During the 10th week of the year (March 3rd to March 9th, 2025), companies working in Mexico presented 25 press releases. One company informed on exploration on its property and three companies presented quarterly and/or full year 2024 reports. Two companies informed on financing rounds, one on re-purchase of shares and one more on its addition to the SP/ASX 200 Index. One company released drilling results, another two expanded on 2025 exploration/drilling plans and two more companies filed technical reports on their properties. PDAC week being PDAC week, six companies announced appointments to the board, one more is installing a review of its financing options, one more notified on its AGM and two more on acquisitions. ON MEXICO ISSUES, for the first time in several years, a more favorable environment for the mining industry in Mexico can be glimpsed from the participation of several government figures on the PDAC 2025 Convention held in Toronto. ON EXPLORATION, in Chihuahua, Kingsmen Resources informed on the geochemistry of surface samples at Las Coloradas. ON MINING, Elemental Altius Royalties, Fortuna Mining and Prime Mining presented Q4 and/or full year 2024 reports. ON FINANCING, Oroco Resource and Canuc Resource informed on financing tranches for C$2.3 M and C$500 K respectively. Pan American Silver can purchase up to 18 M of its shares. Capstone Copper informed of its addition to the SP/ASX 200 Index. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mithril Silver and Gold presented drilling results from Copalquin, in Durango. Capitan Silver is planning a 10,000 m RC drilling campaign at Cruz de Plata, Durango. GR Silver Mining is resuming drilling at San Marcial (part of its Plomosas project), in Sinaloa. Gold Resource released a technical report on its Don David mine in Oaxaca. Apollo Silver filed a technical report with historical resources on the Cinco de Mayo project in Chihuahua. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Santacruz Silver Mining, Elemental Altus Royalties, Plata Latina Minerals, Luca Mining and Heliostar Metals announced appointments to the board. Bear Creek Mining initiates a strategic review on financial options, Minera Alamos informed on its annual general meeting. Discovery Silver informed on the special meeting of shareholders regarding the acquisition of the Porcupine project in Canada. Masivo Silver signed a non-binding LOI to acquire the Cerro Colorado project in southern Sonora. Goldgroup Mining informed on its agreement to acquire the Pinos project in Zacatecas. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
PDAC 2025 Insights on Mexico. With significant government attendance and a more favorable message there is a cautiously optimistic mood in the Mexican mining industry. Faster permitting times are expected, along with the emission on the first half of the year of the rulebook that is to guide the application of the 2023 mining law. An exploration system in partnership with the government is probably not going to work.
ON EXPLORATION
Kingsmen Resources Ltd. reported additional results from the exploration program at its Las Coloradas project in Chihuahua. The company published geochemical maps for different elements of surface rock samples on the La Silvia and La Plata zones, north of the La Soledad structure. The geochemical signatures “are interpreted to indicate different pulses of mineralization and possibly indications of different styles of mineralization along and at depth in the two structures.
ON MINING
Elemental Altius Royalties Corp. informed on record preliminary revenue in 2024 from its portfolio of royalties, without figures per property. During 2024 the company had revenue of US$21.6 M, based on the sales of approximately 8,990 Oz AuEq (holds royalties on Mercedes, Sonora).
Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. plans to present its Q4 and year end 2024 financial results on March 11th, 2025 (Avino, Durango).
Fortuna Mining Corp. reported financial and operating results for Q4 and full year 2024, without disclosing figures by operation. The company produced 455,958 Oz AuEq in the year at consolidated cash cost of $1,640 per Oz AuEq and AISC of $1,772 per Oz AuEq. In the year the attributable net income was US$128.7 M and the attributable adjusted net income US$ 144 M (San Jose, Oaxaca, recently sold).
Prime Mining Corp. reported its operating and financial results for 2024. Prime Mining informed on health and safety protocols, community engagement and environmental strategy, exploration highlights, mineral resource increase and drilling activities during 2024. At the end of the period the company had C$19 M in cash.
ON FINANCING
Oroco Resource Corp. announced the closing of a non-brokered private placement raising gross proceeds of C$2.3 M (Santo Tomás, Sinaloa).
Masivo Silver Corp. released on February 26, 2025, a press release dated June 10, 2024, announcing the closing of a second and final tranche of a non-brokered private placement raising total gross proceeds of C$1.04 M. A couple of days later, on February 28, 2025, a second press release (see below, on the Deals section) clarified the release (El Colomo, Sinaloa).
Pan American Silver Corp. is to renew its normal course issuer bid to purchase up to 18.1 M of its common shares, which represents up to 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of the company (La Colorada, Zacatecas).
Capstone Copper Corp. announced that the CHESS Depositary Interests of the company will be added to the Standard & Poors /ASX 200 Index by the S&P Dow Jones (Cozamin, Zacatecas).
Canuc Resource Corp. announced terms of a non-brokered private placement financing which is a condition of the arrangement agreement with MacDonald Mines Exploration Inc. on which Canuc is to purchase all outstanding shares of MacDonald Mines Inc. Canuc is required to complete equity financing for a minimum of C$500 K (San Javier, Sonora).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Mithril Silver and Gold Ltd. announced results from the drilling program aimed at producing a maiden resource on Target 1 at its Copalquin project in Durango. Highlighted core length intervals from four holes comprise 4.95 m @ 20.5 gpt Au, 1,8133 gpt Ag (including 0.55 m @ 110 gpt Au, 7,530 gpt Ag); 0.56 m @ 22.8 gpt Au, 1,425 gpt Ag; 3.77 m @ 1.42 gpt Au, 101 gpt Ag; 4.85 m @ 1.47 gpt Au, 165 gpt Ag; 2.55 m @ 9.97 gpt Au, 572 gpt Ag (including 1.00 m @ 20.7 gpt Au, 1,130 gpt Ag); 0.25 m @ 15.2 gpt Au, 786 gpt Ag; 7.40 m @ 1.59 gpt Au, 65 gpt Ag; 0.50 m @ 13.25 gpt Au, 584 gpt Ag; 1.75 m @ 1.29 gpt Au, 41 gpt Ag. A further six holes were completed in February, results pending.
Capitan Silver Corp. informed on the 2025 exploration plans at its Cruz de Plata project in Durango. A 10,000 m reverse circulation program prioritizing definition and step out drilling of high-grade mineralization at the Jesus Maria area, including on the recently acquired claims from Fresnillo plc., step out drilling along the Gully Fault zone to the NE, develop new targets on parallel mineralized structures and the completion of an updated MRE for the Capitan Hill gold deposit, expected to be completed in Q2 2025.
GR Silver Mining Ltd. is resuming field exploration and step out drilling targeting potential resource expansion at the San Marcial area of its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. The drill program aims to expand the mineralization footprint up to 350 m NW from the current San Marcial resource area while continuing surface exploration and mapping encouraged by the identification of outcropping silver-carrying hydrothermal breccias.
Gold Resource Corp. released the technical report summary for the Don David mine in Oaxaca. The report uses “the mining disclosure standards of Subpart 229.1300 of Regulation S-K Disclosure as required by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)”. The report summarizes the results of the 12,760 m in 87 holes drilling campaign that replaced 110% of the mineral reserves held on December 2023, highlighting the importance of the Three Sisters vein system.
Apollo Silver Corp. filed a technical report on the Cinco de Mayo property in Chihuahua, in an earn-in option agreement with Mag Silver Corp. The 25,113-ha project (251.1 square km) includes two deposits, located four kilometers apart, with historic mineral resources. The Upper Manto deposit includes 12.4 M tonnes @ 0.24 gpt Au, 132 gpt Ag, 6.5% Zn, 2.9% Pb, containing 96 K Oz Au, 52.7 M Oz Ag, 1.8 M Lb Zn, 0.8 M Lb Pb in inferred resources. The Pozo Seco deposit comprises 29 M tonnes @ 0.147% Mo, 0.25 gpt Au, containing 94 M Lb Mo, 230 K Oz Au in indicated resources and 23.4 M tonnes @ 0.103% Mo, 0.17 gpt Au, containing 53.3 M Lb Mo, 129 K Oz Au.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. announced the appointment of Mr. Eduardo Torrecillas as chief operating officer (Zimapan, Hidalgo).
Elemental Altus Royalties Corp. announced the appointment of Sandeep Singh as an independent non-executive director (Royalty on Mercedes, Sonora).
Plata Latina Minerals Corp. appointed Lance Newman and Rod Pace to its board of directors (just sold royalty on Naranjillo, Guanajuato).
Luca Mining Corp. announced Mr. Adam Melynk has joined Luca as VP corporate development (Campo Morado, Guerrero).
Bear Creek Mining Corp. has initiated a “Strategic Review” on the financial options available to the company, also announcing the engagement of Mr. Christian Milau as a strategic advisor to assist on the Strategic Review. On a different press release, Bear Creek announced the retirement of Mr. Andrew Swarthout and Ms. Sandra Daycock, and the appointment of Peter C. Mitchel and Ian Grundy to the board (Mercedes, Sonora).
Heliostar Metals Ltd. announced the commencement of Ms. Vitalina Lyssoun as chief financial officer (Ana Paula, Guerrero).
Minera Alamos Inc. announced all matters were overwhelmingly voted in favor at its annual and special general meeting (AGM) of shareholders (Santana, Sonora).
Masivo Silver Corp. signed a non-binding LOI to acquire the Cerro Colorado Au-Ag-Cu project, 11 km north of the Piedras Verdes mine in Sonora. The transaction on the 2,649 ha project with Minera GoldZone S.A. de C.V. will become binding upon completion of due diligence. Work completed in the property includes mapping, sampling, soil survey and IP geophysics survey programs. “A series of 8 drill holes are being modeled by Mexican Senior Geologist Rafael Gallardo. Masivo will use its $75,000 drill credit with a Mexican Drill company for this drill program”.
Discovery Silver Corp. filed its notice of meeting and information circular and related materials in connection with the special meeting of holders of common shares of the company to consider the issuance of common shares relating to the previously announced acquisition of Newmont’s Porcupine Complex in Canada (Cordero, Chihuahua).
Goldgroup Mining Inc. entered into an agreement with Candelaria Mining Corp. to acquire the Pinos project in Zacatecas. As part of the agreement Goldgroup is to settle US$2.7 M in a loan facility, make a US$89 K payment within five days of receiving all necessary approvals from the TSXV, make a US$89 k cash payment on the delivery of the Apolo shares to the company or six months after receipt of the TSXV approval, and issue 717 K common shares of the company at $0.40.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
No Relevant News.
On the image below: Sheeted dikes on a Sonoran project. Drone picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 39th week of the year (September 23rd to September 29th 2024), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 7 news published by the media, with nine disclosing deals and corporate issues, eight announcing financing rounds, eight commenting on Mexican issues, three reporting resources and development of their properties, three communicating production and financial results, three informing on exploration results, and one discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The marine exploration company Odyssey, in which Carlos Ancira had a shareholding, won to the Mexican government, a USD $37.1M arbitration within the NAFTA. Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO)expropriated from Vulcan Materials a port and a quarry in Quintana Roo, which deepened tensions days before he leaves office. Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), in a last surprise “play” before concluding his mandate fulfilled his warning and finally took control of a port and a quarry owned by the American company Vulcan Materials, with which maintains a dispute for several years now. AMLO concludes his government with the expropriation of the land and port of the Calica mine, property of the American company Vulcan Materials Company in Quintana Roo. Metal prices hit highs and boost mining companies in the stock market. Kootenay Silver reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of September, 2024. ON EXPLORATION, In Chihuahua, Kootenay released results from five drill holes at its Columba project, and Quetzal Copper reported completion of the phase one exploration and drilling program at it’s the Cristinas project. In Sinaloa, Prismo commenced a 1,250m drill program at its Palos Verdes project. ON MINING, Agnico Eagle announced that it willreport its Q3, 2024 results on October 30, 2024 (Pinos Altos mine, Chihuahua). Sierra Madre Gold and Silver announced that it has generated over USD $2.4M in revenues from its test mining and milling operations at the La Guitarra mine complex in the state of Mexico. ON FINANCING, Luca Mining announced the successful completion of its brokered private placement, raising a total of CAD $11.3M through a combination of 19,000,000 Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (LIFE) units and an increased non-brokered private placement of 6,126,167 units due to high demand (Campo Morado mine, Guerrero and Tahuehueto mine, Durango). Sonora Desert Copper amended its private placement financing (Cuatro Hermanos project, Sonora). Vizsla Silver announced the closing of over-allotment option in full (Panuco project, Sinaloa). VVC reported a 1-year extension for 57,567,800 Series AG share purchase warrants (Gloria project, Chihuahua). Sonoro Gold closed an over-subscribed non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $875K (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora). Goldgroup closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD$775K (Cerro Prieto mine, Sonora). Luca Mining announced that it closed its fully subscribed brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $8.55M (Campo Morado mine, Guerrero, and Tahuehueto mine, Durango). Royalties Inc., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $105K (Bilbao project, Zacatecas). ON RESOURCESAND DEVELOPMENT, Starcore announced an increase of its Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources for its San Martin mine in Queretaro as of April 30, 2024. Los Gatos Silver disclosed and updated Mineral Reserves Estimate and Mineral Resource Estimate for its Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua, and reported an updated mine of life plan. Southern Silver announced a 6,000m drill program at its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Sandstorm Gold declared quarterly cash dividend for 2024 (Mercedes Mine, Sonora). Torex announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (El Limon-Guajes mine complex, Guerrero). (Vizsla Royalties granted stock options to directors, officers, employees, and consultants of the company (Panuco project, Sinaloa). Prime Mining announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Los Reyes project, Sinaloa). Silver Storm provided a bi-weekly update on September 24, 2024, regarding its management cease trade order (MCTO) issued by the British Columbia Securities Commission (La Parrilla mine, Durango). Guanajuato Silver provided an update on the acquisition of El Cubo mine in Guanajuato from Endeavor Silver. Apollo Silver entered into an exploration, earn-in and option agreement with MAG Silver to acquire the Cinco de Mayo project in Chihuahua. Southern Silver granted incentive stock options to various directors, officers, and consultants (Cerro Las Minitas project, Durango). Florida Canyon provided an update on its Mexican transaction, which involves the sale of its interests in several mines to Heliostar Metals Ltd. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Vizsla Silver released its second annual sustainability report (Panuco project, Sinaloa).
