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

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Cervantite crystals in jasperoids

By Miguel A Heredia

During the thirty one week of the year (July 29th to August 4th, 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

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IMG_2618 - copia

By Jorge Cirett

During the 30th week of the year (July 22nd to July 28th, 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

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 26th week of the year (June 24th to June 30th, 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 27th, 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.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 18th week of the year (April 29th to May 5th, 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.

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Mesothermal quartz structure

By Miguel A Heredia

During the fifth week of the year (January 28th to February 04th, 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.

Highlights on the Third Week of June, 2018. Mining and Exploration News in Mexico

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By Miguel A Heredia

During the 25th week of the year (June 18th to June 24th, 2018), at least 23 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with eight informing on exploration results, eight communicating deals and corporate issues, five  announcing financing rounds, one reporting on resources and development, and one running leaching tests.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news.   ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Millrock reported trench results from its La Navidad project. In Chihuahua, Ethos Gold filed a draft NI 43-101 technical report for its la Purisima project. In Coahuila, Discovery Metals reported sampling results from its Puerto Rico project. In Sinaloa, Chesapeake released exploration results from its Yarely project and Riverside reported exploration results from its La Silla project. In Zacatecas, Excellon commenced a drill program at its Miguel Auza project while Defiance defined a significant anomaly at its San Acacio project.  ON MINING, Mexus Gold provided and update on progress from its 8 Brothers/370 gold project in Sonora.  ON FINANCING, Aura Silver announced the extension of 3.5M warrants. Harvest Gold closed a second tranche of a non-brokered private placement for CDN$149,600. Maverix entered in a revolving credit agreement to borrow up to US$50M. Prize amended terms of a non-brokered private placement to raise money for $6.5M. Starcore completed a private placement for CDN$3M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Sierra Metals announced PEA results for its Cusi Mine in Chihuahua. Minera Alamos provided an update on its Guadalupe de Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Coeur signed a definitive agreement with Evrim to option the Sarape property in Sonora.  Avino and Consolidated Zinc announced management changes, and Colibri and Torex reported results from its annual general meeting of shareholders. Marlin, Gold Reign, and Sailfish entered in a definite arrangement agreement regarding a combination business. Equinox announced a spin-out of its copper assets to create Solaris Copper. Valterra entered into an option agreement to acquire the Los Reyes Cu-Au project in Chihuahua.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Millrock Resources Inc., reported trench results from its La Navidad project in Sonora. Significant results are 7m of 0.64 g/t Au; 8m of 0.5 g/t Au, 16m of 0.59 g/t Au; 4.5m of 1.63 g/t Au; 2m of 6.5 g/t Au, 1.3m of 5.26 g/t Au; and 1.5m of 4.5 g/t Au. Its partner Centerra Gold is funding the exploration program at La Navidad and has authorized an extension of the drilling program from 1,650m in 7 holes to 2,900m in 17 holes.
  • Ethos Gold Corp., filed a draft NI 43-101 technical report for its la Purisima project in Chihuahua. The mineralization target consists of low sulphidation epithermal veins which have been traced for over a N-S strike length of over 1.5km in length. The company signed a property access agreement to commence mapping and sampling work with 389 samples collected to date of which 189 have been already submitted to the lab for assays.
  • Discovery Metals Corp., reported sampling results from its Puerto Rico project in Coahuila. 293 channel samples were collected at the Zaragoza mine, of which 83 were from manto mineralization and returned an average grade of 129 g/t Ag, 4.3% Pb, 7.6% Zn, and 0.12% Cu.
  • Riverside Resources Inc., presented geochemical results of 52 samples collected at its La Silla project in Sinaloa. Significant results from the rock chip and channel samples are 1m of 2.1 g/t Au and 27 g/t Ag; 1m of 9.4 g/t Au and 196 g/t Ag; and 1m of 19.9 g/t Au and 200 g/t Ag.
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., released exploration results, including phase 1 drilling from its Yarely project in Sinaloa. At Loretos prospect, the drill target is a blind skarn-porphyry system indicated by a significant chargeability anomaly. Significant results are 213m of 0.11% Cu, including 64m of 0.17% Cu. At the Central prospect, one of the two holes drilled intersected several 3 to 6m wide structures returning silver values ranging from 11 to 30 g/t. At Lucy prospect, two holes tested skarn/carbonate replacement manto mineralization. Drilling results returned 22m of 0.33 g/t Au and 1.5 % Zn; and 25m of 0.6 g/t Au, 22 g/t Ag, 0.25% Cu, and 1.6% Zn. At Sundae prospect, the company has identified a 3km long high level-low sulphidation epithermal system that runs for over 3km along strike, with individual structures varying from 1-5m in width. A preliminary geophysical survey showed a continuity of the vein host structures to over 500m depth. At Los Mimbres prospect, skarn and hornfels boulders with Cu and Pb sulphide mineralization were recently discovered adding a new target within the Yarely project. Mineralization identified at Los Mimbres is similar to that encountered at Metates. Stream sediment, soil, rock geochemistry and geological mapping are underway to advance this target to the drill stage.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., commenced a 3,000m drill program at its Miguel Auza project in Zacatecas to test targets generated from surface mapping, IP surveying, and structural work conducted since mid-2017 at El Cobre, Abejas, Carmen-Lechuzas, and Lomo de Las Minas prospects. Highlights from the surface sampling are 2.3 g/t Au and 667 g/t Ag at Lomo de Las Minas. Results up to 2.9 g/t Au and 300 g/t Ag were sampled at Carmen and El Cobre confirming mineralization in veins at both targets. Mineralization at Miguel Auza is hosted in epithermal quartz veins similar to those found at Fresnillo mining district.
  • Defiance Silver Corp., defined a significant geophysical anomaly at its San Acacio project in Zacatecas employing Atomic Energy Resonance Imaging (AERI) technology. The AERI identified a pipe shaped anomaly which measures 400m in width, 300m in length, and is open at depth. The AERI anomaly is coincident with a recently delineated IP target, and will be drill tested in the near future.

