Sandstorm Gold Royalties Enters into Automatic Share Purchase Plan and Renews Credit Facility with Reduced Interest Rates

December 10, 2024 / gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

2024-12-10_sandstorm gold royalties enters into automatic share purchase plan Download

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of November 2024

November 17, 2024 / Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 46^thweek of the year (November 11^th to November 17^th,2024), companies working in Mexico posted at least 24 press releases. Two companies informed on exploration advances at their properties, ten companies presented quarterly results and one other actualized its production forecast for the second half of 2024. Two companies released drilling results from their advanced properties, with one also providing channel sample results. One company announced a private placement probably to be used on properties in Mexico, two more companies with properties in Mexico announced financing rounds to be applied outside from Mexico and a royalties company signed a lending agreement. Two companies updated on exploration and drill results from their advanced properties, and one more company informed on its evaluation on the keeping or disinvestment on an advanced property. One company updated on legal proceedings on the cancellation of a key concession, one more held its AGM and other two informed on operating issues impacting a silverstream. ON MEXICO ISSUES most of the concentrate end-dump trailers hijacked from the Peñasquito mine were recovered empty. Two miners are dead, five unaccounted for in a mine cave-in in Sinaloa. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Tocvan Ventures provided exploration results from Pilar (Gran Pilar?). In Chihuahua, Kingsmen Resources announced a drilling program at Las Coloradas. ON MINING, Gatos Silver, Mag Silver, Orla Mining, SilverCrest Metals, Discovery Silver, Avino Silver, Prime Mining, Sailfish Royalty, Dyna Resource and US Antimony, released Q3 production results and Heliostar Metals released its forecast on production for H2 2024. ON FINANCING, Apollo Silver and Osisko Development closed private placements for C$13.5 M and US$57.5 M respectively. Orex Minerals completed a warrants exercise program, Elemental Altus Royalties amended a credit facility. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Osisko Development is awaiting on a permit to operate its San Antonio project in Sonora, and evaluating the sale of the asset. Endeavour Silver updated on exploration and development at Pitarrilla, in Durango. Torex Gold released results from resource upgrading drilling at EPO, in Guerrero. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Chesapeake Gold updated on legal proceedings on the cancellation of a key mining concession at its Metates project in Durango. GR Silver held its AGM. Fresnillo plc and Industrias Peñoles are resolving issues arising from operational challenges that affect a silverstream. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Discovery Silver released its 2023 ESG report.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

Nine of the eleven hijacked end-dump trailers carrying concentrate from the Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas were recovered empty on a dirt road in Durango. No detentions were made (How on this Earth can you disappear 240 tonnes of concentrate that can only be processed in a few sites in the country, and the export ports being controlled by the Navy? Yes, it is a rhetoric question).
Five miners were trapped by a cave-in at a mine in Badiraguato, Sinaloa. Two persons are presumed dead and the fate of another three to five is unclear.

ON EXPLORATION

Kingsmen Resources Ltd. announced a diamond drill program for its 850 ha Las Coloradas project in Chihuahua. The company selected three principal target areas, the Mine, Aguilar and Leona on the Soledad structure. “The Mine target includes the old Las Coloradas mine on the SE end of the Soledad structure/vein system, and adjacent mineralized structures. The Leona target covers an area of old high grade workings approximately 530 meters long on the NW end of the Soledad II structure. The Aguilar target covers an area of old high grade workings approximately 250 meters long on the NW end of the Soledad structure/vein system”.
Tocvan Ventures Corp. provided exploration results from its Gran Pilar project in Sonora , adjacent to its Pilar project). A total of 541 soil samples have been collected in the project, returning up to 21.2 gpt Au, >2,000 gpt Ag, 0.62% Cu, 12.7% Pb, 2,3% Zn. “ …. zones of significant and consistently high values of gold have been identified showing several kilometers of prospective trend that remains open to the east for further expansion”.

ON MINING

Gatos Silver Inc. announced third quarter 2024 financial and operating results. At Cerro Los Gatos (70% Gatos Silver, 30% Dowa Metals and Mining Co.), in Chihuahua, 298.6 K tonnes were milled in the period at a rate of 3,246 tpd, averaging 285 gpt Ag, 4.0% Zn, 2.0% Pb, 0.30 gpt Au, to produce 2.42 M Oz Ag, 1,450 Oz Au, 11.4 M Lb Pb, 16.5 M Lb Zn (3.84 M Oz AgEq). By-product cash cost was $3.69 per Oz Ag and the by-product AISC $9.61 per Oz Ag. During the quarter Gatos Silver and First Majestic Silver Corp. entered into a definitive merger agreement.
Mag Silver Corp. announced unaudited consolidated financial results for Q3 2024. A total of 332.3 K tonnes of ore grading 481 gpt AgEq was processed at Juanicipio, in Zacatecas, producing 4.9 M Oz Ag, 7.1 M Oz AgEq, at negative cash cost of $0.12 per Oz Ag ($8.38 per Oz AgEq) and an AISC of $3.28 per Oz Ag ($10.83 per Oz AgEq), generating US$109.9 M in operating cash flow and US$96.9 M in free cash flow (Mag’s share on the Juanicipio JV is 44%). During the period Mag Silver entered into an earn-in and option exploration agreement in which Apollo Silver Corp. can acquire the Cinco de Mayo property in Chihuahua.
Orla Mining Ltd. announced results for the third quarter of 2024. Production at Camino Rojo in Zacatecas was 43,788 Oz Au during the period at cash cost $482 per Oz Au and an AISC of $720 per Oz Au. Average mining rate was 52 K tpd, with 18.4 K tonnes of ore stacked averaging 0.93 gpt Au. A 30,000 m drilling program is underway to test and expand mineralization beneath existing resources. “….. results confirm the presence of flat-lying (mantos) and steep sulphide replacement-style mineralization, along with skarn-type alteration, extending at least 500 meters down plunge from the existing resource”. Net income was US$21.1 M and cash flow from operating activities US$52.0 M. In October the outstanding balance of US$58.4 M was repaid on its revolving credit facility of US$283.4 M. The company elevated the 2024 production guidance to 130,000 to 140,000 Oz Au. At the end of the period net cash was US$122.5 M.
SilverCrest Metals Inc. released financial results for Q3 2024. At Las Chispas, in Sonora, 4.4 km of development were completed, 124.2 K tonnes were mined at a rate of 1,350 tpd, 121.8 K tonnes milled, averaging 3.87 gpt Au, 366 gpt Ag (or 674 gpt AgEq), recovering 98.5% Au, 98.3% Ag to produce 14,928 Oz Au, 1.41 M Oz Ag (or 2.66 M Oz AgEq) at cash cost $8.85 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $13.72 per Oz AgEq. Revenue in the period was US$80.4 M, an operating cash flow of US$44.2 M and free cash flow of US$36.2 M. SilverCrest had US$158.2 M by the end of September. In October the acquisition of Silver Crest Metals by Coeur Mining Inc. was announced.
Discovery Silver Corp. announced financial results for Q3 2024. At the end of the period the company had a net loss of C$5.3 M, 397.7 M shares outstanding, cash and cash equivalents of C$33.4 M, total assets of C$125.1 M, liabilities for C$6.2 M and a working capital of C$30.9 M (Cordero, Chihuahua).
Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. announced its consolidated financial results for the third quarter of 2024. During the period the company processed 156.5 K tonnes of ore to produce 281.8 K Oz Ag, 1,625 Oz Au, 1.77 M Lb Cu (or 670.9 K Oz AgEq) at its Avino mine in Durango. Revenues were US$14.6 M, mining operating income of US$5.7 M, net income of US$1.2 M, EBITDA of US$3.8 M, cash flow from operations of US$4.1 M and a mine operating cash flow before taxes of US$6.7 M. At the end of the period the company had US$7.8 M in cash and working capital of US$15.9 M. Guidance remains on track to produce 2.5 M to 2.8 M Oz AgEq in 2024. Avino continued to process historical stockpiles from the nearby La Preciosa project: “as part of a sampling program to better prepare for fresh mill feed. Initial recoveries from the lower-grade material were better than expected and provide for potential upside as the project moves forward”. The operations team is in the final stages for approval to move forward with underground development at La Preciosa.
Prime Mining Corp. reported its operating and financial results for Q3 2024. During the period the company announced the update of an open pit constrained resource at Los Reyes, in Sinaloa, of 49 M tonnes @ 0.95 gpt Au, 34.2 gpt Ag, containing 1.49 M Oz Au, 54 M Oz Ag (or 2.19 M Oz AuEq) in indicated resources and 17.2 M tonnes @ 0.97 gpt Au, 39 gpt Ag, containing 0.54 M Oz Au, 21.6 M Oz Ag (or 0.82 M Oz AuEq) in inferred resources. Prime Mining reported Loss and comprehensive loss of C$16.2 M, total assets of C$35.2 M, liabilities of C$0.9 M and total liabilities of C$1.7 M, with cash at the end of the quarter of C$21.2 M. Four drilling rigs are currently active at Los Reyes.
Sailfish Royalty Corp. announced operating and financial results for the third quarter 2024. Sailfish has no operations in Mexico, but holds 100% in the Gavilanes project in Durango.
Dyna Resource Inc. reported results for its third quarter 2024. During the period 61 K tonnes were mined at a rate of 663 tpd at its San Jose de Gracia project in Sinaloa, milling 61.9 K tonnes at a rate of 663 tpd, grading 3.78 gpt Au, recovering 75.4% Au to produce 5,676 Oz Au. “The Company intends to prioritize drilling high grade underground targets that can readily be brought into the mine plan as well as the continued regional program to better understand the potential of the significant land package at SJG”. Revenue was US$ 11.2 M during the period. Management believes it will achieve its production rate target of 25.5 K tonnes per month in Q4 2024. The company is working to improve plant recoveries.
Heliostar Metals Ltd. provided gold production guidance for the recently acquired San Agustin mine, in Durango, and the La Colorada mine, in Sonora. For the July-December 2024 period production expected for La Colorada is 4,700-4,800 Oz Au, 13.3 K-14.4 K Oz Ag (or 4,800-4,900 Oz AuEq) at cash cost $1,350-$1,450 per Oz Au and an AISC of $1,500-$1,600 per Oz Au. At San Agustin 14,650-14,950 Oz Au, 25,400-25,500 Oz Ag (or 15,200-15,300 Oz AuEq), at cash cost $1,500-$1,600 per Oz Au and an AISC of $1,650-1,750 per Oz Au. La Colorada continues to produce Au from leach pads, but mining was paused by the previous operator on September 2023. Heliostar is to determine the economic viability of restarting operations and to complete a pre-feasibility study in early Q1 2025. At San Agustin mining operations ceased due to permitting constraints and is producing Au from existing leach pads. “The Company has submitted a permit application to expand the open pit that would allow mining at San Agustin to recommence in 2025. Without approval, the San Agustin Mine will transition to care and maintenance upon completion of leaching operations.”
United States Antimony Corp. reported third quarter 2024 financial and operational results. The company has no operations in Mexico, but holds the Los Juarez gold project in Queretaro.

ON FINANCING

Apollo Silver Corp. closed a fully subscribed non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$13.5 M (Cinco de Mayo, Chihuahua).
Osisko Development Corp. closed its previously announced private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of US$57.5 M (San Antonio, Sonora).
Orex Minerals Inc. completed the company’s warrant exercise incentive program raising approximately $1.2 M (Coneto, Durango).
Elemental Altus Royalties Corp. signed an amendment to its credit facility, exercising the US$10 M accordion feature, with the borrowing limit increased to US$50 M and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) as a new lender in the facility, joining National Bank of Canada (NBC) and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) (Mercedes, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

Osisko Development Corp. reported financial and operating results for Q3, 2024, including some information on its Mexican operations. At San Antonio, in Sonora, the company has kept the project in care and maintenance since Q3 2023, awaiting the next steps from the government of Mexico with respect to the permitting process and the status of open pit mining in the country. The company is “exploring the potential for a financial or strategic partner in the asset or for a full or partial sale of the asset”.
Endeavour Silver Corp. reported an update on the exploration and evaluation of its Pitarrilla property in Durango. Endeavour has re-logged the historic drill core, focusing on defining high-grade feeder structures of the Ag-Pb-Zn sulfide mineralization. The company has refurbished the ramp and extended it over 1.3 km to provide access to underground drilling. This work has confirmed the presence of at least four structures that extend through the manto (Palmito, Danna, Victoria and Casas Blancas veins), additional mineralized structures include the Norma and Danna hanging wall veins and the Peña dike. It is estimated that the first four veins are typically 3 m in width and have a vertical extent of 600 to 800 m and strike lengths of 700 m; these veins appear open to depth. Highlighted true width intervals comprise 82.92 m @ 0.02 gpt Au, 87 gpt Ag, 0.08% Cu, 0.6% Pb, 2.4% Zn; 25.94 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 241 gpt Ag, 0.18% Cu, 0.9% Pb, 1.9% Zn (including 0.90 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 2,020 gpt Ag, 1.6% Cu, 5.7% Pb, 4.0% Zn); 13.62 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 183 gpt Ag, 0.04% Cu, 0.5% Pb, 1.8% Zn; 22.23 m @ 0.02 gpt Au, 112 gpt Ag, 0.06% Cu, 0.5% Pb, 3.6% Zn (including 0.92 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 1,145 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu, 1.6% Pb, 4.5% Zn). Highlighted Peña dike channel samples on the ramp comprise 4.20 m @ 0.07 gpt Au, 562 gpt Ag, 0.78% Cu, 5.3% Pb, 2.5% Zn; 5.35 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 424 gpt Ag, 0.24% Cu, 4.9% Pb, 2.2% Zn; 3.85 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 511 gpt Ag, 1.71% Cu, 3.0% Pb, 4.5% Zn.
Torex Gold Resources Inc. released assay results from the ongoing drill program at EPO, on its Morelos Complex, in Guerrero. Drilling has shown the potential to upgrade inferred resources to indicated resources in the NE portion of the EPO deposit. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 36.6 m @ 9.57 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag, 0.51% Cu (including 7.55 m @ 43.33 gpt Au, 48 gpt Ag, 0.51% Cu); 19.16 m @ 4.01 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag, 0.30% Cu; 18.75 m @ 2.83 gpt Au, 28 gpt Ag, 1.26% Cu; 18.91 m @ 1.56 gpt Au, 73 gpt Ag, 2.62% Cu on resource conversion and 5.10 m @ 3.70 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag, 1.37% Cu; 3.00 m @ 4.90 gpt Au, 21 gpt Ag, 0.28% Cu; 3.18 m @ 3.56 gpt Ag; 39 gpt Ag, 0.95% Cu; 8.33 m @ 0.44 gpt Au, 45 gpt Ag, 1.44% Cu; 2.37 m @ 0.46 gpt Au, 149 gpt Ag, 3.24% Cu; 3.59 m @ 0.51 gpt Au, 69 gpt Ag, 2.23% Cu, in advanced exploration beyond the resource boundary to the north of EPO. The EPO geology described in the press release highlights its complexity, with skarn, CRD and intermediate sulfidation epithermal mineralization events.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

