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

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By Jorge Cirett                                             

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

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

ON EXPLORATION

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

ON FINANCING

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

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

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

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES              

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

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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

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

Fortuna Updates Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources

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News _ Fortuna Silver Mines Inc_

Vancouver, March 26, 2020– Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc. (NYSE: FSM) (TSX: FVI) is pleased to report updated Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates as of December 31, 2019 for the Caylloma Mine located in Peru and the San Jose Mine located in Mexico and reiterates the  Mineral  Reserve  and  Mineral  Resource  estimate  as  of  March  31,  2019 for the Lindero Project located in Argentina.

Fortuna reports 2019 full year production of 12.4 million silver equivalent ounces

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Fortuna_16012020

Vancouver, January 16, 2020– Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc. (NYSE: FSM) (TSX: FVI) is pleased to announce fourth quarter and full year 2019 production figures from its two underground operating mines, the San Jose Mine in Mexico and the Caylloma Mine in Peru. For the full year 2019, the Company produced 8.8 million ounces of silver and 50.5 thousand ounces of gold or 12.4 million silver equivalent1 ounces.

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

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Chalcedonic quartz vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the twenty one week of the year (June 3rd to June 9th, 2019), at least 31 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with sixteen disclosing deals and corporate issues, five reporting on resources and development of their projects, five informing on exploration results, four announcing financial rounds, two communicating production results, and one discussing Mexican news.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, the Mining Undersecretary of the Secretary of Economy, Francisco Quiroga, said that mining companies from Canada, USA, Peru, Colombia and Australia showed their interest to invest up to USD$ 8M in Mexico mining projects.  ON EXPLORATION, In Baja California Norte, One World Lithium released drilling results from its Salar del Diablo project. In Sonora, Colibri reported assays results from sub-outcrops on its Evelyn project.  In Chihuahua, Monarca identified a skarn and potential CRD/porphyry deposit after running a geophysical survey at its San Jose project.  In Zacatecas, Galore announced it has commenced drilling of 2,500m core drilling program at its Dos Santos property to test the El Alamo target. In Jalisco, GoGold released drilling results from its Los Ricos project.  ON MINING, Mexus Gold announced that over 5,700 tonnes of high-grade ore will be broken on site and hauled to the crushing and leaching site at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. US Antimony produced 159,142 Lb Sb and 1,292 tonnes of zeolites during May 2019. ON FINANCING, VVC announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $2M (Samalayuca project, Chihuahua). Galore received a USD $100K loan from an officer of the company to fund its current 2,500m diamond core drilling program at its Dos Santos project in Zacatecas.  One World Lithium closed its third and final tranche of a previous announced non-brokered private placement for CAD $298,700 and announced a non-brokered private placement to raise up to CAD $2M (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California Norte).  Azure secured A$ 2M financing via a convertible note.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Azure announced that its board of directors has approved the commencement of trial mining and processing of high-grade mineralization from its Oposura project in Sonora. Sonoro Metals initiated metallurgical testing at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora.  Endeavour released underground drilling results from its Guanacevi mine in Durango. Oroco announced the reception of a draft technical report for its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. US Antimony reported expansion of its Madero, Coahuila smelter capacity, and reported that its Puerto Blanco leach plant in Guanajuato is in the testing phase for the production of Au and Ag from its Los Juarez mine in Queretaro.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Aura Resources, Almadex, and Azucar Minerals granted stock options to directors, officers and consultants.  Riverside appointed Alberto Orozco as its VP Corporate Development (La Cecilia project, Sonora). Monarca signed an option agreement to acquire 100% interest in the San Jose project in Chihuahua and appointed new director. Inomin signed a non-binding letter agreement to acquire 100% interest in the La Gitana project in Oaxaca from Gunpoint, and appointed new director and adviser. Candente announced management changes with the retirement of its chair and director and the appointment of new director (El Oro tailings project, State of Mexico). Goldgroup and VVC announced their annual general meeting of shareholders will be held on July 31, 2019 and August 19, 2019 respectively. SilverCrest reported results of its annual general meeting of shareholders and appointed a new director to the Board (Las Chispas project, Sonora). Kootenay reported that its partner Pan American Silver has relinquished its right to earn 75% interest in the Promontorio Mineral Belt in Sonora. Magna Gold closed its previous qualifying transaction on two mining concessions at its Mercedes property in Sonora. Sierra Metals repurchased a royalty on its Cusi mine in Chihuahua from Minera Cusi S.A. de C.V. in US$ 4M.

 ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mexican mining projects raised interest for up to USD$ 8M of investment by companies from Canada, USA, Peru, Colombia, and Australia. According to the head of mining in the country, before realizing the investments, it will be necessary to carry out the work of convincing the surrounding populations. He said: “The type of mining we want is to pay taxes, be socially responsible and achieve economic benefits so that it reaches society and the settlement is public.” He insisted that the presidential mandate is that mining concessions will not be canceled and that the commitments acquired in the past will be honored. Among the areas with the greatest potential are in the south-southeast of Mexico, specifically the states of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Morelos, among others, with products such as Ag, Au, and Cu. The Ministry of Economy reported that the mining-metallurgical sector in Mexico contributes 4% of the national Gross Domestic Product. While in the world our country is the largest producer of Ag; it is among the top 10 producers of 16 different minerals: silver, bismuth, fluorite, celestite, wollastonite, cadmium, molybdenum, lead, zinc, diatomite, salt, barite, graphite, gypsum, gold and copper.

ON EXPLORATION

  • One World Lithium Inc., released drilling results from its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California Norte. The company has completed the first three holes of a twelve drill program, and reported that two holes located 14km apart have intersected aquifers with water samples containing pH values indicative of brines. Drilling to date has demonstrated that there are multiple aquifers in the northern part of the Salar which indicates that the entire Salar could be very prospective.
  • Colibri Resource Corporation, reported additional grab samples results from abundant quartz with local iron-oxide staining in sub-outcrops found on areas not previously mapped or sampled at its Evelyn project in Sonora. Grab samples results include values of 4.81 g/t Au and 4.19 g/t Au. This new area is located approximately 1km north-northeast of the Main Zone which consists of a moderately to steeply dipping Au-bearing quartz vein which has been the subject of historical mining. Colibri is planning a property wide, high density, airborne magnetic survey to determine the structural framework and the setting of known Au mineralization.
  • Monarca Minerals Inc., identified a skarn and potential CRD/porphyry deposit in its San José project in Chihuahua, after conducting an IP-resistivity and magnetic survey which returned very strong IP/magnetic anomalies over 2.8km strike length resulting in numerous drill targets. Based on the geophysical results and previous encouraging chip sampling on the property, Monarca is planning to perform an 18-hole RC drilling program to test for potential precious and base metals at depth.
  • Galore Resources Inc., announced it has commenced drilling of 2,500m core drilling at its Dos Santos property in Zacatecas to test Au mineralization associated with iron-oxides jasperoid and karst breccias exposed along the east-west trending El Alamo target.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., reported encouraging drilling results from an additional five diamond drill holes at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Significant results were encountered in hole LRGG-19-011, drilled 75m down dip below the deepest intersection to date on the property, with 1.2 g/t Au and 140 g/t Ag (3.07 g/t AuEq) over 18.5m, including 2.16 g/t Au and 228 g/t Ag (5.19 g/t AuEq) over 8.4m; in hole LRGG-19-13 with 0.78 g/t Au and 195 g/t Ag (3.38 g/t AuEq) over 15.6m, including 1.3 g/t Au and 297 g/t Ag (5.25 g/t AuEq) over 8.8m; and in hole LRGG-19-14 with 1.1 g/t Au and 127 g/t Ag (2.79 g/t AuEq) over 14.2m, including 1.94 g/t Au and 209 g/t Ag (4.73 g/t AuEq) over 7.7m. These positive results confirm that the deposit is still open at depth.

ON MINING

  • Mexus Gold US, announced that over 5,700 tonnes of high-grade ore ranging from 5 to 10 g/t Au and 9 to 12 g/t Ag will be broken on site and hauled to the crushing and leaching site at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. “The leaching process has started and will continue on a permanent basis as fresh ore will be added to the heap leach pad. Moving forward, Mexus will increase the scale and capacity of the system to maximize returns” added the CEO of the company.
  • US Antimony Corporation, produced 159,142 Lb Sb and 1,292 tonnes of zeolites during May, 2019. It also reported that the inventories of Mexican antimony mine ore continue to grow.