ON MEXICO ISSUE
The marine exploration company Odyssey Marine Exploration, in which Carlos Ancira, the former president of Altos Hornos de México S.A.B. de C.V., had a shareholding, won an arbitration from the Mexican government protected by NAFTA/TW investor protection. The company was seeking damages in the amount of just over USD $2.3 B and what was finally achieved after the lawsuit was USD $37.1M. The former president of Altos Hornos bought a shareholding in Odyssey for USD $3M in 2015 through his investment vehicle´s Epsilon. The intention of Ancira and its partners was to dredge the seabed of the Gulf of Ulloa, Baja California, on the north Pacific Coast. To extract phosphate, an input used to manufacture fertilizers, a business to which the businessman was dedicated through its firm Agronitrogenados, sold at an extra cost to PEMEX, a scandal that kept the former president of the oil company Emilio Lozoya in jail. Unfortunately, it is a victory that Ancira could not savor, who in September 2021 sold his shareholding in Odyssey, in part to raise the money he promised as a reparation agreement to the Mexican government (in favor of PEMEX) for the Agronitrogenados operation, cause for which he was even detained in the North Prison of CDMX.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO)expropriated from Vulcan Materials a port and a quarry in Quintana Roo, which deepened tensions days before he leaves office. The government of Mexico declared the land south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen as a protected natural area via decree in the Official Gazette of the Federation, this a few hours after US legislators sought to dissuade such a measure. Vulcan´s shares fell 1.03% to USD $249.73 during the morning of September 24, 2024. Vulcan had previously said the AMLO´s government actions are illegal and that it would add the latest measures to an ongoing arbitration case in the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes of the World Bank. It marks another movement by AMLO (a staunch nationalist) against private business. A new congress with a supermajority of Morena and allies in both chambers began its term last September and since then they have approved a reform of the Judiciary that has raised fear among capitals in Mexico. Claudia Sheinbaum, who will takes office on October 1, 2024 has not publicly commented on the Vulcan issue since her landslide victory, but a year ago said she hoped the company would accept AMLO´s offer to buy its land for MXP $6,500M. Last year, Vulcan sought intervention from Joe Biden administration against what it saw as the threat of a government takeover of the Riviera Maya property. It said that a valuation made by the Mexican government deeply undervalued the assets. On September 23, 2024, a bipartisan group of US senators proposed legislation to pressure Mexico to retract its expropriation plan. Vulcan is not the only foreign company that has sought legal recourse after government intervention. In December, Mexico took control of operations of a hydrogen processing plant owned by French industrial gases maker Air Liquid. Last year, AMLO announced plans to buy USD $6B worth of energy assets from Iberdrola after the Spain Company faced political hostility from Mexico that affected its permits and supply. AMLO also ordered the cancellation of projects including an airport and a brewery plan during his term. The US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, warned that companies may lose confidence in Mexico as an investment destination as a result of the judicial reform promoted by congress this month. The change eliminates a check on government power by making federal judges democratically elected, including in the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN).
Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), in a last surprise “play” before concluding his mandate fulfilled his warning and finally took control of a port and a quarry owned by the American company Vulcan Materials, with which maintains a dispute for several years now. On September 23, 2024, the head of the executive published a declaration of a protected natural area of an area of more than 53,000 hectares south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, where the land occupied by Vulcan and an open pit mine of the foreign company are located, dedicated to the extraction of limestone through its subsidiary Calizas Industriales del Carmen (Calica). Vulcan said in a statement that the expropriation of the land and port owned by the company is another escalation and constitutes a new violation of Mexico´s commitments under North American trade agreements, and added that this illegal measure will have a chilling and long-term effect on trade and investment relations between USA and Mexico.
AMLO concludes his government with the expropriation of the land and port of the Calica mine, property of the American company Vulcan Materials Company in Quintana Roo, involved in a conflict that has kept it without operations in Mexico for three years. The announcement of the expropriation is not a good sign to attract investment to Mexico and could damage business confidence. In the decree published last September 23, 2024 in the Official Gazette of the Federation, the Mexican government justifies its decision by citing the fourth article of the Constitution in its fifth paragraph, which establishes that “every person has the right to a healthy environment for their development and well-being, so the State will guarantee respect for this right.” Furthermore, it invokes article 27 of the Constitution in its third paragraph, which states that “the nation will at all times have the right to impose on private property the modalities dictated by the public interest.” The decree of the federal Executive declares a protected natural area the area located south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, where the Vulcan lands are located under the Sac-Tun firm (formerly Calica). The measure is intended to prevent the construction company from extracting limestone from the land it owned for decades and which the AMLO government previously tried to acquire without success. The American company not only considers the expropriation of its investments in Quintana Roo illegal, but also warns of a direct conflict with provisions of the T-MEC. The reason is that the investment chapter of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada states that “no party shall expropriate or nationalize a covered investment, either directly or indirectly through equivalents to expropriation or nationalization,” except in the following cases: For reasons of public utility; in a non-discriminatory manner; through the payment of prompt, adequate and effective compensation, and in accordance with due legal process. The investment chapter contains provisions on expropriation and compensation, which must provide investors with certainty that their properties and positions will be respected, and guarantee non-discriminatory treatment and prompt, effective and adequate compensation, in cases where that their rights are substantially affected by the actions of the State. According to experts consulted, the Calica issue is very serious, since there are no precedents for similar cases since NAFTA. Although expropriation is not a good sign to attract investment to Mexico and can damage business confidence, this week two large American companies confirmed investment announcements in the country totaling USD $2.9 B.
Metal prices hit highs and boost mining companies in the stock market, with the price of silver rising to its highest level in almost 12 years, taking advantage of gold’s rally to all-time highs, as interest rate cuts from Major central banks fueled investment interest in precious metals. Silver futures rose 0.91% on the Chicago Stock Exchange, to USD $32.31 an ounce, after reaching their highest since December 2012, of USD $32.71. Spot gold rose 0.5% to USD $2,670.52 an ounce, having hit an all-time high of USD $2,685.42 earlier in the day. US gold futures for December delivery advanced 0.39% to USD $2,694.9. Copper prices rose to their highest level in nearly 16 weeks, boosted by hopes of firmer demand for metals after China announced fiscal stimulus measures following an easing of monetary policy to boost its sluggish economy. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) broke the psychological level of USD $10,000 per metric ton, touching the highest level since June 7. This Thursday it gained 3.53% to USD $10,084. The securities of the main mining companies operating in Mexico led the gains in Thursday’s session (September 24, 2024) on the Mexican Stock Exchange. The securities of Grupo México and Industrias Peñoles rose 4.18 and 4.23%, respectively. Shares of Grupo México, an industrial conglomerate with interests in the mining and rail transportation industries, are trading at MXP $112.68, their highest level since May 21, 2024. The shares of Industrias Peñoles were quoted at MXP $292.35, their highest level since April 19, 2024. Meanwhile, Fresnillo shares on the BMV rose 21.69%, while those listed in London advanced 2.74 %. With Thursday’s movement, Grupo México gained MXP $35,655M pesos in market capitalization, going from MXP $842,026M to MXP $877,681M in one day. Industrias Peñoles gained MXP $4,714M in market value, going from MXP $111,488M to MXP $116,202M.
Kootenay Silver Inc., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of September, 2024. Details are shown in the table below:
ON EXPLORATION
Kootenay Silver Inc., released results from five drill holes at its Columba project in Chihuahua. The batch reported comprises two step-out holes and three “infill” holes designed to test a large gap in drilling on the D-Vein. Drilling continues to hit high grades of silver, over good widths and has now expanded the D-Vein strike length to 1,275 meters from 450 meters at the beginning of the program. Drilling highlights(true width reported) include holes CDH-24-165 with 739 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 1% Zn over 0.32m, plus 96 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 18.18m, including 395 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 1.8% Zn over 2.37m, including 844 g/t Ag, 0.9% Pb, and 9.5% Zn over 0.37m; and hole CDH-24-166 with 176 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 21.85m, including 1,020 g/t Ag, 1% Pb, and 2.5% Zn over 0.76m, plus 303 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.7% Zn over 6.87m, including 593 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 1.8% Zn over 1.91m, including 1,095 g/t Ag, 0.7% Pb, and 5.7% Zn over 0.40m.
Quetzal Copper Corp., reported completion of the phase one exploration and drilling program at it’s the Cristinas project in Chihuahua. Quetzal completed three drillholes and a downhole EM (electromagnetic) survey to follow-up on targets generated by surface mapping, sampling, and fixed loop EM surveys. “Each hole evaluated prospective conductors defined by the geophysical surveys. Unfortunately, the limited copper mineralization encountered does not justify further exploration at this time”.
Prismo Metals Inc., commenced a 1,250m drill program at its Palos Verdes project in Sinaloa. The goal is to explore the vein system to the west of the fault below the zone of bonanza grade intercepts from the previous campaigns.
ON MINING
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited announced that it willreport its Q3, 2024 results on October 30, 2024 after normal trading hours (Pinos Altos mine, Chihuahua).
Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd., announced that it has generated over USD $2.4M in revenues from its test mining and milling operations at the La Guitarra mine complex in the state of Mexico, with an average daily production rate of 350 tonnes over the past 30 days. The test mining has been ongoing since June 25, 2024, processing a total of 27,990 tonnes of material. The company aims to increase production to 400 tonnes per day and eventually reach commercial production of 500 tonnes per day by the end of the year. The concentrate grades for silver and gold range from 2,752 g/t to 3,442 g/t Ag and 28.65 to 38.45 g/t Au.
Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., announced that it produced over 3M Oz AgEq at its El Cubo mine in Guanajuato, triggering a USD $1M contingent payment to Endeavour Silver Corp. as part of the 2021 acquisition of El Cubo for USD $15M.
ON FINANCING
Luca Mining Corp.,announced the successful completion of its brokered private placement, raising a total of CAD $11.3M through a combination of 19,000,000 Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (LIFE) units and an increased non-brokered private placement of 6,126,167 units due to high demand. Key investors include Term Oil Inc. and CEO Dan Barnholden. The funds will be used for ongoing improvements at the Campo Morado mine in Guerrero, exploration drilling at Campo Morado, Guerrero and Tahuehueto, Durango, and general corporate purposes. The financings are set to close on or about September 26, 2024, pending necessary approvals.
Sonora Desert Copper Corporation amended its private placement financing. It cancelled 1,700,000 of the $0.10 units issued, for a revised total of funds raised of $840,750 (was $1,010,750) and shares and warrants issued 8,407,500 (was 10,107,500). The company cancelled 1,700,000 common shares and 1,700,000 common share purchase warrants which had been issued to a subscriber who, subsequent to the closing, withdrew their subscription (Cuatro Hermanos project, Sonora).
Vizsla Silver Corp., announced the closing of over-allotment option in full, generating additional gross proceeds of CAD $9.75M. Net proceeds of the offering will be used to advance the exploration, drilling and development of the company’s Panuco project, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.
VVC Exploration Corporation reported a 1 year extension for 57,567,800 Series AG share purchase warrants, presently expiring on September 30, 2024. “The warrants, exercisable at $0.075 per share, were issued pursuant to a Private Placement in September 2020 with a 3-year expiry and were extended last September for an additional year. The warrants have been out-of-the-money for some time. If approved by the TSXV, the warrants will expire on September 30, 2025” (Gloria project, Chihuahua).
Sonoro Gold Corp., closed an over-subscribed non-brokered private placement of 17.5M units at a price of CAD $0.05 per unit for gross proceeds of CAD $875K. Net proceeds will be used to fund the ongoing development of its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora, and for general working capital purposes (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora).
