia. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • David Monreal, Zacatecas governor, offered the Zacatecas mining cluster a reinforcing relationship between the state government and the mining industry, for the development of local value chains.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Heliostar Metals Ltd. announced drill intercepts from its Cumaro project in Sonora. Highlighted core-length intervals from the Verde target comprise 1.10 m @ 1.12 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag; 1.15 m @ 1.48 gpt Au, 29 gpt Ag; 7.0 m @ 0.47 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag (including 1.50 m @ 1.20 gpt Au, 11 gpt Ag); 2.20 m @ 0.58 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag; 8.10 m @ 0.71 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag (including 3.00 m @ 1.42 gpt Au, 17 gpt Ag; 8.30 m @ 0.47 gpt Au, 1 gpt Ag (including 2.00 m @ 1.11 gpt Au, 1 gpt Ag). Assays are pending for five holes on the Verde target, and six holes at the Dos Amigos and Palmita vein corridors. “Drilling is ongoing on targets in the eastern half of the Cumaro property”.
  • Pantera Silver Corp. completed the first stage of exploration drilling at the Nuevo Taxco project, in Guerrero. A total of 692 m were drilled in six holes targeting two of the 21 veins known in the property. Three holes were drilled on each of La Negrilla and El Creston de Maria veins, targeting 100 m along strike and 40 m below La Negrilla mine workings in the first vein, and, disseminated sulfides vein and veinlets on the second one; two previously unknown structures were also intercepted on El Creston de Maria drilling. Results are pending.
  • Aztec Minerals Corp. released results from reverse circulation drilling at its Cervantes project in Sonora. Highlighted hole-length intervals comprise 88.1 m @ 1.1 gpt Au (including 54.88 m @ 1.56 gpt Au and 15.24 m @ 3.96 gpt Au); 108.2 m @ 0.37 gpt Au; 45.7 m @ 0.45 gpt Au; 167.2 m @ 1.00 gpt Au (including 24.4 m @ 4.25 gpt Au); 136.8 m @ 1.49 gpt Au (including 51.68 m @ 3.42 gpt Au); 100.32 m @ 0.75 gpt Au; 12.2 m @ 0.92 gpt Au; 7.6 m @ 0.68 gpt Au; 63.84 m @ 0.42 gpt Au. “The primary focus of the Phase 2 RC drill program at Cervantes is to expand the previously drilled California zone by completing two drill hole fences parallel to and on either side of the 2017-18” previous face.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc. presented drilling results from the final phase II holes drilled in 2021 at its Alamos Silver project in Sonora.  At Minas Nuevas highlighted core-length intervals comprise 9.90 m @ 609 gpt Ag, 0.18% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 0.5% Zn (including 0.90 m @ 1,145 gpt Ag, 0.12% Cu, 1.2% Pb, 2.5% Zn), and 21.70 m @ 93 gpt Ag, 0.1% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn (including 4.85 m @ 159 gpt Ag, 0.22% Cu, 0.4% Pb, 0.4% Zn); 7.35 m @ 184 gpt Ag, 0.22% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn (including 4.05 m @ 289 gpt Ag, 0.38% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 0.4% Zn) at San José, and 2.95 m @ 232 gpt Ag, 0.16% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 0.95 m @ 763 gpt Ag, 0.25 gpt Au, 2.14% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 0.45 m @ 399 gpt Ag, 0.53% Cu, 0.9% Pb, 1.7% Zn. “In 2021, Minaurum drilled 9,386.50 m in 22 holes focusing on sizable step-outs at the Ana, Europa, San José, Alessandra, Cotera, and Minas Nuevas vein zones”.  
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. initiated geological mapping on the main drilling targets of the Diamante project in Sonora. “Geological features of epithermal low to intermediate sulphidation Ag-Au (Pb-Zn), high sulphidation Au-Cu, and potential porphyry style Au-Cu occur as disseminated, stockwork and vein styles accompanied by phyllic, argillic, advanced argillic and propylitic zones, with nearsurface overprinting by weathering with iron oxide and oxyhydroxide staining, jarosite and relict vuggy silica”.
  • Xali Gold Corp. finalized locations for drill pads at El Oro project in Estado de Mexico. “New drill targets have been identified by using a 3D Leapfrog model and drillholes have been designed to test potential extensions to high-grade gold and silver zones intersected by previous drilling … The project covers 20 veins with past production and more than 57 veins in total, from which approximately 6.4 million ounces of gold and 74 million ounces of silver were reported to have been produced from just two of these veins”.
  • Golden Minerals Co. reported results from the final seven holes of the 21-holes campaign at the Yoquivo project in Chihuahua. Highlighted true width intervals comprise 1.4 m @ 7.14 gpt Au, 2,058 gpt Ag (including 0.5 m @ 19.50 gpt Au, 5,844 gpt Ag); 0.5 m @ 0.59 gpt Au, 89 gpt Ag; 1.2 m @ 1.26 gpt Au, 169 gpt Ag (including 0.10 m @ 10.20 gpt Au, 1,319 gpt Ag); 1.8 m @ 0.60 gpt Au, 64 gpt Ag; 1.1 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 149 gpt Ag; 0.2 m @ 1.90 gpt Au, 148 gpt Ag. An environmental report has been submitted to carry out a 10,000 m drill program.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp. provided results from three holes drilled at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 16.5 m @ 0.27 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 22.5 m @ 0.22 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag; 18.0 m @ 1.21 gpt Au, 1 gpt Ag; 22.5 m @ 0.57 gpt Au, 1 gpt Ag; 13.5 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag; 7.5 m @ 0.22 gpt Au, 1 gpt Ag. “In all holes the mineralization appears to be controlled by irregular sulphide enriched fractures-veinlets with minor quartz and/or alteration clay minerals typical to High Sulphidation mineral systems”.
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. announced that a second drill rig has been mobilized to its Tepic project in Nayarit. “This second rig is smaller and more portable than the first while maintaining the depth capacity and large core diameter that the Company requires. The decision to mobilize a second rig is a result of the success of the trenching program which has identified several additional drill targets and the superior assay turnaround time at the current laboratory”.

ON MINING

  • Argonaut Gold Inc. presented its Q4 and full-year 2021 report, including figures from its Mexican operations. During the year, at El Castillo-San Agustin in Durango, 37.24 M tonnes were moved, of which 20.16 M tonnes were of ore grading 0.29 gpt Au, producing 116,263 Oz Au, 570.7 K Oz Ag produced at cash cost $991 per Oz AuEq. At La Colorada, in Sonora, 16.22 M tonnes were moved, of which 4.83 M tonnes were ore grading 0.63 gpt Au, producing 64,860 Oz Au, 178.8 K Oz Ag at cash cost $730 per Oz Au. Production guidance for 2022 is 38-45 K Oz Au at El Castillo, 62-70 K Oz Au at San Agustin and 48-55 K Oz Au at La Colorada at cash cost $1,100 to $1,190 per Oz Au.
  • Maverix Metals Inc. informed its expectations on attributable gold equivalent ounces from royalties in diverse projects it has a stake on, including figures from one project in Mexico. Orla Mining’s Camino Rojo mine in Zacatecas has already poured its first gold and declaration of commercial production is expected to be made during the first quarter 2022. Maverix has a 2% NSR on Camino Rojo production.

ON FINANCING

  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. completed the second and second tranche of the previously announced non-brokered private placement, for aggregate proceeds of $1.46 M, which coupled with the proceeds of the first tranche amount to $3.25 M. The company paid $7 K and issued 28 K finder’s warrants in connection with the last tranche (San Diego, Durango).
  • Osisko Development Corp. closed the first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement, for gross proceeds of US$84.8 M. No commission or finder’s fee will be paid by Osisko (San Antonio, Sonora).
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp. is to complete a brokered private placement for total proceeds of up to $15 M. “Zacatecas Silver intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for the acquisition, exploration and development of the Esperanza Gold Project, exploration of the Zacatecas Properties and for general working capital purposes”.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. updated the resource estimate on the Media Luna project in Guerrero. Indicated resources stand at 25.4 M tonnes grading 3.24 gpt Au, 32.5 gpt Ag, 1.08% Cu, containing 2.64 M Oz Au, 25.7 M Oz Ag, 602 M Lb Cu (or 4.39 M Oz AuEq), and inferred resources of 6.0 M tonnes @ 2.47 gpt Au, 20.8 gpt Ag, 0.81% Cu, containing 0.48 M Oz Au, 4.0 M Oz Ag, 106 M Lb Cu (or 0.78 M Oz AuEq). Not included in these resources are the 8.0 M tonnes @ 1.52 gpt Au, 34.6 gpt Ag, 1.27 % Cu, containing 0.39 M Oz Au, 8.9 M Oz Ag, 225 M Lb Cu (or 1.02 M Oz AuEq) of inferred resources the EPO mineralization zone, located north of the Media Luna deposit and south of the Balsas River. Exploration infill and step-out holes have been budgeted at $19 M for around 64,000 m of drilling.
  • Osisko Development Corp. announced the final drilling results from the 2021 exploration and category conversion drilling at its San Antonio project in Sonora. A total of 27,900 meters were drilled in 177 holes in 2021, with this news release covering 6,550 m in 33 holes at Golfo de Oro and 8,050 m at Sapuchi. Some of the highlighted core-length intervals comprise 19.5 m @ 0.81 gpt Au; 1.5 m @ 9.59 gpt Au; 21.2 m @ 2.47 gpt Au, 19 gpt Ag (including 1.5 m @ 18.00 gpt Au); 35.65 m @ 0.86 gpt Au; 31.25 m @ 1.45 gpt Au; 42.50 m @ 1.55 gpt Au at Golfo de Oro, and  5.30 m @ 3.58 gpt Au; 14.80 m @ 1.37 gpt Au; 26.65 m @ 0.93 gpt Au; 8.80 m @ 2.49 gpt Au; 40.8 m @ 1.00 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag; 60.45 m @ 1.06 gpt Au; 22.95 m @ 1.07 gpt Au; 25.45 m @ 1.60 gpt Au; 10.50 m @ 2.39 gpt Au; 78.90 m @ 2.19 gpt Au (Including 3.20 m @ 21.30 gpt Au); 2.35 m @ 8.28 gpt Au; 18.30 m @ 1.41 gpt Au; 20.25 m @ 1.19 gpt Au; 17.90 m @ 1.75 gpt Au; 16.95 m @ 1.22 gpt Au; 13.80 m @ 1.31 gpt Au; 15.95 m @ 1.46 gpt Au; 18.60 m @ 1.18 gpt Au at Sapuchi. Most intervals run also 1 to 5 gpt Ag. “… gold mineralization is characterized by hydrothermal breccia that forms an approximately 3,000 m long east-northeast trending mineralization corridor with the Luz del Cobre copper deposit at the east. The gold mineralization is associated with intense chlorite and carbonate alteration and is intrusion related with host rock”.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. presented the maiden resource estimate for its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Indicated mineral resources stand at 6.9 M tonnes grading 150 gpt Ag, 1.64 gpt Au, 0.27% Pb, 0.53% Zn (or 370 gpt AgEq), containing 33.2 M Oz Ag, 362.6 K Oz Au, 18 K tonnes Pb, 36 K tonnes Zn (81.6 M Oz AgEq). Inferred mineral resources stand at 5.3 M tonnes grading 156 gpt Ag, 1.51 gpt Au, 0.16% Pb, 0.35% Zn (or 334 gpt AgEq), containing 26.6 M Oz Ag, 256.6 K Oz Au, 8.5 K tonnes Pb, 18.8 K tonnes Zn (56.9 M Oz AgEq). A total of 124,915 m of drilling in 445 holes completed from 2019 to 2021 were utilized to calculate the resource estimate.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. retracted the maiden resource estimate released on Feb 28, 2022 (see above) on its Panuco project in Sinaloa. “An internal review of the estimate identified a miscalculation made by an independent consultant in the conversion of lead and zinc grades into the silver equivalent calculation. This in-turn lifted lower grade zones above the economic cut-off, adding tonnes to the resource but lowering the overall grade”. The next restatement corrects this. Indicated mineral resources are estimated at 5.0 M tonnes @ 191 gpt Ag, 2.08 gpt Au, 0.26% Pb, 0.50% Zn, containing 30.5 M Oz Ag, 331.1 K Oz Au, 13 K tonnes Pb, 24.6 K tonnes Zn. Inferred resources are estimated at 4.1 M tonnes @ 187 gpt Ag, 1.79 gpt Au, 0.13% Pb, 0.30% Zn, containing 24.7 M Oz Ag, 235.8 K Oz Au.
  • Great Panther Mining Ltd. reported the filing of the technical report on updated mineral resourcesof the Guanajuato Mine Complex and San Ignacio operations in Guanajuato.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. reported the results of the first 24 holes of its current 10,000 m reverse circulation drilling campaign at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. The goal of the program is to increase the size and grade of the oxide gold mineralization. The highlighted hole length intervals comprise 9.14 m @ 1.04 gpt Au; 22.86 m @ 1.55 gpt Au (Including 6 m @ 5.18 gpt Au); 3.05 m @ 19.56 gpt Au (including 1.53 m @ 37.90 gpt Au); 4.57 m @ 2.43 gpt Au; 27.43 m @ 5.36 gpt Au (including 4.57 m @ 7.16 gpt Au, and 4.57 m @ 22.09 gpt Au), 4.57 m @ 2.18 gpt Au.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Zacatecas Silver Corp. entered into a share purchase agreement on February 28, 2022 with Alamos Gold Inc. to acquire the Esperanza project in Morelos (previously known as Cerro Jumil). Esperanza is an advanced project with a measured and indicated resource of 34.35 M tonnes grading 0.98 gpt Au, 8.1 gpt Ag, containing 1,084,000 Oz Au, 8.93 M Oz Ag and inferred resources of 718 K tonnes @ 0.80 gpt Au, 15 gpt Ag, containing 18,000 Oz Au, 347 K Oz Ag. The project has 69,716 m of drilling in 389 holes. Zacatecas Silver is to pay Alamos Gold US$5 M and issue shares for US$10 M, a payment of US$5 M within two months of approval of an environmental impact assessment (MIA, in Spanish), further US$14 M within two months of either completion of a feasibility study (FS) or the announcement on decision of mine construction, and the payment of US$20 M within 6 months of commencement of commercial production. Also a $500 K finder’s fee is to be paid on closing of the transaction. “Alamos is entitled to receive 20% of the silver produced from Esperanza at a cash price of 20% of the prevailing spot silver price, subject to a maximum of 500,000 ounces of silver delivered to Alamos”.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. provided an update on its activities. At Pilar, in Sonora, the current phase III diamond drilling is in progress, with 1,200 m completed, results pending. Bulk samples for advanced metallurgy are at the lab, while the company moves towards a maiden resource estimate and bulk test mine. At Picacho, also in Sonora, exploration is commencing.
  • Capstone Mining Corp. announced the Supreme Court of British Columbia approved Capstone and Mantos Copper Bermuda Ltd. to proceed with their merge. Capstone owns the Cozamin mine in Zacatecas, the Pinto Valley mine in Arizona and the Santo Domingo project in Chile. Mantos Blancos owns the Mantos Blancos and Mantoverde (69.99%) mines in Chile.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Barite-quartz-hematite vein from a project in the Sonoran desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 25th week of the year (June 21st to June 28th, 2021), at least 34 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, seven companies posted exploration advances on their properties, six posted on financing, warrants extension, options distribution or option payments received, eight more on project development or resource definition and four posted on deals or corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, there is a new illegal blockade at Los Filos in Guerrero. Canadian Mining companies are suffering the results of the asylum provided by Canada to Mexican union leader Napoleon Gómez Urrutia. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Riverside is receiving funding for exploration of five properties; Ridgestone released surface sample results from Rebeico; Colibri completed an IP survey on Evelyn. In Chihuahua, Kootenay is to rehabilitate underground workings at Columba. In Sinaloa, GR Silver initiated a drilling campaign in the Rosario district. In Durango, Mithril intersected bonanza grade mineralization in drill holes at Copalquin. In Jalisco, Xali Gold identified targets at its Tepic project. ON MINING, Mexus Gold produced some gold at Santa Elena in Sonora. Fresnillo paid US$176.2 M in taxes to the Mexican government in 2020. Santacruz Silver reported a fatality at is Rosario mine in San Luis Potosi. ON FINANCING, Reyna Silver, Wealth Minerals and Southern Silver reported on financing rounds for C$6.06 M, $675 K and $3 M respectively. Vizsla Silver granted options, Radius Gold received $400 K as payment from Pan American Silver related to an earn-in agreement on the Amalia project. Advance Gold extended the expiry date of some warrants. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Guanajuato Silver informed on advance at getting the El Cubo and Pinguico mines back to production. Minera Alamos informed construction has been completed at Santana, in Sonora. Fabled Silver Gold released drilling results from Santa Maria, in Chihuahua. Discovery Silver released results from drilling targeting bulk mining mineralization at Cordero, in Chihuahua. Vizsla Silver released interesting drilling results from Panuco, in Sinaloa. Silver Dollar signed a surface access agreement at La Joya, in Durango. Oroco Resources received the environmental permit to drill at Santo Tomas, in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Vizsla Silver is to spin a Canadian copper asset, forming Vizsla Copper. Fortuna Silver and Roxgold received a recommendation for their business combination. David Jones is on Benjamin Hill as a technical advisor. Orogen Royalties is to trade on the OTCQX ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Peñoles, Fresnillo PLC, the Chihuahua Mining cluster and Minera Peñasquito informed on actions the companies realize to help communities and the environment. Great Panther published its sustainability report. Newmont launched its Climate Strategy Report.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Equinox Gold Corp. informed an illegal blockade has temporarily suspended mining activities at Los Filos, Guerrero. the illegal blockades are led by “a group of unionized employees and members of the Xochipala community, both of whom are demanding payments in excess of their contractual agreements.
  • Americas Gold & Silver continues its fight against Napoleón Gómez Urrutia union. The company has had its San Rafael mine in Cosalá, Sinaloa, under siege for 18 months by the section 333 of the Sindicato de Trabajadores Mineros, Metalurgicos, Siderurgicos y Similares de la República Mexicana (the union led by Napoleón Gómez Urrutia). The company asked the Canadian government for help on what they see as an illegal blockade disguised as a dispute for the Union to control the company’s personnel collective contract (speaking of retribution, Canadian Mining companies are paying for the asylum Canada provided to the Union leader, and are set to pay dearly if do not fight back).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Riverside Resources Inc. informed BHP is funding exploration in five projects in Sonora, acquired under the BHP-Riverside Exploration Funding Agreement. A total of US$1.3 M over two years was allocated for generative funding, with an additional US$1 M in specific work programs. Riverside anticipates two projects will see a maiden drill campaign on 2021, of five under evaluation. The Chuin and Palofierro projects are the most advanced, while Sinoquipe, Penitas and Montosa projects are to follow suite. Magneto-teluric (MT) and gravity geophysics, green-mineral, whole rock and prospecting are being used for vectoring and district evaluations.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. initiated a 14,000 m exploration drill program in the Rosario district in Sinaloa.  Seven drill rigs are being mobilized to dill vein systems covering a combined 75 km strike length of the Plomosas, San Marcial and La Trinidad project areas. Some of the targets include the GAP area, Loma Dorada structure.
  • Xali Gold Corp. identified drill targets that can extend known mineralization at its Cocula project in Jalisco. These drill targets were identified on a 3D model, and are designed to test potential extensions to previously defined zones. The project displays two styles of mineralization, gold-silver as dissemination in oxidized breccias near surface and higher-grade gold silver and base metals in structures containing stockwork quartz veining.
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc. released assay results from sampling on recent mapping at its Rebeico project in Sonora. Sampling at El Cobre mine returned up to 1.0 m @ 3.5% Cu, 0.32 gpt Au, 32 gpt Ag, 0.136% Mo on the main structure. Regional mapping returned up to 1.2 m @ 1.06% Cu, 2.40 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag in a quartz vein and 1.5 m @ 0.08% Cu, 3.45 gpt Au in a breccia. “The El Cobre mine was put into production by Asarco during the sixties and was developed on two levels, with the upper level having over 230 metres of drift development and the lower level having over 100 metres long of drift development at a depth of 180 metres below surface. The main structure, with widths varying from 1 to 5 metres, has been emplaced within a granodiorite intrusive and remains open along strike and at Depth”.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. announced the signing of a contract with Tlasa Obras Mineras S. de R.L. de C.V. to rehabilitate the historic underground workings of the F vein at the Coulmba project in Chihuahua. Work is expected to take four months.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. reported the completion of the previously announced IP survey at Evelyn, in Sonora. The IP survey consisted of 38-line km of 3D-IP covering the eastern half of the Evelyn project. “…the highest chargeability response is spatially associated with the Main Zone within the Cerro Rojo target area…. the Company has decided to extend the IP survey to the western boundary thus completing 3D IP coverage over most of the property”.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd. released drill results from its Copalquin project in Durango. Highlighted core length results comprise: 6.8 m @ 74 gpt Au, 841 gpt Ag (including 2.1 m @ 235 gpt Au, 2,554 gpt Ag); 4.61 m @ 1.87 gpt Au, 89 gpt Ag; 7.60 m @ 2.34 gpt Au, 144 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 2.64 gpt Au, 167 gpt Ag; 6.0 m @ 1.41 gpt Au, 66 gpt Ag; 1.80 m @ 2.38 gpt Au, 53 gpt Ag; 1.05 m @ 2.36 gpt Au, 95 gpt Ag; 0.50 m @ 28.9 gpt Au, 471 gpt Ag; 1.66 m @ 2.41 gpt Au, 153 gpt Ag. Drilling continues along El Refugio structure, and soil sampling is in progress to define the structure a further 1.3 km to the west.