Chesapeake Gold Corp. updated on legal proceedings related to its 700 ha San Vicente 3 mineral concession. The proceedings against the Dirección General de Minas (DGM) are the company’s response to the cancellation of one of 12 concessions within its 4,260 ha Metates project in Durango (the largest undeveloped gold deposit in Mexico). “Chesapeake began nullity proceedings to have the cancellation of San Vicente 3 declared as null and void by the North Center III and Auxiliary Regional Chamber of the Federal Court of Administrative Justice (the “Chamber”) based on certain procedural arguments. The Chamber dismissed the Company’s lawsuit in a 2-1 split decision, with the dissenting judge finding the Company’s arguments to be well-founded. The Company plans to appeal before the Collegiate Court and to pursue all legal remedies available”. The concession covers part of the mineral resource, and its cancellation would hinder the ability to develop the Metates project as outlined on the PEA.
GR Silver Mining Ltd. held its annual general meeting (AGM) with all matters brought before the meeting approved (Plomosas, Sinaloa).
Fresnillo plc. has secured notice over operational issues at Industrias Peñoles Sabinas mine in Zacatecas, affecting silver output. There is a silverstream contract comprising a series of 12 agreements between Fresnillo and Peñoles, following which the London-listed miner has the right to receive all proceeds from the payable silver. “The operational challenges at the mine have prompted immediate discussions between the two companies to evaluate the situation and its implications for the agreement”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Discovery Silver Corp. released its 2023 ESG (environmental social and governance) report, highlighting the reception of the Quality Environmental Certification, the Socially Responsible Enterprise (ESR) Distinction and the Great Place to Work Certification (Cordero, Chihuahua).

On the image below: Clear vein scarps in a copper project in Sonora. Drone picture by Jorge Cirett.

Elemental Altus Royalties Announces Expanded Revolving Credit Facilty

November 14, 2024 / gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

2024-11-14_elemental altus royalties announces expanded revolving credit facilty Download

Orla Mining Repays Revolving Credit Facility to Achieve Debt-Free Status

October 15, 2024October 15, 2024 / gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

2024-10-15_orla repays revolving credit facility Download

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

June 9, 2024 / gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Quartz-goethite stockwork veining with malachite stains

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 23^thweek of the year (June 3^rdto June 9^th, 2024), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 1 news published by the media, with eleven announcing financing rounds, ten disclosing deals and corporate issues, four reporting resources and developments of their properties, two commenting on Mexican issues, one informing on exploration results, and one discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Claudia Sheinbaum won the election with a significant majority and is likely to maintain restrictions on mining. Tocvan/Colibri and Atacama Copper reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of June, 2024. ON EXPLORATION, In Nayarit, Angel Wings reported results for two recently completed geophysical surveys at its La Reyna project. ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, Fortuna Silver declared that it is offering convertible senior notes due 2029 in an aggregate principal amount of USD $150M, and later on, it announced pricing of convertible senior Notes (San Jose mine, Oaxaca). Sierra Metals reported the refinancing of its $75M long-term debt facility and the entering into a new $95 million facility with new covenants, payment terms, and a 5-year term (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua). Solaris filed a final short form prospectus to qualify the distribution of 7,150,000 common shares of the company at a price of $4.90 per common share and an additional 1,072,500 common shares at the offering price pursuant to an over-allotment option (La Verde project, Michoacan). Aura declared and approved the payment of dividend for the six month ending June, 2024 (Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas). Infinitum Copper closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $450K (La Adelita project, Sonora). Silver Spruce announced that the TSX has granted an extension to the closing of the second tranche of its previously announced private placement (Pino de Plata project, Chihuahua). Orex closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $662,992 (Sandra project, Durango). Starcore closed its non-brokered private placement, raising $500K in gross proceeds (San Martin mine, Queretaro). Oroco completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $6.3M (Santo Tomás project, Sinaloa). Dyna Resource extended its USD $4M commercial offtake agreement with Ocean Partners, increased a revolving credit line to USD $12.5M, and announced that a major shareholder is set to purchase USD $2.5M shares of common stock of Dyna Resource (San Jose de Gracia mine, Sinaloa). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Tocvan and its JV partner Colibri released results from its 2024 RC drilling program from its Pilar project in Sonora. Silver Storm added a second drill rig to commence a phase 2 drill program at its La Parrilla mine, Durango. Atacama Copper released results from five holes of a 10,000m diamond drilling program at its Cristina project, Chihuahua. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Colibri announced the listing of its common shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Pilar project, Sonora). Discovery Silver notified the appointment of its Vice President, Investor Relations (Cordero project, Chihuahua). Sierra Metals filed its management information circular in connection with the company´s upcoming annual meeting of shareholders (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua). Sonoran Desert reported that it has been delayed in filing its audited annual financial statement for its financial year ended December 31, 2023, and the related Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Certifications by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (Cuatro Hermanos project, Sonora). Bear Creek reported voting results from its annual general meeting of shareholders and announced the appointment of officers (Mercedes mine, Sonora). Chesapeake reported that that it and Alderley Gold Corp., the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, have completed the acquisition of the patents, patent applications and certain other technology rights and assets for the sulphide leaching technology from Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (Metates project, Durango). Angel Wing granted stock options to employees and consultants of the company (La Reyna, Nayarit). Gatos Silver presented voting results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Cerro Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua). DynaResource announced the appointment of its President, CEO, Interim CFO and Director (San Jose de Gracia mine, Sinaloa). Vizsla Silver announced that the independent proxy advisory firms ISS and Glass Lewis recommended that Vizsla Silver shareholders vote for the proposed arrangement with Vizsla Royalties Corp at the upcoming special meeting of shareholders. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Gold Royalty published its 2023 Sustainability Report an Asset Handbook (Cozamin mine, Zacatecas).

ON MEXICO ISSUE

Claudia Sheinbaum won the Mexican election with a significant majority and is likely to maintain restrictions on mining, including a de facto ban on new open pit mines. Sheinbaum secured the most ballots on Sunday in the nation’s 200-year democratic history, as much as 61% of the vote, according to a sample count by the country’s electoral authority. Challenges for her presidency include Mexico’s security situation, fiscal deficit, and strengthening currency. Sheinbaum’s technocratic approach and alignment with her mentor, outgoing President López Obrador, raise questions about her independence and ability to address key issues facing Mexico.
Tocvan Ventures Corp/Colibri Resources Corporation and Atacama Copper Corporation reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of June, 2024. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

Angel Wing Metals Inc., reported results for two recently completed geophysical surveys at its La Reyna project, Nayarit. Results from the initial Induced Polarization (IP) survey and Hybrid Controlled Source Audio Magneto-Telluric (HSAMT) survey have provided valuable information to improve the company’s understanding of this priority target area. “Multiple anomalies were identiﬁed by the IP survey for follow up drilling, the strongest of which underlies outcrop exposures of mineralized and altered rocks that host anomalous disseminated gold. IP has also identiﬁed or conﬁrmed several new prospects for drilling that correlate well with noted mineralization along structural trends at surface including La Feña, El Zorillo, San Ramon, Dolorosa, El Polo, Celeste, and La Reyna 2. The HSAMT survey has successfully reﬁned the location and attitude of several important structural controls to mineralization that were observed at surface. In addition, it has identiﬁed several buried anomalies between a depth of 50 to 300m and has identiﬁed the location of a potential intrusion and feeder zone that may be of importance to the district scale mineralization”.

ON MINING

No relevant news.

ON FINANCING

Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., announced that it is offering convertible senior notes due 2029 in an aggregate principal amount of USD $150M. The Company expects to grant the initial purchasers of the Notes an option for a period of 15 days to purchase up to an additional USD $22.5M aggregate principal amount of Notes. Net proceeds will be used to repay bank indebtedness, to fund working capital requirements, for general corporate purposes and to fund the repayment of its existing 4.65% senior subordinated unsecured convertible debentures, to the extent that such debentures are not converted into shares prior to the redemption date. Later on, the company notified that it has priced its previously announced offering of convertible senior notes due 2029. The company has granted the initial purchasers of the Notes an option for a period of 15 days to purchase up to an additional USD $22.5 million aggregate principal amount of Notes. The Notes will be issued at par value. The Notes will bear cash interest semi-annually at a rate of 3.75% per annum. The initial conversion rate for the Notes will be 151.7220 common shares of Fortuna per USD $1,000 principal amount of Notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately USD $6.59 per share. The initial conversion rate represents a premium of approximately 30% relative to today’s closing sale price of the shares and is subject to adjustment in certain events (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).
Sierra Metals Inc., reported the refinancing of its $75M long-term debt facility and the entering into a new $95 million facility with new covenants, payment terms, and a 5-year term. The New Facility of $95M will be used to repay the existing $75M loan and the additional $20M will be earmarked for high-return capital projects as well as for transaction fees and expenses. Capital expenditures include the development below the 1120 level and the completion of the shaft at the Yauricocha mine in Peru, as well as for mine developments of over 8,000 meters, a new ore pass, and the initial engineering works on a new tailings dam facility at the Bolivar mine in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Solaris Resources Inc., filed a final short form prospectus dated June 3, 2024 to qualify the distribution of 7,150,000 common shares of the company at a price of $4.90 per common share and an additional 1,072,500 common shares at the offering price pursuant to an over-allotment option (La Verde property, Michoacan).
Aura Minerals Inc., declared and approved the payment of a dividend of USD $0.35 per common share (approximately USD $25.4M in total) for the six month ending June, 2024. The dividend will be paid in dividend in US dollars on June 28, 2024, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 20, 2024 (Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas).
Infinitum Copper Corp., closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $450K for the sale of 11,250,000 units at a price of CAD $0.04 per unit. Gross proceeds will be used to re-commencing operations at La Adelita project, Sonora. The company plans to clear a path to the existing adit at Cerro Grande and commence the construction of a short 3m x 3m drive to access the mineralized body identified in earlier drilling campaigns.
Silver Spruce Resources Inc., announced that the TSX has granted an extension to the closing of the second tranche of its previously announced private placement. The company is now required to close the second tranche of the private placement on or before June 14, 2024, but expects to do so in advance thereof (Pino de Plata project, Chihuahua).
Orex Minerals Inc., closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $662,992. The final tranche was comprised of 4,419,951 units of the company issued at a price of $0.15 per unit. In total, the company raised $1M pursuant to the offering, having previously closed a tranche on May 10, 2024, that raised an aggregate of $337K. The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes, which includes legal and financing fees as part of this offering (Sandra project, Durango).
Starcore International Mines Ltd., closed its non-brokered private placement, raising $500K in gross proceeds through the issuance of 3,333,333 units at a price of $0.15 per unit. Gross proceeds will be used primarily to conduct metallurgical testing of the carbonaceous ore at Starcore’s San Martin Mine operations in Queretaro.
Oroco Resources Corp., completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $6.3M by the issuance of 14,051,127 units of the company at a price of $0.45 per unit. Oroco will use the net proceeds to advance its Santo Tomás project in Sinaloa, as well as working capital and other general corporate purposes.
Dyna Resource extended its commercial offtake agreement of USD $4M with Ocean Partners through December 2028 with revised terms including a temporary additional credit line and to increase revolving credit line to USD $12.5M. Additionally, major shareholder Golden Post LLC is set to purchase USD $2.5M shares at a price of USD $1.61 per share. These developments are expected to provide financial support and opportunities for DynaResource´s growth and operations.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

Tocvan Ventures Corp., and its JV partner Colibri Resource Corporation released results from its 2024 RC drilling program from its Pilar project in Sonora. Drilling highlights are shown in the table below:

Over 2,700 meters have been drilled to date for the 2024 program. Results for eight drill holes are currently pending analysis. Drilling is ongoing at Pilar project in Sonora.