Goldgroup Mining Inc., closed a non-brokered private placement of 15.5M units at a price of CAD $0.05 per unit for gross proceeds of CAD$775K. Net proceeds will be used to increase crushing capabilities from 2,250 tpd to 4,500 tpd at the Company’s Cerro Prieto heap leach gold mine in Sonora, and for general working capital requirements.
Luca Mining Corp., announced that it closed its fully subscribed brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $8.55M by the issuance and sale of 19M units at a price of CAD $0.45 per unit. The funds will be used for ongoing improvements at the Campo Morado mine in Guerrero, exploration drilling at Campo Morado, Guerrero and Tahuehueto, Durango, and general corporate purposes.
Royalties Inc., closed a non-brokered private placement of 3M common shares at a price of $0.035 per share for gross proceeds of $105K. Funds will be used to cover overhead and Mexico expenses (Bilbao project, Zacatecas).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Starcore Mines International Ltd., announced an increase of its Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources for its San Martin mine in Queretaro as of April 30, 2024. The updated mineral reserves and mineral resources estimates are reported net of the production from the San Martin property (see tables below):
Los Gatos Silver Inc., disclosed and updated Mineral Reserve Estimate and Mineral Resource Estimate for its Cerro Los Gatos mine (CLG) in Chihuahua. The company has 70% interest in the Los Gatos JV, which in turn owns the Cerro Los Gatos mine. Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource by category with an effective day July 1, 2024 are summarized in the next tables:
The company also reported a strong free cash flow throughout the updated life of mine (LOM), with a mine life extended to the end of 2032, which adds two years of additional reserves and a 36% increase in AgEq production compared with the prior LOM plan; a low by-product AISC of $6.29 per Oz of payable of silver, and co-product AISC of $14.89 per Oz of payable silver equivalent; an average annual after-tax free cash flow of $80M, resulting in an after-tax NPV of $539M based on 2024 reserve price assumptions at a silver price of $23/Oz; an average annual after-tax free cash flow of $111M, resulting in an after-tax NPV5 of $760M, at a silver price of $30/Oz or an average annual after-tax free cash flow of $136M, resulting in an after-tax NPV5 of $935M, at a silver price of $35/Oz; and an average annual production over the LOM of 6.1M Oz Ag, 67M Lb Zn and 50M Lb Pb, or 12.9M Oz AgEq production.
Southern Silver Exploration Corp., announced a 6,000m drill program at its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Goal of the drill program is to “demonstrate further lateral projections of shallow high-grade mineralization adjacent to planned mine and mill infrastructure in the area of the Eastern Deposits (South Skarn, Mina La Bocona and North Felsite), which also would provide additional tonnage for extraction early in any planned mining schedule. Further drilling beyond the 6,000m current program would test down-dip of the known eastern deposits which could further enhance the continued resource potential of the project”. The program is anticipated to commence in the coming weeks.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Sandstorm Gold Royalties declared quarterly cash dividend for 2024in the amount of $0.02per common share to shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 15, 2024. The dividend will be paid on October 25, 2024 (Mercedes Mine, Sonora).
Torex Gold Resources Inc., announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors, effective October 1, 2024 (El Limon-Guajes mine complex, Guerrero).
Vizsla Royalties Corp., granted 1,961,000 stock options at an exercise price of $1.86 to directors, officers, employees, and consultants of the company. The Options are exercisable for a period of five years and will vest over the next two years (Panuco project, Sinaloa).
Prime Mining Corp., announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Los Reyes project, Sinaloa).
Silver Storm Mining Ltd., provided a bi-weekly update on September 24, 2024, regarding its management cease trade order (MCTO) issued by the British Columbia Securities Commission. The MCTO was announced due to delays in filing the company’s annual financial statements and related documents for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, primarily caused by complexities in the acquisition of the La Parrilla assets in Durango. The company has until September 27, 2024, to complete its annual filings and expects to file interim filings shortly thereafter. The MCTO does not affect the ability of other shareholders to trade the company’s securities.
Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., announced that in order to comply with the acquisition or El Cubo from Endeavour Silver Corp., for USD $15M, the transaction included contingent payment that would see Endeavour paid an additional USD $1M once 3M Oz AgEq had been produced at El Cubo. As part of the agreement, Guanajuato Silver can settle half of this payment with 2,753,265 common shares at CAD $0.245 each. Endeavour will settle the remaining balance with approximately 2,720,000 shares at CAD $0.25 each. Ocean Partners UK Limited will also accept shares for USD $1.8M in outstanding payments under the Gold Loan Credit Facility. All settlements are subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval and a four-month hold period.
Apollo Silver Corp., entered into an exploration, earn-in and option agreement with MAG Silver Corp., and its subsidiary Minera Pozo Seco S.A.de C.V. (MPS), to acquire the Cinco de Mayo project in Chihuahua. The agreement allows Apollo Silver to acquire MAG’s subsidiary, MPS, which owns the Project’s mineral concessions, contingent on obtaining necessary licenses and completing 20,000m of drilling within five years. The company will issue common shares to MAG equivalent to 19.9% upon exercising the option and will manage all exploration activities.
Southern Silver Exploration Corp., granted incentive stock options to various directors, officers, and consultants to purchase 6.5M common shares of the company at an exercise price of $0.31 per share, exercisable for a period of five years (Cerro Las Minitas project, Durango).
Florida Canyon Gold Inc., provided an update on its Mexican Transaction, which involves the sale of its interests in the San Agustin mine and El Castillo mine in Durango, La Colorada mine in Sonora, Cerro del Gallo project in Guanajuato, and San Antonio project in Baja California Sur to Heliostar Metals Ltd. The transaction is expected to close in Q4, 2024, pending necessary approvals, including from Mexico’s Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE). Additionally, Florida Canyon has filed management information circular for a special meeting on October 25, 2024, where shareholders will vote on a proposed arrangement with Integra Resources Corp., which aims to acquire all outstanding Florida Canyon shares at a specified exchange ratio. The completion of both the Mexican Transaction and the arrangement is subject to various approvals and customary closing conditions
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Vizsla Silver Corp., released its second annual sustainability report, highlighting the Company’s ongoing commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. The company cultivated approximately 4,000 native trees, accounting for 15 different species that will serve in future restoration activities; provided essential medical care to nearly 550 community members; invested nearly CAD $100K in the local community, bringing our cumulative total investment to over CAD $400K; and initiated the process of updating their social impact assessment and formalizing the Social Management Plan (Panuco project, Sinaloa).
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, core showing vuggy silica in a high-sulphidation epithermal system in a project in Jalisco, Mexico. Photo taken by Miguel A Heredia.
During the 29th week of the year (July 15th to July 21st 2024), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 2 news published by the media, with ten disclosing deals and corporate issues, five announcing financing rounds, five communicating production and financial results, three commenting on Mexican issues, three reporting resources and development of their properties, two informing on exploration results, and two discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Rafael Rebollar, general director of Industrias Peñoles, declared that the mining industry in Mexico has been affected due it awaits response on environmental permits. The Government of Mexico is preparing a preliminary report with arguments to declare that Vulcan Materials’ Calica mine in Quintana Roo is located within a “protected natural area”, which represents a possible expropriation of its land. Tocvan /Colibri reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the third week of July, 2024. ON EXPLORATION, In Chihuahua, Kingsmen announced that it has completed an evaluation and interpretation of the ground magnetic data covering the entire Las Coloradas project area. In Durango, Silver Wolf provided an update on its Ana Maria project. ON MINING, Americas Gold and Silver reported Q2, 2024 production results at its Cosalá operation mine in Sinaloa.Avino Silver & Gold Mines released production results for the Q2, 2024 at their Avino and La Preciosa mines in Durango. First Majestic announced Q2, 2024 production results from their Mexican operations, and provided an updated guidance for H2 and full year 2024. Bear Creek reported Q2, 2024 production results at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. ON FINANCING, Aztec Minerals announced a non-brokered private placement financing for gross proceeds of up to CAD $1.5M (Cervantes project, Sonora). Garibaldi applied to the TSX Venture Exchange to extend warrant expiry dates (Tonichi project, Sonora). Regency Silver announced a non-brokered private placement financing for gross proceeds of up to CAD $2.5M (Dios Padre project, Sonora). Sailfish reported that the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted a notice filed by the Company of its intention to make a Normal Course Issuer Bid to be transacted through the facilities of the Exchange (Gavilanes project, Durango). Vizsla Royalties entered into a debt settlement agreement dated July 3, 2024 with Vizsla Silver Corp to settle outstanding debt of CAD $1,609,312 owing from Vizsla Royalties to Vizsla Silver (Panuco project, Sinaloa). ON RESOURCESAND DEVELOPMENT, Tocvan and its JV Colibri reported results of five RC drill holes from its El Pilar project in Sonora. Bendito Resources acquired a flotation plan and is finalizing economic studies for critical minerals production from its Oposura project, Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Alamos Gold entered into a gold sale prepayment agreement for total consideration of USD $116 million in exchange for the delivery of 49,384 ounces in 2025 (Mulatos mine, Sonora). Golden Minerals announced that it has received payment in full of $2.5M plus VAT for the sale of its Velardeña Mine and associated facilities. Sierra Madre announced that it has secured a binding off-take agreement for 100% of concentrate sales from its La Guitarra mine, Mexico. US Antimony reported the appointment of its Vice President of the company´s Antimony Division (Los Juarez project, Queretaro). GR Silver closed the transaction to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Marlin Gold Mining Ltd (Plomosas, Sinaloa). Florida Canyon entered into a binding agreement to sell its interests in the San Agustin mine, El Castillo mine, La Colorada mine, Cerro del Gallo project and San Antonio project (collectively the “Mexican Business Unit”) to Heliostar Metals Ltd. Florida Canyon advised the market that processes are underway to review strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value on the Mexican business unit (El Castillo mine, Durango). Florida Canyon announced it has commenced trading on the TSX Venture Exchange (El Castillo mine, Durango). Heliostar entered into a binding agreement with Florida Canyon Gold Inc (FCGI) to acquire a 100% interest in all of FCGI’s mining assets in Mexico for consideration of USD $5M. Sierra Metals announced the completion of the sale of the Cusi mine and surrounding mineral concessions located in Chihuahua. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, SilverCrest and Alamos Gold released their 2023 ESG report (Las Chispas mine, Sonora and Mulatos mine, Sonora respectively).
ON MEXICO ISSUE
Rafael Rebollar, general director of Industrias Peñoles, declared that the mining industry in Mexico has been affected due it awaits response on environmental permits that must be granted by the federal government for tailings deposits, a system that collects all the waste from the mining process, once the waste has been separated from minerals. Failure to grant it could lead to the suspension of operations of some mining units. For his part, Carlos Pavón Campos, general secretary of the Mining Metallurgical Union FRENTE, said that mines throughout the country face restrictions on tailings dams, which represents a risk. He cited the case of Fresnillo and Velardeña as an example. He commented that in Velardeña, there are around 600 unionized workers and that a fundamental part of the mines are the tailings dams.
The Government of Mexico is preparing a preliminary report with arguments to declare that Vulcan Materials’ Calica mine in Quintana Roo is located within a “protected natural area”, which represents a possible expropriation of its land. The report will be evaluated for 30 days by the governments of the state of Quintana Roo, as well as by social organizations, indigenous communities and universities, reported the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) in a statement sent on Thursday. Vulcan Materials said in May that it received an offer from the Government of Mexico that “substantially undervalues” its property. According to Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the Administration offered to buy the firm’s assets on the Caribbean coast for USD $2B. Last May, U.S. senators warned that Mexico’s expropriation of Vulcan land would force them to consider “all available resources” to prevent “the theft of this property,” according to a letter officials sent to the Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena.
Tocvan Ventures Corp., and JV Colibri Resource Corp., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the third week of July, 2024. Details are shown in the table below:
ON EXPLORATION
Kingsmen Resources Ltd., announced that it has completed an evaluation and interpretation of the ground magnetic data covering the entire Las Coloradas project area in Chihuahua. It has identified two prominent magnetic bodies within a halo of weaker magnetics, and are interpreted to be shallow and probably linked to intrusives. Very positively, the structural picture appears to define a cymoid loop, a feature that generates multiple dilation zones that may host mineralization in both NW- and NE-trending zones along strike and at depth. These will be targets for drill testing. The project is prospective for epithermal precious metal, skarn and porphyry mineralization.
Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd., provided an update on its Ana Maria project in Durango. The company has been planning the upcoming drill program at the El Soldado Claim at the Ana Maria project. “Activities that have been completed to date include: preparing and fine tuning the drill targets, finalizing drilling and QA/QC procedures, selecting a drill contractor to conduct the drilling work, updating and revising the drill budget to reflect the change in Mexican Peso and inflationary costs, finalizing access agreements with the local communities for drilling activities, staffing the appropriate positions to conduct the program with contractors and employees”.
