soil sampling

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of January, 2023.

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fault-plane displaying slickensides

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 2nd week of the year (January 09th to January 15th, 2023), at least 30 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 4 news published by the media with nine communicating production and financial results, seven reporting resources and developments of their properties, five disclosing deals and corporate issues, five informing on exploration results, four announcing financing issues, and four commenting on Mexican issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) withdrew the permit to Fortuna Silver Mines, which operates the San José mine in Oaxaca through the company Minera Cuzcatlán.  Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver) responded to SEMARNAT that it is operating normally at its San José mine in Oaxaca under complete legality. Mining companies shine at the beginning of the year on the Mexican Stock Exchange. The governments of Mexico and Canada have agreed to strengthen resilience in the supply chain in which both countries participate, reported Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development of Canada. Prime Mining, Tocvan Ventures, Oroco, and Silver Tiger reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of January, 2023.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec Minerals presented a summary of the results from its recently completed 2022 drilling program at its Cervantes project,  Colibri completed additional drilling on its Evelyn project, Tocvan drill intersected a broad zone of gold at its El Picacho project, and Riverside provided a corporate outlook for 2023. In Sinaloa, Prismo Metals released results from the remaining holes from its now completed 2022 drill program at its Palos Verdes project.  ON MINING, Aura, Alamos Gold, Americas, Endeavour, Gatos Silver, GoGold, Golden Minerals, and Torex announced Q4 and full-year 2022 production from their Mexican operations, and Altaley reported pre-production results during mill commissioning at its Tahuehueto property in Durango.  ON FINANCING, Canuc closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $680K (San Javier project, Sonora). Guanajuato Silver closed the second and final tranche of its non-brokered private placement offering totaling CAD $8.5M (El Cubo, San Ignacio, and Valenciana mines, Guanajuato). Fabled announced that it plans to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $1.5M (Santa Maria property, Chihuahua). Altaley entered into a debt settlement agreement with an arms’ length mining contractor to settle CAD $1,176,297 which is owing to the contractor as a result of underground mine development work (Tahuehueto mine, Durango). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Regency Silver announced recommencement of the 2023 drilling program at its Dios Padre property in Sonora, as well as the commencement of an IP survey. Discovery outlined its 2023 work program and budget for its Cordero property in Chihuahua. Oroco released further assay results from the North Zone drilling program at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Prime Mining presented results from 48 drill holes collared in the Z-T area at its Los Reyes project, Sinaloa. Silver Tiger released results from its ongoing drilling program being conducted at its El Tigre project, Sonora. Sailfish announced results from its recently drilling program conducted at its Gavilanes property in Durango. Silver Viper reported positive geophysical and geochemical survey results at its Virginia project, Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Santacruz announced the appointment of its new CFO (Zimapan property, Hidalgo). Excellon announced that its Board of Directors has approved the voluntary delisting of its common shares from the New York Stock Exchange (La Platosa mine, Durango). Fabled´s shareholders approved a share consolidation of the outstanding securities of the Company on an up to ten for one basis (Santa Maria property, Chihuahua). Vizsla completed strategic investment in the acquisition of Palos Verdes project, Sinaloa from Prismo Metals.   ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) withdrew the permit to Fortuna Silver Mines, which operates the San Jose mine in Oaxaca through the company Minera Cuzcatlán since, according to SEMARNAT, it incurred in several irregularities. Such permit had been previously granted by some servants of SEMARNAT. In 2022, SEMARNAT said that it had been a misspelling to have issued a permit for 12 more years for the operation of this company. SEMARNAT was even questioned for providing legal advice to the company in order to obtain the environmental impact authorization and the regularization of construction of works for which it did not have authorization. With the suspension of the permit, SEMARNAT said that the company can appeal and resort to its influence peddling as it has done since its settlement in Oaxaca. However, if the judges confirm the resolution, it must withdraw and return the land to its owners, in addition to repairing the damage caused by the excessive pollution it has generated in the area.
  • Compañia Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver) responded to SEMARNAT that it is operating normally at its San Jose mine in Oaxaca under complete legality. Derived from the notification received by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) at the beginning of 2023, regarding the intention of evaluating the MIA (Environmental Impact Statement) granted legally and correctly in December 2021, it is notified that this new procedure does not affect the daily activities of the Company, thus confirming that the San José Mining Unit, located in San José del Progreso, Oaxaca, is operating normally. Fortuna Silver Mines, communicated on January 5 of this year, that its San José Mining Unit, which operates through its subsidiary Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán, fully complies with all current environmental laws, for which it has expressed its disagreement and is taking legal measures to protect its more than 1,200 employees, a value chain made up of more than 600 companies, 150 of them from the area, as well as an annual income of more than MXP $600M that benefits more than 30,000 people in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca.  “Likewise, the Company highlights that, in 11 years of operation, it has been inspected 15 times by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), in turn it has registered two inspections by the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), who in none of their proceedings have ruled on facts and/or indications of contamination at the site or derived from the operation of the San José Mine. Finally, Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán reiterates its commitment to continue working together with neighboring communities to improve and expand the social benefits of its operation, through sustainable development initiatives”.
  • Mining companies shine at the beginning of the year on the Mexican Stock Exchange. The increase in the price of metals such as gold, silver and copper, supported the rebound in the price of the shares of companies in the Mexican market these days. Industrias Peñoles and Grupo México are framed as the first and third issuers in the S&P/BMV IPC index, which brings together the 36 largest firms in the Mexican stock market, which have accumulated the most performance in these first days of 2023. In the first case its shares maintain gains of 21.55%, at a price of 291.30 pesos per unit, in the first six business days of January. For the second, the return has been 18.35%, at 80.96 pesos.
  • The governments of Mexico and Canada have agreed to strengthen resilience in the supply chain in which both countries participate, reported Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development of Canada. Mexico, Canada, and the United States have agreed to joint actions to strengthen their supply chains both regionally and globally. In 2021, the Joe Biden Administration launched its Bailout for America, under the Bailout for America Act of 2021, signed into law in March.
  • Prime Mining Corp., Tocvan Ventures Corp., Oroco Resource Corp., and Silver Tiger Metals Inc., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of January, 2023. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp., presented a summary of the results from its recently completed RC and oriented core holes 2022 drilling program at its Cervantes project in Sonora. It consisted of 26 RC holes totalling 5,248.6m, and 11 oriented core holes totalling 2,588m. Combined 2022 drilling program totaled 37 holes and 7,836.6m on California, California Norte, Purisima East and Jasper targets. All the holes collared in 2022 at California and California Norte targets, except one, encountered near surface, oxidized gold mineralization with minor copper values. Now, California target has been expanded to approximately 900m long E-W by 730m wide N-S, and with continuous mineralization of up to 170m depth. “The porphyry gold-copper mineralization is still open in all directions with anomalous mineralization and alteration up to 265m depth vertically.  The California and California Norte targets appear to be merging from drilling and surface exposures”. At Jasper target, step out 600m west of the California Zone, the drilling program intercepted broad alteration and strongly oxidized, argillically altered, and brecciated siltstone-quartzite sediments. “Strong copper oxide mineralization is found on outcrops and in the drilling.  Sulfides have not yet been found in drilling to 209 m depth, suggesting the there is a possibility to encounter a secondary sulfide enrichment blanket”. “At the Purisima Este target drilling found anomalous Au and multi-element mineralization related to the edges of its diatreme-breccia pipe related to quartz feldspar intrusive and follow-up work is planned”. Drilling highlights of the 2022 program include hole CAL22-001 with 1.04 g/t Au over 94m, including 3.96 g/t Au over 55m, and 0.36% over 55m; hole CAL 22-004 with 1.0 g/t Au over 65m, including 4.25 g/t Au over 24.4m, and 0.065% Cu over 160m; hole CAL 22-005 with 1.49 g/t Au, including 3.42 g/t Au over 51.7m, and 0.091% Cu over 119m; hole CAL 22-006 with 0.75 g/t Au, including 3.08 g/t Au over 9.14m, and 0.1% Cu over 138m; hole 0.87 g/t Au over 152m, including 2.05 g/t Au over 33.5m, and 0.095% Cu over 123m; hole CAL 22-027 with 0.68 g/t Au over 120m, including 1.46 g/t Au over 27m; and hole CAL 22-031 with 0.56 g/t Au over 135m, including 2.29 g/t Au over 12m.  
  • Colibri Resource Corporation completed additional drilling on its Evelyn project in Sonora, which included 3 diamond holes totaling 1,063m, 5 reverse circulation holes totaling 1,205m, and 130 short RC holes totaling 1,548 m to penetrate alluvium and sample the top of bedrock.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., announced results from 3 out of 10 holes drilled at its Picacho project in Sonora. The company reported that hole SRA-22-003 intersected a broad zone of gold, returning 0.3 g/t Au and 0.5 g/t Ag over 48.8m, including 0.51 g/t Au and 0.8 g/t Ag over 27.5m, including 0.71 g/t Au and 1 g/t Ag over 19.8m, including 1.14 g/t Au and 1 g/t Ag over 12.2m, and including 4.73 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag over 1.5m. Results for the remaining seven drillholes are pending.
  • Riverside Resources Inc., provided a corporate outlook for 2023 of the company´s growth plans. Highlights include look for a new strategic alliance with a major base metal producer; to drill-test with partner funds at least one project in H1, 2023 (BHP); look for new partnership to advance its La Union property in Sonora after high-grade results in 2022; and farm-out its Cecilia project in Sonora, which has a proposed drilling program to be executed at the property.
  • Prismo Metals Inc., released results from the remaining holes from its now completed 2022 drill program at its Palos Verdes project, Sinaloa, which consisted of eight holes totalling 2,100m. The best drill intercept was encountered in hole PV-22-17 with 0.43 g/t Au, 115 g/t Ag, 0.28% Cu, 0.47% Pb, and 0.81% Zn (200 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 3m, including 1.18 g/t Au, 297 g/t Ag, 0.56% Pb, 1.18% Pb, and 1.97% Zn (516 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.05m.

ON MINING

  • Aura Minerals Inc., reported that it produced 28,591 gold equivalent ounces during Q4, 2022 from its Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas.
  • Alamos Gold Inc., reported Q4 and annual 2022 production results from its Mulatos mine in Sonora, and provided updated three-year production and operating guidance. In Q4, 2022 the company produced 49,100 Oz Au at an average grade of 0.78 g/t Au. Alamos expects to produce over 175K-185K Oz Au at an average grade of  0.73 g/t Au in 2023 with a total cash cost in te range of USD $900-USD $950 per Oz Au; an all included sustaining cost of USD $950-1,000 per Oz Au; a sustaining capital of USD $10M; grow capital of USD $5-10M (a total sustaining and grow capital of USD $19-24M); capitalized exploration of USD $4M; an a total capital expenditures and capitalized exploration of USD $19-24M. Production for 2024 and 2025 is expected to be in the range of 140-150K Oz Au and 110-120K Oz Au respectively.
  • Altaley Mining Corporation reported pre-production results during mill commissioning at its Tahuehueto property in Durango. Tahuehueto is currently operating one ball mill in a commissioning phase, as part of the initial 500 tonnes per day project, producing precious metals-rich, commercial grade lead and zinc concentrates. The company produced in Q4, 2022 862 tonnes of Pb concentrate with grades of 26.31% Pb, 76.72 g/t Au, and 643 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 76.68%, 76.72%, and 68.115 respectively; and 878 tonnes of Zn concentrate with grades of 47.51% Zn, 7.5 g/t Au, and 145 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 54.31%, 13.23%, and 15.12% respectively.
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corporation reported Q4 and annual year 2022 production from its Cosala mine operation in Sinaloa. It produced 196K Oz Ag, 3.8M Lb Pb, and 10.4M Lb Zn during Q4, 2022, and 636K Oz Ag, 15.3M Lb Pb, and 39.3M Lb Zn in the full-year 2022.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., released Q4 and full-year 2022 production results from their Mexican mine operations. Consolidated figures for Q4 and annual 2022, compared to the year 2021 are shown in the table below:

Figures by mine for the period Q4, and full year 2022 are shown in the tables below:

  • Gatos Silver Inc., announced guidance and Q4 and full year 2022 production results from its 70% owned Cerro Los Gatos, Chihuahua. On te period Q4, 2022 (100% Basis), the company milled 261,929 tonnes of 387 g/t Ag, 3.7% Zn, 1.9% Pb, and 0.3 g/t Au with metallurgical recoveries of 89.6%, 62.7%, 86.3%, and 53.9% respectively, to produce 2.9M Oz Ag, 13.5M Lb Zn, 9.7M Lb Pb, and 1.4K Oz Au. For the full-year 2022, the company reported production of 10.3M Oz Ag, 60.7M Lb Zn, 45.9M Lb Pb, and 5.3K Oz Au. 2022 guidance announced by Gatos Silver was 9.35-9.65M Oz Ag, 58-61M Lb Zn, 43-45M Lb Pb, and 5.0-5.3K Oz Au. Zinc, lead and gold production increased during 2022, with zinc and gold near the high end of guidance, and lead near the guidance midpoint. Compared with 2021, zinc production increased by 22%, lead production by 10%, and gold production by 2%. As of December 2022, the company reported a cash balance of $17M and outstanding balance of the company´s credit facility of $9M.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., reported Q4, 2022 production results from its Parral Tailings project, Chihuahua. The company produced 159,838 Oz Ag, 2,399 Oz Au, and 497.3K Lb Cu (441,217 Oz AgEq).
  • Golden Minerals Company announced Q4, and full-year 2022 production and financial results from its Rodeo project, Durango. The company in Q4, 2022 mined 161,244 tonnes and processed 52,736 tonnes of 2 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 73.3% and 82% respectively, to produce 2,398 payable Oz Au (in doré) and 13,560 payable Oz Ag (in doré) or 2,568 payable Oz AuEq (in doré). Golden sold 2,518 Oz Au and 14,217 Oz Ag (2,696 Oz AuEq), at realized prices, before refining and selling costs of USD $1,729.40 and USD $21.69 respectively. For the full year 2022, Golden mined 771,485 tonnes and processed   195,599 tonnes of 2.6 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 74.7% and 81.2% respectively, to produce 11,982 payable Oz Au (in doré) and 52,179 payable Oz Ag (in doré) or 12,616 payable Oz AuEq (in doré). Golden sold 12,451 Oz Au and 53,486 Oz Ag (13,101 Oz AuEq), at realized prices, before refining and selling costs of USD $1,805.34 and USD $21.93 respectively.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., reported Q4 and full-year 2022 production results from El Limón-Guajes mine complex, Guerrero. The company produced 116,196 Oz Au in Q4 to total 474,035 Oz Au in the full-year 2022. It surpassed the upper end of the guided range of 430K-470K Oz Au. Torex sold in Q4, 2022 121,913 Oz Au for a total of 473,122 Oz Au in the full-year 2022.