Silver Storm Mining Ltd., added a second drill rig to commence a phase 2 drill program at its La Parrilla mine, Durango. The Phase 2 diamond drill program will consist of 7,500m and will be completed over the next three months following up on the initial holes drilled with the aim of converting inferred mineralization to indicated resources.
Atacama Copper Corporation released results from five holes of a 10,000m diamond drilling program at its Cristina project in Chihuahua. Drilling highlights (true widths reported) , all from the eastern portion of the Main Guadalupe Vein System include holes ACD24-226 with 0.63 g/t Au, 60 g/t Ag, 1.4% Zn, 0.6% Pb, and 0.04% Cu (2.5 g/t AuEq) over 22m, including 1.08 g/t Au, 283 g/t Ag, 3.8% Zn, 1.5% Pb, and 0.17% Cu (7.87 g/t AuEq) over 1.3m, plus 1.36 g/t Au, 87 g/t Ag, 3.3% Zn, 1.8% Pb, and 0.06% Cu (5.09 g/t AuEq) over 2.7m; hole ACD24-229 with 0.93 g/t Au, 114 g/t Ag, 2.6% Zn, 1.4% Pb, and 0.23% Cu (4.76 g/t AuEq) over 3.8m, including 0.77 g/t Au, 214 g/t Ag, 5.2% Zn, 2.4% Pb, and 0.45% Cu (8.1% AuEq) over 1.8m, plus 1.49 g/t Au, 31 g/t Ag, 0.8% Zn, 0.2% Pb, and 0.02% Cu (2.49 g/t AuEq) over 14.5m, including 3.32 g/t Au, 46 g/t Ag, 0.9% Zn, 0.3% Pb, and 0.01% Cu (14.88 g/t AuEq) over 5m, including 13.8 g/t Au, 30 g/t Ag, 1% Zn, 0.4% Pb, and 0.01% Cu (5.54 g/t AuEq) over 0.8m; and hole ACD24-230 with 0.62 g/t Au, 300 g/t Ag, 1.1% Zn, 0.4% Pb, and 0.01% Cu (5.54 g/t AuEq) over 2.4m, including 0.76 g/t Au, 867 g/t Ag, 2.1% Zn, 0.6% Pb, and 0.01% Cu (14.13 g/t AuEq) over 0.8m, plus 0.53 g/t Au, 13 g/t Ag, 0.9% Zn, 0.3% Pb, and 0.04% Cu (1.32 g/t AuEq) over 49m, including 4.11 g/t Au, 49 g/t Ag, 1.1% Zn, 0.2% Pb, and 0.03% Cu (5.48 g/t AuEq) over 2.70m, including 11.05 g/t Au, 65 g/t Ag, 1.2% Zn, 0.3% Pb, and 0.03% Cu (12.73 g/t AuEq) over 0.8m, and including 1.65 g/t Au, 50 g/t Ag, 5.7% Zn, 0.9% Pb, and 0.26% Cu (6.11 g/t AuEq) over 2.6m. “These latest holes continue to support our goal of delineating and expanding the known higher-grade zones within the Guadalupe vein system to define a robust underground resource at Cristina. Not only are we seeing the expected higher-grade zones, but these are frequently set within broader intervals of lower grade material that may be amenable to bulk underground mining as is carried out successfully at Fresnillo’s nearby San Julian mine.”

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

Colibri Resource Corporation announces the listing of its common shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE) under the trading symbol “2CO1” (Pilar project, Sonora).
Discovery Silver Corp., notified the appointment of its Vice President, Investor Relations effective immediately (Cordero project, Chihuahua).
Sierra Metals Inc., filed its management information circular in connection with the company´s upcoming annual meeting of shareholders. The Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua).
Sonoran Desert Copper Corporation reported that it has been delayed in filing its audited annual financial statement for its financial year ended December 31, 2023, and the related Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Certifications by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Issuer therefore applied to the British Columbia Securities Commission, the Alberta Securities Commission, and the Autorite des marches financiers (Quebec) pursuant to Part 4 of the National Policy 12-203 for a Management Cease Trade Order as an alternative to a general Cease Trade Order in connection with the Default of the Required Filings. (Cuatro Hermanos project, Sonora).
Bear Creek Mining Corporation reported voting results from its annual general meeting of shareholders and announced the appointment of officers (Mercedes mine, Sonora).
Chesapeake Gold Corp., reported that that it and Alderley Gold Corp., the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, have completed the acquisition of the patents, patent applications and certain other technology rights and assets for the sulphide leaching technology from Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. On closing, Chesapeake paid $2M in cash and issued 1,026,518 common shares of the company at a deemed share price of $2.92 per share (Metates project, Durango).
Angel Wing Metals Inc., granted stock options to employees and consultants of the company. It granted 1,055,000 stock options at an exercise price of $0.15 (La Reyna, Nayarit).
Gatos Silver Inc., presented voting results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Cerro Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua).
DynaResource Inc., announced the appointment of its President, CEO, Interim CFO and Director. It also announced that the former President and CEO resigned and will continue to assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors (San Jose de Gracia mine, Sinaloa).
Vizsla Silver Corp., announced that the independent proxy advisory firms ISS and Glass Lewis recommended that Vizsla Silver shareholders vote for the proposed arrangement with Vizsla Royalties Corp at the upcoming special meeting of shareholders. This spinout by way of a plan of arrangement is seen as a valuable opportunity for shareholders to create additional exposure to the Panuco district and potential new discoveries. The meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Gold Royalty Corp., published its 2023 Sustainability Report an Asset Handbook. Highlights include an announced inaugural sustainability-linked-co-investment of $300K provided to enhance the sustainability impact in one their mines; its portfolio had a carbon intensity of 0.25 T CO2E/GEO, representing one of the lowest carbon intensities in the royalty and streaming sector; its contribution to diverse communities causes, including arts, culture, scholarships, and mental health; and the 100% review of new royalty and streaming agreements and opportunities through their enhanced ESG due diligence process (Cozamine mine., Zacatecas).

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

On the picture above, quartz-goethite stockwork veining with malachite stains in an IOCG system in a project in Sonora, Mexico. Photo taken by Miguel A Heredia.

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

August 5, 2019 / gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Cervantite crystals in jasperoids

By Miguel A Heredia

During the thirty one week of the year (July 29^th to August 4^th, 2019), at least 37 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with twelve communicating production results, nine disclosing deals and corporate issues, six announcing financial rounds, five reporting on resources and development of their projects, two informing on exploration results, and one commenting on Mexican issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, declared that the mining sector will face several legislative and state government proposals to tighten environmental restrictions and raise taxes. ON EXPLORATION, In Jalisco, GoGold released drilling results from four new holes at its Los Ricos project, and Silver Spruce confirmed high grade Au mineralization at its Cocula project. ON MINING, Alamos Gold, Americas Silver, Azure, Capstone, Consolidated Zinc, Excellon, Fresnillo, Leagold, McEwen, Newmont Goldcorp, Santacruz, and Starcore reported production and financial results from their Mexican mining operations. ON FINANCING, Avino, Chesapeake, Great Panther, Millrock, Sonoro and VVC announced financial rounds. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Capstone provided an update on the development of its one-way ramp system at Cozamin mine in Zacatecas, to increase Cu output by the end of 2020. It also initiated a large in-fill drilling program to reserve conversion. Goldplay announced drilling results from the first hole drilled at the Faisanes target, adjacent to the western edge of its San Marcial NI43-101 resource in Sinaloa. Pan American Silver announced results from the exploration drilling completed over the past three months at its La Colorada mine in Zacatecas. Silver Bull provided results from five new holes drilled to test possible extensions at depth to the main deposit at its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. Sonoro filed a technical report on its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora, to present an estimate of mineral resources. SSR Mining commented that is reviewing drill programs and engineering studies to identify additional zones and continuity of high-grade mineral resources at its Pitarrilla project in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Starcore entered into an agreement covering the sale of its processing facility in Matehuala, San Luis Potosi. Aztec Minerals completed the terms of its earn-in and exercised its option to acquire 65% interest in the Cervantes project in Sonora. Bacanora Lithium provided an update on the strategic investment by Ganfeng Lithium (Sonora Lithium project, Sonora). Discovery Metals completed the acquisition of Levon Resources (Cordero project, Chihuahua). One World Lithium announced the engagement of Montgomery and Associate to assist them as consultant on its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California Norte. Sierra Metals announced management changes (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua). Gold Resource declared July monthly dividend to its shareholders (El Aguila mine, Oaxaca). Peñoles stock sinked more than 10% in the Mexican Stock Exchange.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, declared that the mining sector will face several legislative and state government proposals to tighten environmental restrictions, raise taxes, regularize rights payments and give greater voice and vote to communities where companies have or intend to establish extraction projects. Fernando Alanis Ortega, president of CAMIMEX and general director of Industrias Peñoles commented that “there have been complicated initiatives that show a deep ignorance of what our sector is. It is important to have more executive work within the legislature to have a better coordination in the initiatives”.

ON EXPLORATION

GoGold Resources Inc., released drilling results of new four holes from the ongoing drilling program at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. To date, 41 holes have been drilled for a total of 5,522m. Significant intersections were encountered in hole LRGG-19-18 (the deepest hole to intersect Los Ricos vein to date) with 21.4m of 0.81 g/t Au and 170 g/t Ag (3.08 g/t AuEq), including 12.9m of 1.24 g/t Au and 262 g/t Ag (4.74 g/t AuEq), including 7.5m of 1.78 g/t Au and 342 g/t Ag (6.35 g/t AuEq); hole LRGG-19-019 with 4.5m of 1.5 g/t Au and 197 g/t Ag (4.13 g/t AuEq, followed by 2.2m of open stope, to continue with 13.8m of 0.63 g/t Au and 86 g/t Ag (1.78 g/t AuEq), including 4.2m of 1.52 g/t Au and 198 g/t Ag (4.17 g/t AuEq); hole LRGG-19-020 with 14.9m of 1.78 g/t Au and 106 g/t Ag (3.2 g/t AuEq), including 7m of 3.48 g/t Au and 156 g/t Ag (5.55 g/t AuEq); and hole LRGG-19-021 with 7.5m of 0.09 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag (0.33 g/t AuEq), followed by 6m of open stope, to continue with 15.6m of 1.15 g/t Au and 113 g/t Ag (2.67 g/t AuEq), including 6.5m of 2.38 g/t Au and 236 g/t Ag (5.54 g/t AuEq). GoGold plans to complete 10,000m of drilling at the property.
Silver Spruce Resources Inc., received results from a first set of fifteen RC drilling samples and from a second set of eight surface samples and four RC samples for due diligence purposes to confirm grades reported previously by Timmins Gold (now Alio Gold) at the advanced Au Cocula project in Jalisco. Re-assays showed a good correlation with those results reported previously by Timmins.