ON FINANCING

  • VVC Exploration Corporation, announced a non-brokered private placement to raise up to CAD $2M. Gross proceeds will be used for exploration and development of its Samalayuca project in Chihuahua.
  • Galore Resources Inc., received a USD $100K loan from an officer of the company to fund its current 2,500m diamond core drilling at El Alamo target within its Dos Santos project in Zacatecas.
  • One World Lithium Inc., closed its third and final tranche of a previous announced non-brokered private placement for CAD $298,700. The aggregate gross proceeds of this offering under the first, second and final tranche totalled CAD $2,073,250. It also announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $2M. Net proceeds will be used at its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California Norte as follow: Salar del Diablo project drilling program CAD $500K; analysis and further testing of drill results CAD $400K; southern region pre-drilling program CAD$400K; and balance for working capital.
  • Azure Minerals Limited, secured A$ 2M financing via a convertible note by entering into a binding commitment with the company´s major shareholder Deutsche Balaton. “This funding will enable the Company to meet start-up costs and working capital requirements with operations to commence in the September quarter of 2019”.

 ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Azure Minerals Limited, announced that its board of directors has approved the commencement of trial mining and processing of high grade mineralization from its 100% owned Oposura property in Sonora. Initial mine production and processing will range between 1,500 to 3,000 tonnes per month of mineralized material grading approximately 15% combined Zn and Pb. The ore material will be processed on a toll treatment basis through a nearby sulphide flotation processing facility.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., initiated ore characterization and bottle roll and leach column test at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. The tests are expected to be completed in 8 weeks. If the results are positive, they will be incorporated in the sensitivity analysis in order to define the characteristics of the heap leaching pilot operation preliminary design, which would be then updated to a NI 43-101 level.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., released underground drilling results from seventeen holes drilled at its Guanacevi mine in Durango. Seven holes intersected high-grade over mineable widths to extend. Highlights include 0.93 g/t Au and 251 g/t Ag (325 g/t AgEq) over 3m true width in hole UG-61, and two intersections in parallel veins in hole UG-75 with 2.93 g/t Au and 2,175 g/t Ag (2,409 g/t AgEq) over 1m true width, and 0.78 g/t Au and 579 g/t Ag (642 g/t AgEq) over 3.9m. “Recent drilling has extended high grade Ag-Au mineralization to depth at all three of our original orebodies, which should help to increase resources at Guanacevi.”
  • Oroco Resources Corp., announced the reception of a draft technical report for its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. The technical report presents the key findings of historical technical reports, including a 1994 PFS study by Bateman Engineering (supported by metallurgical work by Mountain States R&D International, Inc., a resource estimate by Mintec, Inc., and mining and plant estimates by Minetek S.A. de C.V.).
  • US Antimony Corporation, reported expansion of its Madero, Coahuila smelter capacity, which the installation of long rotary furnace (LRF) number 3. The company has an additional 3 LRFs in inventory. Furnace recovery is in the 96%-98% range and the additional capacity is expected to handle production increases from the Company’s Wadley and Sierra Guadalupe Mines in San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas respectively. It also reported that its Puerto Blanco leach plant in Guanajuato is in the testing phase for the production of Au and Ag from its Los Juarez mine in Queretaro.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Aura Resources Inc., granted stock options to directors, officers and consultants of the company to purchase an aggregate 1.2M common shares at an exercise price of $0.05 per share which expire on June 4, 2019 (Taviche project, Oaxaca).
  • Almadex Minerals Ltd., granted stock options to certain directors and officers of the company to purchase an aggregate 628K common shares at an exercise price of $0.32 per share which expire on June 4, 2019 (Ixtaca project, Puebla).
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd., granted stock options to certain directors, officers and consultants of the company to purchase an aggregate of 573K common shares at an exercise price of $0.29 per share which expire on June 4, 2019 (El Cobre project, Veracruz).
  • Riverside Resources Inc., announced the appointment of Alberto Orozco as its VP Corporate Development (La Cecilia project, Sonora).
