Baja California Sur

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of May, 2019

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Inguaran Feb 2011 151 - copiaBy Jorge Cirett

During the 22nd week of the year (May 27th to June 2nd, 2019), at least 27 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, on a move that is likely to paralyze the processing of documents at all regional offices of the Direccion General de Minas, the federal government fired all non-unionized workers. The Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas has now been closed by an illegal blockade for more than a month. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Sonoro Metals provided an update on drilling at its Cerro Caliche property. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold released results on two more holes at its Amalia project. In Zacatecas, Galore Resources is mobilizing a rig to drill the El Alamo and Los Gemelos projects. ON MINING, Impact Silver, Telson Resources and Santacruz Silver presented its first quarter 2019 financial and/or operational results. Endeavour Silver updated on its performance plan. Camrova provided an update on mining and mine life plans for the Boleo mine in Baja. ON FINANCING, Prize Mining completed the first tranche of financing for $630 K; Ethos Gold announced a financing round intended to raise $225 K. Magna Gold completed a  private placement for CAD$2.67 M. Silver One is to start trading on the OTCQB Marketplace. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Gold Resource released more drill results from its El Aguila project in Oaxaca. Fresnillo is investing US$5 M at La Cienega mine in Durango. GoGold released assay results from trenching at its Los Ricos property in Jalisco. Defiance Silver is drilling a geophysical anomaly along the Veta Grande vein system in Zacatecas. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Radius Gold granted Panamerican Silver an option to earn up to 65% on the Amalia project, in Chihuahua. Magna Gold is to commence trading on June 5, 2019. The company optioned the Mercedes property and lately the Las Marias and Las Cabañas properties, in the vicinity Mercedes. Discovery Metals and Levon Resources combined their enterprises on an agreement that gives Discovery and Levon shareholders 50.4% and 49.6% ownership respectively. Altos Hornos de Mexico (AHMSA) bank accounts have begun unfreezing by Mexican authorities.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The federal government fired all non-unionized workers from the regional offices of the Dirección General de Minas (Chihuahua, Durango, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Puebla, Queretaro, Saltillo, Zacatecas), in a move that is very likely to paralyze the already slow pace of paperwork at this government branch. Releasing of ground for staking, issuing concession titles, title reductions, cartographic information and contract registration are just some of the processes likely to be affected by this event (Personnel reduction is a cost saving strategy by the present federal administration, strategy that is feared to be likely to result in the centralization, slowing and paralysis of many government services in the coming months).
  • The Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas has been now affected by an illegal blockade for more than a month. So far authorities at all levels continue to advise “negotiations” as the way to solve the illegal blockade, being careful not to mention any applicable law.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Galore Resources Inc. announced the mobilization of a drill rig to El Alamo project in Zacatecas. The 2,500 m diamond drill program can be followed by additional 1,500 m of drilling at Los Gemelos project, also in Zacatecas. El Alamo consists of Cretaceous sediments, mostly limestone with some siltstone and chert, with alteration and mineralization represented by varying amounts of silicification and iron-oxide bodies after sulfides. The target has a minimum strike length of 500 m and 200 m width. Trenching highlighted values of up to 20.4 gpt Au, whereas drilling encountered widespread anomalous gold, running up to 17.1 gpt Au. Coarse gold recovery by gravity was attempted at the nearby Los Gemelos property with a partner, but the agreement on such endeavor has been terminated due to the lack of results. The drill target at Los Gemelos are porphyry intrusive related gold-copper skarns.
  • Radius Gold Inc. has completed six diamond drill holes totaling 1,743 m at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Assays have been received for the second and third holes (results on the first hole were previously released), highlighting the intercept of 5m @ 647 gpt Ag of white chalcedonic stockworks, silicification and hydrothermal breccias. The remaining three holes (results pending) cut wide intervals of moderate to strong silica and adularia alteration, brecciation, quartz sulphide veinlets and trace fine to moderate black sulphides.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp. provided an update on the last 20 holes at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. Highlighted intercepts comprise 9.15 m @ 1.26 gpt AuEq at Japoneses, 3.05 m @ 6.18 gpt AuEq; 9.14 m @ 1.33 gpt AuEq at La Española, 15.24 m @ 0.56 gpt AuEq at Guadalupe, 7.6 m @ 1.14 gpt AuEq at Chinos Altos, 10.67 m @ 1.06 gpt AuEq, and 10.67 m @ 0.74 gpt AuEq at Buena Suerte. Almost 90% of the 10,000 m drill program is now complete.