ON MINING

Alamos Gold Inc., presented production and financial results for the period Q2, 2019 from their Mulatos and Chanate mines in Sonora. At its Mulatos mine, the company processed 2,107,590 tonnes of 0.94 g/t Au to produce 36.3K Oz Au and sold 40.12K Oz Au. Sale cost per Oz Au produced was $725 for an AISC of $1,257 per Oz Au. At its Chanate mine (transitioned to residual leaching in October, 2018), Alamos produced 4,400 Oz Au and sold 4,376 Oz Au. Production cost was $1,234 USD per Oz Au for an AISC of $1,257 per Oz Au. The company expects to produce 150K-160K Oz Au at Mulatos mine and over 15K-25K Oz Au at El Chanate during 2019.
Americas Silver Corporation, announced Q2, 2019 production and operating cost results from its Cosala mine operation in Sinaloa. It processed 156,998 tonnes of 49 g/t Ag to produce 145.4K Oz Ag, 11.15M Lb Zn, and 4M Lb Pb (1.3M Oz AgEq), at a cash cost of $18.27 per Oz Ag and AISC of 11.66 per Oz Ag.
Azure Minerals Limited, reported that during Q2, 2019 over 1,200 tonnes of ore have been mined and stockpiled from its Oposura project in Sonora, with an estimated grade to be between 10-15% combined Zn+Pb. Ore will be processed under a toll treatment agreement through the nearby San Javier sulphide flotation processing facility. Ore transport will start in August and processing is expected to start in September.
Capstone Mining Corp., released production and financial results for the period Q2, 2019 from its Cozamine mine in Zacatecas. Capstone milled 284K tonnes of 1.48% Cu, 0.96% Zn, and 45 g/ton Ag to produce 8.72M Lb Cu, 3.84M Lb Zn, and 323K Oz Ag. Metallurgical recoveries were 94.1% for Cu, 64.2% for Zn, and 77.3% for Ag. Site operating cost was $47.71 per tonne milled, with cash cost of $1.06 per Lb Cu produced. The company reported revenue of $24.3M for an EBITDA of $9.3M.
Consolidated Zinc Limited, reported Q2, 2019 production and financial results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. It mined 15,881 tonnes of 14.8% Zn, 6.7% Pb, and 35 g/t Ag, and processed 10,273 tonnes of 13.2% Zn, 4.7% Pb, and 35 g/t Ag, for a total of 3M Lb Zn, 1M Lb Pb, and 11.6K Oz Ag contained. From this total metal contained, only 1.3M Lb Zn, 334K Lb Pb, and 4KOz Ag was sold with cash cost of $0.78 per Lb Zn produced. 742 tonnes of Zn concentrate and 246 tonnes of Pb concentrate were stockpiled and will be available for sale at June 30, 2019.
Excellon Resources Inc., presented Q2 and H1, 2019 production and financial results from its La Platosa mine in Durango. It processed 19,964 tonnes of 514 g/t Ag, 5% Pb, and 7.4% Zn during Q2, 2019 for a total of 38,183 tonnes of 523 g/t Ag, 5% Pb, and 7.7% Zn in H1, 2019. Total production in Q2, 2019 was 276.8K Oz Ag, 1.8M Lb Pb, and 2.8M Lb Zn (583K Oz AgEq), for a total of 537.2 Oz Ag, 3.14M Lb Pb, and 4.5M Lb Zn (1M Oz AgEq) during the period H1, 2019. Excellon reported a production cost of $304 and $204 per tonne for Q2 and H1, 2019 respectively. Cash cost per Oz Ag produced was $9.18 and 10.06 for the periods Q2 and H1, 2019 respectively, with an AISC per Oz Ag payable of $16.89 and $19.82 respectively. The company had revenues for $8.67M and $13.85M for the periods Q2 and H1, 2019 respectively.
Fresnillo plc., announced consolidated production and financial results for the period H1, 2019 from their Mexican operations. Fresnillo produced 27.56M Oz Ag (including a Ag stream production of 1,548 Oz Ag), 432.4K Oz Au, 56.4M Lb Pb, and 95M Lb Zn. Adjusted revenue of USD $1,069M were reported with an EBITDA of USD $307.9M for a total profit for the period of USD$ 70.9M. The company also presented production results by mine for H1, 2019. At Fresnillo mine, Zacatecas, 1,194,199 tonnes were processed with grades of 187 g/t Ag, 0.86 g/t Au, 0.85% Pb, and 1.5% Zn for a total of 6.4M Oz Ag, 25K Oz Au, 19.6M Lb Pb, and 26.8M Lb Zn. At Saucito mine, Zacatecas, Fresnillo processed 1,327,673 tonnes of 243 g/t Ag, 1.14 g/t Au, 0.9%Pb, and 1.6% Zn to produce 8.8M Oz Ag, 36.7K Oz Au, 23.4M Lb Pb, and 33.7M Lb Zn. At its Pyrites Plant, it processed 87K tonnes of 305 g/t Ag and 2.31 g/t Au to produce 638K Oz Ag and 2,315 Oz Au. At Cienega mine in Durango, the company processed 650,107 tonnes of 1.55 g/t Au, 163 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, and 1% Zn to produce 29.7K Oz Au, 2.9M Oz Ag, 5.2M Lb Pb, and 8.6M Lb Zn. At the San Julian mine in Chihuahua-Durango border, Fresnillo processed 661,680 tonnes of 1.74 g/t Au and 120 g/t Ag from San Julian Veins to produce 35.3K Oz Au and 2.3M Oz Ag, while 1,107,875 tonnes were processed from the San Julian Disseminated Ore Body with grades of 0.08 g/t Au, 137 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 1.4% Zn, to produce 1,143 Oz Au, 4.2M Oz Ag, 8.1M Lb Pb, and 25.9M Lb Zn. Total production at San Julian was 36.4K Oz Au and 6.5M Oz Ag. At its Noche Buena mine in Sonora, the company processed 6,575,328 tonnes of 0.53 g/t Au and 0.2 g/t Ag to produce 65.4K Oz Au and 29K Oz Ag.
Leagold Mining Corporation, reported production and financial results from its Los Filos mine in Guerrero for the period Q2, 2019. Leagold reported Au production and sales for 44.9K Oz Au and 47K Oz Au respectively, at a cash cost of USD $853 per Oz Au sold and AISC of USD $978 per Oz Au sold for an associated revenue of USD $59.9M. Au production and sales were 108.9K Oz Au and 112.9K Oz Au respectively for the period H1, 2019, for revenue of USD $144.1M and AISC of USD $846 per Oz Au sold.
McEwen Mining Inc., announced production and financial results from its El Gallo mine in Sinaloa for the period Q2, 2019. The company produced 5.4K GEOs (Au Eq ounces) at cash cost of USD $967 per Oz Au and AISC of USD $989 per Oz Au produced. Total production in H1, 2019 reached 23K GEOs at cash cost of USD $724 per Oz Au and AISC of USD $776 per Oz Au produced.
Newmont Goldcorp Corporation, announced Q2, 2019 production and financial results from its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. It produced 165K GEOs, 245M Lb Zn, 180M Lb Pb, and 25M Oz Ag at cash cost of USD $820 per Oz Au and AISC of USD $1,095 per Oz Au produced.
Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., presented Q2, 2019 production results from their Veta Grande mine in Zacatecas and El Rosario mine in San Luis Potosi. At Veta Grande mine, Zacatecas, it processed 37,156 tonnes of 101 g/t Ag, 0.21 g/t Au, 1.1% Pb, and 2.1% Zn, to produce 73K Oz Ag, 138 Oz Au, 826.5K Lb Pb, and 1.36M Lb Zn for a total of 240.2K Oz AgEq. At El Rosario mine in San Luis Potosi, the company processed 20,789 tonnes of 74 g/t Ag, 0.28 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 2.1% Zn to produce 46.1K Oz Ag, 116 Oz Au, 194.9K Lb Pb, and 844.5K Lb Zn for a total of 133.1K Oz AgEq.
Starcore International Mines Ltd., reported year end dated April, 30, 2019 production and financial results from its San Martin mine in Queretaro. Starcore milled 301.9K tonnes with grades of 1.63 g/t Au and 86 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 86.2% and 58.4% respectively, to produce 13.7K Oz Au and 224.5K Oz Ag at an operating cost of USD $58 per tonne and USD $1,081 per Oz Au produced. Total revenues of CAD $32.8M were obtained, including CAD $5.7M of purchased concentrate processing revenue.

ON FINANCING

Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., closed a bought deal financing for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD $6M. Net proceeds will be used to advance the exploration and development of its Avino mine in Durango.
Chesapeake Gold Corp., announced that it entered in a bought deal private placement financing for gross proceeds of $12M. In addition, Chesapeake also entered into a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $3M (Metates project, Durango).
Great Panther Mining Limited, entered in a bought deal financing agreement for gross proceeds of approximately $15M. In addition, Great Panther granted an over-allotment option for gross proceeds of $2.25M (Topia mine, Durango).
Millrock Resources Inc., closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1M (Guadalcazar project, San Luis Potosi).
Sonoro Metals Corp., completed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $750K (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora).
VVC Exploration Corporation, announced a non-brokered private placement to intend to raise up to CAD $2.5M. Proceeds will be used to pay for exploration and development of its Samalayuca project in Chihuahua, land use permits and associated costs, metallurgical bench testing of copper mineralization, and proposed pilot mining investigation and evaluation process.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

Capstone Mining Corp., announced that the development of the one-way ramp system is on schedule for completion by the end of 2020, which is expected to increase copper output by 30% to between 40 to 45M Lb per annum. In addition, Cozamin initiated a large in-fill definition drilling program during the quarter that will target resource to reserve conversion to support a doubling of Cozamin’s mine life.
Goldplay Exploration Ltd., reported results from the first hole drilled at the Faisanes target, immediately adjacent to the western edge of its San Marcial NI43-101 resource in Sinaloa. Hole SM-19-01 intersected 1m of 204.6 g/t Au and defined a new Au mineralized zone close to surface. Goldplay is actively focused on surface and drilling exploration along the 600 m long Faisanes zone.
Pan American Silver Corp., provided results from the exploration drilling completed over the last three months at its la Colorada mine in Zacatecas. The drilling program covered an area of 600m by 300m and delineated skarn/manto zones that are still open laterally and at depth. Four drill rigs operating underground and three drill rigs on surface have completed 11,300m of infill and step-out drilling in the last three months, bringing the total meters drilled to date to 31,000m. Significant drill intersections were encountered in hole U-51-19 with 109 g/t Ag, 0.38% Cu, 1.7% Pb, and 3.8 % Zn over 114m, including 158g/t Ag, 0.59%Cu, 2.6% Pb, and 5% Zn over 58.2m ; hole U-46-19 with 55 g/t Ag, 0.22% Cu, 3.8% Pb, and 6.6% Zn over 126m, including 74 g/t Ag, 0.44% Cu, 5.4% Pb, and 10.3% Zn over 32.9m; hole U-42-19 with 40 g/t Ag, 0.17% Cu, 1.2% Pb, and 2.8% Zn over 214.2m, including 75 g/t Ag, 0.33% Cu, 3.4% Pb, and 3.5% Zn over 38.3m; hole U-37-19 with 28 g/t Ag, 0.11% Cu, 1.9% Pb, and 3.9% Zn over 45.8m, including 36 g/t Ag, 0.08% Cu, 3.2% Pb, and 3.7% Zn over 18.1m; hole U-35-19 with 41 g/t Ag, 0.3% Cu, 0.9% Pb, and 4% Zn over 82.6m; hole U-29-19 with 67 g/t Ag, 0.23% Cu, 1.5% Pb, and 4.5% Zn over 18.8m; hole U-22.19 with 42 g/t Ag, 0.05% Cu, 0.8% Pb, and 3.9% Zn over 104.7m and 64 g/t Ag, 0.28% Cu, 2% Pb, and 5.8% Zn over 15.1m. Pan American plans to complete 50,000m of drilling and review 12,000 km magnetotellurics geophysics survey to better define the skarn footprint limits.
Silver Bull Resources Inc., provided results from five holes drilled to test possible extensions at depth of its Sierra Mojada deposit in Coahuila. Significant intersections were encountered in hole B19005 with 9% Zn, 2.1% Pb, and 16 g/t Ag over 13.25m of massive sulphide mineralization, including 11.9% Zn, 2.8% Pb, and 24 g/t Ag over 5.85m: hole B19004 with 8.1%Zn, 1.8% Pb, and 27 g/t Ag over 46.23m, including 8.1% Zn, 1.8% Pb, and 27 g/t Ag over 0.87m: hole B19006 with 7.2% Zn, 1.2% Pb, 195 g/t Ag, and 0.13% Cu over 0.85m. These drill holes are part of an 8,000m surface drilling program to test extensions of the main deposit at Sierra Mojada, Coahuila.
Sonoro Metals Corp., filed a NI43-101 technical report on its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora in which reported inferred resources of 11,470,000 tonnes of 0.49 g/t Au and 4 g/t Ag (or 0.55 g/t AuEq) to contain a total of 183K Oz Au and 1.6M Oz Ag (or 201K Oz AuEq). “The estimate of mineral resources is based on a total of 21,091 meters of RC drilling in 200 holes. Of these, 10,328m in 96 holes were drilled by Sonoro, plus 7,725m in 86 holes were drilled by Corex Gold and 3,038m in 18 holes were drilled by Paget Southern, both previous operators of the Cerro Caliche project”.
SSR Mining Inc, informed that is reviewing drill programs and engineering studies to identify additional zones and continuity of high-grade mineral resources at its Pitarrilla project in Durango. It is also evaluating contractors to extend the existing underground access and drill these areas.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

Starcore International Mines Ltd., entered in an agreement to cover the sale of its subsidiary Altiplano Goldsilver SA de CV, which owns the processing facility in Matehuala, San Luis Potosi. Terms of the transaction includes a deposit of USD $0.5M; a payment of USD $0.5M on August 31, 2019; a payment of USD $200K on November 30, 2019; a payment of USD $200K on February 28, 2020; and a final payment of USD $200K on May 31, 2020. In addition, Starcore informed that reduced its staff by 125 people at its San Martin mine in Queretaro. It will incur in severance cost of USD $600K related to the staff reduction.
Aztec Minerals Corp., completed the terms of its ear-in and exercised its option to acquire 65% interest in the Cervantes project in Sonora from Kootenay Silver Inc. Both companies expect to finalize the terms of the JV agreement shortly and form a management committee to review the exploration results to date and approve the next exploration program and budget at Cervantes.
Bacanora Lithium plc., provided an updated on the strategic investment by Ganfeng Lithium (GFL) to participate at the Sonora Lithium operation. GFL will acquire 29.99% of Bacanora, and 22.5% of the Sonora Lithium project in Sonora.
Discovery Metals Corp., completed the acquisition of Levon Resources Ltd. Based on the agreement, the shareholders of Levon received 0.55% of a common share of Discovery. “Effective on the closing of the Arrangement, there were approximately 168M Discovery shares issued and outstanding (including the conversion of the Subscription Receipts, as described below, and the issuance of 64,412,929 Discovery Shares issued to Levon shareholders pursuant to the Arrangement), and Discovery’s market capitalization is approximately $66M, based on Discovery’s closing price on the TSX Venture Exchange on August 1, 2019”.
One World Lithium Inc., announced the engagement of Montgomery and Associates to consult with the company on its exploration program at its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California Norte.
Sierra Metals Inc., announced management changes after the departure of its COO (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua).
Torex Gold Resources Inc., amended and restated a USD $400M debt facility with bank institutions. This debt facility is comprised of USD $185M term loan, and USD $150M revolving loan facility. All conditions precedent to the initial advance under the debt have been satisfied as of July 30, 2019, and at that date, the full amount of the term facility and USD $100M of the revolving facility is outstanding ( El Limon-Guajes Mining Complex, Guerrero).
Gold Resource Corporation, declared July monthly dividend of 1/6 of a cent per common share to its shareholders (El Aguila mine, Oaxaca).
Industrias Peñoles SA de CV, informed that its stock plummeted 58 % in the Mexican Stock Exchange after reporting losses in Q2, 2019 due to the fall of metal prices and production cost increase. The company’s operating flow collapsed 58.4% in said period 2019 against the same period of 2018. Metal operations showed a decrease in volumes: Pb production fell 13.8%, Au 8.8 %, and Ag 4.5%. The exception was Zn, where production grew 15.1%.

