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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of August 2023

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By Jorge Cirett                                             

During the 31st week of the year (July 31st to August 6th, 2023), 25 companies working in Mexico posted news releases. Five companies informed on exploration work at its properties and seven more reported second quarter 2023 results. Two companies informed on private placements, while one declared a dividend payment. Five companies informed on technical reports, updated mineral resources, drilling results, mining plans and mine preparations on their projects. One company sold the royalties in some properties and one other is reviewing exploration opportunities in South America. ON MEXICO ISSUES, one company made clear commitment to get projects beyond Mexico, the country new mining policies showing its might. The Union – Grupo Mexico conflict in Sombrerete is to be solved in Mexico, not under the T-MEC, according to the federal government. Income tax returns from the mining industry fell by 35% on the first semester 2023. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Prismo Metals mobilized a drill rig to Los Pavitos; Silver Spruce Resources resumed work at Diamante. In Chihuahua, Kootenay Silver updated on work at Columba. In Sinaloa, Prismo Metals updated on the drilling at Palos Verdes. ON MINING, Fresnillo PLC, Starcore International Mines, Capstone Copper, Equinox Gold, First Majestic Silver, Torex Gold and Orla Mining released production results for Q2 2023. ON FINANCING, Goldgroup Mining issued shares on a convertible loan. First Majestic Silver declared the payment of a dividend per share. Colibri closed the first tranche of a private placement. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, SilverCrest Metals released a new technical report with updated mineral resources and a new mine plan for Las Chispas in Sonora. Impact Silver updated on work to refurbish the Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. GoGold Resources released drilling results from Los Ricos South in Jalisco. Discovery Silver released drilling results from the FS program at Cordero, in Chihuahua. Heliostar Metals reported on the re-scoping study at Ana Paula, in Guerrero. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Endeavour Silver entered into an agreement to sell its royalty on the Cozamin property. Xali Gold is to review exploration opportunities in South America. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news. ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Editor comments. One more company working exclusively in Mexico announced plans to look for projects in other countries. No one can say the policies imposed by the current administration are not producing the results sought, even if its full weight is to be felt in the years to come.
  •  The federal government directed that the labor conflict between Grupo Mexico and a Union (Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros, Metalúrgicos, Siderúrgicos y Similares de la República Mexicana) in the Sombrerete mine in Zacatecas, has to be solved in Mexican courts, out of the T-MEC rapid response labor mechanism.
  • Income tax returns fell 34.6% year on year on the first semester of 2023, the biggest drop in 20 years. On VAT (IVA) and special tax on products and services (IEPS), the mining sector had refunds for $134 M ($2,275 M pesos) and $6.5 M ($110 M pesos) respectively.  

ON EXPLORATION

  • Kootenay Silver Inc. informed two of three surface access agreements needed have been now signed, and the third one is in the final negotiation stage at its Columba project in Chihuahua.
  • Prismo Metals Inc. announced the mobilization of a drill rig for the planned 2,500 m program to its Los Pavitos project in Sonora. Assays for the last four trenches dug at the project were published. Highlighted intervals comprise 1.0 m @ 3.98 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 2.80 m @ 1.18 gpt Au, 16 gpt Ag. 
  • Prismo Metals Inc. updated on the drilling program at its Palos Verdes project in Sinaloa. Ten holes for a total of 2,035 m have been completed on the 2,500 m program, with the eleventh hole in progress and three holes remaining. On a second press release the company announced the expansion of the program by a joint committee by Prismo and Vizsla, to 3,600 m “in ten holes to be completed in two phases”.
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc. submitted a drilling permit application for the next phase of drilling at the Nora project in Durango. “The geological setting is a Tertiary-aged volcanic flow-dome complex. Gold-silver mineralization is hosted within two structurally controlled epithermal veins, Candy and Nora…. Only 500 m of the potential 3-km strike of the Candy vein structure has been drill tested, and only to a depth of 250 m below surface”.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. and partner Silver Spruce Resources Inc. announced the resumption of field works at the Diamante project in Sonora. Stream sediment sampling, geological mapping and rock chip sampling are some of the planned activities.
  • Fresnillo PLC. provided its Q2-2023 production results. The Company produced over 14 M Oz Ag, 152,217 Oz Au, 13,994 tonnes Pb and 25,670 tonnes Zn from its operation in Fresnillo, Saucito and Juanicipio in Zacatecas, Cienega in Durango, Herradura and Nochebuena in Sonora, and San Julian in Chihuahua.
  •  Starcore International Mines Ltd. presented results for its fiscal year and quarter ending on April 30, 2023. During the quarter the company processed 56.8 K tonnes @ 1.45 gpt Au, 11.2 gpt Ag, recovering 86.1% Au, 48.3% Ag, to produce 2,300 Oz Au, 10 K Oz Ag at its San Martin mine in Queretaro. For the year, the company produced 10,000 Oz Au, 85.4 K Oz Ag. Mine operating cash cost was $1,611 and $1,535 per AuEq Oz respectively for the quarter and full year.
  • Capstone Copper Corp. reported financial results for the second quarter of 2023, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Cozamin, in Zacatecas, 6.6 K tonnes Cu were produced at cash cost $1.63 per Lb Cu.
  • Equinox Gold Corp. announced its second quarter 2023 financial and operating results, without disclosing figures per project.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. announced unaudited consolidated financial results for the second quarter 2023. During the period the company produced 2.63 M Oz Ag, 40,658 Oz Au, or 5.97 M Oz AgEq.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported Q2 2023 and operational results. During the period, the company mined 11.77 M tonnes from the open pit (13,293 tpd), 174 K tonnes from underground (1,913 tpd) at the Limon Guajes mine in Guerrero, of which 1.21 M tonnes were processed to produce 107,507 Oz Au at cash cost $848 per Oz Au and an all-in sustaining cost of $1,308 per Oz Au. Torex maintains its 2023 guidance to produce 440 K to 470 K Oz Au. The quarter closed with net cash of $273.8 M.
  • Orla Mining Ltd. announced the results for the second quarter of 2023. At the Camino Rojo Oxide mine in Zacatecas, 29,058 Oz Au were produced at an AISC of $696 per Oz Au. The pit development is being hindered by SEMARNAT lateness to authorize permits. Cash balance at the end of the period was $114.5 M.   

ON FINANCING

  • Goldgroup Mining Inc. announced the issuance of 29.05 M shares upon conversion of the company’s outstanding convertible loan with a face value of $2.16 M (Cerro Prieto, Sonora).
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. declared a cash dividend of $0.0051 per common share for the second quarter of 2023 (San Dimas, Durango).
  • Colibri Resource Corp. closed the first tranche of the previously announced non-brokered private placement of “Units”, for gross proceeds of US$487 K. “Each Unit is comprised of: (i) US$1,000 principal amount of 10% secured convertible debentures (the “Debentures”) issued by the Company with a maturity date (“Maturity Date”) of 2 years from the date of issuance; and (ii) 5,416 common share purchase warrants of the Company” (Diamante, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. announced results from an updated independent technical report for the Las Chispas operation in Sonora. The report describes a 1,200 tpd operation of ore averaging 4.02 gpt Au, 396.1 gpt Ag, recovering 98.0% Au, 97.0% Ag, to produce 57 K Oz Au, 5.5 M Oz Ag per year in an operation with a mine life (LOM) of 8 years, to generate a post-tax net present value of $549 M. Cash cost is estimated at $7.84 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $11.98 per Oz AgEq. “The Mineral Resource Estimate model was updated to reflect: narrower veins located over a larger area, thus requiring increased underground development, increased constraints on geologic, statistical, and geostatistical modelling parameters resulting in reductions in resources mainly in Babicanora Main and Babicanora Norte Main veins and increased resources in the Babi Vista Vein, including the Babi Vista Splay. Additionally, there is an increase in the number of Mineral Resource veins and the veins are more widely dispersed. The Updated Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate is reduced from the 2021 FS due to conversion to M&I Mineral Resources and application of the same stricter constraints as applied to M&I Mineral Resources”.
  • Impact Silver Corp. provided an update on the recently acquired Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The mill refurbishment is in the final stages, with testing and modification of the plant to start in late summer to ramp up production to the 200 tpd design capacity. The company has applied for an expansion of the current tailings pond while planning and permitting of the next one takes place. Refurbishment of ventilation, electrical and lighting systems are ongoing, and mine planning is being completed for 2023-2024. The current workforce is comprised by 70 company workers and 25 contract workers.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. announced drilling results from Los Ricos South project in Jalisco. The highlighted core length intercepts comprise 30.2 m @ 1.68 gpt Au, 278 gpt Ag (including 9.70 m @ 4.54 gpt Au, 769 gpt Ag); 34.8 m @ 1.37 gpt Au, 132 gpt Ag (including 7.0 m @ 4.68 gpt Au, 440 gpt Ag); 32.70 m @ 1.19 gpt Au, 124 gpt Ag; 11.7 m @ 0.93 gpt Au, 387 gpt Ag (including 1.40 m @ 5.36 gpt Au, 2,780 gpt Ag); 23.10 m @ 0.80 gpt Au, 143 gpt Ag; 28.10 m @ 0.71 gpt Au, 129 gpt Ag. “The Main area drilling campaign’s purposes is to better define the very high-grade portions of the current deposit that may be amenable to bulk underground mining…… It is expected that these holes will be included in an updated Resource to be released by the end of the summer”.
  • Discovery Silver Corp. released results from feasibility study (FS) drilling at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intervals of the reserve and expansion drilling comprise 62.10 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 48 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 45.0 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 66 gpt Ag, 0.5% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 51.7 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 51 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.9% Zn; 15.10 m @ 0.08 gpt Au, 278 gpt Ag, 3.1% Pb, 2.9% Zn; 12.4 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 168 gpt Ag, 1.4% Pb, 3.1% Zn; 37.4 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 79 gpt Ag, 1.1% Pb, 1.5% Zn; 38.5 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 104 gpt Ag, 0.5% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 82.1 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 33 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.9% Zn. Discovery has now drilled 52,000 m in 164 holes as part of the FS drill program. Incoming “property-wide drilling will initially target large chargeability anomalies in the Sanson area (approximately 3.5 km to the northeast of Cordero) and skarn targets at depth in the northeast of the deposit. Currently, 9,000m of drilling is planned in 2023”.
  • Heliostar Metals Ltd. reported progress on re-scoping of the current pre-feasibility study (PFS) at the Ana Paula project in Guerrero. “The Company is evaluating three underground mining scenarios, with different cut-off grades and mining rates, that are being advanced for more detailed evaluation and comparison…… The Company will refine the options upon receipt of an updated resource model and metallurgical program results, both of which rely on drilling completed in 2023. Metallurgical results will be reported in October and an updated resource model is expected in November 2023”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES              

  • Endeavour Silver Corp. entered into an agreement with Gold Royalty Corp. to sell all of its interest in a 1% Cozamin Royalty for a total consideration of US$7.5 M, payable in cash. “The Royalty applies to two concessions (Calicanto and Vicochea) on Capstone’s Cozamin copper-silver mine, located 3.6 kilometres north-northwest of Zacatecas City in state of Zacatecas, Mexico”.
  • Xali Gold Corp. has decided to review exploration opportunities in South America, including Peru. The company updated on its Mexican projects: Exploration at El Oro in Estado de Mexico has been put on hold, whilst Sun River Gold (who has an option in the El Oro mine tailings) has been advancing permitting and providing some cash flow through advances on the Net Profit Interest due once in production. “Negotiations are also underway with Mexican groups regarding both upgrades and financing commitments to make the San Dieguito de Arriba (“SDA”) Plant in Western Mexico fully operational. Xali Gold terminated the previously announced agreement (see January 18, 2023 News Release) with Minera Cinco Reales S.A. de C.V. (“MCR”) earlier this month due to MCR’s lack of progress”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Aura Minerals Inc. released its 2022 sustainability report, with a 62% reduction in frequency rates of accidents, 92% of water recycling and establishing a decarbonization plan with the goal of reducing GHG emissions by 5% from 2020 levels by 2023.

On the image below: Silicified vein ridges on a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico; Highlights on the Second Week of June 2023

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By Jorge Cirett                                             

During the 23rd week of the year (June 5th to May 11th, 2023), 14 companies working in Mexico posted news releases. One company informed on exploration at one of its properties, two companies informed on quarterly reports and one on its financing dependant plans to resume mining. Two companies updated on private placements and one announced the payment of dividends. One company released drilling results on its advanced property in Zacatecas. One company informed on its path to a legal battle with the Mexican government and one other on solving issues related to disclosure of refinancing. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Newmont’s Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas suspended operations due to a strike over profit sharing schemes.  relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, in Zacatecas, Radius Gold informed on current work and targeting process at Tropico. ON MINING, Santacruz Silver Mining released Q4 and full year 2022 financial and operating reports, Golden Minerals reported results for Q4 2022, full year 2022 and Q1 2023. ON FINANCING, Radius Gold closed its placement for $1.95 M in gross proceeds. Luca Mining closed the second tranche of its placement, accruing $20.75 M, and settled debt by issuing $8.6 M in shares. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Defiance Silver released results from drilling at the Veta Grande system in the Zacatecas District. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Silver Bull intends to seek US$178 M in compensation from the Mexican government over its reluctance to terminate an illegal blockade at its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. Sierra Metals announced its meeting materials with respect to certain disclosure relating to refinancing with its major lenders. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Newmont Corp. announced on June 8th, 2023, the suspension of operations at the Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. The company refutes claims by the National Union of Mine and Metal Workers of the Mexican Republic regarding the violation of legal regulations and labor agreements. The Company urged the Union to abide by the mutually agreed Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated and signed by both parties in June of 2022. The Union is demanding an increase in the uncapped profit sharing benefit provided for in the CBA from 10 percent to 20 percent, representing a 100 percent increase. “Prior to the strike action, Newmont attempted, in good faith, to resolve disputes regarding the provisions in the CBA, negotiated and signed by both parties for the period of June 2022 through June 2024. This agreement covered a range of benefits, including an annual profit sharing provision based on a consistent calculation formula. ….. On May 30, 2023, Minera Peñasquito paid all eligible employees the mutually agreed upon 10 percent profit sharing benefit for 2023, accurately and on time”.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Radius Gold Inc. informed on new targets defined at its Tropico project in Zacatecas. In the three months since acquisition Radius has completed geological mapping, surface rock sampling and a deep penetrating CSMAT geophysical survey, establishing a hotspring type sinter, a breccia pipe and a strong resistive feature named Capricorn interpreted as a second potential breccia pipe structure. “The Tropico gold system is roughly oval shaped, 450m long by 250m wide orientated NNE”.