ON FINANCING

  • Canuc Resources Corporation issued 8.5M of common shares at a price of CAD $0.08 per common share to close a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $680K. Most of the gross proceeds will be used for exploration on the San Javier project, Sonora. 
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., closed the second and final tranche of its non-brokered private placement offering. The company issued 4,080,486 common shares for gross proceeds of CAD $1,734,206.55 in the second tranche for a total offering of CAD $20,032,682 for gross proceeds of CAD $ 8,513,889.85. The net proceeds of the offering will be used to, among other things, ramp up production at the Company’s existing mines in and about Guanajuato, Mexico including El Cubo, San Ignacio and Valenciana, expand and modernize the processing facilities at the Topia mine in Durango, Mexico, increase brownfields’ exploration programs, and fund general and administrative expenses.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., announced that it plans to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $1.5M at a price of CAD $0.10 per common share. Net proceeds will be used to make required property payments, to further explore the Santa Maria Property, and for general working capital. 
  • Altaley Mining Corporation entered into a debt settlement agreement with an arms’ length mining contractor to settle CAD $1,176,297 which is owing to the contractor as a result of underground mine development work. The Company and the contractor have agreed that the issuance to the contractor of 735,186 common shares of the company at a deemed price of CAD $1.60 per common share will extinguish and settle the debt.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Regency Silver Corp., announced recommencement of the 2023 drilling program at its Dios Padre property in Sonora, as well as the commencement of an IP survey. The company plans to drill a minimum of 3,000m as an initial follow up to the successful drilling program completed in August, 2022. It also will commence an IP survey to provide 3D information to a depth of 800m. “The current drill and IP program is designed to determine more specifically what type of broad, mineralizing system is present at Dios Padre”.
  • Discovery Silver Corp., outlined its 2023 work program and budget for its Cordero property in Chihuahua. The goal is to complete the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) later this month and will be focused on optimization opportunities including improved mining and processing efficiencies, as well as complete a Feasibility Study (FS) in Q1, 2023.. Alongside this work, Cordero has allocated drill metres to the exploration potential on the large, highly-prospective land package owned by the company.  “Construction permitting for Cordero will be undertaken in-parallel with the FS work, with the submission of the Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) expected to be made to the Mexican Federal Environmental Department (SEMARNAT) in the first half of 2023. Assuming a 12 to 18 month permitting timeline, this would position the Company to make a construction decision in the second half of 2024.  The 2023 work programs are budgeted at $26 million. The Company is well positioned to fund this work with a cash balance of over $45 million and no debt at the end of 2022. 
  • Oroco Resource Corp., released further assay results from the North Zone drilling program at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. Holes N039 to N043 totalled 2,668 m of drilling which demonstrated continuity of good grade mineralization. Highlights include hole NO39 with 0.14% Cu, 0.002% Mo, 0.01 g/t Au and 1 g/t Ag (0.15% CuEq) over 58m, plus 0.46% Cu, 0.005% Mo, 0.016 g/t Au, and 4 g/t Ag (0.49% CuEq) over 21.4m, plus 0.31% Cu, 0.01% Mo, 0.02 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag (0.36% CuEq) over 265m; hole NO40 with 0.21% Cu, 0.007% Mo, 0.012 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.24% CuEq) over 41m, plus 0.29% Cu, 0.009% Mo, 0.013 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.33% CuEq) over 152.1m; hole N041 with 0.3% Cu, 0.002% Mo, 0.003 g/t Au, and 1 g/t Ag (0.35% CuEq) over 20.6m, plus 0.47% Cu, 0.006% Mo, 0.038 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.52% CuEq) over 96m; and hole N042 with 0.53% Cu, 0.005% Mo, 0.075 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.60% CuEq) over 135m.
  • Prime Mining Corp., presented results from 48 drill holes collared in the Z-T area at its Los Reyes project, Sinaloa. Drilling highlights include holes 22TA-51 with 2.5 g/t Au and 278 g/t Ag (6.1 g/t AuEq) over a true width (TW) of 3,1m, plus 10 g/t Au and 131 g/t Ag (11.6g/t AuEq) over a TW of  3.1m, including 28.5 g/t Au and 310 g/t Ag (32.5 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 1.1m; hole 22ZAP-87 with 4.7 g/t Au and 103 g/t Ag (6 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 8.7m, including 39.6 g/t Au and 174 g/t Ag (41.9 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 0.7m, and 8.6 g/t Au and 163 g/t Ag (10.7g/t AuEq) over a TW of 1.0m; hole 22TA-44 with 2.7 g/t Au and 451 g/t Ag (8.6 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 4.8m, including 4.8 g/t Au and 821 g/t Ag (15.4 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 2.3m; hole 22 ZAP-82 with 1.3 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag (1.6 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 13m, including 13 g/t Au and 48 g/t Ag (13.6 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 0.8m, plus 3.6 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag (3.8 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 13.8m,including 22.2 g/t Au and 41 g/t Ag (22.8 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 1.9m; hole 22TA-43 with 4.2 g/t Au and 59 g/t Ag (4.9 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 5.4m, including 23.6 g/t Au and 103 g/t Ag (24.9 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 0.8m; and hole 22SMW-12 with 6.9 g/t Au and 33 g/t Ag (7.3 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 14.8m, including 9.1 g/t Au and 31 g/t Ag (9.5 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 8.9m, including 21 g/t Au and 55 g/t Ag (21.7 g/t AuEq) over a TW of 1.5m.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., released results from its ongoing drilling program being conducted at its El Tigre project, Sonora. Drilling highlights include hole ET-22-333with 0.46 g/t Au, 429 g/t Ag, 0.07% Cu, 0.04% Pb, and 0.06% Zn (474 g/t AgEq) over 10.1m on Seitz Kelly Shale Zone, including 0.83 g/t Au, 3,639 g/t Ag, 0.61% Cu, 0.14% Pb, and 0.14% Zn (3,767 g/t AgEq) over 1.2m, including  0.22 g/t Au, 6,063 g/t Ag, 1% Cu, 0.14% Pb, and 0.09% Zn (6,182 g/t AgEq) over 0.7m; hole ET-22-333 with 0.14 g/t Au, 307 g/t Ag, 0.07% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (337 g/t AgEq) over 2.4m on El Tigre Vein, including 0.32 g/t Au, 778 g/t Ag, 0.17% Cu, 0.4% Pb, and 0.6% Zn (849 g/t AgEq) over 0.9m, plus 0.25 g/t Au, 69 g/t Ag, 0.13% Cu, 0.5% Pb, and 1% Zn over 18.6m on the Seitz Kelly Shale Zone, including 0.25 g/t Au, 778 g/t Ag, 1.69% Cu, 7.1% Zn, and 15% Zn (1,633 g/t AgEq) over 1.1m on the Seitz Kelly Vein; and hole ET-22-335 with 0.15 g/t Au, 331 g/t Ag, 0.24% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn (386 g/t AgEq) over 4.3m on Seitz Kelly Vein, including 0.15 g/t Au, 2,343 g/t Ag, 1.67% Cu, 1.36% Pb, and 3.32% Zn (2,658 g/t AgEq) over 0.6m.
  • Sailfish Royalty Corp., announced results from its recently exploration work conducted at its Gavilanes property in Durango. Gavilanes comprises multiple high-grade polymetallic silver veins located approximately 30 km away from First Majestic’s San Dimas mine operation. Sailfish has drilled 47 shallow diamond drill holes on three of these veins which host mineralization in veins and stockworks of an intermediate sulphidation epithermal system. Sailfish geologists have collected representative chip channel samples across veins or structures, which returned encourages high-grade values. Highlights include 12.80 g/t Au and 48 g/t Ag over 2.5m and 0.87 g/t Au and 40 g/t Ag over 18m on Descubridora Vein; 30 g/t Au and 190 g/t Ag over 1m and 0.84 g/t Au and 754 g/t Ag over  2m on San Nicolas Vein; 0.02 g/t Au and 1,867 g/t Ag over 1m on San Nicolas-Veta del Pueblo; 10.12 g/t Au and 16 g/t Ag over 2.2m on Forasteros Vein; and 0.51 g/t Au and 1,546 g/t Ag over 0.51m pon La Cruz Vein. Gavilanes currently has an inferred mineral resource of 2.833M tonnes at an average grade of 246 g/t AgEq (22.4M Oz AgEq). This inferred mineral resource is highlighted by having 18.9M Oz Ag at an average grade of 207 g/t Ag.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., reported positive geophysical and geochemical survey results at its Virginia project, Sonora. Detailed mapping and geochemical sampling following a TITAN MT deep penetrating Geophysical survey conducted in Q2, 2022 identified new targets at El Molino, along the Macho trend. “Geological mapping and rock and chip-channel sampling has outlined new targets at Los Cantiles, El Oriental and the eastern and southern sectors of Macho Libre. The new prospecting area, Los Cantiles, garnered surface chip channel sample results up to 5.7 g/t Au and 148 g/t Ag. Dump samples up to 17.8 g/t Au and 1,001 g/t Ag, and chip-channel samples up to 4.2 g/t Au and 310 g/t Ag, have been located at the El Oriental Target. Hydrothermal silicified breccia with up to 2.36 g/t Au and 71 g/t Ag has been outlined at the Macho Libre Target. At El Molino, several new structures have been outlined, containing breccias with quartz boiling type textures, with initial results up to 1.6 g/t Au and most analytical results pending. At El Molino, ongoing soil sampling reveals continuous gold and silver anomalies, with supportive infill results from north-west to south-east along the trend”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., announced the appointment of its new CFO and Corporate Secretary of the Company effective January 9, 2023 (Zimapan property, Hidalgo).
  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced that its Board of Directors has approved the voluntary delisting of its common shares from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)and the deregistration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) (La Platosa mine, Durango).
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp´s shareholders approved a share consolidation of the outstanding securities of the Company on an up to ten for one basis. The board of directors of the company has now determined to proceed with the consolidation on a five to one basis.  As of today’s date, the company has 215,446,649 common shares issued and outstanding. Following the completion of the consolidation (but before giving effect to the offering), the number of issued and outstanding common shares of the company will be approximately 43,089,330. (Santa Maria property, Chihuahua).
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., completed strategic investment in the acquisition of Palos Verdes project, Sinaloa from Prismo Metals Inc. Vizsla acquired a right of first refusal to purchase the Palos Verdes project from Prismo, and 4M units of Prismo at a price of $0.50 per Prismo unit, for aggregate consideration of $2M. Each Prismo unit consist of one common share of Prismo and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. Each Prismo Warrant entitles Vizsla to purchase one additional Prismo Share for a period of two years from the closing date at a price of $0.75.The consideration for the Strategic Investment consisted of a cash payment of $500K and the issuance to Prismo of 1M common shares of Vizsla. The Consideration Shares are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day, and a voluntary escrow period of 24 months with 25% of the securities released every six months.

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 fault-plane displaying slickensides in a Mn-Fe hydrothermal breccia in a project in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fifth Week of December, 2022.

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Ginguro texture in banded quartz vein-breccia

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 52nd week of the year (December 26th to January 1st, 2022), at least 9 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 1 news published by the media with three disclosing deals and corporate issues, two informing on exploration results, two  reporting resources and developments of their properties, and two announcing financing issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mining in Mexico closed 2022 with more expenses in exploration due to lack of mining concessions. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Tocvan provided an annual summary of the activities carried out in 2022 at its Pilar and Picacho properties. In Chihuahua, Mammoth provided a year-end update on activities developed at its Tenoriba project. Zacatecas Silver provided a summary of the 2022 exploration activities developed at its Zacatecas Silver and Esperanza projects located in Zacatecas and Morelos States respectively. ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, Guanajuato Silver closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $6.8M (El Cubo, San Ignacio, and Valenciana mines, Guanajuato). Regency completed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $2,159,000 (Dios Padre Project, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, MAG Silver reported that final testing of the downstream power distribution and control systems at its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas is now complete. Zacatecas Silver provided a summary of the 2022 exploration activities developed at its Zacatecas Silver and Esperanza projects located in Zacatecas and Morelos States respectively. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Sierra Madre provided an update on its proposed acquisition of the La Guitarra mine in the State of Mexico. Gatos Silver provided a bi-weekly default status report in accordance with National Policy 12-203 – Management Cease Trade Orders (Cerro Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua). Mammoth announced the issuance of 2,206,000 common share stock options to directors, officers, and contract employees, exercisable at a price of $0.05 per common share (Tenoriba project, Chihuahua).   ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Mining in Mexico closed 2022 with more expenses in exploration due to lack of mining concessions. The current administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has not approved new mining concessions, which has led mining companies to invest more in exploration, with a view of finding new deposits in previously granted ground. In 2018, the concessioned area for mining activities in Mexico was of 10.64%, a figure that by the end of this 2022 stands at 8.59%, according to data from the Ministry of Economy.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., provided an annual summary of the activities carried out in 2022 at its Pilar and Picacho properties in Sonora. At Pilar project, the company executed the first core drilling program  which was successful in intersecting broad gold mineralization across the Main Zone with one hole returning 1.2 g/t Au over 116.9m, including 12 g/t Au over 10.2m, an a second hole returning 0.8 g/t Au over 108.9m, including 7.6 g/t Au over 9.4m. “Infill and recognizing drilling at Pilar has confirmed that gold mineralization occurs in at least three parallel zones to the Main Zone across a 600m wide area and so far defined along 600m of strike, the same that based on surface indications and historic workings seems to continue for another 600m towards the southeast”. Column Leach studies from surface material at Pilar returned above regional average recovery for gold, reporting over 85% recovery from initial metallurgical testing. At El Picacho property, surface work outlined key target areas across the large 24 square-km project area. An initial drill program was completed at its San Ramon Prospect, but results are pending to be released. 
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., provided a year-end update on activities developed at its Tenoriba project, Chihuahua. Highlights include the report of the final six drill holes of a 27-hole diamond drill program for a total of 3,244.25m. To date, Mammoth has drill-tested five targets zones within three project areas: El Moreno, Masuparia, and Carneritos, with 55 holes totalling 8,158.25m. “These project areas measure from hundreds of meters to over 1 km in strike length, along a 4km, east-west trend of gold-silver mineralization identified in 3-D modelling incorporating data from over 3,000 soil, chip and channel samples, 26 prior diamond drill holes, geological and structural mapping, and the potential continuity at depth of surface mineralization as indicated by an Induced Polarization/Magnetometer (IP/Mag) geophysical survey”.  The company is currently conducting additional studies on the results of the 27 holes, including metallurgical testing, as well as the assessment by a third party resource modelling expert to recommend drill spacing to estimate a maiden mineral resource at the Tenoriba project. The company is also working on a technical report to communicate findings, conclusions, and recommendation for future work. 

ON MINING

  • No relevant news.

ON FINANCING

  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., issued a total of 15,952,196 units at a price of CAD $0.425 per unit to close the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $6.8M. Net proceeds will be used to ramp up production at the Company’s existing mines in and about Guanajuato, Mexico including El Cubo, San Ignacio and Valenciana, expand and modernize the processing facilities at the Topia mine in Durango, Mexico, increase brownfields’ exploration programs, and fund general and administrative expenses. The closing of a second tranche of the Offering is expected to occur on or about January 12, 2023.
  • Regency Silver Corp., completed a non-brokered private placement of 10,795,000 common shares at a price of CAD $0.20 per share for gross proceeds of CAD $2,159,000. The company paid a finder´s fee of CAD $16K in cash in connection with part of the closing of the private placement.  Net proceeds will be used for work programs on the properties of Regency Silver including drilling and geophysics in early January 2023 on our flagship Dios Padre property, for property payments on other properties of the Company and for general working capital.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • MAG Silver Corp., received confirmation from Fresnillo plc that final testing of the downstream power distribution and control systems at its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas is now complete. The entire system has now been energized and Juanicipio has been connected to the national power grid.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., provided a summary of the 2022 exploration activities developed at its Zacatecas Silver project in Zacatecas State, and Esperanza project in Morelos State. At Zacatecas project, the company filed a NI 43-101 technical report to support its initial Mineral Resource Estimate on the Panuco Vein located within the Zacatecas Silver project. After filing the technical report, the company reported multiple high grade silver intercepts from drilling in an area north of the resource, named Panuco North and in an area of the property named El Cristo, which is an extension of the prolific Veta Grande Silver Vein on the Zacatecas Silver Property. At Esperanza project, the company completed an initial Mineral Resource Estimate outlining a high grade oxide gold deposit with significant exploration potential, and reported that a Pre-Feasibility Study is underway to support high margin, high grade, low capex, and low cost production. In addition, the company announced that multiple community programs continue to function and grow, including projects relating to health, education, and environment.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver ltd., entered an arm´s length definitive agreement with First Majestic on May 25, 2022 to acquire a 100% interest in the 39,714-hectare La Guitarra mine in the State of Mexico and provided an update on its proposed acquisition. Earlier this month, shareholders voted in favour of a resolution to approve the proposed acquisition of all the issued and outstanding shares of La Guitarra Compañia Minera S.A. de C.V from Corporacion First Majestic, S.A. de C.V., in exchange for 69,063,076 common shares of the company at a deemed price of CAD $0.65 per Consideration Share, having an aggregate value of CAD $44,890,999 (USD $35M). The ordinary resolution with respect to the transaction was approved by 99.99% of the votes cast by shareholders. The transaction has been conditionally accepted by the TSX Venture Exchange.
  • Gatos Silver Inc., provided a bi-weekly default status report in accordance with National Policy 12-203 – Management Cease Trade Orders (MCTO). Pursuant to National Policy 12-203, the company must file bi-weekly status reports in the form of further news releases during the period from the Notice until the MCTO is revoked. “The company reports that since the Notice: (i) there have been no material changes regarding the information contained in the Notice that have not been disclosed in a bi-weekly default status report or in a news release referenced therein; (ii) there have been no failures by the company in fulfilling its stated intentions with respect to satisfying the provisions of the alternative information guidelines under NP 12-203; and (iii) there has not been any specified default subsequent to the defaults announced in the Notice and the news releases dated May 13, 2022, August 5, 2022 and November 11, 2022”.  (Cerro Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua).
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., announced the issuance of 2,206,000 common share stock options to directors, officers, and contract employees, exercisable at a price of $0.05 per common share (Tenoriba project, Chihuahua).

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, ginguro texture in a banded quartz vein-breccia from an intermediate sulphidation epithermal system in a project in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of December, 2022.

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Panning gold in a cow´s horn