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, cervantite crystals after stibnite in jasperoids in a prospect in Durango, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of July, 2019

July 29, 2019July 29, 2019 / Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 30^th week of the year (July 22^nd to July 28^th, 2019), at least 29 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the Chihuahua government announced the Los Gatos mine is about to start production in the municipality of Satevó, and stated that the mining industry is of uttermost importance in the State, with 44 companies (80% Canadian) providing 12,300 well-paid jobs. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Evrim released drill results from its Sarape project. ON MINING, Excellon, Mexus Gold and Great Panther presented production or financial results. Azure commenced open-pit mining at its Oposura project in Sonora. ON FINANCING, In a great week for the resource companies sector, Impact Silver, Golden Minerals, Americas Silver, SilverCrest Metals, Mako Mining, Southern Silver, Avino Silver, Discovery Metals and Oroco announced financing rounds for combined tens of millions of dollars, with several of those placements having been increased after the opening. Silver One Resources granted options to its personnel and consultants. Defiance Silver entered into a $200 K loan with one of its officers. Mexus Gold US paid a $105 K loan. Capstone Mining extended and amended its US$300 million corporate revolving credit facility. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Avino Silver released results from holes previously drilled testing the Avino system stockwork hanging-wall. GoGold released results from four more holes at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Prize Mining intends to change its name to Boundary Gold and Copper Mining. One World Lithium issued a technical clarification on its previous press release on drilling at its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California. Discovery Metals received conditional approval for the plan of arrangement with Levon Resources for the combination of its businesses, and Levon shareholders approved the said plan of arrangement.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

The Secretariat on Innovation and economic Development of Chihuahua announced that a new mining project is about to start operations in the state: Los Gatos, in San Jose del Sitio, Satevó, with a US$316 M investment by Sunshine Silver and Dowa Holdings Co. Ltd. from Japan, that is to create more than 350 jobs. Other mining operations in the state include Pan American Silver’s Dolores mine in Madera, where 850 persons work, and Coeur’s Palmarejo mine with 800 workers. Chihuahua has 14 big mining operations, with 44 companies exploring in the state (80% Canadian companies) that generate 12,300 direct jobs with salaries that are 190% above the State average.

ON EXPLORATION

Evrim Resources Corp. released drill results from the 2019 maiden drill program at the Sarape project in Sonora. The 2,390 m ten hole program covered a 380 m strike length along the Sarape (6 km long), La Nune and Chiltepin veins. Highlighted results include 0.25 m @ 1.48 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag; 8.47 m @ 0.33 gpt Au, 8 gpt Ag; 7.55 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 11 gpt Ag; 24.68 m @ 0.18 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag (including 1.4 m @ 0.55 gpt Au, 31 gpt Ag); 1.47 m @ 0.31 gpt Au, 21 gpt Ag; 1.46 m @ 0.80 gpt Au, 34 gpt Ag; 3.15 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag; 11.57 m @ 0.22 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag.

ON MINING

Excellon Resources Inc. announced second quarter 2019 production results from its Platosa mine, Durango. At the site 18,717 tonnes were mined, 19,964 tonnes processed @ 514 gpt Ag, 4.97% Pb, 7.40% Zn, recovering 90.6% Ag, 83.6% Pb, 79.6% Zn to produce 276.8 K Oz Ag, 1.76 M Lb Pb, 2.5 M Lb Zn. “.. the operation accessed multiple ore faces in the Rodilla, Pierna, 623 and Guadalupe South mantos. Operational efficiencies implemented in previous quarters continued to deliver results with lower dilution, higher grades and steady production rates”.
Mexus Gold US. informed that leaching from its 2,500 ton leach pad is returning solution to the holding pond at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake for First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora). “It is expected to accumulate 5 to 7 oz. the first week with leaching continuing until the return solution stabilizes. Mexus will be adding new ore to the pad with the Merrill Crow gold recovery system running weekly to keep up with production.”
Great Panther Mining Ltd. reported financial results for the second quarter 2019. Most of the report is focused on the operation of the company’s recently acquired Tucano mine in Brazil, and not much is disclosed about its Mexican operations, other than the production of 10,023 Oz AuEq. At the end of the period cash and short-term deposits were $9.9 M (Topia, Durango).
Capstone Mining Corp. extended and amended its US$300 million corporate revolving credit facility with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CBIC) and Bank of Nova Scotia. “In the quarter ending June 30, 2019, Capstone paid an additional $20 million towards long-term debt , bringing the total deleveraging payments to $129 million over the last ten fiscal quarters, and the total long-term debt balance to $199.9 million” (Cozamin, Zacatecas).
Azure Minerals Ltd. commenced mining at its Oposura project in Sonora. Ore grading 10-15% Pb-Zn is being open-pit mined at a rate of 1,500-3,000 tonnes per month on the East-Zone, where all material being mined is classified as indicated mineral resources. “Processing of this ore is expected to commence in September under a toll treatment agreement with a third-party sulphide flotation processing plant”.

ON FINANCING

Silver One Resources Inc. granted 2.43 M stock options to its directors, officers, consultants and advisors (La Frazada, Nayarit).
Impact Silver Corp. amended the terms of its ongoing non-brokered private placement financing due to strong interest. Under the actual terms, Impact has closed a first tranche for gross proceeds of $1.235 M and expects to close a second tranche for additional $714 K. Under the modified terms a third tranche has been added seeking to raise additional $3 M (Zacualpan District, Estado de Mexico).
Impact Silver Corp. completed the second tranche of the previously announced non-brokered private placement, receiving aggregate gross proceeds of $714.3 K (Zacualpan District, Estado de Mexico).
Golden Minerals Co. closed the direct offering previously announced, for gross proceeds $2.25 M (Rodeo, Durango).
Americas Silver Corp. announced that Eric Sprott purchased shares of the company for a total of US$10 M in a non-brokered private placement, increasing its ownership to above 8% (Cosalá, Sinaloa).
SilverCrest Metals Inc. entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters for the purchase of shares with gross proceeds of C$22.0 M, with the company paying the underwriters a cash commission of up to 5% of the gross proceeds. SSR Mining elected to exercise its right to maintain its pro rata ownership of up to 9.9% (Las Chispas, Sonora).
Defiance Silver Corp. “entered into a loan agreement with an entity controlled by one of its officers and directors which allows Defiance to borrow up to $200,000. The Loan is unsecured and will bear interest at the rate of 1% per month, accrued daily. It will mature on July 22, 2020”(San Acacio, Zacatecas).
Mako Mining Corp. announced the completion of the previously announced rights offering, raising total aggregate gross proceeds of $27 M.
Mexus Gold US. informed that the company has satisfied a $105 K loan commitment on time (Santa Elena, Sonora).
Southern Silver Exploration Corp. announced its previously announced $2M non-brokered private placement has been increased to $3 M (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango).
Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. entered into an agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corp. as sole underwriter to the purchase of common shares of the company for gross proceeds of $4M and additional flow-through common shares for additional gross proceeds of $2 M (Avino, Durango).
Discovery Metals Corp. closed its non-brokered private placement, raising $ 9.0 M. Mr Eric Sprott acquired 17.56 M shares, and as a result he’s now the owner of 19.9% of Discovery’s issued and outstanding common shares. Finders’ fees of $17,500 were paid (Puerto Rico, Coahuila; Cordero, Chihuahua).
Oroco Resource Corp. announced a non-brokered private placement to raise $1.35 M (Santo Tomas, Sinaloa).
Americas Silver Corp. closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement with Mr. Eric Sprott, raising gross proceeds of US$10 M.
Capstone Mining Corp. extended and amended its US$300 million corporate revolving credit facility with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CBIC) and Bank of Nova Scotia. “In the quarter ending June 30, 2019, Capstone paid an additional $20 million towards long-term debt , bringing the total deleveraging payments to $129 million over the last ten fiscal quarters, and the total long-term debt balance to $199.9 million” (Cozamin, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. released results from a sampling campaign comprising 52 recent and historic holes that were previously drilled on the hanging-wall of the Avino stockwork system of its Avino property in Durango. Some of the results released: 3.05 m @ 1.31 gpt Au, 24 gpt Ag, 0.02% Cu; 4.30 m @ 1.47 gpt Au, 71 gpt Ag, 0.49% Cu; 2.20 m @ 5.00 gpt Au, 120 gpt Ag, 0.13% Cu; 16.00 m @ 2.06 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag, 0.69% Cu; 2.95 m @ 1.50 gpt Au, 31 gpt Ag, 0.47% Cu; 1.25 m @ 3.27 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag, 0.11% Cu; 2.00 m @ 15.60 gpt Au, 146 gpt Ag, 0.28% Cu; 4.10 m @ 3.82 gpt Au, 103 gpt Ag, 0.23% Cu; 5.45 m @ 1.26 gpt Au, 133 gpt Ag, 0.07% Cu; 9.50 m @ 1.82 gpt Au, 119 gpt Ag, 0.50% Cu; 5.95 m @ 2.29 gpt Au, 232 gpt Ag, 0.30% Cu; 4.90 m @ 5.36 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag, 0.07% Cu; 8.43 m @ 2.16 gpt Au, 21 gpt Ag, 0.15% Cu.
GoGold Resources Inc. delivered assays results from four more holes at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Highlighted intervals comprise: 21.4 m @ 0.81 gpt Au, 170 gpt Ag (including 12.9 m @ 1.24 gpt Au, 262 gpt Ag which includes 7.5 m @ 1.78 gpt Au, 342 gpt Ag) in one hole; 4.5 m @ 1.50 gpt Au, 197 gpt Ag, then stope, then 13.8 m @ 0.63 gpt Au, 86 gpt Ag) in another hole; 14.9 m @ 1.78 gpt Au, 106 gpt Ag in a third one and 7.5 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag, then 2.2 m of open stope, then 15.6 m @ 1.15 gpt Au, 113 gpt Ag (including 6.5 m @ 2.38 gpt Au, 236 gpt Ag. The first hole of this release is the deepest so far to intersect the Los Ricos vein.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

Prize Mining Corp. announced its shareholders will be asked in August 22 to approve the continuation of the company into the jurisdiction of Britsh Columbia, the consolidation of its shares on a 5 to one basis and the name change of the company to Boundary Gold and Copper Mining Ltd. (Manto Negro, Coahuila).
Discovery Metals Inc. has received conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange to complete the transaction with Levon Resources Ltd. for the combination of their businesses (Puerto Rico, Coahuila; Cordero, Chihuahua).
One World Lithium Inc. issued a technical clarification as a result of a review by the British Columbia Securities Commission about a previous news release on drilling results at its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California. The company had three distinct target levels at several zones, but drilling encountered harsh conditions due to the natural variability of the unconsolidated basin sediments. “Dense mudstones were interlayered with unconsolidated, water- and brinebearing sands. Drill bits and related equipment were commonly plugged by the mudstones, requiring multiple trips out of the hole to clean and unplug the drill bits. Unconsolidated sands poured or sloughed into the drill bore, requiring substantial time to stabilize the drill hole before drilling to additional depths. Some measure of control was established by drilling and setting casing at deeper levels, but high amounts of water impeded the progress of the drill…..”
Discovery Metals Inc. announced a majority of Levon Resource Ltd’s shareholders approved the plan of arrangement for the combination of businesses (Puerto Rico, Coahuila, Cordero, Chihuahua).

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: sheeted quartz veinlets and minor stockwork development in metamorphic rocks of a project in Oaxaca. Picture by Jorge Cirett

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

July 1, 2019July 1, 2019 / Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 26^th week of the year (June 24^th to June 30^th, 2019), at least 43 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, a resolution by the Supreme Court is awaited to learn how the Mining Fund resources are to be allocated, if for social and environmental infrastructure (as planned) or as direct allocations to the people of the communities, the preferred method of the president (a method the opposition denounces as vote buying). In Sonora a local congressman introduced a bill for a new state tax on dirt extracted from open pits, a measure that if implemented is to pose a further weight in the already heavy fiscal load for mining companies in Mexico. Furthermore, the Economy Secretariat (Secretaria de Economia) published a letter stating that the “Protocol of Good Practice of Mining for the Public Consultation” (Protocolo de buenas practicas de la Minería para la consulta pública) is under review by the agency. It is not possible to underrate the importance of the review of this protocol, because if it is implemented incorrectly the result would impact fast and catastrophically the Mexican exploration industry. One of the more pressing issues is the fact that placing the consultation process before exploration takes place, would end most exploration in one swipe. If in doubt, just take a look to Oaxaca, where, although not being in the law you have to make the community consultation process before exploring, and the result is that hardly any exploration work is nowadays conducted in one of the states with the best mineralization potential in Mexico. Trust is hard to earn, let’s not throw it away so carelessly. ON EXPLORATION, In Zacatecas, Galore continues to drill at Dos Santos; Alien Metals updated on its exploration of Donovan 2 and Los Campos. ON MINING, Alien Metals released its financial results for 2018. ON FINANCING, Santacruz signed an agreement to extend the payment of a US$2.3 M loan. Galore is making a $1.5 M financing. Goldplay closed an oversubscribed financing for $1.37 M. Leagold completed a debt refinancing for a $200 M term loan and a $200 M revolving credit facility. ePower intends to conduct a private placement for Cdn$6 M. Sable granted 2.8 M incentive stock options. Alien Metals raised £350 K. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexus Gold is to start leaching at Santa Elena, in Sonora. Telson reported significant underground channel sample results at Tahuehueto. Orla presented the result of the FS on Camino Rojo. Premier Gold presented results of its 42,000 m drilling campaign at Mercedes. Southern Silver file a technical report with updated resources on Cerro Las Minas. Santacruz presented results of drilling at Veta Grande. GoGold released results of drilling at Los Ricos. SilverCrest informed the decline has intersected the Babicanora vein at Las Chispas. Minera Alamos informed on the permitting of Santana. Almaden updated on permitting and legal issues at its Ixtaca project in Puebla. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Millrock sold its Sonoran portfolio to Riverside. ePower Metals entered into a definitive agreement with Minera Alamos to acquire the Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Silver Viper renegotiated much better terms on the lease of two properties within its La Virgina project in Sonora. Golden Minerals entered into an agreement under which Minera Autlan is to buy its Velardeña properties. Bacanora Lithoum signed an investment agreement and an offtake agreement with Ganfeng Lithium on its Sonora lithium project. Canasil and Pan American agreed on terms for the acquisition of Pan American of the Sandra Escobar project in Durango.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