ON MINING

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reported its financial and operating results for Q4 2022 and the full year. During the year the company processed 1.65 M tonnes to produce 5.6 M Oz Ag, 10,065 tonnes Pb, 72,533 tonnes Zn, 1,287 tonnes Cu (or 14.4 M Oz AgEq), at cash cost $17.58 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $20.93. At Zimapan, in Hidalgo, 822.1 K tonnes were processed in the period, averaging 73 gpt Ag, 2.13% Zn, 0.65% Pb, 0.37% Cu, to produce 1.29 M Oz Ag, 3,923 tonnes Pb, 12,087 tonnes Zn, 1,287 tonnes Cu (or 3.31 M Oz AgEq). Revenue was $278.6 M. and the adjusted EBITDA $11.4 M.
  • Golden Minerals Co. announced that it plans to restart Au-Ag mining operations at its Velardeña properties in Durango, subject to receipt of sufficient capital. The plan envisages starting with four active stopes with processing at Velardeña’s plant flotation facility at 80 tonnes per day (tpd), and reach a steady rate of 325 tpd by the end of the year. “The Company needs to raise additional cash in the very near term, whether through the sale of non-core assets or equity financing, including the use of its ATM program. In the absence of sufficient asset sales, equity financing or other external funding the Company’s cash balance is expected to be depleted early in the third quarter of 2023. If financing or asset sales are not available to us, we could be forced to liquidate our business”.
  • Gatos Silver Inc. reported results for Q1 2023, Q4 2022 and full year 2022. In 2022 the Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua processed 971.6 K tonnes at a daily rate of 2,662 tonnes, averaging 368 gpt Ag, 4.37% Zn, 2,31% Pb, 0.33 gpt Au, recovering 89.8% Ag, 64.8% Zn, 88.7% Pb, 52.0% Au, to produce 10.32 M Oz Ag, 60.7 M Lb Zn, 43.9 M Lb Pb, 5,350 K Oz Au. For Q1 2023, 260.4 K tonnes were milled at 2,894 tpd, averaging 329 gpt Ag, 3.93% Zn, 1.86% Pb, 0.30 gpt Au, recovering 88.3% Ag, 62.2% Zn, 88.6% Pb, 55.3% Au, to produce 2.43 M Oz Ag, 14.0 M Lb Zn, 9.5 M Lb Pb, 1,380 Oz Au. “The Company had a cash balance of $10.5 million and debt outstanding of $9 million related to its credit facility as of May 31, 2023”. The Los Gatos Joint Venture continues to generate cash, with a cash balance of $78.9 M at May 31, 2023.

ON FINANCING

  • Radius Gold Inc. closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement, for gross proceeds od $1.95 M. (Tropico, Zacatecas).
  • Alamos Gold Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.025 per common share. “The Company has paid dividends for 14 consecutive years during which time $304 million has been returned to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, including $20 million thus far in 2023” (Mulatos, Sonora).
  • Luca Mining Corp., formerly Altaley Mining Corp., closed the second tranche of its previously announced private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $20.75 M. Concurrently, the company also settled a loan in the amount of $3.7 M in consideration of the issuance of shares and a second debt settlement of $4.9 M by also issuing shares. Incentive stock options were issued to directors, officers and employees for a total of 4.4 M shares and a further 250 K options to two marketing and investor relations advisors. “Due to continued strong demand, the Company has determined it will extend its previously announced private placement” to June 30, 2023 (Campo Morado, Guerrero).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Defiance Silver Corp. released results from drilling at the Zacatecas District project in Zacatecas. Highlighted core length results comprise 4.80 m @ 349 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 0.14% Pb, 0.35% Zn (including 1.32 m @ 1,264 gpt Ag, 0.52 gpt Au, 0.51% Pb, 1.20% Zn); 4.65 m @ 144 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 0.18% Zn (including 0.84 m @ 728 gpt Ag, 0.32 gpt Au, 0.17% Pb, 0.72% Zn); 1.01 m @ 237 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au; 41.83 m @ 157 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.16% Zn (including 15.96 m @ 380 gpt Ag, 0.15 gpt Au, 0.12% Pb, 0.37% Zn, which includes 1.00 m @ 2,350 gpt Ag, 0.51 gpt Au, 0.77% Pb, 2.78% Zn); 5.52 m @ 144 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.33% Zn. The holes were testing the Veta Grande structure in or near the San Acacio resource area.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES             

  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. has taken significant steps in its pursuit of compensation regarding the Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. Under NAFTA rules the company attended a meeting with government officials on its claim of seeking damages resulting from the unlawful blockade at its project, and the government failure to solve it. “The next phase of the process entails the Company filing a Request for Arbitration in mid-June, formally commencing the arbitration proceedings. The claim filed by Silver Bull will be for not less than US$178 million dollars”.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. announced that its meeting materials for its June 28, 2023 annual and special meeting of shareholders will be filed under its directory on the “System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com on Wednesday, June 7, 2023”. The company has received enquiries from shareholders with respect to “certain disclosure in its May 30, 2023 news release announcing the refinancing with its major lenders” and the refinancing agreement (Bolivar, Chihuahua).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Epidote lined fracture on igneous rocks of a copper project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 49th week of the year (December 5th to December 11th, 2022), 15 companies working in Mexico released news on their properties. Two companies posted exploration updates on their properties, two more companies informed on private placements, while one signed a concentrate pre-payment facility and two companies updated on work at its advanced properties. On a busy week for deals, four companies announced agreements on the purchase of five properties.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, a tit for tat of declarations between the Secretaría de Economía and Camimex reflected the state of affairs between the government and the mining industry for the last four years. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Colibri Resource recommenced drilling at Evelyn. In Jalisco, Almadex Minerals released drilling results at San Pedro. ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, Prismo Metals and Silver Viper informed on their private placements for $3 M and $335 K respectively. Guanajuato Silver Company informed on a new $5 M concentrate pre-payment facility. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Torex Gold released drilling results from El Limón Sur Deep drilling, including the highest grade-m interval for Mexico so far in the year. Endeavour Silver released a new resource estimate for its La Pitarrilla project in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Argonaut Gold and Heliostar Metals signed agreements for the purchase of the Ana Paula and San Antonio projects, in Guerrero and Baja California Sur respectively. Prime Meridian Resources optioned the Chuin project in Sonora from private vendors. Capitan Mining optioned from Fresnillo PLC a mining concession adjacent and in projection of mineralization at its Cruz de Piedra project in Durango. Golden Tag Resources is to acquire First Majestic Silver’s La Parrilla project in Durango. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, one company informed on the receipt of an award in environmental and sustainability compliance.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • According to IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social) there are 421,833 mining industry direct employees in Mexico, same that in 2021 generated 2.5% of the GDP, or 34,782 million pesos (US$16.5 billion dollars). The country is within the ten top producers of fluorite, sodium sulfate, wollastonite, celestite, lead, molybdenum, barite, diatomite, magnesium sulfate, zinc, salt, gypsum, cadmium, gold, feldspar and copper, and the top silver producer during the last 13 years. Workers in the industry earn an average of 23,366 pesos per month.     
  • Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) expects Mexico’s investment in mining to surpass US$5 billion (5,000 million pesos). Jaime Gutiérrez, president, pointed that it occurs under the contrast of high metal prices and national policy regulatory hurdles. Karen Flores, director, expressed that the risk in mining is major in exploration, diminishing as the project advances to the mining stage. Another obstacle is the discretionary granting of permits, highlighting the need of a clear and objective decision-making process. Stressed also was the need to have public policies that favor the investments in clean energies, as these are crucial for the competitiveness of the country.
  • Raquel Buenrostro, head of the Economy Secretariat (Secretaría de Economía or SE) indulged herself in a barrage of accusations to the mining industry, pointing that it pays nearly zero taxes in proportion to its earnings, and is one of the industries with more corruption related to the Secretaría de Economía. She indicated that this is one of the reasons why the government has not granted mining concessions for the last four years, further adding that mining companies are no innocent entities, having problems the World around. “After hydrocarbons, the strongest smuggling is that of mining” she stressed, “more than textiles, shoes and clothing”. According to her numbers, mining companies pay 0.002% of its total earnings, compared to 2.4% of major contributors or between 30 and 35% for employees. She also commented on the case of a foreign company that using a twisted argument decided not pay taxes for ten years, while the case if reviewed by the Supreme Court. “Concessions, concessions and concessions were granted, some without complying with the law, some granted more than once, and those who have concessions do not comply with the obligations that should be covered…. the problem of corruption is strong, and I believe that this is one of the areas with biggest corruption problems in the Secretaría de Economía (Note of editor. The points of view of Raquel Buenrostro mimic those of the president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which is strongly critical of all private industries, including mining. More than a decade ago, while bidding for the presidency, he had expressed that no mining concessions were to be issued under his term. He’s true to his word, at least in this respect).
  • Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) replied to Raquel Buenrostro, Secretary of Economy (See above) that the companies affiliated to the entity comply in time with its fiscal obligations, including special taxes that only miners pay. The mining industry conveys more resources for the federal coffers than other productive sectors, according to information from the Secretaría de Hacienda y Credito Público. Camimex argues that its enterprises generate more than 400 K direct jobs, and 2.6 M indirect jobs, with an average salary that is 37% higher than the national one. Also, studies by UNAM (Universidad Autónoma de México) show that the municipalities and localities with mining activity have greater levels of economic and human development than the national average. The letter ended “We miners are proud of our activities, the responsible and committed companies in Camimex will continue contributing to the economic development and social wellbeing in the country. We reiterate our commitment and absolute will and interest to establish the dialogue and collaboration with the authorities that are conducive to the strengthening of the sector and the country”.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Colibri Resource Corp. re-commenced phase-2 reverse circulation drilling at the Evelyn property in Sonora. Five holes are planned with 2,000 m of drilling to test induced polarization targets from the 2021 geophysical survey, a second objective is to explore under extensive alluvial cover drilling a number of short holes and sample the top of the bedrock. A soil sampling program has been recently completed, and samples sent for “Gas Soil Hydrocarbon” testing.
  • Almadex Minerals Ltd. released drilling results from its first hole at the San Pedro project in Jalisco. The highlighted core length interval is 4.51 m @ 657 gpt Ag, 0.03 gpt Au (including 2.0 m @ 1,090 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au). Almadex describes a breccia with silicified fragments in sericitic alteration, with galena and sphalerite occurring in the matrix and in fragments. These characteristics point to an intermediate sulfidation epithermal system, although other options have not been ruled out at this stage. “The San Pedro project covers a large area of acid sulphate alteration, including zones previous described as vuggy silica. Recent Terraspec analysis indicates sericitisation superposed on propylitic alteration in the mineralised zones with acid sulphate alteration occurring at the north”.

ON MINING

  • No Relevant News.

ON FINANCING

  • Prismo Metals Inc. announced that the private placement for up to $3 M has been fully allocated.  (Palos Verdes, Sinaloa).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. signed a new concentrate and pre-payment facility with Ocean Partners Ltd., to provide a US$5 M revolving credit facility for operating and working capital purposes. GSilver also completed its previously announced shares-for-debt transaction to settle C$1.13 M (El Cubo, Guanajuato).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp. closed the first tranche of its $2 M private placement announced in November, for aggregate gross proceeds of $334.6 K (La Virginia, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported assays results from step-out and infill drilling at El Limón Sur, targeting underground mineralization as well as open pit mill feed at its El Limón Guajes mine complex in Guerrero. Highlighted core length results comprise 15.96 m @ 87.60 gpt Au, 15 gpt Ag; 0.15% Cu (including 4.46 m @ 163.51 gpt Au, 21 gpt Ag and 3.82 m @ 166.94 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag, 0.20% Cu); 22.81 m @ 25.31 gpt Au, 122 gpt Ag, 3.45% Cu (including 3.00 m @107.63 gpt Au, 259 gpt Ag, 6.18% Cu); 20.52 m @ 9.49 gpt Au, 63 gpt Ag, 0.21% Cu; 18.72 m @8.10 gpt Au, 24 gpt Ag, 0.95% Cu; 9.90 m @ 15.19 gpt Au, 43 gpt Ag, 0.56% Cu; 17.85 m @ 13.39 gpt Au (including 2.25 m @ 90.05 gpt Au); 7.70 m @ 22.99 gpt Au, 8 gpt Ag, 0.18% Cu; 3.99 m @ 43.24 gpt Au, 25 gpt Ag. These strong results add the El Limón Sur Deep to the previously identified potential mining front at Sub-Sill South. “The style of mineralization at El Limón Sur Deep is like Sub-Sill and ELD, and is characterized by gold, with locally high silver and copper grades. Gold occurs in variably sulfidized, pyrrhotite-rich skarn, while silver and copper mineralization is controlled primarily by the degree of sulfidation of the host skarn. Mineralization is mainly associated with retrograde alteration characterized by the occurrence of phlogopite, amphibole, chlorite, calcite and lesser amounts of quartz and epidote, and local magnetite”.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. filed a NI-43-101 technical report with a resource estimate for the recently acquired (July 2022) La Pitarrilla project in Durango. Total indicated resources, open pit and underground, oxide and sulfide, stand at 158.6 M tonnes @ 96.4 gpt Ag, 0.31% Pb, 0.74% Zn, containing 491.6 M Oz Ag, 1.1 billion Lb Pb, 2.6 billion Lb Zn or 693.9 M Oz AgEq. Inferred resources, open pit and underground, oxide and sulfide, comprise 35.4 M tonnes @ 87.2 gpt Ag, 0.36% Pb, 0.85% Zn, containing 99.4 M Oz Ag, 281 M Lb Pb, 662 M Lb Zn or 151.2 M Oz AgEq.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Argonaut Gold Inc. entered into a binding purchase agreement with Heliostar Metals Ltd. for the sale of the Ana Paula project in Guerrero. The deal involves a cash payment of US$10 M at closing, US$5 M in Heliostar shares when either an extension to the current mining permit or a new underground mining permit is granted, US$2 M on the completion of a feasibility study (FS), US$3 M in cash and US$2 M in shares on construction announcement and US$5 M in cash and US$3 M in Heliostar shares on announcement of commercial production.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc. entered into an option agreement with Heliostar Metals Ltd. for the sale of the San Antonio project in Baja California Sur. Heliostar is to pay Argonaut US$80 M if the gold price is below $1,800 per ounce for the six months preceding the exercise of the option, US$120 M if the price is in the US$1,800 to US$2,000 per ounce range in the same period, or US$150 M if the gold price is above US$2,000 per ounce in the said period. A 2.0% NSR is to be paid to Argonaut if the option is exercised. The term of the option is for three years, that can be extended for 18 months if Heliostar is able to acquire an environmental permit from SEMARNAT, the environmental regulator (Note of editor. – which is unlikely to occur on this presidential term, ending in 2024).
  • Prime Meridian Resources Corp. executed two letters of intent for the option to purchase up to 100% interest in the 3,792-hectare El Chuin copper project in Sonora. The project encompasses an interpreted porphyry copper target, with small scale mine workings developed in veins, disseminations and replacement style mineralization. The main target areas are Samaniego, La Gloria and Nogales. The option envisages the payment of US$30 K on year one, US$50 K and 250 K shares on year two, US$50 K and 500 K shares on year three, US$50 K and 1 M shares on year four and US$50 K and 1.5 M shares on year five, for a total of US230 K and 3.25 M shares, plus US$2.22 M of investment on the property. The current property owner retains a 1% NSR that can be bought for US$1.5 M. A second purchase option requires the payment prior to the 5th year anniversary of US$250 K for the La Gloria concession, US$250 K for La Gloria II concession and US$1 M for the Nino Luis concessions. “The El Chuin concessions are currently not in good standing and PMR will be obliged to bring the concessions to good standing. No payments to the vendors will be made prior to obtaining good standing for the concessions”.
  • Capitan Mining Inc. executed an option agreement with Fresnillo PLC to acquire 100% interest in mineral rights to a key property at the Cruz de Plata project in Durango. The high-grade silver trend owned by Capitan is now 2.5 km in length, including extensions and targets on the Jesus Maria, San Rafael, El Tubo, El Refugio and Teresa veins. The optioned land holds 2,000 m of historic drilling in five holes with highlighted core length intervals of 1.0 m @ 233 gpt Ag, 0.1%Pb; 5.2 m @ 185 gpt Ag, 0.29 gpt Au, 0.90% Pb, 1.7% Zn; 29.0 m @ 55 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.6% Zn (including 1.3 m @ 284 gpt Ag, 0.43 gpt Au, 1.6% Pb, 5.5% Zn); 6.3 m @ 94 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 4.7 m @ 54 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 1.2 m @ 157 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 1.1% Pb, 3.3% Zn. The deal involves a 3-year exploration agreement for the “Casco U” mining concessions, for a total of US$1.0 M over the period and 1% NSR which can be bought for US$1 M.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. entered into a definitive agreement with First Majestic Silver Corp. to acquire 100% interest on La Parrilla project in Durango. The property covers 69,478 hectares, with five underground mines, an open pit and a processing plant comprising parallel 1,000 tpd flotation and 1,000 tpd cyanidation leach circuits where oxide and sulfide ores can be processed. There are 9.5 M Oz AgEq in measured and indicated historical resources and 12.5 M Oz AgEq in inferred resources. In consideration for the purchase Golden Tag will issue First Majestic US$20 M in Golden Tag shares, and US$2.7 M in the first 18 months, US$5.75 M (cash or shares) when either 5 M Oz AgEq of reserves or 22 M Oz AgEq of measured and indicated resources are declared. And US$5.05 M (cash or shares) when a new zone with a NI-43-101 report holding more than 12.5 M Oz AgEq is announced. After closing First Majestic will have the right to maintain its pro-rata interest in Golden Tag, up to 19.9% of shares.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Hecla Mining Co. received the 2022 Environmental and Sustainability Excellence Award for its San Sebatian mine in Durango. The award by the American Exploration & Mining Association (AEMA) is in recognition by the company’s strong commitment to the highest environmental and sustainability standards.