ON MINING

  • Mexus Gold US., provided and update on progress from its 8 Brothers /370 gold project in Sonora. The company has completed the crushing and loading of ore into the VAT leaching tank to run tests and expects to commence the leaching when tests are completed in the next days.

ON FINANCING

  • Aura Silver Resources, announced its intentions to extend the expiration date of 3.5M warrants from July 9, 2018 to July 9, 2020. The exercise price remains unchanged at $0.05 (Taviche, Oaxaca)
  • Harvest Gold Corporation, closed a second tranche for CDN$149,600 for a total of CAD$479,600 gross proceeds raised in the non-brokered private placement. Gross proceeds will be used to explore its Cerro Cascaron project in Chihuahua.
  • Maverix Metals Inc., entered into a 3 years revolving credit agreement with two bank institutions to borrow up to US$50M. The credit can be extendable through mutual agreement between the involved parties (La Colorada, Zacatecas)
  • Prize Mining Corporation, amended terms of a non-brokered private placement to raise money for $6.5M (Manto Negro, Coahuila).
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., completed a private placement of secured bonds for CAD$3M (San Martin, Queretaro)

 ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Sierra Metals Inc., announced PEA results for its Cusi Mine in Chihuahua. Highlights include an after-tax NPV of $92.2M USD at an 8% discount rate, a 9 years mine life based on existing mineral resource estimate, and a life of mine silver production of 30 M Oz. The company also reported Mineral Resource Estimate as at February 12, 2018. Total measured mineral resources are 362K tonnes @ 225g/t Ag, 0.55% Pb, 0.68% Zn, and 0.13g/t Au. Total indicated resources are 4.2M tonnes @ 217g/t Ag, 0.64% Pb, 0.66% Zn, and 0.21 g/t Au. Total inferred resources are 1.63M tonnes @ 158 g/t Ag, 0.54% Pb, 0.84% Zn, and 0.16 g/t Au.
  • Minera Alamos Inc., provided an update on its Guadalupe de los Reyes project in Sinaloa. The company commenced the mapping of the Mariposa- Zapote structure to evaluate extensions that have not been drilled and could be target areas to expand the resource. The company also collected metallurgical samples and are being prepared for Au leaching studies. It also commenced engineering studies to establish locations and preliminary designs for Au heap leaching facilities.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Coeur Mining Inc., signed a definitive agreement with Evrim Resources Corp., to option the Sarape property in Sonora. Coeur will have the exclusive right to acquire up to an 80% interest in the property by spending up to $16M USD on exploration, making staged cash payments of up to $2.5M USD, and completing a NI 43-101 compliant FS on a minimum measured and indicated resource estimate of 1M Oz AuEq, all within a ten-year period.
  • Marlin Gold Mining Ltd., Golden Reign Resources Ltd., and Sailfish Royalty Corp., have extended the previously announced LOI to June 29, 2018 to enter in a definitive arrangement agreement regarding a business combination of the Golden´s San Albino-Murra property in Nicaragua and Marlin´s La Trinidad property, México.
  • Equinox Gold Corp., announced plans to transfer all of its copper assets into a newly incorporated company named Solaris Copper Inc. (La Verde, Michoacan).
  • Valterra Resource Corporation, entered into an agreement to acquire the Los Reyes Cu-Au project in Chihuahua. Valterra may acquire a 100% interest, subject to a 2% royalty to a third party, by making staged payments totaling US$4M over a period of 5 years. Target consists of a +800m long Cu-Au rich skarn developed in the contact between a Tertiary-age granodiorite intrusive and Cretaceous-age limestones and shales.

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

On the picture above, phyllic alteration in a porphyry copper system in Jalisco, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

Highlights on the Third Week of December, 2017. Mineral Exploration in Mexico