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 50th week of the year (December 12th to December 18th, 2022), at least 20 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico with six informing on exploration results, five  reporting resources and developments of their properties, five announcing financing issues, two commenting on Mexican issues, and two disclosing deals and corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Trafigura announced that along with eFactor Network and a number of financing institutions are piloting a Sustainable Supply Chain Finance Program for mining companies in Mexico.  GR Silver, Vizsla, Mammoth, GoGold, and Almadex   reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the third week of December, 2022. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec released final results from its 2021-2022 drilling program at its Cervantes project, and Minaurum provided an update on its optioned Adelita project. In Chihuahua, Mammoth presented results from six holes from its 27 holes diamond drilling program at its Tenoriba project, and Southern Empire has initiated the field exploration program work on its recently optioned Centauro property.  In Coahuila, Monumental completed reconnaissance exploration program and defined drill targets at its Jemi Rare Earth Element project.  In Jalisco, Almadex released results from the second hole drilled in 2022 at its San Pedro project. Minaurum provided and update on its optioned Taviche mining property.  ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, Guanajuato Silver announced a non-brokered listed issuer financing exemption private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $7.5M, subject to a minimum offering for gross proceeds of CAD $3M (El Cubo, San Ignacio, and Valenciana mines, Guanajuato).  Prismo Metals closed its previously announced brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $3,016,000 (Palos Verdes project, Sinaloa). Tarachi announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $500K (Magistral Mill and tailings project, Durango). Fortuna announced that it has amendment its existing senior secured revolving credit facility to increase the maximum facility amount by USD $50M to USD $250M (San Jose Mine, Oaxaca). Regency Silver announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $2M (Dios Padre Project, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GoGold presented results of nine holes from its ongoing drilling program at its Los Ricos North project, Jalisco. GR Silver announced additional results from its 2022 underground infill drilling program at its Plomosas mine area in Sinaloa. Vizsla Silver Corp., released results from nineteen new drill holes targeting the Tajitos-Copala resource area at its Panuco project, Sinaloa. Tocvan announced plan to collect a bulk sample from its El Pilar project in Sonora. Silver Dollar reported progress on its new underexplored Noria target at its La Joya project, Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Osisko Development strengthened its Board of Directors with the appointment of a new Non-Executive Director, effective December 14, 2022 (San Antonio Gold project, Sonora).  Sierra Metals completed voluntary delisting from the Lima Stock Exchange (Cusi and Bolivar mines, Chihuahua). Southern Empire entered into an option agreement to acquire 100% interest in the Centauro property in Chihuahua.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Trafigura Pte Ltd., announced that along with eFactor Network and a number of financial institutions are piloting a Sustainable Supply Chain Finance Program for mining companies in Mexico.  The Program, the first of its type and providing a model that can be scaled across the region, is structured to improve mining companies’ working capital whilst driving responsible sourcing practices along the metals value chain.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., Vizsla Silver Corp., Mammoth Resources Corp., GoGold Resources Inc., and Almadex Minerals Ltd., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the third week of December, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp., released final results from its 2021-2022 drilling program at its Cervantes project. The 2022-2022 drilling program consisted of 27 RC totaling 5,249m, and 11 oriented core totaling 2,558.5m for a total combined amount drilled of 7,837.5m in 37 drill holes on the California Zone, California Norte, Jasper, and Purisima Este targets. It was successful in intercepting strong mineralization, as well as in expanding the targets.  “The multi-element ICP values support the exploration model of the California zone being at the highest portion of a porphyry system, where an overlying high sulfidation zone has been eroded away”. Results of this drilling program are currently being analyzed in order to refine future targeting.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., provided an updated on its Adelita project in Sonora, which is under an option agreement with Infinitum Copper Corp. Infinitum has identified five main target areas of which Cerro Grande is being drilled and plans to drill Las Trancas target soon. Significant mineralization has been intersected at Cerro Grande target in hole AD-22-0018 with 1.91% Cu, 2 g/t Au, and 41 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 20.6m; and hole AD-22-0019 with 1.01% Cu, 0.52 g/t Au, and 40 g/t Ag over a TW of 32.25m, including 1.68% Cu, 0.83 g/t Au, and 59 g/t Ag over a TW of 17.05m. Cerro Grand Target is a mineralized zone of up to 36m thick, over 250m deep and has a strike 200m.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., presented results from six holes for a total of 620.7m from its 27 holes diamond drilling program at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. Highlights of the drilling include hole TEN21-22 collared on Carneritos Zone with 0.98 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag (1.12 g/t AuEq) over 3m, and 0.57 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag (0.68 g/t AuEq) over 10.5m; and hole TEN21 -24 with 1.14 g/t Au and 75 g/t Ag (1.13 g/t AuEq) over 39m, including 5.28 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag (5.45 g/t AuEq) over 3m, including 1.45 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag (1.60 g/t AuEq) over 9m, plus 0.46 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag (0.48 g/t AuEq) over 42m, including 1.21 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag (1.28 g/t AuEq) over 12m.  These six holes bring the total meters drilled in the recent phase to 3,244.25m in twenty seven holes.
  • Southern Empire Resources Corp., has initiated the field exploration program work on its recently optioned Centauro property. The company contracted PhotoSat Information Ltd  to provide maps of alteration mineral suites typically associated with epithermal precious metal deposits, using their proprietary processing methods for16 band WorldView-3 and high-resolution ASTER satellite optical spectral data. Results of the PhotoSat studies show significant trends highlighting argillic, sericite, and chlorite alteration. Southern also collected 396 soil samples  at 50m spacing along E-W lines, spaced 100-200m apart to cover a zone of prospective alteration and mineralization over 4km strike length. Assays are pending.
  • Monumental Minerals Corp., completed reconnaissance exploration program, which consisted of detailed geological mapping, regional stream sediment sampling, ground radiometric geophysical surveys, and lithogeochemical sampling to delineate discreet drill targets at its Jemi Rare Earth Element project. To date, 37 whole-rock analytic results from rocks collected at the Jemi project of which 11 have returned values greater than 0.15% total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO), including six samples that returned values greater than 0.23% TREO and up to 0.43% TREO. Results for 269 samples are still pending to arrive. Heavy rare earth oxide (HREO) values (include dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb)), ranged between 1614 ppm and 39 ppm in peralkaline pegmatites, averaging 447 ppm. Six samples exceeded 680 ppm, including three that exceeded 830 ppm. Light rare earth oxides (LREO) values including neodymium (Nd) and praseodymium (Pr), returned values up to 0.26% and 0.23%, with values in trend with HREO concentrations suggesting similar REE-hosting phases in the peralkaline rock samples. “Geological mapping has confirmed that samples with the highest TREO and HREO values are from pegmatitic bodies. Three-dimensional airborne magnetics modeling show that surface pegmatite bodies are spatially associated with a numerous larger magnetic anomalies at depth that may represent potential source intrusions. Specific drill locations will target these pegmatites”.
  • Almadex Minerals Ltd., released results from the second hole drilled in 2022 at its San Pedro project in Jalisco.  Hole SP-22-004 intersected 846 /t Au over 1.3m. The current drilling program intends to better understand the orientation and distribution of the breccia zone so that further, more focused drilling can eventually be carried out.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., provided an updated on its Taviche project in Oaxaca, which is under an option agreement with Fortuna Silver Corp. Fortuna is currently focused on the re-negotiation of surface rights to be followed by drill permits. “Review of historic data and field mapping over the last year identified the possible continuation of the Mezcal Fault for 3km to the northwest.  Drill targeting is in progress along the Mezcal Fault to test for both Mezcal-style gold mineralization and silver bonanza style mineralization associated with jasperoid-related mantos”.  Another goal is to develop additional concepts to test the potential at depth at the Cerro La  Mina Zone where a drill hole encountered 235 g/t Ag and 0.19 g/t Au over 46.3m.

ON MINING

  • No relevant news.

ON FINANCING

  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., announced a non-brokered listed issuer financing exemption private placement of up to 17,647,059 units at CAD $0.425 for gross proceeds of CADS $7.5M, subject to a minimum offering of 7,058,824 units for gross proceeds of CAD $3M. Gross proceeds will be used to ramp up production at El Cubo, San Ignacio, and Valenciana mines in Guanajuato; expand and modernize the processing facilities at the Topia mine in Durango; increase brownfield exploration programs across all company´s projects; and fund general working capital expenses and strengthen Guanajuato Silver’s balance sheet.
  • Prismo Metals Inc., closed its previously announced brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $3,016,000. The gross proceeds will be used to continue drilling at its Palos Verdes project in Sinaloa, and to continue the mapping and sampling at its Pavitos project in Sonora, as well as to conduct an initial diamond drilling program.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement of up to 10M units at a price of CAD $0.05 per unit for gross proceeds of up to CAD $500K. The gross proceeds will be used for exploration, working capital purposes, and for the ongoing development of the Company’s Magistral project in Mexico including, but not limited to, metallurgical test work, final design and permitting.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., announced that it has amendment its existing senior secured revolving credit facility to increase the maximum facility amount by USD $50M to USD $250M (San Jose Mine, Oaxaca).
  • Regency Silver Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement of 10M common shares at a price of CAD $0.20 per share for gross proceeds of CAD $2M. Net proceeds will be used for work programs including drilling and geophysics in its flagship Dios Padre project, Sonora, as well as for general working capital.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented results of nine holes from its ongoing drilling program collared at El Favor East deposit within its Los Ricos North project, Jalisco. Highlights of the drilling include hole LRGF-22-140 with 1.39 g/t Au and 139 g/t Ag (3.24 g/t AuEq or 243 g/t AgEq) over 2.5m, plus 0.48 g/t Au and 257 g/t Ag (3.92 g/t AuEq or 294 g/t AgEq) over 13.9m, including 1.84 g/t Au and 960 g/t Ag (14.65 g/t AuEq or 1,099 g/t AgEq) over 3.2m, including 2.96 g/t Au and 2,307 g/t Ag (33.72 g/t AuEq or 2,529 g/t AgEq) over 0.7m; and hole LRGF-22-137 with 0.29 g/t Au and 143 g/t Ag (2.2 g/t AuEq or 165 g/t AgEq) over 61.5m, including 0.66 g/t Au and 300 g/t Ag (4.66 g/t AuEq or 350 g/t AgEq) over 24.3m, including 1.71 g/t Au and 881 g/t Ag (13.46 g/t AuEq or 1,009 g/t AuEq) over 0.7m.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., announced additional results from its 2022 underground infill drilling program at its Plomosas Mine Area in Sinaloa. Highlights of the drilling include hole PLIP22-28 with 55 g/t Ag, 8.66 g/t Au, 2.7% Pb, 6.6% Zn, and 0.5% Cu (1,242 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 6.9m; hole PLI17-26 with 3 g/t Ag, 2.64 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (257 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 10.7m; hole PLI22-42 with 43 g/t Ag, 1.96 g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, 2.1% Zn, and 0.3% Cu (369 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 20.9m, including 61 g/t Ag, 4.52 g/t Au, 2.9% Pb, 5.5% Zn, and 0.3% Cu (802 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 7.5m, plus 28 g/t Ag, 3.6 g/t Au, 0.6% Pb, 2.3% Zn, and 0.2% Cu (489 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 10.6m, including 46 g/t Ag, 11.5 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, 3.7% Zn, and 0.4% Cu (1,263 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2m, plus 87 g/t Ag, 7.13 g/t Au, 4.4% Pb, 8.3% Zn, and 0.2% Cu (1,184 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.8m, plus 42 g/t Ag, 3.90 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, 1.2% Zn, and 0.2% Cu (479 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.7m, plus 28 g/t Ag, 6.05 g/t Au, 0.7% Pb, 1.9% Zn, and 0.1% Cu (695 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.5m; hole PLI22-47 with 281 g/t Ag, 2.15 g/t Au, 8.9% Pb, and 6% Zn (970 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.4m; and hole PLI22-46 with 44 g/t Ag, 1.9 g/t Au, 11.2% Pb, 10% Zn, and 0.1% Cu (940 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4.9m, including 64 g/t Ag, 4.02 g/t Au, 19.5% Pb, 17% Zn, and 0.1% Cu (1,659 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.9m. “The infill drilling program at the Plomosas Mine Area continues to provide information for the Company to enhance the geological model and confirm the presence of high-grade structures on the hanging wall and footwall of the main mineralized breccia. Gold mineralized zones exceeding 20 m down hole width have been drilled in the current program in both the hanging wall and footwall”.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., released results from nineteen new drill holes targeting the Tajitos-Copala resource area at its Panuco project, Sinaloa. Highlights of the drilling include hole CS-22-205 with 2,101 g/t Ag and 9.54 g/t Au (2,640 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 5.30m, including 3,080 g/t Ag and 23.60 g/t Au (4,563 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.58m, plus 85 g/t Ag and 0.24 g/t Au (96 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.16m; hole CS-22-210 with 425 g/t Ag and 2.31 g/t Au (561 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 15.50m, including 2,710 g/t Ag and 22.30 g/t Au (4,125 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.41m, including 1,285 g/t Ag and 7.24 g/t Au (1,716 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.54m, including 1,800 g/t Ag and 9.69 g/t Au (2,371 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.41m, including 1,630 g/t Ag and 7.34 g/t Au (2,044 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.01m; hole CS-22-216 with 626 g/t Ag and 4.48 g/t Au (905 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 8.09m, including 1,250 g/t Ag and 14 g/t Au (2,170 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.81m, including 2,230 g/t Ag and 18.1 g/t Au (3,376 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.57m, including 1,170 g/t Ag and 7.54 g/t Au (1,631 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.75m; hole CS-22-201 with 237 g/t Ag and 1.74 g/t Au (346 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.18m, including 427 g/t Ag and 3.22 g/t Au (629 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.11m, plus 2,536 g/t Ag and 13.65 g/t Au (3,340 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.86m, including 7,740 g/t Ag and 57.6 g/t Au (11,343 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.19m, including 6,220 g/t Ag and 27.20 g/t Au (7,742 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.43m; and hole CS-22-217 with 1,496 g/t Ag and 6.56 g/t Au (1,862 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.71m, including 1,295 g/t Ag and 4.59 g/t Au (1,535 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.64m, including 13,118 g/t Ag and 63.7 g/t Au (16,783 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.20m. “The infill results support grade continuity in the south-central portion of Copala structure, while resource expansion drilling to the north and southeast continue to highlight mineralization remains open”.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., entered into an agreement with a neighboring private mining company for the completion of its first bulk sampling for processing by heap-leach method from its El Pilar project in Sonora. The plan is to process up to 1,000 tonnes of material at a private mining operation less than 25km to the west of Pilar with the aim of providing a more detail account of expected head-grade and recovery percentage of gold. Processing and analysis of this bulk sample is expected to span three to four months. Other goals to accomplish are to continue drilling, update reporting and maiden resource estimate, and permitting for full-scale on-site mine facilities and processing.  
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., reported progress on its new underexplored Noria target at its La Joya project, Durango. The company recently completed a ground magnetic survey on the Coloradito area within the Noria portion of the property, which consisted of 14 lines spaced 50-100m and ranging over 1.3km in length for a total of approximately 19.8km of magnetic data.   The geophysics contractor identified 3 relatively well-contrasted and thin magnetic beds striking N150°/N330°, which may underscore, sulphide and ferromagnesian horizons hosted along shear zones.  In addition, a total of 125 rock samples have been collected and submitted to the lab of which 79 samples have been received to date. In one of the targets sample assays returned values up to 291 g/t Ag, 0.8 g/t Au, and 1.2% Zn, while in another one 7 samples returned elevated Zn and Pb, ranging from 0.3-1% and 1.4-6.2% respectively. Further follow-up work is being conducted in the areas where both geophysical and geochemical anomalies have been identified to develop new drill targets.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Osisko Development Corporation strengthened its Board of Directors with the appointment of a new Non-Executive Director, effective December 14, 2022 (San Antonio Gold project, Sonora).  
  • Sierra Metals Inc., completed voluntary delisting from the Lima Stock Exchange, effective December 15, 2022. Sierra Metals’ common shares will continue to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (Cusi and Bolivar mines, Chihuahua).
  • Southern Empire Resources Corp., entered into an option agreement to acquire 100% interest in the Centauro property in Chihuahua. Southern can earn 100% interest by making cash payments totalling USD $750K, issuing 1.5M common shares of Southern Empire and completing work commitment of USD $800K over a five years period. The option agreement include a 3% Net Smelter Return (NSR) and Southern Empire has the right to buy 2% of the NSR for USD $2M.

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, panning gold in a cow´s horn in a low sulphidation epithermal vein system project in Zacatecas, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of August, 2022.

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Quartz vein displaying boiling texture.