The Economy Secretariat is awaiting the resolution of the Supreme Court on the change of rules to apply the Mining Fund, which this year is anticipated to be amounting to 3.2 billion pesos (3,200 millones) or approximately US$168.4 M. The proposal by the present Federal government (ie.- the president) is to deliver the resources directly to the people to “augment the capacities” of the mining communities. The aim would be to organize the community and the service providers to be part of the service chain for the mining industry. The resources on the Mining Fund to date are to be funneled according with the current rules, until a resolution by the Supreme Court clarifies the issue.
In Sonora, local congressman Carlos Navarrete from the Encuentro Social party (allied to the Morena party) introduced a bill for a new State tax on dirt extracted from open pits (includes waste, sand, dimension stone, clays, limestone, lime, among others). The US$0.63 tax per cubic metre of material would be split 80/20 between the municipalities and the State. The resources would be utilized in physical investments and infrastructure with social impact, in the environment and urban development (The bill intends to use the resources thus gathered in the same way that those of the Mining Fund were supposed to be used, and for which a 7% federal royalty tax was imposed on mining a few years ago. Now that the current president Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador intends to use the resources of the Mining Fund for his preferred programs, allied politicians are trying to make the mining industry pay even more taxes).
The Economy Secretariat published a letter on the “Protocol of Good Practice of Mining for the Public Consultation”. In the letter the Economy Secretariat states that the protocol is under review by the agency. On the Letter: The consultation process is to be applied to all communities that can be impacted by the mining activity. Also, both exploration and exploitation should be consulted before their realization. The responsible authority is to be the Economy Secretariat, with aid by the Instituto Nacional de los Pueblos Indigenas and other authorities (SEMARNAT, CONAGUA, CFE, local municipal and state governments), as well as the state and federal Human Rights Commissions.

ON EXPLORATION

Galore Resources Inc. informed its 2,500 m diamond core drilling program at the El Alamo target of its Dos Santos project in Zacatecas continues to progress well. The first hole “intersected multiple zones of alteration and brecciation …… silicified and brecciated limestone similar to those observed on the surface over a much wider zone than was anticipated”.
Alien Metals Ltd. updated on its exploration activities at its Zacatecas properties Donovan 2, Los Campos and Don Celso. Sampling and mapping at Donovan 2 has resulted in high grade mineralisation in historic workings open along strike, and channel sample assays of up to 1.15% Cu and float samples of up to 0.45 gpt Au. Planned work includes a ground induced polarisation (IP) geophysical survey before the first phase of drilling. Surface mapping and sampling will be undertaken at Los Campos and Don Celso properties, as well as underground sampling and a geophysical survey at Los Campos.

ON MINING

Alien Metals Ltd. released its audited financial results for 2018. The company owns the Donovan 2, Los Campos, San Celso and La Africana projects in Zacatecas. The company held US$0.7 M in cash and cash equivalents by the end of the period.

ON FINANCING

Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reached an agreement to amend the repayment terms of the US$2.3 M short-term loan that it has borrowed from a private Bolivian mining company. The principal balance of US$2.3 million is now to be repaid by January 30, 2020. As consideration for the extension on the date of repayment Santacruz is to increase the issue of 2 M warrants to 2.5 M warrants (Veta Grande, Zacatecas).
Galore Resources Inc. is to commence a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $1.5 M (Dos Santos, Zacatecas).
Goldplay Exploration Ltd. closed its over-subscribed previously announced financing, for gross proceeds of $1.37 M. A total of $28.9 K was paid and 231 K warrants were issued as a finder’s fee payment (San Marcial, Sinaloa).
Leagold Mining Corp. completed the debt refinancing with a syndicate of lenders that includes a $200 million term loan and a $200 million revolving credit facility. These loans have been used to replace $238 million of existing short-term debt, and will aid in the development of the Bermejal underground complex, the Guadalupe open pit and the CIL plant construction at it Los Filos mine in Guerrero.
ePower Metals Inc. intends to conduct a non-brokered private placement to raise up to Cdn$6 M (Los Reyes, Sinaloa).
Sable Resources Ltd. granted 2.8 M incentive stock options to certain officers, directors, employees and consultants of the company. Such options are exercisable at a price of $0.15 for a period of five years (Margarita and Vinata, Chihuahua).
Alien Metals Ltd. raised £350 K through the placement of shares (Donovan 2, Los Campos, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

Mexus Gold US. is to start leaching at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake for First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora). Leaching is programmed to start on June 27^th, with ore grading 1.8 gpt Au, 8 gpt Ag, to later on add ore @ 4 gpt Au, 12 gpt Ag. By September the company expects to be mining 3,500 tonnes per week.
Telson Mining Corp. reported significant channel sample assay results for underground mine development at its Tahuehueto project in Durango, where a 1,000 tonne per day mine is under construction. Highlighted results include: 2.42 m @ 5.76 gpt Au, 129 gpt Ag, 1.44% Cu, 3.8% Pb, 6.2% Zn; 5.50 m @ 3.31 gpt Au, 57 gpt Ag, 0.32% Cu, 0.9% Pb, 3.5% Zn; 5.38 m @ 4.41 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag, 0.38% Cu, 1.5% Pb, 3.6% Zn; 7.0 m @ 5.12 gpt Au, 40 gpt Ag, 0.29% Cu, 1.0% Pb, 3.2% Zn; 6.45 m @ 5.69 gpt Au, 51 gpt Ag, 0.21% Cu, 2.3% Pb, 5.6% Zn; 4.42 m @ 8.70 gpt Au, 59 gpt Ag, 0.18% Cu, 1.7% Pb, 2.2% Zn; 4.08 m @ 9.27 gpt Au, 69 gpt Ag, 0.19% Cu, 0.6% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 3.56 m @ 7.95 gpt Au, 76 gpt Ag, 0.25% Cu, 3.3% Pb, 4.6% Zn. Individual assays are often above 5 gpt Au, and up to 28 gpt Au.
Orla Mining Ltd. presented the results of a feasibility study on its Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas. The main points include 18 K tonnes per day operation, with 44 M tonnes of ore to be put on the leach pad @ 0.73 gpt Au, 14.2 gpt Ag, containing 1 M Oz Au, 20.1 M Oz Ag. The expected recovery is 64% Au, 17% Ag, with an annual gold production of 97 K Oz Au at by-product cash cost $515 per Au Oz and an AISC of $576 per Au Oz. The after tax net present value (5%) is $142 M, with an after tax internal rate of return of 28.7% and a payback period of three years, all this in the case scenario of $1,250 per Au Oz price. The proven and probable mineral reserves stand at 44 M tonnes @ 0.73 gpt Au, 14.4 gpt Ag, whereas the measured and indicated resources amount to 353.4 M tonnes @ 0.83 gpt Au, 8.8 gpt Ag, containing 9.46 M Oz Au, 100.4 M Oz Ag. Inferred mineral resources are 60.9 M tonnes @ 0.87 gpt Au, 7.4 gpt Ag, containing 1.70 M Oz Au, 14.5 M Oz Ag.
Premier Gold Mines Ltd. presented exploration results of its 42,000 m drilling program at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. New mineralised veins have been confirmed at San Martin, opening the area 600 m to the west of the Lupita deposit. Drilling at San Martin returned multiple intercepts, including 7.2 m @ 4.64 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag; 1.4 m @ 5.56 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag. Ongoing delineation at Lupita includes intercepts of 3.9 m @ 10.3 gpt Au, 88 gpt Ag and 1.5 m @ 23.9 gpt Au, 71 gpt Ag. Exploration is to be activated at La Mesa area, adjacent to Agnico Eagle’s Santa Gertrudis project.
Southern Silver Corp. filed a NI-43-101 report with an updated mineral resource estimate for its Cerro Las Minas project in Durango (previously disclosed). The indicated resources amount to 11.1 M tonnes @ 105 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 0.16% Cu, 1.2% Pb, 3.7% Zn, containing 37.5 M OZ Ag, 35 K Oz Au, 40 M Lb Cu, 303 M Lb Pb, 897 Lb Zn, Inferred mineral resources comprise 12.8 Mt @ 111 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.27% Cu, 0.9% Pb, 2.8% Zn, containing 45.7 M Oz Ag, 31 K Oz Au, 76 M Lb Cu, 253 M Lb Pb, 796 M Lb Zn. “The overall objective of the 2019-20 exploration program is to continue to increase the existing resource base and to identify and drill test new epithermal vein systems within the larger claim package.”
Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. released results from phase 1 of the current drilling program on the Veta Grande, Armados and Navidad veins on its Veta Grande project in Zacatecas. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 0.55 m @ 761 gpt Ag, 0.2 gpt Au, 0.86% Pb, 1.84% Zn, 0.04% Cu; 1.94 m @ 65 gpt Ag, 0.75 gpt Au, 1.23% Pb, 3.84% Zn, 0.03% Cu at the Navidad vein; 2.40 m @ 227 gpt Ag, 0.88 gpt Au, 2.71% Pb, 2.64% Zn, 0.19% Cu; 1.59 m @ 280 gpt Ag, 0.61 gpt Au, 3.60% Pb, 3.24% Zn, 0.22% Cu.
GoGold Resources Inc. released results from two more diamond drill holes at its Los Ricos property in Jalisco. Highlighted intervals comprise 5.0 m @ 0.52 gpt Au, 161 gpt Ag; 6.3 m @ 2.14 gpt Au, 337 gpt Ag and 32.0 m @ 0.80 gpt Au, 179 gpt Ag, including 11.3 m @ 1.46 gpt Au, 348 gpt Ag. The 10,000 m HQ diamond drill program “is focused on defining the mineralized halo around the historical high grade ore shoots as defined by the underground workings and the 65 historical RC drill holes on the property”.
SilverCrest Metals Inc. informed the decline has intersected the Babicanora vein at the Las Chispas project in Sonora. The decline intersected the Babicanora vein and the newly identified Baby Vista vein, the first with 3.6 m true width and the second with 1.5 m true width. Additional highlighted infill results of the area 51 of the Babicanora vein include 7.6 m @ 26.6 gpt Au, 2,676 gpt Ag; 3.5 m @ 32 gpt Au, 3,417 gpt Ag; 5.6 m @ 13.6 gpt Au, 1,154 gpt Ag. The 51 in-fill drill holes totaling 18,488 m reported in this news release were “generally targeting mineralization on the outer edges of the current block model” have a weighted average true width of 2.2 m @ 7.17 gpt Au, 753 gpt Ag. An additional 40,000 to 50,000 m of infill and expansion drilling with 15 drill rigs on site focused on expanding mineralization and improving resource confidence. To date over 203,000 m of drilling have been sunk in the property. Ongoing work includes the Feasibility study expected in H1, 2020 development of the Babicanora Vein in Area 51 zone, stockpiling of high-grade material, an extensive metallurgical test program, geotechnical work and permitting for project development.
Minera Alamos Inc. received notification by SEMARNAT (Mexican environmental agency) confirming the successful completion of the technical review phase of the application (Estudio Tecnico Justificativo – “ETJ”) for the change of land use to allow the construction of mining and processing facilities at the Santana project area in Sonora. Phase 2 exploration will continue on the coming months, focusing to “demonstrate the potential of the project to host multiple “Nicho-style” mineralized systems that could be combined to supply feed material for an expanded regional production facility”.
Almaden Minerals Ltd. current focus at its Ixtaca property in Puebla relates to permitting and financing activities. “Review by Mexican authorities of Almaden’s environmental permit application (Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental, or “MIA”) continues in the normal course, and recently SEMARNAT, Mexico’s environmental authority, completed its public information meeting in the town of Santa Maria”. Almaden is engaged with several potential financing parties to secure funds for the development of the project. Regarding a decision by a lower court in Puebla State concerning Mexico’s mineral title system, Mexico’s Federal Congress, Senate, and Ministry of the Economy each filed appeals against the decision, as well as Almaden.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