ON MINING

  • Mexus Gold US. informed its Santa Elena mine in Sonora produced 20 Oz Au last week and confirmed the presence of 30 ounces more on the activated carbon cells.
  • Fresnillo PLC. presented a report on the payments to the governments of Mexico, Chile and Peru. In Mexico, Fresnillo paid US$ 139.3 M in taxes, US$1.48 M in royalties and US$35.4 M in concession fees, for a total of US$176.2 M.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reported a fatality at its Rosario project in San Luis Potosi. ”The accident took place at the Membrillo mine as a result of a rock fall”.

ON FINANCING

  • Vizsla Silver Corp. granted 4.15 M options to directors, officers, employees and consultants (Panuco, Sinaloa).
  • Reyna Silver Corp. has over-sold the offering and completed a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of C$6.06 M (GuiGui, Chihuahua).
  • Radius Gold Inc. reported that Pan American Silver, its joint venture partner in at the Amalia project in Chihuahua, has paid a scheduled US$400 K property payment to Radius, and plans further drilling at the project. “Exploration completed at Amalia includes 31 holes for 10,588m of diamond core drilling, primarily at the San Pedro zone on the Amalia structure. The next targets to be drill tested are El Cuervo…. and at California”.
  • Wealth Minerals Ltd. closed the second tranche of the placement, for gross proceeds of $675 K (Coronado, Chihuahua).
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. closed the non-brokered private placement financing for gross proceeds of $3 M (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango).
  • Advance Gold Corp.  applied to the TSX Venture Exchange to extend the expiry date on 3.08 M share purchase warrants issued pursuant to the private placement financing in July 2019, by one year, to July 9, 2022 (Tabasqueña, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. informed on staffing mill and mine refurbishment at El Cubo, Guanajuato. Also the company is doing metallurgical studies on El Cubo and Pinguico deposits.
  • Minera Alamos Inc. informed all construction has now been completed at Santana, in Sonora. “All construction has now been completed with the full leach pad now lined and available for stacking….. First loading of mined material from the Nicho Norte pit commenced earlier this month …in preparation for the commissioning of leach operations around the end of the June”.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. released drilling results from its ongoing campaign at Santa Maria, Chihuahua. Highlighted core length results comprise 10.50 m @ 0.38 gpt Au, 31 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 1.0% Zn Cu (including 1.20 m @ 1.37 gpt Au, 51 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 4.2% Zn); 27.50 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag (including 1.20 m @ 0.52 gpt Au, 163 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 1.0% Zn); 19.65 m @ 0.44 gpt Au, 52 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn (including 7.90 m @ 0.74 gpt Au, 104 gpt Ag, 0.5% Pb, 1.2% Zn); 1.00 m @ 0.33 gpt Au, 322 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.4% Zn.
  • Discovery Silver Corp. released results from 12 drill holes targeting bulk-mining mineralization at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Highlighted results comprise 65.9 m @ 69 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 3.7% Zn; 143 m @ 39 gpt Ag, 0.13 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 59.5 m @ 54 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 0.9% Pb, 1.5% Zn; 86.0 m @ 33 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 82.3 m @ 44 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 1.5% Zn; 59.4 m @ 48 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 48.9 m @ 85 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 1.1% Zn.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. provided results for fourteen holes from the Napoleon prospect at the Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width results comprise 3.73 m @ 2.85 gpt Au, 105 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 1.4% Zn; 2.62 m @ 5.51 gpt Au, 476 gpt Ag, 1.5% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 8.36 m @ 5.58 gpt Au, 372 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.9% Zn (including 2.31 m @ 18.88 gpt Au, 1,306 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 2.1% Zn; 3.21 m @ 0.94 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.9% Zn; 3.45 m @ 1.81 gpt Au, 43 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 11.34 m @ 3.11 gpt Au, 88 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 2.1% Zn; 4.87 m @ 3.70 gpt Au, 112 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 1.5% Zn.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. informed on results from seven drill holes from El Favor deposit at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length results comprise: 15.0 m @ 0.41 gpt Au, 136 gpt Ag (including 6.4 m @ 0.80 gpt Au, 258 gpt Ag); 20.6 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag; 10.6 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag; 6.5 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 81 gpt Ag; 63.7 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 47 gpt Ag (including 9.1 m @ 0.54 gpt Au, 186 gpt Ag); 61.3 m @ 0.56 gpt Au, 243 gpt Ag (including 9.3 m @ 2.06 gpt Au, 973 gpt Ag); 9.4 m @ 0.10 gpt Au, 45 gpt Ag; 6.8 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 136 gpt Ag; 4.8 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 88 gpt Ag; 14.4 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 49 gpt Ag; 35.2 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 43 gpt Ag. “Three of the four major veins (Salomon, Guitarrillas and Los Chivos) appear to converge into a 100m wide zone at the western end of the El Favor deposit in the vicinity of the Hundido Pit….”.
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc. entered into a formal surface access agreement with the ejido Noria de Pilares, at its La Joya project in Durango.
  • Oroco Resources Corp. received approval by SEMARNAT to conduct a drilling program at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. The permit allows for 46 drill locations to test the Brasiles gossan zone and the Western blind target, both supported by a 3D IP survey, and nine drill locations on the North zone for confirmation and expansion drilling.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Vizsla Silver Corp. informed on the approval of the proposed plan of arrangement on which Vizsla Silver is to spin-out its British Columbia exploration assets to Vizsla Copper Corp. (Panuco, Sinaloa).
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. and Roxgold Inc. informed two leading proxy advisory firms have recommended that both Fortuna and Roxgold shareholders vote for the proposed business combination (San Jose, Oaxaca).
  • Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. announced the appointment of David M. Jones, M.Sc., as technical advisor to the company (Sonora Gold, Sonora).
  • Orogen Royalties Inc. announced its shares have been qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market (Ermitaño, Sonora).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Peñasquito informed its water purification plant in Cedros has increased its capacity to 400 cubic meters per day. The community, which doubled its population since the development of the mine, receives the water at no cost. There are two other water purification plants run by the company at the Mesas and Charcos communities.
  • Greath Panther Mining published its 2020 sustainability report, describing its safety performance, Covid prevention, zero sanctions, decrease in water consumption, community engagement, gender opportunities and diversity policy.
  • The Chihuahua Mining Cluster is aiding in the community effort to extinguish forest fires in the Sierra Madre.
  • Newmont Corp. launched its first Climate Strategy Report, which outlines the Company’s climate-related risks and opportunities, strategic planning, and pathways to achieving climate targets.
  • Industrias Peñoles informed on the reforestation effort with native species in La Laguna region (Coahuila-Durango).
  • Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC are to support micro business and auto-development economic proyects in Caborca, Sonora.

On the image below:  Sheeted quartz veining in granodioritic intrusive rocks in Sinaloa. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 5th week of the year (February 1st to February 7th, 2021), there were at least 47 press releases by companies working in Mexico. To note, seven companies posted exploration advances on their properties, five more informed on various mining items, seven posted on financing or share options, eleven on project development and nine more on corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, mining production fell 3.1% in Mexico to November 2020, although some metals and States saw an increase. Some projects with development funding include, Las Chispas, San Antonio (both in Sonora) and Avino in Durango. ON EXPLORATION, in Baja California, Comet Resources updated on exploration at its Santa Teresa project. In Sonora, Silver Spruce is to conduct an airborne Lidar survey over its Mezquite and Jackie properties. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold conducted a geophysical survey at Plata Verde; Reyna Silver released high-grade results from trench and rock chip samples at its Batopilas project. In Zacatecas, Alien Metals is to map and sample a new area on its San Celso project. Advance Gold released drill results from Tabasqueña. ON MINING, Santacruz Silver presented quarterly and full year 2020 reports. Golden Minerals poured the first gold at Rodeo. Excellon Resources released high-grade results from exploration and expansion drilling at Platosa. McEwen Mining presented its production guidance for 2021. ON FINANCING, Silver Dollar, Sonoro Gold and Solaris Resources informed on issues related to their shares; Mammoth Resources, Plymouth Realty and Bacanora Lithium announced the closing/opening of financing rounds for $688 K, $7.4 M and $65 M respectively (and $31 M more on Bacanora Lithium shares bought by Ganfeng); Prospero Silver is consolidating shares 3 to 1. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Silver Tiger Metals discovered a new mineralized zone at its El Tigre project. Gold Resource released high-grade underground drilling results from its Don David mine. Silver Dollar completed a reinterpretation of the model at La Joya while selecting new targets. Impact Silver bought a surface drill rig and an underground drill rig to use at Zacualpan. Endeavour Silver updated mineral resource estimates for Guanaceví, Bolañitos, El Compas, Terronera, El Cubo, Guadalupe y Calvo, and Parral properties. Fabled Silver released drill results from Santa María. GoGold informed on drilling results at the La Trini deposit at its Los Ricos North project. Sailfish Royalty described the Gavilanes project. Xtierra released high-grade drilling results on the Victor vein at the Bilbao project. Azucar Minerals released results from one drill hole at the Porvenir zone of the El Cobre project.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Endeavour Silver optioned The Guadalupe y Calvo project to Ridgestone Mining. Mako Mining informed on the sale of La Trinidad to GR Silver Mining. Silvercorp Metals acquired La Yesca project in Nayarit. Bacanora Lithium informed Ganfeng increased its position in Bacanora to 28.88% with the acquisition of US$31 M in shares. SilverCrest Metals released a positive FS for Las Chispas. Almaden Minerals provided a scope on the advancement of the Ixtaca project, given the refusal of development by the permitting authority. Magna Gold announced exploration activities have commenced at Margarita, a second stage of drilling is planned at La Pima and mapping and a geophysical survey are planned for Q4 at Los Muertos. Orla Mining updated on exploration activities on its 163,000 hectares land package. Plymouth Royalty is to acquire the Peñasco Quemado, Pluton and La Frazada projects from Silver One. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Grupo Mexico and Minera Peñasquito informed on actions that benefit the communities.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mining production in Mexico has fallen 3.1% during January to November of 2020, compared with the same period a year before. Gold, zinc and silver production grew by 3.8%, 3.4% and 1.2% respectively, but production in several other commodities fell, like iron pellets (25.9%), coking coal (21.3%), sulphur (15.1%), lead (13.7%), copper (7.3%), gypsum (5.1%).
  • Mexican projects that have received funding for development include Las Chispas in Sonora (SilverCrest, US$120 M), San Antonio in Sonora (Osisko, US$53.5 M) and Avino in Durango (Avino Silver, US$25 M).
  • Mining companies with significant exploration budgets in Mexico include First Majestic Silver, with US$27.6 M, Pan American Silver with US$42 M (not all in Mexico), Fortuna Silver with US$10 M, Alamos Gold with US$9 M, Endeavour Silver with US$8.4 M, Capstone Mining with US$5.0 M.
  • The Gold production in Chihuahua increased 15% in 2020. In November of last year 1,713 kilograms of gold were extracted, only behind Sonora (3,120 Kg) and Guerrero (1,998 kg).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Vizsla Resources Corp. provided results from eight new holes at the Napoleon prospect of the Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width results comprise 86 gpt Ag, 18.45 gpt Au, 1.3% Pb, 3.4% Zn (1,909 gpt AgEq), including 0.43 m @ 307 gpt Ag, 101.0 gpt Au, 2.9% Pb, 10.5% Zn (10,019 gpt AgEq); 6.0 m @ 63 gpt Ag, 1.54 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 1.2% Zn (237 gpt AgEq), including 1.45 m @ 216 gpt Ag, 5.80 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 3.9% Zn.
  • Advance Gold Corp. released information on drilling at its Tabasqueña project in Zacatecas. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 0.40 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 41 gpt Ag, 2.0% Pb, 2.9% Zn and 0.20 m @ 0.79 gpt Au, 32 gpt Ag, 2.5% Pb, 3.8% Zn.
  • Comet Resources Ltd. provided an update on the Santa Teresa project in Baja California. Comprehensive mapping of historical drill collars, shafts and artisanal workings was conducted, with mapping identifying numerous narrow vein structures at surface. A strong association between pyrrhotite and gold has been noted.
  • Radius Gold Inc. published the results of recent geophysical surveys at its Plata Verde project in Chihuahua. “New IP/Resistivity sections show significant structural zones extending to depth directly below the known large scale historic silver mines”. Radius is now targeting extensions and repetitions of the shallow dipping breccias, stockworks and disseminations within the historic mines, as well as the sub-vertical feeder zones interpreted below.
  • Alien Metals Ltd. informed mapping and sampling is to take place at the Nueva Andromeda claim, adjacent to its San Celso project in Zacatecas. The environmental drilling permit is being awaited.
  • Reyna Silver Corp. released high-grade results from its surface and trench sampling program at its Batopilas project in Chihuahua. Based on ASTER satellite image analysis and structural mapping, 258 trench, rock chip and soil samples were collected. Two new veins were found, one with native silver, typical of Batopilas, and the first gold rich vein in the property. High-resolution hyperspectral imagery shows distinctive alteration mineralogy that coincides with the new and the known veins with additional anomalies. Highlighted channel silver results comprise 42,306 gpt, 18.078 gpt, 6,320 gpt, 2,880 gpt, 2,060 gpt, 1,510 gpt, 989 gpt, 841 gpt, 405 gpt, 400 gpt 310 gpt and two soil samples returning 662 gpt and 305 gpt Ag. Highlighted channel sample gold results comprise 21.40 gpt, 18.35 gpt, 18.30 gpt, 16.90 gpt, 15.40 gpt, 15.20 gpt, 12.90 gpt, 12.40 gpt, 7.82 gpt, 3.77 gpt, 3.24 gpt, 2.03 gpt, 1.03 gpt, 1.02 gpt.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. signed an airborne Lidar survey contract on its El Mezquite and Jackie properties in Sonora. The survey will produce a high resolution digital elevation and surface models topographic map and an orthorectified color aerial photography.

ON MINING

  • Golden Minerals Co. reported the first gold pour from its Rodeo project in Durango. The pour occurred nearly three weeks after the first loads of material were trucked from the Rodeo site to the company’s Velardeña oxide plant for processing.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. released assay results from underground drilling at its Platosa mine in Durango. Relevant exploration and expansion results include core length intervals of 4.2 m @ 741 gpt Ag, 7.5% Pb, 4.8% Zn (including 2.0 m @ 1,153 gpt Ag, 12.3% Pb, 6.1% Zn, 1.7 gpt Au); 2.4 m @ 728 gpt Ag, 21.2% Pb, 17.8% Zn. Some current definition and infill drilling comprise: 2.4 m @ 441 gpt Ag, 6.4% Pb, 10.6% Zn; 2.8 m @ 181 gpt Ag, 5.0% Pb, 6.5% Zn; 2.4 m @ 728 gpt Ag, 21.2% Pb, 17.8% Zn; 4.2 m @ 267 gpt Ag, 7.1% Pb, 14.5% Zn; 4.2 m @ 585 gpt Ag, 3.4% Pb, 3.3% Zn; 4.2 m @ 741 gpt Ag, 7.5% Pb, 4.8% Zn, 0.9 gpt Au.
  • Mexus Gols US. continues to haul and crush mineralized material to be laid on section 2 of the leach pad at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora.
  • McEwen Mining Inc. presented its production guidance for 2021, including from its Mexican operations. At El Gallo, in Sinaloa, the residual leaching operations are expected to produce between 4,500 and 5,900 Oz AuEq. The feasibility study for the Fenix Au-Ag project in Sinaloa was presented recently, with a 51% after-tax IRR, $90.8 M NPV@8% and a 2.9 years payback, with average annual production of 26 K Oz Au in phase 1 and 4.2 M Oz Ag in phase 2.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. released production results for the Q4 and full year 2020. During the quarter, at Zimapan in Hidalgo 180 K tonnes were processed @ 76 gpt Ag, 0.62% Pb, 2.20% Zn, 0.32% Cu, recovering 67.4% Ag, to produce 297.5 K Oz Ag, 948 tonnes Pb, 2,711 tonnes Zn, 402 tonnes Cu. At Rosario in San Luis Potosí, 21.6 K tonnes were processed @ 71 gpt Ag, 0.18 gpt Au, 0.38% Pb, 1.40% Zn, recovering 87.5% Ag, to produce 43.3 K Oz Ag, 77 Oz Au, 73 tonnes Pb, 244 tonnes Zn. At Veta Grande in Zacatecas, no processing took place during the quarter. For the full year, the company produced 340.9 K Oz Ag, 77 Oz Au, 1,022 tonnes Pb, 2,954 tonnes Zn, 402 tonnes Cu (1 M Oz AgEq).