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 34th week of the year (August 22nd to August 28th, 2022), at least 16 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 7 news published by the media with seven commenting on Mexican issues, four communicating production and financial results, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, three reporting resources and developments of their properties, three announcing financial issues, and two informing on exploration results. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Colibri and Oroco reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of August, 2022. The government of Mexico announced, through a decree in the Official Gazette of the Federation, the creation of the state company Litio para Mexico (LitioMx). According to the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), a total of 822 mining projects remain on hold and represent an amount of USD $959M.   Jaime Gutierrez Núñez, president of CAMIMEX stated that small-scale coal mining is like “the blood diamonds” of Africa. Mexico’s mining industry plans to invest USD $5.5B in 2022, 15.2% more than in 2021. Mining in Mexico grew by 7.1% in 2021 despite friction with the government. The governor of Durango, José Rosas Aispuro, considered unfair that the mining-metallurgical sector is one of the economic sectors with the highest tax burden in the country. In Mexico there are more than 1,209 mining projects that have been developed in 26 states of the Republic.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Colibri reported results from the second half of its Phase 1 drill program completed on its Evelyn project, and Tocvan announced latest drill results from its Pilar project.  ON MINING, Guanajuato Silver, Discovery Silver, Minera Alamos, and Orogen reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING, Canasil announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $550K (Nora project, Durango). Minera Alamos arranged a USD $3M working capital facility and announced a closed a USD $4.35M equity raise (Cerro de Oro project, Zacatecas). Eric Sprott announced holdings in Orex Minerals Inc. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Discovery Silver reported Q2, 2022 results from its flagship Cordero project, Chihuahua.  Minera Alamos provided an update on its Cerro de Oro project, Zacatecas. Oroco successfully tested the western side of the North Zone at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Monumental announced that its common shares are now trading on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol MNMRF (Jemi project, Coahuila). Argonaut announced the appointment of its Vice President, Canadian Operations (La Colorada mine, Sonora).  Aztec purchased 35% interest in the Cervantes property in Sonora from Kootenay. Colibri announced reinstatement of trading on the TSX Venture Exchange and the appointment of its CFO.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Colibri Resource Corporation and Oroco Resource Corp., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of August, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:
·        The government of Mexico announced, through a decree in the Official Gazette of the Federation, the creation of the state company Litio para Mexico (LitioMx). The Government of Mexico created LitioMx as a decentralized public organism of the Federal Public Administration and coordinated by the Ministry of Energy, with its own legal personality and assets and with technical, operational and management autonomy. The objective of LitioMx will be the exploration, exploitation, benefit and use of lithium, located in national territory, as well as the administration and control of the economic value chains of such mineral.
·        According to the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), a total of 822 mining projects remain on hold and represent an amount of USD $959M, which are still waiting for better conditions to be able to reactivate. Jaime Núñez, president of CAMIMEX stated that is essential to encourage exploration since unfortunately in the last seven years we have seen a decrease in investments in exploration, leaving several projects on standby.
·        Jaime Gutierrez Núñez, president of CAMIMEX stated that small-scale coal mining is like “the blood diamonds” of Africa, and that the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) should certify where the mineral it buys comes from and its conditions.
·        Mexico’s mining industry plans to invest USD $5.5B in 2022, 15.2% more than in 2021, but according to the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), it will remain below the record figure of USD $8.04B seen in 2012 amid difficult conditions. Growing security problems, a high tax burden and the government’s decision to stop granting concessions for projects have prevented investments in the sector from increasing faster, said CAMIMEX head Jaime Gutiérrez.
·        Mining in Mexico grew by 7.1% in 2021 despite friction with the government. According to CAMIMEX’s annual report, this increase positioned it as the only productive activity that recovered and even exceeded the fall of 2020, when the covid-19 pandemic initially stopped its operations because the government did not consider it “essential activity”. Even without tax incentives, the mining sector presented an increase in its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) going from 2.3% in 2020 to 2.5% in 2021, and an annual advance in the proportion of industrial GDP from 8.3% to 8.6% in the same period.
·        The Governor of Durango, José Rosas Aispuro, considered unfair that the mining-metallurgical sector is one of the economic sectors with the highest tax burden in the country, even though it is an enabler that prevents the migration of people in the communities where it develops its production processes, for job creation and social benefits. Mining Entrepreneurs stated that mining generates jobs and is one of the industries that pays the most taxes, since in 7 years it has contributed more than MXP $240,000M (approximately USD $12B) in taxes and other rights.
·        In Mexico there are more than 1,209 mining projects that have been developed in 26 states of the Republic, in which 406,179 jobs have been generated and a production value that already exceeds MXP $334,782M (approximately USD $16.7B). Among the main minerals extracted from these deposits are gold, copper, silver, zinc, iron, molybdenum, lead, fluorite, among others. For its exploration and exploitation, in 2021 alone, investments have been made for more than USD $4,810M and more than USD $5,538M are expected by the end of 2022. Of the 1,209 mining projects that exist in Mexico, 286 are in Sonora, Chihuahua has 160 and Durango has 128, which positions them as the entities with the greatest economic benefit thanks to mining concessions. Of the total number of projects, 749 correspond to precious metals; 180 to polymetallic minerals, 167 to copper, 71 to iron ore and the remaining 42 to other metals and minerals. According to the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), there are currently a total of 263 projects in the exploration stage, 76 in production, 39 in the development stage, while 822 projects are being postponed and 9 operations are reported as closed. However, the agency assures that, since the start of the current administration, the federal government has stopped granting permits or concessions for the exploration and development of new projects, since so far more than USD $959.7M dollars have not been invested. .
ON EXPLORATION
·        Colibri Resource Corporation reported results from the second half of its Phase 1 drill program completed on its Evelyn project, Sonora, and included 3,101m of RC drilling completed in 22 holes. In total, Phase 1 consisted of 6,223m of RC drilling in 42 holes.  Highlights include hole EVE22-042 with 0.17 g/t Au over 86m, including 0.32 g/t Au over 22m; hole EVE 22-043 with 0.92 g/t Au over 3m; hole EVE22-046 with 1.94 g/t Au over 2m, including 3.36 g/t Au over 1m; hole EVE22-044 with 0.63 g/t Au over 6m; hole EVE22-036 with 1.3 g/t Au over 1m; hole EVE22-033 with 1.92 g/t Au over 1m; hole EVE22-030 with 0.13 g/t Au over 87m, including 0.34 g/t Au over 8m; hole EVE22-029 with 1.39 g/t Au over 5m; and hole EVE22-028 with 0.13 g/t Au over 19m. In addition to drilling, Colibri is completing the geological mapping as well as conducting soil sampling to infill the historical property wide soil surveys.
·        Tocvan Ventures Corp., informed that seven holes were completed at its Pilar project in Sonora, totalling 1,382m and released results from the three first drill holes where the most significant drill intercepts was encountered in hole JES-22-67 with 0.4 g/t Au over 30.5m, including 7.6 g/t Au over 1.5m. Results are pending for the remaining four holes.
ON MINING
·        Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from their El Cubo and Pinguico mines in Guanajuato (all amounts in American dollars). The company milled 94,212 tonnes to produce 155, 912 Oz Ag and 2,161 Oz Au (or 337,760 Oz AgEq) wit metallurgical recoveries of 80.91% and 82.52% respectively, at cash and all included sustaining cost (AISC) of $16.98 and $24-06 per Oz AgEq respectively. Guanajuato Silver reported revenue of $6.13M; cost of sales of $7.8M; mine operating loss of ($1.66M); net loss of ($3.5M); EBIDTA of ($1.1M); and working capital of ($2.04M). The company sold 159,840 Oz Ag, and 2,195 Oz Au (or 342, 987 Oz AgEq) at realized prices of $22.56 and $1,873 per Oz respectively.
·        Discovery Silver Corp., reported Q2, 2022 financial results (all amounts in Canadian dollars). The company reported cash and cash equivalents of $63.6M; total assets of  $101.8M; total current liabilities of $2.54M; working capital of $62.5M; and total shareholder´s equity of $99.2M.
·        Minera Alamos Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Santana mine in Sonora (all amounts in Canadian dollars). The company reported that monthly mine production rates were approximately 300K tonnes, but with the opening of the Nicho Main Zone during Q2, the company is now in the position to ramp up production levels. Alamos sold 3,128 Oz Au and reported revenues of $7.3M; cost of goods sold of  $3.26M; direct cost of production of $16 per Oz; income from operations of  $2.6M; net income of $2.7M; cash and cash equivalents (including marketable securities) of  $9M; and working capital of $17M.
·        Orogen Royalties Inc., announced Q2, 2022 financial results (all amounts in Canadian dollars). The company reported revenue of $959.8K comprised from the Ermitaño royalty and $17.5K generated from prospect generation activities; project generation cost of $433.5K and recovered $448.9K in expense reimbursement from partners on optioned projects; general and administrative expenses of $875.2K; loss of $754.8K; net loss from operations of $648.6K; cash and cash equivalents from operating activities of $131.3K; cash from operating activities excluding changes in cash-cash working capital of $257.9K ; and working capital of $10.5M including $3.05M in cash and cash equivalents and $5.13M in short term investments and no long-term debt.
ON FINANCING
·        Canasil Resources Inc., announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $550K. Gross proceeds will be used to fund the company´s exploration programs (Nora project, Durango).
·        Minera Alamos Inc., arranged a USD $3M working capital facility and announced a closed a USD $4.35M equity raise of common shares at $0.55/share. The combination of both enhancing the company´s working capital position as development work extends to the advancement of the Cerro de Oro project in Zacatecas.
·        Eric Sprott announced that 18,333,333 common share purchase warrants of Orex Minerals Inc., expired unexercised representing a decrease in holdings of approximately 7.2% of the outstanding common shares on a partially diluted basis since the date of the last early warning report. As a result of the warrants expiry, Mr. Sprott now beneficially owns and controls 36,666,666 shares representing approximately 19.6% of the outstanding shares on a noun-diluted basis.
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
·        Discovery Silver Corp., reported Q2, 2022 results from its flagship Cordero project, Chihuahua. The company reported that initial results from the Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) metallurgical work had recoveries of 90-95% for Ag, Pb, and Zn. It also reported that Phase 2 drilling program intercepted excellent grades below the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) pit including hole C21-564 with 95 g/t Ag, 0.21 g/t Au, 1.9% Pb, and 4.5% Zn (337 g/t AgEq) over 33.9m, and hole C21-560 with 234 g/t Ag, 0.15 g/t Au, 3.8% Pb, and 6.5% Zn (606 g/t AgEq) over 18.1m, as well as hole C22-610 collared outside the current resource with 115 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Ag, 3.7% Pb, and 4.1% Zn (388 g/t AgEq) over 32.6m, including 187 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 6.5% Pb, and 7.2% Zn (660 g/t AgEq) over 17.8m.
·        Minera Alamos Inc., provided an update on its Cerro de Oro project, Zacatecas. The company informed the sign off of the documentation for its Cerro de Oro project surface rights agreement in Zacatecas, allowing the company to move forward with the permitting process for the construction of its second gold operation in Mexico. Minera Alamos also informed that the NI 43-101 compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) is nearly to be completed and is expected to get it done by next month.
·        Oroco Resource Corp., successfully tested the western side of the North Zone at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa by drilling 3,050m. Drilling has confirmed and expanded the 2009 Grade shell model of Cu > 0.30% derived from the historical drilling described in the Company’s 2019 Technical Report. A total of 26 holes (18,136 m of drilling) have now been completed in the North Zone, spanning 1,100m of strike length, with intersections of good grade mineralization returned in all holes for which the Company has received assays. Highlights of the last holes collared at the western side of the North Zone include hole N015 with 0.31% Cu, 0.009% Mo, 0.025 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.36% CuEq) over 292m; hole N016 with 0.32 g/t Cu, 0.006% Mo, 0.032 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.73% CuEq) over 95.4m, plus 0.39% Cu, 0.016%Mo, 0.022 g/t Au, and 4 g/t Ag (0.46% CuEq) over 44.7m, plus 0.26% Cu, 0.010% Mo, 0.014 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.31% CuEq) over 88.7m; hole N017 with 0.31% Cu, 0.011% Mo, 0.02 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.73% CuEq) over 63.8m, plus 0.22% Cu, 0.01% Mo, 0.02 g/t Au, and 1 g/t Ag (0.28% CuEq) over 159.2m; and hole N018 with 0.36% Cu, 0.011% Mo, 0.017 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.42% CuEq) over 21m, plus 0.65% Cu, 0.012% Mo, 0.019 g/t Au, and 3 g/t Ag (0.68% CuEq) over 10m, plus 0.33% Cu, 0.012% Mo, 0.017 g/t Au, and 2 g/t Ag (0.38% CuEq) over 42.3m. The Company will commence a drill program targeted at testing the South Zone in 2022.  
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
·        Monumental Minerals Corp., announced that its common shares are now trading on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol MNMRF (Jemi project, Coahuila).
·        Argonaut Gold Inc., announced the appointment of its Vice President, Canadian Operations, effective August 29, 2022 (La Colorada mine, Sonora).
·        Aztec Minerals Corp., purchased indirectly from Kootenay Silver Inc., 35% interest in the Cervantes property in Sonora by issue 10M common shares at a price of CAD $0.25 per Aztec share for aggregate consideration of CAD $2.5M. Kootenay will retain a 0.5% Net Smelter Returned Royalty. Following the closing of the Transaction, Kootenay owns a total of 10.68M Aztec shares, which represents approximately 11.85% of the issued and outstanding Aztec shares on an undiluted basis.
·        Colibri Resource Corporation announced reinstatement of trading of its common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange. The shares will re-open for trading on the Exchange at the opening of trading on Monday, August 29. The company also announced the appointment of its new CFO (Evelyn project, Sonora).
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, boiling texture in a low-intermediate epithermal vein system in a project in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

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Malachite after chalcopyrite in a hydrothermal breccia.

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 10th week of the year (March 7th to March 13th, 2022), at least 20 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 3 news published by the media, with nine reporting resources and developments of their properties, four informing on exploration results, four communicating production and financial results, three discussing social issues, two announcing financial issues, and one disclosing deals and corporate issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Silver Spruce filed environmental permits to drill at their the Diamante, Mezquite and Jackie projects. In Durango, Canasil provided a review of the results from its 2020-21 drill program on the Candy Vein at its Nora project and Silver Wolf provided a 2021 year in review and 2022 outlook on its Ana Maria property. ON MINING, Endeavour reported consolidated full year 2021 production and financial results from their mining operations in México. First Majestic announced Q4 and full year 2021 production and financial results from their Mexican mine operations. Gatos Silver presented Q4 and 2021 year-end production and financial results from its 70% owned Cerro Los Gatos operation in Chihuahua, and provided a corporate update. Gold Resource provided Q4 and year-end 2021 production and financial results from its Don David Gold mine in Oaxaca.  ON FINANCING, Argonaut sold 9.74M of common shares of Magna Gold for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD $6.82M. Kootenay closed a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $4.78M and a non-brokered portion of the offering for gross proceeds of approximately $1.47M, for total aggregate gross proceeds to the company of $6.25M (Columba project, Chihuahua). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Altaley announced positive Pre-Feasibility Study and updated Mineral Resources and Reserves at its Tahuehueto project, Durango. Capitan Mining released results from its ongoing RC drilling program at its Cruz de Plata project (former referred as Peñoles) in Durango.  Magna Gold released results from the first 22 of 43 drill holes completed at its Margarita project in Chihuahua. Prime Mining reported results from its ongoing drilling program at its Los Reyes project, Sinaloa. Avino announced drill results from the La Potosina area at its Avino project, Durango. Azucar Minerals reported that it will commence to drill test a new large lithocap alteration at its El Cobre project, Veracruz.  Barksdale released results from its phase I, 5,000m drilling program at the Cerro Verde zone on its San Javier project, Sonora. Vizsla reported results from seven new drill holes collared on the Copala and Christiano veins within its Panuco project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Ranchero Gold announced the appointments of two new members to its Board of Directors (Santa Daniela project, Sonora). Fabled announced that it has completed the planning of its phase 2 definition diamond drill program at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fresnillo plc reported the return to face-to-face work in the state, and the opening of its outdoor activities. Grupo Mexico, within the framework of the International Mother Language Day, held activities related to the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages in the communities where it has a presence. Media Luna Mining Company (Torex Gold) ratified for the sixth consecutive year the collaboration agreement with fishing cooperatives in the Balsas River Basin in Guerrero.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., filed environmental permits with the Secretariat of Natural Resources and Environment (SEMARNAT) to drill at their the Diamante, Mezquite and Jackie projects in Sonora. Approvals from SEMARNAT are expected to be obtained by late March, 2022.
  • Canasil Resources Inc., provided a review of the results from its 2020-21 drill program on the Candy Vein at its Nora project. 13 drill holes were completed for a total of 3,296m to test the Candy vein over a strike distance of 500m and to a vertical depth of 250m below surface. All the holes encountered the mineralized vein with the highest true width x grade value on hole NRE-21-11 with 5.31 g/t Au and 336 g/t Ag (748 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 11.29m, giving a TW x grade value of 8,445 g/t AgEq x m. The drill results show that the Candy vein hosts consistently high grade gold and silver mineralization over appreciable widths. The Candy vein is known over 3km long but only 500m have been drill tested. Additionally, Canasil reported that systematic grid soil sampling over a 2km east-west and 3km north-south area covering the central zone of the project returned widespread silver, gold, copper, zinc and lead geochemical anomalies. “The gold and silver anomalies are particularly strong over the 3-Km strike extent of the Candy vein structure on the western side of the project area, as well as to the southwest and east of the Candy vein structure. A strong silver and gold anomaly also extends for 1.5 Km southwest from the location of the above high grade drill intercepts on the Candy vein and a breccia target has been identified to the south with potential for hosting bulk tonnage disseminated silver-gold mineralization”.
  • Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd., provided a 2021 year in review and 2022 outlook on its Ana Maria property in Durango. The accomplished goals on 2021 include the completion of a NI-43-101 compliant technical report on the properties; an Aster satellite imaging survey, an airborne LiDAR and Hyperspectral imaging survey, an Airborne geophysical data survey, the application to expand the land package by 3x, and the completion of the 2021 mapping and sampling program to identify prospective areas and uncover previous historical workings. The company also provided a 2022 outlook that include the completion of the geophysical data interpretation, to define drill targets for the initial drill program, to apply and receive drill permits, to mobilize drilling equipment to execute an initial drill program, and to receive approval from the Mexican authorities on the expanded land application.

ON MINING

  • Endeavour Silver Corp., reported consolidated full year 2021 production and financial results from their mining operations in México. The company mined 887,424 tonnes to produce 4.87M Oz Ag, and 42.3K Oz Au at a cash cost of USD $9.31 per Oz Ag, a total production cost of USD $14.70 per Oz Ag, and all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of USD $20.34 per Oz Ag. Endeavor sold 3.86 M Oz Ag and 39.1K Oz Au and reported revenues of USD $165.3M, adjust net earnings of USD $(-8.6M), mine operating earnings of USD $36.4M, EBIDTA of USD $54.9M, and working capital of USD $121.2M.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., announced Q4 and full year 2021 production and financial results from their Mexican mine operations. The below tables show the figures per separate mine for Q4, and full year 2021.

First Majestic reported consolidated financial results (including Jerritt Canyon mine in USA). It reported revenues of USD $204.9M and USD $584.1M respectively for the periods Q4, and full year 2021; mine operating earnings of USD $40.4M and USD $101.4M respectively; loss earnings of USD $4M and USD $4.9M respectively; operating cash flows before working capital and taxes of USD $71.8M and USD $176.8M respectively; cash and cash equivalents of USD $237.9M in each period; working capital of USD $224.4M in each period; and free cash flow of USD $66.4M and USD ($16.9M) for Q4 and full year 2021 respectively.

  • Gatos Silver Inc., presented Q4 and 2021 year-end production and financial results from its 70% owned Cerro Los Gatos operation in Chihuahua, and provided a corporate update. On Q4, 2021, the company milled 241,397 tonnes of 331 g/t Ag, 0.3 g/t Au, 2.2% Pb, and 3.9% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 90%, 63%, 91% and 73% respectively, to produce 2.3M Oz Ag, 1.3K Oz Au, 10.2M Lb Pb, and 12.9M Lb Zn. Average realized price per Oz Ag, Oz Au, Lb Pb, and Lb Zn were USD $23.08, USD $1,804, USD $1.04, and USD $1.58 respectively. For the full year, Gatos milled 909,886 tonnes of 295 g/t Ag, 0.32 g/t Au, 2.3% Pb, and 3.9% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 88%, 63%, 90% and 73% respectively, to produce 7.6M Oz Ag, 5.2K Oz Au, 39.8M Lb Pb, and 49.6M Lb Zn. Average realized price per Oz Ag, Oz Au, Lb Pb, and Lb Zn were USD $24.51, USD $1,804, USD $0.99, and USD $1.36 respectively. The company reported exploration expenses, operating costs and sales  for the period Q4, 2021 of USD $0.3 , USD $3.8M, and USD &72.9M respectively, while for the full year 2021 of USD $1.7, USD $19.3M, and USD $251.2M respectively. Gatos provided its 2022 guidance and expects to produce between 8.5- 9M Oz Ag, 4-4.5K Oz Au, 36-40M Lb Pb, and 49-54M Lb Zn at AISC of USD $16.5-18.5 per payable silver on Co-product basis and USD $13-15 per payable silver on by-product basis.
  • Gold Resource Corporation provided Q4 and year-end 2021 production and financial results from its Don David Gold mine in Oaxaca. On Q4, 2021 the company milled 135,398 tonnes of 1.93 g/t Au, 82 g/t Ag, 0.38% Cu, 2.2% Pb, and 4.8% Zn to produce 1.8K Oz Au, 287.8K Oz Ag, 907.2K Lb Cu, 4.6M Lb Pb, and 9.33M Lb Zn at average metal prices realized of USD $1,811 per Oz Au, USD $23.51 per Oz Ag, USD $9,768 per tonne of Cu, usd $2,339 per tonne of Pb, and USD $3,446 per tonne of Zn. On the full year 2021, Gatos milled 501,978 tonnes of 2.01 g/t Au, 80 g/t Ag, 0.39% Cu, 1.9% Pb, and 4.4% Zn to produce 22.6K Oz Au, 1.06M Oz Ag, 3.18M Lb Cu, 13-4M Lb Pb, and 30.3M Lb Zn at average metal prices realized of USD $1,796 per Oz Au, USD $25.06 per Oz Ag, USD $9,553 per tonne of Cu, USD $2,268 per tonne of Pb, and USD $3,091 per tonne of Zn. On Q4, 2021, the company reported sales for USD $38.6M, EBIDTA of USD $10.3M, and operating cost of USD $12.9M, while on the full year 2021 it reported USD $125.2M, USD $33.64M, and USD $34.78M respectively.