ON MINING
Americas Gold and Silver Corporation reported Q2, 2024 production results at its Cosalá operation mine in Sinaloa. It focused on mining the Main Zone at the San Rafael Mine and produced approximately 170K Oz Ag, 8.9M Lb Zn, and 2.6M Lb Pb. Silver production from the Cosalá Operations is expected to increase quarter-over-quarter.
Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., released production results for the Q2, 2024 at their Avino and La Preciosa mines in Durango. At Avino, the company processed 130,983 tonnes of 71 g/t Ag, 0.49 g/t Au, and 0.51% Cu with metallurgical recoveries of 88%, 70%, and 88% respectively, to produce 262.9K Oz Ag, 1,456 Oz Au, and 1.3M Lb Cu. At La Preciosa, it processed 9.951 tonnes of 133 g/t Ag and 0.28 g/t Au with metallurgical recoveries of 71% and 63% respectively, to produce 30.1K Oz Ag and 58 Oz Au.
First Majestic Silver Corp., announced Q2, 2024 production results from their Mexican operations. Table below shows mine by mine results:
The Company’s financial results for the second quarter of 2024 are scheduled to be released on Thursday, August 1, 2024. The company also provided an updated guidance for H2 and full year 2024. Tables below show mine by mine details:
Bear Creek Mining Corporation reported Q2, 2024 production results at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. The company processed 95,727 tonnes of 3.23 g/t Au, with a metallurgical recovery of 93% to produce 9,304 Oz Au and 40,893 Oz Ag.
Minera Alamos Inc., provided a brief operations update for its Santana gold mine in Sonora. The company initiated mining and stacking operations at the Nicho Main Zone of its Santana mine. As of the end of June, approximately 900 Oz Au have been stacked on the leach pad, with expectations to increase output to 1,300-1,500 ounces in the coming month. The company is improving access to the mineralization and plans to activate additional trucks to enhance operational efficiency. The average gold grade is around 0.9 g/t, and optimization efforts are underway to improve blasting and crushing processes. Overall, the operations are progressing well, with a focus on returning to a steady state of production as gold prices strengthen.
ON FINANCING
Aztec Minerals Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement financing of up to 8,333,334 units of the Company at a price of CAD $0.18 per unit for gross proceeds of up to CAD $1.5M. Part of the gross proceeds will be used to fund ongoing expenses at the Cervantes Project in Sonora, and for general working capital and corporate expenses.
Garibaldi Resources Corp., applied to the TSX Venture Exchange to extend warrant expiry dates. The original term of the Warrants was two years, of which 2,664,472 warrants (the “FT Warrants”) currently expire on July 22, 2024 and 181,250 warrants (the “NFT Warrants”) currently expire on September 16, 2024. The Company proposes to extend the expiry date for a one year period to July 22, 2025 for the FT Warrants and to September 16, 2025 for the NFT Warrants. None of the Warrants to be amended were issued to finders or agents. No other terms of the Warrants are to be amended and the exercise price remains at $0.55 (Tonichi project, Sonora).
Regency Silver Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement financing for gross proceeds of up to CAD $2.5M, consisting of 16.6M units at a price of CAD $0.15 per unit. Gross proceeds will be used for the upcoming drill program on the company´s Dios Padre project in Sonora, and for general working capital.
Sailfish Royalty Corp., reported that the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted a notice filed by the Company of its intention to make a Normal Course Issuer Bid to be transacted through the facilities of the Exchange. The notice provides that the company may, during the 12-month period commencing July 22, 2024 and ending July 21, 2025, purchase up to 3,539,756 common shares of the company in total, being approximately 5% of the total number of shares outstanding as at July 16, 2024 (Gavilanes project, Durango).
Vizsla Royalties Corp., entered into a debt settlement agreement dated July 3, 2024 with Vizsla Silver Corp to settle outstanding debt of CAD $1,609,312 owing from Vizsla Royalties to Vizsla Silver by issuing 32,186,240 common shares of the company to Vizsla Silver at a deemed price of CAD $0.05 per common share (Panuco project, Sinaloa).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Tocvan Ventures Corp., and its JV Colibri Resource Corp., reported results of five RC drill holes from its El Pilar project in Sonora. Drilling highlights include hole JES-24-95 with 0.15 g/t Au, 1 g/t Ag, and 0.4% Zn over 76.25m, including 0.19 g/t Au, 2 g/t Ag, and 1.49% Zn over 16.78m, including 0.16 g/t Au, 3 g/t Ag, and 2.78% Zn over 7.63m, plus 0.83 g/t Au, 1g/t Ag, and 0.12% Z over 5.09m, and hole JES-24-94 with 0.06 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag over 120.48m, including 0.09 g/t Au, 3 g/t Ag, and 0.15% Zn over 64.05m, including 0.17 g/t Au, 5 g/t Ag, and 0.22% Zn over 24.04m, including 1.26 g(/t Au, 37 g/t Ag, 0.55% Pb, and 1.16% Zn over 1.53m, plus 0.46 g/t Au, 26 g/t Ag, 0.12% Pb, and 0.57% Zn over 1.52m, plus 0.37 g/t Au, 5 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, and 3.05% Zn over 3.05m. Results for three drillholes are currently pending analysis.
Bendito Resources Inc., acquired a flotation plan and is finalizing economic studies for critical minerals production from its Oposura project, Sonora. The company also acquired stationary and mobile equipment, including laboratory equipment, primary and secondary mining equipment, blast hole and exploration drills, and other necessary support equipment typically used at mine sites. “The general arrangement of the mine site and related agency approvals are ongoing ahead of anticipated earth and civil works later this year. It is expected that the plant will be operational at the Oposura site in the second half of 2025”.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Alamos Gold Inc., entered into a gold sale prepayment agreement for total consideration of USD $116 million in exchange for the delivery of 49,384 ounces in 2025. The proceeds of the gold prepayment were used to eliminate gold forward purchase contracts, previously entered into by Argonaut Gold, totalling 179,417 ounces in 2024 and 2025 with an average price of USD $1,838 per ounce. As part of the recently closed acquisition of Argonaut, Alamos inherited Argonaut’s hedge book which included gold forward purchase contracts totaling 329,417 ounces between 2024 and 2027. The average forward prices on the contracts ranged between USD $1,821 and USD $1,860 per ounce (Mulatos mine, Sonora).
Golden Minerals Company announced that it has received payment in full of $2.5M plus VAT for the sale of its Velardeña Mine and associated facilities and title has been transferred to a privately held Mexican company. Further and in connection with the Agreements, there has been a delay in the closing of the Minera William agreement entered into to sell the oxide processing plant and the water wells, located in Durango State, Mexico. To date, the Company has received partial payments in the amount of $373,000 for these assets. The remaining $2,627,000, plus VAT on the full sale price, was due on July 1.
Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd., announced that it has secured a binding off-take agreement with Swiss-based global minerals trader MRI Trading AG for 100% of concentrate sales from its La Guitarra mine, Mexico.
US Antimony Corporation reported the appointment of its Vice President of the company´s Antimony Division (Los Juarez project, Queretaro).
GR Silver Mining Ltd., closed the transaction to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. Marlin is a private British Columbia company which owns, amongst other assets, Oro Gold de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., a private Mexican company that owns 100% of nine concessions, including the past producing La Trinidad mine, located adjacent to the Company’s core Plomosas project, Sinaloa.
Florida Canyon Gold Inc., entered into a binding agreement to sell its interests in the San Agustin mine, El Castillo mine, La Colorada mine, Cerro del Gallo project and San Antonio project (collectively the “Mexican Business Unit”) to Heliostar Metals Ltd. At closing, Heliostar will pay cash consideration of USD $5M to the Corporation. In addition, the Corporation is entitled to cash generated by the Mexican Business Unit prior to July 11, 2024 and cash of USD $5M generated from operating cash flow after July 16, 2024, subject to a minimum of USD $2M of net working capital being left in the Mexican Business Unit on closing.
Florida Canyon Gold Inc., advised the market that processes are underway to review strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value on the Mexican business unit (El Castillo mine, Durango).
Florida Canyon Gold Inc., announced it has commenced trading on the TSX Venture Exchange. Common shares of the company will commence trading on the TSXV at the opening of the market on July 16, 2024, under the symbol “FCGV” (El Castillo mine, Durango).
Heliostar Metals Ltd., entered into a binding agreement with Florida Canyon Gold Inc (FCGI) to acquire a 100% interest in all of FCGI’s mining assets in Mexico for consideration of USD $5M. The projects being acquired were recently spun out from Argonaut Gold Inc. Pursuant to the transaction, Heliostar will acquire those FCGI subsidiaries which collectively own 100% of the following properties: La Colorada Mine, located in Sonora, producing gold from residual leaching of gold while on care and maintenance; San Agustin Mine (formerly the El Castillo Complex), an open pit heap leach gold mine, San Agustin, and a closed open pit heap leach gold mine, El Castillo, located in Durango; Cerro del Gallo, an advanced gold development project located in Guanajuato; and San Antonio, an advanced gold development project located in Baja California Sur. The transaction is expected to close in October 2024. “As a condition to closing of the transaction, Heliostar and FCGI will enter into an agreement eliminating (a) up to USD $20M in contingent payments, which become payable to FCGI pursuant to the agreement under which Heliostar acquired the Ana Paula Project, and (b) up to USD $150M in conditional option payments and the issuance of a 2% net smelter returns royalty on the San Antonio Project, which might have become payable pursuant to the agreement under which Heliostar acquired an option on the San Antonio Project”.
Sierra Metals Inc., announced the completion of the sale of the Cusi mine and surrounding mineral concessions located in Chihuahua to Minera San Bernabé, S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of Silverco Mining Corp. (SMC). The company sold the Cusi Mine for USD $2.5M in cash and a 2.0% net smelter royalty in respect of the Cusi Mine granted in favour of Sierra Metals. SMC has the right to purchase one-half of the royalty at any time in exchange for a cash payment to Sierra Metals of USD $5.0M.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
SilverCrest Metals Inc., released its 2023 ESG report, which primarily focuses on its Las Chispas mine in Sonora, and also encompasses the surrounding communities in which it operates.
Alamos Gold Inc., released its 2023 ESG report, which outlines the company’s progress on its ESG performance in 2023 across its operations, projects and offices (Mulatos mine, Sonora).
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, vuggy silica in a high sulphidation epithermal system in a project in Jalisco, Mexico. Photo taken by Miguel A Heredia.
During the 22nd week of the year (May 27th to June 2nd,2024), companies working in Mexico posted at least 29 press releases. One company informed of drilling on its property and six companies released financial results for Q1 2024. Two companies announced the opening/closing of financing rounds for C$10.28 M and one filed a prospectus to raise up to US$250 M. Two companies informed on drilling results from their advanced projects, one on the approval of key mining permits, another on an updated technical report and one more a clarification on a previous news release. Two companies reported on held AGM’s, another one on the date for a merger-voting AGM, one on plans for a copper spinout, one on an annual report and one more on a board member retirement. ON MEXICO ISSUES, presidential polls in Mexico are to define a centralized power government or a checks and balances political system. The mining industry will be strongly affected if the officialism candidate wins. Nearshoring and EV’s present an opportunity to copper producing Sonora. The New Mining Law has stalled the investment of more than US$4.5 billion in the country. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Tocvan Ventures informed on drilling progress at Pilar.ON MINING, Impact Silver, Orogen Royalties, Bear Creek Mining, Minera Alamos, Santacruz Silver Mining and Luca Mining presented financial/operational results for Q1 2024. ON FINANCING, Impact Silver increased again its non-brokered private placement to C$10.2 M, Sailfish and Alamos Gold declared quarterly dividends. Inomin raised $80 K on the first tranche of financing. Mag Silver filed the base shelf prospectus to raise up to C$250 M in 25 months. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Silver Storm and Prime Minig released drilling results from La Parrilla, in Durango, and Los Reyes, in Sinaloa, respectively. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Argonaut Gold is to held a special meeting of shareholders to vote on the merger with Alamos Gold. First Majestic Silver released its 2023 annual report. Avino Silver and Guanajuato Silver released AGMS’s results. Minera Alamos informed on its purpose to create a copper developer/producer spinout in Central Sonora. Capstone Copper announced the retirement of Bob Gallagher. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, First Majestic Silver and Fortuna Silver Mines published their 2023 ESG reports.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
This Sunday June 2nd presidential polls are to be held in Mexico, same that will define the bearing the country is to follow in the next six years and probably beyond that. At stake are the centralized government system with unrestricted power to the presidency sought by the current incumbent Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and the checks and balances system between the different government branches (executive, legislative and judicial) sought by the coalition opposition parties. Besides the obvious influence on the economy, if the officialism party´s Claudia Sheinbaum candidate wins, expect a tight grip on the mining industry from the open supporter of socialist economies, like Cuba and Venezuela.
Nearshoring and electrical vehicles present an opportunity for copper producing Sonora, according to David Ramos Félix, president of the local AIMMGM chapter in the State that produces more than 70% of the red metal in the country
Restrictions brought by the new Mining Law approved by Fast Track procedures in May of 2023 have delayed the investment of more than US$4.5 billion, according to Karen Flores, president of the Cámara Minera de México (CAMIMEX). The freezing of at least 220 environmental permits is hindering the investments that could generate employment to close to 50 thousand families, with salaries in the metallic mining sector that are 85% above the national average.
