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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of July 2023

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By Jorge Cirett                                              During the 29th week of the year (July 17th to July 23rd, 2023), 21 companies working in Mexico posted news releases. Two companies informed on exploration work at its properties and five more reported second quarter 2023 results. One company informed on the closing of a private placement, while six companies reported on work at their advanced properties and six more informed on acquisitions, company’s plans and issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, mining companies are reflecting the changes in the business environment by making strategic moves, including diversification of the countries they operate in. The coal mine in Coahuila that registered two fatalities during the week had suspension orders since 2022.  Mining organization and experts question LitioMx ability to operate, and its almost non-existent budget. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Regency Silver informed on drilling at Dios Padre; Prismo Metals reported on the trenching program at Los Pavitos. In Sinaloa, Prismo Metals informed on drilling at Palos Verdes. ON MINING, Americas Gold and Silver, Bear Creek Mining, First Majestic Silver, Golden Minerals and Avino Silver released production results for Q2 2023. ON FINANCING, Guanajuato Silver announced a bought deal private placement with a sole underwriter. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Aura Minerals provided an exploration update for Aranzazu, in Zacatecas. First Majestic Silver reported exploration results from San Dimas, in Durango, and from Santa Elena, in Sonora. Heliostar Metals released drilling results from Ana Paula, in Guerrero, including the strongest gold intercept for Mexico in the year. GoGold Resources released drilling results from the Main Area of the Los Ricos South project in Jalisco. Gatos Silver updated on resource definition drilling at its Cerro Los Gatos property in Chihuahua. Endeavour Silver provided a construction update for its Terronera project in Jalisco. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Riverside Resources provided an outlook of its ongoing activities, including a strengthening of its diversification out from Mexico. Radius Gold informed on the extension of the exclusivity agreement with Fresnillo PLC on the Plata Verde project, in Chihuahua. Newmont included several references to the suspension of activities at Peñasquito, in Zacatecas, on its Q2 2023 report. Golden Tag Resources updated on the La Parrilla (Durango) acquisition from First Majestic. Excellon Resources announced the sudden termination of the acquisition process of La Negra project in Queretaro by the vendor. Sierra Metals informed the conclusion of the “Special Committee” formed last year to tackle the challenging circumstances the company is addressing. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news. ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Editor comments. The hostile stance at the mining industry since the instauration of the present federal administration in Mexico, which culminated with the passing of a mining law that is to practically stop any new exploration plays and make current operations riskier, is rendering results, with companies consolidating plans in their search for greener pastures. Riverside Resources is one of the few companies explicitly making public their diversification plans out from Mexico, but they are certainly not alone. Great Panther Silver is a company that bailed out before the president made the legal move to reflect its personal stance in the industry. Other companies are understandably doing the same, although the widespread anti-mining position in many countries generates second thoughts on the issue.
  • The Secretaría de Trabajo y Previsión Social (STPS-Work Bureau) pointed that the las visit to the Minera Fuga, in Coahuila, was in August 2022. During the review dangerous conditions were detected. Two workers died last week on the mine after falling 10 meters when the hoist winch failed. STPS ruled access restrictions and limitation of operations, which are still in force, “any operation of the mine is out of the law”.
  • Mining organizations and experts raise doubts on LitioMx ability to operate. Only US$2 M have been budgeted for exploration and evaluation of lithium deposits in 2023 and 2024. Just Bacanora Lithium has invested more than US$450 M in the definition of resources in its lithium-clay deposit in Sonora, as an example of the unreasonable amounts directed to the search for lithium. This is a large deposit with a questionable economic viability, as lithium is associated to clays, and an economic process to extract the lithium still has to be proved. In the World, 85% of lithium is mined from brines in dry lakes, and the rest from hard-rock pegmatites.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Regency Silver Corp. announced the completion of the phase 1 of the 2023 drilling program at its Dios Padre project in Sonora. Nine holes were drilled as follow up to the one that intercepted 35.8 m @ 6.84 gpt Au, 0.88% Cu, 22 gpt Ag and 9.8 m @ 13.97 gpt Au, 1.1% Cu, 50 gpt Ag on the 2022 program. Eight of nine holes intersected the target breccia zone down-dip and along strike, with the breccia appearing to widen with depth. A megacrystic quartz-feldspar porphyry appears to be the primary control for copper mineralization, with the high-grade sulfide breccia on the footwall of the porphyry. “The shallower intersections are more pyrite dominant with deeper intersections containing more specularite. Chalcopyrite appears to be highest in abundance where the breccia is proximal to the lower contact of the quartz-feldspar porphyry”. Final results will be released after reception and evaluation.
  • Prismo Metals Inc. reported that the trenching program at Los Pavitos property in Sonora has been completed. Results for 303 of the 347 samples collected from trenches have been received. “The trenching was generally focused on areas with little outcrop along strike from areas with quartz veining and high-grade surface assays”. Highlighted results comprise 6.4 m @ 0.1 gpt Au; 19.0 m @ 2.2 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag (including 4.0 m @ 10.3 gpt Au, 104 gpt Ag) at Auras, 18.5 m @ 0.2 gpt Au; 2.1 m @ 1.7 gpt Au; 8.0 m @ 0.5 gpt Au; 7.8 m @ 2.3 gpt Au, 13 gpt Ag; 2.5 m @ 0.9 gpt Au, 70 gpt Ag; 17.70 m @ 0.13 gpt Au at Santa Cruz and 1.40 m @ 0.74 gpt Au at Española.
  • Prismo Metals Inc. is in the process of completing a 2,500 m drill program on its Palos Verdes project, in Sinaloa. The program was designed to test areas without previous drill access. Eight holes have been completed for a total of 1,500 m and assays have been received for the first seven holes. Results are expected to be announced next week.

ON MINING

  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. provided Q2-2023 production results. The Cosalá operations in Sinaloa produced 335 K Oz Ag, 3.9 M Lb Pb, 9.9 M Lb Zn, benefitting from higher grade Ag areas in the upper zone of the San Rafael mine.
  • Bear Creek Mining Corp. announced production results for the second quarter of 2023. At the Mercedes mine in Sonora, 9,199 Oz Au, 39.8 K Oz Ag were produced by mining 121.5 K tonnes, processing 125.1 K tonnes grading 2.41 gpt Au, with a recovery of 94.54% Au during the period. Cut and fill mining was revised to room and pillar mining at San Martin and sub-level caving and sub-level stoping at Marianas. “Tonnes mined from the San Martin deposit are expected to double from 400 to 800 tonnes per day during Q3 2023 as the available working faces increase. The San Martin deposit contains 289k tonnes in Measured and Indicated Resources at an average grade of 6.6 g/t gold and is projected to account for roughly 50% of Mercedes’ gold production in the second half of the year”.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. released Q2 2023 production results. In Mexico, the company produced 2.63 M Oz Ag, 40,858 Oz Au (5.97 M Oz AgEq) from its operations at San Dimas in Durango, Santa Elena in Sonora and La Encantada in Coahuila. During the period 16 drill rigs were active in Mexico, eight at San Dimas (16,588 m of drilling), six at Santa Elena (16,373 m of drilling) and two (1,950 m of drilling) at La Encantada. For the year First Majestic aims to produce between 10.5 and 11.2 M Oz Ag and between 169 to 180 K Oz Au at cash cost between $12.33 and $12.71 and an AISC between $17.23 and $17.66.
  • Golden Minerals Co. reported production figures for Q2 2023. At Rodeo, in Durango, 154.4 K tonnes were mined, 54.3 K tonnes processed at a rate of 603 tonnes per day, averaging 1.6 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag, recovering 72.6% Au, 75.5% Ag, to produce 2,081 Oz Au, 11.5 K Oz Ag. The company also sold 656 tonnes of Au-rich pyrite concentrate, 118 tonnes of Ag-rich lead concentrate and 63 tonnes of Zn concentrate, produced from mineralized material from the Velardeña properties (also in Durango), material that was mined and stockpiled during 2022 as part of the test-mining program.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. announced production results for Q2 2023. At the Avino mine in Durango, 157.4 K tonnes were milled averaging 53 gpt Ag, 0.44 gpt Au, 0.49% Cu, recovering 87% Ag, 68% Au, 84% Cu, to produce 232.4 K Oz Ag, 1,520 Oz Au, 1.44 M Lb Cu, or 587.3 K Oz AgEq. Recent news includes the best drill intercept in the long history of the mine, and drilling results that probe the continuity of mineralization 1.1 km downdip from the surface outcrop. Metallurgical testing at the Oxide Tailings project has been completed, taking the resource to 5.7 M tonnes containing 17.4 M Oz AgEq. The Dry-Stack tailing facility is complete and operational.