ON FINANCING

  • Argonaut Gold Inc., sold 9.74M of common shares of Magna Gold at a price of CAD $0.70 per common share for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD $6.82M.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., closed a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $4.78M and a non-brokered portion of the offering for gross proceeds of approximately $1.47M, for total aggregate gross proceeds to the company of $6.25M. Gross proceeds will be used for exploration activities, working capital and other general corporate purposes (Columba project, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Altaley Mining Corporation announced positive Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) and updated Mineral Resources and Reserves at its Tahuehueto project, Durango. Highlights of the PFS include a throughput of 1,000 tonnes per day; a mine life of 10.9 years; a pre-tax net cash flow of USD $240.9M; a total capital cost of USD $56.9M; an all in sustaining cost (AISC) of USD $844 per Oz AuEq; a pre-tax Net Present Value (VNP) of USD $152.8M at 5% discount rate; an EBIDTA of USD $246.1M, and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 45%. The company also updated Mineral Resources and Reserves. It reported Proven+ Probable Reserves of 3.58M tonnes grading 2.55 g/t Au, 50 g/t Ag, 0.26% Cu, 1.1% Pb, and 1.9% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 87%, 85%, 85%, 85% and 68& respectively to contain 294K Oz Au, 5.7M Oz Ag, 20.55M Lb Cu, 87.36M Lb Pb, and 151.6M Lb Zn. Altaley also reported Measured +Indicated Resources of 6.26M tonnes grading 2.11 g/t Au, 47 g/t Ag, 0.27% Cu, 0.9% Pb, and 2% Zn (4.47 g/t AuEq) to contain 415K Oz Au, 9.4M Oz Ag, 36.6M Lb Cu, 123.9M Lb Pb, and 273.3M Lb Zn (900K Oz AuEq); and Indicated Resources of 918K tonnes grading 1.02 g/t Au, 29 g/t Ag, 0.15% Cu, 1.2% Pb, and 2% Zn (3.05 g/t AuEq) to contain 30K Oz Au, 840K Oz Ag, 3M Lb Cu, 23.5M Lb Pb, and 39.7M Lb Zn (90K Oz AuEq).
  • Capitan Mining Inc., released results from its ongoing RC drilling program at its Cruz de Plata project (former referred as Peñoles) in Durango. Hole 21-JMRC03 drilled on Jesus Maria Vein system returned 0.37 g/t Au, 177 g/t Ag, 3.2% Pb, and 3.6% Zn (435 g/t AgEq) over 10.7m, including 0.71 g/t Au, 290 g/t Ag, 6.8% Pb, 6.6% Zn (798 g/t AgEq) over 11.5m, including 0.45 g/t Au, 258 g/t Ag, 4.7% Pb, and 5% Zn (620 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m, including 0.27 g/t Au, 370 g/t Ag, 5.6% Pb, and 8% Zn (860 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m, including 0.55 g/t Au, 122 g/t Ag, 2.6% Pb, and 3% Zn (358 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m, including 0.51 g/t Au, 281 g/t Ag, 5.9% Pb, and 3.8% Zn (641 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m. Assays are still pending for 11 RC holes out of 15 completed.
  • Magna Gold Corp., released results from the first 22 of 43 drill holes completed at its Margarita project in Chihuahua. Drill highlights include hole MAR-21-002 with 139 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb and 0.6% Zn over 46.8m, including 801 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 0.8% Zn over 2.85m; hole MAR-21-004 with 113 g/t Ag, 0.03% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 32.55m, including 300 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 6m; hole MAR-21-005 with 133 g/t Ag, 0.05% Pb and 0.2% Zn over 39.5m, including 540 g/t Ag, 0.01% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 1.85m, and 301 g/t Ag, 0.06% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 5.1m; hole MAR-21-016 with 157 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 1.1% Zn over 29.5m, including 0.31 g/t Au, 821 g/t Ag, 2.4% Pb, and 5.6% Zn over 3.9m; hole MAR-21-020 with 156 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 55.95m, including 498 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 1.6% Zn over 12.8m;and hole MAR-21-022 with 127 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 19.2m, including 0.3 g/t Au, 567 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 1.4% Zn over 3.55m, and 110 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over 16.55m, including 0.18 g/t Au, 440 g/t Ag, 1.6% Pb, and 1.8% Zn over 3m. Magna plans to release a maiden resource toward the end of the Q1, 2022. This resource estimate will lead to the completion of the first ever preliminary economic assessment (PEA) shortly thereafter.
  • Prime Mining Corp., reported results from its ongoing drilling program at Guadalupe East on its Los Reyes project, Sinaloa. Hole 22GE-33 intersected multiple mineralized intervals. This hole intersected 11.60 g/t Au and 219 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 1.20m, then a 3.7m stope, to continue with 3.33 g/t Au and 115 g/t Ag over a TW of 29.29m, including 2.68 g/t Au, and 93 g/t Ag over a TW of 6.10m, and including 6.57 g/t Au and 137 g/t Ag over a TW of 9m, including 30.9 g/t Au and 605 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.20m, and including 3.67 g/t Au and 204 g/t Ag over a TW of 10.40m, including 8.39 g/t Au and 321 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.10m. This hole is located on the west side of the Guadalupe East conceptual open pit. There are currently 15 pending drill holes at Guadalupe East out of a total of 49 completed.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., announced drill results from its 2,400m drilling program conducted in 2021 on the La Potosina area at its Avino project, Durango. Highlights include hole LP-21-06 with 0.09 g/t Au, 270 g/t Ag, 0.25% Cu, 0.9% Pb, and 2.5% Zn (463 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 1.7m, including 0.09 g/t Au, 1,257 g/t Ag, 0.48% Cu, 2.8% Pb, and 4.4% Zn (1,641 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.20m, including 0.08 g/t Au, 510 g/t Ag, 0.6% Cu, 2.2% Pb, and 5% Zn (918 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.35m, including 0.07 g/t Au, 406 g/t Ag, 0.44% Cu, 1.3% Pb, and 4.2% Zn (717 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.45m; and hole LP-21-007 with 0.4 g/t Au, 617 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (668 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.87m. On 2022, Avino plans include an additional 40 holes with 6,000m of drilling to test the continuity of the vein at elevations above 2,100m while looking for favorable dilation structures in the northwest.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd., reported that it will commence to drill test a new large lithocap alteration at its El Cobre project, Veracruz. A mineral mapping study conducted on this area defined a strong alteration signature interpreted to reflect the surface zoning of an underlying porphyry body.
  • Barksdale Resources Corp., released results from its phase I, 5,000m drilling program at the Cerro Verde zone on its San Javier project, Sonora. Drilling highlights include hole SJ21-31 with 0.05% Cu and 1.11 g/t Au over 36m, including 0.03% Cu and 1.71 g/t Au over 15m, and 0.06% Cu and 1.89 g/t Au over 3m, plus 0.54% Cu over 48m, including 1.35% Cu over 6m; and hole SJ21-35 with 0.24% Cu over 6m, plus 0.22% Cu over 12m, plus 0.35% Cu over 15m. Drilling results confirmed and expanded the footprint of the Cerro Verde Zone.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., announced that it has completed the planning of its phase 2 definition diamond drill program at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua as well as a plan to drill test other structures in the property. This second phase will consist of a minimum of 5,000m for definition drilling, and drill test possible structural dilation zones on the Northeast and secondary mineralized structures, identified after performing a property wide mapping & sampling as well as an structural interpretation. “Once the field work and observations have been completed the phase 2 exploration first priority drill targets will be defined in the coming weeks”.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., reported results from seven new drill holes collared on the Copala and Christiano veins within its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Drill highlights include hole CS-21-116 with 97 g/t Ag and 0.55 g/t Au (141 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 2.4m, and 1,559 g/t Ag and 7.29  g/t Au (2,142 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 7.81m, including 2,728 g/t Ag and 13.10 g/t Au (3,775 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.60m, and 1,531 g/t Ag and 6.94 g/t Au (2,086 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 3.14m; hole CS-21-123 with 248 g/t Ag and 2.03 g/t Au (410 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 14.45m, including 1,237 g/t Ag and 10.53 g/t Au (2,078 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.09m, and including 197 g/t Ag and 1.45 g/t Au (312 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.68m; hole CS-21-115 with 1,900 g/t Ag and 11.09 g/t Au (2,787 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.21m; and hole CS-21-112 with 682 g/t Ag and 5.51 g/t Au (1,122 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.73m, including 973 g/t Ag and 7.97 g/t Au (1,610 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.1m. The Copala Vein has now been tested with 17 holes with mineralization open in all directions.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Ranchero Gold Corp., announced the appointments of two new members to its Board of Directors, and the addition of Ken Balleweg to its Technical Advisory team (Santa Daniela project, Sonora).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Fresnillo plc reported the return to face-to-face work in the state, and the opening of its outdoor activities, taking into account the hygiene and healthy distance measures promoted by the health authorities, as well as the presentation of the vaccination certificate for access the corresponding facilities. For Fresnillo plc, physical activation represents one of the stronger pillars for the people development.
  • Grupo Mexico, within the framework of the International Mother Language Day, held activities related to the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages in the communities where it has a presence.
  • Media Luna Mining Company (Torex Gold) ratified for the sixth consecutive year the collaboration agreement with fishing cooperatives in the Balsas River Basin in Guerrero. F is the second most important economic activity in the mining corridor, so the commitment is to help to consolidate economic activities in the communities.

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, malachite after chalcopyrite in a hydrothermal breccia from an intermediate sulphidation epithermal vein system in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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, 2021

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 45th week of the year (November 8th to November 14th, 2021), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, seven companies posted exploration advances on their properties, five released Q3 reports, two on financing related news and one on marketing services contracting, while five companies posted on project development or resource definition and one more on a project acquisition. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Starcore International is exploring its Tecouitla and Meztli 4 concessions; Colibri Resources started RC drilling at Evelyn; Minaurum Gold informed on drilling at Alamos Silver; Silver Tiger reported high-grade results from drilling at El Tigre; Tocvan Ventures commenced field operations at Pilar. In Durango, Canasil Resources is to resume drilling at Nora.   ON MINING, Gatos Silver, Avino Silver, Pan American Silver, Fortuna Silver and Endeavour Silver (all silver companies) presented their Q3 2021 reports. ON FINANCING, Candelaria Mining contracted the service of two marketing companies. Heliostar Metals closed a financing round for $4 M. Great Panther announced the underwriting of $20 M in shares. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Fabled Silver released results from underground drilling at Santa Maria, Chihuahua. GoGold Resources reported drilling results from Los Ricos North in Jalisco. Pan American Silver disclosed further impressive drilling results from La Colorada Skarn in Zacatecas. Golden Minerals released RC drilling results from Rodeo, Durango. Osisko Development disclosed drilling results from the Sapuchi deposit at San Antonio in Sonora.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Millrock Resources singed an agreement with Mine Discovery Fund on El Batamote property in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Coanzamex, Industrias Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC informed on its support for communities, science and education.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No Relevant News.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. is to start drilling at it “Meztli 4” and “Tecouilta” mining concessions in Sonora. The first stage drilling is to explore five veins that have more than eight months of reconnaissance work and 2,000 surface samples. Starcore holds 14,451 hectares in the area, which includes the Creston molybdenum deposit. The veins range from 0.55 to 1.07 m in width at the surface, with grades of up to 4.19 gpt Au and 250 gpt Ag.
  • Monarca Minerals Inc. released results from reverse circulation drilling at San Jose, in Chihuahua. “Large volumes of skarn and altered intrusive rocks have been intersected in the drilling …….. Mineralization is hosted in both exoskarn and endoskarn and in silicified intrusive rocks, which are locally potassically altered”. Some of the highlighted hole-length intervals comprise 3 m @ 4.07 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.5% Zn; 1.5 m @ 79 gpt Ag, 0.34% cu, 0.4% Pb, 1.5% Zn; 6.1 m @ 0.36 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag, 1% Cu; 3 m @ 3.11 gpt Au, 32 gpt Ag, 0.13 % Cu; 1.5 m @ 0.92 gpt Au, 2 gpt Ag; 4.6 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 0.33% Cu.
  • Colibri Resources Corp. started reverse circulation drilling at its Evelyn project in Sonora. The first 5,000 m phase of drilling will take approximately two months, focusing on targets generated by high-grade surface and trench sample results coincident with magnetic gradients and lineaments and mapped structures.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc. informed on drilling results at its Alamos Silver project in Sonora. “. Drilling at the Alessandra vein recently discovered a blind Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn skarn that is open in all directions while ongoing drilling at Europa-Guadalupe continues to delineate a high-grade mineralized vein system which is now been extended by 40% to at least 800 meters in length. Europa-Guadalupe remains open at depth and along strike”. Highlighted core-length results comprise 1.60 m @ 174 gpt Ag, 1.3% Cu; 1.20 m @ 0.3% Pb, 2.4% Zn; 5.05 m @ 106 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.5% Zn; 2.25 m @ 228 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 0.17% Cu, 0.5% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 1.55 m @ 139 gpt Ag, 0.13% Cu, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 1.65 m @ 240 gpt Ag, 0.4% Cu, 0.5% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 1.10 m @ 1.2% Pb, 7.6% Zn; 0.90 m @ 57 gpt Ag, 0.24 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 3.0% Zn; 3.85 m @ 57 gpt Ag, 0.56 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 2.1% Zn; 11.05 m @ 120 gpt Ag, 0.25 gpt Au, 1.12% Cu, 0.4% Pb, 1.8% Zn; 6.40 m @ 147 gpt Ag, 0.13% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 0.95 m @ 435 gpt Ag, 0.35 gpt Au, 0.43% Cu, 1.4% Pb, 3.6% Zn; 0.70 m @ 513 gpt Ag, 0.26% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 1.50 m @ 1.1 gpt Au; 2.85 m @ 91 gpt Ag, 0.24% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 0.5% Zn; 21.85 m @ 62 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc. reported high-grade results from drilling on the Seitz Kelley vein at El Tigre project in Sonora. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 17.5 m @ 31.53 gpt Au, 139 gpt Ag, 0.11% Cu, 0.9% Pb, 2.2% Zn, including 1.6 m @ 343.12 gpt Au, 238 gpt Ag, 0.1% Cu, 1.6% Pb, 2.6% Zn (which includes 0.5 m @ 1,097.8 gpt Au, 255 gpt Ag), and 7.1 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 277 gpt Ag, 0.24% Cu, 1.8% Pb, 4.7% Zn. “The historical underground workings on the Seitz Kelly vein extended over a strike length of 1,000 meters on 11 working levels. Geological and assay plan maps from the original operations were recovered from the Anaconda Collection archives at the University of Wyoming. A total of 5,301 underground channel samples with gold and silver assays in the Seitz Kelly workings (levels, raises, winzes, crosscuts) were digitized and plotted. Mining on the upper levels of the Seitz Kelly vein was advanced to Section 5500N but only to 5100N on Level 6 and 5000N on Level 7 below the Espuelas Canyon (see Sooy and Seitz Kelly Vein Plan Map) when the mine shut down in 1930. Both drifts were advancing to the north in high grade ore”.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. commenced field operations at Pilar, in Sonora. The company intends to evaluate surface mineralization with trenching and channel sampling, metallurgical studies and additional 5,000 to 8,000 m of drilling.
  • Canasil Resources Inc. is planning to resume core drilling at the Nora project in Durango. The work is set to start on the third week of November, and is to focus on testing below and along strike extensions of the Candy vein high-grade already defined. Ten holes have tested the Candy vein for 500 m of the 3 Km traced strike on the surface, to a depth of 175 below, returning up to 11.29 true-width @ 5.31 gpt Au, 336 gpt Ag.

ON MINING

  • Gatos Silver Inc. reported third quarter 2021 operational and financial results. At Cerro Los Gatos in Chihuahua, 242.9 K tonnes were mined, 234 K tonnes milled at 2,544 tpd, averaging 256 gpt Ag, 0.30 gpt Au, 2.35% Pb, 4.10% Zn, containing 1.7 M Oz Ag, 1.3 K Oz Au, 10.8 M Lb Pb, 13.5 M Lb Zn, having recovered 89% Ag, 63% Au, 91% Pb, 74% Zn. By-product cash cost was $3.58 per AgEq Oz and By-product AISC $19.57 per AgEq Oz.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. presented its consolidated financial results for the third quarter 2021. During the period at the Avino mine in Durango, 58.2 K tonnes were milled to produce 77.9 K Oz Ag, 1,183 Oz Au, 685.5 K Lb Cu, at cash cost $6.75 per AgEq and AISC of $25.60. Currently mining and milling are proceeding at between 1,000 and 1,500 tpd, below the 2,500 tpd plant capacity. As announced before, the La Preciosa property was acquired and plans are being prepared to integrate production into the Avino operations.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. reported unaudited results for the third quarter 2021, including some figures from its Mexican operations. At La Colorada, in Zacatecas, 1.4 M Oz Ag, 700 Oz Au were produced at cash cost $12.65 and AISC $18.48 per Ag Oz. At Dolores, in Chihuahua, 484 K Oz Ag, 39.6 K Oz Au were produced at cash cost $767 and AISC $951 per Au Oz.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. reported third quarter 2021 financial results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At San Jose, in Oaxaca, 250 K tonnes were milled at an average rate of 2,862 tonnes per day (tpd), grading 185 gpt Ag, 1.22 gpt Au, with recoveries of 92% and 91% respectively, to produce 1.43 M Oz Ag, 8,910 Oz Au at cash cost $9.99 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $15.51 per Oz AgEq.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. released its financial results for the Q3 2021. The company operates the Guanaceví mine in Durango and the Bolañitos mine in Guanajuato, having suspended recently operations at the El Compas mine in Zacatecas. During the period 1.3 M Oz Ag, 10,541 Oz Au were produced at $8.16 per Oz Ag and AISC of $17.46 per Oz AgEq, net of gold credits.