ON EXPLORATION
Tocvan Ventures Corp. informed 2,200 m have been completed on the reverse circulation (RC) drill program at its Pilar property in Sonora. Results for nine holes have been released so far.
ON MINING
Impact Silver Corp. announced financial and operating results for Q1 2024. The company reported revenue of $4.3 M from the Guadalupe mine in Estado de Mexico and $1 M from the start-up operations at Plomosas in Chihuahua. There was a net loss during the period of $3.1 M, primarily on upgrading facilities at the Plomosas mine. At the Zacualpan/Guadalupe mine in Estado de Mexico 31.7 K tonnes were milled @ 161 gpt AgEq. The Plomosas mine continued gradual start-up of operations, processing 3.6 K tonnes @ 15.3% Zn. The mine is expected to reach design capacity of 200 tpd later in 2024.
Orogen Royalties Inc. reported Q1 results, including $1.48 M in royalty revenue generated from First Majestic’s Ermitaño mine in Sonora, representing 508 Oz AuEq. “During the current quarter, the mill processed 224,394 tonnes of ore compared to 233,601 tonnes processed last quarter. Average silver and gold head grades during the current quarter were 72 grams per tonne (“g/t”) and 3.16 g/t, respectively, compared to average silver and gold head grades of 106 g/t and 3.88 g/t, respectively, of the previous quarter. Silver and gold recoveries averaged 69% and 95%, respectively, compared to recoveries of 73% and 96% from the previous quarter”.
Bear Creek Mining Corp. reported interim consolidated financial results for Q1 2024. During the period, 106.4 K tonnes were mined at the Mercedes mine in Sonora, averaging 3.83 gpt Au, 109.3 K tonnes milled averaging 3.69 gpt Au, recovering 94% Au to produce 12,228 Oz Au, 44 K Oz Ag at cash cost $1,183 per Oz Au and an AISC of $1,588 per Oz Au. Total revenue in the period was $27.5 K M. “Updates to estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources are tentatively expected before year end, pending completion of the first phase of the exploration and infill drilling campaign”.
Minera Alamos Inc. provided select financial highlights from its Q1 2024 and an operational update for the first five months of the year. Updated plans call for 20 K Oz Au averaging 0.63 gpt Au and mined at a 1.6:1 ratio and staked over a 12-month period. Further stockpiled 4.5 K Oz Au @ 1.0 gpt Au are to be processed during the same period. Mining and stacking operations are expected to commence in June and continue through H2 2024 and H1 2025. Total gold recovered and sold during the first quarter was 907 Oz Au, with inventory on the leach pad of 5,383 Oz Au. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period was $11.8 M, with a positive working capital of $18.2 M.
Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reported its financial and operating results for the first quarter 2024, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Zimapan, in Hidalgo, 205.4 K tonnes were processed @ 82 gpt Ag, 0.29% Cu, 0.83% Pb, 2.29% Zn, recovering 74% Ag, 43% Cu, 79% Pb, 77% Zn, to produce 399.9 K Oz Ag, 256 tonnes Cu, 1,352 tonnes Pb, 3,643 tonnes Zn. During the period the company had US$52.6 M in revenue, 463 K in gross profit, cash and cash equivalents of US$4 M and working capital of US$7.1 M.
Luca Mining Corp. announced financial results for Q1 2024. During the period the company produced 4,297 Oz Au, 207.5 K Oz Ag, 791 tonnes Cu, 661 tonnes Pb, 3,068 tonnes Zn. The company achieved its first positive operating earnings with C$4.8 M in operating income and C$7.3 M in net income. Cash flow was C$4 M, with an AISC of US$1,325 and US$1,690 per Oz AuEq, expected to decrease at Tahuehueto and Campo Morado respectively, as ramp up production continues with the completion of construction at the former and completion of the improvement project at the latter (Tahuehueto, Durango; Campo Morado, Guerrero).
ON FINANCING
Impact Silver Corp. is amending and increasing its previously announced non-brokered private placement from C$8.2 M to C$10.2 M (Plomosas, Chihuahua).
Sailfish Royalty Corp. declared the second quarterly dividend for 2024, in the amount of US$0.0125 per common share (Gavilanes, Durango).
Alamos Gold Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.025 per common share (Mulatos, Sonora).
Inomin Mines Inc. announced the closing of the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $80K (La Gitana, Oaxaca).
Mag Silver Corp. obtained receipt for the final short form base shelf prospectus filed with the securities commissions in all Canada and filed a registration statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The final shelf prospectus and registration statement will allow the company to offer up to US$250 M in common shares during the 25-month period of validity (Juanicipio, Zacatecas).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Silver Storm Mining Ltd. announced further results from 3,039 m in 23 holes of its diamond drill program at La Parrilla mine in Durango. The results are from the Rosario mine, underneath and in proximity to previously mined stopes. The Rosario zone is “characterized by a sulphide-bearing quartz-carbonate vein hosted within a fault zone that extend down dip for 900 m, with a strike length of 2 km and true widths of up to 14 m”. Highlighted core length results comprise 3.84 m @ 73 gpt Ag, 2.2% Pb, 5.4% Zn (including 1.19 m @ 0.15 gpt Au, 123 gpt Ag, 3.7% Pb, 11.3% Zn); 4.83 m @ 0.16 gpt Au, 113 gpt Ag, 0.2% Cu, 1.4% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 5.23 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 70 gpt Ag, 1.6% Pb, 1.8% Zn; 2.50 m @ 0.64 gpt Au, 68 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb; 4.54 m @ 176 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb (including 1.97 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 176 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb); 0.35 m @ 842 gpt Ag, 0.94% Cu, 24.8% Pb, 10.1% Zn; 3.91 m @ 0.38 gpt Au, 501 gpt Ag, 1.2% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 3.52 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 48 gpt Ag, 2.1% Pb, 2.4% Zn; 1.47 m @ 469 gpt Ag, 1.89% Cu, 5.0% Pb, 2.7% Zn; 5.9 m @ 225 gpt Ag, 0.9% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 3.20 m @ 0.47 gpt Au, 111 gpt Ag, 1.5% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 6.25 m @ 532 gpt Ag, 18.1% Pb, 5.4% Zn.
Prime Mining Corp. reported expansion drilling results from the Guadalupe East area at Los Reyes project, in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 3.5 m @ 2.67 gpt Au, 327 gpt Ag; 1.1 m @ 4.06 gpt Au, 664 gpt Ag; 0.3 m @ 6.88 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 1.5 m @ 2.38 gpt Au, 419 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 3.71 gpt Au, 475 gpt Ag; 0.7 m @ 20.50 gpt Au, 2,620 gpt Ag; and core length intervals comprising 2.4 m @ 1.29 gpt Au, 180 gpt Ag (including 1.3 m @ 2.13 gpt Au, 302 gpt Ag). “The target of this drilling at Guadalupe East was high-grade antithetic veins stepping out to the west. Antithetic veins are footwall and hanging wall splays that intersect the main Estaca vein at Guadalupe East”.
Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. announced the approval by SEMARNAT (Environmental Agency) of the modifications to the existing operating permit for the Guitarra mine and mill complex in Estado de Mexico. The permit allows for dry stack tailings deposition at the active tailings facility site, construction of a tailings filter plant, paste backfill using tailings in the underground mine and 58 surface drilling pad locations.
Argonaut Gold Inc. filed an updated technical report for the San Agustin property in Durango, which commenced operations in 2017. Reports highlights include gold production of 89 K Oz Au from April 2024 to 2026 at cash cost US$1,702 per Oz Au and a pre-tax and after-tax net present value (5%) of US$30M.
Luca Mining Corp. issued a clarification on its May 21, 2024 news release regarding the high-grade gold mineralization over significant widths at the Tahuehueto mine in Durango. “The mineralization occurs in shoots branching off the main Creston vein at Underground Level 23. Creston is one is one of two main structures currently being mined. Regular geological mapping, as part of mining activities, and channel sampling at this level confirmed the presence of breccia ore shoots up to 20 meters wide”. Channel sampling of 494 channel samples on Level 23 average 3.30 gpt Au, 27 gpt Ag, 0.22% Cu, 0.8% Pb, 1.4% Zn,
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Argonaut Gold Inc. has filed its management information circular for its annual general and special meeting of the holders of common shares to be held on June 28, 2024. At the meeting Argonaut Shareholders will be asked to vote on the statutory plan of arrangement under which Argonaut will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alamos Gold Inc. (La Colorada, Sonora).
First Majestic Silver Corp. released its 2023 Annual report titled “20 Years. The Silver Evolution”. The report covers the company’s “vision and mission, its values, its commitment to achieving its goals, and its 20-year evolution to becoming one of the world’s largest silver producers”.
Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. reported voting results from its annual general meeting (AGM) held on May 30. 2024. The company also announced the retirement of Jasman Yee from the board of directors (Avino, Durango).
Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. announced its 2024 annual general meeting (AGM) is to be held on June 28, 2024 (El Cubo, Guanajuato).
Minera Alamos Inc. informed its plans to advance the creation of a “separate copper developer/producer focused on low capital intensity copper development projects”. The company considers the combination of Los Verdes and Suaqui Verde projects allow for further consolidation of similar assets in the region.
Capstone Copper Corp. announced Mr. Robert Gallagher has retired from the board of the directors (Cozamin, Zacatecas).
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
First Majestic Silver Corp. released its 2023 Sustainability Report summarizing the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG). Highlighted in the report are the safety performance, diversity and inclusion, carbon reduction, community involvement, ESG recognition and community investments (San Dimas, Durango).
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. published its sixth annual sustainability report detailing the company’s performance on key environmental, social and governance (ESG) indicators during 2023 (San Jose, Oaxaca).
On the image below: Potassic feldspar alteration on rim of dark veinlet on intrusive rock in HQ core (6.3 cm across) from a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 15th week of the year (April 8th to April 14th, 2024), companies working in Mexico posted at least 29 press releases. Two companies released exploration results in their properties, while eight companies released production results for Q1 2024. Seven companies announced financing rounds for a total of C$18.4 M, one granted stock options, one more made a significant draw on its debt facility and one more is listing in the FSE. Three companies released drilling results from their advanced properties, one on new technical reports needed for its properties, and one more on the incoming drilling program. One company announced the appointment of a director. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the Northern Miner wrote that Mexico’s Supreme Court is likely to strike down the mining reforms by the current government. A federal court rejected the legal defense on the cancellation of the Sonora Lithium project concessions. ON EXPLORATION, Minaurum Gold reported metallurgical test results on Alamos; Silver Spruce obtained the drilling permit for the second round of drilling at Diamante. ON MINING, Fortuna Silver, Aura Minerals, Guanajuato Silver Company, Endeavour Silver, Orla Mining, GoGold Resources, Torex gold and Gatos Silver presented production results for Q1 2024. ON FINANCING, Kootenay Silver launched a “best efforts” public offering to raise up to C$5 M. Oroco Resource granted stock options. Silver Spruce announced a private placement to raise C$500 K. Silver Storm raised C$6.1 M. Endeavour Silver drew US$60 M from its US$120 M senior secured debt facility. Vortex Metals is to complete a non-brokered private placement to raise C$1.45 M. Prismo Metals listed its shares in the FSE. Tocvan Ventures is to raise C$2.25 M. Regency Silver upsized its non-brokered private placement to C$993.7 K. Silver Viper raised C$2.1 M on the closing of the first tranche of its financing round. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Pan American Silver presented drilling results from La Colorada Skarn infill drilling in Zacatecas. Prime Mining released drilling results from Los Reyes, in Sinaloa. Defiance Silver is to prepare new technical reports for Tepal and San Acacio projects, in Jalisco and Zacatecas respectively. Goldgroup presented the first update on its operations and drilling results at Cerro Prieto, in Sonora. Centenario Gold is preparing to drill Eden, in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Vizsla Silver announced an appointment to the board. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
The federal court rejected an amparo filed by Bacanora Lithium owned by the Chinese company Ganfeng Lithium to reverse the cancellation of its mining concessions in Sonora by the Ministry of Economy’s (SE) General Mining Directorate in September 2023.
ON EXPLORATION
Minaurum Gold Inc. reported preliminary metallurgical testing results from composite core samples taken at the Promontorio and Europa targets at its Alamos silver project in Sonora. “Six separate composites were prepared including 3 from core samples at the Europa vein zone and 3 from core samples at the Promontorio vein zone. For each vein zone, the 3 composites were comprised of 1/4 cores corresponding from sample intervals with silver assays in ranges 150-250 g/t silver (low grade), 250-450 g/t silver (medium grade), and >450 g/t silver (high grade)”. Reported Au recoveries ranged from 46% to 96.5%, averaging 77.4%; Ag recoveries ranged between 68.2% to 94.3%, averaging 85.4%; Pb recoveries ranged from 21.3% to 82.2%, averaging 63.7%; Cu recoveries ranged between 43.5% and 81.87%, averaging 61.2%. Samples were processed at the Tecnológico de Metalurgia in Hermosillo and the Servicio Geológico Mexicano (SGM) lab in Chihuahua.