ON FINANCING

  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc. announced its common shares are now eligible for “settlement through the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), a subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. that manages the electronic clearing and settlement of publicly-traded companies in the United States” (La Joya, Durango).
  • Mammoth Resources Corp. was recently granted conditional approval by the TSX Venture Exchange to close its previously oversubscribed $688.5 K gross proceeds private placement financing (Tenoriba, Chihuahua).
  • Plymouth Realty Capital Corp. intends to undertake a non-brokered private financing for gross proceeds of $2 M. Plymouth previously closed a brokered private placement for $7.4 M in proceeds (Peñasco Quemado, Sonora).
  • Prospero Silver Corp. is proposing to consolidate its outstanding common shares on the basis of three to one. “There are currently 5,747,189 Shares issued and outstanding. Following the Consolidation, there will be approximately 1,915,729 Shares issued and outstanding, subject to treatment of fractional post-Consolidation Shares” (Pachuca Southeast, Hidalgo).
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. has granted incentive stock options to certain directors, officers and consultants of the company to purchase an aggregate of 535 K common shares. (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Solaris Resources Inc. announced that its common shares have been approved for listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange (La Verde, Michoacan).
  • Bacanora Lithium PLC made a share placement representing US$65 M in gross proceeds (Sonora Lithium, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Discovery Metals Corp. announced the expansion of the higher-grade bulk-tonnage domain at is Cordero project in Chihuahua. Results from 13 diamond drill holes were released, highlighting the next core length intervals: 131.6 m @ 48 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.1% Zn (118 gpt AgEq) including 37.1 m @ 119 gpt Ag, 0.22 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 1.2% Zn (223 gpt AgEq); 85.6 m @ 53 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 1.4% Pb, 1.7% Zn (175 gpt AgEq) including 39.9 m @ 93 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 2.4% Pb, 3.0% Zn (308 gpt AgEq); 126.1 m @ 40 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 1.0% Zn (103 gpt AgEq); 57.6 m @ 41 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 1.8% Zn (134 gpt Ag). Drilling has extended the “strike extent of the higher-grade bulk tonnage domain by approximately 300 m along strike across an estimated lateral extent of approximately 400 m”. 
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc. informed on the discovery of a new mineralized zone on the footwall of the Sooy vein at El Tigre, Sonora. Highlighted core length results comprise 22.2 m @ 1.12 gpt Au, 177 gpt Ag, 0.23% Cu, 1.4% Pb, 2.0% Zn (382 gpt AgEq) including 11.75 m @ 2.02 gpt Au, 305 gpt Ag, 0.39% Cu, 2.3% Pb, 3.6% Zn, which include 6.95 m @ 3.34 gpt Au, 345 gpt Ag, 0.33% Cu, 2.0% Pb, 3.4% Zn. “The decision by the technical team to continue drilling 50 meters past the targeted Sooy Vein has been rewarded by the discovery of a wide zone of high grade mineralization totally unlike the quartz vein ore previously mined at El Tigre”.
  • Gold Resource Corp. released good underground drilling results from its Don David mine in Oaxaca. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 10.85 m @ 9.12 gpt Au, 179 gpt Ag, 0.58% Cu, 3.5% Pb, 7.0% Zn; 11.83 m @ 17.45 gpt Au, 99 gpt Ag, 0.78% Cu, 3.7% Pb, 6.3% Zn; 9.97 m @ 4.43 gpt Au, 88 gpt Ag, 0.35% Cu, 0.8% Pb, 3.2% Zn; 5.87 m @ 1.51 gpt Au, 871 gpt Ag, 0.15% Cu, 0.5% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 3.85 m @ 1.66 gpt Au, 1,046 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 7.06 m @ 0.71 gpt Au, 286 gpt Ag; 9.20 m @ 0.47 gpt Au, 283 gpt Ag.
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc. completed the compilation and reinterpretation of historical exploration data on the La Joya project in Durango. Additional targets have been defined by similarities in skarn mineralization to La Colorada recent discovery in nearby Zacatecas, and a study in fault kinematics, geophysical interpretation and the elaboration of a 3D geological and mineralization model.
  • Impact Silver Corp. purchased two core drill rigs to accelerate exploration on its Zacualpan property in Estado de Mexico. The company has started a 10,000 meters drill program utilizing a used underground rig already in its possession, a new surface rig and a new underground rig. Multiple targets on both extensions of current mining areas are to be tested, as well as new exploration targets on the San Ramon, Guadalupe, Mina Grande, Cuchara, Manto America and Alacran areas.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. updated mineral reserve and resources estimates for its properties. Mineral reserves stand at 48.6 M Oz Ag, 472 K Oz Au (86.3 M Oz AgEq), measured and indicated resources at 25.9 M Oz Ag, 222.5 K Oz Au (43.7 M Oz AgEq) and inferred resources at 64.4 M Oz Ag, 283.8 K Oz Au, (87.1 M Oz AgEq).
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. released results from the second drill hole of the 8,000 meters campaign at its Santa María project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 6.0 m @ 0.54 gpt Au, 324 gpt Ag including 3.30 m @ 0.90 gpt Au, 561 gpt Ag which includes 1.10 m @ 0.74 gpt Au, 822 gpt Ag and 1.10 m @ 1.06 gpt Au, 621 gpt Ag.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. announced results of drilling at La Trini in Los Ricos North property. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 11.4 m @ 97 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, including 0.8 m @ 1,214 gpt Ag, 0.25 gpt Au; 8.5 m @ 197 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, including 2.3 m @ 506 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au; 23.5 m @ 64 gpt Ag, 0.81 gpt Au, including 2.8 m @ 283 gpt Ag, 3.30 gpt Au. To date, the results of 96 drill holes at La Trini have been released.
  • Sailfish Royalty Corp. updated on the Gavilanes project in Durango. The 13,594 hectares low-sulfidation epithermal project is 25 km east from First Majestic’s San Dimas property. Historic indicated resources comprise 953 K tonnes @ 165 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.06% Cu, 0.42% Pb, 0.41% Zn (200 gpt AgEq) whereas inferred resources include 5.4 M tonnes @ 125 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 0.34% Zn (163 gpt AgEq).
  • Xtierra Inc. released results from drilling at the Victor vein on its Bilbao property in Zacatecas. Highlighted true-width intervals in one hole comprise 3.80 m @ 59 gpt Ag, 2.0% Pb, 1.3% Zn, 0.14% Cu; 8.98 m @ 90 gpt Ag, 3.4% Pb, 3.2% Zn, 0.20% Cu, including 2.09 m @ 175 gpt Ag, 6.1% Pb, 0.7% Zn, 0.58% Cu; 4.15 m @ 131 gpt Ag, 6.0% Pb, 8.5% Zn, 0.18% Cu;1.10 m @ 126 gpt Ag, 6.1% Pb, 3.8% Zn, 0.68% Cu. Another hole returned 1.84 m @ 101 gpt Ag, 6.2% Pb, 2.7% Zn, 0.21% Cu; 3.48 m @ 28 gpt Ag, 1.7% Pb, 0.8% Zn, 0.06% Cu.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. released results from one more drill hole at the Porvenir zone of the El Cobre project in Veracruz. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 65.0 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 0.14% Cu, including 10.0 m @ 0.54 gpt Au, 0.29% Cu; a second interval of 25.5 m @ 0.52 gpt Au, 0.30% Cu. “. Drilling planned for the Porvenir Zone has been completed and future drilling on the project will be planned based on a geologic review currently underway and the receipt of outstanding assay results. In the meantime a surface field work program is planned to better define several targets prior to drill testing”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Endeavour Silver Corp. has granted an option to purchase a 100% interest in its Guadalupe y Calvo project in Chihuahua to Ridgestone Mining Inc.. Under the agreement Ridgestone has to pay over four years US$1.5 M in cash and US$1.75 M in shares, plus US$0.75 M in exploration expenses for a total commitment of US$4 M. Endeavour will retain a 2% NSR, with an option by which Ridgestone could buy back the 2% NSR for US$2 M prior to commencement of commercial production.
  • Mako Mining Corp. informed a definitive agreement has been executed with GR Silver Mining Ltd. on the sale of its subsidiary Marlin Gold Mining Ltd., which owns the La Trinidad mine facilities in Sinaloa, currently being reclaimed. The deal includes nine mining concessions covering 104,094.5 hectares adjacent to GR Silver’s properties. Mako will receive US$50 K in cash, a 1% NSR and the reversal of US$9.35 M in unpaid concession taxes. The 1% NSR can be bought at any time for US$2 M.
  • Silvercorp Metals Inc. has acquired 100% interest in the La Yesca project in Nayarit. The 4,700 hectares project has previous geological mapping, stream sediment and soil surveys and 7,649 meters of drilling in 25 widely spaced holes. Highlighted trench sample results comprise 25.6 m @ 420 gpt Ag, 14.3 m @ 389 gpt Ag, 47.6 m @ 295 gpt Ag and 32.9 m @ 161 gpt Ag, all with combined Pb+Zn credits of up to 3.7%. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 3.3 m @ 744 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 1.4% Zn; 10.0 m @ 977 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 6.5 m @ 725 gpt Ag, 0.5% Pb, 1.8% Zn; 5.9 m @ 293 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 1.4% Zn; 2.4 m @ 823 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 4.0% Zn; 3.0 m @ 718 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 3.34% Zn; 17.0 m @ 252 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 2.1% Zn. Silvercorp obtained control of the project by acquiring the holding company with a cash payment of US$9.25 M in cash and a 45% interest in the managing company shares to the vendors. “A “discovery payment” of up to $30 million calculated on the basis of US$0.20 per ounce of silver resources as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”), is payable by New Infini to the Vendors subject to certain permitting considerations”.
  • Bacanora Lithium PLC. announced that its partner Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. signed a joint venture agreement “in connection with its investment in SLL (“JVA”) following the exercise of its option to increase its stake in SLL from 22.5% to 50% (the “Option”). Completion of the JVA remains conditional upon certain approvals and consents from authorities in the People’s Republic of China”. On a second press release Bacanora informed Ganfeng’s intention to increase its holding in Bacanora, subscribing for gross proceeds of US$31 M. On completion of their investment, Ganfeng will have an ownership level of 28.88%. (Sonora Lithium project, Sonora).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. disclosed positive results from a feasibility study for the Las Chispas project in Sonora. The study envisages a 1,250 tpd operation with an initial mine life of 8.5 years, with a base case NPV(5%) of $486.3 M, IRR of 52% and a payback period of one year. An average AISC of $7.07 per Oz AgEq for seven years is among the lowest quartile AISC globally.
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. provided an update on its intentions for advancing the Ixtaca project in Puebla. Late last year the company was informed that the initial environmental impact assessment on the project did not receive approval from the Mexican federal permitting authority, Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMERNAT).” Almaden remains convinced that the Ixtaca project can be a showcase for modern, responsible mineral development in Mexico. The Company intends to work towards submitting a revised MIA which incorporates additional data presently available to the Company as well as data to be gathered in further field studies”.
  • Magna Gold Corp. announced exploration activities have commenced on its Margarita project in Chihuahua. Magna plans to re-log 5,097 meters of HQ drill core from 35 drill holes, re-sample and sample vein and vein extensions and compile sections and long sections based on the previous drilling. “Magna has contracted topographic map work on the property, as well as the acquisition of Aster satellite images, in preparation for field mapping at Margarita. A survey crew will locate the Margarita drillhole collars to confirm existing data. Field work at Margarita is scheduled to commence in Q1, which will be used to plan a drill campaign that will commence by Q3 2021. The drill campaign will include infill, confirmation and exploration drilling and will be targeted in areas between and down dip from existing drilling”. A second, 2,000 meters phase of drilling is planned in Q3 at La Pima, in Sonora. The drilling is to focus on breccias hosted in limestone. At Los Muertos, also in Sonora, soil and rock chip sampling as well as geology mapping and an induced polarization survey are planned to commence on Q4 2021.
  • Orla Mining Ltd. updated the exploration status of its 163,000 hectares in Mexican properties. A 6,000 meters core drilling program is underway within the Camino Rojo deposit in Zacatecas, and a 5,212 RC drilling campaign was completed in the neighboring Las Miserias, San Tiburcio and Guanamero targets. Nine trenches were excavated at the Las Miserias target, for a total of 140 meters. A directional drilling programmed commenced in Q4 2020 on the down plunge extension of the sulfide zone on the Camino Rojo deposit. A 2,500 meters core drilling program on Fresnillo’s property and integration of the geological resource models with Fresnillo’s drill data (In December 2020 Orla completed a layback agreement with Fresnillo PLC that will allow Orla to expand the Camino Rojo oxide pit onto part of the adjacent Fresnillo’s mining concession. A US$4 M budget has been allocated for these exploration campaigns.
  • Plymouth Realty Capital Corp. received conditional acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange on its qualifying transaction whereby Plymouth will acquire the Peñasco Quemado (Sonora), Pluton (Durango) and La Frazada (Nayarit) projects from Silver One Resources Inc.. Plymouth is to pay Silver One $6 M in cash and shares as follows: 1.25 M in cash and 4.375 M shares on the closing of the transaction, $750 K in cash 18 months onwards and $500 K in cash 24 months after the closing.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Grupo Mexico’s La Caridad power plant  received the certificate “Great Place to Work”.
  • Minera Peñasquito donated medical equipment to the state government in 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 image below:  Quartz vein from a low sulfidation epithermal system in Sinaloa. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 1st week of the year (January 4th to January 10th, 2020), at least 27 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, four companies posted exploration advances on their properties, and six more posted news on resources and development. Sierra Metals Corp’s Cusi and Bolivar mines are up for grabs. ON MEXICO ISSUES, a reduction of mineral production is expected for 2020 due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Camimex pointed on the lack of clarity on the distribution of the mining royalties. At least six companies plan to start mining operations in this year. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Aztec Minerals updated its exploration status at Cervantes; Mojave Gold updated on exploration at its Sonora Gold project, where at least two structures tens of meters in width run for kilometers; Canuc Resources is using results from a magnetic survey for targeting. In Chihuahua, Mammoth Resources has received the permit for drilling at Tenoriba.  ON MINING, Endeavour Silver, Aura Minerals and Torex Gold presented Q4 2020 production results. Mexus Gold US continues to stack ore at its Santa Elena mine. Sierra Metals presented a PEA that doubles the processing capacity at its Cusi mine. ON FINANCING, Ridgestone Mining increased its private placement to $2.32 M. SilverCrest Metals entered into a credit agreement for US$76.5 M. Fabled Silver and Silver Wolf Exploration granted stock options. Silver Dollar Resources made a clarification requested by the OTC Market. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GR Silver Mining reported good drilling results at the Plomosas mine, in the Plomosas project, Sinaloa. Sonoro Gold reported drilling results from Cerro Caliche, Sonora. Discovery Metals released drilling results from two vein trends at Cordero, Chihuahua. Prime Mining updated on exploration at Los Reyes, Sinaloa. Fabled Silver Gold informed on surface sampling at Santa María, Chihuahua. GoGold released results from drilling at El Favor, on its Los Ricos North project, Jalisco. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Argonaut Gold and AP Mining have amended the agreement for the previously announced sale of the Ana Paula project to AP Mining. Minaurum Gold entered into an option agreement with Fortuna Silver on the Taviche property in Oaxaca, agreement by which Fortuna can gain up to 80% interest on the project. Sierra Metals is evaluating the sale of its assets, a merger or business combination. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fresnillo, the Chihuahua Mining Cluster and Grupo Mexico informed on actions that benefit society.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Camimex (Camara minera de México) sees the mining production to decrease in 2020 due to the pandemic. The decrease is expected to reach 10% for gold, 6 to 6.3% for silver and lead, 3% for copper and 25% for iron.
  • Camimex pointed on the lack of clarity on the distribution of the mining royalties. According to the previous rules the resources funded infrastructure on communities across mining regions. After de federal government changed the rules, it is not clear now how these resources are distributed. Mining companies paid US$196 M (3,990 million pesos) in royalties in 2019.
  • Companies aspiring to start new mines in 2021 include: Mag Silver (Juanicipio, Zacatecas), Orla Mining (Camino Rojo, Zacatecas), Minera Alamos (Santa, Sonora), Golden Minerals (Rodeo, Durango), VanGold Mining (Pinguico and El Cubo, Guanajuato), Sonora Gold (Cerro Caliche, Sonora) and Candelaria Mining (Pinos, Zacatecas).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp. informed that during 2020 formed a 65/35 joint venture with Kootenay Silver on the Cervantes project, Sonora. Also during the year an additional IP-resistivity survey was performed to define new targets; geological mapping, geochemical sampling and geophysical surveying have identified 11 targets in total, of which 7 are in preparation for drilling. Aztec intends to extend detailed geologic, structural, and alteration mapping and sampling at the Purisima West, Estrella, Jacobo, Brazil, and other targets at Cervantes, and plan and permit a phase 1 reverse circulation drilling program on the California and Purisima targets.
  • Mojave Gold Corp. updated on work done during December of 2020 at its Sonora Gold project in Sonora. A 261 sample stream sediment survey was carried out in the 6,000 hectares property, and detailed geological mapping and rock chip sampling was carried out on the Caracahui and Sonora Cooper areas, including underground mapping on the latter. The Sonora Cooper West/Las Llantas structure has been observed to be over 3 km in length, reaching widths of over 70 m. “In total, mineralized structures in the western part of the project area have been observed to extend more than 8.5 kilometers in cumulative length…. The Sonora Cooper mineralized area contains large structures often reaching over 70m in width, that were mapped in detail for over 500m along strike. Additionally, detailed underground mapping was completed over 605m length in the Sonora Cooper adit and over a 260m length of the Guadalupe adit. A total of 160 rock chip samples were collected from the underground workings”.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp. announced SEMARNAT (Mexican environmental agency) has approved the drill permit application on its Tenoriba property in Chihuahua. Mammoth is planning to start a drilling campaign before the end of the first quarter.
  • Canuc Resources Corp. received results from a drone supported magnetic survey at its San Javier project in Sonora. Three large magnetic high features (1,000 by 600 m, 800 by 600 m, 600 by 600m) were identified. “Detailed processing of the data suggests that there are stronger magnetic features within the larger target areas which may represent areas of higher-grade mineralization. Canuc is now carrying out detailed ground magnetic surveys on these targets and is scheduled to begin drilling in the next few weeks”.

ON MINING

  • Mexus Gold US. released an update of mining operations at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake for First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora). The company is stacking material from a shear zone grading 0.9 gpt to 1.2 gpt Au.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. filed a NI 43-101 independent technical report for a doubling of output at its Cusi mine in Chihuahua. The preliminary economic assessment (PEA) highlights include an after tax Net Present Value (NPV) of US$81 M at an 8% discount rate, at a long term silver price of US$20/Oz. The project envisages increasing the production from 1,200 tonnes per day (tpd) to 2,400 tpd @ 127.2 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 0.48% Zn, 0.34% Pb, with a 13 year mine life and recoverable 33.4 M Oz Ag.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. reported the highest quarterly production in the last two years from its mines in Mexico. Total production in the quarter was 237.4 K tonnes mined at a rate of 2,580 tpd @ 169 gpt Ag, 1.90 gpt Au, recovering 86.8% Ag, 87% Au, to produce 1.12 M Oz Ag, 12,586 Oz Au.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported Q4 production for 2020. At its Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero, 12,560 tpd were processed, with 1,300 tpd mined from underground and 18,360 tpd mined from open pit with a waste to ore strip ratio of 6.2, to produce 130,640 Oz Au in the quarter. In the year, 11,370 tpd were processed to produce 430,480 Oz Au.
  • Aura Minerals Inc. released preliminary production reports for the fourth quarter of 2020. In the period the Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas produced 19,073 Oz AuEq, which added up to the 65,497 Oz AuEq for the full year. During December 89.1 K tonnes were processed, and the company intends to increase processing to 100 K tonnes per month during the second half of 2021.