ON MINING

  • Impact Silver Corp. released its first quarter 2019 financial and production results. The company processed 35.8 K tonnes @ 167 gpt Ag to produce 163.6 K Oz Ag. Revenue was $3.0 M, with a net loss for the quarter of $0.9 M. Costs per tonne processed have been reduced by 10% from last year, as the company continues to focus on cost reductions. Dense media separation is being evaluated for treating ore from the Capire project, and a new concentrate sales partnership has been signed. The company had cash of $0.4 M and trade and other receivables of $1.6 by the end of the period.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. updated on its operating and financial performance plan initiated on recent months. The plan involves “changes to mine-site management and contractors, changes to employee and contractor supervision, renting used mining equipment and leasing new mining equipment, and revising the 2019 mine plans for all four mines, particularly Guanacevi. The Company has cut operating and administrative costs, reduced the employee and contractor workforce by 18% and deferred all discretionary expenditures”.
  • Telson Mining Corp. reported first quarter 2019 financial results. At Campo Morado in Guerrero, 152.1 K tonnes of ore @ 4.25% Zn, 1.14% Pb, 118 gpt Ag, 1.08 gpt Au were mined at a daily rate of 1,811 tonnes (tpd); 148.3 K tonnes were processed (1,765 tpd), recovering 69% Zn, 33% Pb to produce 9.7 M Lb Zn, 1.5 M Lb Pb, 212.7 K Oz Ag, 895 Oz Au at cash cost of US$0.71 and AISC US$1.01 per Lb Zn produced, obtaining a mine operating profit of C$3.05 M. At Tahuehueto in Durango, pre-production mining rendered approximately 21.6 K tonnes of ore. Telson produced 168 tonnes of lead concentrate (39% Pb, 6% Cu, 80 gpt Au, 840 gpt Ag) and 218 tonnes of Zinc concentrate (44% Zn, 9 gpt Au, 68 gpt Ag). Recoveries stood at 81% Au, 86% Ag, 90% Pb, 60% Zn, 88% Cu.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reported operating and financial results for the first quarter 2019. During the period 42.9 K tonnes were processed to produce 257 k Oz AgEq at cash cost $20.64 and an AISC of $24.38. Revenue was $2.49 M on mining operations and $790 K on mining services, reporting a net loss of $1.84 M (Veta Grande, Zacatecas; Rosario, San Luis Potosi).
  • Camrova Resources Inc. provided an update on the Boleo mine activities in Baja California Sur. The project is run by Korea Resources Corp, the majority shareholder, with Camrova holding a 7.24% stake that gives it rights to attend board meetings. For 2019 the production forecast of underground ore is 508 Kt @ 1.19% Cu and 2.44 Mt of open pit ore @ 80% Cu. Recoveries are expected to be 80.4% Cu, 29.9% Co, 4.2% Zn to produce 19,697 t of copper cathode, 419 t of cobalt and 1,016 t of zinc, resulting in negative free cash flow of $21M after payment of $25M in interest. It is also forecasted a 16 years mine life ending in 2034 by which time all debt is projected to be repaid, without a return of any of the capital that has been invested to date.

ON FINANCING

  • Prize Mining Corp. closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement, for gross proceeds of $630 K (Manto Negro, Coahuila).
  • Magna Gold Corp. completed a private placement financing for gross proceeds of CAD$2.67 M (Mercedes, Sonora).
  • Defiance Silver Corp. granted 990 K options to directors, officers and employees of the company at an exercise price of $0.195.
  • Silver One Resources Inc. shares will commence trading on the OTCQB Marketplace under the symbol “SLVRF” at open of markets on May 31, 2019(La Frazada, Nayarit).
  • Ethos Gold Corp. announced a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of $225 K (La Purisima, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Gold Resource Corp. released further drilling results from its El Aguila property in Oaxaca. “High-grade mineralization intercepted 175 meters along the northern strike and 200 meters up-dip in vertical elevation significantly expanding the Arista Mine”. Highlighted intercepts comprise 3.45 m @ 2.45 gpt Au, 17 gpt Ag, 0.42% Cu, 1.4% Pb, 5.8% Zn; 1.45 m @ 4.35 gpt Au, 91 gpt Ag, 0.35% Cu, 1.5% Pb, 1.7% Zn; 11.95 m @ 1.04 gpt Au, 494 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu, 0.4% Pb, 1.1% Zn (including 2.50 m @ 2.68 gpt Au, 1,420 gpt Ag, 0.33% Cu, 1.3% Pb, 3.2% Zn); 8.02 m @ 0.56 gpt Au, 395 gpt Ag, 0.06% Cu, nil Pb, 0.1%Zn.
  • Fresnillo PLC. is investing US$5 M at its La Cienega mine in Durango. The company is to undertake an economic evaluation of the plant expansion, intensify exploration on several targets and permitting the fourth tailings dam. The 4,000 tonne/day (tpd) mining unit has been in operation since 1992, currently with a labor force of 513 employees and 544 workers by contractors. On 2018 the plant processed 1.32 M tonnes @ 1.65 gpt Au, 164 gpt Ag, to produce 66,869 Oz Au, 6 M Oz Ag, 4,799 tonnes Pb, 5,892 tonnes Zn.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released assay results from 23 exploration trenches completed at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Geological mapping, sampling and trenching defined at least five new targets, identifying mineralisation for further 1.5 Km along strike, taking the system to a total longitude of 3.2 Km, on 1 to 25 m widths. Highlighted results (on estimated true width) include 22 m @ 0.92 gpt Au, 54 gpt Ag; 16.0 m @ 2.53 gpt Au, 187 gpt Ag; 21.0 m @ 0.44 gpt Au, 47 gpt Ag; 18.0 m @ 3.50 gpt Au, 71 gpt Ag; 7.4 m @ 2.16 gpt Au, 31 gpt Ag; 5.6 m @ 3.32 gpt Au, 49 gpt Ag; 9.1 m @ 1.73 gpt Au, 112 gpt Ag; 16 m @ 0.55 gpt Au, 163 gpt Ag; 17.6 m @ 0.76 gpt Au, 121 gpt Ag; 10.1 m @ 1.42 gpt Au, 164 gpt Ag; 8.8 m @ 1.95 gpt Au, 129 gpt Ag.
  • Defiance Silver Corp. commenced a drill program targeting a large induced polarization (IP) geophysical target on the Veta Grande vein, SE of the San Acacio Silver deposit (with an inferred resource of 17 M Oz Ag @ 182 gpt Ag). The program is testing a 450 m step out on the Veta Grande vein system