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During the 51st week of the year (December 18th to December 24th, 2017), at least 17 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES: The illegal blockade promoted by the Los Mineros Union since November 3, 2017 is showing how far the government is willing to go, or not, to establish the rule of law. ON EXPLORATION: two press releases from companies working in Mexico informed on exploration efforts during the week: In Chihuahua Radius Gold released good rock chip results from its Amalia project. In Sinaloa Gainey Capital is exploring the La Minita porphyry copper style property.  ON MINING: Great Panther announced government authorization for the construction of a second tailings storage facility at its Topia mine in Durango. Mexus Gold produced gold with a Merrill Crowe system installed at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Americas Silver announced the San Rafael mine at its Cosala complex is now on commercial production. ON FINANCING: Telson Resources entered into a US$15 M loan with Trafigura. SilverCrest completed a bought deal private placement for $10 M. Primero Mining agreed on an extension to its revolving credit facility. Torex Gold received a waiver to lower the threshold in the credit agreement from $50 M to $30 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT: In Sonora, Oceanus Resources presented an update on the drilling of its El Tigre property. In Chihuahua, Consolidated Zinc announced the interception of massive sulfides on the Tres Amigos zone of its Plomosas property. In Puebla, Almaden released new results from follow-up  drilling at its Tuligtic property.  In Guerrero, Alio Gold provided the final results of the confirmation drilling at its Ana Paula project. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Torex Gold suspended its workforce employment contracts on the basis of the illegal blockade that has halted all operations since November 3rd at its El Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero. The company has made a call to the relevant authorities to remove the illegal blockade (which seems to have fallen on deaf ears). Orex Minerals, Canasil Resources and Pan American Silver signed an agreement to advance the Sandra Escobar project in Durango, same that includes provisions for Pan American participation on the discovery. Gainey Capital signed a LOI to acquire the La Minita property in Sinaloa. Marlin Gold can now spin-off its subsidiary Sailfish Royalty. Vangold is acquiring the San Carlos claim in Guanajuato, adjacent to its Pinguico property. Americas Silver agreed with Hochschild to amend the payment schedule on the acquisition of the San Felipe project in Sonora.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • On the Torex Gold El Limon – Guajes mine illegal blockade in Guerrero (Editor’s comment). The illegal blockade promoted by the Los Mineros Union since November 3, 2017 is showing how far the government is willing to go, or not, to establish the rule of law. The Los Mineros Union is clearly trying to extortionate Torex with an illegal blockade to obtain the Union contract at the site, and delaying the date for a formal voting process that the company has vowed to respect.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Radius Gold Inc. released rock sampling results from its Amalia project in Chihuahua. A new discovery in the San Pedro area returned 13 m @ 2.51 g/t Au, 164 g/t Ag in a continuous chip sample (10 individual samples), while new sampling 50 m above and along strike the Guadalupe zone returned 8 m @ 0.21 g/t Au, 264 g/t Ag. At the Campamento zone a 500×700 m zone of intense silicification and brecciation with massive and stockwork veining is interpreted as high level mineralization. On lower parts of the property sulfide rich fault breccias are hosted in andesites, where mineralization is narrower and higher grade. Epithermal Au-Ag mineralization occurs along 3.5 Km on strike and 600 m of vertical interval. Drill permitting documentation has been submitted.
  • Gainey Capital Corp. signed a LOI to acquire the 9,200 hectares La Minita Cu-Au-Ag property in Sinaloa. A series of NW trending shears host porphyry mineralization associated with intermediate and felsic dikes, which are more than 300 m in length and up to 10 m in width. Fine grained sericitic alteration, silicification, quartz stockworks and copper sulfides (bornite, chalcopyrite) as disseminations and veins occur in prospect pits by gambusinos.