ON FINANCING

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. entered into a credit agreement with an affiliate of RK Mine Finance to provide a secured project financing facility for a total of US$120 M for funding the construction at Las Chispas, Sonora. Concurrently SilverCrest has entered into a fixed price engineering, procurement and construction contract with Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. with a lump sum turnkey price of US$76.5 M that is to include construction of a 1,250 tonne per day process plant at Las Chispas.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. granted 200,000 stock options to a consultant of the company (Santa María, Chihuahua).
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc. was requested by the OTC Markets Group Inc. to issue a statement about promotional activity concerning its common stock. OTC Markets questioned about “two promotional newsletter emails published by CrushTheStreet.com (“CTS”) and Wealth Research Group (“WRG”) discussing the emerging bull market for commodities, particularly silver, and citing the Company in both publications… The Company has been advised by OTC Markets that OTC Markets takes the position that aspects of the statements were overly promotional. The Company wishes to caution readers that these statements are speculative in nature” (La Joya, Durango).  
  • Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd. granted incentive stock options for the purchase of 1 M shares to directors, officers, consultants, and employees of the Company (Ana María and Laberinto, Durango).
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc. increased the previously announced private placement from $1.9 M to $2.32 M, for additional gross proceeds of $420 K (Rebeico, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. reported good underground drilling results from the Plomosas mine area at its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. “The mineralization is represented by thick intercepts of Au-Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu mineralization hosted in a series of hydrothermal breccias”.  The highlighted results comprise 83 m @ 2.52 gpt Au, 33 gpt Ag, 0.9% Pb, 2.9% Zn, 0.3% Cu (420 gpt AgEq), including 4.0 m @ 9.35 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag, 0.4% Pb, 10.5% Zn, 0.3% Cu (1,319 gpt AgEq) and 11.0 m @ 9.41 gpt Au, 135 gpt Ag, 5.7% Pb, 9.8% Zn, 0.5% Cu (1,596 gpt AgEq).  
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. reported favourable results from eight reverse circulation drill holes at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. At the Buena Suerte target, highlighted intercepts comprise 3.0 m @ 1.48 gpt Au; 7.6 m @ 1.32 gpt Au, 12.2 m @ 0.86 gpt Au; 12.2 m @ 0.69 gpt Au; 27.44 m @ 1.17 gpt Au (including 3.0 m @ 4.70 gpt Au); 12.2 m @ 0.50 gpt Au. Highlighted intercepts from the Japoneses target include 22.9 m @ 0.57 gpt Au; 10.7 m @ 0.45 gpt Au; 13.7 m @ 0.60 gpt Au; 10.7 m @ 0.40 gpt Au, 12.2 m @ 0.36 gpt Au; 4.6 m @ 0.41 gpt Au; 27.44 m @ 1.17 gpt Au; 12.2 m @ 0.50 gpt Au.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. released results from 10 diamond drill holes targeting the Parcionera and Josefina vein trends at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Highlighted intercepts comprise 4.4 m @ 246 gpt Ag, 0.39 gpt Au, 6.5% Pb, 0.4% Zn (524 gpt AgEq); 0.5 m @ 665 gpt Ag, 0.58 gpt Au, 13.8% Pb, 13.7% Zn (1,765 gpt Ag) on the Parcionera vein trend and 3.3 m @ 196 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, 5.6% Pb, 4.9% Zn (612 gpt AgEq); 1.6 m @ 20 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 1.8% Zn at the Josefina vein trend.
  • Prime Mining Corp. provided a year-end update on its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. “The ongoing work includes field mapping, trench sampling, rock alteration analysis and interpretation and re-logging of historic diamond drill core…. Re-logging of several existing diamond drill core holes also identified that adularia, a crystalline mineral, containing high-grade gold and silver locally with visible gold, is associated with nearby altered rock types. The adularia appears to be vertically zoned”. The project is a district scale low sulfidation epithermal mineralizing system on which more than US$20 million have been spent over 25 years.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. completed the sampling program to evaluate the IP geophysical anomalies on the Santa María property in Chihuahua. The sampling returned silver anomalous results over two geophysical anomalies. Eleven first priority anomalies have been delineated, generally in an east-west direction.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released drilling results from El Favor deposit at its Los Ricos North property in Jalisco. Highlighted core length results comprise 30.2 m @ 0.18 gpt Au, 63 gpt Ag (1.03 gpt AuEq), including 8.6 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 146 gpt Ag (2.23 gpt AuEq); 5.6 m @ 0.55 gpt Au, 287 gpt Ag (4.37 gpt Au), including 1.7 m @ 1.7 gpt Au, 834 gpt Ag (12.83 gpt AuEq); 70.5 m @ 0.15 gpt Au, 50 gpt Ag (0.82 gpt AuEq), including 9.7 m @ 0.55 gpt Au, 199 gpt Ag (3.20 gpt AuEq); 15.3 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 151 gpt Ag (2.31 gpt AuEq); 12.8 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 126 gpt Ag (1.99 gpt AuEq), including 3.3 m @ 0.89 gpt Au, 302 gpt Ag (4.91 gpt AuEq); 41.1 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 76 gpt Ag (1.24 gpt AuEq); 21.0 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 74 gpt Ag (1.10 gpt AuEq); 27.0 m @ 0.97 gpt Au, 113 gpt Ag (2.47 gpt AuEq); 11.0 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 160 gpt Ag (2.40 gpt AuEq); 52.1 m @ 0.69 gpt Au, 254 gpt Ag (4.08 gpt AuEq); 11.6 m @ 0.43 gpt Au, 148 gpt Ag; 32.5 m @ 0.32 gpt Au, 63 gpt Ag (1.15 gpt AuEq).

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Argonaut Gold Inc. and AP Mining “have amended the agreement for the previously announced sale of the Ana Paula project to AP Mining (see press release dated September 11, 2020) to allow more time to meet the regulatory and government approvals required for closing. In connection with the amendment, AP Mining has agreed to pay an additional US$1.0 million at 15 months from the closing date and to reimburse all of Argonaut’s costs incurred associated with the Ana Paula project incurred between January 1, 2021 and the closing of the transaction. Closing continues to be subject to financing and receipt of all necessary approvals, which is expected in the first quarter of 2021” (Ana Paula, Guerrero).
  • Minaurum Gold Inc. entered into an option agreement with Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. pursuant to which Fortuna can earn up to an 80% interest in Minaurum’s Taviche silver project in Oaxaca. Fortuna can earn an initial 60% by making cash payments totalling $450 K and incurring in US$4 M in work expenditures over three years. Fortuna can earn an additional 20% interest “by funding Minaurum ‘s acquisition by way of option exercise of the remaining 20% interest”. The cash installments to make comprise US$75 K upon signing, US$100 K on the first anniversary, US$125 K on the second anniversary and US$150 K on the third anniversary. Drilling by previous operators of the project returned up to 34.12 m @ 262 gpt Ag and 8.35 m @ 2.05 gpt Au.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. announced that “its Board of Directors, supported by its management team and with the full support of Arias Resource Capital Fund L.P., Arias Resource Capital Fund II L.P. (the Company’s two largest shareholders) and Arias Resource Capital Fund II (Mexico) L.P., has commenced a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives focused on maximizing shareholder value. These alternatives could include, among other things, the sale of part or all of the Company, a sale of some of the assets of the Company, a merger or other business combination with another party, or other strategic transactions” (Cusi and Bolivar mines, Chihuahua).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Fresnillo donated computing equipment in Caborca, Sonora.
  • The Chihuahua Mining Cluster president, Pablo Mendez Alvídrez stated that the industry will aid with the acquisition of the Covid-19 vaccine, once it is on sale by pharmacies, for its distribution on mining communities.
  • The Grupo Mexico Foundation delivered a significant amount of protective equipment for health care personnel

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

On the image below: Quartz veining from a project in San Luis Potosí. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 34th week of the year (August 17th to August 23rd, 2020), at least 36 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, twelve of those were either opening or closing rounds of financing, several presenting oversubscriptions. Even with the difficulties to assign the total amount to any given week, the announcements on this period add up to $38.3 M and C$90.5 M, standing out Chesapeake’s $20 M and Americas Silver C$35 M. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the Guanajuato Mining Cluster is being consolidated; The MIA on Camino Rojo in Zacatecas has been approved; A new Mining Museum opens in Zimapan, Hidalgo; Francisco Quiroga, Mining Undersecretary stressed community acceptance is vital for mining companies; Minera Peñasquito and the Cedros Ejido have signed a new agreement; Foreign investment decreased during the first half of 2020; Neida Patricia Madrid, is the first large shovel female operator in Mexico; The Mexican mining industry lost 4 billion dollars in two months. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tarachi Gold released assay results from trenching at its Tarachi project. In Zacatecas, VanGold Mining accessed the #6 level on the Pinguico mine. Advance Gold is extending the IP survey at Tabasqueña. ON MINING, Odyssey Exploration continues to seek a favorable resolution on the litigation to obtain the development permit for its offshore Exploraciones Oceanica project in Baja California Sur. Americas Silver informed the illegal blockade at its Cosalá complex in Sinaloa was lifted, and the process for new union elections is coming. Mexus Gold is acquiring more heavy equipment for its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Premier Gold informed of positive cash flow under its new reduced production plan at Mercedes, in Sonora. ON FINANCING, twelve companies made announcements regarding the opening or closing of financing rounds: Golden Tag ($7 M), VanGold Mining ($3.97 M), Southern Silver Exploration (C$14 M), Sable Resources (C$9 M), Tarachi Gold (C$9.49 M), Minera Alamos (C$13 M), Defiance Silver (C$7 M), Americas Silver (C$35 M), Chesapeake Gold ($20 M), Orex Minerals ($5.5 M), Monarca Minerals (C$3 M), Silver Spruce ($1.8 M). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Azure Minerals has sent samples for metallurgical studies from the Mesa de Plata deposit at its El Alacrán project in Sonora. Prime Mining released trench results from Los Reyes, in Sinaloa. Discovery Metals released drilling results from high-grade veins from its Cordero deposit in Chihuahua. Aura Minerals updated on exploration efforts at its Aranzazu project in Zacatecas. GoGold Resources released results from six more holes at Los Ricos North, in Jalisco. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Southern Silver entered into a definitive agreement with Electrum Global Holdings to acquire Electrum’s interest in the Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Evrim Resources and Renaissance Gold completed its merger and name change to Orogen Royalties. Sun River Gold has increased its ownership in an additional 5% NPI of the mine tailings project at El Oro, Estado de Mexico. VanGold Mining signed an agreement to re-purchase the underlying royalties on its El Pinguico project in Guanajuato. Zanzibar Gold appointed Sergio Trelles as special advisor to the board. Megastar Development amended the option agreement to extend the dates for expenditures at the Rama de Oro, Yautepec and Magdalena projects in Oaxaca. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Grupo Mexico, Fresnillo PLC, Peñoles, Minera Media Luna and Minera Fresnillo informed on donations and community involvement measures on the areas near their operations.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Guanajuato Mining Cluster is being consolidated. The move seeks to develop local industries as service providers for the mining industry.
  • SEMARNAT (the Mexican environmental agency) approved the Environmental Impact Report (MIA) of Orla Mining to develop the Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas.
  • The Mining Museum has been inaugurated in Zimapan, Hidalgo.
  • Francisco Quiroga, sub secretary of Mining, in the Camimex organized “Mining in the New Normality” forum, stressed that the main challenge for mining companies is to work on its acceptance by communities.
  • Minera Newmont announced the signing of the agreement between the company and the Cedros Ejido in Peñasquito, Zacatecas. To work free of illegal blockades, the company is to solve the damage to the El Socavon spring, build infrastructure to promote physical activities, develop a social area, build a civic plaza and revise the temporal occupation agreements of the mining unit at Cedros. To reach this accord 60 workshops were held with the mediation of the governor Alejandro Tello, Francisco Quiroga (Mining sub secretary) and the Secretary of the Interior Olga Sanchez.
  • The foreign direct investment in Mexico decreased during the first half of 2020 in sectors like mining, electricity and tourism. The economic crisis has coupled with changes in the regulation of the electricity generation market and the cancellation of already permitted developments like the investment by Constellation Brands and its Brewery in Baja California, to reduce the attraction to invest in the country.
  • First woman to be operator of a mechanical shovel in Mexico, Neida Patricia Madrid, Minera Buenavista del Cobre employee is the first woman to operate this 22 m high, 12 m wide machine used to load ore into off-road dump trucks. Born in Cananea, Sonora, Neida Patricia was selected for training after working for several years as dump truck operator.
  • The Mexican mining industry lost 4 billion dollars in two months, according to Francisco Quiroga, Mining Sub-secretary. Even so, he pointed that the industry has benefited of a 17% depreciation of the Mexican peso, and the rise on the price of metals, like silver in 58%, gold in 28%, and copper in 41%. Silver production was expected to reach 324 M Oz, but after the Coronavirus emergency lockdown, the outlook has been reduced to 270 million ounces, although with a much better price.  

ON EXPLORATION

  • VanGold Mining Corp. informed the continuation of its summer program at El Pinguico project in Zacatecas. Rehabilitation work has now safely accessed the #6 level, which is believed to have been inaccessible since 1913. Work is underway to access also the #5 and #7 levels. Sampling of the bottom of the backfill on the #7 level is expected to be possible.
  • Advance Gold Corp. informed four additional lines of induced polarization are being surveyed to increase detail on an anomaly at its Tabasqueña project in Zacatecas. Drilling continues, with samples to be sent to the lab once the current hole being drilled is completed.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp. released high-grade results from channel sampling at La Dura historic underground mine on the Jabalí concession pf the Tarachi project in Sonora. Rock-saw samples returned 62.55 m @ 6.34 gpt Au (including 2.0 m @ 42.65 gpt Au); 9.4 m @ 0.63 gpt Au; 4.35 m @ 4.42 gpt Au; 6.25 m @ 1.13 gpt Au.   

ON MINING

  • Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. reported results for the second quarter 2020. During the period, the focus has been seeking the advance of its offshore “Exploraciones Oceanicas” phosphate project in Baja California Sur. “Odyssey’s legal teams are working two separate, but concurrent processes, while Odyssey continues to work through diplomatic channels in attempts to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with Mexico .…… While we are hopeful an agreement will be reached, we must continue to pursue our North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) claim against Mexico to protect our shareholders’ rights”.
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. reported consolidated financial and operational results for the second quarter of 2020. The illegal blockade that had been in place at the Cosalá operations in Sinaloa since the end of January 2020 “has been resolved favourably without negotiation or compromise with those responsible for the illegal action…. The Company has worked with government authorities to secure a democratic election to ratify a legitimate union to represent its workers which is now set for September 9, 2020”. The company finished the earn-in agreement for the San Felipe project (Sonora) with Hochschild, by providing notice and agreeing to pay the remaining $3.75 M plus VAT in common shares.
  • Mexus Gold US. Informs on the acquisition of more mining equipment for its Santa Elena mine in Sonora, The company aims to increase its mine output to 500 tonnes per day to the leach pad.
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. Informed the Mercedes mine in Sonora is generating positive cash flow under its revised production plan. “Following a two-month suspension of operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mine operations resumed under a new simplified production plan developed by the Mercedes team….. Ongoing exploration at Mercedes has returned positive results and is prioritized on extending mine life through the growth of reserves in proximity to existing mine workings and the delineation of future resources at the San Martin and Marianas zones. Results to-date have been positive”.