ON FINANCING

  • Guanajuato Silver Co. announced a bought deal private placement with Cantor Fitzgerald Canada as the sole underwriter, for gross proceeds of C$8 M. “The Corporation shall pay to the Underwriter a cash commission equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering and 6.0% broker warrants based on the number of Units sold in the Offering” (El Cubo and Valenciana, Guanajuato).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Aura Minerals Inc. provided an exploration update from its properties, including from its operations at Aranzazu, in Zacatecas. Aura Silver controls 11,000 ha in the project area, and only 5% of the mineral claims have been drilled. Exploration efforts have focused on extending the life of mine (LOM) and building the basis for an increase in production capacity. Currently Aura has a LOM of seven years based on mineral reserves only. Several early stages targets have been identified, including “new copper-gold skarns, manto type polymetallic mineralization, and high-grade gold/silver veins”. For 2023, 29,400 m of drilling are intended to be completed, focusing on testing the continuity of the GH and Cabrestante areas, with drilling also planned for the El Cobre and Aranzazu extensions.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. reported exploration results from San Dimas in Durango and Santa Elena (Ermitaño Zone) in Sonora. At San Dimas, true width drilling intercepts from the Sinaloa North-Elia vein, the Santa Teresa vein and the Perez vein include 3.88 m @ 8.38 gpt Au, 763 gpt Ag; 0.98 m @ 5.84 gpt Au, 396 gpt Ag; 4.12 m @ 14.98 gpt Au, 89 gpt Ag; 5.69 m @ 5.41 gpt Au, 883 gpt Ag; 3.05 m @ 4.58 gpt Au, 740 gpt Ag; At Santa Elena, resource conversion holes, in addition to intercepts in the Ermitaño vein, multiple holes intersected mineralization in secondary veins located in the hanging and footwall of the Ermitaño vein, returning true width intercepts of 15.55 m @ 5.98 gpt Au, 222 gpt Ag; 13.3 m @ 4.27 gpt Au, 127 gpt Ag; 6.42 m @ 13.73 gpt Au, 150 gpt Ag; 1.96 m @ 3.39 gpt Au, 56 gpt Ag.
  • Heliostar Metals Ltd. reported drill results from two additional holes at the Ana Paula project in Guerrero. “The current drill program continues to demonstrate higher overall grades over broad widths relative to the current mineral resource” in Heliostar’s quest to evaluate the possible development of an underground mine. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 241.95 m @ 9.06 gpt Au (including 31.5 m @ 21.5 gpt Au; 35.2 m @ 23.6 gpt Au and 9.9 m @ 42.4 gpt Au); 104.1 m @ 6.14 gpt Au (including 19.5 m @ 15.1 gpt Au). These holes were drilled within the resource model with increases in grade to the expected intercept of 33% and 38%.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released drilling results from the Main Area of the Los Ricos South project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 14.0 m @ 1.77 gpt Au, 574 gpt Ag (including 2.3 m @ 10.30 gpt Au, 3,308 gpt Ag); 6.3 m @ 0.59 gpt Au, 86 gpt Ag; 16.2 m @ 0.70 gpt Au, 72 gpt Ag; 14.0 m @ 2.90 gpt Au, 85 gpt Ag; 17.5 m @ 0.60 gpt Au, 93 gpt Ag; 9.9 m @ 0.95 gpt Au, 334 gpt Ag; 11.9 m @ 1.28 gpt Au, 183 gpt Ag; 9.5 m @ 1.08 gpt Au, 186 gpt Ag; 5.4 m @ 1.97 gpt Au, 136 gpt Ag; 11.6 m @ 1.50 gpt Au, 165 gpt Ag; 22.5 m @ 1.20 gpt Au, 124 gpt Ag; 5.8 m @ 2.27 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag; 24.9 m @ 1.01 gpt Au, 104 gpt Ag; 7.1 m @ 1.25 gpt Au, 417 gpt Ag; 16.5 m @ 1.32 gpt Au, 153 gpt Ag; 17.3 m @ 2.53 gpt Au, 160 gpt Ag; 13.7 m @ 1.48 gpt Au, 213 gpt Ag. It is expected these holes will be included in an updated resource to be released by the end of the summer.
  • Gatos Silver Inc. provided an update on the definition and exploration drilling at its Cerro Los Gatos property in Chihuahua. Highlighted true width intercepts from resource definition drilling comprise 25.7 m @ 78 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 0.53% Cu, 2.1% Pb, 5.0% Zn; 9.5 m @ 87 gpt Ag, 0.18 gpt Au, 0.44% Cu, 1.9% Pb, 6.3% Zn; 2.7 m @ 192 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, 0.20% Cu, 8.0% Pb, 9.0% Zn; 3.8 m @ 181 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.28% Cu; 1.7% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 4.1 m @ 39 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 0.45% Cu, 1.1% Pb, 4.5% Zn; 2.7 m @ 91 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.61% Cu, 4.7% Pb, 11.4% Zn; 12.2 m @ 129 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 0.54% Cu, 1.1% Pb, 2.3% Zn; 10.0 m @ 146 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.45% Cu, 2.2% Pb, 3.2% Zn. The company’s exploration land package covers 103,000 ha, with over 50 targets identified to date. Mamba, Portigueño, Lince, Santa Ana and San Luis are some of the areas where current work is defining drilling targets through mapping, re-logging and re-interpretation, Lidar surveys and geophysics.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. provided a construction update for its Terronera project in Jalisco. More than $70 M have been spent since Q1 2022 (of a $144 M budget), with construction progress currently at 30%. Detail mill and surface facilities engineering is over 70% complete, the access road improvements are almost finished and the permanent camp facilities are at 90% completion. Nearly 600 m of underground development have been completed and the mill site earthworks have finalized. The workforce has increased to 83 employees and 390 contract workers. Upcoming work includes advancing the mill area concrete work, awarding the mill construction contract, receiving major mill components in Q3 and advancing Portal 2 and Portal 4 development for initial ore access in Q1 2024.  