On the image below puzzling boudin like siliceous bands in limestone on a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 47th week of the year (November 21st to November 27th, 2022), 14 companies working in Mexico released news on their properties. One company declared share dividends, one more the partial repayment of two loan facilities and one more the intention to settle a debt with shares. Four companies updated on work at its advanced properties. One company announced the agreement to pursue an option in another company’s property.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, the AIMMGM pointed that Mexico is a mining country, but that it has neglected to inform of the goods of the trade. Arcelor Mittal announced a significant investment at the Las Truchas iron mine in Michoacan. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Radius Gold informed on work at Maricela. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold updated in work at Amalia and Plata Verde projects, with JV’s partners Pan American Silver and Fresnillo respectively. ON MINING, Discovery Silver, Impact Silver and Guanajuato Silver Company released Q3 2022 production and/or financial results. ON FINANCING, Alamos Gold declared a quarterly dividend per share. Guanajuato Silver Company announced the partial repayment of two loan facilities. Defiance Silver is to settle a $41.9 K debt through the issuance of shares. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Discovery Silver released results from drilling at Cordero, in Chihuahua. GR Silver Mining informed on results from drilling at the SE zone of the San Marcial project in Sinaloa, with an impressive silver intercept of 185.5 m @ 111 gpt Ag. Defiance Silver resumed drilling at the Veta Grande vein system in Zacatecas. Azucar Minerals received results from drilling on the Lithocap target at the El Cobre project in Veracruz. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Vizsla Silver entered into a LOI with Prismo Metals for a strategic investment and right of first refusal for the purchase of Prismo’s Palos Verdes project in Sinaloa.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Andrés Robles Osollo, Vicepresident of government relations of the AIMMGM (Asociación de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México) pointed that México is a mining country, but that the industry has neglected the promotion of the craft and the importance of México on the World production of minerals. México is the leader in silver production, and is within the first ten producers of gold, copper, lead and zinc.
  • Arcelor Mittal announced the investment of 3,000 million pesos at Las Truchas mine in Michoacan, to increase the production rate from 1 M tonnes/year to 2.3 M tonnes/year. The company complained on the illegal blockage of the railroad line for three months in 2021 by a teachers Union, and said that they are working closely with the Michoacan government to keep the rails free of blockades.  

ON EXPLORATION

  • Radius Gold Inc. provided an update on the company’s exploration activities at the 10,250 ha Amalia project, in Chihuahua. The JV with Pan American Silver Corp. has completed 23,059 m of drilling in 67 holes on the California, Amalia and El Cuervo vein systems. Recent mapping and sampling extended the target for 1.5 km at California, and several parallel structures were identified. Pan American “has completed its right to earn an initial 65% interest in the Amalia Project by making cash payments to Radius totalling US$1.5 million (paid) and expending US$2 million on exploration over four years (completed). Pan American may earn an additional 10% by advancing the property to preliminary feasibility”.
  • Radius Gold Inc. informed on work at the Plata Verde project in Chihuahua. Fresnillo PLC has an agreement since mid-2022 to negotiate an option agreement to earn 70% interest in the project. Since then, Fresnillo has funded US$100 K on the signature of the agreement, paid US$65 in underlying property option payments, paid US$103 K in back taxes and invested US$35 K in the project. Fresnillo has to spend over a four-year period US$5 M in exploration and make option payments to Radius of US$3.1 M which includes US$1.1 M to cover underlying property payments. “Should either Party’s interest fall below 10% interest in NewCo that interest would convert to a 2% NSR”.
  • Radius Gold Inc. notified on exploration at its Maricela project in Sonora. The project is 20 km south from the Cananea copper mine, and only a few kilometers from the Loma de Plata silver deposit discovered a few years ago by Azure Minerals. Radius has “mapped and sampled an epithermal silver and gold mineralized vein system extending approximately 1.5km long by 300m wide, within which occurs multiple veins, stockworks and breccias. Vein intersections have exposed widths of up to 25 metres”. Highlighted chip sampling results comprise 3 m @ 4.46 gpt Au, 1,335 gpt Ag; 6 m @ 1.03 gpt Au, 418 gpt Ag; 25.3 m @ 0.31 gpt Au, 62 gpt Ag. Radius is awaiting final registration of the option agreement, as already counts with the drilling permit.

ON MINING

  • Discovery Silver Corp. released financial results for the third quarter 2022. Results from the PFS metallurgical testwork program at Cordero in Chihuahua highlighted recoveries in the 90-95% range for Ag, Pb and Zn. The phase II drilling program of close to 80,000 m of drilling in over 250 holes was completed during the quarter. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments stood at $55.5 M at the end of the period.
  • Impact Silver Corp. announced its financing and operating results for the Q3 2022. During the quarter 39.8 K tonnes were processed at the mill at an average grade of 165 gpt. In response to higher operational costs and lower metal prices, Impact initiated a first round of lay-offs and reduced its exploration spending. “The cash position remains strong at $16.5 million with working capital of $17.6 million”.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. provided consolidated production results for the Q3 2022. The consolidated production from the El Cubo Mines Complex in Guanajuato, San Ignacio in Guanajuato and Topia in Durango during the quarter comprised 107.4 K tonnes mined, 107 K tonnes milled at a rate of 1,274 tonnes per day, recovering 88.5% Ag, 86.3% Au, to produce 329.3 K Oz Ag, 3,226 Oz Au, 537.6 K Lb Pb, 677.1 K Lb Zn (700.3 K Oz AgEq).

ON FINANCING

  • Alamos Gold Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.025 per common share. “The Company has paid dividends for 13 consecutive years during which time $285 million has been returned to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, including $48 million thus far in 2022” (Mulatos, Sonora).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. announced the partial repayment of the two loan/pre-payment facilities with Swiss-based precious metal trading firm OICM Precious Metals S A. “Guanajuato Silver has delivered an aggregate of 96,518 ounces of silver and 846 ounces of gold representing five months’ deliveries of silver and gold ounces to OCIM thereby reducing the total number of monthly delivery payments remaining to OCIM under both facilities to ten” (El Cubo, Guanajuato).
  • Defiance Silver Corp. intends to settle $41.9 K of debt through the issuance of common shares of the company (San Acacio, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Discovery Silver Corp. announced results from 15 drill holes of upgrade and expansion drilling of the proposed open pit, subsequent to the cut-off date for the pre-feasibility study (PFS) on its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 77 m @ 46 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 1.4% Zn; 22 m @ 83 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 1.8% Pb, 3.2% Zn; 96 m @ 33 gpt Ag, 0.03 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 1.8% Zn (including 36 m @ 44 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 0.9% Pb, 3.1% Zn); 43 m @ 62 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 1.4% Pb, 1.7% Zn; 52 m @49 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.7% Zn. “The Company has now completed approximately 17,000 m (52 holes) as part of its Feasibility Study drill program”. Total meters drilled in the project now is over 293,000 m in 735 holes.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. released surface drilling results from four holes on the Southeast Area of the San Marcial project in Sinaloa. Highlighted core length results comprise 14.1 m @ 186 gpt Ag (including 0.2 m @ 6,405 gpt Ag, 10.1% Pb, 17.9% Zn); 73.5 m @ 72 gpt Ag (including 1.1 m @ 905 gpt Ag and 0.8 m @ 1,039 gpt Ag); 185.5 m @ 111 gpt Ag (including 83.2 m @ 215 gpt Ag); 1.0 m @ 31.3 gpt Au. “The Company expects to complete three more drill holes in the SE Area prior to the December cut-off date for data to be incorporated into the 3D geological model, with the updated resource estimation expected to be released in Q1|2023”.
  • Defiance Silver Corp. resumed drilling at the Veta Grande vein system at the Zacatecas project in Zacatecas. “The approximate 4000m program is an extension of the previous phases of drilling, all of which returned high grades down plunge and outside of the current resource estimate”. Drilling is to focus on the recently discovered deep historic working to the East, down plunge of high-grade results below the current resource estimate, the footwall vein north of the main Veta Grande structure and the cross structures and vein splays with mineralization potential.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. received and compiled results from two holes completed at the Lithocap target at its El Cobre project in Veracruz. “Large intervals of brecciated rock were intersected possibly reflecting a diatreme like body that may have disrupted any earlier porphyry alteration zonation in this area”. No significant intervals of porphyry mineralization were intersected, with the most relevant result being a late sulfide vein which returned 0.7 m @ 0.95% Cu, 0.42 gpt Au.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Vizsla Silver Corp. entered into a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with Prismo Metals Inc. to make a strategic investment with right for first refusal to Purchase the Palos Verdes property, adjacent to Vizsla’s Panuco project in Sinaloa, and 4 M shares of Prismo for C$2 M. “The consideration for the Strategic Investment will consist of a cash payment of C$500,000 at closing and 1,000,000 common shares of Vizsla”. After completion of the deal VIZSLA will own 12% of Prismo shares on a basic basis and 17% on a partially diluted basis.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Vizsla Silver Corp. exceeded one million consecutive work hours without a lost time incident at its Panuco project in Sinaloa.
  • Discovery Silver Corp. released its environmental, social and governance report (ESG) “and subsequent to quarter end received its official ESR Distinction, which is issued by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy to organizations that have demonstrated they operate in a socially and environmentally responsible manner, and its Great Place to Work Certification, which recognizes companies that create an outstanding employee experience through building a workplace culture of trust, credibility, respect, pride and collaboration” (Cordero project, Chihuahua).
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. released its inaugural Climate Change Report with emphasis in carbon emission reduction, and confirmed having received the permitting from SEMARNAT (Environmental regulator) for construction of an 8.7 megawatt solar plant on its mining concessions and the awarding of a contract for battery electric vehicle scoop fleet at its Media Luna project in Guerrero.