Ridgestone Mining Inc. entered into an agreement to acquire 100% interest in ten mining concessions adjacent to its Rebeico project in Sonora. The concessions cover 3,292 ha west of the Ridgestone claims, in an area with “numerous artisanal workings and mineralized outcrops”. Ridgestone has to make a $83 K payment and issue 5 M shares to the vendor.
Millrock Resources Inc. entered into an agreement to sell the La Union, Los Cuarentas, El Pima, El Valle and Llano del Nogal claim blocks to Riverside Resources Inc. The Santa Rosalia option from the Los Cuarenta project will also be transferred. The deal, that includes a geological database and exploration equipment, involves Riverside paying $35 K and issuing 150 K shares to Millrock, as well as a 0.5% net smelter royalty (NSR) on the El Pima and El Valle claims, and in the Santa Rosalia option.
ePower Metals Inc. entered into a definitive agreement with Minera Alamos Inc. and Vista Gold Corp. under which ePower has the right to earn 100% interest in the Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. In connection with the Transaction, the Company intends to change its name to “Prime Mining Corp.”, and will focus its resources on the immediate development of Los Reyes. ePower has to complete a $1.5 M cash payment to Minera Alamos, and assume the remaining option payments to Vista Gold of US$1.5 M on October 2019 and US$1.5 M on October 2021, as well as issuing Minera Alamos 9.45 M post-consolidation shares and 3.35 M warrants. ePower has to consolidate its common shares capital on a two-for-one basis and complete a financing of at least Cdn$6 M. The Los Reyes project has an historical estimate of 427.2 K Oz Au, 7.5 M Oz Ag in indicated resources and 196.7 K Oz Au, 4.8 M Oz Ag of inferred resources.
Silver Viper Minerals Corp. renegotiated the terms of the Rubi-Esperanza option agreement to purchase three mineral concessions within its La Virginia project in Sonora. The overall agreement reduced the total cash payments from $4.49 M to $3 M, augmented in one year the term of the option and crucially reduced the amount on the first three payments by $1.46 M, enabling Silver Viper to direct maximum expenditures to advancing the project. According to the new agreement the company has to pay US$50 K on June 2019 (paid), US$75 K on June 2020, US$100 K on June 2021, US$200 K on June 2022 and US$2.575 M on June 2023. A 2% NSR can be purchased for US$2 M within 5 years of the original agreement remains unchanged. “Surface geochemistry and prospecting have identified targets to the north, south and east of the El Rubi discovery (6 m TW @ 3.16 gpt Au, 228 gpt Ag) which will be tested during the next phase of drilling. In addition, Silver Viper has contracted Geotech Ltd. to conduct a 720 line-kilometer magnetic and radiometric survey over the El Rubi and La Gloria targets for a total coverage of 4,900 hectares”.
Golden Minerals Co. entered into an agreement to sell its Velardeña properties to Compañía Minera Autlán S.A.B. de C.V. for $22 M. The deal comprises the Velardeña properties, including the Velardeña and Chicago mines (currently in care and maintenance) and other adjacent exploration properties, and the lease agreement under which Golden Minerals has the oxide plant with Hecla thorough 2020. The proposed transaction also would include the sale of the Rodeo and the Santa Maria project concessions. Upon execution of this agreement, Autlan paid a deposit of US$1.5 million to Golden Minerals, which will be applied to the purchase price upon closing.
Bacanora Lithium PLC. signed an investment agreement and off-take agreement with Ganfeng Lithium Co. (a key player in the lithium industry globally). Once completed this agreement would form a major part of the financing package needed to develop the initial 17,500 tonnes per year production of lithium carbonate. The £14.4 M strategic investment provides Ganfeng with 29.99% of Bacanora, pre-emption rights and a director on the board. Another project level investment of £7.56 M in Sonora Lithium Ltd. (the holding company of the project) accrues Ganfeng 22.5% of the holding company, with an option to increase its interest to 50% within 24 months and the appointment of a director to the board. GFL will provide a plant and process commissioning team to assist Bacanora in delivering first production in 2021.
Canasil Resources Inc. and Pan American Silver Corp. signed the definitive agreement under which Pan American has the right to acquire Canasil’s interest in the Sandra Escobar project, in Durango. The transaction was closed for a payment of CDN$2 M and grant of a 2% NSR, with Pan American being able to buy 1% of the NSR by the payment to Canasil of CDN$4 M.

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, conglomerate with well-rounded quartz vein and silicified rock fragments in the coastal plain in Veracruz. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

May 6, 2019May 6, 2019 / Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 18^th week of the year (April 29^th to May 5^th, 2019), at least 35 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Newmont Goldcorp Corp. informed on the intention to temporarily suspend operations at the Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas, due to an illegal blockade lasting for more than a month now. More than 300 mine employees protested outside the Zacatecas Congress, accusing José Narro, senator by Morena (the president’s party) of instigating the blockade. Drill core from La Xora project in Nayarit was added to The Mexican Core Shack. ON EXPLORATION, Nine companies presented advances in the exploration of their properties: In Baja, One World Lithium has received the permits to drill its Salar Del Diablo property. In Sonora, Sonoro Metals disclosed assays for the first 15 RC holes of the second drilling campaign; Ridgestone updated the work done to date at Rebeico; Minaurum staked a large chunk of ground at its Alamos project. In Chihuahua, Silver Spruce released surface sample results from its Pino de Plata project; Radius Gold released exciting results from the first hole of the second drilling campaign at Amalia; Kootenay Silver has initiated drill road construction for its incoming campaign at Columba. In Jalisco, GoGold released results from its drilling campaign at Los Ricos. In Zacatecas, Alien Gold updated on the exploration effort at its Donovan 2 property. ON MINING, nine companies presented its first quarter 2019 results, while one company presented its 2018 results. ON FINANCING, First Mining, and Prize Mining are to raise $6 M and $1.5 M respectively. Leagold Mining secured a 200 M term loan and a 200 M revolving credit. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, no relevant news. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Alio Gold received notice of a civil claim from a former Rye Patch shareholder.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

Newmont Goldcorp Corp. informed on the intention to temporarily suspend operations at the Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas (one of the largest in Mexico, produced 272 K Oz Au in 2018), due to an illegal blockade by a trucking contractor and some members of the Cedros community that began on March 27, 2019. The company announced on April 9 that the trucking contracts will now be signed with independent truckers, to their economic benefit and to avoid the repeated extortion blockades by the current trucking contractor. Newmont Goldcorp denounced that the blockader’s public claims that focus in water quality and employment, turn in a direct petition for large amounts of money when done privately. The company asks for help from the Mexican and Zacatecan authorities to resolve the illegal blockade that affects the income of more than 20 thousand persons, directly or indirectly. On a different event, about 300 employees of Minera Peñasquito, protested outside the Zacatecas Congress against the illegal blockade that keeps paralyzed the Peñasquito mine. The protesters accused Jose Narro, senator by the president party, Morena, and his acolyte Felipe Pinedo of blackmailing the company with false water contamination statements.
Core from La Xora project, in Nayarit, was added to the Mexican Core Shack (https://gambusinoprospector.com/mexican-core-shack/), under the epithermal low sulphidation section.

ON EXPLORATION

Sonoro Metals Corp. reported assay results from the first 15 reverse circulation holes of the second phase drilling program at its Cerro Caliche property in Sonora. All holes encountered gold mineralization, which extend mineralization 1.25 Km NW from the Central Zone, where the first drill campaign defined a series of NW striking structures, outlining three shallow bulk tonnage oxidized mineralized zones in metasedimentary and volcanic rocks. Previously reported results come from the Central Zone prospects Japoneses, Abejas, El Colorado and Guadalupe, whereas the new drill holes tested El Rincon, Gloria, El Boludito, and Veta de Oro zones. Highlighted results comprise 10.67 m @ 2.73 gpt AuEq; 3.05 m @ 5.48 gpt AuEq; 10.67 m @ 0.74 gpt AuEq; 6.1 m @ 0.80 gpt AuEq; 15.24 m @ 1.05 gpt AuEq.
Alien Metals Ltd. updated on its exploration work at its Donovan 2 project in Zacatecas. Work to date supports indications of volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralisation on multiple target areas open along strike, with surface assays of up to 3.3% Cu, 0.25% Zn. Currently there are magnetic, chargeabilty and resistivity anomalies, and a gravity survey underway is to refine the targets on this project, which is 24 kilometers from Teck’s San Nicolas deposit.
Ridgestone Mining Inc. announced that exploration work to date on its Rebeico property in Sonora defined the 1.2 km long Alaska vein and intensely altered breccia zones SW of the vein, carrying Cu, Au and Ag values, as well as bismuth anomalies. An 18 line-kilometer induced polarization (IP) survey identified a chargeability anomaly below the breccia zone. A 12 hole 1,430 m diamond drill program tested 500 m of the Alaska vein. Eight of the twelve holes intersected significant grades, including: 0.80 m @ 1.41% Cu, 2.95 gpt Au; 2.0 m @ 2.78% Cu, 8.69 gpt Au; 1.40 m @ 3.25 gpt Au; 1.50 m @ 1.39 gpt Au; 1.0 m @ 0.30% Cu, 5.61 gpt Au; 3.25 m @ 2.41% Cu, 8.31 gpt Au; 1.50 m @ 1.22% Cu, 36.10 gpt Au.
One World Lithium Inc. has received the permit required to start its 12 hole, 4,250 m drilling program at its Salar del Diablo property in Baja California. The company intends to test three geophysical anomalies, a geochemical anomaly, and structures that may trap and concentrate brines. The Salar del Diablo Property has never been drilled in the past.
Silver Spruce Resources Inc. released surface sample results from its Pino de Plata property in Chihuahua. The samples returned 19 gpt Ag, 16 gpt Ag, 2 gpt Ag, 1,1,30 gpt Ag, 123 gpt Ag, 95 gpt Ag and 255 gpt Ag; up to 0.19 gpt Au, up to 802 ppm Cu, up to 3.7% Pb on samples 0.2 to 1.0 m in length. The two targets in the area comprise El Terrero and the Gossan area. At El Terrero, a 32 hectares zone “of multiple flat-lying brecciated zones hosted by a zone of strong argillic alteration” is the target, while at the Gossan area a series of hornfels and skarns developed near an intrusive contact may host massive sulphide replacement bodies associated to structures.
Radius Gold Inc. reported the first results from the second diamond drill campaign at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. The program is operated by Radius and funded by Pan American Silver Corp. under a JV agreement by Which Pan American can earn an initial 65% by making cash payments totaling US$1.5 M (of which US$100 K have been paid) and spending US$2 M on exploration over four years. The first hole in this campaign intersected 44 m @ 12.38 gpt Au, 309 gpt Ag, including 11 m @ 39.9 gpt Au, 323 gpt Ag. The estimated true width of the zone is 34 m, consisting of “an epithermal breccia and quartz sulphide stockwork vein zone ” located on or near to the contact between overlying Tertiary rhyolitic ignimbrite and the footwall andesite volcaniclastics of the Late Cretaceous Tarahumara Formation. Diorite dykes appear to be emplaced along the fault zone and are associated with mineralization”.
Minaurum Gold Inc. staked an additional 20,872 hectares on its Alamos project in Sonora. Additionally, mapping has revealed four new vein zones: Rosario, La Dura Oeste, La Dura and La Tijera. These four zones bring the total of veins zones of the district to twenty. The Rosario vein has been traced for 500 m, with samples assaying 304 gpt Ag and 227 gpt Ag over 1 m and 675 gpt Ag, 1.0% Cu, 0.9% Pb over 2 m. The La Dura Oeste vein has been traced for 550 m, returning assays of 30 gpt Ag, 3.4% Cu and 37 gpt Ag, 4.3% Pb. La Dura vein returned 123 gpt Ag, 2.% Cu over 0.5 m. La Tijera vein was traced for 750 m, with three samples returning 23- 36 gpt Ag, 0.41 – 0.77% Cu, up to 0.1% Pb, up to 0.15% Zn over 0.1 to 0.3 m.
Kootenay Silver Inc. has initiated the road construction for the drilling of its Columba property in Chihuahua. The property covers a low sulphidation epithermal system with numerous veins ranging on 200 m to up to 2 km of strike length. Over 1,000 m of underground workings are present, including four shafts and six drifts, with historic records indicating grades between 600 and 900 gpt Ag.
GoGold Resources Inc. released results from its recently acquired Los Ricos property in Jalisco. Highlighted diamond drill results comprise 22.4 m @ 4.13 gpt Au, 182 gpt Ag (or 6.55 gpt AuEq), including 3.0 m @ 25.08 gpt Au, 534 gpt Ag (or 32.2 gpt AuEq) and 11.7 m @ 0.68 gpt Au, 89 gpt Ag (or 1.87 gpt Au), including 6.1 m @ 0.58 gpt Au, 142 gpt Ag (or 2.47 gpt AuEq). The campaign is focused on defining the mineralized halo around the ore shoots defined by 65 historical reverse circulation holes. Over six thousand assays from channel samples are being digitized from underground working, to aid with deeper drill planning.