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Radius Gold Corp. has granted Pan American Silver Corp. the option to earn up to an initial 65% interest in the Amalia project in Chihuahua, by making cash payments to Radius totaling US$1.5 M (of which US$100 K has been received) and expending US$2 M on exploration over four years. Pan American may earn an additional 10% by advancing the property to preliminary-feasibility (Amalia, Chihuahua).
  • Magna Gold Corp. informed that its qualifying transaction is scheduled to close on June 5, 2019 pursuant to the policies of the Exchange. Trading of the common shares of Magna is expected to resume on the Exchange under the symbol “MGR”. The company has optioned 100% interest in two mining claims (the 345 ha Mercedes property in Sonora) for a four-year period, paying an aggregate of US$1.34 M paid in installments, starting on the sixth month of the effective date of the agreement and issue 2.44 M shares to the vendor. The seller is to retain a 3% NSR capped at $3.5 M, which can be bought at $500 K per percentage point within the first three years of production.
  • Magna Gold Corp. entered into an agreement to acquire the Las Marias property and Las Cabañas mineral claims. Las Marias consists of seven concessions covering 646 hectares adjacent to its flagship Mercedes property and Las Cabañas consists of two concessions covering 248 hectares 10 km from the Mercedes property. The total purchase will be $250 k and the issuance of 1 M common shares of the company. “Magna’s total land tenure will increase to 1,239 hectares of highly prospective ground”.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. and Levon Resources Ltd. entered into an arrangement agreement to combine both enterprises to create a “leading silver-focused exploration and development company that will control several district-scale projects in Mexico”. Discovery has agreed to acquire all of the issued and common shares of Levon, with Levon’s shareholders receiving 0.55 shares of Discovery for every Levon share held. Upon completing the transaction former shareholders of Levon will control 49.6% of the Discovery shares outstanding. Discovery holds a 150 K hectares land package in Coahuila, encompassing three shallow and high-grade silver-zinc-lead projects, while Levon’s primary asset is the Cordero project in Chihuahua, with 990 M tonnes @ 32 gpt AgEq and 282 M tones @ 56 gpt AgEq in indicated and inferred mineral resources respectively.
  • Altos Hornos de Mexico S. (AHMSA) bank accounts have begun unfreezing by Mexican authorities, allowing normal activities to be resumed. “The bank accounts of the steelmaker were frozen by Mexico’s financial intelligence unit earlier in the week on suspicion of money laundering. The move to unfreeze the accounts follows the arrest in Spain of AHMSA chairman Alonso Ancira, who was detained by Interpol on May 28.”

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

On the image below, galena-sphalerite-pyrite-chalcopyrite-quartz vein piece from a mine in Michoacan. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

Inguaran Feb 2011 151 - copia

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of April, 2019

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 16th week of the year (April 15th to April 21st, 2019), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, a lower court in Puebla ruled Mexico’s mineral title system unconstitutional based on consultation not being required before issuing the title. Inhabitants of San Antonio, Baja California Sur, manifested in support for the construction of the San Antonio mine. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec Gold delineated several new targets using geophysics at Cervantes; San Marcos disclosed explorations plans for its properties in the year. In Jalisco, GoGold released interesting results from drilling at Los Ricos. ON MINING, Avino Silver, Sierra Metals, First Majestic, Gold Resource and Hecla disclosed production results for Q1 2019.
Fresnillo PLC presented its annual report 2018.  ON FINANCING, Ridgestone Mining, Oroco and Camrova raised $1.12 M; 800 K and 12 K respectively. Sonoro and Minaurum granted options to consultants and directors. Minaurum was named to the Venture 50tm. Sierra Metals entered into an automatic purchase plan. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Goldplay reported channel sample results from a new zone at its San Marcial project in Sinaloa. SilverCrest Metals released good metallurgical results from its Las Chispas property in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Newmont Goldcorp Corp. has been delivered. Consolidated Zinc presented notice of its annual general meeting. Aura completed the sale of 80% interest of its Taviche project to Minaurum.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. informed that “a lower court in Puebla State has ruled that Mexico’s mineral title system is unconstitutional because consultation is not required before the granting of mineral title………..This ruling can be appealed by both the Government of Mexico and Almaden. The Company believes that this lawsuit is part of a broad effort by special interest groups to change the mining law and there are other similar actions active across Mexico”. Almaden stated that no communities within the company’s current mining concessions on its Ixtaca project in Puebla are party to this lawsuit.
  • Fresnillo PLC. Presented its 2018 annual report. It is here recommended to all interested in the mining business in Mexico to take a look to the report (http://www.fresnilloplc.com/media/412015/fres-30452-annual-report-2018-web.pdf), especially on the section “Managing our risks”. In the said section, the risks of participating in the industry in Mexico are assessed, including those of metal prices, potential actions by the government, access to land, security, public perception against mining, safety, union relations, exploration, project performance, cyber security, environmental incidents and human resources. Although the report had in mind Fresnillo’s particular situation as one of the largest Mexican mining conglomerates, many parts of the evaluation concern risks that affect all mining enterprises in the country.
  • Some 500 inhabitants of San Antonio, in Baja California Sur, gathered in support of Argonaut Gold’s San Antonio mining project in their locality.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp.  and Kootenay Silver Inc. informed that interpretation of a recent magnetic and radiometric survey produced multiple porphyry copper targets on the Cervantes property in Sonora. “Cervantes has multiple porphyry cells aligned along a northeast-southwest orientation, manifested as high-level alteration footprints related to intrusive bodies. There are also prominent northwest-southeast trending magnetic anomalies found to be associated with strong alteration, gold-copper mineralization, and intrusive rocks.”   
  • GoGold Resources Inc. disclosed the results from the first two diamond holes on its Los Ricos property in Jalisco. The two diamond drill holes twinned previous RC perforations, replicating the mineralized zones, with 35.5 m @ 1.24 gpt Au, 285 gpt Ag and 27.6 m @ 1.56 gpt Au, 159 gpt Ag. The holes are part of a 10,000 m diamond drill program focused on following the high grade ore shoot down dip below the historical RC drilling.
  • San Marco Resources Inc. plans for 2019 in Sonora include target delineation at Espiritu Santo and 1068 properties, follow-up of underexplored areas at the Chunibas project, extensive participation on lotteries of released ground by the government, evaluation of multiple property acquisitions and ongoing partnership discussions of existing assets.