ON MINING

  • Great Panther Silver Ltd. announced that SEMARNAT granted all permits for construction and operation of the new phase II tailings storage facility at its Topia mine in Durango.
  • Mexus Gold US informed that it has produced gold with the installed Merrill Crowe system at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake with First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora). The Merrill Crowe system will continue to be tested until the end of the year, as mine site security is upgraded before full production begins.
  • Americas Silver Corp. announced that the San Rafael mine at the company’s Cosalá operations in Sinaloa is now in commercial production, as of December 19, 2017. Mine production is currently averaging 1,200 tonnes per day (tpd) and increasing.

ON FINANCING

  • Telson Resources Inc. entered into a loan facility and offtake agreement with Trafigura Mexico, S.A. de C.V., to sell 100% of the Pb-Zn concentrate produced at the Tahuehueto mine from January 2018 to December 2022. Trafigura provided Telson with with a US$15 M credit facility deliverable on three tranches: First tranche of US$7.5 M already received; Second tranche of US$5 M, 4 – 6 Months from signing; Third tranche US$2.5 M, 6 – 9 months of signing.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. completed the bought deal private placement previously announced, for gross proceeds of $10 M. The company paid a cash commission of $568 K on the proceeds of the offering.
  • Primero Mining Corp. agreed with its lenders to an extension of its revolving credit facility and guarantee provided by Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. to January 11, 2018. Primero is considering the divestiture of its San Dimas mine in Durango.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. has received a waiver by BNP Paribas on behalf of the lenders to lower the covenant threshold in the credit agreement from $50 M to $30 M until January 31, 2018.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Alio Gold Inc. provided the final results from the 2,000 m drill program to twin previous drill holes within the pre-feasibility pit for metallurgical test at its Ana Paula project in Guerrero. Highlighted intervals comprise: 112.0 m @ 3.85 g/t Au; 33.1 m @ 7.07 g/t Au; 54.6 m @ 7.19 g/t Au. Alio is now to test the extension of the breccia zone below the proposed pit, with a 4,000 m program, commencing in January.
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. provided assay results from a follow-up drilling in an upper portion of the pre-feasibility pit on its Tuligtic property in Puebla. Highlighted drill intercepts comprise: 46.0 m @ 0.74 g/t Au, 26 g/t Ag; 24.0 m @ 0.62 g/t Au, 15 g/t Ag; 16.5 m @ 0.56 g/t Au, 10 g/t Ag; 50.5 m @ 0.73 g/t Au, 11 g/t Ag (including 10.5 m @ 2.45 g/t Au, 24 g/t Ag); 13.15 m @ 0.70 g/t Au, 8 g/t Ag; 32.0 m 0.82 g/t Au, 25 g/t Ag; 14.7 m @ 0.91 g/t Au, 27 g/t Ag; 10.25 m @ 1.16 g/t Au, 26 g/t Ag.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. announced that drilling on the Tres Amigos North zone intersected 5.60 m and 4.35 m respectively of massive sulfides. “Assays are pending but visual analysis shows mineralisation comprises banded textured massive sulphides with very fine to fine-grained pyrite overprinted by coarse-grained yellow to reddish sphalerite and minor galena associated with carbonates”. Results are pending.
  • Oceanus Resources Corp. completed the fall 2017 drill program which comprised 600 m of diamond drilling to define the strike and dip of the high-grade Caleigh vein and the low-grade alteration zone in the hanging wall. Assays for the last six holes are pending, and expected to be released in January 2018. Work during Q1 2018 is to focus in locating and defining other high-grade vein systems in the property, and begin to look for mineralization on the favorable El Tigre formation over a distance of 5 km.