ON FINANCING

  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. closed its non-brokered private placement for total gross proceeds of $7.0 M. Eric Sprott participated with the acquisition of 10.7 M shares. A commission fee of C$345.7 K was paid to Red Cloud Securities Inc., PI Financial Corp., PowerOne Capital Markets Limited, Canaccord Genuity Corp. y Haywood Securities Inc. (San Diego-Velardeña, Durango).
  • VanGold Mining Ltd. closed the final second tranche of its non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $278.6 K, adding up to total gross proceeds of $3.97 M (El Pinguico, Zacatecas).
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. has closed a brokered placement for C$10 M and a non-brokered placement for gross proceeds of C$4 M. The company paid fees to agents of $312 K, 1.56 M compensation options, a corporate finance fee of $237.9 K and 1.19 M corporate finance options.
  • Sable Resources Ltd. increased the size of its private placement to up to C$9 M (Margarita and Vinata, Chihuahua).
  • Tarachi Gold Corp. closed its non-brokered private placement, which was oversubscribed, for gross proceeds of CAD$9.49 M (Tarachi Gold, Sonora).
  • Minera Alamos Inc. entered into an agreement with National Bank Financial Inc. on a bought deal private placement for gross proceeds of approximately C$10 M. Later on the week Minera Alamos produced another press release where the private placement was increased to C$13 M (Santana, Sonora).
  • Defiance Silver Corp. entered into an agreement with Red Cloud Securities Inc. for a private placement to raise up to C$7 M (San Acacio, Zacatecas).  
  • Americas Silver and Gold Corp. announced it is increasing the size of its previously announced offering from C$25 M to C$35 M in gross proceeds (Cosalá, Sinaloa).
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $20 M. Eric Sprott acquired $12.5 M in shares, same that coupled with prior shares in his possession amount to 15.5% of the issued and outstanding shares of Chesapeake.  “The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to undertake Metates metallurgical test work and ongoing regional exploration and for general working capital” (Metates, Durango).
  • Orex Minerals Inc. closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement to Eric Sprott, for gross proceeds of $5.5 M. The investment by Eric Sprott represents 19.6% ownership in non-diluted basis, and 26.8% on partially diluted basis (Sandra, Durango).
  • Monarca Minerals Inc. announced the closing of the previously announced non-brokered private placement, for gross proceeds of C$3 M. Aggregate fees of C$212 K were paid, and 4.24 M of finders warrants issued (Tejamen, Durango).
  •  Silver Spruce Resources Inc. increased and closed its previously announced private placement, for gross proceeds of $1.8 M. Finders fees of $138.3 K and 165 K broker warrants were paid (Mezquite, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Azure Minerals Ltd. has sent samples from its Mesa de Plata deposit at its Alacrán project (Sonora) for advanced metallurgic testwork. Previous metallurgic studies highlighted the presence of romeite, a silver-rich mineral that neither floats nor leaches, and subsequent studies point to that mineral being amenable to recovery by gravity separation methods. Three reverse circulation holes were drilled specifically to collect high-grade samples containing silver-rich romeite, which intercepted 10.5 m @ 805 gpt Ag (including 6 m @ 1,284 gpt Ag); 15.0 m @ 677 gpt Ag (including 3.0 m @ 1,832 gpt Ag); 10.5 m @ 774 gpt Ag. “If processing by a combination of gravity separation, flotation and leaching is successful, the Company is aiming for total silver recoveries of ~90%”.
  • Prime Mining Corp. reported results of ongoing surface sampling on the Los Reyes project, Sinaloa. One trench returned 42.0 m  (18.0 m estimated true width, or TW) @ 1.93 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag, including 4.0 m TW @ 7.46 gpt Au, 98 gpt Ag; Other trenches returned: 16.5 m @ 1.28 gpt Au, 103 gpt Ag; 16.5 m @ 0.89 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag; 42.0 m @ 0.85 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag; 52.5 m @ 0.9 gpt Au, 13 gpt Ag; 33.0 m @ 1.0 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag; 10.5 m @ 2.01 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. released results from four diamond drill holes targeting “extensive” veins at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. These holes are part of a 55,000 m program that commenced on September 2019, of which 22,600 m have been completed in 62 holes. Highlighted intercepts comprise: 4.7 m @ 635 gpt Ag, 0.15 gpt Au, 12.3% Pb, 5.3% Zn (including 1.9 m @ 1,035 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 20.0% Pb, 6.4% Zn); 5.6 m @ 135 gpt Ag, 0.18 gpt Au, 2.7% Pb, 1.6% Zn); 1.3 m @ 587 gpt Ag, 0.67 gpt Au, 9.4% Pb, 2.4% Zn; 2.0 m @ 846 gpt Ag, 0.33 gpt Au, 2.6% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 0.7 m @ 433 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 1.4% Pb, 7.1% Zn. Four rigs are currently operating at the site.
  • Aura Minerals Inc. provided an update of exploration at its Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas. “The deposit at Aranzazu consists of a tertiary age Gold-Copper-Silver skarn type mineralization subdivided in three main zones, Mexicana, Glory Hole and Cabrestante, striking 1.2 kilometers along a structure….”. During 2020 the company intends to perform infill drilling in the Glory Hole zone, an extension drill program at the Glory hole and Cabestrante zones and important exploration effort mainly in El Cobre skarn target 3 km NW form the Aranzazu mine. Highlighted TW drill intercept results comprise: 11.37 m @ 0.90 gpt Au, 0.88% Cu, 14 gpt Ag; 43.02 m @ 3.68 gpt Au, 6.46% Cu, 95 gpt Ag; 24.01 m @ 4.88 gpt Au, 8.6% Cu, 127 gpt Ag; 26.79 m @ 1.20 gpt Au, 2.09% Cu, 22 gpt Ag; 10.72 m @ 1.78 gpt Au, 1.12% Cu, 16 gpt Ag, 6.0 m @ 0.93 gpt Au, 1.70% Cu, 17 gpt Ag; 2.0 m @ 2.21 gpt Au, 2.94% Cu, 36 gpt Ag.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released assay results from six more drill holes at La Trini deposit on its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core-length intercepts comprise: 29.4 m @ 1.77 gpt Au, 122 gpt Ag (including 8.8 m @ 5.11 gpt Au, 286 gpt Ag); 28.4 m @ 1.07 gpt Au, 103 gpt Ag; 20.7 m @ 0.16 gpt Au, 58 gpt Ag; 25.2 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 94 gpt Ag; 19.0 m @ 0.1 gpt Au, 31 gpt Ag; 32.2 m @ 0.62 gpt Au, 79 gpt Ag; 15.7 m @ 0.38 gpt Au, 85 gpt Ag.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement with Electrum Global Holdings L.P. to acquire Electrum’s 60% interest in the Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango for current and future payments totaling US$15 M. On the closing of the date of the transaction the company has to pay US$5 M and issue US$2 M in shares.  
  • Evrim Resources Corp. and Renaissance Gold Inc. announced the completion of its merger, and the concurrent name change to Orogen Royalties Inc. “Underpinning Orogen’s strategic royalty focus are two organically created cornerstone assets: (i) a 2% net smelter return royalty (“NSR”) on the Ermitaño West gold-silver deposit in Sonora, Mexico, where production by First Majestic Silver Corp. is slated to begin in 2021(1); and (ii) a 1% NSR on the Silicon gold project in Nevada, U.S.A., which is being advanced by AngloGold Ashanti S.A.”.
  • Candente Gold Corp. announced that Sun River Gold has made the final payment of US$111 K to increase their ownership in an additional 5% NPI (Net Profit Interest) of the Mine Tailings at El Oro, Estado de México. “Sun River has the option to acquire 100% of the Tailings Project by making staged payments totalling US$300,000 (paid), bring the tailings into commercial production by October 31, 2021, and grant to the Company a 10% NPI, Life of Mine royalty (the “Candente Royalty”) as well as the Municipality’s 8% NPI on production from the properties. Sun River had the right to reduce the NPI payable to the Company to 5% by paying an additional US$200,000 in payments (now paid)”.
  • VanGold Mining Corp. signed an option agreement to re-purchase three underlying royalties on its El Pinguico project in Guanajuato. The company will pay C$1.68 M (C$5 K paid) and issue 3.75 M units of VanGold to Exploraciones Mineras del Bajio, S.A. de C.V.. The royalties to be scraped are: 1) a 4% NSR on all broken material, 2) a 3% NSR on all in-situ newly discovered material and 3) a 5% NPI on all in-situ newly discovered material. “Upon exercise of the Option, VanGold’s Mexican subsidiary, Obras Mineras El Pinguico, S.A de C.V., will own its undivided 100% interest in the El Pinguico silver and gold project free from royalties, save for a 15% net profits royalty in favour of EMBSA solely on the existing above ground and underground stockpiles of mineralized material. There will be no other royalties, net smelter returns or otherwise, on the El Pinguico project including the existing stockpiled material”.
  • Zanzibar Gold Inc. announced the appointment of geologist Sergio A. Trelles Monge as a special advisor to the board of the company. “Mr. Trelles was the Director General of Mining Promotion of the State of Sonora, Assistant Director of Mining Resources of Mexico’s Geological Survey. He was also President of the Association of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico, Civil Association [Asociación de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas, y Geólogos de México A.C]. and Chairman of the College of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico, Civil Association [Colegio de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México A.C].”.
  • Megastar Development Corp. has amended the option agreements to acquire 100% interest in the Rama de Oro, Magdalena and Yautepec projects in Oaxaca, by extending the due dates for the exploration expenditures on each project. “The Rama de Oro expenditure commitment of US $350,000 was extended from May 9, 2020 to May 9, 2022 and the Magdalena and Yautepec expenditure commitments, in the aggregate amount of US $310,000, were extended from June 1, 2021 to December 1, 2021. In consideration of the extension, the Company has agreed to pay an aggregate US $12,500 to the vendor, who is a director of the Company”.  

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Grupo Mexico donated eight thousand tree seedlings to the Salamanca Municipality in Guanajuato.
  • Fresnillo PLC, through Minera Penmont and Innovec, has been sponsoring online workshops for kids in 22 communities of Caborca, Sonora.
  • Minera Penmont distributed 4,000 washable face masks in 22 communities of the Caborca municipality, and expects to deliver another 6,000 before the end of the week.
  • Peñoles has more than 1,500 local service providers in the La Laguna region (Torreón-Gómez Palacio-Lerdo). The company has 3,500 workers and generates another 2,000 full time jobs. No one was fired during the pandemic emergency, while 450 vulnerable employees were been sent home with full pay and are now in the process of returning to work following government directives.
  • Minera Media Luna built an artificial swamp for treatment of residual waters in Cocula, Guerrero.
  • Minera Fresnillo and Concretos Lanzados de Los Mochis donate meals for community dinner rooms in 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 image below: Artisanal kaolin mine above a low sulfidation epithermal system in Guanajuato. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Phyllic alteration

By Miguel A Heredia

During the thirty three week of the year (August 10th to August 16th, 2020), at least 43 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with twelve disclosing deals and corporate issues, seven announcing financial rounds, six communicating production and financial results, six informing on exploration results, five reporting on resources and development of their mine operations, four discussing social issues, and three commenting on Mexican issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mining drives the economy of the municipalities of Santa Barbara and San Francisco del Oro, Chihuahua. The Undersecretary of Mining, Francisco Quiroga and the Major of Progreso, Coahuila, Federico Quintanilla started up the modern “La Esperanza” locomotive at the Santa Barbara mine, with the purpose of promoting a fair and safe reactivation of coal orders that will be transformed into jobs for this municipality. Mexican Au production will suffer declines due to COVID-19 pandemic.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Colibri Resource began a high resolution mag survey at its Evelyn project, its JV partner Silver Spruce commenced a mapping and sampling program at its El Mezquite, and Silver Tiger reported underground channel sampling results from its El Tigre project. In Chihuahua, Kootenay presented drill results from 4 holes collared at its Columba project. In Sinaloa, GR Silver released drill results from 14 holes drilled by previous companies at its Plomosas project but not previously released, and Vizsla reported a second discovery drilling at its Panuco project.  ON MINING, Argonaut, Equinox, GoGold, MAG Silver, and Santacruz Silver presented Q2, 2020 production and financial results from their Mexican mine operations; Starcore presented Q1, 2021 production and financial results from its San Martin mine in Queretaro.  ON FINANCING, Canuc closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $225K (San Javier project, Sonora). Discovery Metals closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $35M, including CAD $15M investment from Eric Sprott (Cordero project, Chihuahua).  Orex Minerals announced a non-brokered private placement offering for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $5.5M (Sandra and Coneto projects, Durango). One World Lithium closed a portion of its previously announced non-brokered private placement raising gross proceeds for CAD $336K (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California). Silver Spruce announced a private placement financing for gross proceeds of up to $1.6M (El Mezquite project, Sonora).  Sonoro Metals closed a non-brokered private placement financing for gross proceeds of $8M including the fully subscribed overallotment option (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora). Sable Resources entered    into an agreement with Sprott Capital for a private placement financing for gross proceeds of up to CAD $5M (Margarita project, Chihuahua). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, SilverCrest released drill results from its Las Chispas project. Golden Minerals announced results from 9 diamond holes of its in-fill resource definition drill program at its Rodeo project in Durango. Coeur provided mid-year 2020 exploration update on its Palmarejo project in Chihuahua. SilverCrest provided an update of the activities carried out at its Las Chispas project in Sonora during the period H1, 2020. Orla Mining received from the Mexican Federal Environmental Department (“SEMARNAT”), the environmental permit required for the development of its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Brigadier signed a definitive agreement to acquire Picachos property in Sinaloa, including the past producing San Agustin mine, and made the appointment of a new member to its board of directors.  Magna Gold entered into a definitive option agreement with a private party to acquire a 100% undivided interest in the Los Muertos property in Sonora. Silver Dollar signed a definitive agreement with First Majestic to acquire up to a 100% interest in the La Joya property in Durango. Alien appointed IBK Capital Corp to assists it with the project level funding and JV process for its Donovan 2 project in Zacatecas. Avino has granted the exclusive right to Gray Rock Resources to acquire a 100% interest in the Ana Maria and Laberinto properties in Durango. Evrim reported results from its annual general meeting of shareholders, and approved the merger with Renaissance Gold (Ermitaño project, Sonora).  Excellon announced results from its 2020 annual general meeting of shareholders (La Platosa mine, Durango). Riverside completed the spin-out of shares of Capitan Mining Inc. (Peñoles mining district, Durango). Monarca closed the sale of the El Sol project in Durango to Southern Silver and appointed a new member to its board of directors (Tejamen project, Durango). Minera Alamos granted stock options to an officer of the company (Santana project, Sonora).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Minera Media Luna (Torex Gold), inaugurated a waste water treatment system at Cocula municipality of Guerrero. Grupo Mexico Foundation donated seven assisted breathing ventilators, as well as personal protection equipment for ambulances from the Ministry of Health of Coahuila. Personnel of Fresnillo plc will carry out rapid tests of COVID-19 in the communities and neighborhoods near the area of operation of the mines in the Fresnillo district.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mining drives the economy of the municipalities of Santa Barbara and San Francisco del Oro, Chihuahua. The main source of employment in Santa Barbara and San Francisco del Oro is mining. If not, these two towns could become “ghost” cities. Currently these two areas of the south of the state have prospered thanks to the establishment of mining companies that have taken advantage of the resources from their respective foundations, which were precisely constituted by the discovery of mines at the time of the Viceroyalty and until now they continue operating.
  • The Undersecretary of Mining, Francisco Quiroga and the Major of Progreso, Coahuila, Federico Quintanilla started up the modern “La Esperanza” locomotive at the Santa Barbara mine, with the purpose of promoting a fair and safe reactivation of coal orders that will be transformed into jobs for this municipality. In meeting with the Undersecretary of Mining, the mayor explained the need to request coal orders from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to ensure investment and, above all, return employment to hundreds of families who depend on this activity in the municipality of Progress, Coahuila.
  • Mexican Au production, will suffer a decrease of more than 300K Oz in Au production this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The figure represents 9.3% of the 3.46M Oz Au of the production originally projected for 2020, according to BNamericas’ forecast and estimates for 20 companies in March, 2020. Mexico produced 126,607 Oz Au in May, 37.5% less than the same month last year, according to the national Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Colibri Resource Corporation, began a high resolution mag survey at its Evelyn project in Sonora. The planned airborne magnetic survey will consist of 150 km in 59 N-S lines at 50m line spacing and 5 E-W tie-lines at 500m separation using a DRONE equipped with a Mag magnetometer. Results from this mag survey along with surface chip and channel samples, property wide soil sampling and previous drill results will be analyzed to plan drill targets for a fall 2020 drill program.
  • Silver Spruce Resources, has mobilized a crew to its El Mezquite property in Sonora to conduct geology mapping of the entire property and collect additional rock samples for analysis as well as for an study of alteration intensity and style using a Terraspec hyperspectral tool.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., presented underground channel sampling results from its El Tigre project in Sonora. This sampling program is intended to generate drill targets. In the Fundadora Vein, highlights include 4.44 g/t Au and 3,064 g/t Ag (3,397 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 0.5m; 8.6 g/t Au and 2,500 g/t Ag (3,145 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.4m; and 22.3 g/t Au and 606 g/t Ag (2,278 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.2m. At Protectora Vein, highlights include 32.99 g/t Au and 2,283 g/t Ag (2,474 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.4m. At Caleigh Vein, highlights include 26.65 g/t Au and 1,679 g/t Ag (1,999 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.4m. At the Aquilas Norte area, sampling returned significant results such as 4.71 g/t Au and 1,709 g/t A (2,062 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.3m; and 1.37 g/t Au and 1,843 g/t Ag (1,946 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.3m.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., presented drill results from additional four holes collared at its Columba project in Chihuahua in the J and Z Veins. Highlights include hole CDH-20-060 with 132 g/t Ag over a width of 64m, including two notable intervals: 1,025 g/t Ag over 1m within 226 g/t Ag over 9m, and 361 g/t Ag over 11m, including 608 g/t Ag over 5m, and 1,160 g/t Ag over 1m, all within 229 g/t Ag over 22m; and hole CDH-19-030 with 200 g/t Ag over 25.85m, including 415 g/t Ag over 11.15m, including 982 g/t Ag over 1.9m within 721 g/t Ag over 4.07m. The Ag mineralization in the J and Z Vein system is related to silicified breccias and thin quartz vein stockworks following classic banded quartz vein structures more characteristic of the F-Vein.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., announced drill results from 14 holes drilled by previous companies but not previously released from its Plomosas project in Sinaloa, revealing the presence of wide zones of Au mineralization in addition to attractive near surface Ag-Pb-Zn mineralization. Significant drill intercepts were encountered at hole PLSS18-02 with 0.2 g/t Au, 350 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (383 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 2m, including 0.5 g/t Au, 1,559 g/t Ag, 1.4% Pb, and 1.1% Zn (1,687 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.4m; hole 219 with 1.9 g/t Au, 191 g7t Ag, 7.1% Pb, and 3.4% Zn (716 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4.4m, and hole 235 with 2.3 g/t Au, 134 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 2.4% Zn (437 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.8m; and hole 244 with 1.7 g/t Au, 17 g/t Ag and 0.7% Zn (209 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 12.6m. These drill results define a mineralized strike length of up to 700m, with field evidence and underground mapping indicating further continuity along strike and down dip.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp., reported a second discovery drilling at the San Carlos mine on the Animas Vein corridor within its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlights include hole AM-20-15 with 0.61 g/t Au and 93 g/t Ag (144.9 g/t AgEq) over 0.35m; and hole AM-20-16 with 1.14 g/t Au and 130 g/t Ag (229 g/t AgEq) over 16.25m, including 2.19 g/t Au and 231 g/t Ag (421 g/t AgEq) over 6.75m, including 5.08 g/t Au and 821 g/t Ag (1,245 g/t AgEq) over 1.50m. The San Carlos Mine is over 6 km east of the recent discovery at the Napoleon vein corridor.

ON MINING

  • Argonaut Gold Inc., announced Q2, 2020 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. At El Castillo mine in Durango, Argonaut processed 902K tonnes of 0.43 g/t Au to produce 9,151 Oz Au and 19,547 Oz Ag or 9,394 GEOs (Oz AuEq), at a cash cost of $862 per Oz Au sold. At San Agustin mine in Durango, the company processed 1.18M tonnes of 0.33 g/t Au to produce 13,403 Oz Au and 69,242 Oz Ag (14,288 GEOs) at a cash cost of $76 per Oz Au sold. The El Castillo complex (Castillo + San Agustin mines) produced 23,662 GEOs at a cash cost of $802 per Oz Au sold during Q2, 2020. At La Colorada mine in Sonora, Argonaut processed 506K tonnes of 0.42 g/t Au to produce 7,537 Oz Au and 26,554 Oz Ag (7,869 GEOs) at a cash cost of $1,169 per Oz Au sold.
  • Equinox Gold Corp., did not report production results by single operation but presented a consolidated production of 127K Oz Au from their mine operations and sold 125.8K Oz, having earnings of USD $85.1M, a net loss of USD $58.7M, and an adjusted net income of USD $26.6M. For Los Filos mine in Guerrero, most of the period Q2, 2020, the mine was on suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic but the company provided a H2, 2020 guidance and expects to produce 90K-100K Oz Au at an AISC of USD $850-950 per Oz Au.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua for the period Q2, 2020. GoGold stacked 282.7K tonnes at a cash and AISC cost of USD $12.13 and USD $14.93 per Oz AgEq respectively. The company sold 469.5K Oz AgEq with revenue of USD $7.9M and a free cash of flow of USD $2.2M.
  • MAG Silver Corp., announced that underground production at its Juanicipio project in a JV with Fresnillo plc in Zacatecas is expected to commence soon. An anticipated processing of 16K tonnes per month from which 8,850 tonnes were successfully at the Fresnillo pant on a test basis while the Juanicipio plant is commissioned. The capex expended from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020 is approximately USD $172,695 leaving an estimated USD $267,305 of remaining initial capital (MAG’s 44% estimated remaining share is USD $117,614 as at June 30, 2020). This funding requirement would be reduced by both: existing cash held in Minera Juanicipio as at June 30, 2020 (USD$35,337); and, expected cash flows generated from mineralized rock sold and processed through the Fresnillo processing plant referenced above.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining ltd., reported Q2, 2020 production and financial results from its Mexican mine operations. Consolidated production results of Santacruz for the period Q2, 2020 resulted in 116,799 tonnes processed to produce 216K Oz Ag, 57 Oz Au, 679K Lb Cu, 1.68M Lb Pb, and 4.85M Lb Zn. At Zimapan mine in Hidalgo, the company processed 106,725 tonnes of 75 g/t Ag, 0.42% Cu, 0.7% Pb, and 2.5% Zn to produce 181.8K Oz Ag, 679K Lb Cu, 1.5M Lb Pb, and 4.45M Lb Zn. At Rosario mine in San Luis Potosi, Santacruz processed 10,074 tonnes of 0.25 g/t Au, 113 g/t Ag, 0.8% Pb, and 2% Zn to produce 57 Oz Au, 34.2K Oz Ag, 154K Lb Pb, and 392.4K Lb Zn.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., presented production results from its San Martin mine in Queretaro for the period Q1, 2021. Starcore processed 59.1K tonnes of 1.7 g/t Au and 29 g/t Ag at metallurgical recoveries of 88.77% and 56.53% respectively to produce 3,250 Oz AuEq.