ON MINING

  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. released production results from its Avino property in Durango for 2019’s first quarter. During the period production came from three sources: Avino mine, San Gonzalo mine and historic stockpiles. At Avino, 100.9 K tonnes were milled @ 41 g/t Ag, 0.48 gpt Au, 0.49% Cu, recovering 84% Ag, 71% Au, 87% Cu. At San Gonzalo (which is nearing the end of its mine life) 17.9 K tonnes were milled @ 188 gpt Ag, 0.54 gpt Au, recovering 65% Ag, 61% Au. From historic stockpiles 78.8 K tonnes were milled @ 61 gpt Ag, 0.40 gpt Au, 0.21% Cu, recovering 55%, Ag, 52% Au, 29% Cu. Total production was 1,813 Oz Au, 268.4 K Oz Ag, 1.06 M Lb Cu, or 615 K Oz AgEq.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. reported first quarter 2019 results, including figures from its Mexican mines. The Bolivar mine in Chihuahua processed 263.2 K tonnes (~3,008 tpd, targeting 3,600 tpd for Q2 2019)) grading 0.81% Cu, 19.5 gpt Ag, 0.19 gpt Au, recovering 82.2% Cu, 79.1% Ag, 67.9% Au to produce 3.87 M Lb Cu, 130 K Oz Ag, 1,100 Oz Au (or 5.08 MLb CuEq). At the Cusi mine, also in Chihuahua, 71.3 K tonnes were processed @ 105 gpt Ag, 0.15 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.3% Zn, recovering 79.5% Ag, 37.5% Au, 75.2% Pb to produce 192 K Oz Ag, 133 Au Oz, 349 K Lb Pb, no Zn.
  • Fresnillo PLC. Filed its annual report 2018. During the year Fresnillo produced 61.8 M Oz Ag, 922 K Oz Au, holding resources of 2.2 billion Oz Ag and 39.1 M Oz Au. At Fresnillo, in Zacatecas, 2.44 M tonnes were milled @ 214 gpt Ag to produce 15.1 M Oz Ag, 42,290 Oz Au, 19,619 tonnes Pb, 31,094 tonnes Zn. At Saucito, in Zacatecas, 2.79 M tonnes were milled @ 257 gpt Ag, 1.25 gpt Au to produce 19.78 M Oz Ag, 86,092 Oz Au, 22,662 tonnes Pb, 29,506 tonnes Zn, while the Pyrites Plant processed 131.8 K tonnes @ 393 gpt Ag, 2.8 gpt Au to produce 977 K Oz Ag, 3,556 Oz Au. At San Julian, in Chihuahua, 1.27 M tonnes were processed from the veins @144.1 gpt Ag, 2.0 gpt Au, to produce 5.43 M Oz Ag, 79,218 Oz Au. 2.22 M tonnes were processed from the disseminated orebody @ 154 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 1.4% Zn, to produce 9.2 M Oz Ag, 3,125 Oz Au, 6,101 tonnes Pb, 22,027 tonnes Zn. At Cienega, in Durango, 1.32 M tonnes were milled @ 164 gpt Ag, 1.65 g/t Au to produce 6 M Oz Ag, 66,869 Oz Au, 4,799 tonnes Pb, 5,892 tonnes Zn. At Herradura, in Sonora, 22.15 M tonnes @ 0.76 gpt Au were deposited on the heaps to produce 474,168 Oz Au, 1.52 M Oz Ag, at cash cost $504 per Au Oz (total volume hauled, 124 M tonnes). At Nochebuena, in Sonora, 18.2 M tonnes were deposited on the heaps @ 0.52 gpt Au to produce 167.2 K Oz Au, 52 K Oz Ag, at cash cost $735.4 per Oz Au (total volume hauled, 80.3 M tonnes).  The company had $580.7 M as cash and cash equivalents by the end of the year.