On the image below puzzling boudin like siliceous bands in limestone on a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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Quartz vein with massive chalcopyrite

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 48th week of the year (November 29th to December 5th, 2021), at least 24 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 3 news published by the media, with seven announcing financial issues, five reporting resources and developments of their properties, five disclosing deals and corporate issues, four informing on exploration results, three commenting on Mexican issues, and three communicating production and financial results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, AMLO reaffirmed this week his foolish and unfortunate policy of not granting more mining concessions in Mexico. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador offered to meet the request of residents of San José del Progreso and collaborators of Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán, who asked him to avoid the closure of the San José mining unit, located in that Oaxacan municipality. The current government has stopped the issuance of mining concessions and investment in Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Ranchero Gold provided an update of its ongoing drilling program conducted at its Maíz Azul project. In Chihuahua, Mammoth received from SEMARNAT a permit to expand its drilling program at its Tenoriba project. In Sinaloa, Kootenay announced drill results from its Copalito project. In Durango, Silverton signed a surface agreement for its Pluton Silver-Zinc project.  ON MINING, Americas Gold and Silver announced the re-opening of its Cosalá mine operation in Sinaloa. Santacruz reported Q3, 2021 production and financial results from their Zimapan and Rosario mines in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi respectively. Guanajuato Silver provided a production update on its El Cubo mine, Guanajuato.  ON FINANCING, Guanajuato Silver closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement offering of up to 16M units at a price of CAD $0.55 per unit (El Cubo mine, Guanajuato). Fabled renewed its agreement with Agora Internet to provide online advertising, marketing, and branding services and wishes to issue 519,007 common shares in respect of the settlement, and engaged Hybrid Financial to provide marketing services (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua). First Majestic announced that it will issue USD $200M aggregate principal amount of Convertible Senior Notes or USD $230M aggregate principal amount if the over-allotment option is exercised in full (San Dimas mine, Durango). Guanajuato Silver received USD $750K from the sale of 90 tonnes of bulk Ag-Au concentrate from El Cubo mine in Guanajuato, and anticipates receiving a payment of approximately USD $1.3M for the sale of approximately 175 tonnes of additional Ag-Au concentrate on or about December 3, 2021. Orogen announced initial production at the Ermitaño deposit in Sonora where the company holds a 2% net smelter return. VVC announced an arrangement with Stockhouse Publishing to assists VVC with general market outreach and investor awareness (Gloria Copper project, Chihuahua). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Discovery reported a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on its Cordero project, Chihuahua. Endeavour released high grade results from its ongoing drilling program at their Guanacevi and Bolañitos mines in Durango and Guanajuato respectively. Silver Tiger reported a wide high grade drill intersection on the Benjamin Vein at its El Tigre project, Sonora. Fabled released results from hole SM0-42 collared at its Santa Maria project, Chihuahua. GR Silver announced the discovery of a gold-silver rich mineralized zone during the initial reconnaissance drilling at Loma Dorada target within its Plomosas project in Sinaloa.    ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Almadex announced the appointment of two members to its Board of Directors and the retirement of one Director after many years of valued service (El Chato project, Puebla). Capstone and Mantos Copper entered into a definitive agreement to combine business to create Capstone Copper (Cozamin mine, Zacatecas). Heliostar announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Cumaro project, Sonora). Monumental Minerals announced the appointment of an advisory board to assist the company with the exploration and drill target definition of its Jemi rare earth elements project in Coahuila. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • AMLO reaffirmed this week his foolish and unfortunate policy of not granting more mining concessions in Mexico. He declared that mining companies were speculating in the financial market. López Obrador asserted that the existing mining concessions will be respected; however, his government will no longer give more, as many companies “cheated” and have not carried out exploitation tasks.
  • President Andrés Manuel López Obrador offered to meet the request of residents of San José del Progreso and collaborators of Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán, who asked him to avoid the closure of the San José mining unit, located in that Oaxacan municipality. The president was asked to avoid the loss of more than 1,200 direct jobs and around 8,000 indirect ones.
  • The current government has stopped the issuance of mining concessions and investment in Mexico. Parallel to the policy of null concessions, the president has presented a bill that intends to reserve strategic minerals such as lithium only for the State, denying any concession for their exploration, production or commercialization. Both their decisions not to grant a single concession in three years of government “and the promise not to do so in the entire six-year term”and to reserve strategic minerals for the State have been strongly criticized by specialists and representatives of the mining industry, to the point of warning that the future of the country is being“mortgaged.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Ranchero Gold Corp., provided an update of its ongoing drilling program conducted at its Maíz Azul project, located 3.5km east of Alamos Gold´s Mulatos mine in Sonora. To date, eight holes have been drilled totalling 1,245m, which represents 42% of the Phase 1 drill program which plans to test the La Colmena, La Cascada, and X-structure targets. 175 samples have been submitted to lab and results are expected to arrive in Q1, 2022.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., received from SEMARNAT a permit to expand its drilling program at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. SEMARNAT approved the company´s application for up to 182 additional drill sites and covers the entire 6 km Au-Ag mineralization at the Tenoriba project.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., announced drill results from Agua, 5 Señores, and Chiva Veins within its Copalito project in Sinaloa. Highlights at Agua Vein include hole BDH-20-055 with 2 g/t Au, 125 g/t Ag and 0.9% combined Pb+Zn (276 g/t AgEq) over 23m, including 9.26 g/t Au, 28 g/t Ag, and 0.6% combined Pb+Zn (643 g/t AgEq) over 5m, including 21.1 g/t Au, 29 g/t Ag, and 0.3% combined Pb+Zn (1,409 g/t AgEq) over 0.65m, plus 0.82 g/t Au, 587 g/t Ag, and 1.6% combined Pb+Zn (676 g/t AgEq) over 3m; hole BDH-21-056 with 0.22 g/t Au, 101 g/t Ag, and 0.9% combined Pb+Zn (135 g/t AgEq) over 21m, including 0.28 g/t Au, 163 g/t Ag, and 0.8% combined Pb+Zn (199 g/t AgEq) over 7m, including 0.48 g/t Au, 440 g/t Ag and 0.9% combined Pb+Zn (492 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m; and hole CDH-21-80 with 0.42 g/t Au, 63 g/t Ag, and 4.8% combined Pb+Zn (199 g/t AgEq) over 1.84m, including 0.69 g/t Au, 133 g/t Ag, and 11% combined Pb+Zn (423 g/t AgEq) over 0.43m. Highlights at 5 Señores Vein include hole BDH-20-51 with 2.95 g/t Au, 98 g/t Ag, and 0.3% combined Pb+Zn (290 g/t AgEq) over 1.4m; and hole BDH-20-052 with 0.23 g/t Au, 14 g/t Ag, and 0.6% combined Pb+Zn (34 g/t AgEq) over 3.3m, including 1.28 g/t Au, 61 g/t Ag, and 3.3% combined Pb+Zn (174 g/t AgEq) over 0.48m. Highlight on Chiva Vein include hole BDH-21-057 with 0.06 g/t Au, 106 g/t Ag, and 0.3% combined Pb+Zn (118 g/t AgEq) over 6.33m, including 0.23 g/t Au, 513 g/t Ag, and 0.8% combined Pb+Zn (546 g/t AgEq) over 0.82m; hole BDH-21-058 with 0.07 g/t Au, 41 g/t Ag, and 0.1% combined Pb+Zn (48 g/t AgEq) over 12m, including 0.5 g/t Au, 300 g/t Ag, and 1.4% combined Pb+Zn (1,364 g/t AgEq) over 0.35m; and hole BDH-21-063 with 0.92 g/t Au, 86 g/t Ag, and 5.5% combined Pb+Zn (269 g/t AgEq) over 1.82m, including 4.49 g/t Au, 453 g/t Ag, and 2.7% combined Pb+Zn (1,344 g/t AgEq) over 0.32m.
  • Silverton Metals Corp., signed a surface agreement for three years for its Pluton Silver-Zinc project with the Comisariado Ejidal of Ejido Mapimi in Durango State. The agreement provides access to the land for surface exploration work, including diamond drilling and use of a core storage facility.

ON MINING

  • Americas Gold and Silver Corporation, announced the re-opening of its Cosalá mine operation in Sinaloa. The Los Braceros plant has returned to nameplate production with a steady source of feed from a combination of existing stockpiled ore and new production from the San Rafael mine.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported Q3, 2021 production and financial results from their Zimapan and Rosario mines in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi respectively. At Zimapan mine, Hidalgo, the company milled 186,642 tonnes to produce 867.2K Oz AgEq, and sold 829.2K Oz AgEq. Cash costs per ton and per Oz AgEq produced were USD $53.88 and USD $17.72 respectively. AISC was USD $22.81 per Oz Ag Eq. The company reported revenue of USD $14.4M and a gross profit of USD $3.93M. At Rosario mine, San Luis Potosi, the company milled 2,306 tonnes to produce 5,698 Oz AgEq and sold 10,765 Oz AgEq. Cash costs per ton and per Oz AgEq produced were USD $173.04 and USD $42.81 respectively. AISC was USD $22.47 per Oz AgEq produced. The company reported revenue for USD $182K and gross profit of (272K).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., provided a production update on its El Cubo mine, Guanajuato. The company has mined since October 15, 2021 450 tonnes of ore per day from El Cubo mine and is processing an average of 1,000 tonnes per day. It expects the plant to operate for 22 to 24 days for an average monthly operating rate of 22,500 tonnes for the next 6 months.

ON FINANCING

  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement offering of up to 16M units at a price of CAD $0.55 per unit. The net proceeds from the offering will be used to fund the ongoing exploration, development, and expansion of the Company’s El Cubo mine and mill complex and El Pinguico silver and gold project, and for general corporate and working capital purposes.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., renewed its agreement with Agora Internet Relations to provide online advertising, marketing, and branding services and wishes to issue 519,007 common shares in respect of the settlement. It also engaged Hybrid Financial Ltd., to provide marketing services. Hybrid has been engaged for an initial period of 6 months, starting on December 1, 2021 and will be paid a monthly fee of $22,500 plus payable taxes (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua).
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., announced that it will issue USD $200M aggregate principal amount of Convertible Senior Notes or USD $230M aggregate principal amount if the over-allotment option is exercised in full. The company intends to use approximately USD $164.9M of the net proceeds of the offering to repurchase, in separate privately negotiated transactions, approximately USD $125.2M aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 1.875% convertible senior notes. The company intends to use the remainder of the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including strategic opportunities (San Dimas mine, Durango).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., received USD $750K from the sale of 90 tonnes of bulk Ag-Au concentrate grading approximately 220 Oz Ag per tonne and 2.2 Oz Au per tonne from El Cubo mine in Guanajuato, and anticipates receiving a payment of approximately USD $1.3M for the sale of approximately 175 tonnes of additional Ag-Au concentrate at similar grades on or about December 3, 2021.
  • Orogen Royalties Inc., announced initial production at the Ermitaño deposit in Sonora where the company holds a 2% net smelter return. The first doré gold-silver pour occurred November 11, 2021 and commercial production is expected in Q1 2022.
  • VVC Exploration Corporation announced an arrangement with Stockhouse Publishing to assists VVC with general market outreach and investor awareness. At the time, the company issued to Stockhouse 157,900 common shares of VVC and a $60K Note to be converted into shares in four tranches over a year. With the approval of TSX Venture Exchange, one quarter of the note ($15K) will now converted, as part of the second tranche, to 136,365 shares at a price of $0.11 per share, being yesterday´s market price discounted by 25%. The next share issuance will occur in three months (Gloria Copper project, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Discovery Silver Corp., reported a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on its Cordero project, Chihuahua. The reports indicates that the ultimate pit contains 719M tonnes consisting of 228M tonnes of mill feed and 491M tonnes of waste for an average strip ratio of 2.2:1 Highlights include a Base Case after-tax NPV 5% of USD $1,160M and IRR of 38% assuming prices of USD $22 / Oz Ag, USD $1,600/ Oz Au, USD 1/Lb Pb, and USD $1.0/ Lb Zn; and a Upside Case after-tax NPV 5% of USD $1,889M and IRR of 55%, assuming prices of USD $27.5/Oz Ag, USD $1,880/Oz Au,  USD $1.1/Lb Pb, and USD $1.45/Lb Zn; 16-year mine life with an average annual production of 26M Oz AgEq at an AISC of USD $12.35 / Oz AgEq; initial development CAPEX of USD $368M post-tax payback of 2 years for Base Case and 1.4 years for Upside Case; 99% of tonnes processed in the PEA mine are in the Measured + Indicated category; and Ag represents > 60% of the net smelter return in the first five years of the mine life and >50% of the net smelter return over the life of mine.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., released high grade results from its ongoing drilling program at their Guanacevi and Bolañitos mines in Durango and Guanajuato respectively. At Guanacevi mine, highlights include hole UCM-67 with 1.97 g/t Au and 1,254 g/t Ag (1,412 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 3.22m, including 3.6 g/t Au and 2,690 g/t Ag (2,978 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.2m, extending the El Curso orebody along strike; and hole SCSU-11 with 4.36 g/t Au, 1,450 g/t Ag (1,798 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 3.18m, including 7.97 g/t Au and 4,568 g/t Ag (5,206 g/t AgEq) over 0.31m, extending the Santa Cruz South orebody to depth. At Bolañitos mine, Guanajuato, highlights include hole BS-04 with 8.08 g/t Au and 151 g/t Ag (797 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.67m, including 89.6 g/t Au and 88 g/t Ag (8,046 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.08m on a new discovery, the Tepetateras vein, south of the current workings; and hole BS-03 with 1.26 g/t Au and 241 g/t Ag (342 g/t AgEq) over 0.96m, on the Lulu vein, south of the current workings.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., reported a wide high grade drill intersection on the Benjamin Vein at its El Tigre project in Sonora. Hole ET-21-272 encountered 0.35 g/t Au, 388 g/t Ag, 0.14% Cu, 2.9% Pb, and 6.2% Zn (701 g/t AgEq) over 23.1m, including 0.5 g/t Au, 587 g/t Ag, 0.21% Cu, 4.3% Pb, and 9.2% Zn (1,051 g/t AgEq) over 15.1m, including 0.52 g/t Au, 1,642 g/t Ag, 0.58% Cu, 11.9% Pb, and 25.2% Zn (2,855 g/t AgEq) over 5.1m, including 0.37 g/t Au, 2,877 g/t Ag, 1.05% Cu, 14.6% Pb, and 30.8% Zn (4,375 g/t AgEq) over 2.6m.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., released results from hole SM0-42 collared at its Santa Maria project, Chihuahua. This hole was designed to fill in a drill poor gap just to the west of the current resources. The hole intersected six gold bearing zones. Highlights are 0.49 g/t Au, 117 g/t Ag, 0.05% Pb, 0.1% Zn (143 g/t AgEq) over 3.70m, including 0.91 g/t Au, 211 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn, and 0.01% Cu (258 g/t AgEq) over 1.20m, plus 0.43 g/t Au, 227 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn and 0.01% Cu (249 g/t AgEq) over 1.71m.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., announced the discovery of a gold-silver rich mineralized zone during the initial reconnaissance drilling at Loma Dorada target within its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Hole LDSP21-007 encountered 5.23 g/t Au and 166 g/t Ag over 1m. “The Loma Dorada target is currently the subject of reconnaissance drilling, testing a new geological model of NW trending, Au-Ag rich veining – a possible extension 1.2 km along strike from La Colorada”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Almadex Minerals Ltd., announced the appointment of two members to its Board of Directors and the retirement of one Director after many years of valued service. The company also granted stock options to officers, employees and directors to purchase an aggregate of 1,075,000 common shares at a price of $0.31 per share which expires on December 5, 2023 (El Chato project, Puebla).
  • Capstone Mining Corp. and Mantos Copper Limited entered into a definitive agreement to combine business to create Capstone Copper Corp., a premier copper producer with transformational near-term growth. Upon completion of the transaction, former Capstone and Mantos shareholders will collectively own 60.75% and 39.25% of Capstone Copper, respectively, on a fully-diluted share basis. (Cozamin mine, Zacatecas).
  • Heliostar Metals Limited announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Cumaro project, Sonora).
  • Monumental Minerals Corp., announced the appointment of an advisory board to assist the company with the exploration and drill target definition of its Jemi rare earth elements project in Coahuila. Monumental also appointed a new Director to its Board. The Company also granted 275,000 incentive stock options to advisors at a price of $0.50 per common share for a period of five years.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No relevant news.