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES             

  • Riverside Resources Inc. provided an outlook of its ongoing activities on the first half of the year, and its plans for the reminder of 2023. The company is diversifying its activities out from Mexico, strengthening objectives in Canada. Riverside consolidated the Union project in Sonora, with assays of up to 1 Oz per ton Au in the now controlled mine area. Another development is the royalty in the Tajitos asset (Sonora), with funds having been received from Fresnillo PLC, who is advancing the property.
  • Radius Gold Inc. informed the extension of the exclusivity agreement with Fresnillo PLC for the Plata Verde project in Chihuahua. “The amended Agreement provides Minera San Julian a 6-month extension to its Exclusivity Period from July 7, 2023 to January 7, 2024 to negotiate a Definitive Agreement that would include an option agreement to earn a 70% interest in the Plata Verde project. The amended Agreement also provides for interim funding by Minera San Julian of US$206,000 … as well as an additional advance of US$500,000 to fund initial drill testing”.  
  • Newmont Corp. announced second quarter 2023 results, including some information from its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. In June, Newmont suspended operations at Peñasquito to focus on finding an appropriate and sustainable resolution to the dispute with the leadership of the National Union of Mine and Metal Workers of the Mexican Republic. “Peñasquito incurred $23 million of operating costs and $15 million of depreciation and amortization due to the suspension of operations”.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. updated on the proposed acquisition of the La Parrila silver mine complex (in Durango) from First Majestic Silver Corp pursuant to the agreement announced in December 2022. The transaction is expected to close in August, its completion remains subject to the approval by Golden Tag shareholders and receipt of all regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. The company has already received approval from Mexico’s antitrust agency, the Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (COFECE) for the acquisition of La Parrilla. “Golden Tag has closed on two tranches of its non-brokered private placement financing of subscription receipts for aggregate gross proceeds of $6.9 million. The Company has received further subscription commitments, which when combined with the first two tranches, total in excess of $7.2 million”.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. announced the unexpectedly reception of a notice of termination of the previously announced acquisition of the La Negra project from the seller, Dalu S.ar.l., an entity owned by an investment fund managed by Orion Resource Partners. Consequently, the company is also announcing the termination of its previously announced subscription receipts offering, which was intended to finance the acquisition. Excellon is in advanced discussions with holders of more than 66-2/3% of the principal of its outstanding convertible debentures maturing on July 30, 2023 in the principal amount of C$17.9 M with a view to extending the maturity date and more broadly restructure the Debentures. “the Company continues to actively assess various interim financing options as well as other corporate development and strategic opportunities to complement the Company’s go-forward strategy, which may include divestitures, mergers or spin-offs of the Company’s assets to provide additional near term liquidity”.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. informed that in October 2022 a Special Committee integrated by the company’s independent directors “initiated a process to explore, review and consider options to optimize the operations of the Company as well as financing, restructuring and strategic options in the best interests of the Company”. The process has made progress towards stabilizing and optimizing operations, pumping and ventilation infrastructure implementation at the Bolivar mine in Chihuahua, increased throughput, appointment of officers and refinancing of secured debt repayment obligations that were due in 2023. As such, the “Special Committee” has been concluded. Some recommendations to follow include near term equity financing to provide working capital and flexibility, funding for longer term capital expansions and minimizing investment in non-core assets.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Vein ridge on a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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Hydrothermal breccia

By Miguel A Heredia

During the second week of the year (February 08th to February 14th, 2021), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 11 news published by the media, with nine disclosing deals and corporate issues, six announcing financial rounds, six reporting on resources and development of their mine operations, six commenting on Mexican issues, five informing on exploration results, five discussing social issues, and two communicating production and financial results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) criteria are a key factor in Accendo Banco’s investments in Mexico’s mining sector, according to its CEO, Javier Reyes. Mining in Mexico registered a 19.5% rebound during October, 2020, according to the Monthly Indicator of Industrial Activity by Federal Entity (IMAIEF) released by the Institute National Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Tatiana Clouthier, head of the Secretariat of Economy declared that mining in Mexico must become a sustainable activity that prioritizes three issues: economic, human and nature. The energy policies that the federal government is following are already affecting the development of projects for the self-supply of energy by the mining sector. Experts detailed the main challenges that the Mexican mining sector will face in 2021, the year in which the industry is expected to play a leading role in the economic reactivation after confinements. Almost a year of delay accumulates the USD $60M of Chinese investment to construct the industrial park at Guadalupe, Zacatecas.   ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Canuc commenced a drill program at its San Javier project, Carlyle and Riverside initiated a phase one drilling program at its Cecilia project, Tocvan and Colibri reported drill results from its El Pilar project, and Minaurum released results from its phase II drilling program conducted at its Alamo Silver project.   ON MINING, Equinox provided 2021 guidance and outlined growth and investment plan (Los Filos mine, Guerrero). GoGold reported Q4, 2020 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, Bacanora announced that 106,995,885 New Ordinary Shares were admitted to trading on London Stock Exchange market (Sonora Lithium project, Sonora). Silver Tiger announced that it entered into a CAD $20M bought deal financing (El Tigre, Sonora). Comet raised $1M in strategic investor placement (Santa Teresa project, Baja California). Orogen announced a private placement for gross proceeds of $2.7M (Ermitaño property, Sonora). Prospero Silver announced a consolidation of its common shares (Pachuca SE property, Hidalgo). SilverCrest entered into a bought deal financing agreement for aggregate gross proceeds of USD $120M (Las Chispas project, Sonora).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Bacanora commenced initial site activities at its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. Excellon provided an update on ongoing exploration at its Platosa mine in Durango. GR Silver released underground and surface drilling results from its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Newmont reported 2020 mineral reserves and resources for its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. Orla filed updated FS on its Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas. Southern Silver released drill results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Carlyle announced that it has now met its first-year exploration commitments of its option agreement with Riverside Resources to acquire 100% of the Cecilia Gold-Silver project. Fabled granted an aggregate of 350K stock options to certain consultants, to acquire one common share of Fabled at an exercise price of $0.22 per common share until September 1, 2021 (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua). Fortuna announced management changes (San Jose mine, Oaxaca). Gold Resource announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Arista mine, Oaxaca). Gold79announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors and granted him with 500K common shares at a price of $0.10 per share and expire on February 12, 2031 (Taviche project, Oaxaca). Orogen announced that its current President and Chief Executive Officer has been appointed to the Board of Directors (Ermitaño project, Sonora). Premier announced that two independent adviser firms have recommended that holders of Premier´s common shares and options approve the proposed acquisition of Equinox (Mercedes mine, Sonora). Tarachi Gold signed a purchase agreement with Manto Resources to acquire the Magistral del Oro mill and tailings project in Durango. Vizsla announced it will change its name to Vizsla Silver Corp (Panuco project, Sinaloa).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Coanzamex (GoGold) supported the Municipal Shelter of Parral, Chihuahua with blankets. Fresnillo plc organized literary caravan and delivered books to children from rural communities. Peñoles signed an alliance with the UNAM Foundation so that medical fellows serve the communities near its operating units in Durango, State of Mexico, Guerrero and Zacatecas. Peñoles encourages the presence of women in the areas of science, innovation and technological development. Santa Elena Mine (First Majestic) in connection with the Sonora A.C. Mining Cluster are carrying out a support program for merchants in the Banámichi and Río Sonora region.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) criteria are a key factor in Accendo Banco’s investments in Mexico’s mining sector, according to its CEO, Javier Reyes. Investment deals recently advanced by the bank include a proposed USD $12M loan to finance construction of Telson Mining’s Tahuehueto gold mine in Durango. Candelaria Mining also signed a USD $9M loan agreement with Accendo in June 2020 for the construction of its Pinos gold project in Zacatecas. Lastly, Accendo signed a strategic alliance with Vancouver-based Empress Royalty in August last year. The agreement aims to acquire royalties, cash flows and other investments in Mexico’s mining sector.
  • Mining in Mexico, registered a 19.5% rebound during October, 2020 according to the Monthly Indicator of Industrial Activity by Federal Entity (IMAIEF), released by the Institute National Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
  • Tatiana Clouthier, head of the Secretariat of Economy declared that mining in Mexico must become a sustainable activity that prioritizes three issues: economic, human and nature. On the other hand, Clouthier highlighted the work that mining companies of all levels have done to accelerate the economic reactivation of the country. “The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that is generated through mining is about 3.2% and we are pleased to see that these numbers can continue to move in favor of the economy and Mexican families,” she said. “In the Ministry of Economy we have already invited large, medium and small companies and associations that are linked to this issue to be able to find solutions, to be able, within the framework of the law, to activate what we have to activate for this task it can be managed better and it can yield better results in favor of our country”, she assured.
  • The energy policies that the federal government is following are already affecting the development of projects for the self-supply of energy by the mining sector. According to data from the Mexico Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), electricity for this industry is 33% and up to 350% more expensive compared to other countries, which increases its production costs. That is why the mining companies have decided to invest and develop electricity generation projects, which range from combined cycle plants to solar or wind farms. Despite this, many of these plans have been affected by current policies on energy and the action of regulatory bodies, such as the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), which reduced the granting of permits to a minimum. President of CAMIMEX assured in recent days that half of the energy consumed by the mining industry is under the self-supply model.
  • Experts detailed the main challenges that the Mexican mining sector will face in 2021, the year in which the industry is expected to play a leading role in the economic reactivation after confinements. The main problems for the sector are the current health complications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of directly or indirectly legislative proposals with potential negative impacts on the mining sector such as the direct initiatives to try to raise taxes at the state of federal level or indirect initiatives as the elimination of the outsourcing or initiatives of the electricity industry. Deputies of Mexico received in January a proposal from a legislator of the ruling party Morena aimed at reviewing the fees paid for mining concessions. It proposed replacing per hectare fees with potentially much higher charges linked to production. Another problem is the “profound ignorance” of the importance of the mining industry.
  • Almost a year of delay accumulates the USD $60M of Chinese investment to construct the industrial park at Guadalupe, Zacatecas. This delay has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.   