First Majestic Silver Corp. produced 6.3 AgEq Oz during the first quarter of 2019. During the period 831.2 K tonnes of ore were milled @ 150 gpt Ag, 1.26 gpt Au, with recoveries of 83% Ag, 96% Au, to produce 3.33 M Oz Ag, 32,037 Oz Au, 2.66 M Lb Pb, 1.26 M Lb Zn.  The ore had averages and recoveries of 287 gpt Ag, 4.18 gpt Au (93% Ag, 96% Au) at San Dimas, Durango; 121 gpt Ag, 1.87 gpt Au (89% Ag, 95% Au) at Santa Elena, Sonora; 126 gpt Ag (66% Ag) at La Encantada, Coahuila; 187 gpt Ag, 0.58 gpt Au (89% Ag, 93% Au)at San Martin, Jalisco; 54 gpt Ag, 1.8% Pb, 1.6% Zn (75% Ag by flotation, 62% Ag by cyanidation, 69% Pb, 48% Zn) at La Parrilla, Durango; 114 gpt Ag, 2.1% Pb (74% Ag, 0.7 M Lb Pb)at Del Toro, Zacatecas.

  • Gold Resource Corp. reported preliminary production results for the first quarter 2019. The Oaxaca Mining Unit (El Aguila, Arista, Switchback) produced 6,538 Au Oz, 364.6 K Oz Ag, 433 tonnes Cu, 2,153 tonnes Pb, 5,838 tonnes Zn. “The Company maintains its 2019 Oaxaca Mining Unit Annual Outlook of 27,000 gold ounces and 1,700,000 silver ounces, plus or minus 10%”.
  • Hecla Mining Co. announced preliminary production results for the first quarter of 2019. At San Sebastian, in Durango, the mill operated at 494 tpd to produce 0.4 M Oz Ag, 3,530 Oz Au. “A review of sulfide ore continues, including a bulk sample to test the capabilities of the third-party plant and the suitability of long-hole stoping for the ore body, with results expected by the fourth quarter of 2019.”

ON FINANCING

  • Ridgestone Mining Inc. completed its previously announced private placement financing, for gross proceeds of $1.12 M. The company paid 6% ($43.2 K) cash and 309 K compensation warrants. Also, 72.2 K bonus shares were issued to a director of the company, under a loan agreement (Rebeico, Sonora).
  • Sierra Metals Inc. entered into an automatic purchase plan with its designated broker (Cusi and Bolivar, Chihuahua).
  • Sonoro Metals Corp. granted 100 K incentive options to a director of the company. These options vest immediately and are exercisable at a price of $0.18 per share (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Minaurum Gold Inc. has been named to the TSX Venture Exchange Venture 50tm , the annual ranking of Canada’s top 50 emerging publicly traded companies across five industry sectors. Minaurum also granted 3.35 M common share stock options to directors, officers and consultants. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.45 for a period of 10 years from the issue date. The company also granted consultants 275 k options exercisable at a price of $0.45 for a period of five years. Ten percent vest immediately, and another 15% each semiannually (Alamos, Sonora).   
  • Oroco Resources Corp. closed a non-brokered private placement financing, raising $800 K in gross proceeds. No finder’s fee was paid (Santo Tomas, Sinaloa).
  • Camrova Resources Inc. closed the second tranche of the previously announced private placement, for proceeds of $12 K, bringing the total combined proceeds to $66 K. The third and final tranche of the Private Placement is expected to close in early May (Boleo, Baja California Sur).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd. reported channel sample results from a new zone at its San Marcial project in Sinaloa. The Nava zone, 500 long by 100 m wide, is extensively altered and hosts low sulphidation quartz veining and stockwork mineralization. Channel samples from the zone returned assays ranging from 1.04 gpt Au to up to 10.0 gpt Au.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. announced positive metallurgical results for Las Chispas project, in Sonora. “A total of 445 kg was selected from 51 core holes and nine underground samples to compile 15 different samples, based on geo-metallurgical domains which were combined into three master composites. These composites utilized 210 kilograms of mass representing a variety of grades (low, medium and high) of 500 to 2000 gpt AgEq expected during conceptual operation”. The new metallurgical tests show estimated recoveries of 98.4% to 98.9% Au and 91.4% to 94.8% Ag, using conventional methods comprised of gravity concentration and intensive leaching followed by gravity tails standard leaching.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Newmont Mining Corp. announced that it has extended the previously announced offers to exchange all outstanding notes issued by Goldcorp Inc. for up to two billion dollars  aggregate principal amount of new notes to be issued by Newmont, as part of the proposed arrangement on which Newmont acquires all outstaning shares of Goldcorp (Peñasquito, Zacatecas).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. presented its notice of annual general meeting for the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held on 23 May 2019 (Plomosas, Chihuahua).
  • Aura Resources Inc. announced the completion of the sale of an 80% interest in its East Taviche project in Oaxaca, to Minaurum Gold Inc.. Minaurum issued 100 K common shares to Aura and paid 39.4 K on closing; additionally, Minaurum is to issue further 100 K shares on receipt of the pertinent drilling permits. The remaining 20% can be acquired by Minaurum paying CDN$1 M.
  • Newmont Goldcorp Corp. announced the successful conclusion of its transaction combining Newmont Mining Corp. and Goldcorp Inc. to form the world’s leading gold business. The company targets six to seven million ounces of steady gold production over a decades-long time horizon (Peñasquito, Zacatecas).

Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group. On the image below, glory hole developed on Inguaran, Michoacan. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

Highlights on the Second Week of December, 2018. Mining and Exploration News in Mexico

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Silicification along fractures produces protruding ribs in strongly argillitized andesitic rock in a project in Jalisco

By Jorge Cirett

During the 50th week ofthe year (December 10th to December 16th, 2018), at least 12 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. Chesapeake Gold and Ridgestone released news on exploration. SSR Mining-SilverCrest and Goldplay Exploration announced news on financing. Azure Minerals, Coeur Mining,Endeavour Silver, SilverCrest Metals and Capstone presented news on resource definition drilling. Camrova Resources and Prospero Silver presented news on deals and corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Five miners died on three different accidents in mines of Chihuahua and Sonora. The Mining Fund is to be controlled by the “Secretaría deEconomía”, instead of the SEDATU. ONEXPLORATION, In Sonora, Ridgestone Mining released drilling results from its Rebeico project. In Sinaloa, Chesapeake Gold released exploration results from its Yareli project. In Veracruz, Chesapeake Gold released interesting results from its Tatatila Au-Cu project in Veracruz. ON MINING, No relevant News. ON FINANCING, SSR Mining completed the buy of C$30.66 M on shares of SilverCrest Metals. Goldplay Exploration completed a $1.5 M financing round. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Azure Minerals, Coeur Mining,Endeavour Silver, SilverCrest Metals released drilling results to better define resources in their properties. Capstone released an updated resource on its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Camrova Resources is to sue Korea Resources over an unpaid debt. Prospero Silver announced Fortuna Silver’s exercise on the option to to continue exploring the Pachuca SE project in Hidalgo.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • On a grim week for the mining industry in Mexico, five miners died in three different accidents. In Chihuahua one miner died on the Granadeña mine, and two in Coeur’s Guadalupe mine at Palmarejo. In Sonora, two Alamos Gold miners died after a pit wall collapsed at the Mulatos mine. On other matters, the Mining Fund (Fondo Minero) created in 2013 to aid development of communities near to mineral production centers, is to be controlled from 2019 by the Economy Secretariat (Secretaría de Economía). Up to this year the fund was managed by the Urban, Agrarian and Land Development Secretariat (Secretaría de Desarrollo Agrario, Territorial y Urbano). Another change is that 80% of the resources are to be invested in “zones of mining production”, while the Economy Secretariat keeps 10% and the Federal Government the remaining 10%.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. updated on exploration efforts at its Yarely (includes, Los Mimbres, Sundae and Goyo prospects) and Tatatila projects in Sinaloa and Veracruz respectively. At Los Mimbres, channel sampling of veins and stockworks returned 7 m @ 1.15 g/t Au, 88 g/t Ag; 7 m @ 0.9 g/t Au, 87 g/t Ag; 5 m @ 0.11 g/t Au, 196 g/t Ag; 31 m @ 0.3 g/t Au, 14 g/t Ag; 10 m @ 0.24 g/t Au, 5 g/t Ag. At Sundae, sampling of veins displaying classic high level epithermal textures returned up to 0.1 g/t Au, 8 g/t Ag on surface exposures. At Goyo, assays from two rock chip channel sections taken 100 m apart returned: 30 m of 1.63 g/t Au, 38 g/t Ag; 15 m of 0.60 g/t Au, 9 g/t Ag. Another structure returned 4 m @ 3.74 g/t Au, 90 g/t Ag; 5 m @ 1.3 g/t Au, 15 g/t Ag; 25 m @ 0.54 g/t Au, 35 g/t Ag. At Tatatila the target is Au-Cu skarns like those at Las Minas, Veracruz, which it surrounds. Rock chip sampling results in six different zones of the 15,000 ha land package include: 12 m @ 3.0 g/t Au, 0.24% Cu; 6 m @ 5.1 g/t Au, 0.46% Cu; 18 m @ 3.8 g/t Au, 0.50% Cu; 11 m @ 0.24 g/t Au, 37 g/t Ag, 12.9% Zn; 12 m @ 1.0 g/t Au, 0.35% Cu, 0.22% Zn; 6 m @ 0.30 g/t Au, 0.12% Cu, 2.05% Zn; 12 m @ 0.50 g/t Au, 0.40% Cu, 0.70% Zn; 9 m @ 2.3 g/t Au, 0.30% Cu; 11 m @ 1.4 g/t Au, 0.47% Cu, 9 m @ 0.90 g/t Au, 2.0% Cu, 67 m @ 1.6 g/t Au, 0.60% Cu; 21 m @ 2.2 g/t Au, 0.27% Cu; 15 m @ 2.3 g/t Au, 0.30% Cu; 9 m @ 1.2 g/t Au, 0.25% Cu; 11 m @ 1.4 g/t Au ,0.36% Cu; 8 m @ 1.0 g/t Au, 1.25% Cu.
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc. received results for four holes from the twelve hole drill program at its Rebeico project in Sonora. The drilling was designed to test beneath underground workings along a 500 m portion of the 1.2 km long Alaska vein. Highlighted intervals comprise 0.62 m @ 1.02 g/t Au, 0.96% Cu; 0.80 m @ 2.95 g/t Au, 1.41% Cu in the first hole.  Contiguous 1.0 m @ 7.8 g/t Au, 1.87% Cu; 9.51 g/t Au, 3.69% Cu in the second hole and 1.40 m @ 3.25 g/t Au; 1.50 m @ 1.39 g/t Au in the fourth hole. Hole four was collared 400 m south from the first two holes, thus establishing the continuity of mineralization.

ON MINING

  • No Relevant News.  