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

On the picture above, a piece of core showing a quartz vein with massive chalcopyrite from an epithermal quartz vein system in a current producing mine in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 46th week of the year (November 9th to November 15th, 2020), at least 23 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, five companies posted exploration advances on their projects and six more posted on project development. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Canadian mining investment increased during the COVID pandemic; a webinar about lithium in Mexico was held; the illegal blockade on Equinox’s Los Filos mine in Guerrero ended and the Discoveries Conference was held in Guadalajara, the first in-person gathering of the mining community since the pandemic began. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Colibri released trench results from Evelyn; Tarachi Gold is mobilizing a portable diamond drill to the San Javier concession on its Tarachi property. In Sinaloa, Vizsla released assays from drilling at Panuco; Kootenay released drill results from Copalito. In Zacatecas, Advance Gold completed an IP survey.  ON MINING, Sierra Metals, Equinox and Americas Gold and Silver released third quarter 2020 results. Americas Gold and Silver updated on the Cosalá Complex situation in Sinaloa. ON FINANCING, Silver Bull and Candente Gold raised US$150 K and $200 K respectively. Aura Minerals made some clarifications on its latest public offering. Reyna Silver is now trading in USA and Germany. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexican Gold released high grade drill results from its resource expansion program at Las Minas, Veracruz. Endeavour Silver released high-grade intercepts on Guanaceví, Durango. Discovery Metals released interesting results from drilling at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. GoGold informed on additional drill results from Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Southern Silver Exploration informed on drill results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango, some of which are high-grade. SilverCrest Metals updated on development activities at its Las Chispas project in Sonora.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Magna Gold optioned the Margarita project from Sable Resources (a property brought to Sable’s attention by Gambusino Prospector). VanGold Mining amended its option agreement to re-purchase three of four underlying royalties at its El Pinguico project in Guanajuato. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Fresnillo PLC promotes the creation of micro and small businesses in the Caborca region in Sonora.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The COVID-19 pandemic saw investments by Canadian miners increase in Mexico, from US$30 M to US$160 – US$170 M a month during last September, according to Douglas Coleman, CEO of Mexico Mining Center. The increase in precious metal prices brought also an average increase of 30% on the valuation of companies in the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (BMV) during the first 10 months of the current year.
  • The illegal blockade by the Carrizalillo community on Equinox’s Los Filos mine in Guerrero has been lifted, according to Jorge Zuriel de los Santos, head of the Fiscalía General del Estado de Guerrero (State Prosecutor).
  • The webinar “The truth about lithium in Mexico” was held on November 11, 2020, sponsored by Mundo Minero, the Colegio de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México (CIMMGM) and the Asociación de Ingenieros Mineros, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México (AIMMGM).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Colibri Resource Corp. released assay results from the trenching program at its Evelyn project in Sonora. Highlighted results include 0.40 m @ 4.01 gpt Au on a quartz vein with oxidized pyrite, sericite and iron carbonate; 1.5 m @ 2.44 gpt Au in an andesite with quartz veining with oxidized pyrite and iron carbonate; Colibri has been granted a permit to complete up to 2.2 Km of trenching, and has collected 77 rock samples so far in these 1.5 m to 2.5 m deep trenches.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp. provided assay results from drilling on the Papayo and San Carlos prospects at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. “Drilling has continued to expand the known extents of mineralization at Papayo” with highlighted true width (TW) results comprising: 0.74 m @  7.96 gpt Au, 1,515 gpt Ag, 0.50% Pb, 1.21% Zn; 1.29 m @ 0.61 gpt Au, 125 gpt Ag; 0.78 m @ 2.66 gpt Au, 474 gpt Ag, 1.04% Pb, 2.80% Zn; 0.95 m @ 21.60 gpt Au, 216 gpt Ag, 1.91% Pb, 6.02% Zn; 1.49 m @ 1.0 gpt Au, 207 gpt Ag, 0.56% Pb, 1.32% Zn; 1.37 m @ 1.31 gpt Au, 168 gpt Ag; 5.61 m @ 1.05 gpt Au, 89 gpt Ag, 0.74% Pb, 1.9% Zn. “The San Carlos structure is wide lower grade bulk tonnage target with an average width of 11.5m and a range from 3.35m to 22.8m” with highlighted TW intercepts comprising 15.62 m @ 0.91 gpt Au, 110 gpt Ag (including 4.78 m @ 2.19 gpt Au, 230 gpt Ag); 19.20 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 53 gpt Ag; 17.18 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag (including 4.59 m @ 0.97 gpt Au, 147 gpt Ag); 22.76 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 43 gpt Ag.
  • Advance Gold Corp. completed an induced polarization (IP) survey on its Tabasqueña project in Zacatecas. The new IP survey highlights two wide and closely spaced high chargeability anomalies, with the strongest being on the western part of the new grid. “For both targets, the associated chargeability anomaly is deeply seated (> 250 to 300m) while their origin is linked to two distinct wide mineralized systems. The western anomaly appears to remain open laterally to the north and south within the property limits”.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp. is mobilizing a man portable diamond drill rig to commence drill testing the high-grade gold bearing structures on the San Javier concession, part of its Tarachi project in Sonora. The drill program will focus on a NW trending shear structure where previous drill holes intercepted 5.0 m @ 34.5 gpt Au and 3.0 m @ 24.3 gpt Au. Mineralization is hosted in andesitic volcanic rocks, flanked by an intrusive rock, and the shear zone at San Javier remains open along strike and to depth, with the possibility of an extension under cover.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. released results from the last seven holes on its 4,153 m drilling program at Copalito, in Sinaloa.  Highlighted intercepts comprise 9.05 m @ 2.09 gpt au, 124 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb+Zn (including 2.25 m @ 6.65 gpt Au, 335 gpt Ag, 2.6% Pb+Zn, including 0.51 m @ 16.95 gpt Au, 369 gpt Ag, 3.74% Pb+Zn); 27.4 m @ 60 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb+Zn; 10 m @ 128 gpt Ag, 0.65 gpt Au, 1.13% Pb+Zn (including 2.25 m @ 484 gpt Ag, 2.18 gpt Au, 2.86% Pb+Zn).

ON MINING

  • Sierra Metals Inc. Released consolidated third quarter results for 2020, with some figures from its Mexican operations. The Bolivar Mine in Chihuahua processed 410.5 K tonnes in the quarter, a record representing a 24% increase over Q3 2019, at 4,691 tpd, and in track to reach the targeted 5,000 tpd during Q4 2020. The Cusi mine, also in Chihuahua, produced a record 304 K Oz Ag, with an ore throughput of 1,074 tpd.
  • Equinox gold Corp. reported its third quarter 2020 financial and operating results, without detailing figures from its Mexican operations. At Los Filos, the Guadalupe open pit and Bermejal underground proceeded for July and August, but were suspended by an illegal blockade by the community on September 3rd. “Optimization study for new carbon-in-leach plant, heap leach expansion, updated mine planning and a Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource update targeted for completion in early 2021”.
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. reported financial and operational results for the third quarter 2020, including an update on its Mexican operations. At Cosalá, in Sinaloa “In August 2020, the Company announced that the illegal blockade had been resolved to permit some Company personnel the opportunity to re‐enter the mine operations.    This access has not been maintained.  With the re‐opening of Mexican government offices in August, the Company’s employees were expected to vote in September 2020 for new union representation and did so on September 17.  In advance of the vote, a number of irregularities came to light, which indicated that there could not be a fully democratic vote with freedom of association. As a result, the Company does not believe there are conditions currently present to invest the required capital to re‐start the Cosalá Operations.  The Company continues to work with all legitimate stakeholders and remains hopeful that a resolution, consistent with the rule of law and featuring an election free from threats and intimidation, can be achieved so that operations can re‐commence in the near term”. The company also finalized the option agreement with Hochschild to acquire 100% of the San Felipe project in Sonora.

ON FINANCING

  • Aura Minerals Corp. made some clarifications regarding the secondary public offering of Brazilian depositary receipts issued by Itaú Unibanco S.A. as depositary. “The total gross proceeds of the Secondary Offering to the Selling Shareholders are R$87,300,000.00, of which an aggregate of R$19,400,000 is in respect of the Shares offered, severally, by the ARC Funds and R$67,900,000 is in respect of the Shares offered by Ruffer. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Secondary Offering” (Aranzazú, Zacatecas).
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. completed the second and final tranche of the previously announced private placement, for gross proceeds of US$150 K, and aggregate gross proceeds of US$1.7 M (Sierra Mojada, Coahuila).
  • Reyna Silver Corp. announced its common shares have been approved for listing on the OTCQB Market Exchange in the United States and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany.
  • Candente Gold Corp. advised that the previously announced non-brokered private placement has been fully subscribed, for gross profits of $200K (El Oro, Estado de Mexico).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp.  released further assay results from the 2020 drilling program at its Las Minas project in Veracruz. Most of the 52 holes drilled so far have been targeting potential extensions to the El dorado resource, which remains open in several directions. Highlighted true width (TW) intercepts comprise 4.6 m @ 1.41 gpt Au, 0.55% Cu; 15.3 m @ 1.21 gpt Au, 1.1% Cu; 3.2 m @ 3.74 gpt Au, 3.76% Cu; 8.5 m @ 4.86 gpt Au, 1.17% Cu; 17 m @ 1.2 gpt Au, 0.85% Cu; 11.6 m @ 1.56 gpt Au, 1.03% Cu; 11.6 m @ 4.38 gpt Au, 1.84% Cu; 28.5 m @ 2.8 gpt Au, 1.12% Cu; 8.0 m @ 1.9 gpt Au, 0.36% Cu; 7.4 m @ 3.46 gpt Au, 5.08% Cu; 5.3 m @ 0.4 gpt Au, 0.83% Cu.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. continues to intersect high-grade mineralization in the Santa Cruz vein on the El Curso property of the Guanaceví mine in Durango. Highlighted TW intersections on eleven holes comprise 3.2 m @ 2,307 gpt Ag, 3.15 gpt Au (2,559 gpt AgEq); 3.1 m @ 1,409 gpt Ag, 3.13 gpt Au (1,659 gpt AgEq) and 11.5 m @ 381 gpt Ag, 0.5 gpt Au.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. released results from seven diamond drill holes targeting bulk-tonnage mineralization in the South Corridor at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Some of the highlighted results comprise 71.2 m @ 18 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 139.1 m @ 47 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 1.6% Zn (138 gpt AgEq); 26.6 m @ 56 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 19.4 m @ 41 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 29.6 m @ 52 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 0.8% Zn; 92.1 m @ 27 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 32.4 m@ 72 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 38.4 m @ 36 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 33.9 m @ 30 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 62.2 m @ 38 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 57.1 m @ 18 gpt Ag, 0.01 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 1.0% Zn. Assays from 27 holes are pending and four rigs are operating at the site.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released additional drill results from the La Trini deposit at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 25.9 m @ 0.34 gpt Au, 52 gpt Ag (including 4.7 m @ 0.81 gpt Au, 124 gpt Ag); 2.4 m @ 0.05 gpt Au, 300 gpt Ag; 18.7 m @ 0.58 gpt Au 46 gpt Ag; 18.2 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 48 gpt Ag; 15.2 m @ 0.71 gpt Au, 71 gpt Ag (including 2.0 m @ 3.55 gpt Au, 284 gpt Ag and 1.3 m @ 4.20 gpt Au, 733 gpt Ag).
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. reported initial assay results from the recently started 10,000 m core drilling program at Cerro Las Minitas, Durango. Highlighted true width results from holes in the South Skarn target comprise 4.0 m @ 109 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 0.02% Cu, 1.8% Pb, 2.1% Zn (including 0.9 m @ 412 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 0.06% Cu, 7.8% Pb, 9.2% Zn); 0.8 m @ 132 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 0.02% Cu, 2.8% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 1.1 m @ 54 gpt Ag, 2.83 gpt Au, 0.01% Cu, 3.6% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 3.2 m @ 99 gpt Ag, 0.27 gpt Au, 0.01% Cu, 0.7% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 6.7 m @ 625 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.03% Cu, 11.8% Pb, 7.5% Zn; 1.2 m @ 112 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 2.2% Pb, 2.1% Zn.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. provided an update on activities for 2020. During the first nine months of the year the company has drilled 146,000 m of in-fill and expansion drilling at Las Chispas project in Sonora. Furthermore, 4.1 km of underground decline and lateral drifting, stockpiling an accumulated 47 K tonnes @ 1,130 gpt AgEq (7.21 gpt Au, 590 gpt Ag). “Las Chispas site activities continued with the building of the administration and warehouse facilities, phase 1 of the temporary quarantined COVID-19 camp, communication system, and water pumping stations”. Since inception of the project, 461,000 m have been drilled in 1,712 holes. As October 31, 2020, SilverCrest has cash and cash equivalents of $184 M (US$138.2 M).

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Magna Gold Corp. entered into a definitive option acquisition agreement with Sable Resources Ltd. To acquire Sable’s option to acquire 100% interest in the 125.6 ha Margarita silver property in Chihuahua; the property lies 15 Km northwest on strike with the recently commissioned Sunshine Silver Corp’s Los Gatos mine. Magna is to acquire the option by paying CAD$1.5 M cash, plus additional CAD$800 K VAT and CAD$3.5 M in common shares of Magna. The purchaser will exercise the option to acquire the property by payment of CAD$500 K in cash, plus $368 K in VAT to the titleholders of the concessions and CAD$1.8 M in Magna shares. Sable drilled 35 holes for a total of 5,245 m, with intercepts like: 4.25 m @ 430 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 12.4 m @ 446 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 14.05 m @ 306 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 1.9% Zn; 11.3 m @ 229 gpt Ag, 1.0% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 33.3 m @ 283 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.8% Zn (including 9.9 m @ 579 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 1.7% Zn); 20.6 m @ 83 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn (including 5.1 m @ 198 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn); 48.65 m @ 102 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 37.35 m @ 117 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn (including 5.5 m @ 400 gpt Ag, 1.07 gpt Au, 1.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn).
  • VanGold Mining Corp. amended its option agreement to re-purchase three of the four underlying royalties on its Pinguico project, Guanajuato. Under the new terms the option is exercisable by making payments to EMBSA (Exploraciones Mineras del Bajío, S.A. de C.V.) of $200 K cash and 3.75 M shares before November 20, 2020; $325 K in cash before February 22, 2021; $525 K in cash before February 22, 2022 and $625 K in cash before February 22, 2023. After these payments are made, the only NSR on the property will cover the above ground and below ground stockpiles. 