ON FINANCING

  • Candelaria Mining Corp. has contracted the services of two marketing companies, Adelaide Capital Markets Inc. and Investor News Network (Caballo Blanco, Veracruz).
  • Heliostar Metals Ltd. closed the second and final tranche of its non-brokered private placement offering for gross proceeds of $2.713.6 K, which combined with the first tranche amount to aggregate gross proceeds of $4 M (Cumaro, Sonora).
  • Great Panther Mining Ltd. announced an agreement under which the underwriters are to buy shares of the company for aggregate gross proceeds of $20 M (Guanajuato Mine Complex, Guanajuato and Topia, Durango).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. released results from underground diamond drilling on its Santa Maria property in Chihuahua. The highlighted core-length interval is 16.50 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag, including 3.0 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag, and 1.50 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 50 gpt Ag, and 1.50 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 33 gpt Ag. The interval is in a dike with 1 mm stockwork quartz/oxidized pyrite veining.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. reported results form 11 holes at Mololoa and 19 holes at El Nayar at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Some of the highlighted core-length intervals at Mololoa comprise 8.5 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 50 gpt Ag; 23.5 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 78 gpt Ag; 1.4 m @ 1.87 gpt Au, 798 gpt Ag; 5.0 m @ 0.23 gpt Au, 75 gpt Ag; 19.9 m @ 0.39 gpt Au, 90 gpt Ag; 6.8 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 51 gpt Ag; 9.7 m @ 0.35 gpt Au, 97 gpt Ag, and 8.0 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 70 gpt Ag; 7.1 m @ 0.33 gpt Au, 126 gpt Ag; 3.9 m @ 1.73 gpt Au, 288 gpt Ag; 16.6 m @ 0.50 gpt Au, 116 gpt Ag; 5.6 m @ 0.27 gpt Au, 81 gpt Ag; 5.5 m @ 157 gpt Ag; 1.5 m @ 0.36 gpt Au, 335 gpt Ag; 3.8 m @ 0.87 gpt Au, 161 gpt Ag; 14.1 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 92 gpt Ag; 3.1 m @ 3.20 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag at El Nayar.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. provided results from 39 infill and step-out holes at La Colorada Skarn in Zacatecas. During the current year 36,000 m of infill drilling and 14,000 m of exploration drilling have been completed, and 18,000 m are planned before the year ends and a further 60,000 m in 2022. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 31.9 m @ 48 gpt Ag, 0.13% Cu, 3.5% Pb, 5.2% Zn; 77.1 m @ 119 gpt Ag, 0.26% Cu, 7.7% Pb, 13.6% Zn; 114.6 m @ 133 gpt Ag, 3.6% Pb, 4.8% Zn; 70.3 m @ 82 gpt Ag, 4.2% Pb, 10.0% Zn; 204.5 m @ 48 gpt Ag, 0.19% Cu, 3.2% Pb, 5.3% Zn; 181.7 m @ 60 gpt Ag, 0.13% Cu, 3.8% Pb, 4.3% Zn; 96.3 m @ 19 gpt Ag, 2.4% Pb, 3.1% Zn; 89.0 m @ 65 gpt Ag, 0.19% Cu, 3.3% Pb, 6.6% Zn; 264.1 m @ 60 gpt Ag, 0.23% Cu, 3.4% Pb, 6.8% Zn; 314.1 m @ 35 gpt Ag, 0.17% Cu, 0.17% Cu, 1.6% Pb, 2.8% Zn; 64.5 m @ 69 gpt Ag, 0.15% Cu, 2.1% Pb, 4.7% Zn; 111.0 m @ 41 gpt Ag, 0.22% Cu, 1.3% Pb, 4.3% Zn.
  • Golden Minerals Co. released assays from its reverse circulation and diamond drill programs at Rodeo, in Durango. Highlighted drilled-length intervals comprise 28 m @ 2.0 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag; 34 m @ 2.3 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag; 20 m @ 8.2 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag; 26 m @ 2.4 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag; 24 m @ 3.7 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag. “The 2021 drilling programs conducted at Rodeo consisted of 47 RC holes totaling 3,187m, plus 35 diamond holes totaling 2461m”.
  • Osisko Development Corp. announced drilling results from its exploration and category conversion drill program at its San Antonio project in Sonora. Mineralization at Sapuchi, Golfo de Oro and California is in a hydrothermal breccia 3,000 m long with intense sericite-chlorite alteration in sedimentary rocks, related to an intrusion and interpreted as of iron oxide gold style affinity (IOCG). A total of 27,000 m on 156 holes have been drilled in 2021, of which results for the first 41 holes at Sapuchi were presented on this press release. Core length results comprise 12.50 m @ 2.16 gpt Au; 10.25 m @ 2.37 gpt Au; 17.70 m @ 1.01 gpt Au, 12 gpt Ag; 13.85 m @ 1.50 gpt Au; 9.45 m @ 1.58 gpt Au, 32 gpt Ag; 20.45 m @ 1.08 gpt Au; 22.15 m @ 1.59 gpt Au; 12.65 m @ 2.94 gpt Au; 9.00 m @ 2.24 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag; 39.90 m @ 1.02 gpt Au; 19.30 m @ 1.60 gpt Au; 22.00 m @ 1.30 gpt Au; 21.65 m @ 2.14 gpt Au; 29.20 m @ 1.52 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag; 11.85 m @ 1.80 gpt Au; 9.10 m @ 2.19 gpt Au.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Millrock Resources inc. signed a binding letter agreement (and received a US$50 K payment) with Mine Discovery Fund Pty. Ltd. on its El Batamote property in Sonora. A definitive agreement will be signed once MDF incorporates a subsidiary company in Mexico. To earn a 100% interest in the concessions, cash payments for a total of US$1 M over five years should be made, execute US$6 M in exploration and pay Millrock US$250 K in shares. If the purchase option is exercised, annual advanced minimum royalty payments will have to be made, the first of US$50 K, and then increasing annually until a US$500 K is reached, remaining capped at that level until commercial production is achieved, when a 1% NSR on production enters into effect.  The Batamote property hosts porphyry copper mineralization in the Cananea – La Caridad trend.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Coanzamex informed on its sponsorship of the fire department in Parral, Chihuahua.
  • Industrias Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC informed on their support for basic science and education.
  • Grupo Mexico announced the donation of tree saplings to the Chihuahua government.

On the image below: Porphyritic dike on a porphyry copper project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 43rd week of the year (October 25th to October 31st, 2021), at least 34 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, six companies posted exploration advances on their properties, six released Q3 reports, one on commencement of mining and one other in red tape issues, there were no financing related news, while ten companies posted on project development or resource definition and one more on a project acquisition. ON MEXICO ISSUES, a leftist senator asked for the Mining Fund to be reinstated for the benefit of communities. The head of the Energy Secretariat confirmed plans to create a lithium State company, and the government’s drive to monopolize the electricity market. Mixed market results for Mexican companies in 2021. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Colibri Resources updated on drilling preparations. In Chihuahua, Reyna Silver has drilled the first skarn intervals in the Guigui project, rising the stakes and probing that pursuing geological models can pay off. Radius Gold released good drill results from the California target in the Amalia project. In Durango, Silverton updated on exploration activities at Pluton. In Sinaloa, Brigadier Gold released trench results from El Placer vein system at its Picachos property. In Nayarit, Sierra Madre Gold and Silver released surface sample results.   ON MINING, Fortuna Silver is awaiting a resolution on an application to continue mining at San José, in Oaxaca. Agnico Eagle, Altaley Mining, Guanajuato Silver, Alamos Gold, Coeur Mining, Gold Resource and Fresnillo PLC presented their Q3 2021 reports. Guanajuato Silver shipped its first concentrate from El Cubo mill. ON FINANCING, for the first time in a long period, no relevant news on this matter. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Sonoro Gold plans a 10,000 m RC drilling campaign alongside the development of a 15 K tpd leach mining operation at Cerro Caliche in Sonora. A PEA has been filed. Barksdale Resources released good drilling results from San Javier, in Sonora. SilverCrest Metals continues construction on budget and on schedule at Las Chispas, Sonora. Excellon Resources presented high-grade drilling results from Platosa, in Durango. Silver Dollar is preparing for drilling at La Joya, Durango. Southern Silver Exploration updated the resource estimate at Cerro Las Minitas, Durango. GoGold Resources released drilling results from Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Orex Minerals pointed that Fresnillo PLC, its JV partner at the Coneto project in Durango, released a maiden resource estimation. Mag Silver reported production from development at Juanicipio, Zacatecas by its JV partner Fresnillo PLC.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Avino silver & Gold Mines acquired the La Preciosa project, neighboring its Avino mine in Durango. Advance Gold filed a patent for lithium extraction from clays and fine sands. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fresnillo PLC informed on health campaigns in Zacatecas.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Geovanna Bañuelos, senator by the Partido del Trabajo (PT) asked for the Mining Fund to be reinstated in benefit to communities and municipalities where mining takes place.
  • Rocío Nahle, head of the Energy Secretariat, confirmed plans to create a lithium State company, as part of a wider reform in the electricity industry, same that is seen as containing expropriation streaks. The private sector is overwhelmingly against this reform, that is seen to conduct to higher energy prices and pollution, as well to scare other investments from the country.
  • Mixed results for Mexican Mining companies reflect changes in metal prices. Companies that have seen their stock tumble during 2021 include Fresnillo (-20.7% in Mexico, -18.3% in London). Peñoles (-11.4%) and Frisco (-4.2%) by their exposure to precious metals that have contracted by 5% in the case of gold and 7.4% for silver. Companies that have seen their stock appreciate include Autlán (+23.5%) and Grupo Mexico (+13.5%), the latter due to the 26.7% increase in the copper price.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silverton Metals Corp. updated on the exploration activities at the Pluton project in Durango. The company’s processing and 3-D modelling of geophysical data is showing features not previously identified and defined new target areas. “Magnetometry reprocessing has been completed while ZTEM and gravity modelling are in progress. Permitting is underway for a seismic test line scheduled to be surveyed before year end. The seismic profile is expected to determine the depth to carbonate rocks” which might determine the depth to the favorable carbonate rocks.
  • Brigadier Gold Ltd. released results from additional trenches at El Placer Sur vein system at its 3,954-hectare Picachos project in Sinaloa. The property shows a porphyry Cu-Mo in an intrusive complex and Au-Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn veins. Intrusion hosted bulk tonnage coppers is exposed on the lower elevations, with sericitic breccias bearing Mo-rich stockworks a little bit above and peripheral to these, Au-Cu-Pb-Zn veins occur with propylitic, argillic and sericitic alteration on host rocks. At EL Placer Sur, veins historically mined on narrow widths are showing wider spans in trenches, like 10.65 m @ 2.08 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag, 638 ppm Cu, 2.9% Pb, 3.5% Zn; 5 m @ 3.37 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag.
  • Radius Gold Inc. released high-grade results from drilling by Pan American Silver Corp. of the California target at the Amalia project in Chihuahua. “The California vein breccia system has been mapped for 2.8km” with 3,814 m of drilling limited to 1km. Reported intervals include 6.20 m @ 93 gpt Ag, 0.43 gpt Au; 27.30 m @ 90 gpt Ag, 0.26 gpt Au; 50.40 m @ 50 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au; 3.95 m @ 487 gpt Ag, 2.15 gpt Au; 17.15 m @ 35 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au; 1.75 m @ 578 gpt Ag, 0.27 gpt Au; 11.20 m @ 379 gpt Ag, 1.26 gpt Au; 26.90 m @ 353 gpt Ag, 2.59 gpt Au (including 7.50 m @ 976 gpt Ag, 7.38 gpt Au); 11.15 m @ 99 gpt Ag, 0.64 gpt Au.
  • Reyna Silver Corp. reported initial results for its 13-hole drilling program at Guigui, in Chihuahua. “The program was designed to narrow down the location of the probable source intrusion for the Santa Eulalia District- Mexico’s largest known Carbonate Replacement Deposit (CRD)”. Two holes cut a 200 m thick rhyolitic intrusion, starting at 1,309 m of depth, previously unknown in the district, with extensive high-grade mineralization at its base. The highlighted interval comprises 54.90 m @ 23 gpt Ag, 0.67% Pb, 1.86% Zn, including 15.80 m @ 60 gpt Ag, 2.19% Pb, 5.85% Zn. The epidote skarn present shows textural evidence for multiple stages of formation that point to repeated pulses of mineralization related to a possible multi-phase intrusive center (Note by Editor.- Congratulations to Peter Megaw, who has been relentlessly pursuing this beast for several
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. released results from assaying of 319 reconnaissance surface samples at La Tigra, Nayarit. The samples average 0.48 gpt Au, with 10% of the total returning more than 1 gpt Au and a peak of 18.2 gpt Au.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. updated on preparations for drilling at Evelyn in Sonora. Current work includes geological mapping and sampling, as well as construction of drill access roads and pads. The incoming reverse circulation program of up to 10,000 m will be based on the surface distribution of higher-grade assay results coincident with magnetic gradients and lineaments, as well as mapped structures.

ON MINING

  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. informed the company filed with SEMARNAT (Environmental regulator) an application to extend by ten years the term of the environmental impact authorization (EIA) on its San Jose mine in Oaxaca. SEMARNAT has failed to resolve timely on the application, and Fortuna has obtained a provisional injunction from a federal court that allows the continued operation of the San Jose mine beyond the expiry date of the EIA. The company is seeking “an additional injunction to permit the continued operation of the San Jose Mine until the extension to the EIA is granted”.
  • Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. presented Q3 2021 results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Pinos Altos, in Chihuahua, 444 K tonnes were processed at a rate of 4,826 tonnes per day (tpd), averaging 2.40 gpt Au, to produce 32,402 Oz Au at production cash cost $1,156 per Oz Au and total cash cost of $854 per Oz Au. At Creston Mascota, residual leaching produced 2,988 Oz Au at $593 per Oz Au and total cost of $486 per Oz Au. At La India, in Sonora, 1.23 M tonnes were processed at a rate of 13,402 tpd and a grade of 0.62 gpt Au, to produce 17,124 Oz Au at a production cost of $931 per Oz Au and a total cash cost of $971 pr Oz Au.
  • Altaley Mining Corp. provided preliminary production results for the quarter ending on September 30, 2021. At Campo Morado in Guerrero, 163.7 K tonnes were milled @ 1.2 gpt Au, 129 gpt Ag, 1.1% Pb, 4.5% Zn, recovering 22% Au, 46% Ag, 31% Pb, 74% Zn to produce 11.8 K tonnes of Zn concentrate and 2.7 K tonnes of Pb concentrate.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. announced the first shipment of Au-Ag concentrate from El Cubo mill in Guanajuato. Approximately 75 tonnes of concentrate produced on the recently refurbished processing plant, averaging 200 Oz Ag per tonne and 2 Oz Au per tonne.
  • Alamos Gold Inc. presented its third quarter 2021 production report, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Mulatos, in Sonora, 744.8 K tonnes of ore and 1.675 M tonnes of waste were moved, with 1.58 M tonnes stacked @ 1.08 gpt Au, containing 54,999 Oz Au with a recovery rate of 49% Au to produce 26,700 Oz Au. A further 6.3 M tonnes of waste were moved at La Yaqui Grande pit, as part of pre-stripping. Production was significantly impacted by an above-average rainy season.
  • Coeur Mining Inc. reported third quarter financial results including figures from its operation in Mexico. At Palmarejo in Chihuahua, 517.4 K tonnes were milled @ 1.55 gpt Au, 120 gpt Ag, recovering 93.7% Au, 85.5% Ag to produce 24,254 Oz Au, 1.7 M Oz Ag. La Preciosa deposit in Durango was sold to Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. for a total potential consideration between 58.8 M and $93.4 M plus two royalties.
  • Gold Resource Corp. reported Q3 2021 results. At the Don David mine in Oaxaca, 155.5 K tonnes were milled @ 1.26 gpt Au, 68 gpt Ag, 0.40% Cu, 1.9% Pb, 5.0% Zn, to produce 4,728 Oz Au, 324.6 K Oz Ag, 428 tonnes Cu, 2,157 tonnes Pb, 5,538 tonnes Zn.
  • Fresnillo PLC reported production of 12.7 M Oz Ag in the third quarter of 2021. The company maintains the 2021 guidance between 53.5 M Oz Ag and 59.5 M Oz Ag.

ON FINANCING

  • No Relevant News.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Sonoro Gold Corp. intends to resume drilling at the Cerro Caliche project in Sonora, with a 10,000 m reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign. The drilling is to proceed alongside the proposed development of 15,000 tonnes per day (tpd) heap leach mining operation. The six-month program is to focus in expanding oxide gold mineralization and some potential high-grade targets in a total of 12 zones, with holes averaging 100-110 m in depth.
  • Barksdale Resources Corp. released good drill results from the current 5,000m program at its San Javier project in Sonora. Results from the Cerro Verde zone testing gaps between historically known mineralization intercepted 38.5 m @ 0.38% Cu, 0.38 gpt Au and 51 m @ 0.32% Cu, 0.29 gpt Au in one hole, with a 27 m 1.97 gpt Au interval partially overlapping with these two zones. Another hole intercepted 105 m @ 0.63% Cu, 0.40 gpt Au, including 15 m @ 1.01% Cu; 9 m @ 1.57% Cu, 2.20 gpt Au; with a 18 m @ 1.77 gpt Au, 0.97% Cu interval partially overlapping and an independent 21 m @ 0.55 gpt Au interval. To date 24 diamond drill holes have been completed, of which the first four were drilled partially or completely in PQ size (for metallurgical studies), and the rest as HQ size.  
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. advised project construction continues on schedule and budget at its Las Chispas property in Sonora. Well-advanced or completed areas comprise the plant detailed engineering, process plant construction, electrical powerline (81 Km) construction, bridge construction, confined camp construction, access road construction, underground development, underground infrastructure and stockpile growth, dry stack tailings facility and assay lab construction.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. presented results from underground drilling at Platosa, in Durango. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 7.5 m @ 648 gpt Ag, 2.6% Pb, 1.4% Zn; 2.2 m @ 2,160 gpt Ag, 24.6% Pb, 7.2% Zn; 0.5 m @ 4,451 gpt Ag, 8.8% Pb, 12.2% Zn, 0.2 gpt Au; 3.4 m @ 501 gpt Ag, 5.8% Pb, 4.4% Zn; 0.9 m @ 1,310 gpt Ag, 9.8% Pb, 4.2% Zn, 0.1 gpt Au; 1.4 m @ 585 gpt Ag, 4.5% Pb, 3.0% Zn; 3.4 m @ 766 gpt Ag, 4.7% Pb, 3.5% Zn; 1.5 m @ 445 gpt Ag, 3.9% Pb, 7.4% Zn; 2.7 m @ 523 gpt Ag, 3.5% Pb, 8.5% Zn; 1.9 m @ 748 gpt Ag, 4.0% Pb, 12.8% Zn.
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc. is relogging and resampling select historical drill core, along with targeted surface sampling and mapping to refine drill locations for its incoming drilling program at La Joya, Durango.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. updated its mineral resource estimate on Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Indicated sulfide mineral resources stand at 12.32 M tonnes @ 106 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 1.3 % Pb, 3.3% Zn, 0.16% Cu (347 gpt AgEq) containing 42.1 M Oz Ag, 28 K Oz Au, 358 M Lb Pb, 895 M Lb Zn, 44 M Lb Cu (137.3 M Oz AgEq) and inferred sulfide resources at 19.6 M tonnes @ 117 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 1.2% Pb, 2.3% Zn, 0.23% Cu (314 gpt AgEq), containing 73.6 M Oz Ag, 78 K Oz Au, 500 M Lb Pb, 1,009 M Lb Zn, 98 M Lb Cu (197.7 M Oz AgEq).
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released the results of four drill holes from the El Favor East zone at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core-length results comprise 10.1 m @ 0.14 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag; 27.5 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 40 gpt Ag; 22.0 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 151 gpt Ag (including 1.3 m @ 4.16 gpt Au, 827 gpt Ag); 20.0 m @ 0.37 gpt Au, 122 gpt Ag; 4.8 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 107 gpt Ag; 1.4 m @ 0.40 gpt Au, 29 gpt Ag; 1.3 m @ 0.15 gpt Au, 60 gpt Ag; 12.1 m @ 0.32 gpt Au, 89 gpt Ag (including 1.3 m @ 1.94 gpt Au, 348 gpt Ag). The new drilling extended El Favor East for another 150 m.
  • Orex Minerals Inc. announced that the joint venture company which is 55% Fresnillo and 45% Orex received results from the first mineral resource estimate at the Coneto project in Durango. A total of 38,515 m of drilling in 106 diamond holes were used to calculate 5.32 M tonnes @ 1.67 gpt Au, 112 gpt Ag (3.15 gpt AuEq) containing 286 K Oz Au, 19.1 M Oz Ag (538 K Oz AuEq) in inferred resources.
  • Mag Silver Corp. reported 2021 third quarter production of underground development material from the Juanicipio project (56% Fresnillo PLC/44% Mag Silver). During the period 57.1 K tonnes were processed to produce 667.5 K Oz Ag, 1,107 Oz Au. “Construction of the Juanicipio processing plant continues to make good progress, with the focus now on transitioning from construction to commissioning activities”.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. filed a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) of the Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. The report envisages a Pre-Tax NPV (5%) of US$6.7 M and an IRR of 52.7% with a price of US$1,750 per Oz Au; 7 years of life of mine producing an average of 45.7 K Oz Au for a total of 325 K Oz Au; recoveries of 74% Au and 27% Ag; AISC of US$1,351 per Oz Au; 349 K Oz Au measured and indicated resources at 0.41 gpt Au and 71 K Oz Au of inferred resources at 0.40 gpt Au.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Advance Gold Corp. filed a patent application to extract lithium and potassium from clay and fine sand salars. The company intends to use this environmentally friendly method from its properties in central Mexico. The method uses water and an electrical process to obtain a solution of Li and K that can produce a high-grade concentrate from which Li and K extracted using organic compounds.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. acquired the La Preciosa project in Durango from Coeur Mining Inc. through the purchase of the shares of holding companies. La Preciosa is neighboring to the Avino mine, with operational synergies due to its location. Furthermore, metallurgical testing of ore achieved 80% Au and 60% gold recovery using flotation methods currently used at Avino’s mill facilities. La Preciosa holds 99 Moz Ag, 189 K Oz Au in indicated resources and 21 M Oz Ag, 35 K Oz Au in inferred resources. Avino agreed to pay a cash consideration of $15 M on closing and $5 M a year after closing, and issue 14 M shares (~12% of Avino stock will be owned by Coeur). A contingent cash consideration of $8.75 M will be paid within one year of commencement of mining. “Coeur will retain ownership of a 1.25% net smelter return royalty on the Gloria and Abundancia areas of La Preciosa, and a 2.00% gross value royalty on all areas of La Preciosa other than the Gloria and Abundancia areas”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Fresnillo PLC informed on health campaigns in Zacatecas.