  • Monarca Minerals Inc., signed an option agreement to acquire 100% interest in the San Jose project in Chihuahua, where the company identified a skarn and potential CRD/porphyry copper deposit. To acquire the property, Monarca will pay USD $150K in staged cash payments as follow: USD $40K on the option signing date (already paid), USD $50K twelve months after signing of the option agreement, and USD $60K twenty four months after signing of the option agreement. The agreement includes a 2% NSR upon reaching commercial production and Monarca keeps a right to purchase 1% NSR by a single payment of USD $100K. The company also appointed a new director to its Board.
  • Inomin Mines Inc., signed a non-binding letter agreement to acquire 100% interest in the La Gitana property in Oaxaca from Gunpoint Exploration Ltd. La Gitana comprises a 494 hectares that hosts a low-sulphidation epithermal Au-Ag deposits in Tertiary-aged volcanic rocks. In order to acquire 100% of the property Inomin has to make staged payments for $300K and issue 2M of common shares of the company as follow: $10K (paid) on signing agreement; $25K and 150K shares following execution of definitive agreement; $50K and 250K shares on first anniversary; $65K and 450K shares on second anniversary; $75K and 500K shares on third anniversary; and $75K and 650K shares on fourth anniversary. Inomin will have the right to accelerate payments at the company´s discretion, and is also subject to a NSR the terms of which have yet to be finalized.  The company also announced the resignation of one of its directors and the appointment of its replacement. It also appointed an adviser of the company.
  • Candente Gold Corp., reported the retirement of its chair and director and the appointment of its new director (El Oro tailings project, State of Mexico).
  • Goldgroup Mining Inc., announced that its annual general meeting of shareholders will be held on July 31, 2019 (Cerro Prieto mine, Sonora)
  • VVC Exploration Corporation, announced that its annual general meeting of shareholders will be held on August 19, 2019 (Samalayuca project, Chihuahua).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., reported results of its annual general meeting of shareholders and appointed a new director to the Board (Las Chispas project, Sonora).
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., announced that its JV partner Pan American Silver Corp., has relinquished to its right to earn 75% interest on the Promontorio Mineral Belt in Sonora, which include the Promontorio Resource and La Negra high-grade Ag discovery. Kootenay will be conducting a review of the work performed by Pan American in order to plan the next steps for advancing these assets.
  • Magna Gold Corp., closed its previous qualifying transaction on two mining concessions at its Mercedes property in Sonora. In consideration of the grant of the option, Magna will: (i) pay to the Seller an aggregate of US$1.34M plus VAT of 16%, paid in installments commencing on the 6th month from the effective date of the agreement (the “Effective Date”) and ending on the 48th month from the Effective Date; (ii) issue to the seller a 3% NSR, capped at US$3.5M and subject to the right of the corporation to acquire all 3 percentage points of the NSR at a price of US$500Kper percentage point, within the first three years of commercial production of the Mercedes Property; and (iii) conditional on the completion of a going public transaction within six months of the Effective Date, issue 2,442,105common shares of the corporation to the seller.
  • Sierra Metals Inc., repurchased a royalty on its Cusi Mine from Minera Cusi S.A. de C.V. for US$ $M. The royalty agreement required the company to pay a 3% royalty on the net revenues generated by the mine, less transportation costs, for the life of the mine. The company has already paid US$2.5 million upon signing the repurchase contract on May 10, 2019 and is required to pay a further US$1.5 million on May 10, 2021. With this repurchase, Sierra Metals will no longer have any royalties on any of its properties or mines.

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, chalcedonic quartz vein in a low sulphidation epithermal system in a prospect in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

GRUPO MEXICO – RESULTADOS PRIMER TRIMESTRE 2019

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NP_GMEXICO_1T19_OKVF

La producción de cobre acumulada durante el 1T19 alcanzó 261,328 toneladas, 13% mayor al 2018, debido a un incremento en la producción de todas nuestras operaciones incluyendo México, Peru y Estados Unidos. En México la producción creció 5.2% en comparación al 1T18 por mejoras operativas en Buenavista, tanto en las nuevas plantas ESDE 3 y la concentradora 2, en el caso de Perú la entrada en marcha de la ampliación de Toquepala apoyó el incremento en la producción que fue de 24.3% mayor con respecto al mismo periodo del año anterior, en Estados Unidos alcanzamos un incremento de 21.8% con la ya restablecida operación de la mina en Mission, Arizona.