Silver Spruce Resources Inc. along with partner Colibri Resource Corp. announced the approval of its Informe Preventivo by SEMARNAT (Environmental authority) for the second drill program at the Diamante project in Sonora. “Colibri will manage the planned 1,000 metre diamond drilling program from a select group of the permitted drill targets”.
ON MINING
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. reported production for the first quarter of 2024, including figures from its Mexican operations. At San Jose, in Oaxaca, 181.1 K tonnes were milled at an average rate of 2,182 tpd, grading 147 gpt Ag, 0.90 gpt Au, recovering 88.73% Ag, 86.76% Au, to produce 4,533 Oz Au, 759.1 K Oz Ag during the period. “The San Jose Mine has less operational flexibility in 2024 compared to 2023 due to the reduced and more dispersed Mineral Reserves associated with the Trinidad deposit. Production areas contain lower head grades and a higher presence of ferrous oxides in the upper levels, which impacted recoveries by approximately 2 percent in the quarter. The operation is experiencing cost pressures, mainly driven by a continued appreciation of the Mexican peso. The Company conducts regular assessments and trade-offs between maintaining operations and a care and maintenance option”.
Aura Minerals Inc. announced preliminary production results from its mines, including figures from Aranzazu, in Zacatecas. During the period Aranzazu produced 25,001 Oz AuEq. “Production was 5% lower compared to Q4 2023 and 5% above Q1 2023 at constant metal prices, due to mine sequencing…”
Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. announced selected financial information and consolidated production results for 2023. During the year the company mined 600.3 K tonnes, milling 593.8 K tonnes to produce 1.76 M Oz Ag, 16,967 Oz Au, 3.55 M Lb Pb, 3.87 M Lb Zn, at cash cost $18.22 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $22.91. Guanajuato Silver produced 74% more Ag, 52% more Au, 164% more Pb and 100% more Zn than in 2022. At the end of the period the company had cash and cash equivalents of $1.96 M and negative working capital of $18.44 M (El Cubo, Valenciana Complex, San Ignacio in Guanajuato; Topia in Durango).
Endeavour Silver Corp. reported Q1 2024 production of 1.46 M Oz Ag, 10,133 Oz Au, or 2.3 M Oz AgEq. At Guanaceví, in Durango, 115 K tonnes were processed at a rate of 1,263 tpd, grading 402 gpt Ag, 1.25 gpt Au, recovering 89.9% Ag, 89.2% Au, to produce 1.33 M Oz Ag, 4,124 Oz Au. At Bolañitos, in Guanajuato, 106.8 K tonnes were processed at a rate of 1,174 tpd, grading 42 gpt Ag, 1.94 gpt Au, recovering 86.2% Ag, 90.2% Au, to produce 124.3 K Oz Ag, 6,010 Oz Au.
Orla Mining Ltd. provided an interim operational update for Q1 2024. During the period 1.94 M tonnes of ore were mined and 872.6 K tonnes of waste moved at its Camino Rojo Oxide mine in Zacatecas, with a strip ratio of 0.45, stacking 1.8 M tonnes at an average rate of 19,597 tpd, grading 0.82 gpt Au, to produce 33,223 Oz Au. At the end of the period Orla had a $118.1 M cash position, with a total debt of $88.4 M, resulting in a net cash position of $29.7 M.
GoGold Resources Inc. reported production for Q1 2024 of 138.7 K Oz Ag, 2,184 Oz Au, 93 tonnes Cu, 92 tonnes Zn, or 375.7 K Oz AgEq at its Parral tailings operations. “With the SART Zinc circuit commissioning completed, this marks the first quarter where Parral produced a saleable zinc product.”
Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported Q1 2024 gold production of 115,494 Oz at its El Limón Guajes surface and underground operations in Guerrero. Average gold recovery at the processing plant was 90.7%, the highest to date. Throughput averaged 13,118 tpd.
Gatos Silver Inc. announced production results for Q1 2024 at its Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua. During the period 292.1 K tonnes were processed at a rate of 3,210 tpd, grading 284 gpt Ag, 3.99% Zn, 1.77% Pb, 0.28 gpt Au, recovering 88.8% Ag, 61.4% Zn, 89.2% Pb, 52% Au, to produce 2.37 M Oz Ag, 15.8 M Lb Zn, 10.1 M Lb Pb, 1,390 Oz Au (or 3.7 M Oz AgEq) in lead and zinc concentrates.
ON FINANCING
Kootenay Silver Inc. entered into an agreement with Red Cloud Securities Inc. to act as lead agent and sole bookrunner in connection with a “best efforts” public offering for gross proceeds of up to C$5 M (Columba, Chihuahua).
Oroco Resource Corp. granted 6.23 M stock options to 33 directors, officers, employees and consultants at an exercise price of $0.75 per share (Santo Tomás, Sinaloa).
Silver Spruce Resources Inc. announced a private placement to gather gross proceeds of up to C$500 K (Pino de Plata, Chihuahua).
Silver Storm Mining Ltd. closed the second and final tranche of its oversubscribed non-brokered private placement offering for gross proceeds of C$4.63 M, including C$3 M investment from current significant shareholder Eric Sprott. In aggregate the total gross proceeds in the two tranches added to C$6.1 M (La Parrila, Durango).
Endeavour Silver Corp. announced the first drawdown of $60 M of the $120 M senior secured debt facility for the development of the Terronera mine in Jalisco. The key terms of the contracts include forward sales amounting to 68,000 Oz Au that have been executed at $2,325 per Oz, representing 55% of planned gold production on the first three years of operations, no silver hedge requirements and forward purchases of US$45 M equivalent Mexican peso over the remaining construction period at $16.56 per US dollar.
Vortex Metals Inc. intends to complete a non-brokered private placement for total gross proceeds of C$1.45 M (Riqueza Marina, Oaxaca).
Prismo Metals Inc. announced the listing of its shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE). Prismo Metals shares are also cross listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange and on the OTCQB in the United States (Los Pavitos, Sonora).
Tocvan Ventures Corp. arranged a non-brokered private placement with a lead order from an institutional investor for C$1.5 M. The company will complete a concurrent private placement for up to C$750 K to other eligible investors for aggregate gross proceeds of C$2.25 M (Pilar, Sonora).
Regency Silver Corp. announced that it has closed a further C$215.2 K of a previously announced non-brokered private placement of $C800 K, upsizing it to a total of C$993.7 K (Dios Padre, Sonora).
Silver Viper Minerals Corp. announced the closing of the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement financing pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (LIFE) previously announced. Under the first tranche the company raised C$2.11 M in gross proceeds (La Virginia, Sonora).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Pan American Silver Corp. released results from the ongoing infill and geotechnical drill program at its La Colorada Skarn project, in Zacatecas. The results from eight drill holes (8,101 m) returned some of the highest-grade intercepts in the project. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 26.85 m @ 127 gpt Ag, 7.2% Pb, 11.1% Zn; 77.85 m @ 568 gpt Ag, 12.4% Pb, 9.6% Zn; 22.50 m @ 1,435 gpt Ag, 31.9% Pb, 20.5% Zn; 372.10 m @ 77 gpt Ag, 3.9% Pb, 5.8% Zn (including 83.85 m @ 172 gpt Ag, 8.5% Pb, 10.5% Zn); 60.00 m @ 80 gpt Ag, 4.0% Pb, 7.0% Zn (including 29.00 m @ 136 gpt Ag, 7.5% Pb, 12.8% Zn); 91.20 m @ 31 gpt Ag, 2.6% Pb, 5.0% Zn; 87.25 m @ 32 gpt Ag, 1.4% Pb, 3.9% Zn; 134.55 m @ 29 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 6.6% Zn; 23.15 m @ 57 gpt Ag, 3.3% Pb, 5.6% Zn.
Prime Mining Corp. reported expansion drilling results from its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intervals from 15 holes at the Tahonitas area comprise 7.7 m @ 5.83 gpt Au, 143 gpt Ag (including 1.8 m @ 24.31 gpt Au, 555 gpt Ag; 16.9 m @ 1.21 gpt Au, 60 gpt Ag (including 4.5 m @ 2.41 gpt Au, 122 gpt Ag); 0.8 m @ 7.66 gpt Au, 1,260 gpt Ag. These intercepts may support pit expansion to the southeast near surface, and show that the Tahonitas structure mineralization continues for 350 m along strike from the southeast pit crest and enhances the potential to continue discovering high-grade ore shoots within the southeast strike extension and potential high-margin underground feed. Five drill rigs are currently active, and the company is targeting 40,000 m of drilling in 2024.
Defiance Silver Corp. announced that the amendment needed on the Tepal project technical report cannot be done, as some of the sections requiring amendments were prepared by persons who are no longer qualified persons. Defiance will be working to prepare a new technical report to replace the current Tepal report. “As for its San Acacio project, work on the preparation of the new technical report is progressing well but has been delayed, notably, due to the site visit availability. The Company now expects to file this new technical report by the mid-May 2024” (Tepal, Jalisco; San Acacio, Zacatecas).
Goldgroup Mining Inc. updated on its operations at its Cerro Prieto open pit, heap leach mine in Sonora. Goldgroup commenced mining operations at Cerro Prieto in 2013 with a resource of 8.22 M tonnes @ 0.81 gpt Au, 17.2 gpt Ag, 0.21% Pb, 0.54% Zn, which were mined by mid 2023. Additional mineralization has been mined during subsequent exploration, but not yet included in a published resource calculation. To date Cerro Prieto has produced 117,033 Oz Au, and production continues at a rate of 1,000 to 1,200 Oz Au per month. Mining was focused over a strike length of 1.6 Km in several pits, on a near vertical shear zone up to 65 m wide. Highlighted core length intercepts in 2023 include 19.70 m @ 1.03 gpt Au; 5.5 m @ 0.75 gpt Au; 20.98 m @ 1.02 gpt Au; 13.20 m @ 2.05 gpt Au; 4.50 m @ 1.16 gpt Au; 1.55 m @ 4.78 gpt Au; 24.96 m @ 0.69 gpt Au; 7.70 m @ 1.35 gpt Au; 17.97 m @ 1.13 gpt Au; 11.80 m @ 0.61 gpt Au; 4.25 m @ 1.07 gpt Au; 7.78 m @ 0.98 gpt Au; 11.67 m @ 1.16 gpt Au; 13.70 m @ 1.15 gpt Au; 13.70 m @ 1.15 gpt Au; 13.20 m @ 1.20 gpt Au; 43.89 m @ 0.43 gpt Au; 9.05 m @ 0.093 gpt Au. The company recently brought back into full service its 2,500 tpd crushing circuit, with an improvement in recoveries to 60% expected. Funding is being sought for a second full crushing circuit to double its current gold production.
Centenario Gold Corp. announced the next phase of exploration on the Eden property in Sinaloa. The geological team lead by Alain Charest and Hermilo Mendoza outlined several new targets to drill-test across the Eden property, including the northern extension, the upper and deeper portions of the Buenavista epithermal vein system and other sub-parallel mineralized structures, especially the La Proveedora prospect 1.5 Km east of Buenavista. “The upper 100 meter portion of the Buenavista structure extends directly down dip from where the high grade Au and Ag surface sample as high as 239.9 g/t Au and 1390 g/t Ag were obtained”. Quartz textures and alteration minerals at 250 m depth are interpreted as part of the upper level of the epithermal systema, enhancing the probability of further mineralized zones at depth.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Vizsla Silver Corp. announced the appointment of Ms. Suki Gill as an independent director of the company effective immediately (Panuco, Sinaloa).
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
No Relevant News.
On the image below: Quartz-barite-specularite vein on a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 11th week of the year (March 11th to March 17th, 2024), companies working in Mexico posted at least 26 press releases. Three companies reported on exploration at its properties while three more released results for the last quarter/full-year. Four companies announced financing rounds for a total of C$7.8 M, one is delisting from one Stock Exchange and listing in another one, another is extending its warrants expiry date and one more is granting stock options. One company informed on work at its advanced property. One company obtained a hard-sought community authorization for exploration activities, while one other is stopping activities in Mexico. A company announced an appointment to the board and one more the optioning of a property. One company is to process third-party material at its mill, one is cancelling an option and its related financing round and one more is updating on its legal action against the Mexican government. ON MEXICO ISSUES, a couple of judicial resolutions set the application of the new mining law on hold. The anti-mining stance by the federal government is bearing fruit, pushing mining investment out of the country. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Colibri Resource updated on work at its EP project. In Chihuahua, Kootenay Silver is to drill at Columba. In Durango, Silver Dollar is re-evaluating the Nora project. ON FINANCING, three companies informed on the opening or closing of financing rounds: Regency Silver (C$250 K), Reyna Silver (C$3.2 M), Defiance Silver (C$2.6 M) Guanajuato Silver granted options to directors, management and consultants. Pantera Silver is to extend the expiry date of warrants. Almaden Minerals is to change its listing stock exchange. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Atacama Copper started drilling at Cristina, in Chihuahua, focusing on high-grade resources. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, USAntimony is closing operations in Mexico. Vortex Metal obtained community exploration approbation. Sonoro Gold announced an appointment to the board. Riverside Resources and Fortuna Silver signed an option agreement on the Cecilia project, in Sonora. CMC Metals dropped the option on the Gavilanes project and the concurrent financing round on lack of exploration permit. Guanajuato Silver Company signed a new third-party processing agreement. Almaden Minerals and Almadex Minerals updated on its request for consultation under the CPTPP. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
According to the newspaper La Jornada a judge upheld a partial suspension on the reforms to the mining law, specifically on the article that disposes all mining concession applications not yet titled. First Majestic Silver promoted the appeal on grounds of unconstitutionality.