ON EXPLORATION

  • Canuc Resources Corporation, commenced a drill program at its San Javier project. The program will be focused on testing geophysical anomalies and mineralized breccia and stockwork zones as reported previously.
  • Carlyle Commodities Corp. and Riverside Resources Inc., initiated a six drill holes, phase one program at its Cecilia project designed to test down to roughly 250m in depth over the Cerro Magallanes rhyolitic dome. The drill program will commence to test the San Jose structure where sampling returned values up to 48.3 g/t Au over 0.75m at surface.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. and Colibri Resource Corporation reported drill results from its phase one drilling program performed at its El Pilar project in Sonora, which consisted of nine RC holes for a total of 1,505m. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole JES-20-32 with 1.6 g/t Au over 94.6m, including 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag over 9.2m; hole JES-20-33 with 1.1 g/t Au over 41.2m, including 6 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag over 3.1m; and hole JES-20-36 with 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag over 24.4m, including 6.3 g/t Au and 192 g/t Ag over 9.2m, including 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag over 1.5m.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., released results from its phase II drilling program conducted at its Alamo Silver project. “Drilling at the Europa-Guadalupe target outlined a prospective south-west (“SW”) plunging silver shoot along with the potential for additional high-grade mineralization to the north and south of the area drilled. At the Promontorio target, drilling returned high-grade mineralization in excess of 100m below historical workings, indicating the potential for two SW-plunging silver shoots”. At Europa-Guadalupe Zone, Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole AL20-054 with 342 g/t Ag, 0.76% Cu, and 1% Zn over 3.85m, including 1,185 g/t Ag, 2.19% Cu, and 1.2% Zn over 0.8m; and hole AL20-050 with 196 g/t Ag, 0.26% Cu, 0.35% Pb, and 1.1% Zn over 3.25m, including 784 g/t Ag, 1.05% Cu, and 2.5% Zn over 0.55m. At Promontorio Zone, hole AL20-064 intersected 528 g/t Ag, 0.8 g/t Au, 0.83% Cu, 2.4% Pb, and 1.5% Zn over 3.7m, including 1,203 g/t Ag, 2.45 g/t Au, 1.4% Cu, 5.1% Pb, and 2.8% Zn over 1.05m; and hole AL20-069 with 161 g/t Ag, 0.5 g/t Au, 0.24% Cu, 2.15% Pb, and 5.9% Zn over 4m, including 327 g/t Ag, 0.9 g/t Au, 0.23% Cu, 2.5% Pb, and 6.6% Zn over 1m. At San Jose Zone, hole AL20-066 encountered 314 g/t Ag, 0.27% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 4.45m, and hole AL20-075 with 460 g/t Ag, 0.15% Cu, 0.5% Pb, and 0.85% Zn over 2.15m. At Travesia Zone, hole AL20-077 intersected  210 g/t Ag, 0.59% Cu, 1.3% Pb, and 1.3% Zn over 4.4m, including 355 g/t Ag, 0.7 g/t Au, 1.02% Cu, 4.6% Pb, and 3.2% Zn over 0.9m.

ON MINING

  • Equinox Gold Corp., provided 2021 guidance and outlined growth and investment plan. It expects to produce 170K-190K Oz Au from its Los Filos mine in Guerrero at cash and AISC of USD $1,125-1,200 and USD $1,330-1,390 respectively. The company has planned a total sustaining and non-sustaining capital spend of USD $133M for the year.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., reported Q4, 2020 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. The company produced 298.6KOz Ag, 3,632 Oz Au and 280K Lb Cu (614.15K Oz AgEq) at cash and AISC of USD $12.27 and USD $15.19 per Oz Ag sold. GoGold reported revenue of USD $14,078M, a net income of USD $4.23M, and a cash flow from operation of USD $5.86M.  

ON FINANCING

  • Bacanora Lithium plc., announced that 106,995,885 New Ordinary Shares were admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange market (Sonora Lithium project, Sonora).
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., announced that it entered into a CAD $20M bought deal financing with Sprott Capital Partners LP.  Net proceeds will be used to fund continued exploration at its El Tigre project in Sonora, as well as for general working capital and business development purposes.
  • Comet Resources Ltd., announced that it raised $1M in strategic investor placement. Part of the raised funds will be used to support exploration activities at its (Santa Teresa project in Baja California.
  • Orogen Royalties Inc., announced a private placement for gross proceeds of $2.7M (Ermitaño property, Sonora).
  • Prospero Silver Corp., announced a consolidation of its common shares on the basis of one new post-consolidation common share for every three pre-consolidation common shares effective as of February 11, 2021.  There will be no name change or trading symbol change in conjunction with the consolidation (Pachuca SE property, Hidalgo).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., entered into a bought deal financing agreement for aggregate gross proceeds of USD $120M. Net proceeds of the offering will be used to expand resources and reserves at its Las Chispas project in Sonora through further drilling, to optimize the mine and processing plant design, to explore regional targets, and for general working capital purposes. 