ON FINANCING

  • Canuc Resources Corporation, closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $275K. Net proceeds will be used for exploration at its San Javier project in Sonora.
  • Discovery Metals Corp., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $35M, including CAD $15M investment from Eric Sprott. After this investment. Mr. Sprott will own approximately 26.4% interest in Discovery Metals on a non-diluted basis or 29.9% on a partially diluted basis assuming the exercise of warrants held by Mr. Sprott. Net proceeds will be used to fund Discovery´s continuing exploration programs at its Cordero project in Chihuahua and its other projects in Coahuila.
  • Orex Minerals Inc., announced a non-brokered private placement offering for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $5.5M (Sandra project. Durango). Mr. Eric Sprott intends to subscribe for the entirety of the offering. Net proceeds will be used for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes (Sandra and Coneto properties in Durango).
  • One World Lithium Inc., closed a portion of its previously announced non-brokered private placement raising gross proceeds for CAD $336K. Net proceeds will be used primarily for funding part of its Salar del Diablo drilling program in Baja California and for working capital.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., announced a private placement financing for gross proceeds of $1.6M. The proceeds will be used for exploration of the El Mezquite and Pino de Plata projects in Sonora and Chihuahua states respectively.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., closed a non-brokered private placement financing for gross proceeds of $8M including the fully subscribed overallotment option. The Company plans to use the proceeds from the offering to launch Phase One of the 2020-21 Core Drilling Program to test its Cerro Caliche epithermal system’s potential to host high-grade gold mineralization at depth as discussed previously.
  • Sable Resources Ltd., entered into an agreement with Sprott Capital Partners LP as lead agent for a private placement financing for gross proceeds of up to CAD $5M. The offering is expected to close on or about September 10, 2020. Gross proceeds will be used for exploration and general corporate and working capital purposes (Margarita project, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., released drill results from the Babi Vista Vein within its Las Chispas project in Sonora. This program is designed to expand and in-fill high grade mineralization to be included in the updated resource for the ongoing FS. The expanded high-grade footprint for Babi Vista is estimated at 800m along strike by an average 150m in height. The most significant results were encountered at hole BV20-60 with 635 g/t Au and 26,004 g/t Ag (73,595 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 1.3m; hole BV20-53 with 19.87 g/t Au and 2,996 g/t Ag (4,486 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4.4m; and hole BV20-94 with 85.4 g/t Au and 4,716 g/t Ag (11,121 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.7m.
  • Golden Minerals Company, announced results from nine diamond holes of its in-fill resource definition drill program at its Rodeo project in Durango. Each of the first nine diamond drill holes intersected wide zones of near-surface gold mineralization, with significant drill intercepts encountered at hole RDO-20-001-M with 1.85 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over 45m, including 2.59 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag over 29.44m, including 4.04 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag over 13.23m; hole RDO-20-002 with 2.18 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag over 35m, including 4.21 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag over 9.9m, including 2.44 g/t Au and 2.44 g/t Au and 17 g/t Ag over 10.39m; hole RDO-20-003-M with 3.23 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over 40m, including 6.86 g/t Au and 16 g/t Ag over 12.95m, including 2.62 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag over 10.85m; hole RD-20-004 with 1.27 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag over 50m, including 3.33 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag over 9.18m; hole RDO-20-005-M with 3.78 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag over 40m, including 5.96 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag over 23.4m; hole RDO-20-006 with 3.06 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag over 30m, including 5.21 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag over 15.5m, including 7.55 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over 8.11m; hole RDO-20-007 with 0.76 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag over 50m, including 3.36 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag over 7.2m; hole RDO-20-008 with 2.95 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag over 40m, including 5.13 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag over 20.5m, including 7.23 g/t Au and 24 g/t Ag over 9.6m; and hole RDO-20-009 with 1.51 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag over 45m, including 2.67 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag over 20.25m, including 3.32 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag over 13.25m. Drill holes 001M, 003M and 005M were drilled with PQ drill-core to collect samples for metallurgical test work. Remaining drill holes were drilled with HQ drill-core.
  • Coeur Mining Inc., provided H1, 2020 exploration update on its Palmarejo project in Chihuahua. Exploration has been focused primarily on resource conversion and expansion drilling around the Guadalupe mine complex, and secondly on the Independencia mine complex. The company has drilled 29, 496m at a total investment of approximately $4.1M. At North Independencia, key drill results were encountered at hole VIDH-140 with 5.4 g/t Au and 236 g/t Ag over 5.3m and 21.4 g/t Au and 36 g/t Ag over 1.6m; at Northwest Independencia, hole VIDH-136 cut multiple intercepts: 4 g/t Au and 439 g/t Ag over 5.3m; 2.1 g/t Au and 293 g/t Ag over 6.6m; 1.8 g/t Au and 100 g/t Ag over 6.3m; 0.7 g/t Au and 282 g/t Ag over 3.6m; 2.9 g/t Au and 207 g/t Ag over 2.4m; and 4.8 g/t Au and 638 g/t Ag over 0.6m. At East Independencia, hole BVDH-047 intersected 1.4 g/t Au and 248 g/t Ag over 7.6m. Coeur has expanded the overall footprint in the district by mapping and sampling exposures of new veins SW and NE of the two underground mining complexes as well as new veins W and E of legacy open pit mine. It plans to continue aggressively drilling resource expansion targets in several areas during the remainder of 2020 and into 2021.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., provided an update on the activities developed at its Las Chispas project in Sonora in H1, 2020. The company completed 97,700m of in-fill and expansion drilling and completed approximately 2.1km of underground decline and lateral development, and stockpiled an additional 12K tonnes of mineralized material for a total stockpile of an estimated 41K tonnes at estimated diluted grade of 1Kg AgEq. SilverCrest expects to release a FS by the end of 2020.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., received from the Mexican Federal Environmental Department (“SEMARNAT”) the environmental permit required for the development of its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas. Orla now has the two principal permits necessary for commencement of construction activities at Camino Rojo.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Brigadier Gold Ltd., signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the 3,954 ha Picachos property in Sinaloa, including the past producing San Agustin high grade Au mine. Picachos is along a large trend that host several precious metals epithermal vein systems and recently, a large porphyry copper target has been identified. To acquire 100% interest in the property, Brigadier has to make staged payments to the vendors totalling USD $275K over a 5-year period, issuance of 4M common shares of Brigadier, and cumulative exploration expenditures of USD $3,850,000. Brigadier will also make payments to the vendor for Picachos development milestones as to 1M common shares upon delineating a mineral resource estimate containing a minimum of 350K Oz Au in the inferred category, USD $725K and 1M common shares upon completion of a FS recommending the construction of a mine on the property, and USD $2M upon commencement of commercial production. In addition, Brigadier may, at its option, issue common shares, at the then current market price, subject to a minimum of $0.30 per share, in lieu of one half of the cash payments to be made pursuant to each of, and a 2% NSR will be retained by the vendor who is arm´s length to Brigadier. The company also announced the appointment of a new member to its board of directors.
  • Magna Gold Corp., entered into a definitive option agreement with a private party to acquire a 100% undivided interest in the Los Muertos property in Sonora. Los Muertos is characterized by extreme silicification, hematization, and argillic alteration, suggesting the potential for both extensive Ag-Au vein systems, and coincident, pervasive disseminated   Magna can earn a 100% undivided interest by paying an aggregate amount of USD $425K plus VAT in five annual installments commencing on the effective date of the agreement, August 3rd, 2020.
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., signed a definitive agreement with First Majestic to acquire up to a 100% interest in the La Joya property in Durango. The company may acquire an initial 80% interest by making staged payment totalling $1.3M over a 5-year period plus annual holding costs for the property, incurring exploration expenditures on the property of not less than $1M within 3 years, and issuing such number of common shares of the company as is equal to 19.9% of the then-issued and outstanding shares of Silver Dollar. . If Silver Dollar incurs at least $1,000,000 of exploration expenditures on the Property within three years of the date of the Definitive Agreement, First Majestic will waive the third- and fourth-anniversary cash option payments described above totalling $600,000. First Majestic will reserve a 2% NSR in all minerals produced from the property. Within 30 days after exercising its first option, Silver Dollar may exercise its second option and acquire the remaining 20% interest in the subsidiary that owns the La Joya Silver Project by delivering notice and issuing to First Majestic the number of shares as is equal to 5% of the then-issued and outstanding shares of Silver Dollar.
  • Alien Metals ltd., appointed IBK Capital Corp to assists it with the project level funding and JV process for its Donovan 2 project in Zacatecas. Its services include private placements of equity and debt instruments, with significant experience in the mining sector.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., has granted the exclusive right to Gray Rock Resources Ltd., to acquire a 100% interest in the Ana Maria and Laberinto properties in Durango. In order to exercise the option, Gray Rock has to issue to Avino a total of $600k in cash or common shares: $50K in cash or shares within 30 days of the approval date; $50K in cash or common shares on or before the first anniversary of the approval date; $100K in cash or common shares on or before the second anniversary of the approval date; $200K in cash or common shares on or before the third anniversary of the approval date; $200K in cash or common shares on or before the fourth anniversary of the approval date; incur a total of $750K in exploration expenditures ($50K on or before the first anniversary of the approval date; 100K on or before the second anniversary of the approval date; and 600K on or before the fourth anniversary of the approval date). Gray Rock also granted Avino a right of first refusal on 60 days’ notice to Avino to purchase and process any ore or concentrate extracted from the properties under a custom milling contract at Avino’s mine facilities.
  • Evrim Resources Inc., reported results from its annual general meeting of shareholders, and approved the previously announced merger transaction with Renaissance Gold Inc Under the terms of the arrangement, each outstanding RenGold common share will be exchanged for 1.2448 Evrim common shares, which will result in RenGold shareholders immediately prior to the arrangement holding 50% of the issued and outstanding shares Evrim shares immediately following the arrangement.. Once the arrangement is completed, the company will change its name to Orogen Royalties Inc. (Ermitaño project, Sonora).
  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced results of its 2020 annual general meeting of shareholders, as well as the election of directors (La Platosa mine, Durango).
  • Riverside Resources Inc., completed the spin-out of shares of Capitan Mining Inc. Capitan and its shareholders will now hold 100% interest of the Au-Ag resource at the Peñoles project. Pursuant to the arrangement, holders of common shares of Riverside on August 13, 2020 will receive one new common share of Riverside and 0.2594 of a Capitan share for each common share held. The existing common shares of Riverside were delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) on August 13, 2020. Riverside shares commenced trading on the TSXV at the market opening on August 14, 2020.
  • Monarca Minerals Inc., closed the sale of the El Sol project in Durango to Southern Silver and appointed a new member to its board of directors. El Sol is a small mining concession of 63 ha adjacent to Southern Silver´s Cerro Minas project. The agreement is for USD $300K payable in three equal instalments on execution of a definitive agreement, twelve months and eighteen months together with retention by the Company of 2% NSR on production from the claim with a right in Southern Silver to purchase the royalty at any time for USD $1M. El Sol is a non-core asset for Monarca and net proceeds from the sell will be used to advance the company’s San Jose project in Chihuahua, Mexico and for general working capital.
  • Minera Alamos Inc., granted 600K options exercisable at a price of $0.67 to an officer of the company (Santana project, Sonora). The options will expire in five years.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Media Luna (Torex Gold), inaugurated a waste water treatment system at Cocula municipality of Guerrero. This system had an investment of MXP $6.3M and is part of the infrastructure endowment that the subsidiary mine of Torex Gold Resource planned for the relocation of said town in which 360 inhabitants live in 103 homes.
  • Grupo Mexico Foundation, donated seven assisted breathing ventilators, as well as personal protection equipment for ambulances from the Ministry of Health of Coahuila. In this way, the Ministry of Health of the Government of Coahuila guarantees high-quality advanced care, which can be offered from the place of the incident or report, to the transfer to the hospital for more personalized attention for COVID-19.
  • Personnel of Fresnillo plc, will carried out rapid tests of COVID-19 in the communities and neighborhoods near the area of operation of the mines in the Fresnillo district.

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, phyllic alteration in a porphyry Cu system in a prospect in Puebla, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of July, 2020

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 28th week of the year (July 6th to July 12th, 2020), at least 31 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. Notably, six of those were exploration updates and six more related to financing. ON MEXICO ISSUES, a 12,000 years old ochre mining operation (now submerged) was discovered in the Yucatan peninsula. Avino Silver is the new victim of an illegal blockade. Mining in Mexico has extensive benefits to isolated communities, workers and the government. The Mining Fund rules have been changed, granting more political freedom on its assignment. Mines in the country prepare for production recovery in the second half of 2020.  ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tarachi Gold is mapping and sampling on its Tarachi concessions, announced the finding of a porphyry copper system. In Sinaloa, Brigadier Gold is now exploring the Picachos property; Vizsla Resources released high-grade results on its Panuco property. In Durango, Canasil is now drilling the Nora project.  ON MINING, Argonaut Gold, Endeavour Silver, Great Panther, and Hecla released production results for the Q2, 2020. The figures presented reveal the extent of the Coronavirus emergency lockdown effects.  ON FINANCING, Aura Resources is aiming to raise up to $1 M. Prospero Silver consolidated its shares on a 10 to 1 basis. Mithril Resources intends to raise A$3.5 M. Solaris Resources is to trade in the TSX Venture Exchange. Advance Gold raised $301 K. Vizsla Resources announced a private placement for C$25 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexican Gold commenced a 10,000 m drill program at its Las Minas project in Veracruz. GR Silver released more historic drilling results from Plomosas, Sinaloa. GoGold Resources released drilling results from eight more holes at Los Ricos Sur, Jalisco. Golden Minerals is drilling the Rodeo project in Durango. Magna Gold is producing gold from leaching heaps as it prepares to restart mining at the San Francisco mine in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Aura Resources is to change its name to Gold79 Mines. Brigadier Gold entered into a LOI with Minera Camargo to option 100% of the Picachos property in Sinaloa. First Mexican Gold changed its name to QcX Gold. Candente Gold informed the due diligence work on Magellan Acquisition assets in Nayarit has been conducted, results pending. Silver Tiger Metals is sampling historic workings on veins north of the El Tigre mine in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Gold Resources, Torex Gold, Fortuna Silver, Fresnillo PLC and Peñoles informed on support activities and investments related to the Coronavirus emergency, community work supplies and/or about the “Day of the Tree”.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Researchers discovered 12,000 years old submerged ochre mines in the Yucatan peninsula. Multiple artifacts and evidences of mining were found in this cave system that was above sea level up to 8,000 years ago.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines reports that members from the Mexican mining union have blocked the entrance to the Avino Mine in Durango. The group (that illegally blockades) includes the company’s unionized workers. As a result of the strike at the site, mining and mill processing operations have been halted.
  • Mining in Mexico supports 696 communities in 21 States, and often is the only option to take basic services and jobs to regions far away. The mining sector provides 2.6 percent of the GDP and accounts for 8.2 percent of the industrial output. Salaries at US$779/month (17,521 pesos/month) are 39 percent higher than the national average of $513/month (11,549 pesos/month). There are 379 thousand direct jobs and 2.3 M indirect jobs generated by the industry. Mining paid US$1.91 billion ($43,095 million pesos) in mining concession fees in 2019, and US$7,755 billion ($174,500 million pesos) in taxes in the 2016-2019 period.
  • The Mining Fund rules have been changed. The changes in the rules were published in the Diario Oficial de La Federación (Official Gazette), with the aim of speeding the process to deliver benefits to the communities, according to the document. The changes (which were opposed by the mining community because of the increased political control of the funds) include the elimination of necessary cost-benefit assessment of the projects deemed for social infrastructure, discarding also the obligation to establish coordination agreements in the request and delivery of said funds. The Mining Fund distributes part of the 7.0% of royalties and the 0.5% special tax on precious metal exploitation.
  • Mines in all the country prepare for a production recovery in the second half of 2020, as all companies have scrambled to operate under health safeguards brought by the Coronavirus pandemic.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Advance Gold Corp. provided an update on exploration of its Tabasqueña property in Zacatecas. The exploration that started trying to define epithermal vein mineralization has modified its target to a volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS). A large chargeability anomaly more than 3 km long was defined in a geophysical survey, and subsequent drilling has intersected disseminated sulfides. Drilling of the disseminated sulfides has returned up to 39 ppb Au, 7 ppm Ag, 351 ppm Cu, 54 ppm Pb, 295 ppm Zn.
  • Brigadier Gold Ltd. entered into a binding letter of intent with Minera Camargo S.A. de C.V. for an option to acquire 100% interest in the Picachos property in Sinaloa. The area has more than 160 known historic underground workings, a recently identified porphyry copper prospect and drill permits in place. “The largest vein system trends northeasterly for seven kilometers along a major fault zone, and host the past-producing San Agustin underground mine”. Regional stream sediment results from a government survey shows several highly anomalous basins with up to 2.6 ppm Au, 299 ppm Cu, 13.9 ppm Mo, 639 ppm Pb and 1,716 ppm Zn.
  • Vizsla Resources Inc. released additional drilling results from the Napoleon vein corridor at the Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted core length drill intercepts comprise 6.0 m @ 66.8 gpt Au, 1,808 gpt Ag (including 3.7 m @ 107.8 gpt Au, 2,889 gpt Ag); 1.78 m @ 2.49 gpt Au, 59 gpt Ag; 3.5 m @ 1.11 gpt Au, 57 gpt Ag; 10.65 m @ 1.34 gpt Au, 134 gpt Ag. The corridor “ hosts two main quartz veins that are separated by some 10 to 20 metres and appears to dip very steeply to sub-vertical. So far it has been mapped along strike for over 2,000 m. Between the two main veins are a series of smaller splay veins with variable orientations, that are related to dilation along the structure under strike slip movement …. Vizsla has an option to acquire 100% of the newly-consolidated 9,386.5 Ha Panuco district in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlán. The option allows for the acquisition of over 75 km of total vein extent, a 500 tpd mill, 35 km of underground mines, tailings facilities, roads, power and permits”.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp. updated on field work activities on the concessions known as the Tarachi project, in Sonora. Detailed mapping and sampling on the La Dura and Virginia areas of the southern Jabali concession is near completion. Preliminary field work on the northern concessions of San Javier, Pretoria and Chivitas was also conducted, finding porphyry copper mineralization that is currently being defined. Environmental applications for drilling are ready for submission.
  • Canasil Resources Inc. started the drill program to test the Candy vein at its Nora project in Durango. Mineralization at Nora is hosted within structurally-controlled epithermal veins, of which the Candy vein is to be tested in a 500 m stretch.

ON MINING

  • Argonaut Gold Inc. announced second quarter production of 31,531 Oz AuEq from its Mexican operations. For the full-year 2020 the company expects to produce 45 K – 50 K Oz AuEq at El Castillo, 62 K – 68 K Oz AuEq at San Agustín (both in Durango) and 53 K – 55 K Oz AuEq at La Colorada (Sonora), for a total production of 160 K – 173 K Oz AuEq in Mexico.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. presented Q2 2010 production figures, which were down 42% because of the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown. On the bright side, significant true width high-grade intercepts were made near current mine workings, like 1.5 m @ 24.3 gpt Au, 3,217 gpt Ag in Bolañitos, Guanajuato, and 10.0 m @3.25 gpt Au, 1,410 gpt Ag at Guanaceví, Durango.Endeavour Q2 2020 Production1
  • Great Panther Mining Ltd. released second quarter 2020 production results, with figures from its Mexican operations. At Topia, Durango, 7,781 tonnes were processed @ 352 gpt Ag, 0.87 gpt Au, recovering 92.5% Ag, 54.0% Au to produce 81.4 K Oz Ag, 118 Oz Au, 163 tonnes Pb, 223 tonnes Zn. At the Guanajuato mine complex, Guanajuato, 16,755 tonnes were processed @ 133 gpt Ag, 1.80 gpt Au, recovering 85.4% Ag, 84.7% Au, to produce 61 K Oz Ag, 819 Oz Au.
  • Hecla Mining Co. released preliminary production results for the second quarter 2020. At San Sebastian, in Durango, 2 M Oz Ag, 1,331 Oz Au were produced. Mining of oxide material is expected to be completed in the third quarter and milling in the fourth quarter of 2020. The viability of mining the sulfide Hugh Zone continues to be assessed. The mill operated at an average of 528 tpd.