On the image below: Calc-sodic alteration along epidote veinlets in intrusive rocks on a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 31st week of the year (August 2nd to August 8th, 2021), at least 34 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, seven companies posted exploration advances on their properties, twelve posted on mining/quarterly reports and eight more on project development or resource definition. ON MEXICO ISSUES, No relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Aztec Minerals informed on soil sampling results at Cervantes; Canuc released information on current drilling at San Javier; Silver Spruce completed a 2,485 m RC drill program at El Mezquite. In Chihuahua, Monarca Minerals obtained the drill permit for San José. In Sinaloa, Brigadier Gold discovered silver rich copper mineralization associated to a porphyritic intrusive. In Durango, Silver Wolf Exploration informed on mapping and sampling at Ana Maria. In Oaxaca, Madoro Metals informed on skarn mineralization sampling at Yautepec.    ON MINING, Excellon Resources, Starcore International, Consolidated Zinc, McEwen Mining, Equinox Gold, Torex Gold, Golden Minerals and Great Panther Mining presented quarterly reports. Equinox Gold reported the end of the illegal blockade at Los Filos. Altaley initiated a metallurgical testing program at Campo Morado. Avino Silver announced the re-start of mining operations at Avino. Guanajuato Silver is stockpiling material from El Cubo mine. ON FINANCING, Altaley Mining informed there is no reason for the decline in its stock price. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Fabled Silver released drilling results from Santa Maria. Orla Mining provided high-grade drill results from the Camino Rojo sulfide deposit. Orex Minerals informed on metallurgical results from Coneto. Prime Mining reported drilling results from Los Reyes. Defiance Silver released drill results from its Zacatecas project. Mexican Gold Mining announced a positive PEA on Las Minas. Discovery Silver released drill results from Cordero. Mag Silver reported results from 2020 drilling at Juanicipio.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, No relevant news. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, No relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd. informed on exploration at its 2,549 hectares Ana Maria project in Durango. Four field geologists and a consulting senior geologist are working in the property, mapping and collecting 290 rock chip samples to date. Hyperspectral and lidar drone surveys have been carried out, and an IP geophysical program is being planned. 
  • Madoro Metals Corp. provided an update on exploration on the southern portion of the Yautepec property in Oaxaca. Skarn mineralization has returned up to 1,200 gpt Ag, 4.0% Cu, 20.0% Pb, 5.0% Zn, 45 ppm Mo, 2.74% As, 1,620 ppm Ba, 1.4 ppm Hg, 285 ppm Sb. “The skarn-hornfels complex lies just outside of the recently mapped southwestern margin of the Yautepec caldera …….. The area lies 13 kilometers distant from similar polymetallic Ag-base metal mineralization found along the eastern caldera margin at the historically identified Las Minas area”.
  • Aztec Minerals Corp. updated on exploration at its 3,649 hectares Cervantes property in Sonora. A 477-soil sample program was completed in a 100 by 100 meters grid covering 518 ha; additionally 110 rock chip samples were collected. The soil sampling returned up to 3,605 ppb Au, 1,380 ppm Cu and 52 ppm Mo, whereas the rock chip samples returned up to 21.3 ppm Au, 2,300 ppm Cu, 625 ppm Mo. The soil sampling completed in this program elevates the total covered by such a survey to 1,200 ha, or 35% of the project area.
  • Brigadier Gold Ltd. informed on a silver-rich copper discovery at its Picachos project in Sinaloa. A 110 m trench dug in the Las Colinas prospect returned results of 9.0 m @ 135 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 0.2% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 0.1% Bi, 47 ppm W (including 2 m @ 478 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 0.2% Cu, 0.5% Pb, 0.3% Bi). “The significance of this geological finding is that these mineralized porphyritic apophyses with associated copper and other metals may expand at depth and intensify”.
  • Canuc Resources Corp. informed on exploration advances at its San Javier project in Sonora. A drill hole targeting a magnetic high encountered massive magnetite at 343 m of depth, and is still on it at 380 m. Sphalerite, marmatite and chalcopyrite have been identified in stringers during preliminary logging, and are to be sampled. Six high-grade silver samples were sent for mineralogical studies, with most of the silver minerals consisting of halides (AgCl, AgBr, AgI, AgF) and acanthite.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. announced the completion of the phase 1 reverse circulation drilling at El Mezquite in Sonora. A total of 2,485 m were drilled in twenty holes on a 400 by 600 m area. “Collars were defined by several northeast-trending veins, structural lineaments and oxide/sulphide transitions interpreted from geological mapping, precious metal assays, multi-element geochemistry, epithermal alteration assemblages and coincident 3D IP chargeability anomalies”.
  • Monarca Minerals Inc. obtained the environmental permit (Informe Preventivo) to complete its planned 5,000 m drill program at its San José project in Chihuahua. Drilling is expected to commence within the next four weeks.

ON MINING

  • Excellon Resources Inc. reported second quarter 2012 financial results. During the period 21.8 K tonnes were mined, 21.6 K tonnes milled at La Platosa, Durango, averaging 489 gpt Ag, 5.14% Pb, 6.48% Zn, recovering 87.0% Ag, 78.6% Pb, 79.4% Zn, to produce 296 K Oz Ag, 1.93 M Lb Pb, 2.46 M Lb Zn, or 489 K Oz AgEq. Cash cost was $11.96 per Ag Oz and AISC  $26.69 per Ag Oz.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. filed the results for the year ended April 30, 2021. During the year the San Martin mine in Queretaro milled 225.5 K tonnes @ 1.63 gpt Au, 24.7 gpt Ag, recovering 87.3% Au, 57.5% Ag, to produce 10.5 K Oz Au, 103.4 K Oz Ag, or 11.8 K Oz AuEq. The mine operating cash cost per AuEq Oz was US$1,056.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. presented its quarterly activities report. Commercial production commenced at the refurbished Plomosas plant in Chihuahua, with 8,655 tonnes mined, 9,079 tonnes processed @ 15.1% Zn, 7.4% Pb, 54 gpt Ag, with recoveries of 52.5% Zn, 41.2% Pb.
  • Equinox Gold Corp. reported that the illegal community blockade at its Los Filos mine in Guerrero has been removed, and regular operations resumed on all areas.
  • Altaley Mining Corp. initiated a metallurgical testing program to increase base and precious metals recoveries at its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero. Testing by the previous operator in 2013 achieved 45-65% Au and 75-81% Ag, while current recoveries are 20% Au, 40% Ag. “The Leachox process is a partial sulphide oxidation process for the recovery of gold and silver from sulphide minerals….. but central to the Leachox process is the Aachen shear reactor. In the leach process, it enhances the kinetics and reduces reagent consumptions (oxygen, cyanide, and lime) which otherwise can be prohibitive”.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. announced mining operations restarted at its Avino mine in Durango. “Management expects throughput at the mill will ramp-up quickly to levels prior to shut down. In addition, we are infill-drilling the oxide tailings resource that sits within our tailings storage facility, as well as continuing the previously reported exploration drill program”.
  • McEwen Mining Inc. reported its second quarter 2021 results, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At El Gallo, in Sinaloa, residual leaching produced 1,300 AuEq Oz from the leach pad. “The residual leaching activities at El Gallo are expected to wind down in early 2022”.
  • Equinox Gold Corp. delivered its second quarter 2021 financial and operating results, including information from its Mexican operations. During the period the acquisition of Premier Gold Mines Ltd. taking 100% control of the Mercedes mine in Sonora. Its updated production guidance for 2021 includes 120-140 K Oz Au from Los Filos and 30-35 K Oz Au from Mercedes, at cash cost of $1,590-$1,660 and $750-$800 respectively. “The primary change to gold production guidance is from Los Filos, where illegal blockades during the quarter disrupted mining activities and delayed access to higher-grade ore”. Production guidance was reduced by 50 K Oz Au due to these illegal blockades.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported financial and operational results for the second quarter 2021. During the period 118,054 Oz Au were produced, generating free cash flow of $21.9 M, taking the net cash to $191.5 M. The new mineral resource update of 3.54 M Oz AuEq at 5.27 gpt Au on indicated resources for Media Luna was released past June. The expansion of the open pit at El Limón was approved and is expected to result in the increase of 150 K Oz Au in additional production, providing a smoother transition to the Media Luna deposit mining. The Media Luna feasibility study is to contemplate a conventional mining basis, although a smaller satellite deposit could be developed with the proprietary Muckahi mining system.
  • Golden Minerals Co. provided financial results for the second quarter 2021. The company obtained a $2.5 M net operating margin related to the Rodeo mine operations in Durango., where 3,634 Oz Au were produced. The mill in Velardeña processed the Rodeo ore at a rate of greater than 500 tpd during May and June. Cash and cash equivalents were $6.9 M by the end of the quarter.
  • Great Panther Mining Ltd. announced consolidated financial results for the second quarter 2021, including figures from its Mexican operations. A total of 56 K tonnes were milled in Mexico averaging 327 gpt AgEq.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. is stockpiling ore from El Cubo mine in Guanajuato in advance of the recommencement of operations at El Cubo mill. The mineralized material is coming from the 2175, 1850 and Cebolletas stopes, which are summarized as the Villalpando stopes, same that will provide most of the material for the operation of the plant in the immediate future.

ON FINANCING

  • Altaley Mining Corp. advised there is no operational or financial reason for the decline in its stock price (Campo Morado, Guerrero).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. released drilling results from its Santa María Project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length results comprise 9.0 m @ 0.10 gpt Au, 50 gpt Ag; 1.50 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 144 gpt Ag; 5.40 m @ 0.41 gpt Au, 29 gpt Ag; 2.20 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 122 gpt Ag; 3.70 m @ 0.18 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag; 2.90 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 93 gpt Ag (including 1.15 m @ 0.07 gpt Au, 191 gpt Ag). New underground drilling stations are being planned to better define the structures.
  • Orla Mining Ltd. provided results of oriented in-fill core drilling at its Camino Rojo sulfide deposit in Zacatecas. Highlighted core length intervals in the press release comprise 108.0 m @ 2.38 gpt Au; 111.0 m @ 2.63 gpt Au; 58.5 m @ 2.51 gpt Au; 115.5 m @ 2.11 gpt Au; 64.6 m @ 3.04 gpt Au; 55.5 m @ 4.47 gpt Au; 55.5 m @ 4.95 gpt Au; 58.5 m @ 2.10 gpt Au; 87.0 m @ 2.27 gpt Au; 44.7 m @ 3.26 gpt Au. “The drill results confirm the presence of wide, higher-grade gold zones within the sulphide mineral resource, and the Company intends to further explore the potential for open pit or underground bulk mining methods”.
  • Orex Minerals Inc. informed its joint venture partner (55%) Fresnillo PLC has received metallurgical testing results for the Coneto project in Durango. Recoveries in seven zones with head grades of 0.80-3.00 gpt Au, 9-229 gpt Ag averaged 66.1 to 98.5% Au and 72.9 to 92.3% Ag.
  • Prime Mining Corp. reported drill results from six holes collared on San Miguel East, at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width (tw) intervals comprise 7.5 m @ 2.50 gpt Au, 118 gpt Ag (including 3.4 m @ 4.57 gpt Au, 140 gpt Ag); 15.0 m @ 1.02 gpt Au, 51 gpt Ag (including 3.0 m @ 4.11 gpt Au, 13 gpt Ag); 1.4 m @ 1.59 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 5.6 m @ 0.82 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag; 0.7 m @ 1.55 gpt Au; 3.8 m @ 1.58 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag, 1.4 m @ 1.18 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag. “Discovery of the Fresnillo structure within San Miguel East’s current and expanding open-pit boundary is favorable and will reduce the stripping ratio of waste rock. Results from our initial drilling at Las Primas are early stage and very promising with the potential to add another deposit within the area of our existing eight deposits”.
  • Defiance Silver Corp. released drill results from its Zacatecas project in Zacatecas. Highlighted core-length results comprise 3.15 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 118 gpt Ag, 0.2% Zn (including 1.25 m @ 0.20 gpt Au, 254 gpt Ag); 2.22 m @ 0.01 gpt Au, 138 gpt Ag; 16.47 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 106 gpt Ag, 0.3% Zn (including 8.28 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 166 gpt Ag, which in turn includes 4.55 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 241 gpt Ag, 0.2% Zn).
  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp. announced a positive preliminary economic assessment (PEA) study for its Las Minas project in Veracruz. A new mineral resource estimate of 4.13 M tonnes @ 1.96 gpt Au, 4.6 gpt Ag, 1.08% Cu, 14.8% Magnetite in indicated resources and 5.20 M tonnes @ 1. 44 gpt Au, 6.0 gpt Ag, 0.95% Cu, 17.5% Magnetite in inferred resources, containing 443 K AuEq Oz and 361 K AuEq Oz respectively, with the estimated recoveries of 80% Au, 70% Ag, 90% Cu, 90% Magnetite. The PEA envisages an 8.5-year mine life with cash cost of $786 per AuEq Oz and an AISC of US$928 per AuEq Oz.
  • Discovery Silver Corp. released results from 21 diamond drill holes at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 132.6 m @ 78 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 1.7% Pb, 2.8% Zn, or 260 gpt AgEq (including 46.3 m @ 110 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 2.4% Pb, 5.9% Zn; 77.1 m @ 55 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 1.4% Pb, 1.8% Zn, or 190 gpt AgEq (including 19.6 m @ 137 gpt Ag, 0.25 gpt Au, 3.7% Pb, 3.2% Zn); 86.2 m @ 51 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 1.2% Pb, 2.2% Zn or 192 gpt AgEq (including 36.5 m @ 97 gpt Ag, 0.16 gpt Au, 2.3% Pb, 4.3% Zn); 81.4 m @ 43 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 0.9% Pb, 2.5% Zn, or 184 gpt AgEq (including 44.6 m @ 60 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 1.3% Pb, 3.4% Zn). The upcoming resource estimate is to be released later this quarter.
  • Mag Silver Corp. reported results from 2020 drilling on the Juanicipio project (56%/44% Joint Venture between Fresnillo PLC and Mag Silver) in Zacatecas. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 21.0 m @ 357 gpt Ag, 0.9 gpt Au, 1.6% Pb, 3.1% Zn, 0.2% Cu (including 6.1 m @ 1,023 gpt Ag, 1.6 gpt Au, 2.2% Pb, 1.7% Zn, 0.3% Cu); 18.1 m @ 198 gpt Ag, 3.9 gpt Au, 4.2% Pb, 10.0% Zn, 0.4% Cu in the Valdecañas Vein Deep Zone; 3.1 m @ 3,584 gpt Ag, 5.7 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 5.2 m @ 1,356 gpt Ag, 3.3 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn in the Valdecañas Vein Bonanza Zone; 10.3 m @ 112 gpt Ag, 0.6 gpt Au, 3.2% Pb, 6.2% Zn, 0.1% Cu; 7.6 m @ 101 gpt Ag, 2.4 gpt Au, 2.9% Pb, 3.5% Zn, 0.2% Cu in the Anticipada vein; 0.90 m @ 580 gpt Ag, 2.7 gpt Au in the Venadas vein; 1.9 m @ 607 gpt Ag, 9.8 gpt Au in the Valentina vein. A core length interval of 278.9 m @ 31 gpt Ag, 1.3% Zn, 0.1% Cu was obtained in the Skarn zone surrounding the Valdecañas Vein at depth.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No relevant news.