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Fresnillo PLC promotes the creation of micro and small businesses by means of its “Emprende en Línea” (Online Entrepreneurship) program, to develop administrative and managerial capabilities to consolidate businesses. For more than two decades Minera Penmont has contributed to the growth of the Caborca region through the implementation of social programs.

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

On the image below: Base metal veinlet in core from Cerro San Pedro, San Luis Potosí. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 42nd week of the year (October 12th to October 18th, 2020), at least 32 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, seven companies posted their quarterly reports, five on project development and three companies posted news on deals. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the Centro de Minería Compatible is being built in Zacatecas. What remains of the Mining Fund will source $2 M for infrastructure projects in Colima. The federal government generates uncertainty for the mining industry thorough its actions. Mergers and acquisitions boom in the Mexican mining industry. The lithium nationalization fears are played down by the Economy Secretariat. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Minaurum Gold released high grade drilling results from its Alamos Silver project. Canuc released high-grade surface sample results from its San Javier silver play. Tocvan Ventures announced the interpretation of a second suspected breccia pipe at Pilar. In Chihuahua, Global Li-Ion Graphite is to realize a due diligence review on the MVZ project.  ON MINING, First Majestic, Premier Gold, Sierra Metals, Fortuna Silver, Excellon Resources, Telson Mining and McEwen Mining presented third quarter 2020 production reports. ON FINANCING, Telson Mining settled a $659.8 K debt with shares. Silver Bull Resources intends to raise up to US$1.85 M. Consolidated Zinc closed a $2.04 M placement. Santacruz Silver Mining closed the last financing round for aggregate gross proceeds of $2.36 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Comet Resources released an initial inferred resource of 88.6 K Oz Au for its Santa Teresa project in Baja California. Prime Mining is to commence drilling at Los Reyes, Sinaloa, in November. Discovery Metals released high-grade results from the Todos Santos vein trend at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. GoGold Resources informed on results of drilling the La Trini deposit at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Golden Tag is to commence drilling on its San Diego project in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Silver Spruce signed a LOI with Colibri Resource to acquire the Jackie Gold project in Sonora. Tarachi Gold signed a LOI with Manto Resources on the Magistral del Oro tailings project in Durango. Silver Bull informed on the status of the illegal blockade at its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Industrias Peñoles, Minera Media Luna, Pan American Silver and Minera Penmont informed on sustainability, health, safety, environment and social and governance programs.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Centro de Minería Compatible is being built by the Zacatecas Mining Cluster. The facilities are under construction at the Parque Científico y Tecnológico Quantum in Zacatecas, a Complex that hosts enterprises and institutions focused in research and innovation.
  • The Mining Fund is to provide MX$41.96 M pesos (US$2 M) for 10 infrastructure projects in Minatitlan, Colima.
  • Government actions in Mexico generate uncertainty for mining enterprises. The elimination of the Mining Sub-Secretariat and the informal ban on the granting of mining concessions are the two more acute actions that send the wrong message to the mining industry. Another issue is constituted by the disputes between companies and the fiscal authority on taxation.
  • The mining sector has been at the forefront of mergers and acquisitions in Mexico, in the period of January to September, with 22 operations, according to Seale&Associates.
  • Mujeres WIM Mexico celebrated a virtual forum, entitled “Agenda and challenges for inclusion of women in the mining industry”.
  • Graciela Marquez, Economy Secretary played down the high expectations for lithium production in Mexico. She pointed out that Mexico does not produce any lithium at all in the present, and that the strongly hyped Bacanora Lithium’s project in Sonora hosts a large deposit in clays, which makes its extraction expensive. Her comments were a response to the voices claiming for the nationalization of the lithium industry by a leftist congressional group.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Minaurum Gold Inc. released drill results from the Promontorio vein zone at its Alamos Silver project in Sonora. “The holes were targeted below the historical Promontorio mine and demonstrate that high-grade silver mineralization continues at least 100 m below the deepest known workings”. Highlighted intervals comprise 1.75 m @ 144 gpt Ag, 0.51 gpt Au, 0.21% Cu, 4.1% Pb, 9.1% Zn; 7.60 m @ 266 gpt Ag, 0.27 gpt Au, 0.57% Cu, 1.6% Pb, 3.2% Zn (including 0.9 m @ 1,675 gpt Ag, 1.37 gpt Au, 4.15% Cu, 8.5% Pb, 11.3% Zn; 0.65 m @ 502 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 1.82% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 5.10 m @ 769 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.76% Cu.
  • Canuc Resources Corp. released results from surface rock chip sampling at its San Javier project in Sonora. The results are strongly anomalous in silver (up to 1,222 gpt Ag), Au (up to 14.4 gpt Au) and copper (up to 0.95% Cu). The copper anomalous samples are from a breccia zone with magnetite matrix.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. announced the interpretation of a circular feature through geochemistry at its Pilar property in Sonora, same that might represent a breccia feeder pipe related to epithermal mineralization.
  • Global Li-Ion Graphite Corp. is to conduct a field due diligence on the property MVZ in Chihuahua, owned by Grupo Minero Diflor S.A. de C.V.. The 1,750 hectares property hosts 3 past producing silver-gold deposits, El Moro, La Virginia and La Zorra, within the larger El Pajarito property, also owned by Diflor.

ON MINING

  • First Majestic Silver Corp. released its third quarter 2020 production report, for a total of 5.2 M Oz AgEq. The production by mine can be seen in the following table.
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. presented production results for the third quarter 2020, including some figure from its Mexican operations. At the Mercedes mine in Sonora, 12,183 Oz Au and 49,985 Oz Ag were produced during the period.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. reported third quarter 2020 production results, including figures from its two mines in Mexico. At Bolívar, in Chihuahua, 410.5 K tonnes were processed at a daily rate of 4,691 tonnes (tpd) and a grade of 0.86% Cu, 18.2 gpt Ag, 0.32 gpt Au, recovering 86.1% Copper, 82.9% Ag, 64.2% Au to produce 6.73 M Lb Cu, 199 K Oz Ag, 2,740 Oz Au. At Cusi, in Chihuahua, 69.83 K tonnes were processed at 1,074 tpd and a grade of 168.6 gpt Ag, 0.18 gpt Au, 0.25% Pb, recovering 80.4% Ag, 43.6% Au, 79.3% Pb.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. reported production results for the third quarter 2020, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At the San José mine in Oaxaca 255.2 K tonnes were processed at a rate of 2,934 tpd, grading 254 gpt Ag, 1.52 gpt Au, recovering 91.9% Ag, 91.7% Au to produce 1.92 M Oz Ag, 11,425 Oz Au.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. released production results for the third quarter 2020 from its Platosa mine in Durango. During the period 21,877 tonnes were mined, with 22,612 tonnes processed @ 483 gpt Ag, 5.26% Pb, 6.81% Zn, recovering 93.0% Ag, 85.0% Pb, 80.9% Zn, to produce 326.9 K Oz Ag, 2.23 M Lb Pb, 2.75 M Lb Zn.
  • Telson Mining Corp. provided preliminary production results for the third quarter 2020. At the Campo Morado mine in Guerrero, 127.4 K tonnes were milled @ 1.07 gpt Au, 104 gpt Ag, 0.98% Pb, 4.07% Zn, 0.40% Cu, recovering 9% Au, 36% Ag, 27% Pb, 69% Zn, to produce a zinc concentrate with 46.3% Zn, 506 gpt Ag and a lead concentrate with 21.2% Pb, 558 gpt Ag, 2.87 gpt Au.
  • McEwen Mining Inc. reported production for the third quarter of 2020, including figures from its Mexican operations. During the period, El Gallo, located in Sinaloa and undergoing residual leaching, produced 1,900 Oz AuEq. “An updated feasibility study for the Fenix Project is being finalized, and we expect to release the results in Q4”.

ON FINANCING

  • Telson Mining Corp. informed “the Company has closed its debt settlement with Accendo Banco, S.A. Institucion de Banco Multiple (“Accendo”). Accendo has funded the payout of $659,758 of debt related to Tahuehueto mining project’s suppliers and accordingly, the Company has issued to Accendo 7,330,651 shares at a deemed price of $0.09 per share” (Campo Morado, Guerrero).
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. intends to complete a private placement to raise up to US$1.85 M (Sierra Mojada, Coahuila).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. informed the closing of the fully underwritten pro-rata non-renounceable entitlements offer to raise $2.04 M (Plomosas, Chihuahua).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. closed the second an d final tranche of its non-brokered private placement, for aggregate gross proceeds of $2.36 M (Zimapan, Hidalgo)

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Comet Resources Ltd.  released the results of the initial JORC compliant mineral resource estimate for its Santa Teresa project in Baja California. The inferred resource comprises 369 K tonnes @ 7.47 gpt Au, containing 88.6 K Oz Au. “Gold mineralisation at Santa Teresa is within parallel …… mesothermal lode-gold quartz vein systems. The veins range in width from a few cm to about three metres in width, and up to several hundred metres of known strike length. In general, the quartz veins are narrow, averaging less than 0.3 m in width, occupying parallel fractures with sheared walls ….. A second generation of veining followed a fracturing episode and was accompanied by epidote, hornblende and sparse mineralisation of galena, sphalerite, pyrite, marcasite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, magnetite, specularite, and native gold”.
  • Prime Mining Corp. informed drilling is expected to commence in November at the Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. The company efforts are directed to upgrade 7.1 M tonnes of current inferred resource to the measured and indicated category, and adding more ounces to the resources.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. released results from four drill holes at the Todos Santos vein trend of its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Highlighted results comprise 25 m @ 92 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 1.6% Pb, 3.1% Zn (including 3.4 m @ 421 gpt Au, 0.42 gpt Au, 8.0% Pb, 10.0% Zn); 49.7 m @ 38 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 1.9% Zn (including 2.0 m @ 532 gpt Ag, 0.38 gpt Au, 8.8% Pb, 8.1% Zn); 21.0 m @ 59 gpt Ag, 0.19 gpt Au, 0.9% Pb, 2.0% Zn (including 3.3 m @ 152 gpt Ag, 0.71 gpt Au, 2.2% Pb, 6.9% Zn); 6.9 m @ 133 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 2.9% Pb, 5.4% Zn. “The Todos Santos vein trend, consisting of the Main Vein and Footwall Vein, has an interpreted southwest strike extent of at least 1.5 km based on historic underground workings and drilling, with veins dipping steeply to the northwest. The drill-confirmed portion of the Main Vein along the Todos Santos trend has a strike extent of 800 m and a down-dip extent of 300 m and is open along strike in both directions and at depth”.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released results from drilling at the La Trini deposit in the Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Some of the highlighted results comprise 6.3 m @ 1.42 gpt Au, 127 gpt Ag; 18.8 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag; 24.0 m @ 0.80 gpt Au, 51 gpt Ag (including 6.0 m @ 2.78 gpt Au, 103 gpt Ag; 23.5 m @ 0.16 gpt Au, 97 gpt Ag; 31.0 m @ 1.50 gpt Au, 95 gpt Ag (including 11.2 m @ 3.67 gpt Au, 165 gpt Ag); 34.5 m @ 0.79 gpt Au, 79 gpt Ag (including 5.6 m @ 3.08 gpt Au, 179 gpt Ag; 25.7 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag; 24.0 m @ 0.16 gpt Au, 39 gpt Ag.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. plans to commence a 4,500 m drilling program at its San Diego project within the Velardeña district, in Durango. The exploration is to focus in the expansion of the known resource of 31.6 M Oz Ag in indicated resources and 83.8 M Oz Ag in inferred resources (TR 2013). The drilling is to cover the Trovador, 1849 target, Fernandez and Arroyo zones.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. signed a letter of intent with Colibri Resource Corp. to acquire 50% interest in the Jackie Gold project in Sonora. Silver Spruce agreed to pay US$25 K and CAD$25 K in shares as the first property payment, and $US25 K and CAD$25 K in shares on the first year. Silver Spruce also concurs in paying 50% of due taxes and property rights agreements at the completion of the agreement. “Upon completion of these terms, Silver Spruce will hold a 50% interest in the Property and a Joint Venture will be formed to direct all exploration and drilling expenses and thereafter will be shared 50% by Silver Spruce and 50% by Colibri”.
  •  Tarachi Gold Corp. entered into a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with Manto Resources S.A. de C.V. to acquire certain assets related to the Magistral del Oro tailing processing plant in Durango. The plant is a permitted 1,000 tpd tailings processing plant, with tailing resource estimates of 1.29 M tonnes @ 2.06 gpt Au. The deal involves 4 M shares of Tarachi, granting Manto a 15% NSR and reimburse Manto up to US$500 K for cash outlays, and Tarachi will satisfy “certain obligations” of Manto by paying US$1,65 M plus VAT and issuing a total of 1,685,916 Common Shares over a period of six months. Furthermore, on commencement of commercial production Tarachi will issue Manto 4 M shares; six months after continuous commercial production; 4 M shares, twelve months after commercial production 4 M shares and US$500 K. Upon Tarachi earning US$15 M in revenue, the company will pay Manto US$1 M.
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. informed that “The Sierra Mojada Project remains under an option with South32 International Investment Holdings Pty Ltd and is currently under a force majeure due to the illegal blockade. As soon as we are able access the project, we expect to recommence the drilling program that was halted“.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Media Luna (Guerrero) informed on actions for betterment of the communities around the mining operations.
  • Pan American Silver informed on actions taken and support against the COVID-19 pandemic in the mining communities near its operations.
  • Industrias Peñoles received the sanitary safety award by the IMSS, on grounds of its actions fighting the COVID pandemic.
  • Minera Penmont is protecting the biodiversity in the Caborca region, in Sonora.
  • Industrias Peñoles donated five thousandtree saplings to the municipality of Gomez Palacio, Durango.