ON FINANCING

  • Aura Resources Inc. initiated a non-brokered private placement aiming to raise between $500 K and $1 M (Taviche, Oaxaca).
  • Prospero Silver Corp. announced that the previously disclosed proposed consolidation of its shares, on a 10 to 1 basis, should have taken effect on July 7, 2020 (Pachuca East, Hidalgo).
  • Mithril Resources Ltd. received firm commitments to raise A$3.5 M through a share placement. Funds are to be used for the maiden drill program at its Coplaquin property in Durango.
  • Solaris Resources Inc. announced its common shares have been approved to list on the TSX Venture Exchange, and expects the trading is to be effective on July 13, 2020 (La Verde, Michoacan).
  • Advance Gold Corp. closed the previously announced private placement, for gross proceeds of $301 K (Tabasqueña, Zacatecas).
  • Vizsla Resources Corp. announced a bought deal private placement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. on behalf of an underwriting syndicate to raise C$25 M (Panuco, Sinaloa).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp. announced the commencement of a 10,000 m drill program to test all targets at Las Minas, Veracruz. A focus of the drilling is to expand and upgrade the current resource at El Dorado, follow up a previous 5.2 m pyrite rich quartz vein intersection @ 8.94 gpt Au at Cinco Señores, two high-grade vein trends at the Changarro zone, and the Las Minillas skarn occurrence. Other activities in preparation of the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) include the environmental baseline study, an enhanced metallurgy study and a Lidar digital terrain model.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. released historic drilling results from the San Juan area at its Plomosas property in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width (tw) intervals comprise 1.5 m @ 2.1 Gpt Au, 8 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 4.1% Zn; 21.8 m @ 1.0 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag, 1.5% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 2.4 m @ 15.1 gpt Au, 45 gpt Ag, 3.1% Pb, 0.9% Zn; 10.4 m @ 0.7 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag, 1.6% Pb, 2.3% Zn; 25 m @ 0.3 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.8% Zn. These results extend mineralization 600 m on the San Juan system, to a total of 1 km in longitude.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released the assay results from eight diamond drill holes at the Los Ricos South project in Jalisco. The San Juan, Rascadero, and East vein zones were tested, with highlighted results comprising 8.8 m @ 0.23 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag at San Juan; 41.0 m @ 1.36 gpt Au, 168 gpt Ag (including 4.0 m @ 11.85 gpt Au, 1,295 gpt Ag); 18.4 m @ 5.18 gpt Au, 500 gpt Ag (including 3.2 m @ 26.2 gpt Au, 2,372 gpt Ag); 12.6 m @ 0.70 gpt Au, 111 gpt Ag at Rascadero; 3.0 m @ 0.33 gpt Au, 40 gpt Ag; 6.1 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 36 gpt Ag at the East vein.
  • Golden Minerals Co. has commenced drilling at its Rodeo property in Durango. “The upcoming drill program will expand on the historic drilling campaigns that successfully tested multiple gold-quartz veins and breccias of the Rodeo low sulfidation vein system with encouraging results”. Highlighted historic drills results include 28.44 m @ 3.04 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 25.4 m @ 3.79 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag; 22.35 m @ 3.28 gpt Au, 17 gpt Ag; 28.45 m @ 4.87 m @ 10 gpt Ag31.2 m @ 5.99 gpt Au, 12 gpt Ag; 19.15 m @ 2.58 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 19.2 m @ 1.93 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag.
  • Magna Gold Corp. provided an operational update on its San Francisco mine in Sonora. “During the first two months of operations, the San Francisco Mine reported sales of US$8.53 million and operating costs of US$3.77 million with an operating margin of US$4.76 million. The Company produced 5,087 ounces of gold and sold 4,977 ounces of gold at an average cost of US$741 per ounce of gold produced and an average cost of $758 per ounce of gold sold. Gold production in May was 2,349 ounces and in June reached 2,738 ounces”. The company intends to complete the pre-feasibility study (PFS) by the end of July, when the processing of new fresh mineralized material is to start. Cash at the end of June at the San Francisco mine was US$8.4 M.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Aura Resources Inc. expects to change its name to Gold79 Mines Ltd. following the closing of the Territory Metals acquisition (Taviche, Oaxaca).
  • Brigadier Gold Ltd. entered into a binding letter of intent with Minera Camargo S.A. de C.V. for an option to acquire 100% interest in the Picachos property in Sinaloa. To acquire the 3,954 ha property Brigadier has to pay Minera Camargo US$275 K over five years and issue a total of 4 M shares over the same period, and 1 M shares when defining a 350 K Oz Au resource and US$725 K and 1 M shares when a feasibility report is completed, US$2 M upon commercial production commencement and a 2% NSR.
  • First Mexican Gold Corp. announced the change name to QcX Gold Corp. has been made effective on July 6, 2020 (Hilda, Sonora).
  • Candente Gold Corp. informed its due diligence team conducted the visits to the San Dieguito de Arriba processing plant and the historic El Dorado mine in Nayarit. The due diligence visit is part of the Memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Candente and Magellan Acquisition Corp. “The results of these tests along with recommendations for rehabilitation work and projections of ongoing operating expenses will provide the basis for a cost estimate to return the plant to operational status with feed material from the El Dorado Property.” (El Oro, Estado de México).
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc. commenced underground channel sampling on the high-grade silver veins north of the historic El Tigre mine, in Sonora. “The areas of focus includes the Caleigh vein, the Canon Combination vein (unmined portion of the El Tigre vein), the Protectora vein and the Fundadora vein, all of which are located in the three kilometers of exposed veins at surface north of the historic El Tigre Mine”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Don David Gold Mines (Gold Resources) informed on the actions taken to work under the Coronavirus pandemic emergency at its operations in Oaxaca. The company supports the Mining Fund with US$8.34 M ($187.7 M pesos) and US$533 K ($12 M pesos) for community deals and infrastructure.
  • Minera Media Luna (Torex Gold) in coordination with local and State authorities released 300 K tilapia alevins (juvenile fish), with a shared company-authorities investment of $44.4 K ($1 M pesos). Also, $39.2 K ($881,764 pesos) were delivered to help the fishermen to modernize their engines and boats.
  • Minera Cuzcatan (Fortuna Silver) announced its plan to plant 13,500 seedlings of native species of the central valleys of Oaxaca in 15 ha of ground. The company has planted already 25,000 seedlings over the last three years on 25 ha.
  • Fresnillo PLC made a recount of the activities that the company has done regarding reforestation as years go by. The Bosque Sustentable Porvenir in Durango was established in 977 ha in association with the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias. In Juanicipio, Zacatecas, 21,596 plants were relocated, and 14.3 ha were re-forested with 6,787 greenhouse seedlings. At La Herradura, in Sonora, 4,975 plants have been relocated in eight ha, and reforested 2 hectares more. Overall, 1.4 M seedlings have been produced since 2003 by the company.
  • Industrias Peñoles created in Torreon, Coahuila, the 18 ha Bosque del Centenario in 2001, which is now a green space in the city. The company’s greenhouse produces and donates to the community and its members 80,000 seedlings per year.

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:   Vapor whiffs on a cool morning in a hot spring field in Queretaro. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of June, 2020

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 24th week of the year (June 8th to June 14th, 2020), at least 35 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. Notably, 8 of those were exploration updates and 9 related to financing. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Senator Miguel Lucero and a coalition of mining unions proposed the creation of the Mining Secretariat, against the presidential bid to close the Sub-Secretariat of Mining. The Mexican president asked publicly the Canadian ambassador for help to get Canadian mining companies to pay due taxes. First Majestic asked the Canadian ambassador to intervene on the tax dispute. Copper prices have reached $2.60 per pound. Two rival unions were involved in a brawl in Fresnillo, Zacatecas. Francisco Quiroga Sub-Secretary of Mining informed that mines in Mexico are free of confirmed Coronavirus cases. All mines have procedures in place to detect and control outbreaks on transport and work sites. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Silver Viper resumes drilling at La Virginia; Aztec Minerals updated on exploration at its Cervantes project; Colibri presented assay results from grab samples at the Evelyn project. In Chihuahua, Kootenay Silver recommenced drilling at Columba. In Sinaloa, Kootenay Silver restarted drilling at the Copalito property. In Durango, Mithril Resources prepares to drill the Copalquin project. In Jalisco, GoGold Resources began drilling Los Ricos North project. ON MINING, Mexus Gold continues mining at its Santa Elena property. Peñoles is to invest one billion dollars in 2020 in its mining operations. Fresnillo PLC reported on payments to governments of Mexico and Peru. ON FINANCING, Minaurum closed a private placement netting $4.21 M. Discovery closed the second and final tranche of its private placement, accruing C$25 M. Silver Viper commenced trading on the OTCQB in USA. Sonoro Metals realized a third MOU on its Cerro Caliche project, Sonora. Starcore paid its debts and is now debt free. Consolidated Zinc is to raise $0.57 M to purchase equipment. Vangold accelerated the warrant program relating to its 2019 placement. Prime Mining completed the offering for C$10 M. Mag Silver now holds 19.9% of Reyna Silver.   ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexican Gold started the fieldwork needed to complete the environmental baseline report at its Las Minas property in Veracruz. Minera Alamos reported more drill results from its Santana project in Sonora. Capstone updated on the mineral resources of its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas, showing a nice increase. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Magellan Gold is leaving Mexico. Mithril Resources appointed new CEO and Chief Geologist. Sonoro Metals postponed its general meeting. Evrim Resources and Renaissance Gold are merging into a new entity named Orogen Royalties. Silver Spruce optioned the El Mezquite property in Sonora. GR Silver Mining filed on SEDAR the amended technical report on its San Marcial project. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Grupo Mexico, Fresnillo PLC, Argonaut Gold, Bylsa Drilling, Asociación de Real de Minas de San Javier, SilverCrest, Alamos Gold, Agnico Eagle, EMS, Molymex, Metallorum-Autlán, FLSmidth, First Majestic, Gruminex, Peñoles, Barimont, MAC Distribuciones, Dynapro Pumps, Cobre del Mayo, Minera Capela, Peña Colorada and Newmont Corp. informed on a large  array of investments and measures that benefit the mining communities.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Senator Miguel A. Lucero (president of the mining and regional development commission in the senate) proposed the creation of the Mining Secretariat. This was his viewpoint in the rumors that the president Lopez Obrador is about to disappear several sub secretariats on grounds of saving resources. He stressed that the mining industry operates in over 200 municipalities that deserves close attention.
  • The Union Nacional de Sindicatos Minero–Metalurgicos de Mexico asked the president Lopez Obrador to evaluate the creation of a Mining Secretariat, to foster national and foreign investment and generate jobs.
  • The President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) asked publicly the Canadian ambassador for help to get Canadian mining companies to pay due taxes. He stated that the debts are clear and that there is no point on the mining companies to seek legal complaints.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. has asked Canada’s ambassador to Mexico to intervene in an escalating tax dispute with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s government. “We’ve been trying to get somebody to the table to finally put this behind us,” First Majestic CEO Keith Neumeyer told Reuters. Neumeyer said the company had proposed three settlement offers since 2018 before launching the trade challenge last month. “Each of the offers has been rebuffed”.
  • Copper prices grew 25% from its March minimums, reaching US$2.60 per Lb thanks to the Chinese recovery.
  • Rival Unions in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, participated in a brawl that resulted in several persons conducted to a nearby hospital for medical care. This arises for a rivalry between the Sindicato Nacional Minero Metalúrgico (FRENTE) and the Sindicato Independiente for representation of workers at the Fresnillo mine.
  • Francisco Quiroga, Sub-Secretary of Mining informed that mines in Mexico are free of confirmed Coronavirus cases. All mines have procedures in place to detect and control outbreaks on transport and work sites.

ON EXPLORATION

  • VanGold Mining Corp. completed a bulk sample and metallurgical test at its Pinguico project in Guanajuato. The 1,039 tonne bulk sample was processed at Endeavour Silver Corp’s Bolañitos mill in Guanajuato, with an average grade of 1.23 gpt AuEq, and a recovery rate of 75.2% Au, 60.4% Ag.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp. resumes exploration at its La Virginia project in Sonora. “The recently renewed work program continues Phase II drilling at the El Rubi discovery area, where systematic testing of the structure is being conducted on 50m sectional step outs. A second drill will test exploration targets in and around the El Rubi location”.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. recommenced drilling at its Columba project in Chihuahua. The initial holes of the remaining 5,200 meters of the phase II 7,000 m program “will focus on expanding the F-vein by following-up on positive results from the first 10 holes of the Program…… Beyond augmenting previously drilled areas the Program will investigate untouched veins mapped out by Kootenay’s geological team”.
  • Aztec Minerals Corp. updated on the exploration of the Cervantes project in Sonora, in advance of the signing of the 65/35 joint venture agreement with Kootenay Silver Inc. Highlights from the 2017 drilling program at the California target include the following intercepts: 160 m @ 0.77 gpt Au (including 80 m @ 1.04 gpt Au, 0.11% Cu); 139 m @ 0.71 gpt Au (including 20 m @ 2.10 gpt Au, 0.16% Cu); 118 m @ 0.63 gpt Au (including 43 m @ 1.18 gpt Au, 0.16% Cu); 122 m @ 0.60 gpt Au (including 62 m @ 0.88 gpt Au, 0.06% Cu); 170 m @ 0.42 gpt Au (including 32 m @ 0.87 gpt Au, 0.06% Cu). Other targets include Purisima East, Estrella, Purisima West and Jasper. Preliminary metallurgical tests have shown 85.1% to 87.7% Au recovery in oxide, 77.9% Au recovery in mixed oxide/sulfide and 51.2% in sulfide.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. recommenced drilling at its Copalito property in Sinaloa. The 3,000 m drill program was halted due to the Coronavirus lockdown when only one 105.2 m hole had been completed. Over 10 kilometres of untested vein strike has been mapped, with strike lengths up to 2 km and widths from 0.5 m to 15 m. Previously reported grab and channel samples have returned up to 3,770 gpt Ag, 8.2 gpt Au, 17.4% Zn, 9.9% Pb and 1.5% Cu.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. began drilling at the La Trini target, part of the Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Historical intersections by Tumi Resources include: 24.4 m @ 6.4 gpt Au, 1,629 gpt Ag; 18.3 m @ 3.1 gpt Au, 150 gpt Ag; 6.1 m @ 2.8 gpt Au, 174 gpt Ag; 19.7 m @ 4.9 gpt Au, 193 gpt Ag; 14.1 m @ 4.9 gpt Au, 261 gpt Ag; 10.5 m @ 5.7 gpt Au, 188 gpt Ag.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd. prepares to drill its Copalquin project in Durango. “Drilling and helicopter support contracts have been signed with mobilisation of equipment commencing in June 2020…… Previous drilling has identified three areas with underground mineable grades over potentially mineable widths. These areas are El Refugio, La Soledad and El Cometa (which also include open pit resource potential). Mithril’s drilling campaign will systematically test each of these high-priority areas and will also drill test Los Reyes, Los Pinos, and later La Constancia and the important San Manuel multi-level mine workings”.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. received assays from samples collected on the western part of the Evelyn property in Sonora. The western part of the project is mostly covered by a thin veneer of alluvium and colluvium. More than 50 grab samples have been taken from small areas of sub-crop and outcrop exposed through the cover. “Three samples returned values greater than 2.0 g/t Au, 6 samples returned values greater that 0.25 g/t Au, and a total of 15 samples returned anomalous Au” up to 27.5 gpt Au.

ON MINING

  • Mexus Gold US. continues mining and expects to put 1,800 tons of material in the leach pads by the end of this week, on its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake for First Majestic Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora).
  • Industrias Mineras Peñoles. is to invest one billion dollars in Mexico this year, regardless of the economic downturn by the Coronavirus pandemic.
  • Fresnillo PLC. reported on payments done to Mexico and Peru governments derived from its operations in both countries. The company paid in Mexico a total of US$233.7 M in Mexico, of which US$28.6 M were from licences and mining concessions fees.Fresnillo PLC Report on Payments to Governments1

ON FINANCING

  • Minaurum Gold Inc. announced the closing of the previously announced non-brokered private placement, for gross proceeds of $4.21 M, with the prominent participation of Sprott Global Resources Investments Ltd. (Alamos Silver, Sonora).
  • Discovery Metals Corp. closed the second and final tranche of its non-brokered private placement for aggregate proceeds of C$25 M. “The Company also announces it has received approval by the Mexican government to resume operations at its Cordero project with strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols”. The company has over $40 M in cash on its balance sheet (Cordero, Chihuahua).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp. commenced trading on the OTCQB Venture Market in the United States (La Virginia, Sonora).
  • Sonoro Metals Corp. executed a third memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the finance and development of its proposed Cerro Caliche Heap Leach Pilot Operation. As of February 28, 2020, Sonoro had received two executed MoUs regarding project debt financing and EPC services for its proposed Cerro Caliche heap leach (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. reported that the company paid out CAD$3 M of secured bonds plus accrued interest of CAD$235.4 K. In addition to this, the company also repaid a US$1 M loan. The payments were made from the Company’s cash flow generated from mine operations and prior asset sales (San Martin mine, Queretaro).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. announced firm commitments to raise a further $0.57 M via a single tranche placement. “Funds raised from the Placement will be applied towards the purchase of equipment to increase efficiencies at Plomosas, working capital and offer costs” (Plomosas, Chihuahua).
  • VanGold Mining Corp. announced that to date the warrant acceleration program in connection with the company’s 2019 placement has rendered $1.16 M in gross proceeds of which $650 K were accrued by the exercise of warrants by Vangold’s directors and officers. “…funding for a portion of the exercise of warrants by directors and officers was facilitated through the sale of a portion their existing share holdings” (El Pinguico, Zacatecas).
  • Prime Mining Corp. announced the completion of the offering for gross proceeds of C$10 M (Los Reyes, Sinaloa).
  • Mag Silver Corp. has acquired 14.55 M shares of Reyna Silver Corp., owning to date 19.9% of its outstanding shares.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp. announced “that fieldwork towards completing an environmental baseline study has commenced at the Las Minas project. Drilling at Las Minas is scheduled to commence in early July”.
  • Minera Alamos Inc. reported more drilling results from its Phase II program at its Santana project in Sonora. The results further expand mineralization to the SW, and confirm the depth potential previously identified. Highlighted core length intervals comprise: 202.7 m @ 0.51 gpt Au; 105.6 m @ 0.31 gpt Au, 50.9 m @ 0.34 gpt Au; 90.0 m @ 0.40 gpt Au; 43.3 m @ 0.61 gpt Au; 42.5 m @ 0.36 gpt Au; 62.5 m @ 0.31 gpt Au, 188.2 m @ 0.28 gpt Au.
  • Capstone Mining Corp. updated the mineral resource estimate for the Cozamin mine in Zacatecas.cozamin-june2020-resource-estimate-update1cozamin-june2020-resource-estimate-update21