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. informed it has suspended the employment contracts of its workforce in Mexico, a direct result of an illegal blockade at its El Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero. The blockade by the Los Mineros Union, “an outside union that wants to take over representation of the employees who already have a union. Since the blockade began, on November 3, 2017, the Company has continued to pay its workforce, except for the minority that have participated in the illegal blockade”. Torex has made a call to the relevant authorities to remove the illegal blockade, as they have committed to do, and restore the rule of law. The company is willing to work with the Union the employees select, but it is essential the illegal blockade is lifted to resume work after Christmas. The company stresses that “The risk of violent confrontation continues to escalate and we urge the authorities to restore law and order and diffuse the tensions, so that employees of the Company, contractors, and suppliers, can go back to work and provide for their families.”
  • Orex Minerals Inc. signed a non-binding agreement with Canasil Resources Inc. and Pan American Silver Corp. to advance exploration in the Sandra Escobar mining camp in Durango. Under the terms of the LOI (Letter of Intention) the Orex (55%)-Canasil (45%) JV is to grant Pan American a 10% interest in the Sandra property, with the opportunity for Pan American in the next four years to earn-in an additional 41% in the Sandra property by contributing US$5 M toward the operations of both properties, with US$2 M required during the first two years. If Pan American elects not to continue during the earn-in period, the initial 10% will revert back to the Orex-Cansil JV. If Pan American chooses to further advance the properties by completing a pre-feasibility study, it will retain a 60% interest and the Orex-Canasil JV 40%.
  • Gainey Capital Corp. signed a LOI with Asteria Mining Services S.A.P.I. de C.V. to acquire 100% of the 9,200 hectares La Minita Cu-Au-Ag property in Sinaloa.
  • Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. obtained a final order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia to implement the company’s previously announced plan of arrangement to reorganize its business, including the spin-off of its subsidiary Sailfish Royalty Corp.
  • Vangold Mining Corp. entered into an acquisition agreement for a 100% interest on the San Carlos claim, in Guanajuato. The aggregate purchase price of $CDN425 K is to be paid through the issuance of CDN$350 K in Vangold shares and the remaining CDN$75 K will be paid in cash. The San Carlos property is close to Vangold’s El Pinguico and Patito I & II mineral claims.
  • Americas Silver Corp. agreed with Minera Hochschild to amend the timing of payment under its option agreement on the San Felipe project in Sonora. The total consideration for a 100% interest in the property is US$15 M in cash (plus VAT), of which US$7 M were paid in March, US$500 K are to be paid on January 2018, US$500 K on April 2018, US$1 M on July 2018 and US$6 M on December 2018.

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 below, Fault slickensides on quartzite, Durango. Photo by Jorge Cirett.

DCP00749

Primero Extends Revolving Credit Facility to January 11, 2018

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PR29-17_RCF_Extension_4_Final-a4abb4f5db33aaed8c8425a0e3a3605e

TORONTO, ON — (Marketwired) — 12/22/17 — Primero Mining Corp. (“Primero” or the “Company”) (TSX: P) today announced that the Company has agreed with its lenders to an extension of its revolving credit facility (“RCF”) and guarantee provided by Wheaton Precious Metals Corp., previously maturing on December 22, 2017. The maturity of the RCF has been extended to January 11, 2018, providing the Company with the ability to continue negotiations surrounding its previously announced strategic review process and the possible divestiture of its San Dimas mine in Mexico. There can be no certainty that these discussions will result in a resolution acceptable to all stakeholders.