On the image below:  Low sulfidation epithermal quartz vein from a project in northern Sonora. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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Quartz vein displaying boiling texture

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 30th week of the year (July 26th to August 1st, 2021), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 3 news published by the media, with eight communicating production and financial results, eight informing on exploration results, five disclosing deal and corporate issues, four reporting on resources and developments of their properties, two announcing financial topics, two commenting on Mexican issues and two discussing social issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Equinox announced that the illegal blockade at its Los Filos mine in Guerrero has been lifted. According to information from the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), mining companies working in Mexico have a sustainable commitment with the environment.   ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Tocvan and its partner Colibri reported results from its ongoing drilling program at the Pilar project, and Riverside announced results from the first hole testing the Santa Rosalia target at its the Cuarentas project. In Sinaloa, Vizsla released new results from its ongoing 100,000m drilling program at its Panuco project. In Durango, Canasil informed that it has completed three holes at its Nora project and Mithril provided a report of the exploration activities carried out at its Copalquin project during the period Q2, 2021.  In Puebla, Almaden commenced prospect drilling at its Ixtaca property. ON MINING, Mexus announced that mining continues at the Vein 2 Area within its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Santacruz reported Q2, 2021 production results from their Zimapan and Rosario mines in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi respectively. Alamos Gold presented Q2, 2021 production and financial results from its Mulatos mine in Sonora.  Capstone announced Q2, 2021 production and financial results from its Cozamine mine in Zacatecas. Agnico Eagle reported Q2, 2021 from their Mexican operations in Chihuahua and Sonora. Coeur presented Q2, 2021 production and financial results from its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. Gold Resource announced Q2, 2021 production and financial results from its Arista mine in Oaxaca. Mag Silver and its JV partner Fresnillo plc reported Q2, 2021 production results from its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas. ON FINANCING, Gold Resource declared quarterly dividends of $0.01 per common share to shareholders for the period Q2, 2021 (Arista mine, Oaxaca). Guanajuato Silver announced it has drawn down USD $7.5M from its loan facility (El Cubo mine, Guanajuato). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Chesapeake released results of its PEA for the Phase 1 mine plan of its Metates project, Durango. Fabled reported drill results and expanded to 14,200m its ongoing drilling program at the Santa Maria project, Chihuahua. GoGold continued releasing drill results from the ongoing drilling campaign at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco.   Golden Tag filed a drill permit to quadruple the number of drill pads at its San Diego project, Durango.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Commander optioned the Pedro project, Durango to Southern Empire. Vizsla announced the appointment of its VP of Business Development and Strategy (Panuco project, Sinaloa). SilverCrest announced the appointment of its VP of Technical Services (Las Chispas, Sonora). Altaley launched its new corporate website (Campo Morado mine, Guerrero). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Grupo Mexico delivered 9,000 trees for forestry programs to the Municipality of San Francisco del Rincón, Aguascalientes. Fresnillo plc and Industrias Peñoles have implemented strategies for the care and management of water for their operational processes in all their mines and plants.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Equinox Gold Corp., announced that the illegal blockade at its Los Filos mine, Guerrero has been lifted, access to the mine has been restored and Los Filos mine has resumed operations.  There are some members of Xochipala community still camped near the Guadalupe and Bermejal open pits but Equinox´s representatives are in talks with government and Xochipala representatives to achieve resolution.
  • According to information from the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), mining companies working in Mexico have a sustainable commitment. In 2020 more than MXP $7,450M was invested in the country to take care of the environment such as efficient water management, reforestation, and conservation of the flora and fauna species as part of its sustainability policies and in compliance with Mexican legislation.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. and its partner Colibri Resources Corporation reported results from its 20-holes, 2500 m Phase 2 RC program at the Pilar project in Sonora. Significant drill results were encountered in holes JES-21-53 with 1.09 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag (1.11 g/t AuEq) over 15.25m, including 2.42 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag (2.45 g/t AuEq) over 4.58m, including 4.57 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag (4.65 g/t AuEq) over 1.53m; hole JES-21-52 with 0.63 g/t Au and 47 g/t Ag (1.13 g/t AuEq) over 3.05m, plus 0.49 g/t Au and 31 g/t Ag (0.81 g/t AuEq) over 3.06m; hole JES-21-55 with 0.43 g/t Au and 4 g/t Ag (0.47 g/t AuEq) over 10.67m, including 1.16 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag (1.24 g/t AuEq) over 1.52m, plus 1.2 g/t Au over 1.53m; and hole JES-21-50 with 0.96 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag (0.99 g/t AuEq) over 39.65m, including 3.04 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag (3.1 g/t AuEq) over 12.2m, including 14.55 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag (14.67 g/t AuEq) over 1.53m. “The drilling appears to be defining a footprint of mineralization approximately 500m X 500m with expansion potential to the southeast”.
  • Riverside Resources Inc., announced results from the first drill hole testing the Santa Rosalia target at its the Cuarentas project. Hole LC20-010 intersected 0.36 g/t Au over 3.15m, including 0.88 g/t Au over 0.7m, plus 0.58 g/t Au over 1.55m, including 1.05 g/t Au over 0.65m. “The Cuarentas epithermal vein drilled mineralized area intersected at surface and appears to be the upper part of a copper-gold porphyry system that is potentially responsible for the extensive >6km area including sericite and pyrophyllite alteration”. Riverside is highlighting the possibility of a feeder system of intermediate sulphidation along the Testerazo fault corridor.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., released new results from its ongoing 100,000m drilling program at its Panuco project. These new results are from ten holes completed at Cordon del Oro area, on which nine out of the ten holes intersected a new east-west trending vein within the San Antonio Vein corridor. The most significant drill intercepts were encountered in holes CO-21-44 with 6.64 g/t Au and 705 g/t Ag (1,283 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 2.07m, including 14.65 g/t Au and 1,365 g/t Ag (2,649 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.78m; and hole CO-21-50 with 2.59 g/t Au and 747 g/t AgEq (943 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.17m, including 4.23 g/t Au and 1,230 g/t Ag (1,551 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.18m.  Drilling results have delineated near-surface mineralization zone of 200m along strike and 100m down dip, and remain open in all directions. Next step is to expand this new zone both at depth and laterally.
  • Canasil Resources Inc., informed that it has completed three holes and a fourth is on progress at its Nora project in Durango. All holes were collared below and between high-grade gold and silver intercepts from the 2020 drill holes NRC-20-04 and NRC-20-06 on the Candy vein structure. A total of 790 metres of core drilling has been completed since the start of the program in early July 2021. 110 core samples from holes NRC-21-09 y NRC-21-10 have been already shipped to the lab for assays.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd., provided a report of the exploration activities carried out at its Copalquin project during the period Q2, 2021. Highlights include a) drilling at El Refugio target has extended the known mineralization to 700m X 350m; the discovery of the “77 Clavo” with bonanzas grades  such as those encountered in hole CDH-077 with 80.3 g/t Au and 705 g/t Ag over a length of 8.26m, including 106 g/t Au and 913 g/t Ag over a length of 6.26m, including 837 g/t Au and 6,680 g/t Ag over a lengths of 0.77m; b) Continue expansion of the El Refugio Clavo with multiple high-grade intercepts including hole CDH-075 with 13.8 g/t Au and 83 g/t Ag over a length of 2.70m, plus 10.9 g/t Au and 364 g/t Ag over a length of 4.25m; hole CDH-063 with 5.32 g/t Au and 105 g7t Ag over a length of 83; hole CDH-062 with 4.12 g/t Au and 107 g/t Ag over a length of 4.82m; and hole 2.34 g/t Au and 144 g/t Ag over a length of 7.60m; c) Confirmation of the El Cometa bonanza grades with twin of historic drill hole CDH-072 which intersected 74 g/t Au and 841 g/t Ag over a length of 6.8m, including 235 g/t Au and 2,554 g/t Ag over a length of 2.1m; d) Results from 240 soil samples collected at El Refugio Zone have extended the target zone for drilling a full 1.3Km west from the currently westernmost drill holes; and e) the company is preparing a maiden JORC resource estimate for El Refugio/El Cometa Zones and is expected to be completed by H2, 2021.
  • Almaden Minerals ltd., commenced prospect drilling at its Ixtaca property in Puebla. Focus of the drilling program is the Southeast Alteration Zone (SE Alteration Zone) located approximately 1km from the Ixtaca deposit. The SE Alteration Zone measures about 1.5Km x 1km and comprises clay-altered volcanic rocks with clusters of anomalies identified from a hyperspectral survey, including kaolinite, alunite, and buddingtonite.  Work exploration of this area has also included geophysics and geological mapping.

ON MINING

  • Mexus Gold US announced that mining continues at the Vein 2 Area within its Santa Elena mine in Sonora.  “Mining is currently being developed at the quartz vein with 1 to 1.5 meter with some wider pocket zones. Mexus has found 10 g/t gold zones randomly with notable oxide coloring due to former sulphides. Thrust fault shear mineral is being worked around it and only high grade quartz vein is loaded and hauled”. Pregnant solution from the heap leach pad is ranging from 0.3 to 1.7 g/t Au and is treated by Carbon absorption. One ton of loaded carbon is en route to Chicago for processing for final sale which will allow Mexus to increase production on a weekly basis.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported Q2, 2021 production results from their Zimapan and Rosario mines in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi respectively. At Zimapan, Hidalgo, the company processed 155,047 tonnes of 84 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 2.5% Zn, and 0.38% Cu (202 g/t AgEq) to produce 310.9K Oz Ag, 0.67M Lb Pb, 6.38M Lb Zn, and 1.08M Lb Cu  (757.9K Oz AgEq). At Rosario mine, San Luis Potosi, Santacruz processed 16,917 tonnes of 45 g/t Ag, 0.16 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 1.4% Zn (104 g/t AgEq) to produce 18.49K Oz Ag, 53 Oz Au, 69.4K Lb Pb, and 394.2K Lb Zn (41.1K Oz AgEq).
  • Alamos Gold Inc., presented Q2, 2021 production and financial results from its Mulatos mine in Sonora. It produced 35.9K Oz Au and sold 28.67K Oz Au at a cost of USD $1,395 and USD $893 per Oz Au produced respectively, and an AISC of USD $1,144 per Oz Au sold. Alamos also provided a 2021 guidance and expects to produce between 150K-160K Oz Au at total and AISC of USD $840-890 and USD $1,060-1,110 per Oz Au respectively.
  • Capstone Mining Corp., announced Q2, 2021 production and financial results from its Cozamine mine in Zacatecas. The company mined 332K tonnes and milled 348K tonnes of 1.86% Cu, 0.5% Zn, and 40 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 96.3%, 46.7%, and 82.1% respectively, to produce 13.8M Lb Cu, 1.88M Lb Zn, and 364K Oz Ag. Cash cost was USD $1/lb Cu produced. Cozamine reported revenues for USD $68.6M and an adjusted EBIDTA of USD $50M.
  • Agnico Eagle Mines Limited reported Q2, 2021 from their Mexican operations in Chihuahua and Sonora. At Pinos Altos, Chihuahua, Agnico processed 521K tonnes of 2.07 g/t Au to produce 32.6K Oz Au and 331K Oz Ag at a production and total cash costs of USD $1,106 and USD $849 per Oz Au produced respectively. At Creston-Mascota, Chihuahua, the company produced 3.23K Oz Au and 41K Oz Ag at production and total cash costs of USD $608 and USD $341 per Oz Au produced respectively from residual leaching . At La India, Sonora, it processed 1.745M tonnes of 0.46 g/t Au to produce 4.7K Oz Au and 7K Oz Ag at costs of USD $1,390 and USD $1,350 per Oz Au produced respectively.
  • Coeur Mining Inc., presented Q2, 2021 production and financial results from its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. The company milled 517,373 tonnes of 1.8 g/t Au and 122 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 92.4% and 81.9% respectively to produce 27.6K Oz Au and 1.67M Oz Ag. Coeur sold 30.5K Oz Au and 1.64M Oz Ag at an adjusted cost of USD $662 and USD $13.34 per Oz Au sold and Oz Ag sold respectively. The company reported a cash flow of USD $33.4M and a free cash flow of USD $23.6M.
  • Gold Resource Corporation announced Q2, 2021 production and financial results from its Arista mine in Oaxaca. The company milled 129.6K tonnes of 1.93 g/t Au, 77 g/t Ag, 0.4% Cu, 1.6% Pb, and 3.6% Zn at total cash and AISC of USD $713 and USD $1,280 respectively to produce 5,697 Oz Au, 270.3K Oz Ag, 817.6K Lb Cu, 2.72M Lb Pb, and 7.15M Lb Zn (9,685 Oz AuEq). Gold Resource reported an EBIDTA of USD $7.4M and an operating cash flow of USD $9.3M.
  • Mag Silver Corp., and its JV partner Fresnillo plc reported Q2, 2021 production results from its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas. Mag Silver (44%) and Fresnillo plc (56%) processed 44,435 tonnes of underground development material to produce 434.9K Oz Ag and 787 Oz Au of which 191.35K Oz Ag and 346 Oz Au are attributable to Mag Silver. The associated lead and zinc production will be reported with MAG’s second quarter filings.

ON FINANCING

  • Gold Resource Corporation declared quarterly dividends of $0.01 per common share to shareholders for the period Q2, 2021 payable on September 30, 2021 (Arista mine, Oaxaca).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., announced it has drawn down USD $7.5M from its loan facility with trading firm OCIM Group. This financing will be used to restarts its El Cubo mine and mill complex in Guanajuato.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Chesapeake Gold Corp., released results of its PEA for the Phase 1 mine plan of its Metates project, Durango. The PEA demonstrates robust project economics such as Pre-Tax NPV of USD $1.14B and 35% IRR at USD $1,600 per Oz Au and USD $22 per Oz Ag at a 5% discount rate, over a 31-year mine life. The PEA includes a revised mineral resource estimate for the Metates Project and replaces the mineral reserve estimate contained in the Company’s updated preliminary feasibility study dated April 29, 2016. The measured and indicated mineral resource is 1.3 billion tonnes at 0.47 g/t gold and 12.9 g/t silver for 19.8M Oz Au and 542M Oz Ag. Inferred mineral resource is an additional 62.2M tonnes at 0.32g/t gold and 9.0 g/t silver for 640K Oz Au and 18M Oz Ag. The PEA reports an average annual production of over 110K Oz Au and 2.5M Oz Ag during the first 15 years at AISC of USD $748 per Oz Au produced.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., reported drill results and announced expansion of its ongoing drilling program at the Santa Maria project, Chihuahua to 14,200m. Hole SM20-21 intersected 0.16 g/t Au, 7 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, 0.1% Zn, and 0.01% Cu (15 g/t Ag) over 18.9m, including 0.62 g/t Au, 16 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.5% Zn, and 0.01% Cu (63 g/t AgEq) over 2.10m; and hole SM20-22 intersected 4.95 g/t Au, 13 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn, and 0.02% Cu (268 g/t AgEq) over 14.4m, including 7.17 g/t Au, 16 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn, and 0.03% Cu (385 g/t AgEq) over 9.5m, plus 0.94 g/t Au, 59 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, 0.4% Zn, and 0.04% Cu (107 g/t AgEq) over 3.1m, including 1.05 g/t Au, 66 g/t Ag, 0.8% Pb, and 0.04% Cu (120 g/t AgEq) over 1m, including 1.56 g/t Au, 78 g/t Ag, and 0.07% Cu (158 g/t AgEq) over 0.9m. The company expanded the present drilling by 5,000m to a total of 14,200m to properly evaluate the mineralization at the Santa Maria property.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., continued released results from five holes drilled at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. The best drill intercept was encountered in hole LRGF-21.052 with 0.31 g/t Au, 113 g/t Ag (1.82 g/t AuEq or 136 g/t AgEq) over a length of 51.3m, including 0.96 g/t Au, 235 g/t Ag (4.1 g/t AuEq or 307 g/t AgEq) over a length of 11.4m, including 2.78 g/t Au and 1,367 g/t Ag (21.01 g/t AuEq or 1,576 g/t AgEq) over a length of 0.9m, including  2.65 g/t Au and 336 g/t Ag (7.13 g/t AuEq or 535 g/t AgEq) over a length of 3m, including 9.63 g/t Au and 655 g/t Ag (18.35 g/t AuEq or 1,376 g/t AgEq) over a length of 0.7m, plus 0.18 g/t Au and 169 g/t Ag (2.44 g/t AuEq or 183 g/t AgEq) over a length of 1.5m. Another significant drill intercept was encountered in hole LRGF-21-054 with 0.20 g/t Au and 77 g/t Ag (1.24 g/t AuEq or 93 g/t AgEq) over a length of 63.6m, including 1.1 g/t Au and 401 g/t Ag (6.46 g/t AuEq or 484 g/t AgEq) over a length of 5.6m, including 1.52 g/t Au and 539 g/t Ag (8.71 g/t AuEq or 653 g/t AgEq) over a length of 4m, including 1.96 g/t Au and 784 g/t Ag (12.41 g/t AuEq or 931 g/t AgEq) over a length of 1m.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd., filed with SEMARNAT a drill permit to quadruple the number of drill pads from 14 to 58 at its San Diego project, Durango. The drill permit is expected to be obtained during Q3, 2021.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Commander Resources Ltd., granted an option to Southern Empire Resources Corp. to acquire a 100% interest in the Pedro project, Durango. Pedro is an epithermal gold project with potential for both bulk mineable and bonanza-grade vein deposit and comprises 1,750 Ha in three mineral claims. Total consideration for the option is CDN $700K as follow: CDN $25K and 100K shares on completion of a definitive agreement, CDN $125K on the first agreement anniversary, CDN $250K on the second anniversary, and CDN $300K on the third anniversary.  Southern Empire also must to complete CDN $1.5M in exploration expenditures, including CDN $400K within the first year of the agreement. Commander will retain a 2% NSR royalty with no buydown provision.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., announced the appointment of its VP of Business Development and Strategy (Panuco project, Sinaloa).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., announced the appointment of its VP of Technical Services (Las Chispas, Sonora).
  • Altaley Mining Corporation launched its completely renewed corporate website with modern design to facilitate the access to its information (Campo Morado mine, Guerrero).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Grupo Mexico delivered 9,000 trees for forestry program to the Municipality of San Francisco del Rincón, Aguascalientes. This program called “Mexicanos Sembrando” is one of the initiatives that have been generated to take care of the environment.
  • Fresnillo plc and Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V., have implemented strategies for the care and management of water for their operational processes in all their mines and plants. Both Peñoles and Fresnillo plc collaborate with the communities with campaigns to raise awareness about the use and conservation of the resource.  Likewise, they support the human right to access to water in nearby towns through the service of pipes and support the population with rainwater collectors. In the same way, Peñoles participates in community projects such as the creation of water wells in different localities of Guerrero, Durango, Sonora and Chihuahua.

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

On the picture above, a quartz vein displaying boiling texture in a low sulphidation epithermal vein system from a prospect in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.