ON FINANCING

  • SSR Mining Inc. completed the transaction with SilverCrest Metals Inc. to purchase, by way of private placement, shares for a total consideration of C$30.66 M (Las Chispas, Sonora).
  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd. closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $273.7 K. Total gross proceeds raised under all tranches of this offering was $1.5 M (San Marcial, Sinaloa).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Azure Minerals Ltd. announced that further infill and extension drilling has returned high-grade mineralization over substantial widths at its Oposura project in Sonora. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 5.25 m @ 24.4% Zn+Pb, including 3.05 m @ 39.3% Zn+Pb.; 8.65 m @ 11.4% Zn+Pb, including 4.55 m @ 19.6% Zn+Pb; 6.0 m @ 11.7% Zn+Pb, including 2.95 m @ 21.9% Zn+Pb; 3.60 m @ 15.5% Zn+Pb, including 2.45 m @ 20.5% Zn+Pb.
  • Coeur Mining Inc. provided an update on exploration, including activities at its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. Highlighted results comprise 7.8 m @ 5.7 g/t Au, 833 g/t Ag at La Nación vein; 2.8 m @ 2.3 g/t Au, 337 g/t Ag; 5.2 m @ 2.7 g/t Au, 229 g/t Ag; 6.8 m @ 2.3 g/t Au, 122 g/t Ag at Las Animas zone, where three potentially mineralized areas were discovered, and 4.0 m @ 6.8 g/t Au, 693 g/t Ag at Independencia, which extends mineralization for another 150 m.
Image from the press release
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. reported positive results from surface drilling and underground sampling at the Parral project in Chihuahua. Endeavour owns four historic mines: Veta Colorada (historic resources), LaPalmilla (Endeavour’s resources), San Patricio and Cometa (Endeavour’s resources). “Several large veins are traceable for over 8 km. Veta Colorada is up to 40metres (m) thick, and includes a higher-grade footwall vein 1-10 m thick and a lower grade hanging wall breccia with mineralized stock-work up to 30 m thick”. Highlighted results from drilling at San Patricio comprise: 1.9 m @ 0.1 g/t Au, 660 g/t Ag, 1.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 4.2 m @ 0.21 g/t Au, 934 g/t Ag, 3.0% Pb, 5.9% Zn. Sampling of historic mine fill (known as “chorros” or “retaques”) at VetaColorada average (18 samples) 106.3 g/t Ag, 0.45% Pb, 0.37% Zn in Level 2, and average (24 samples) 179.2 g/t Ag; 0.51% Pb, 0.44% Zn on Level 4.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. announced further high-grade results from in-fill drilling at its Las Chispas property in Sonora. In-fill drilling of the Babicanora vein area 51 highlighted true width intervals comprise: 8.2 m @ 27.70 g/t Au, 1,116 g/t Ag (including 1.7 m @ 127.50 g/t Au, 3,044 g/t Ag); 1.7 m @ 7.01 g/t Au, 1,348 g/t Ag; 2.5 m @ 15.97 g/t Au, 1,743 g/t Ag; 2.3 m @ 4.53 g/t Au, 748 g/t Ag; 5.6 m @ 9.41 g/t Au, 736 g/t Ag; 1.7 m @ 4.40 g/t Au, 453 g/t Ag; 6.4 m @ 6.41 g/t Au, 657 g/t Ag (including 1.6 m @ 25.87 g/t Au, 2,222 g/t Ag); 3.5 m @ 16.45 g/t Au, 355 g/t Ag; 4.5 m @ 9.25 g/t Au, 673 g/t Ag.   
  • Capstone Mining Corp. released positive results of an updated technical report for its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. Proven and probable reserves increased to 6.19 M tonnes @ 1.60% Cu, 42.9 g/t Ag, 0.71% Cu, 0.14% Pb. Measured and indicated resources amounted to 17.29 M tonnes @ 1.50 % Cu, 45 g/t Ag, 1.25% Zn, 0.28% Pb, and inferred resources to 16.95 M tonnes @ 1.11% Cu, 44 g/t Ag, 1.65% Zn, 0.29% Pb. The total contained metal in reserves and measured and indicated resources adds to 359 Kt Cu, 33.4 M Oz Ag, 259 Kt Zn, 56 Kt Pb, while the inferred resources contain additional 188 Kt Cu, 23.9 M Oz Ag, 279 Kt Zn, 49 Kt Pb.  By completing a new ramp in 2020, Cozamin plans to increase production by approximately 30%.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Camrova Resources Inc. presented a press release in which strong complaints were made against Korea Resources Corp. through its controlling interest in Minera y Metalurgica del Boleo S.A.P. (MMB). According to Camrova, Korea Resources has relentlessly ignored Camrova’s petition for board meetings. “Camrova also wishes to announce that it has commenced action and will shortly serve MMB with a judicial notice under applicable Mexican law. This notice is a formal demand for payment of CAD$303,416.60 which is owing by MMB pursuant to a settlement agreement between Camrova and MMB in December 2016” (Boleo, BajaCalifornia Sur).
  • Prospero Silver Corp. announced that Fortuna Silver Mines has exercised its right to be granted an option to acquire up to a 70% interest in the Pachuca SE Project, by spending $8 M in expenditures and completing a preliminary economic assessment, spending a minimum of $1 M in the first year. “The local geology at Pachuca SE is typical of the high-level epithermal environment seen over the Pachuca-Real del Monte mines. Prospero’s land package covers at least 6-7 km of linear, structurally-controlled argillic alteration caps at surface” (Pachuca SE, Hidalgo).