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Magellan Gold Corp. is redirecting its focus toward opportunities within the United States. “the company has divested all of its Mexico operations through the sale of its subsidiary Magellan Acquisition Corp.”. Among the operations divested is the SDA mill and the El Dorado property, both in Nayarit.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd. appointed John Skeet as its new CEO and Hall Stewart as its Chief Geologist (Copalquin, Durango)
  • Sonoro Metals Corp. postponed its annual general meeting to September 4, 2020 (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Evrim Resources Corp. and Renaissance Gold Inc. entered into an agreement to combine in a merger of equals “in which Evrim will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Renaissance through a share exchange transaction to create a new company, to be named Orogen Royalties Inc. Orogen will focus on project generation as has been the history of both Evrim and Renaissance but with a renewed focus on organic royalty creation and royalty acquisition” (royalty in Ermitaño, Sonora).
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. signed a binding option agreement with Colibri Resources Corp. to acquire 50% interest in its wholly owned Mexican subsidiary Yaque Minerals S.A. de C.V., which holds the El Mezquite project in Sonora. El Mezquite is 12 Km NE of the Santana property, currently under mine development by Minera Alamos. To obtain 50% interest Silver Spruce has to pay US$82.5 K by September 1, 2020, US$127.5 K by September 1, 2021, and CDN$500 K for a debenture due in October 2023. The company will have the option to pay US$107.5 K by December 31, 2020 to complete the cash acquisition for a discounted total of US$190 K. Minimum work expenditures total US$600 K on the four year term of the agreement. A 1% royalty to the original vendors of the property can be purchased for US500 K at any time.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. filed on SEDAR its amended technical report on resources estimation of its San Marcial project in Sinaloa. There are 12 amendments in different parts of the report, with no material differences on the resource estimation.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • In Sonora more than 125 thousand persons in 30 municipalities and 47 rural communities have received support by 13 mining companies and six service providers: Grupo México, Fresnillo Plc, Argonaut Gold, Bylsa Drilling, Asociación de Real de Minas de San Javier, SilverCrest, Alamos Gold, Agnico Eagle, EMS, Molymex, Metallorum-Autlán, FLSmidth, First Majestic, Gruminex, Peñoles, Barimont, MAC Distribuciones, Dynapro Pumps and Cobre del Mayo).
  • The mining sector in Mexico strives nowadays for social co-responsibility between community, government and enterprises, where the communities define their needs and priorities, the government complies with its responsibilities and enterprises promote and provide resources, organize community committees and develop executive projects.
  • The world day of the environment was held in Teloloapan, Guerrero, with the presence of Efrén Romero, municipal president, Army members and Minera Capela executives.
  • In Cuencamé, Durango, a road work investment of 11 million pesos was inaugurated by Luly Martínez. Municipal president. The investment was made possible with resources from the Mining Fund.
  • Agnico Eagle received the Environmental Excellence Award from the Mining Association in Canada, for its work in Pinos Altos, Chihuahua, where was developed an ultra-high density grazing initiative.
  • Peña Colorada builds a medical facility in Manzanillo. With an investment of 4 M pesos, the facility will count with an area for patient care, and another area for the rest of the medical personnel, as this new building is by the side of the Hospital General de Manzanillo.
  • Newmont Corp. published its 2019 sustainability report. The report displays all the work planned and done by the company as it strives to better its environmental, social and governmental imprint in Mexico.
  • Bylsa Drilling efforts on social responsibility on the communities neighboring the Las Chispas and Alamos Silver projects in Sonora were commended by governor Claudia Pavlovich.
  • The Mining Fund provided the resources to build the Doctores Avenue in Fresnillo, Zacatecas. The 27.14 million pesos invested funded 670 m of paving and drainage construction.
  • Grupo Mexico restated its compromise on the state of Chihuahua with the donation of a termo-cycler to the State Health Laboratory. Previously the company had donated five mechanical ventilators to the University Central Hospital, same that shortly is to receive 25 non-invasive ventilators more.

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

On the image below: Quartz-graphite vein, Hermosillo District, Sonora. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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Phyllic alteration

By Miguel A Heredia

During the twenty one week of the year (May 18th to May 24th, 2020), at least 36 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with twelve commenting on Mexican issues, six disclosing deals and corporate issues, five discussing on social issues, four informing on exploration results, three communicating production and financial results, three announcing financing rounds, and three reporting on resources and developments.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Mexican mining sector decreased last year according to government data.  Mexico deemed mining an essential activity, allowing companies to resume production activities. The Undersecretary of Mining, Francisco Quiroga, agreed with the Union Labour leaders on the strategy to guarantee a safe return to the mining operations in the country.  A protocol for reopening companies was defined and only the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) can approve it or rejected it. Mining companies with operations in Chihuahua signed a letter of commitment before the State Government and the Government of Mexico, to follow the instructions on health and safety at work during the phase of resumption of operations in the so-called “new normality”. Excellon Resources and the FRENTE Metallurgical Mining Union reached some agreements to continue operating the La Platosa mine in Durango. Industrias Peñoles announced the shutdown of its Francisco I Madero Zinc mine in Zacatecas due to difficult mining conditions and low metal prices. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Tocvan and its partner Colibri announced exciting new targets on its Pilar project. In Chihuahua, Kootenay released drill results from the first six of ten holes completed to date at its Columba project. In Sinaloa, Vizsla restarted its exploration and drilling program at its Panuco project.  ON MINING, Mag Silver reported Q1, 2020 financial results (Juanicipio project, Zacatecas). Mexus reported additional gold sales from production at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. McEwen reported full year 2019 production results from its El Gallo mine in Sinaloa. ON FINANCING, Magna Gold announced a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $7M (Mercedes project, Son).  Discovery Metals announced that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $25M (Cordero project, Chihuahua).  Mithril announced that its rights issue for capital raising has closed with strong support for both shareholder entitlements and additional shortfall shares (Copalquin project, Durango).      ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Endeavour reported drill results from fourteen holes collared at its Bolaños mine in Guanajuato, eight of which intersected high-grade mineralization in the Melladito Vein. Mag Silver provided an update on its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas. VanGold announced plans to conduct a 1,000 tonnes bulk sample from its Pinguino project in Guanajuato. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Alamos Gold reported results of its annual general meeting of shareholders (Mulatos mine, Sonora). Argonaut shareholders and Alio securityholders approved merger to create North American diversified Intermediate gold producer (El Castillo mine, Durango). Equinox announced results of its annual general meeting of shareholders (Los Filos mine, Guerrero). Defiance extended its option agreement on its San Acacio project in Zacatecas to 2023. Silver Tiger (former Oceanus Resources) commenced trading under the symbol “SLVR” (El Tigre project, Sonora). Sierra Metals appointed its new CEO (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, The Grupo Mexico Foundation donated 5,000 molecular tests for COVID-19, and will be distributing 450,000 protection kits in Mexico City as well as in the states of Mexico, Jalisco and Nuevo Leon. Minera Gorrión, subsidiary of Almaden Minerals and in charge of developing the Ixtaca mine project, in the north of Puebla, donated 1,000 disinfecting gels and 2,000 masks to the Ixtacamaxtitlán Community Hospital, in charge of leading efforts against the epidemic in the region. Minera Media Luna (Torex Gold), will donate MXP $2M to launch a hospital in Iguala, Guerrero, which will exclusively treat patients with COVID-19. Consorcio Minero Peña Colorada S.A. de C.V. , donated MXP $500K to the Integral Development of the Family (DIF)  of Colima State to allocate it to the Emergent Food Attention Program implemented by the government.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Mexican mining sector, decreased last year, according to government data. Net FDI in 2019 was USD $592M, down from almost USD $ 650M in 2018, according to data published by the economy ministry. The 2019 figure is the lowest compared to previous years. Spending peaked at USD $ 5.44B in 2013. The industry leaders see a general decline in investment in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mining companies intend to restart operations in June 1, 2020, as part of a gradual reopening of the economy under which the sector has acquired essential status.
  • Mexico, deemed mining an essential activity, allowing companies to resume production activities, six weeks after asking all non-essential business to temporarily close in response to the COVId-19 pandemic. Argonaut, Azure, Compañía Real del Monte, Premier, Newmont, Alamos Gold, Great panther, among others, are some of the mining companies which will be starting activities at its mine operations.
  • The Undersecretary of Mining, Francisco Quiroga, agreed with the Union Labour leaders on the strategy to guarantee a safe return to the mining operations in the country, once the reactivation of this sector was allowed. The mining sector generates 370K direct jobs and 2.3M of indirect jobs throughout the country, which generates benefits for workers and employees. Mining represents an essential sector because it supplies raw materials to practically all industries. On the other hand, Francisco Quiroga has been very active working with mining companies to define, along with the Secretary of Health, Jorge Alcocer Varela, the protocols for a safe reopening in 249 mining municipalities.
  • A protocol for reopening companies was defined by the authorities. Companies must have the authorization of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) to restart activities, after remain closed due to the CIVID-19. According to the Technical Guidelines for Health Safety in the Workplace, published this Monday by the Ministry of the Economy (SE), the IMSS will have 72 hours to approve or reject the request.
  • Mining companies with operations in Chihuahua, signed a letter of commitment before the State Government (Governor Javier Corral) and the Government of Mexico (Undersecretary of Mining Francisco Quiroga), to follow the instructions on health and safety at work during the phase of resumption of operations in the so-called “new normality”. Francisco Quiroga added that to close the circle of prevention, the mining industry will be trained in the management of the different equipment that will be put into operation to comply with the protocols set by the State Health Council.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., and the FRENTE Metallurgical Mining Union, reached some agreements to continue operating the La Platosa mine in the Bermejillo community, located in the Mapimí municipality, Durango. It highlights a cut of around 20% in personnel and a technical strike for the next 60 days as the company develops the restructuring process. The official assured that the liquidations of the personnel who will be dismissed will be 100% and in accordance with the provisions of the law, in addition to reaching an agreement with the union so that, while the technical strike is carried out, only 50% of their salary will be paid to the rest of the workers who, due to the pandemic caused by the COVID-19, are in domiciliary protection.
  • Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V., announced the shutdown of its Francisco I Madero Zinc mine in Zacatecas, due to difficult mining conditions and low metal prices. It stated that it has begun laying off unionized workers in the mine unit and also trying to reassign to others workers and contractors to other mine units. The Francisco I Madero mine started operations in 2001. Peñoles processed in 2019, over 2.3M tonnes to produce 93M Lb Zn and 19.9M Lb Pb.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Tocvan Ventures Corp, and its partner Colibri Resources Corporation, announced new exciting targets generated by an IP survey on its Pilar project in Sonora. “According to the survey data, the Main Zone and the North Hill Zone may be connected and, if confirmed, would be renamed as a mineralization trend. Results also indicate the potential of the northeast-southwest structures connecting the 4-Trench Zone to the Main Zone, Tocvan said”. Geophysical results will be combined with additional surveys to better define drill targets for a phase 2 drilling campaign.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., released drill results from six of ten holes completed to date at its Columba project in Chihuahua, as part of its 2020 drilling program. Significant drill intersections were encountered in hole CDH-20-045 with 239 g/t Ag, 0.08% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 4.3m, including 350 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 2.5m, and including 456 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb and 0.6% Zn over 1.5m in the F Vein, and 208 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 3m, including 974 g/t Ag, 0.03% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 0.5m in a footwall vein; hole CDH-20-046 with 264 g/t Ag, 0.06% Pb, and 0.1%Zn over 6.8m, including 553 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 2.9m, including 911 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 1.4m, including 1,585 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 0.6m, and 689 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 0.5m, and 219 g/t Ag, 0.04% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 5m, all in the F Vein; hole CDH-20-047 with 166 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 15.65m, including 351 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 1% Zn over 5.97m, including 400 g/t Ag, 0.45% Pb, and 1.2% Zn over 4.97m, including 782 g/t Ag, 1.1% Pb, 3.6% Zn over 1.05, including 305 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 1.15m, including 219 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 0.7% Zn over 1.1m, including 432 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 1% Zn over 0.97m; and hole CDH-20-042 with 115 g/t Ag over 0.3m in a hangingwall of a quartz vein, and 86 g/t Ag 0.02% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 13m, including 111 g/t Ag, 0.03% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 5.9m, in the F Vein. These holes tested the F Vein structure along 400 meters of strike length with holes 42 to 45 focusing on gaps in the 2019 drill program, while holes 46 and 47 were step outs along strike.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp., restarted its exploration and recommenced its 14,500m drilling programs at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Vizsla has tested only five of the initially twenty targets and will continue with two drill rigs to ensure the remaining 10,861m of planned drilling is completed in the 2020 calendar year.

ON MINING

  • Mag Silver Corp., reported Q1, 2020 financial results. It estimated the pre-operative initial capital now at USD $440M as of January, 2018. The company also reported a development expenditure of approximately USD $153.5M (company therefore estimates approximately $286,584 of remaining initial capital on a 100% basis as at March 31, 2020), and an existing cash and other working capital as at March 31, 2020 of USD $6.8M and USD $13.2M respectively (Juanicipio project, Zacatecas).
  • Mexus Gold , reported addition gold sales from production at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. It sold 47.5Oz Au on May 7th and was processing an additional 45 Oz Au the week of May 18th. Mexus announced that the sales of gold for the month of May are expected to exceed 120 Oz Au.
  • McEwen Mining Inc., reported full year 2019 production results from its El Gallo mine in Sinaloa. It produced 2,700 Oz AuEq (GEO) from residual leaching of the heap leach pad. Beginning with Q42019, the company has ceased relying on, and disclosing, cash costs and AISC per GEO as key metrics for El Gallo mine. Residual leaching will continue for as long as incremental revenue exceeds incremental costs.

ON FINANCING

  • Magna Gold Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $7M. Net proceeds will be used for working capital purposes in connection with the company´s existing projects (Mercedes project, Sonora).
  • Discovery Metals Corp., announced that it intends to close a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $25M. Net proceeds will be used primarily to continue the exploration programs at its Cordero and Coahuila projects in Chihuahua and Coahuila respectively.
  • Mithril Resources Limited, announced that its rights issue for capital raising has closed with strong support for both shareholder entitlements and additional shortfall shares. The company was required to raise a minimum of $1.5M under the rights issue as a condition precedent of the transaction with Sun Minerals Pty Ltd. Fund raised will be used to advance exploration at its Copalquin project in Durango, following completion of the acquisition of Sun Minerals.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Endeavour Silver Corp., reported drill results from fourteen holes collared at its Bolaños mine in Guanajuato, eight of which intersected high-grade mineralization over minable widths in the Melladito Vein. Significant drill intersections were encountered in hole BN27 with 24.3 g/t Au and 787 g/t Ag (3,217 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 1.5m, including 91.8 g/t Au and 2,200 g/t Ag (11,380 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 0.20m; hole BN31 with 12.48 g/t Au and 50 g/t Ag (1,298 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.1m, including 50.8 g/t Au and 191 g/t Ag (5,271 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.2m; and hole BN32 with 7.37 g/t Au and 170 g/t Ag (907 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.7m, including 9.47 g/t Au and 327 g/t Ag (1,274 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.6m.”The eight drill holes outline a new mineralized zone 100 m long by 200 m deep, open in all directions. It could connect with the historic high-grade San Ramon mine workings immediately west of and the San Pablo mine workings immediately east of the drill holes. This part of the Melladito vein was not previously explored and represents an exciting new area for resource estimation and mine development”.
  • Mag Silver Corp., provided an update on its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas. Highlights include that a detailed engineering is near completion and earthmoving and foundation preparation is well advanced for the construction of the 4,000 tpd beneficiation plant; SAG and Ball mills, flotation cells, all associated vessels, thickeners and ancillary process equipment are now secured on site, progress made with the construction of the flotation plant and infrastructure, and underground development at Juanicipio has now approached 27 km (or 16.9 miles) and is focused on three sub-vertical ramps that descend alongside the mineralization and alongside the conveyor ramp to surface at plant site.
  • VanGold Mining Corp., announced plans to conduct a 1,000 tonnes bulk sample from its Pinguino project in Guanajuato. It entered in an agreement with Endeavour Silver and will be sending the bulk sample to Endeavour’s Bolañitos mill, located approximately 28kmfrom El Pinguico project. “By conducting this large test, the Company will gain valuable metallurgical and precious metal recovery information pertaining to the mineralized material on the El Pinguico property.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Alamos Gold Inc., announced results of its annual general meeting of shareholders. It also appointed and compensated executives and auditor´s remuneration (Mulatos mine, Sonora).
  • Argonaut Gold Inc., shareholders and Alio Gold Inc. securityholders, approved merger to create North American diversified intermediate gold producer. On closing of the transaction, Argonaut and Alio shareholders will own approximately 76% and 24% of the merged company, respectively, on an issued share basis. The merged company will continue as Argonaut Gold with the ticker symbol AR on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). (El Castillo mine, Durango).
  • Equinox Gold Corp., announced results of its annual general meeting of shareholders. It also appointed auditors and approved executive´s compensation (Los Filos mine, Guerrero).
  • Defiance Silver Corp., announced that it has successfully negotiated with the project vendor its option agreement on its san Acacio project in Zacatecas. The project vendor has agreed to extend the option agreement terms by three years from September 27, 2020 to September, 27, 2023. “Defiance will now be making quarterly payments, over three years, to the property vendor totaling USD $2,278,189, with the final option payment of USD $2,407,461 due September 27, 2023. In accordance with the original agreement, the vendor retains a 2.5% NSR which may be purchased for USD $2,500,000. Should the agreement be terminated prior to September 27, 2023 a break fee equal to 5% of the outstanding option balance shall be paid to the property vendor”.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., (former Oceanus Resources), commenced trading under the trading symbols “SLVR” on the TSXV. There was no change in the share capital of the company. Certificates representing common shares of the company will not be affected by the name and symbol change and will not need to be exchanged (El Tigre project, Sonora).
  • Sierra Metals Inc., announced the appointment of its new CEO effective immediately (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • The Grupo Mexico Foundation, donated 5,000 molecular test for the detection of COVID-19 to be applied to patients from all over the state of Chihuahua. Governor of Chihuahua State, Javier Corral, stated that it will allow reducing the time of diagnosis and extending timely attention to the population. In addition, it also will donate 450,000 protection kits to be distributed in Mexico City as well as in the states of Mexico, Jalisco and Nuevo Leon. The kits are personal and contain supplies such as masks, gowns, hats, shoe covers, KN45 masks, gloves, goggles and everything necessary to promote the comprehensive protection of health personnel in hospitals.
  • Minera Gorrión (MG), subsidiary of Almaden Minerals Ltd., and in charge of developing the Ixtaca mine project, in the north of Puebla, donated 1,000 disinfecting gels and 2,000 masks to the Ixtacamaxtitlán Community Hospital, in charge of leading efforts against the epidemic in the region. On the other hand, 1,440 liters of gel and 4,800 face masks were distributed among 15 Rural Medical Units of the IMSS and 9 Health Houses of the Ministry of Health in the municipality. Likewise, MG delivered 1,300 liters of gel and 2,000 covers mouths to the Central Warehouse of Health Services in the state of Puebla to support the efforts led by the Puebla government to counteract the spread of the disease in the state.
  • Minera Media Luna (Torex Gold Resources Inc.), donated MXP $2M to launch a hospital in Iguala, Guerrero, which will exclusively treat patients with COVID-19. The hospital will be soon in operation and will also serve people from Taxco, Huitzuco, Tepecoacuilco and Cocula affected by the coronavirus.
  • Consorcio Minero Peña Colorada S.A. de C.V., donated MXP $500K to the Integral Development of the Family (DIF) of Colima State, to allocate it to the Emergent Food Attention Program, implemented by its government.

 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, phyllic alteration in a porphyry Cu system in a prospect in Oaxaca, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.