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Bacanora Lithium plc., commenced initial site activities at its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. Bacanora engaged a local specialist ecological service company to rescue and remove surface vegetation and topsoil in the area proposed for the construction of the processing plant. The company is also upgrading the main access road for providing access to heavy equipment to commence the bulk site earthworks later in the year.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., provided an update on ongoing exploration at its Platosa mine in Durango. The company is drilling regional targets such as Jaboncillo and the PDN areas, as well as drilling the Platosa extensions and Platosa Underground to support resource definition and expansion. At Jaboncillo zone, located 11 km north of Platosa mine, Excellon identified in a previous drilling campaign a 1.2km length gossans mineralization.  The current drilling program is targeting the source of these gossans and the existence of massive sulphides. At PDN zone, located 2 km north of Platosa mine, it is testing a large 800m by 60m target generated with multiple sets of geophysical data, surface mapping and sampling. This target is interpreted as a deeper skarn related to the Rincon del Caido  skarn discovered in 2012 where a previous drill intercept encountered 132 g/t Ag, 3.1% Pb, 1.7% Zn, and 0.075 g/t Au (278 g/t AgEq) over 55.5m. At the 10-20 target, the company has been conducting drilling surface to add mineralization over approximately 300m of strike with a vertical extent of 30-40m. This zone has potential to significantly increase the current 800m by 600m mineralized footprint of the Platosa mine.  At Platosa mine, Excellon is conducting underground drilling to define mineralization ahead of mine development and add mineralized inventory in areas not adequately tested by surface drilling. This underground drilling program follows up on previous drilling of the Pierna and NE-1 mantos and depth extensions of the 623 and NE-1S mantos.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., released underground and surface drilling results from its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Significant mineralization was encountered in hole PLI-20-05 with 2.63 g/t Au, 39 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 4m, including 8.95 g/t Au, 136 g/t Ag,0.4% Cu,  0.6% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (1,101 g/t AgEq) over 1.0m, and other deeper intersection of 2.77 g/t Au, 25 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over 9.2m, including 19.95 g/t Au, 227 g/t Ag, 1% Cu, 1.3% Pb, and 4.7% Zn (2,507 g/t AgEq) over 0.20m; and hole PLI17-32 with 1.37 g/t Au, 68 g/t Ag, 0.1% Cu, 0.4% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (245 g/t AgEq) over 10.6m. “The underground drilling program is targeting high-grade Ag-Au epithermal mineralization and bulk tonnage-style polymetallic mineralization in the Plomosas Mine Area, with the objective to delineate high margin precious and base metals mineralization for planned resource estimation”.
  • Newmont Corporation reported 2020 mineral reserves and resources for its Peñasquito and Noche Buena mines. Figures are shown in the tables below:

(Resources are reported exclusive of reserves)

  • Orla Mining Ltd., filed updated FS on its Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas. Highlights include a total ore to leach pad of 67.4M tonnes of 0.73 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag for a total of 1.59M Oz Au and 31.5M Oz Ag at metallurgical recoveries of 62% and 20% respectively to recover 980K Oz Au and 6.19M Oz Ag. The mine life of Camino Rojo has been estimated in 10.4 years with a throughput rate of 18,000 tonnes per day for an annual production of 94K Oz Au, at a cash and AISC cost of USD $490 and USD $543 per Oz Au respectively. The FS reported a Pre-Tax and NVP (5% discount rate)  of USD $668M, Pre-Tax IRR of 82%, an After-Tax and NVP (5% discount rate) of USD $542M,and an After-Tax IRR of %62%, for a payback time of 1.5 years.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., released drill results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. The company intersected bonanza grades at La Bocona Chimney in hole 20CLM-131 with 1,072 g/t Ag, 18.8% Pb, and 7.5% Zn (2,040 g/t AgEq or 51.7% ZnEq) over a true width (TW) of 8m, which includes subintervals of 3,180 g/t Ag, 58.8% Pb, and 2.3% Zn over a TW of 0.6m, and 2,340 g/t Ag, 35.9% Pb, and 1.6% Zn over a TW of 0.8m. Additional mineralized intervals intersected further down-hole include 121 g/t Ag, 2.5% Pb, and 2.5% Zn (311 g/t AgEq or 7.9% ZnEq) over a TW of 8.5m, including 413 g/t Ag, 8.7% Pb, and 9.3% Zn (1,103 g/t AgEq or 28% ZnEq) over a TW of 1.6m, including 59 g/t Ag, 0.6 g/t Au, an 3.7% Cu (489 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.5m. Additional assays results were also received from the Muralla and the South Skarn targets located 500m away of the Mina La Bocona. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole 20CLM-134 with 205 g/t Ag, 0.16 g/t Au, 4% Pb, and 0.9% Zn (377 g/t AgEq or 9.5% ZnEq) over a TW of 4.1m, including 575 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 9.9% Pb, and 2.2% Zn (972 g/t AgEq or 24.7% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.6m in the Muralla target; hole 20CLM-126 with 95 g/t Ag, 0.7% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (174 g/t AgEq or 4.4% ZnEq), including 398 g/t Ag, 0.16 g/t Au, 2.7% Pb, and 4% Zn (679 g/t AgEq or 17.2% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.7min the South Target Zone, and hole 20CLM-130 with 327 g/t Ag, 5.6% Pb, and 11.5% Zn (960 g/t AgEq or 24.4% ZnEq) over a TW of 1m in the South Target Zone.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Carlyle Commodities Corp., announced that it has now met its first-year exploration commitments of its Option Agreement with Riverside Resources to acquire 100% of the Cecilia Gold-Silver project, by having advanced at least CAD $750K for exploration expenditures.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., granted an aggregate of 350K stock options to certain consultants, to acquire one common share of Fabled at an exercise price of $0.22 per common share until September 1, 2021 (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua).
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., announced the resignation of its Director and Chair of the Board, and the appointment of its replacement (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).
  • Gold Resource Corporation announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Arista mine, Oaxaca).
  • Gold79 Mines Ltd., announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors and granted him 500K common shares at a price of $0.10 per share and expires on February 12, 2031 (Taviche project, Oaxaca).
  • Orogen Royalties Inc., announced that its current President and Chief Executive Officer has been appointed to the Board of Directors (Ermitaño project, Sonora).
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited announced that two independent adviser firms have recommended that holders of Premier´s common shares and options approve the proposed acquisition of Equinox Gold Corp. (Mercedes mine, Sonora). 
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., signed a purchase agreement with Manto Resources SA de CV to acquire the Magistral del Oro mill and tailings project in Durango.  Magistral project consists of a 1,000 tons per day (TPD) Merrill-Crow tailings reprocessing  plant and tailing disposal facility, and access to an estimated 1.3M tonnes of tailings with a historic average grade of between 2.06 g/t Au and 2.11 g/t Au. In order to acquire the property, Tarachi has to issue 4M of its common shares, grant Manto with a 15% net profits royalty on the estimated 1.3M tonnes of tailings material expected to be processed and reimburse Manto for USD $1,179,500 of cash outlays, and will satisfy certain obligations of Manto by paying a total of USD $1,111,000 plus any Mexican value add tax (IVA) and issuing 1,685,916 common shares within 90 days of closing. Manto will be entitled to the following staged bonus payments: an additional 4M common shares 60 days after the closing date, 4M common shares 180 days after the closing date, 4M of common shares 365 days after the closing date, USD $500K in cash following 6 months of commercial production at Magistral, USD $500K in cash following 12 months of commercial production at Magistral, upon the company earning USD $15M in revenue from Magistral, the company will pay Manto USD $1M. Finally, a finder´s fee of 1M common shares will be issued to Spirit Exploration Corp.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp., announced it will change its name to Vizsla Silver Corp. The name change is expected to be effective on February 9, 2021 (Panuco project, Sinaloa). 