The Poder Judicial Federal suspended multiple parts of the reform to the Mining Law of last May 2023, as these are likely unconstitutional. By Mid-April the Supreme Court has to discuss if the reforms are invalidated because of violations to the legislative process, although the project on the Mining Law still has to be included on the minute. Some points addressed in the reform include the reduction from 50 to 30 years of duration of the concession, auctioning of mining concessions, community consultation and retribution and water use limitations among others.
The Mexican government mining policies are bearing fruit. The Mining Law changes of last year (likely to be soon rejected by the Supreme Court), the reluctance by the environmental agency (SEMARNAT) to reauthorize mining permits, the lack of permits for open pit mining, the unwillingness to end illegal blockades and the general anti-mining stance of the current federal government are working as expected, deterring mining investment and pushing the more disadvantaged players, junior foreign companies, out of the country. Just this week USAntimony is closing operations in Mexico, CMC Metals is bailing out of a deal to option a property because of SEMARNAT’s failure to extend an exploration permit and Almaden Minerals informed on the international proceedings regarding its Ixtaca project in Puebla. Those companies are adding to the likes of Fortune Silver, Argonaut Gold, Riverside Resources and Golden Minerals, among others, that have made public during this quarter their reassessment of continuing operations in Mexico or have current arbitration cases, like Silver Bull Resources on its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. How much this scenery is to change depends on when/if the Mining Law changes are repealed and the open pit mining ban scraped.
ON EXPLORATION
Silver Dollar Resources Inc. commenced its re-evaluation of the Nora property in Durango during last February, with the collection of 72 surface samples on the East, West and South anomalies, as well as from the main Candy structure. Rock samples on the Candy structure attempt to replicate the results from the previous operator, and will be reported when received.
Colibri Resource Corp. updated on exploration activities at its EP Gold project in Sonora. Work includes an airborne magnetic survey covering 1,385 ha at a height of 35 m and a 50 m spacing between flight lines. Similar equipment and survey parameters with previous surveys allowed for the combination of the datasets. Geological mapping completed on selected areas with 64 rock samples collected as well as 23 rocks for thin section petrography. Interpretation of geological, geochemical and geophysical surveys highlighted the importance of north-northeast trending structures, and the recognition of easterly trending ones. Colibri has identified 14 target areas, prioritizing four of these for drilling.
Kootenay Silver Inc. announced the initiation of the Q1 diamond drill program at Columba, in Chihuahua. The program envisages 15 to 17 holes for 5,000 m designed to expand upon previous intercepts along the D-Vein target. “The current drilling program is designed to extend the D-Vein in preparation of a follow up program of likely 15,000 meters, aimed to delineate a maiden resource expected in late 2024 which is dependent on additional drilling beyond the 5000 meter program and the financing it requires.”
ON MINING
Endeavour Silver Corp. announced financial and operating results for Q4 and full-year 2023. During the year the company produced 5.7 M Oz Ag, 37,858 Oz Au, or 8.7 M Oz AgEq, for a total revenue of $205 M, $37 M in operating cash flow before working capital changes and net income of $6.1 M. Consolidated cash cost net of by-product credits was $13.49 per Oz Ag, and an AISC of $22.93 per Oz Ag, impacted by higher costs. During the year Bolañitos in Guanajuato processed 441 K tonnes to produce 537.5 K Oz Ag, while Guanaceví in Durango processed 433.4 K tonnes to produce 5.09 M Oz Ag. Construction of the Terronera mine in Jalisco continues on schedule. Cash position of $35.3 M and $42.5 M in working capital.
SilverCrest Metals Inc. released financial results for Q4 and year 2023. During the year Las Chispas mine in Sonora mined 300.9 K tonnes, processed 431.4 K tonnes at a rate of 877 tpd, with ore averaging 4.39 gpt Au, 423 gpt Ag (or 771 gpt AgEq), recovering 98.1% Au, 96.5% Ag, to produce 59,700 Oz Au, 5.65 M Oz Ag (or 10.4 M Oz AgEq) at cash cost $7.73 per Oz AgEq. In 2023 the company completed 13.2 km of horizontal and vertical underground development. During the year SilverCrest generated $116.7 M in net earnings and free cash flow was $121.1 M, holding cash and cash equivalents of $86 M by the end of the year.
Gold Resource Corp. announced full-year operational results from its Don David Gold Mine in Oaxaca. During Q4 2023 the mine milled 111.2 K tonnes @ 1.44 gpt Au, 85 gpt Ag, 0.39% Cu, 1.39% Pb, 2.95% Zn to produce 4,077 Oz Au, 282.5 K Oz Ag, 341 Cu tonnes, 1,072 Pb tonnes, 2,884 Zn tonnes in the quarter, adding up to 18,534 Oz Au, 1.04 M Oz Ag (31,085 Oz AuEq). For 2024 the guidance is to produce 13,000 to 15,000 Oz Au, 1.25 to 1.4 M Oz Ag, (29,500 to 31,500 Oz AuEq) at cash cost $1,450 to $1,650 per Oz AuEq. Negotiations during Q4 2023 reduced royalties from 5% to 3% on the La Tehuana, El Aguila, and Mina El Aire mining concessions.
ON FINANCING
Regency Silver Corp. closed further $253 K of a previously announced non-brokered placement of $800 K. The company also granted stock options to acquire 1.7 M of common shares to directors, officers, employees and consultants (Dios Padre, Sonora).
Pantera Silvera Corp. applied to extend the expiry date of 11.8 M share purchase warrants to March 11, 2025 (Nuevo Taxco, Guerrero).
Reyna Silver Corp. increased the size of its non-brokered listed issuer financing exemption (“LIFE”) announced on Feb 14, 2024, and its previously announced concurrent non-brokered private placement. The amended LIFE offering is to raise up to $3.2 M (Guigui, Chihuahua).
Almaden Minerals Ltd. informed that because of the low price of its share (due to the dispute with the Mexican government. – See below) the company will voluntarily delist from the NYSE and parallelly seek a listing on the OTCQB Marketplace (Ixtaca, Puebla).
Defiance Silver Corp. closed the final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$2.6 M. Windermere Capital Fund SPC – Breakaway Strategic Resource SP, an insider of the company purchased C$1.2 M in shares, taking its ownership to a total of 41.5 M common shares and 3.05 M warrants. (Zacatecas, Zacatecas).
Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. granted stock options and restricted share units to select officers, directors, employees and consultants (El Cubo, Guanajuato).
Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. upsized and closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing raising total gross proceeds of $1 M (La Guitarra, Estado de Mexico).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Atacama Copper Corp. started a 10,000 m diamond drilling campaign at its Cristina project in Chihuahua. “The Cristina project consists of multiple outcropping quartz veins that are frequently greater than 10 metre in width and extend for a currently known strike length of up to five kilometres. At least four parallel mineralized vein zones have been mapped and sampled to date”. Epithermal to mesothermal mineralization is known to occur over 1,100 m of vertical range, hosted by andesitic volcanic rocks of the Lower Volcanic Group and locally covered by Upper Volcanic Group rhyolitic rocks. Current open pit constrained resources are centered on the Guadalupe vein, comprising 752 K Oz AuEq in indicated resources and 777 K Oz AuEq in inferred resources. Atacama is trying to define an underground higher-grade resource.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
United States Antimony Corp. announced plans to discontinue all Latin America operational activities and close its US Antimony Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (USAMSA) subsidiary, terminating the majority of its employees on March 11, 2024, immediately. “The Company intends to possibly sell or lease its USAMSA entity, operations, or assets over the next year and has initiated an active search for buyers or leasing opportunities of its operations and/or existing assets.” United States Antimony will continue to hold its existing Los Juarez mining claims in Queretaro. The reasons stated to close include high operating costs, new stringent Mexican mining laws, safety concerns, and the inability to collect back taxes from the Mexican government.
Vortex Metals Inc. announced the authorization by the Santiago Astata Agrarian Community to Vortex to carry on mineral exploration activities, including drilling, at its Zaachila project in Oaxaca. “Furthermore, the company has committed to forming an environmental monitoring committee with active community participation to oversee the activities and ensure environmental protection throughout the exploration program”.
Sonoro Gold Corp. appointed Katherine Reagan to the board of directors, in addition to her position of vice president of corporate development and corporate secretary (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
Riverside Resources Inc. signed an option agreement with Fortuna Silver on Riverside’s Cecilia project in Sonora. The option term agreement envisages 5 years to earn 51% by spending US3.75 M, delivery of $150 K in cash payments and at least $500 K spent on work in the first year. Fortuna paid Riverside the initial $25 K on signing, and is to pay $25 K on filing of the agreement in Mexico, and further $25 K per year, with Riverside acting as operator charging a 10% management fee on top of work spending. Upon earning 51%, Fortuna may earn 80% by spending an additional $2.25 M in work over 3 years. After earning 80%, Fortuna might elect within 120 days to pay Riverside $5 M cash and grant Riverside a 2% NSR where 1% NSR may be purchased for $3 M, with Fortuna earning 100% in the project. The low sulfidation Au-Ag epithermal mineralization is associated to at least two nested dome complexes in sedimentary rocks.
CMC Metals Ltd. announced the cancellation of the $1.2 M private placement previously announced due to the failure, of the property owner of the Ag-Au Gavilanes project in Durango, to achieve an extension of the exploration permit with SEMARNAT (Mexico’s environmental Agency). “CMC has subsequently served notice of its intent to terminate the agreement with Sailfish Royalty Corp. to acquire the Gavilanes project but remains interested in securing exclusivity rights until October 2024.” The company intends to focus on its flagship Silverknife property in British Columbia.
Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. announced the signing of a new third-party processing agreement with REM Marfil S.A. de C.V., a local Guanajuato based company. Under the agreement mineralized material from the past producing La Providencia mine is to be processed at the El Cubo and Cata processing facilities in Guanajuato. “The Agreement covers the processing of an initial 80,000 dry metric tonnes of mineralized material with a minimum head grade of 0.43 grams per tonne gold and 192 grams per tonne silver.”
Almaden Minerals Ltd. and Almadex Minerals Ltd. updated on its Request for Consultation delivered to the Mexican government in December 2023 according to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement of for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The Mexican government acknowledged receipt but never proposed dates for a consultation meeting. On March 14, 2024, Almaden delivered to Mexico written notice of its intention to submit a claim to arbitration under the CPTPP. “The damages relating to the Almaden and Almadex Claim will be for no less than US$200 million, in the aggregate. The Notice enables the Company to initiate arbitration should an amicable resolution of the dispute with the Mexican government not be reached.”
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
No Relevant News.
On the image below: Specularite-quartz matrix breccia in a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 7th week of the year (February 12th to February 18th, 2024), companies working in Mexico posted at least 27 news releases. Two companies reported exploration advances on their properties, two published their outlook for 2024, one released production results for January and one more applied for a mining permit. Five companies announced financing rounds for a total of C$7.25 M, and two more for another $1.6 M. Two companies informed on work at their advanced properties and two more released reserve and resource estimates for their deposits. One company is spinning a royalty to its shareholders, one more informed on the completion of a business combination, another on the signing of an option agreement on a property, one more on the signing of a waiver agreement, another on a director’s appointment and one other about a favorable ruling on its mining concessions. ON MEXICO ISSUES, at least 80% of copper production in Mexico is at stake with the new proposal of the president to forbid open pit mining. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Minaurum updated on its 2024 program for Alamos, Aurifero and Adelita. In Sinaloa, Chesapeake Gold released metallurgical results for its Lucy project. In Guerrero, Minaurum updated on its program for 2024 at its Guerrero Gold Belt and Aurena properties. In Oaxaca, Minaurum updated on its 2024 program at Santa Marta. ON MINING, Avino provided its outlook for 2024 at Avino and La Preciosa. Guanajuato Silver updated on production during January 2024. Infinitum Copper submitted a mining permit for La Adelita. Agnico Eagle released 2023 production figures and its outlook for 2024. ON FINANCING, seven companies informed on the opening or closing of financing rounds: GR Silver (C$670 K), Sonora Desert (C$1 M), Sonoro Gold (C$1 M), Reyna Silver ($1.5 M), Goldgroup Mining (US$100 K), Aztec Minerals (C$1 M), Kootenay Silver (C$3.5 M). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Endeavour Silver informed on the construction advance at Terronera. Vizsla Silver reported drilling results from Panuco. Silver Dollar informed on exploration advances at La Joya. Fortuna Silver updated mineral reserves and resources at San Jose. Agnico Eagle released reserves ad resources estimates to the end of 2023 for several projects in Mexico. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Vizsla Silver is spinning royalties from Panuco to its shareholders. Atacama Copper completed its business combination with TCP1. Orex Minerals signed an option to acquire the Valenciana project in Zacatecas. Silver Viper appointed an independent chair to the board of directors. GR Silver signed a waiver and release agreement with Mako Mining. Defiance Silver reported a favorable ruling involving the ownership of several mining concessions. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
Luis H. Vázquez, president of the AIMMGM (Asociación de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas, y Geólogos de México) stated that the new proposal by the Mexican president to forbid open pit mining in the country endangers at least 80% of copper production in Mexico.