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

On the image below: The Cerro San Pedro open pit in 2010, San Luis Potosí. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 40th week of the year (September 28th to October 4th, 2020), at least 40 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, five companies posted exploration advances on their projects, ten companies posted news related to financing or share structure, and seven on their projects development. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the Mining Fund is gone. A new special force was created to aid protect mining companies from criminal gangs activities. Only nine percent of Mexico is under a current mining concession. The CTM asks for the continuation of the Mining Fund. Some 150 junior exploration companies have left Mexico. The Mining-Metallurgic production index grew by 6.2% in July. Sixteen municipalities in Hidalgo are to receive $48 M pesos from the Mining Fund. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Colibri Resources completed a mag survey on Evelyn. Tocvan Ventures identified a pipe like structure at its Pilar project. In Sinaloa, Brigadier Gold commenced drilling at Picachos. In Durango, Mithril Resources released drilling results from Copalquin. In Oaxaca, Megastar Development team is back in the field at Yautepec and Magdalena.  ON MINING, No relevant news. ON FINANCING, One World Lithium ($1.5 M), Plymouth Realty Capital ($10 M), Barksdale ($6.325 M), Santacruz Silver (CDN$9.5 M), Prismo Metals ($575 K), Endeavour Silver (US$60 M) released news regarding financing rounds. Candelaria Mining settled a $1.087 M debt with shares. Silver One granted options to its directors, officers, employees and consultants. Silver Dollar started trading at the OTCQB. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GR Silver released underground channel sampling results. Consolidated Zinc presented the latest resource estimate at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua, and announced the refurbishment of the processing plant at the site. Capitan Mining commenced resource expansion drilling at El Capitan, Durango. Azucar Minerals presented the initial resource estimate for the El Norte Zone of its El Cobre project in Veracruz. GoGold Resources released drilling results from its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Bacanora Minerals is focusing in engineering while the financing package is complete for its Sonora Lithium project. Golden Minerals released final results of its resource definition drilling program at the Rodeo project, Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Candente Gold signed the definitive agreement on the acquisition of the San Dieguito de Arriba plant in Nayarit. Silver One is selling its Mexican properties to Plymouth Realty Capital. Dyna Resources is trying to enforce in USA a favorable Mexican court ruling. Silver Spruce has recurred to force majeure clause for lack of access to its Pino de Plata property in Chihuahua. Reyna Silver entered into an option agreement to acquire the Reyna project in Chihuahua. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Fresnillo PLC, Minera Autlan, Minera Saucito and Industrias Peñoles informed on sustainability, health, safety, environment, social and governance programs.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Mining Fund is gone for good from the purpose it was created for: aiding the development of mining communities. Mining States and municipalities wonder what the destiny of more than $1,500 M pesos actually in the Fund. The actual federal government re-directed the use of the Mining Fund, with 85% going to the Education Secretariat, 5% to the Economy Secretary and 10% to federal government infrastructure programs.
  • A new special force for overseeing mining operations was formed by the federal government. The first 118 guards graduated from a special training course, and will be equipped with assault weapons. Heists by organized crime have plagued the industry in the last few years, with robberies of bullion in mining operations across several states.
  • The Economy Secretariat informed mining concessions cover only 9% of Mexico. Graciela Marquez, Secretary of Economy noted that 24 thousand current mining concessions cover 17 M hectares. The Director de Minas (reporting to Gabriela Marquez) pointed that they are following the president view of not granting more mining concessions, which is problem that will catch up in 10 years’ time with fewer new deposits to mine due to the lack of exploration.
  • The Confederacion de Trabajadores de Mexico (one of the largest union organizations in Mexico, best known as “CTM”) asked the federal government and the Deputies Chamber for the no disappearance of the Mining Fund.
  • Fernando Alanís Ortega from Camimex pointed out some 150 junior exploration companies have left Mexico due to the complex operative environment. Several companies have diversified their operations this year, with acquisitions in Canada and USA. The last company to divest its Mexican portfolio is Silver One, to focus on a project in Nevada.
  • The Mexican index of Mining-Metallurgic production increased by 6.2% in July, compared with the same month of 2019 and by 5.1% from July 2020 to the previous month.
  • Sixteen Municipalities in Hidalgo are to receive $48 M pesos from the Fund for Development of Mining Production Zones.  

ON EXPLORATION

  • Brigadier Gold Ltd. commenced its maiden drill program at the 3,954 ha Picachos property in Sinaloa. The drilling of 5,000 m in 40 holes will test the San Agustín mine (underground rock chip sample of 1.2 m @ 73.4 gpt Au), and the the Mochomos (underground rock chip sample of 0.5 m @ 18.5 gpt Au, 570 gpt Ag), Tejones (underground rock chip sample of 1.0 m @ 28.6 gpt Au, 114 gpt Ag) and Fermin (underground rock chip sample of 1.0 m @ 0.3 gpt Au, 268 gpt Ag) veins. “the Cocolmeca Vein system is comprised of several sub-parallel veins over a 1.5 kilometre (km) wide zone ……  San Agustín is the best understood of these veins, mainly because it has been historically exposed underground by approximately 670 line-metres of tunnels, stopes and shafts”.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. received results from a high-resolution magnetic survey at its Evelyin property in Sonora. The interpretation of the magnetic data allowed the identification of three families of lineaments that are to aid in the definition and prioritization of targets.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. informed on new interpretations on all the information gathered on its Pilar project in Sonora. With the aid of geophysical, geochemical and structural specialists a conclusion was reached that a sub-vertical pipe-like feature may represent a breccia feeder pipe related to epithermal mineralization. The pipe is close to 100 m in diameter, oval shaped and dipping 70 degrees to the SSW.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd. Released results from nine more holes at La Soledad in the Copalquin project, Durango. Drilling confirmed the bonanza grades of the La Soledad vein and intercepted additional veins at depth and along strike. Highlighted results comprise 3.8 m @ 2.58 gpt Au, 143 gpt Ag; 0.5 m @ 6.78 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag, an open working for 2.5 m and then 1.5 m @ 6.65 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag; 2.82 m @ 2.37 gpt Au, 22 gpt Ag; 7.5 m @ 6.74 gpt Au, 158 gpt Ag.
  • Megastar Development Corp. reported its exploration team is back at the Yautepec and Magdalena projects in Oaxaca. So far, they have found “highly prospective ferruginous (iron-rich) carbonate sinters and fault-controlled quartz veining and breccias in discontinuous erosional windows under post-mineral volcanic rocks over areas of several hundreds of meters”. These findings correlate well with the envisaged uppermost levels of an epithermal system, the concept exploration model used at the site.

ON MINING

  • No Relevant News.

ON FINANCING

  • One World Lithium Inc. announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $1.5 M (Salar del Diablo, Baja California).
  •  Candelaria Mining Corp. closed the previously announced shares for debt transaction in settlement of $1.087 M of indebtedness (Pinos, Zacatecas).
  • Plymouth Realty Capital Corp. will complete a $10 M private placement funding (Peñasco Quemado, Sonora; La Frazada, Nayarit; Pluton, Durango).
  • Silver One Resources Inc. granted 2.575 M stock options to its directors, officers, employees and consultants (Peñasco Quemado, Sonora).
  • Fresnillo PLC. Is extended the expiration time on its tender offer to purchase for cash any and all of its outstanding US$800,000,000 principal amount of 5.5% Notes due 2023, to September 29. 2020 (La Herradura, Sonora).
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc. started trading on September 30, 2020, in the United States on the OTCQB Venture Market (La Joya, Durango).
  • Barksdale Resources Corp. closed the final tranche of the company’s non-brokered private placement that raised $6.325 M (San Javier, Sonora).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. Increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering to CDN$9.5 M (Rosario, San Luis Potosi).
  • Prismo Metals Inc. completed its initial public offering (IPO) for gross proceeds of $575 K (Palos Verdes, Sinaloa).
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. entered into a sales agreement with BMO Capital Markets as the lead agent upon which the company can sell a number of common shares than can amount up to US$60 M (El Compas, Zacatecas; Terronera, Jalisco).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GR Silver Mining Ltd.  announced favorable results from underground channel sampling on the lower level of the Plomosas mine in Sinaloa. Disseminated and massive mineralization is constituted by veins, stockworks and sulfide stringers that include chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena in a brecciated tuff. Highlighted channel intervals comprise 2.6 m @ 504 gpt Ag, 14.6 gpt Au, 8.9% Pb, 6.6% Zn, 0.3% Cu; 15.7 m @ 90 gpt Ag, 2.5 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.3% Zn, 0.8% Cu: 5.4 m @ 147 gpt Ag, 10.0 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 3.3% Zn, 1.2% Cu; 7.8 m @ 50 gpt Ag, 2.9 gpt Au, 2.2% Pb, 7.3% Zn, 0.2% Cu; 6.0 m @ 66 gpt Ag, 6.2 gpt Au, 1.4% Pb, 3.9% Zn, 0.9% Cu.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. presented a mineral resource estimate for the month of April 2020 for its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The indicated and inferred mineral resources comprise 964 K tonnes @ 13.2% Zn, 3.5% Pb, 20.6 gpt Ag that contain 127 K tonnes of zinc, 34 K tonnes of lead and 639 K Oz silver. The company is refurbishing the Plomosas beneficiation plant to process the ore at the site, for an estimated cost of US$1.35 M. The plant will start processing 3,000 tonnes per day (tpd), with the possibility of an expansion to 6,000 tpd.
  • Capitan Mining Inc. has commenced drilling at the Capitan project in Durango. The first phase comprises 6,000 m of reverse circulation drilling focused on step-out holes for resource expansion.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. completed its initial resource estimate for the Norte zone at El cobre project in Veracruz. “Copper and gold mineralization at the Norte Zone is associated with a multiphase variably potassic-phyllic altered porphyritic diorite intrusive complex that is cut by late mafic and intermediate dykes and post mineral feldspar porphyry. The Norte Zone is approximately 0.6 km x 0.4 km along an E-W strike. Sulphide mineralization, which extends up to 900 metres depth, consists of disseminated and vein-hosted chalcopyrite and trace bornite (Cu mineralization) exposed in surface outcrops and intersected in drill core”. The base case scenario considers indicated resources of 47.2 M tonnes @ 0.49 gpt Au, 0.21% Cu, 1.4 gpt Ag containing 1.17 M Oz AuEq and inferred resources of 26.9 M tonnes @ 0.42 gpt Au, 0.18% Cu, 1.3 gpt Ag, containing 1.35 M Oz AuEq.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released drilling results from the La Trini deposit on the Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Some of the highlighted results from 12 holes released comprise 22.5 m @ 1.37 gpt Au, 158 gpt Ag; 22.5 m @ 0.20 gpt Au, 48 gpt Ag; 44.5 m @ 0.84 gpt Au, 63 gpt Ag; 38.4 m @ 0.40 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag; 29.6 m @ 0.42 gpt Au, 88 gpt Ag; 27 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 48 gpt Ag; 7.9 m @ 0.86 gpt Au, 64 gpt Ag; 19.5 m @ 0.18 gpt Au, 83 gpt Ag; 21.8 m @ 2.73 gpt Au, 130 gpt Ag (including 5.6 m @ 9.40 gpt Au, 365 gpt Ag).
  • Bacanora Lithium PLC. Informed the company has a strong cash balance of US$44.4 M as of June 30, 2020, and retains a senior debt facility of US$150 M. At the Sonora Lithium project in Sonora, work is focused on finalizing engineering so that construction may commence after the financing package is completed.
  • Golden Minerals Co. released final assays from its resource definition program at the Rodeo project in Durango. Some of the true width (tw) highlighted intercepts comprise 15.8 m @ 2.05 gpt Au, 16 gpt Ag; 15.3 m @ 1.09 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag; 25.5 m @ 2.49 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag; 25.8 m @ 1.22 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 15.6 m @ 0.78 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag; 15.0 m @ 0.74 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag; 7.7 m @ 0.98 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag; 34 m @ 1.63 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag; 49.5 m @ 1.77 gpt Au, 22 gpt Ag; 9.6 m @ 0.97 gpt Au, 2 gpt Ag; 25.8 m @ 3.10 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag; 24.5 m @ 1.32 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 28.0 m @ 1.96 gpt Au, 8 gpt Ag; 17.5 m @ 1.36 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag. The resource the company is trying to improve was defined in 2017 at 0.4 M tonnes @ 3.3 gpt Au, 11 gpt Ag, containing 46 K Oz Au, 200 K Oz Ag.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Candente Gold Corp. signed the definitive agreement with Magellan Acquisition Corp. to earn up to 100% interest in the San Dieguito de Arriba beneficiation plant and the rights on the El Dorado property, both in Nayarit.
  • Silver One Resources Inc. entered into a letter of intent (LOI) with Plymouth Realty Capital Corp. to sell all its Mexican silver properties. In consideration for the properties Plymouth is to pay $1 M in cash and $5 M in shares. Plymouth Realty Capital will also change its name to Silverton Metals Corp. (Peñasco Quemado, Sonora; La Frazada, Nayarit; Pluton, Durango).
  • Dyna Resource Inc. announced the filing on August 28, 2020 in Dallas county, Texas, a petition for recognition of the USD$48 M foreign judgement against Goldgroup Resources Inc. in order to recognize in USA the judgment obtained in Mexico against Goldgroup Resources Inc. (the judgment relates to a legal challenge for the ownership of the San José de Gracia project in Sinaloa).
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. has “retained Mexico-based legal counsel to lead the discussions with representatives of the surface landowners of Pino de Plata in order to re-negotiate access rights to the ranch that covers the Pino de Plata project area”. The company’s purchase rights contract is now under a force majeure clause until access rights are granted by surface owners to continue exploration.
  • Reyna Silver Corp. announced the acquisition of the 300 ha La Reyna project in Chihuahua. The property is in the Cusihuiriachi (Cusi) silver district of low sulfidation epithermal mineralization. “La Reyna proper is a nearly north-south trending structure traceable as vein and altered outcrops for 4 km across the property. Two historic (1890s) shafts (La Reyna and Princesa) that extend to 133-150m depths exploited high-grade silver-rich mineralized shoots 2-5 m wide in the late 1800s”. The deal involves US$1.3 M in staged cash payments over four years and a 2.5% NSR. The payment on singing was US$30K that is to be followed by US$45 K in 6 months, US$75 K in 12 months, US$75 K in 18 months, US$120 K in 24 months, US$120 K in 30 months, US$150 K in 36 months and US$685 K in 48 months.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Fortuna Silver Mines (San José mine in Oaxaca) signed an agreement with the Oaxaca Health Secretary and the San José del Progreso Municipality to help the community with the pandemic health emergency.
  • Minera Autlán donated 4,000 tree saplings to the Teziutlan Municipality in Puebla.
  • Minera Saucito informed on actions related to the fight against the pandemic in the Fresnillo Municipality in Zacatecas.
  • Industrias Peñoles celebrated 13 years of the inauguration of the Museum of Metals.
  • Industrias Peñoles informed in measures the company implements to reduce the use of water, and its treatment afterwards.
  • Fresnillo PLC is to distribute 20,000 face masks in Zacatecas city.