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Coanzamex (GoGold Resources Inc.) delivered blankets to the Parral Municipality Shelter. Major of Parral thanked the spirit of solidarity that has characterized the mining company that has operated in Parral, Chihuahua for several years.
  • Fresnillo plc organized literary caravan and delivered 10,000 books to children and adolescents from 23 communities in Caborca, Sonora.  It should be mentioned that Fresnillo plc, in alliance with the IBBY México organization, encourages children’s reading through the “Picando Letras” program, which has been implemented for some time more than 8 years and, to date, approximately more than 2,500 infants and adolescents have participated in the various actions.
  • Industrias Peñoles SAB de CV signed an alliance with the UNAM Foundation so that medical fellows serve the communities near its operating units Durango, State of Mexico, Guerrero and Zacatecas. For more than 10 years, Peñoles has carried out Health Days to the communities near its operations, to provide free medical care to its neighbors. To give continuity to preventive health programs among the population with fewer resources, Peñoles ratified an agreement with the UNAM Foundation whereby eight social service providers of the University will provide medical care to the communities surrounding the Velardeña, Sabinas, Tizapa, and Capela mines.
  • Industrias Peñoles SAB de CV encourages the presence of women in the areas of science, innovation and technological development. Its General Director, Rafael Rebollar, points out that, fortunately, more women are joining the different mining processes, contributing their talent and skills. The Central Laboratory and the Center for Research and Technological Development (CIDT) of Peñoles stand out, with 35 women who carry out functions key to mining and metallurgical processes. Thus, Peñoles reiterates its commitment to society by integrating more women scientists in the industry, through programs that expand their knowledge and allow them to innovate in the processes, which contributes to strengthening the activity mining and make it more sustainable.
  • Santa Elena Mine (First Majestic) in connection with the Sonora A.C. Mining Cluster are carrying out a support program for local merchants in the Banámichi and Río Sonora region. Through a workshop, they seek to provide the necessary tools to promote the economic reactivation of businesses and overcome the barriers of the pandemic using new digital marketing tool to offer its products and services. This training was offered in virtual mode where the last session was completed in person, ending with the delivery of recognitions to the participants.

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 hydrothermal breccia in a low sulphidation epithermal system in a prospect in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia., Mexico.