ON EXPLORATION
Chesapeake Gold Corp. released initial metallurgical results from the Lucy project in Sinaloa. Unique composites from four holes underwent CN bottle roll test for 72 hours, with recoveries of 91-97% Au, 40-70% Ag. Assays from core drilling released in October of 2023 returned up to 24 m @ 6.11 gpt Au; 24 m @ 3.95 gpt Au; 30 m @ 2.57 gpt Au. The phase 2 exploration program is underway at the 483 ha Lucy project, program that includes 10 HQ holes totaling 900 m, to extend the identified mineralization along the 500 m skarn corridor.
Minaurum Gold Inc. outlined key objectives for its Alamos, Aurifero and Adelita projects in Sonora, Santa Marta in Oaxaca and Guerrero Gold Belt and Aurena in Guerrero. At Alamos, the company will continue underground rehabilitation, conduct metallurgical testing of primary targets, generate new exploration targets adjacent to the Promontorio and Quintera mines. At Aurifero, a drill program to test targets at depth has been submitted for permitting. At Adelita Infinitum has applied for permits to remove and sale high-grade Cu ore. At Santa Marta a permit application for 3,000 m of drilling has been submitted. At Guerrero Gold Belt and Aurena Minaurum Expects to advance the projects through joint ventures.
ON MINING
Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. provided its outlook for 2024 and a summary of major milestones in 2023. For 2024 the company plans to process 700-750 K tonnes from the Avino mine and stockpiles from La Preciosa, both in Durango, to produce 2.5-2.8 M Oz AgEq. Having most of the mining and development equipment at Avino, minimal upfront capital is expected to be needed to begin mine development at La Preciosa, where the environmental permit has been submitted to the authorities. No drilling is planned for 2024. During 2023 the production from the Avino mine was within the 2.4-2.7 M Oz AgEq estimate, the PFS on the Oxide Tailings project was completed, the dry-stack tailings facility was operational for a year, 7,545 m of drilling were completed at Avino and the company received the ESR (Empresa Socialmente Responsible) award for the second year.
Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. provided a production update for the month of January 2023. During the month the company mined 56.7 K tonnes and milled 56.7 K tonnes from Topia in Durango, El Cubo, and Cata in Guanajuato and Horcon in Jalisco, with recoveries of 88.7% Au, 88.2% Ag, 89.9% Pb, 81.4% Zn, to produce 1,843 Oz Au, 141.8 K Oz Ag, 279.7 K Lb Pb, 269.3 K Lb Zn (or 329.9 K Oz AgEq). Processing of third-party material added 40.9 K Oz AgEq to total production on the first month of the agreement. Topia produced 85.1 K Oz AgEq, and Horcon 10,183 Oz AgEq. Dewatering of the Villapando area of the El Cubo is opening zones with historical grades of over 350 gpt AgEq.
Infinitum Copper Corp. has applied for a mining permit, at La Adelita in Sonora, to the environmental agency (SEMARNAT). “As mining has traditionally taken place in the Cerro Grande area and the Company expects to access the mineralised body through the existing adit the permitting process is not expected to be overly complex”. A metallurgical test conducted by the SGM (Servicio Geológico Mexicano) through conventional flotation recovered 77% Au, 86.1% Ag, 85.2% Cu.
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. released production on 2023 and its outlook for 2024, including figures for its Mexican operations. During 2023 the Pinos Altos mine in Chihuahua produced 98,280 Oz Au at cash cost of $1,495 per Oz Au and $1,229 per Oz Au on a by-product basis. At La India, in Sonora, 75,904 Oz Au were produced at cash cost of $1,271 per Oz Au and $1,241 per Oz Au on a by-product basis. For 2024 Agnico’s forecast is to produce 100-105 K Oz Au at $1,268 cash cost per Oz Au at Pinos Altos and 25-30 K Oz Au at La India, at cash cost $1,365 per Oz Au. For 2025 and 2026 the envisaged production at Pinos Altos is 125-135 K at Pinos Altos and 115-125 k Oz Au respectively. To achieve that production Pinos Altos is expected to process 1.8 M tonnes averaging 1.86 gpt Au, 47.2 gpt Ag, recovering 94.7% Au, 46.9% Ag in 2024. In the case of La India, the production will come from residual leaching.
ON FINANCING
GR Silver Mining Ltd. closed the non-brokered private placement previously announced issuing shares for gross proceeds of C$670 K (Plomosas, Sinaloa).
Sonoran Desert Corp. is reducing the price and increasing the amount of its private placement offering. The company is now offering shares at $0.10 per unit intending to raise proceeds of up to C$1 M (Cuatro Hermanos, Sonora).
Sonoro Gold Corp. revised the pricing of its previously announced non-brokered placement offering to C$0.05 per share to raise up to C$1 M (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
Reyna Silver Corp. announced a non-brokered listed issuer financing exemption (LIFE) private placement for gross proceeds of up to $1.5 M. “In addition to the Offering, the Company may, at its discretion, complete a concurrent non-brokered private placement of up to 4,166,667 Units for gross proceeds of up to approximately $500,000” (Guigui, Chihuahua).
Goldgroup Mining Inc. closed US$100 K of the previously announced convertible debt financing. “The Convertible Debt is unsecured, bears interest at 12% per annum, will be repayable on June 15, 2025 and is convertible into units of the Company at CAD $0.10 per unit at a fixed FX rate of 0.76 USD to CAD at the election of the holder.” (Cerro Prieto, Sonora).
Aztec Minerals Corp. closed a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$1.1 M (Cervantes, Sonora).
Kootenay Silver Inc. closed the first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$3.48 M. The second tranche of the financing is expected to close next week, for aggregate gross proceeds of C$237 K, upon which the aggregate gross proceeds will be C$3.72 M (Columba, Chihuahua).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Endeavour Silver Corp. released a Q3 2024 update on the construction advance at the Terronera project, in Jalisco. Overall project progress has reached 43%, with over 2,200 m of underground development completed in 2023, concrete foundation for the jaw crusher was finished, concrete for the grinding area is nearly complete, as well as the concrete for the flotation cell pedestals. The company remains focused for initial production on Q4 2024, to process at a rate of 2,000 tonnes per day to produce 38,000 Oz Au, 4 M Oz Ag annually over its 10-year mine life.
Vizsla Silver Corp. reported results from seven drill holes targeting La Luisa vein at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 1.30 m @ 6.76 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag; 4.60 m @ 2.64 gpt Au, 73 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 0.85 m @ 7.78 gpt Au, 78 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 1.4% Zn; 1.00 m @ 2.95 gpt Au, 37 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 3.1% Zn. The Luisa vein is in the southwest part of the Panuco district, and has been mapped for 1,500 m on surface and defined by drilling for 1,670 m of longitude, 450 m downdip and 2.93 m of width averaging 3.53 gpt Au, 84 gpt Ag, 0.4% Pb, 1.4% Zn. Recent work by Vizsla points to a tilted mineralization corridor. The vein currently holds 4 M Oz AgEq averaging 459 gpt AgEq in indicated resources and 25.3 M Oz AgEq averaging 386 gpt AgEq in the inferred category.
Silver Dollar Resources Inc. provided an update on drill target development work on the Coloradito-Noria portion of the La Joya project in Durango. The company has highlighted three parallel zones supported by a ground magnetic survey anomalies. The S-1 zone is mostly covered by caliche and has not yielded significant results yet. The S-2 zone is also known as the Central dyke zone, with mineralization associated to a dyke. The S-3 zone is coincident with the Brazo zone, where previous drilling intersected unmineralized intense and extensive alteration. Sampling at the Dyke zone has returned 134 of 170 samples with values over 100 gpt Ag, peaking at 4,311 gpt Ag.
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. update mineral reserves and mineral resources, including figures for its Mexican operations. At San Jose, in Oaxaca, proven and probable reserves stand at 733 K tonnes @ 156 gpt Ag, 0.98 gpt Au, containing 3.7 M Oz Ag, 23 K Oz Au; measured and indicated resources of 1.05 M tonnes @ 147 gpt Ag, 1.11 gpt Au, containing 5.0 M Oz Ag, 37 K Oz Au; inferred resources of 5.55 M tonnes @ 108 gpt Ag, 0.55 gpt Au, containing 19.3 M Oz Ag, 97 K Oz Au. “The Brownfields exploration program budget for 2024 at San Jose is $4.9 million, which includes 13,900 meters of diamond drilling, focused on testing and extending the Yessi vein as well as exploring additional targets within the mine area”.
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. released mineral reserves and resources estimates to the end of 2023, including figures from its Mexican operations. The company holds in Mexico, across two operating mines and several projects, 1.22 M Oz Au, 49.9 M Oz Ag, 591.5 K tonnes Cu, 777.4 K tonnes Zn in the proven and probable reserves category, 2.37 M Oz Au, 58.8 M Oz Ag, 72.7 K tonnes Cu, 114.3 K tonnes Zn in the measured and indicated resources category and 1.92 M Oz Au, 35.7 M Oz Ag, 47.3 K tonnes Cu, 22.4 K tonnes Zn as inferred resources.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Vizsla Silver Corp. intends to enter into an agreement with its subsidiary Vizsla Royalties Corp. (Spinco) “within 45 days of this news release in respect of the spinout of the shares of Spinco to the Company’s shareholders….. Spinco currently holds, indirectly, a net smelter royalty on any future mineral production at Vizsla Silver’s flagship, 100% owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Mexico. The Company further announces that holders of its common shares (the “Vizsla Silver Shares”) will be entitled to 1/3 of a common share of Spinco and 1/3 of a common share purchase warrant of Spinco for each Vizsla Silver Share held on the share distribution record date.” (Panuco, Sinaloa).
Atacama Copper Corp. announced the completion of its business combination with TCP1 Corp., pursuant to which the resulting issuer has acquired all the issued and outstanding common shares of TCP1 in exchange for common shares of the resulting issuer, resulting in the reverse takeover of the resulting issuer by TCP1. A 10,000 m drilling program will commence at Cristina, in Chihuahua, in the next two weeks, aimed at better delineating and expanding within the main Guadalupe vein and other high-grade veins.
Orex Minerals Inc. signed an option agreement with Exploraciones El Cairo S.R.L, to acquire the Valenciana project in Zacatecas. Orex has paid US$15 K on signing, and further payments comprise US$10 K at 6 months, US$35 K at 12 months, US$15 K at 18 months, US$15 K at 24 months, US$20 K at 30 months, US$20 K at 36 months, there after US$25 K every six months. The vendor retains a 2% NSR on the property, 1% on staking around the concession and 0.5% on acquisition of properties within the defined area of influence. When the NSR payments reach US$10 M, the NSR values drop by 50%.
Silver Viper Minerals Corp. appointed Taj Singh as independent chair of the company’s board of directors, succeeding Mr. Gary Cope, who will be stepping into retirement (La Virginia, Sonora).
GR Silver Mining Ltd. signed a waiver and release agreement with Mako Mining Corp. under which “the parties were mutually released from outstanding undertakings, covenants, indemnities and obligations set out in, arising from, or related to GR Silver Mining’s acquisition of Marlin Gold Mining Ltd.” Mako retains 1% NSR royalty on the concessions owned by Oro Gold de Mexico SA de CV. In consideration for the waiver and release Mako paid GR Silver US$960 K, of which US$500 K were in cash, and the issued to GR Silver of 296.7 K shares of Mako (Plomosas, Sinaloa).
Defiance Silver Corp. reported the favorable ruling of the Mexican Court to restore its rightful ownership to the mining concessions at the Tepal project in Michoacan. In June 2022 the company contested an illegal transfer of certain mining concessions to a third-party individual. The Court confirmed the nullity of the transfer, and ordered the cancellation of such transfer. “The judgement will be fully enforceable at the expiration of a 9-day appeal process expiring on February 27, 2024”.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
No Relevant News.
On the image below: Banded, locally brecciated quartz-barite-specularite vein on a project of the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