SIERRA METALS INC. ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF NEW SENIOR SECURED US$100 MILLION CORPORATE CREDIT FACILITY

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Sierra-Metals-Inc-_11032019

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Sierra Metals Inc. (TSX:SMT) (NYSE American:SMTS) (BVL:SMT) (“Sierra Metals” or the “Company”) announces today that it has entered into a new six-year senior secured corporate credit facility (“Corporate Facility”) with Banco de Credito del Peru (“BCP”) that provides funding of up to US$100 million effective March 8, 2019. The Corporate Facility provides the Company with additional liquidity and will provide the financial flexibility to fund future capital projects in Mexico as well as corporate working capital requirements. The Company will also use the proceeds of the new facility to repay existing debt balances in the near term.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 10th week of the year (March 4th to March 10th, 2019), at least 16 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The cancellation of the Los Cardones project in Baja California Sur was announced by the president of Mexico. According to the Fraser Institute, Mexico climbed several positions on its ranking, although security and taxation remain dragging down its overall ranking. On PDAC’s Mexico Mining Day, the participation of Francisco Quiroga, Pedro Haces and the governors of Durango and Sinaloa left a bittersweet message, as an invitation for investment was mixed with the government impulse for community consultations, the reviewing of mining concessions, labor issues and environmental revisions.   ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Sonoro Metals commenced a second phase of RC drilling at its Cerro Caliche property. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold informed is working on a revised geological model of the previous drilling campaign as it prepares for the next at the Amalia project. In Durango and Veracruz. Chesapeake Gold is to focus its 2019 exploration program in properties near its flagship Metates project, and in the Tatatila project in Veracruz. ON MINING, Americas Silver, Avino Silver and Premier gold reported operating and/or financial results for the Q4 and full year 2018. ON FINANCING, Minera Alamos corrected a previous financing press release, Kootenay Silver increased the size of its placement to $7 M. McEwen Mining suspended distribution of its dividend. Mako Mining raised CAD$4.5 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mag Silver reported on 46,000 m of drilling and the discovery of a new vein trend at Juanicipio, in Zacatecas. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Oroco informed on the status of legal actions regarding its intention to acquire the Santo Tomás project in Sinaloa. Alio Gold changed CEO and Great Panther Silver Ltd. changed its name to Great Panther Mining Ltd. as it diversifies into gold mining.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Durango and Sinaloa governors, Jose Rosas Aispuro and Quirino Ordaz, respectively, attended the PDAC convention in Toronto, looking to strengthen the ties with Canadian companies and promote investment in the local mining sector.
  • The president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, announced the cancellation of the Los Cardones open pit mining project in Baja California Sur (on the bright side, the cancellation could be the result of negotiations with the project owner, which has multiple government contracts in other industries. On the other hand, the president said he took the decision because he has the authority to do so).
  • The Fraser institute released its annual survey on mining jurisdictions of the World, Mexico climbed several positions to reach the 29th on the ranking, from the 44th on the previous year. Our Latin American competitors on the foreign investment race, Chile and Peru, also raised to the 6th (from the 8th) and 14th (from the 91th) position respectively. The categories on which Mexico can improve significantly are: “Disputed Land Claims” (58th position), “Socioeconomic Agreements/Community Development” (59th position), “Labor Regulations” (58th position), Security (80th position, regrettably) and “Taxation Regime” (71st position, just 13th places from the bottom). To download the report: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/annual-survey-of-mining-companies-2018.pdf.
  • In PDAC, Francisco Quiroga, undersecretary of Mining on the Secretaría de Economía (Ministry of Economy) asked Canadian mining companies to accept public consultations to avoid harmful effects on society and the environment. He also solicited fiscal observance, environmental protection and human rights respect by the companies to avoid the closure of mines. He offered an administrative simplification to miners by the implementation of a sole attention desk to reduce paperwork.
  • Also in PDAC, and during the Mexico Mining Day, Pedro Haces Barba (Morena senator) stated that Canada is a strategic partner on the mining sector. He expressed the Congress and Senate support to stimulate the development of the industry, giving form to a legal framework in the leading edge, with the participation of experts, producers, environmentalists, workers and all other involved. Haces also stressed the compromise to impulse significant changes to the mining law to benefit from the sustainable exploitation of natural resources in pace with the regional dynamics and global challenges.  