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Rich-Mn jasperoid

By Miguel A Heredia

During the forty one week of the year (October 5th to October 11th, 2020), at least 27 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 10 news published by the media, with seven informing on exploration results, seven announcing financial rounds, seven commenting on Mexican issues, six disclosing deals and corporate issues, six communicating production and financial results, three discussing social issues, and one reporting on resources and development of their mine operations  ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX) and other organizations in the mining sector urged the federal government to maintain the operations of the Mining Fund, which has counted, until now, with an amount of MXP $22,000M (about $1B). The fate of the Fund for the Development of Mining Production Zones (Mining Fund), which had drastically changed its distribution in the last two years, is now more uncertain. Alvaro Burgos Barrera, the State Secretary of Economic Development of Guerrero, stated that Mining fund distributed MXP $300M for urban infrastructure in seven municipalities of the state, but now this support won´t arrive anymore at the entity after the disappearance of such program, at the initiative of the current federal government. Mining companies operating in Mexico demanded to guarantee the resources of the Mining Fund to the mining communities. The mining sector of Zimapan, Hidalgo spoke against the extinction of the Mining Fund. Mexico loses shine to attract mining investment. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador plans to take a decision on how to manage Mexico’s lithium resources soon.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Riverside reported assay results from 55 channel samples and 181 soil samples taken at its Cuarentas property and announced it is preparing a drill program. In Chihuahua, Kootenay released drilling results from its Columba project and announced the discovery of a broad area of Ag mineralization.  In Sinaloa, Brigadier reported exploration results from the El Placer vein system within its Picachos project, Prismo received environmental permit from SEMARNAT to drill 5 holes at its Palos Verdes project, and Vizsla reported drill results from its Panuco property.  In Zacatecas, Advance Gold reported drill results from two holes collared at its Tabasquena project. In Guanajuato, VanGold released assays from underground channel sampling carried out at its Pinguico property.  ON MINING, Aura reported preliminary Q3, 2020 production results from its Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas. GoGold reported Q3, 2020 production activities from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. Endeavour announced Q3, 2020 production results from their Mexican operations. Great Panther released production results from their Topia mine in Durango and Guanajuato Mine Complex in Guanajuato for the period Q3, 2020. Hecla announced production results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango for the period Q3, 2020.Torex reported Q3, 2020 production results from its El Limon-Guajes mine complex in Guerrero. ON FINANCING, Almadex announced a proposed non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of approximately $1.35M (El Chato project, Puebla). Barksdale granted stock options to its directors, employees and consultants (San Javier project, Sonora). Comet raised $1M under its share purchase plane with approximately 180 shareholders participating (Santa Teresa project, Baja California). Golden Tag announced that it has initiated the process to have its common shares trading on the OTCQB Venture Market and the repricing of 9.9M incentive stock options. Inomin closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $400,500 (La Gitana project, Oaxaca). Santacruzclosed the first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $7,629,279.02. Mexus announced that it has completed a 1 for 20 reverse split of its stock (Santa Elena mine, Sonora).   ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexus announced that its ball mill gravity gold recovery system is now operational, allowing the company to run high grade material from the Julio quartz vein at its Santa Elena mine located in Caborca, Sonora.    ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Avino announced that it achieved a successful resolution to the strike at its Avino mine in Durango. Gold Resource announced its intent to spin-off in two separate companies its Nevada and Oaxaca Mining Unit (Arista Mine, Oaxaca).  Gray Rock announced the change of its name to Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd (Ana Maria project, Durango). Impact Silver executed a letter of intent to option the Nuevo Taxco project in Guerrero to Road Oak Mining Corp. Osisko announced spin-out of mining assets and creation of a premier North American Gold Development Company (San Antonio project, Sonora).  Silver Dollar reported that it is evaluating to transfer its Canadian exploration projects to a new subsidiary with the aim of position the company to be focus on the exploration and development of its advanced stage la Joya property in Durango. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver) fulfilled an agreement with the Oaxaca community to extend the hours of attention to patients at the Health Center of the Municipal Headquarters.  In the Municipality of Guadalupe y Calvo, Chihuahua, 11 school domes were inaugurated, of which 6 were made with resources from the Mining Fund and five in coordination with the Municipality and the State. Industrias Peñoles SAB de CV faces firmly the new challenges posed by the pandemic.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX) and other organizations in the sector urged the federal government to maintain the operations of the Mining Fund, which has counted, until now, with an amount of MXP $22,000M (about $1.04B),  with an impact on 690 communities. The Mining Fund was created with the objective of benefiting the populations where the resources were generated.
  • The fate of the Fund for the Development of Mining Production Zones (Mining Fund), which had drastically changed its distribution in the last two years, is now more uncertain. The resources collected between 2014 and 2018 have been used for the installation and maintenance of public lighting, sanitary landfills, water treatment plants, drainage works. Public jets and environmental projects such as reforestation, etc. In 2019, it was decreed that these resources be distributed in a general way in the country through the Ministry of Public Education (SEP), which reduces the possibility of continuing with the development of mining communities. It goes against the principles by which it was generated: to distribute the Mining Fund among mining states and municipalities to promote high-impact infrastructure works.
  • Alvaro Burgos Barrera, the State Secretary of Economic Development of Guerrero, stated that Mining fund distributed MXP $300M for urban infrastructure in seven municipalities, but now this support won´t arrive anymore at the entity after the disappearance of such program, at the initiative of the current federal government.
  • Mining companies operating in Mexico demanded to guarantee the resources of the Mining Fund to the mining communities claiming that is was created with the spirit of benefiting the populations where the resources are generated. The Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX) asked the federal government to guarantee the application of resources from the Fund for the Development of Mining Production Zones for the benefit of the more than 690 mining communities in the country located in 212 municipalities in 24 states of the Mexican Republic. That is the commitment 27 made by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador during his protest, which states: “The tax charged to companies for the extraction of the mineral will be transferred to the mining communities.”
  • The mining sector of Zimapan, Hidalgo spoke against the extinction of the Mining Fund. The federal initiative to disappear 109 trusts with an economic sum of almost MXP $68.5 would cause Hidalgo to stop receiving part of those funds, in different lines, including the one focused on Science and Technology as well as the extractive mineral industry. One of the first impacts would be the cancellation of economic resources for the urban infrastructure of the municipality.
  • Mexico loses shine to attract mining investment. After disagreements between the federal government and the mining industry, last year Mexico fell nine places in investment attractiveness for the mining industry, going from 29th place in 2018 to 38th in 2019. The federal government has been clear that no mining concessions will be granted during this administration. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has declared that 40 percent of the national territory was concessioned and it is about stopping them “because with what has been granted, it is enough for millions of years.” Karen Flores, general director of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), refuted this statement and points out that 24 thousand 66 mining concession titles are in force in Mexico, representing 16.83 million hectares, equivalent to 8.59 percent of the national territory, for which is a myth to affirm that practically the entire national territory is concessioned to mining. At least 84 projects were postponed in 2019 due to different factors that affect their competitiveness, such as the price of metals, a higher tax burden, delays or rejections of permits, and uncertainty regarding possible changes in existing regulations, as well as in mining public policies, according to CAMIMEX.
  • President Andrés Manuel López Obrador plans to take a decision on how to manage Mexico’s lithium resources soon. As is known, the government considers nationalizing the metal for batteries, whose demand is expected to increase in the coming decades to meet the growing manufacture of electric vehicles. What will be analyzed is to see if the country will opt for a total nationalization or to count with stricter controls on concessions, since all minerals belong to the State under Mexican law. While Mexico is not yet a lithium-producing country, this is expected to change in 2023 when project production begins in Sonora. Sonora is home to one of the largest lithium deposits in the world.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Riverside Resources Inc., reported assay results from 55 channel samples and 181 soil samples taken at its Cuarentas property in Sonora and announced it is preparing a drill program to test some outlined targets. Highlights of the channel sampling include 9.1 g/t Au over 3.4m, including 32.9 g/t Au over 0.8m; 21.7 g/t Au over 1.6m; and 6.3 g/t Au over 1.2m. The soil program was done using a grid of 50 meter spaced lines and 25 meter spacing between samples. The soil sampling has defined a continuous 550 m long high-grade gold-in-soil anomaly which merges the Santa Rosalia and Santa Rosalia Sur as Centro de Rosalia and cumulates more than 1.7 km with higher-grade gold mineralization. Highlights include results of up to 0.9 g/t Au.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., released drilling results from the J-Z zone within its Columba project in Chihuahua, and announced the discovery of a broad area of at least 320m long, 460m deep, and an average width of 60m with high grade Ag mineralization in hydrothermal breccias.  The mineralized system is open laterally on strike and at depth. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole CDH-20-061 with 43 g/t Ag over 30.85m, including 164 g/t Ag over 1m and 63 g/t Ag over 8m, as well as 54 g/t Ag over 7.85m, including 144 g/t Ag over 2m; hole CDH-20-062 with 93 g/t Ag over 11.6m including 115 g/t Ag over 8.3m and including 161 g/t Ag over 1m; hole CDH-20-063 with 91 g/t Ag over 9m, including 187 g/t Ag over 2.49m, including 762 g/t Ag over 0.49m; hole CDH-20-065 with 106 g/t Ag over 7m; hole 69 g/t Ag over 25.5m, including 154 g/t Ag over 9m, including 773 hg/t Ag over 1.5m; hole CDH-20-030 with 76 g/t Ag over 8.9m, including 173 g/t Ag over 3.3m, as well as 200 g/t Ag over 25.85m, including 415 g/t Ag over 11.15m, including 721 g(t Ag over 4.07m, and including 982 g/t Ag over 1.9m; and hole CDH-20-060 with 132 g/t Ag over 64m, including 226 g/t Ag over 9m, including 1,025 g/t Ag over  1m, as well as 229 g/t Ag over 22m, including 608 g/t Ag over 5m, including 1,160 g/t Ag over 1m.  
  • Brigadier Gold Limited, reported exploration results from the El Placer vein system within its Picachos project in Sinaloa. This vein system has been traced now for at least 4km along strike and comprises multiple parallel veins over a trend width ranging from 60 to 160 metres. Sample assay highlights include 7.4 g/t Au over 3.2m; 12.8 g/t Au, 54 g/t Ag, 0.1% Cu, 7.7% Pb, and 6.73% Zn over 0.5m; and 101 g/t Ag, 0.3% Cu, 2% Pb, and 11.6% Zn over 1m.
  • Prismo Metals Inc., received environmental permit from SEMARNAT for its Palos Verdes project in Sinaloa. “The Palos Verdes drilling program will consist of about five holes, with the longest hole planned at 150-175m, designed to test the vein on strike and below the high-grade intercepts from a previous drill program carried out in May 2018. The best intercept from that program was 8.42 g/t Au and 2,336 g/t Ag, over an estimated 0.8m true width”.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp., reported results from its current drill program at its Panuco property in Sinaloa. Significant drill intersects were encountered at hole NP-20-25 with 2.02 g/t Au, 255 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 0.6% Zn (449 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 15.3m; and hole NP-20-27 with 8.7 g/t Au, 870 g/t Ag, 0.8% Pb, and 2% Zn (1,696 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.58m. 
  • Advance Gold Corp., reported drill results from two holes collared at its Tabasquena project in Zacatecas, to test a 3,500m long continuous high chargeability Induced Polarization (IP) anomaly. Hole AGT-15 intercepted 122 g/t over a narrow interval of 0.33m, 198 g/t Ag over 2.23m, and 664 g/t Ag over 2.15m; and hole AGT-16 intercepted 0.7% Pb and 2.6% Zn over 6.5m, including 2.27% Pb and 5.45% Zn over 1.3m. A new geophysical survey will be underway within days to determine east to west dimensions of the geophysical anomaly at the northern end.
  • VanGold Mining Corp., released assays from channel sampling carried out at its Pinguico property in Guanajuato.  “El Pinguico vein system between the 4th and 6th levels (from approximately 130m to 185m below surface), covering an area approximately 55 meters in height, by 60 meters in width and where the stopped out area, plus remaining vein material, ranges from 1.5 meters to 5.5 meters wide.  This exposure is adjacent to the El Pinguico shaft where crews continue to remove material blocking access to the #7 adit level”. Significant assays are 1.72 g/t Au and 630 g/t Ag (9.59 g/t AuEq or 767 g/t AgEq) over 1.6m; 4 g/t Au and 404 g/t Ag (9.05 g/t AuEq or 724 g/t AgEq) over 1.3m; and 4.59 g/t Au and 4566 g/t Ag (10.41 g/t AuEq or 833 g/t AgEq) over 1.2m. A weighted average grade of the underground sampling was 2.5 g/t Au and 363 g/t Ag (6.71 g/t AuEq or 537 g/t AgEq). Additionally, VanGold announced that a drill program will commence in the third week of November. It will consist of 14 holes for a total of 2,230m of HQ and/or NQ drilling.