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

On the image below: The mineralized porphyry from Cerro San Pedro, San Luis Potosí. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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193By Jorge Cirett

During the 30th week of the year (July 20th to July 26th, 2020), at least 37 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, six of those were exploration updates and strikingly twelve more were related to financing. These are either opening or closing rounds, and it is difficult to assign the total amount to any given week, but the announcements on this period add up to $23.4 M and C$168.5 M (dominated by Argonaut’s C$126.5 M and Discovery’s C$35 M). Clearly there is a spike in funds flowing to mining companies, probably supported by stronger metal prices on fears of an underperforming economy and heightened global tensions. ON MEXICO ISSUES, exploration is picking up in the country after the end of the Coronavirus lockdown, with several companies performing drilling programs. Alacero warned on excessive steel importation. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Carlyle Commodities commenced its field program on Cecilia. In Chihuahua, Radius updated on the geology and geochemistry of its Plata Verde project, an interesting play. In Sinaloa, Kootenay Silver released good drilling results on its Copalito project. In Durango, Mithril Resources is about to drill Coplaquín. In Guanajuato, VanGold Mining is to start an underground drilling campaign at El Pinguico. In Zacatecas, Defiance Silver resumed its field program at San Acacio. ON MINING, Premier Gold and Fresnillo PLC presented Q2 2020 reports. Premier Gold is reducing its daily output and workforce at Mercedes. Peñasquito informed on its dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic. ON FINANCING, twelve companies made announcements regarding the opening or closing of financing rounds, or financing related news: Canasil Resources ($1.25 M), Orex Minerals ($1.1 M), VanGold Mining ($2.45 M), Golden Minerals ($7.5 M), VanGold Mining ($3.8 M), Sonoro Metals (C$5 M), Monarca Minerals (C$2 M), Discovery Metals (C$35 M), Advance Gold ($725 K), Argonaut Gold (C$126.5 M), Almaden Minerals ($2 M), Peal Mexico acquired $3.85 M of Magna Gold shares. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Discovery Metals released drill results from its Cordero project. Golden Tag Resources informed on strategic growth opportunities with its San Diego project in Durango. GoGold Resources released assay results from Los Ricos South project in Jalisco. GR Silver reported results from 17 historic drill holes from its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Prime Mining completed the acquisition of the Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Santacruz Silver sold its Zacatecas properties to Zacatecas Silver Corp.. Evrim Resources sold its La Lola and Cumaro projects to a Mexican private company for an NSR. Redstar Gold acquired all shares of Heliodor Metals, which holds the Oso Negro, La Lola and Cumaro projects in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Alamos Gold Peñasquito, Grupo Mexico and Fresnillo PLC donated medical equipment to communities near its operations. A virtual immersion program for kids was held in San Luis Potosí.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Exploration is picking up speed in Mexico after the end of the Coronavirus induced lockdown. Drilling programs are beginning or already underway at Cordero, Chihuahua (Discovery Metals), Pánuco in Sinaloa (Vizsla Resources), Álamos Silver in Sonora (Minaurum), Los Reyes in Sinaloa (Prime Mining), Las Minas in Veracruz (Mexican Gold), Cerro Caliche in Sonora (Sonoro Metals), Copalquín in Durango (Mithril Resources), Rodeo in Durango (Golden Minerals) and Nora in Durango (Canasil Resources).
  • Gold and silver prices are closing the week with highs not seen in several years. Gold was above $1,900 hundred an ounce by late Friday, while silver stood above $22.70 an ounce. The Coronavirus crisis, with the foreseen economic stimulus packages by several countries and the souring relations between China and the United States are seen as the reason for the continued upward trend.
  • Alacero (Asociación Latinoamericana de Acero) warned against the excessive importation of steel, in a moment when sales are just recovering.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Defiance Silver Corp. announced the resumption of its field program that includes core re-logging, surface and underground mapping, geochemistry and surface diamond drilling at its San Acacio project in Zacatecas.
  • VanGold Mining Corp. intends to initiate an underground drilling campaign to target extensions of high-grade mineralization at its Pinguico project in Guanajuato. The company also is to clear the El Pinguico shaft and sample the bottom of the backfill, with the aim to ship it to a nearby mill for processing.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. released assay results from three more holes at its Copalito project in Sinaloa. Core length highlighted intervals comprise 56.0 m @ 58 gpt Ag (including 22 m @ 106 gpt Ag, which include 5.0 m @ 250 gpt Ag, 0.247 gpt Au); 10.3 m @ 80 gpt Ag, 0.90 gpt Au; 7.1 m @ 30 gpt Ag, 0.31 gpt Au; 13.1 m @ 347 gpt Ag, 0.22 gpt Au (including 3.2 m @ 1,297 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au, which includes 1.0 m @ 2,830 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au). To date 1,600 m of the 3,000 m program have been completed.
  • Radius Gold Inc. released results of recent detailed rock chip sampling and geological mapping at its Plata Verde project in Chihuahua. Multiple sub-horizontal breccia zones cemented by barite-calcite-silver chlorides, up to 75 m in diameter have been sampled in different levels, bounded by stockwork and fracture fill of massive to crustiform banded barite-calcite with silver chlorides, sulphosalts and native silver, and disseminated mineralization of sulphosalts within the volcanic host rock. The mineralization is exposed on the sides of a small creek, and covered by felsic volcanic rocks in three directions. The average silver value of 255 samples is 156 gpt Ag, while 74 samples on the breccias average 258 gpt Ag.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd. presented its quarterly activities report, in which the acquisition of Sun Minerals Pty Ltd. was completed, $5.92 M were raised and the drilling equipment moved to site at the Copalquín project in Durango. The next move is the completion of a 5,000 m diamond drilling campaign at Copalquín.
  • Carlyle Commodities Corp. mobilized crews for exploration of its Cecilia project in Sonora. “The Phase 1 exploration program has been designed to refine targeting at Cerro Magallanes which is a large rhyolite flow dome complex, host of several historic workings and multiple high-grade gold mineral occurrences”. Programmed work includes property scale mapping, a detailed structural mapping, processing and interpretation of Aster images, surface sampling and a 10 line-km induced polarization survey. Road rehabilitation and drill pad building to support a drill program on the phase 2 is also contemplated.

ON MINING

  • Premier Gold Ltd. reported production results for the second quarter of 2020. Its Mercedes mine operations in Sonora were halted at the end of March due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and a phased re-start commenced in June. An optimization plan was developed, including the consolidation of five mine portals to one, reducing the mining rate form to 2,000 to 1,200 tonnes per day and operation of the processing plant on a campaign basis, reduction of 40% of the employee base and 75% of the mining related contractors.
  • Fresnillo PLC presented its second quarter 2020 production report. During the period the company produced 13.6 M Oz Ag, 184.4 K Oz Au, 16,180 tonnes Pb, 26,726 tonnes Zn. On exploration, 135,000 m were drilled at the mines, as part of a 440,000 m program to convert resources into reserves. Additionally 39,000 m of exploration drilling was carried out as part of the 228,000 m program at projects. Interesting results were obtained at Fresnillo and Guanajuato, while negotiations continue with communities in other projects to obtain access for drilling. Fresnillo 2Q 2020 Production1
  • Minera Peñasquito informed 15,000 COVID tests have been applied since the re-commencement of activities on June 1, resulting seven positive cases during the past week and the protocol was followed to identify all persons they had contact with. The use of face masks has been agreed with the union, on all public spaces, with the exception of the dining room.

ON FINANCING

  • Peal Mexico S.A. de C.V. announced the acquisition of 11 M shares of Magna Gold Corp. under the terms of a settlement for an aggregate deemed consideration of $3.85 M in an agreement to settle an existing arbitration proceeding between the parties in relation to Magna’s San Francisco mine in Sonora. Peal now owns 16.9% of Magna’s issued and outstanding shares.
  • Canasil Resources Inc. announced a non-brokered private placement aiming to raise up to $1 M, same placement that was oversubscribed for total gross proceeds of $1.25 M (Nora, Durango).
  • Orex Minerals Inc. closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $1.11 M, bringing the total aggregate proceeds to $2.1 M. (Sandra, Durango).
  • VanGold Mining Corp. has arranged a non-brokered private placement financing to raise up to $2.45 M (El Pinguico, Guanajuato).
  • Golden Minerals Co. is increasing its previously announced offering to raise up to $7.5 M in gross proceeds (Rodeo, Durango).
  • VanGold Mining Corp. expanded due to increased demand the size of its non-brokered private placement financing, for gross proceeds of $3.8 M (El Pinguico, Guanajuato).
  • Sonoro Metals Corp. is to undertake a non-brokered private placement to raise up to C$5 M in gross proceeds (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Monarca Minerals Inc. announced a non-brokered private placement to raise up to C$2 M (San Jose, Chihuahua).
  • Discovery Metals Corp. arranged a non-brokered institutional private placement to raise C$35 M, “ Eric Sprott has agreed to invest C$15,000,000 in the Private Placement,” (Cordero, Chihuahua).
  • Advance Gold Corp. announced it proposes to increase to $725 K its previously announced non-brokered private placement (Tabasqueña, Zacatecas).
  • Argonaut Gold Inc. closed its previously announced bought deal public offering for aggregate gross proceeds of C$126.5 M, thorough a syndicate of underwriters led by BMO Capital Markets (San Agustín, Durango).
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. announced a proposed non-brokered private placement financing intended to raise up to $2 M (Ixtaca, Puebla).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Discovery Metals Corp. released results from eight holes at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 5.3 m @ 225 gpt Ag 0.7 gpt Au, 5.1% Pb, 5.5% Zn (including 1.4 m @ 700 gpt Ag, 0.74 gpt Au, 16.1% Pb, 14.0% Zn); 4.3 m @ 365 gpt Ag, 0.55 gpt Au, 2.1% Pb, 4.0% Zn (including 1.5 m @ 489 gpt Ag, 0.82 gpt Au, 2.9% Pb, 11.1% Zn); 120.4 m @ 30 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 1.5% Zn; 134.6 m @ 23 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 44.8 m @ 35 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 1.7% Zn; 0.8 m @ 1,992 gpt Ag, 0.79 gpt Au, 16.1% Pb, 14.2% Zn.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. informed on strategic growth opportunities with its San Diego project in Durango. The project with 31.6 M Oz in indicated resources is fully permitted for drilling four key high priority target zones: 1849, Fernandez, Trovador and Arroyo. Drill intercepts in the Fernandez zone include 212 m @ 54 gpt Ag, 0.5% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 238 m q 64 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 1.6% Zn; 257 m @ 66 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 1.7% Zn; 186 m @ 53 gpt Ag, 0.5% Pb, 1.2% Zn. Mergers, strategic, corporate and project acquisitions are being evaluated, with a focus on silver.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released the assay results from six diamond drill holes at the Los Ricos South project. Two holes were drilled at Rascadero, two at San Juan and two more at Las Lamas. Highlighted core length intersections comprise: 0 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 59 gpt Ag; 16.7 m @ 1.32 gpt Au, 268 gpt Au (including 5.4 m @ 3.33 gpt Au, 673 gpt Ag); 21.5 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag; 7.7 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 65 gpt Ag; 8.9 m @ 0.8 gpt Au, 31 gpt Ag.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. reported high-grade results from 17 historical drill holes from the San Juan area of its Plomosas property in Sinaloa. These results define a mineralized strike length of up to 1,000 m. Some of the highlighted true width intercepts comprise: 3.8 m @ 563 gpt Ag, 0.3 gpt Au, 1.6% Pb, 2.7% Zn; 2.5 m @ 846 gpt Ag, 0.8 gpt Au, 2.7% Pb, 6.0% Zn (including 0.9 m @ 2,300 gpt Ag, 2.1 gpt Au, 7.6 % Pb, 16.3% Zn); 3.3 m @ 335 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 5.6 m @ 363 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.9% Zn; 10.7 m @ 226 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 2.8 m @ 141 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.7% Zn.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Prime Mining Corp. completed the acquisition of the Los Reyes project (formerly Guadalupe de Los Reyes) in Sinaloa. The company made a US$1.5 M payment to Vista Gold Inc., after which Vista no longer retains two separate 2% net smelter royalties on production from open-pit or underground mining, or a back-in right to assume a 49% non-carried interest in any underground mining. “Prime is required to pay Vista an additional US$2,100,000 through two payments of: (i) US$1,100,000 no later than six months from the Acquisition Date; and (ii) US$1,000,000 no later than twelve months from the Acquisition Date. If the Company fails to make the two payments, Vista’s net smelter royalties and back-in right will be reinstated”.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. entered into an agreement with Zacatecas Silver Corp. for the sale of a 100% interest in the Zacatecas properties for consideration of US$1.5 M and the issuance of 5 M shares of Zacatecas Silver. The Zacatecas properties comprise 149 mining concessions totaling approximately 7,826 ha in the Fresnillo Silver Belt, and include the Panuco deposit, which has an inferred resource of 3.95 M tonnes @ 153 gpt Ag, or 19.5 M Oz Ag, remaining open along strike.
  • Evrim Resources Corp. entered into an agreement with a private Mexican company to sell two non-core exploration properties in exchange of NSR royalties. La Lola is a 6,301 ha land package that covers the La Barra fluorite vein and El Cumaro is a 620 ha claim covering a low sulfidation epithermal field. Evrim will transfer 100% interest in the La Lola and Cumaro properties in exchange for 2% and 1% NSR respectively, and a 0.5 % NSR right on 7,053 ha of the Picachos claims, should the claims be acquired by the Mexican private company. Half of the La Lola NSR can be bought for US$1.75 M and half of the El Cumaro NSR by US$1.0 M.
  • Redstar Gold Corp. entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Heliodor Metals Ltd., in which Redstar has agreed to issue 86.5 M shares for 100% of the outstanding Heliodor shares. Heliodor has interest in: the Oso Negro 1,500 ha project, which has three main veins and no drilling; The La Lola 5,400 ha land package which contains the 5 km long La Barra epithermal vein (see previous entry under Evrim); Cumaro “is the downthrown block of a large low sulphidation vein field”. Redstar has agreed to conduct a C$6.0 M private placement

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Alamos Gold donated medical equipment to the Sahuaripa municipality in Sonora.
  • Peñasquito donated medical equipment to several authority bodies in Zacatecas.
  • Grupo Mexico donated protection equipment to general hospitals in Cuautla and Axochiapan in Morelos.
  • The Instituto de Metalurgia de San Luis Potosí carried out a virtual immersion program for kids.
  • Fresnillo PLC continues to provide cleaning and medical supplies in Guadalupe y Calvo (Chihuahua), Caborca (Sonora) and Fresnillo (Zacatecas).

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

On the image below: Silicified rocks signaling the paleo water table of a low sulfidation epithermal system in Queretaro. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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