ON EXPLORATION

  • Radius Gold Inc. informed on the review and re-logging of five holes drilled to test the Campamento structural corridor (now called San Pedro) at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Only the deepest hole intercepted the structure within the lower volcanic group andesitic rocks, returning 26 m @7.1 gpt Au, 517 gpt Ag, including 5 m @ 14.7 gpt Au, 517 gpt Ag. Access agreements with landowners have been secured, and a new environmental permit has been applied for the second drill stage. Pan American Silver is funding the project with Radius as the operator.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp. commenced the phase two drilling campaign at its Cerro Caliche property in Sonora. This 4-month program is to consist of approximately 5,000 m of reverse circulation drilling. The goal is to enlarge the gold mineralization inventory, test deeper zones and extend the high-grade gold intercept at El Colorado zone, which returned 12.2 m @ 11.21 gpt Au. If results support it, a phase 3 drilling campaign of approximately 7,000 m of infill drilling will follow. “The Company anticipates that it will commission and publish an NI 43-101 technical report, including an initial resource estimate, within two months”.
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. informed this year its exploration programs will focus on the under-explored region of its Metates project in Durango. At Crisy, close to Metates, a quartz breccia and stockwork that runs for over 2 km hosted in shales, produced 24 m @ 1.5 gpt Au; 13 m @ 1.1 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag; 4 m @ 2.5 gpt Au, 49 gpt Ag, in channel samples. At Cerro Pelon, Durango, a 3 km long, 750 m wide zone of epithermal veins and stockworks returned 40 m @ 42 gpt, 0.2 gpt Au; 25 m @ 57 gpt Ag; 15 m @ 1.0 gpt Au in surface sampling. At San Javier, Durango, “Silver mineralization is hosted within clay altered sandstone, mudstone and local intrusive dikes and has been traced continuously on surface for over 500 meters. Previous samples returned 60 meters of 71 g/t silver and 0.6% lead. In January, a trench channel sample collected 200 meters further along strike returned 25 meters of 46 g/t silver and 0.5% lead”. At Yarely, Sinaloa, A channel sample returned 30 m @ 1.6 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag, on quartz breccias and stockworks associated to a rhyolite flow-dome complex. At Tatatila, in Veracruz, skarn bodies developed along the contact of intrusive dikes and sills and older limestones returned 2 m @ 28.9 gpt Au, 0.5% Zn; 6 m @ 0.4 gpt Au, 5.6% Zn; 2 m @ 0.14 gpt Au, 65 gpt Ag, 2.3% Pb, 3.1% Zn.

ON MINING

  • Americas Silver Corp. reported consolidated financial and operational results for the fourth quarter and full year 2018. The company had a revenue of $68.4 M from its operations in Mexico and the USA, without entering in details by unit (Cosalá Complex, Sinaloa).
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. announced consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and year 2018. During the year revenues were $34.1 M from 708.8 K tonnes milled to produce 1.28 M Oz Ag, 8,092 Oz Au, 4.81 M Lb Cu or 2.86 M Oz AgEq, at cash cost $9.63 and AISC $10.67 (Avino, San Gonzalo mines, Durango).
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. released operating results for Q4 and full year 2018, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Mercedes, in Sonora, during the last three months of the year 183.1 K tonnes were milled @ 3.96 gpt Au, 44.8 gpt Ag, recovering 96.3% Au and 45.2% Ag, to produce 22,465 Oz Au, 119 K Oz Ag. For the year, 665.5 K tonnes were milled @ 3.34 gpt Au, 35.3 gpt Ag, recovering 96% Au, 40.9% Ag to produce 68,719 Oz Au, 309.2 K Oz Ag. By product cash cost and AISC were $609 and $795 per Au Oz, respectively. “Exploration drilling continued during the fourth quarter with 1,972 meters completed for a total drilling of 40,721 meters for the year”.  