ON MINING

  • Aura Minerals Inc., reported preliminary Q3, 2020 production results from its Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas. It produced 5,881 Oz Au, 101, 379 Oz Ag, and 6,921 Lb Cu (17,909 Oz AuEq).
  • GoGold Resources Inc., reported Q3, 2020 production activities from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. The company produced 300,740 Oz Ag, 3,414 Oz Au, and 282.2K Lb Cu (a total of 605,287 Oz AgEq).
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., announced Q3, 2020 production results from their Mexican mine operations: Guanacevi in Durango, Bolañitos in Guanajuato, and El Compas in Zacatecas. Figures are summarized in the below table:
  • Great Panther Mining Limited, released production results from their Topia mine in Durango and Guanajuato Mine Complex in Guanajuato for the period Q3, 2020. At Topia, Durango, the company processed 20,292 tonnes of 0.85 g/t Au and 353 g/t Ag, at metallurgical recoveries of 55.5% and 92.5% respectively to produce 308 Oz Au, 213,320 Oz Ag, 1M Lb Pb, and 1.25M Lb Zn (383,897 Oz AgEq). At Guanajuato Mine Complex, Great Panther processed 45,101 tonnes of 1.59 g/t Au, and 131 g/t Ag at metallurgical recoveries of 83.4% and 85.5% respectively to produce 1,919 Oz Au and 161,927 Oz Ag (334,675 Oz AgEq).
  • Hecla Mining Company, announced production results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango for the period Q3, 2020.The company produced 1,931 Oz Au and 0.3M Oz Ag, for a total production of 6K Oz Au and 0.8M Oz Ag during the first 9 months of 2020.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., reported Q3, 2020 production results from its El Limon-Guajes mine complex in Guerrero. The company produced 131,790 Oz Au and sold 133,030 Oz Au at an average realized price of $1,880 per Oz. Torex has produced 299,830 Oz Au and sold 304,230 Oz Au  through the first nine months of 2020, at an average realized gold price of $1,735 per Oz.

ON FINANCING

  • Almadex Minerals Ltd., announced a proposed non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of approximately $1.35M. The company intends to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes (El Chato project, Puebla).
  • Barksdale Resources Corp., granted stock options to its directors, employees and consultants to purchase up to 925K common shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share  (San Javier project, Sonora).
  • Comet Resources Limited, raised $1M under its share purchase plane with approximately 180 shareholders participating. These funds are in addition to the $2M raised under the previous placement completed in September 2020. Part of the proceeds raised will be used to fund activities at its Santa Teresa project in Baja California.
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd., announced that it has initiated the process to have its common shares trading on the OTCQB Venture Market and the repricing of 9.9M incentive stock options from $0.325 to $0.33 (San Diego property, Durango).
  • Inomin Mines Ltd., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $400,500. The company will use the gross proceeds to establish operations in Mexico to move forward with the La Gitana project in Oaxaca.  
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., closed the first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $7,629,279.02. Gross proceeds will be used to purchase underground equipment for its Zimapan property in Hidalgo and for general working capital and corporate purposes. Santacruz also announced that due to the strong demand it has further increased the size of the private placement to up to $10M. Closing of remain tranche(s) of the private placement is expected to occur on or before October 14, 2020.
  • Mexus Gold US, announced that it has completed a 1 for 20 reverse split of its stock. The stock will began trading at its new price allowing the stock price to move up and accurately to reflect the value of the company. An increased stock price will also give Mexus the opportunity to uplist the stock once all parameters for doing so have been met. (Santa Elena mine, Sonora).   

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mexus Gold US recently announced the discovery of a significant amount of gold trapped in silver chloride at the bottom of the heap leach pad located at its Santa Elena mine. As stated in its recent press release the company noted that its ball mill gravity recovery system would be used to recover this gold, allowing the company to run high grade material from the Julio quartz vein at its Santa Elena mine located in Caborca, Sonora.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., announced that it reached an agreement with the Mexican Mining Union and the strike at the mine has ended (Avino mine, Durango).
  • Gold Resource Corporation, announced its intent to spin-off in two separate companies its Nevada and Oaxaca Mining Unit. The company wants to spin-off its Nevada Mining Unit to shareholders as a separate publicly-traded company. The transaction is targeted to be completed by year-end 2020 or the first quarter of 2021.  With this transaction, the Oaxaca Mining Unit would be focused on expanding and discovering new vein systems since it has only drilled 2% of its 560 square kilometer land package in Oaxaca (Arista Mine, Oaxaca).
  • Gray Rock Resources Ltd., announced the change of its name to Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd., effective October 8, 2020. The company shares will commence trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the new trading symbol “SWLF” (Ana Maria project, Durango).  
  • Impact Silver Corp., executed a letter of intent to option the Nuevo Taxco project in Guerrero to Road Oak Mining Corp. , under which Red Oak will carry exploration of a portion of Impact´s very large land position in Mexico. The Nuevo Taxco project comprises 1,100 hectares and is located on the NW extension of the famous Taxco Silver Mining District, and the area is prospective for high grade Ag-Au mineralization. Red Oak may earn a  100% interest by making staged payments and incurring exploration expenditures over a 3-year period as follow:  a) $50K in cash and 500K Red Oak common shares upon TSXV approval of the transaction and closing of their financing, b) $200K in exploration expenditures on or before September 30, 2021, c) $100K in cash, 1M common shares, and $400K in exploration expenditures before September, 2022, and d) $150K in cash, 2M common shares, and $800K in exploration expenditures on or before September, 2023. IN addition, Impact will retain a 1% NSR that Red Oak may buy back for CAD $1M.
  • Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd., announced spin-out of mining assets and creation of a premier North American Gold Development company (San Antonio project, Sonora). Osisko and Barolo Ventures Corp., entered into a binding letter agreement outlining the terms upon which Osisko Royalties will transfer certain mining properties (or securities of the entities that directly or indirectly own such mining properties), including the San Antonio Gold property in Sonora and Guerrero properties in Guerrero state as well as  a portfolio of marketable mining properties in Canada valued at approximately CDN $116M, to Barolo in exchange for common shares of Barolo which will result in a “Reverse Take-Over” of Barolo under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., reported that it is evaluating to transfer its Canadian exploration projects to a new subsidiary that would be spun out to Silver Dollar shareholders. It allows Silver Dollar to be focused on the exploration and development of its advanced stage la Joya property in Durango.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.), fulfilled an agreement with the Oaxaca community to extend the hours of attention to patients at the Health Center of the Municipal Headquarters, benefiting the inhabitants of the municipality, agencies and ranches. In addition, two specialized spaces were enabled for general medicine and emergency care, and the two municipal ambulances were maintained, one of them equipped for the transfer of patients with COVID-19 symptoms. It is worth mentioning that the agreement will be in force until the health emergency due to COVID-19 is lifted by the Federal Government through the General Health Council.
  • In the Municipality of Guadalupe y Calvo, Chihuahua, 11 school domes were inaugurated, of which 6 were made with resources from the Mining Fund and five in coordination with the Municipality and the State.
  • Industrias Peñoles SAB de CV faces firmly the new challenges posed by the pandemic and continues to prepare to create the health conditions required to protect its thousands of workers, highlighting that this has undoubtedly been an extremely complicated year. In addition to the fact that during this 2020 none of its workers will be left without employment. Peñoles today applies the highest standards of health protection to continue operating as a company and also as an industry despite all the circumstances.

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 rich-Mn jasperoid from an epithermal system in a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.