ON MINING

Consolidated Zinc Ltd. released its March 2019 quarterly activities report. During the period its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua produced 11,267 tonnes @ 10.7% Zn, 2.5% Pb, while 12,992 tonnes were processed @ 10.9% Zn, 2.0% Pb, 18 gpt Ag, recovering 87.5% Zn, 84.9% Pb at cash cost $1.11 per Lb Zn. The company also informed on a surface access legal proceedings that seek to nullify the current surface access contract.
Americas Silver Corp. announced production and operating cost results for the first quarter of 2019, including figures of its Mexican operations. At its Cosalá operations in Sinaloa, 152.6 K tonnes were processed @ 57 gpt Ag, to produce 173.2 K Oz Ag, 11.3 M Lb Zn, 4.6 M Lb Pb (or 1.32 M Oz AgEq), at cash cost $30.48 per Oz Ag and AISC $25.85 per Oz Ag.
Grupo Mexico S.A.B. de C.V. presented results for the first quarter of 2019. During the period the company produced 261,328 tonnes Cu, 5,145 tonnes Mo, 18,550 tonnes Zn, 3,13 M Oz Ag, 12,399 Oz Au and 0.58 M tonnes of sulphuric acid from its operations in Mexico, USA and Peru, at cash cost $1.13 per Lb Cu. A US$413 M budget was approved for the construction of a Zn concentrator at Cananea, Sonora, a project that is to generate 3,760 jobs. At San Martin, in Zacatecas, $87 M have been budgeted to re-open the mine, whereas at Pilares, in Sonora, an open pit mine is to produce ore @ 0.78% Cu to be treated at the La Caridad plant, six km away.
McEwen Mining Inc. reported its first quarter 2019 results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At El Gallo, in Sinaloa, 5,432 Oz AuEq were produced at cash cost $967 per Oz AuEq and an AISC $989 per Oz AuEq. “Mining ceased at El Gallo by the end of May 2018, and the mine continues to recover gold from residual leaching of the heap leach. During the quarter, the process plant underwent a small expansion to improve efficiency and enable faster gold recover”.
Premiere Gold Mine Ltd. reported its first quarter production for 2019. During the quarter the Mercedes mine in Sonora produced 17,614 Oz Au and 57,681 Oz Ag.
Argonaut Gold Inc. announced its operating and financial results for the first quarter 2019. At El Castillo, in Durango, working at a rate of 68 K tonnes per day (tpd), 3.8 M tonnes of waste were moved, 2.29 M tonnes of ore were mined and 2.33 M tonnes @ 0.39 gpt Au were placed on the leach pads, producing 28,210 Oz Au, 54,030 Oz Ag at cash cost $918 per Oz Au. At San Agustin, part of the El Castillo Complex, working at a rate of 33 K tonnes per day, 1.31 M tonnes of waste and 1.66 M tonnes of ore were moved, placing 1.69 M tonnes @ 0.47 gpt Au in the leach pads, producing 14,084 Oz Au, 54,030 Oz Ag at cash cost $867 per Oz Au. At La Colorada in Sonora, working at a rate of 76 K tpd, 5.97 M tonnes of waste and 872 K tonnes of ore were moved and 882 K tonnes were placed on the leach pads @ 0.44 gpt Au, producing 15,372 Oz Au, 54,773 Oz Ag at cash cost $952 per Oz Au. “The Company plans to invest between $50 million and $60 million in capital programs during 2019, of which approximately 30% was spent during the first quarter of 2019”
Coeur Mining Inc. reported first quarter 2019 financial results, including figures from its Mexico operations. At Palmarejo, in Chihuahua, 379 K tonnes were milled @ 2.18 gpt Au, 144 gpt Ag, recovering 86.4% Au, 72.8% Ag, to produce 23,205 Oz Au, 1.28 M Oz Ag. Costs applicable to sales (CAS) were $713 per Oz Au and $9.66 per Oz Ag.
Alamos Gold Inc. released its financial results for the first quarter 2019, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Mulatos, in Sonora, 1.83 M tonnes of ore were mined, 1.98 M tonnes of waste moved, to place 1.87 M tonnes of ore on the leach pads @ 0.98 gpt Au, producing 38,900 Oz Au at cash cost $743 and mine site AISC of $809. At El Chanate, in Sonora, 5,800 Oz Au were produced at cash cost $1,193 per Oz Au and mine site AISC of $1,193 per Oz Au. Construction of the haulage road has commenced on the Cerro Pelon mine, near the Mulatos mine, with a 2019 budget of $25 M. Pre-stripping is expected to commence in the third quarter.
Excellon Resources Inc. announced first quarter 2019 results from the Platosa mine in Durango. During the period 20 K tonnes were mined, with 16.8 K tonnes of ore @ 534 gpt Ag, 5.01% Pb, 8.00% Zn and 1.45 K tonnes of historical stockpile processed @ 123 gpt Ag, 1.22% Pb, 1.44% Zn, recovering 89.7% Ag, 74.6% Pb, 78.1% Zn to produce 260.4 K Oz Ag, 1.38 M Lb Pb, 2.21 M Lb Zn.
Golden Minerals Co. announced financial results for Q1 2019. The company continues to advance the Yoquivo Au-Ag project in Chihuahua. The company has cash and cash equivalents of $2.2 M, with no debt.
Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reports on its financial and operating results for the 2018 fiscal year. During the year the company milled 211.4 K tonnes, recovering 815.3 K Oz AgEq at cash cost $36.8 per AgEq Oz and an AISC of $37.2 per AgEq Oz. At Veta Grande, Zacatecas, silver production was 514.4 K Oz. At Rosario, in San Luis Potosi, silver production was 300.9 K Oz Ag.

ON FINANCING

First Mining Gold Corp. intends to complete a non-brokered private placement for aggregate proceeds of up to $6 M. (San Ricardo, Sonora; Lachatao, Oaxaca).
Prize Mining Corp. intends to raise up to $1.5 M by means of non-brokered private placement (Manto Negro, Coahuila).
Leagold Mining Corp. received a binding underwriting commitment from a syndicate of lenders for a $200 M term loan and a $200 M revolving credit facility. “These loans will be used to repay current debt and finance the Company’s growth” (Los Filos, Guerrero).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

No Relevant News.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

Alio Gold Inc. received a notice of civil claim from a former shareholder of Rye Patch Gold Corp. whose shares were acquired by the company on May 2018. (San Francisco, Sonora).
Silver Bull Resources Inc. informed that South 32 is to maintain its option on the Sierra Mojada project by funding an additional US$3 M in exploration. “This will result in aggregate funding of US$6 million at the completion of the second year of the joint venture option”. To maintain the option, South32 must contribute minimum exploration funding of US$10 M during a four year option period with minimum aggregate exploration funding of US$3 M, US$6 M and US$8 M to be made by the end of years 1, 2 and 3 of the option period respectively.

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-chalcopyrite veinlet hosted by an intrusive rock in core from a project in Michoacan. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

February 4, 2019February 4, 2019 / gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Mesothermal quartz structure

By Miguel A Heredia

During the fifth week of the year (January 28^th to February 04^th, 2019), at least 13 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with four disclosing deals and corporate issues, three informing on exploration results, three announcing financing rounds, two reporting on resources and development of their properties, and one communicating production results. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Millrock reported drilling results from its La Navidad project, and Silver One announced a drilling program to be conducted on its Peñasco Quemado project. In Chihuahua, VVC provided a summary of the 2017-2018 drilling program carried out at its Samalayuca project. ON MINING, Consolidated Zinc reported Q4 2018 results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, Palamina announced a private placement for gross proceeds of up to $2M (Santuario project, Hidalgo). Premier Gold closed a previously announced US$50M secured revolving term credit facility and a previously announced financing arrangement for aggregate gross proceeds of US$18.3M (Mercedes mine, Sonora). Silver Spruce extended until February 22, 2019 its current non-brokered private placement for up to $1.5M (Pino de Plata project, Chihuahua). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Consolidated Zinc made a new discovery above the Level 5 of its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. Great Panther increased mineral resource at its Topia mine in Durango. Endeavour announced its 2019 Mexico exploration plans. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Alien Metals announced an update regarding the status of its Nominated Adviser (San Celso, Zacatecas). Aura Resources entered into a definitive option agreement with Minaurum on its East Taviche project in Oaxaca. Candente Gold ratified an agreement with the El Oro Municipality for a re-processing of the historical tailings from the El Oro mine in the State of Mexico. Consolidated Zinc announced that it now owns 90% of the Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. Great Panther reported that Glass Lewis & CO., LLC recommended the acquisition of Beadell Resources (Topia mine, Durango).

ON MEXICO ISSUES

No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

Millrock Resources Inc., and its JV partner Centerra Gold Inc., reported drilling results from its La Navidad project in Sonora. The drilling program funded by Centerra consisted of 1,844m in eight holes and was focused on the northwestern portion of the project. Four holes were collared at El Tigre prospect where Au had been detected by soil sampling near of some historic mine workings. These holes tested IP anomalies and NW trending high-angle structures that appear to control mineralization at surface. Four other holes were collared at El Chupadero to test decalcification and jasperoid alteration pointed to the possibility of an intrusion-related gold deposit. Drilling results were generally disappointing just returning weakly anomalous Au values. Millrock has received notification from Centerra that it is terminating the option to JV agreements on La Navidad and El Picacho projects in Sonora.
Silver One Resources Inc., announced that a 1,000m drilling program will initiate by mid-February 2019 on its Peñasco Quemado project in Sonora. The goal of the drilling program will be “to test selected targets within strong Zn-Pb and other metal geochemical and coincidental geophysical anomalies previously identified”.
VVC Exploration Corporation, provided a summary of the 2017-2018 drilling program conducted at its Samalayuca project in Chihuahua. 6,700m were drilled in 62 holes and tested 5km long mineralized zone covering approximately two thirds of the length of the property. A total of 2,990 core samples were taken during the drilling campaigns, and 57 out of 62 holes returned intervals with Cu values > 1% with some sections as high as 0.95% Cu and estimated true mineralization widths up to 36m.

ON MINING

Consolidated Zinc Limited, reported Q4 2018 results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The company mined 5,291 tonnes of 10% Zn and 2.1% Pb to produce 1.18M Lb Zn and 253K Lb Pb, with metallurgical recoveries of 89% and 86% respectively.

ON FINANCING

Palamina Corp., announced plans to conduct a non- brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $2M (Santuario project, Hidalgo).
Premier Gold Mines Limited, closed a previously announced US$50M secured revolving credit facility with Invested Bank plc, and a previously announced financing arrangement with OMF Fund II SO Ltd and Orion Mine Finance Fund II LP for aggregate gross proceeds of US$18.3M.
Silver Spruce Resources Inc., extended until February 22, 2019 its current non-brokered private placement for up to $1.5M. Net proceeds will be used to pay a drilling program at its Pino de Plata project in Chihuahua and general working capital.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

Consolidated Zinc Limited, encountered economic mineralization above the level 5 initial access point to the Tres Amigos area in its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. This new discovery was made while the company was progressing on the underground development to increase access to high grade stops and mining high grade ore from existing stopes.
Great Panther Silver Limited, announced a 28% increase in the mineral resources at its Topia mine in Durango. A summary of the updated 2018 mineral resource estimate is as follow:

Endeavour Silver Corp., announced its 2019 exploration plans to be conducted on its mines and advanced projects in Mexico. For its Guanacevi mine in Durango, Endeavour has an exploration budget of $1.2M for 6,000 m of underground crosscuts and core drilling to extend the El Porvenir Norte and Santa Cruz orebodies and infill and extend the Milache orebody. For its Bolañitos mine in Guanajuato, the company has an exploration budget of $0.8M for 5,000m of surface core drilling to extend the Plateros orebody and outline new resources in the San Miguel vein. For its El Cubo Mine in Guanajuato, Endeavour has an exploration budget of $0.3M for 2,000m of underground core drilling to extend the Villalpando-Asuncion vein. For its El Compas project in Zacatecas, the company has an exploration project of $0.8M for 5,500m of surface core drilling to extend the El Compas, Calicanto, and Santa Fe veins and infill drill the El Orito orebody. For its Terronera project in Jalisco, Endeavour has an exploration budget of $0.8M for conducting prospecting, mapping and sampling at La Unica area where multiple new veins have been identified and expects to delineate new targets for future drilling. Endeavour pegged five new claims covering 2,200 hectares along the southern property boundary to cover possible extensions of the Real Alto vein system. For its Parral project in Chihuahua, the company has an exploration budget of $2.3M for 6,000m of surface core drilling and an underground crosscut to confirm old resources and outline new resources in the Veta Colorada vein, as well as a PEA and initial mine permitting.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

Allien Metals Ltd, announced that Northland Capital Partners Limited, its current Nominated Adviser, has voluntary agreed to relinquish and will be removed from the register of Nominated Adviser with effect from 7 AM on 1 February, 2019, as a results of Northland´s proposed merger with SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP. If a replacement of its Nominated Adviser has not been appointed by 4 March 2019 the admission of its AIM Securities will be cancelled.
Aura Resources Inc., entered into a definitive option agreement with Minaurum Gold Inc, on its East Taviche project in Oaxaca. Minaurum can acquires an initial 80% interest in East Taviche by the issuance of 100K common shares in the capital of Minaurum, the re-imbursement of all Taviche concessions fees paid by Aura in 2018, and payment of the remaining concession fees to bring the property into good standing until January 31, 2019, to a maximum of US$80K, and the issuance of 100K common shares in the capital of Minaurum upon receiving all relevant approvals and consents required to be obtained for the commencement of exploration and drilling activities at the East Taviche In addition, Aura will grant to Minaurum an exclusive option to acquire the remaining 20% of the project for a total purchase price of CDN$1M. Upon acquiring the initial 80% interest, Minaurum will act as operator of the project.
Candente Gold Corp., ratified an agreement with the El Oro Municipality for the re-processing of the historical tailing from the El Oro mine in the State of Mexico. This ratified agreement provides Candente with the right to recover all available Au and Ag from the tailings deposit and pay an 8% net profits interest (NPI) to El Oro Municipality. The company also retains the first US$1.5M from the 8% NPI payable to the Municipality. Candente will allows the Municipality to conduct tourism activities in part of the San Juan tunnel and Providencia shaft which are historical workings controlled by Candente. The historical tailings are located far away from the old workings so the tourism activities would not impact the development of the tailings.
Consolidated Zinc Limited, announced that it now owns 90% of the Plomosas mine in Chihuahua though an increased shareholding in Minera Latin American Zinc SAPI CV by making a cash payment of A$75K and issuance of shares in Consolidated Zinc to the value of A$1.7M at a share price of 2.34 cents per share.
Great Panther Silver Limited, reported that Glass Lewis & CO, LLC recommended that shareholders vote in favour of the Great Panther scheme resolution to acquire Beadell Resources Limited and change its name to Great Panther Mining Limited (Topia mine, Durango).

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

On the picture above, a mesothermal quartz structure in an orogenic gold prospect in Sonora, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

	veramining on GALORE ANNOUNCES UPDATE ON THE…
	Mexico’s Best Silver… on Mexico’s Best Silver Dri…
	veramining on GOLDGROUP ANNOUNCES ACQUISITIO…
	veramining on Proponen aumento a derechos mi…
	veramining on La SHCP propone aumento de der…