ON FINANCING

  • Minera Alamos Inc. issued a correction to its previous press release, where it stated $4.93 M of gross proceeds on a non-brokered placement. In fact, Minera Alamos raised aggregate proceeds of $4.99 M, paying $280 K in commissions (La Fortuna, Durango; Santana, Sonora).
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. increased the size of its non-brokered private placement, originally for gross proceeds of $2.5 M, to $7 M (La Negra, Sonora; La Cigarra, Chihuahua).
  • McEwen Mining Inc. suspended the distribution of its dividend, stating lower revenues from operating issues at a couple of mines as the cause (El Gallo, Sinaloa).
  • Mako Mining Corp. closed its non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD$4.5 M (Trinidad, Sinaloa)

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mag Silver Corp. reported on results from a 48-hole diamond drilling program with a total of 46,060 m completed in late 2018 at the Juanicipio JV property (Fresnillo PLC 56% / Mag Silver 44%), designed to expand and infill the wide high-grade deep zone mineral resource. The program confirmed continuity to depth of high-grade mineralization in the East and West Valdecañas vein deep zones and in the Anticipada vein, discovering the new Pre-Anticipada vein in the hangingwall above the system. Highlighted intercepts include 11.6 m @ 783 gpt Ag, 2.57 gpt Au, 6.5% Pb, 9.5% Zn, 0.32% Cu at the deep west zone; 6.3 m @ 246 gpt Ag, 1.78 gpt Au, 7.2% Pb, 11.6% Zn, 0.40% Cu at the deep zone east; 6.2 m @ 275 gpt Ag, 4.02 gpt Au, 7.3% Pb, 9.2% Zn at the Anticipada vein; 3.2 m @ 472 gpt Ag, 0.31 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 0.4% Zn, 0.03% Cu at the Pre-Anticipada vein.
  • Mag Silver Corp. announced the discovery of the northeast trending Venadas vein at the Juanicipio property in Zacatecas. The vein was inferred from the alignment of fifteen previously unconnected intercepts before being cut in an underground development working as a 1.1 m vein @ 116 gpt Ag, 3.16 gpt Au. The first hole designed to test the Venadas vein cut 3.0 m (core length) @ 392 gpt Ag, 5.54 gpt Au. “Venadas is the first ever mineralized vein in the overall Fresnillo District oriented at a high angle to the historically mined NW oriented veins. Notably, other much larger NE structures with intense surface alteration are known farther afield within the Juanicipio property and are now priority exploration targets. None have ever been directly drilled.”

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Oroco Resource Corp. informed on the legal actions being taken to acquire interest in the Santo Tomás project in Sinaloa. “At present, the following initiatives, amongst others, are expected to validate and maintain the status quo of the titles and eventually remove any unwarranted ownership claims to the Santo Tomas Concessions as are currently being made by Aztec Copper Inc., an Arizona company, and its Mexican subsidiary, Prime Aztec Mexicana S.A de C.V.” (Santo Tomas, Sinaloa).
  • Alio Gold Inc. informed its chief executive officer, Greg McCunn is resigning to pursue other opportunities. The board of directors appointed Mark Backens as CEO, position which he has served previously on an interim basis (San Francisco, Sonora).
  • Great Panther Silver Ltd. completed the acquisition of Beadell Resources Ltd., owner of the Tucano mine in Brazil, with 1.3 M Oz Au in reserves. As part of the evolution in strategy, the company name has been changed to Great Panther Mining Ltd (Topia, Durango).

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

On the image above, weathered intrusive rock with oxidized quartz-sulphide veinlets in a Michoacán project. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

Pan American Silver Reports Mineral Reserves of 280 Million Ounces and Continued Success at the La Colorada Skarn Discovery

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PAS_2019_02_20_ Reserves NR

VANCOUVER , 20 de febrero de 2019 / CNW / –  Pan American Silver Corp.  (NASDAQ: PAAS) (TSX: PAAS) (“Pan American”, o la “Compañía”) reportaron hoy sus reservas y recursos minerales al 31 de diciembre. 2018 . Se estima que las reservas minerales de Pan American contienen aproximadamente 280 millones de onzas de plata y 1.7 millones de onzas de oro.