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

Camrova Resources Inc. Provides Corporate Update Regarding its Interest in Boleo Mine

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cav_news_release_corporate_update_final_draft_december_9_2018

Toronto, Ontario, December 10, 2018 – Camrova Resources Inc. (“Camrova” or the
“Company”) (TSX-V: CAV; OTC: BAJFF, SSE: CAVCL, CAVUSA) wishes to provide an update regarding its ownership interest in Minera y Metalúrgica del Boleo, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“MMB”), which operates the Boleo copper-cobalt-zinc mine located in Baja California Sur, Mexico (the “Boleo Mine”).

Highlights on the Third Week of November, 2018. Mining and Exploration News in Mexico

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IMG_5042 - copia

By Jorge Cirett

During the 46th week of the year (November 12th to November 18th, 2018), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. Radius, Prize Mining, Silver Viper, Riverside and Golden Minerals released advances in exploration. Sierra Metals, Mag Silver, Leagold and Starcore released quarterly reports. Telson released news on metallurgy. No financing was reported this week. Odyssey and Minera Alamos reported on advances at its properties, while Leagold presented an updated resource base. Pan American Silver and Tahoe agreed on Tahoe’s acquisition by PAS. Golden Minerals acquired a property. ON MEXICO ISSUES, CAMIMEX released figures on copper production in Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Silver Viper released interesting results from the Virginia project in Sonora. Riverside informed on four new targets at its Cecilia project. In Chihuahua, Golden Minerals released rock sampling results from its Navegantes project. Radius finished drilling at the Amalia project, results pending. In Coahuila, Prize Mining released drill results from the Manto Negro project. ON MINING, Sierra Metals, Mag Silver, Leagold Mining and Starcore presented quarterly reports. Telson is investing on metallurgical studies at its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero. ON FINANCING, No relevant news. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Odyssey Marine Exploration updated on the Don Diego project offshore Baja California Sur. Minera Alamos presented mapping and sampling results on the Divisadero zone of its Santana project in Sonora. Leagold announced a significant increase in open pit reserves at its Los Filos mine in Guerrero.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Goldplay lost its director, Laura Diaz, as she has been appointed as General Director of Mines in Mexico. Pan American Silver entered into an agreement to acquire Tahoe Resources. Golden Minerals optioned the Navegantes property in Chihuahua.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • According to CAMIMEX (in a note from opportimes) copper production in Mexico has been stable. During 2017 the world´s copper production was 19.7 M tonnes, a 2% decrease from 2016. Mexico produced 742 K tonnes of copper in 2017, against 766 K tonnes produced in 2016, a 3.1% decrement. Sonora produces over 84% of the country’s total, with Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi following suit. Coming additions to production include El Boleo in Baja California Sur, which is to double its production to 28.5 tonnes; Media Luna in Guerrero is to add 21 K tonnes in 2022 and El Pilar project in Sonora could add 36 K tonnes in 2020.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Radius Gold Inc. completed drilling at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Nine holes, for a total of 1,909 m were diamond drilled in a program funded by Pan American Silver under a JV. The Campamento, Guadalupe, San Pedro and Dulces Nombres targets were tested across a strike length of 1.8 Km “following the trace of a large regional fault and associated surficial epithermal gold and silver mineralization”. Results pending.
  • Prize Mining Corp. released results from the first four holes at the Manto Negro stratiform copper project in Coahuila. Core length drill intersections comprise 4.40 m @ 1.02% Cu, 28 g/t Ag; 3.55 m @ 1.69% Cu, 28 g/t Ag at El Granizo; 4.10 m @ 0.88% Cu, 49 g/t Ag; 3.40 m @ 1.58% Cu, 122 g/t Ag at El Pilar Grande. At El Rincon, 1.6 Km north from El Pilar Grande, rock channel sampling averaged 3.41 m @ 2.13% Cu, 63 g/t Ag.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp. released the first batch of analyses from its initial drilling program at La Virginia project, in Sonora. Results have been received for five of the eight holes from which samples were submitted, with relevant intervals comprising: 9.70 m @ 1.20 g/t Au, 58 g/t Ag (2.03 g/t AuEq), including 2.72 m @ 3.34 g/t Au, 133 g/t Ag (5.24 g/t AuEq); 12.6 m @ 1.04 g/t Au, 79 g/t Ag (2.17 g/t AuEq), including 3.85 m @ 1.88 g/t Au, 152 g/t Ag (4.05 g/t AuEq); 0.7 m @ 2.25 g/t Au, 49 g/t Ag (2.95 g/t AuEq); 8.50 m @ 1.26 g/t Au, 55 g/t Ag (2.05 g/t AuEq) including 1.89 m @ 2.43 g/t Au, 81 g/t Ag (3.58 g/t AuEq); 0.94 m @ 0.96 g/t Au, 49 g/t Ag (1.66 g/t AuEq). The reported holes were collared on Las Huatas zone, with the first two testing parallel veins to the main trend, whereas the last three tested the previously identified main trend, generally intercepting mineralization at expected depths, widths and grades. “The intercepts are characteristic of previous hits on the project, where gold and silver bearing quartz veining/stockwork/breccia fill is often hosted in close proximity to the fractured contact between andesites of the lower volcanic succession and pre-mineral dacite dykes. Mineralization is hosted by both lithologies with the intervals often exhibiting strong silica overprint”.
  • Riverside Resources Inc. informed rock sampling and mapping defined four new targets at its Cecilia project in Sonora. The recent work was conducted on a 50 square km area, checking on previous soil sampling results. The Casa de Piedra, Los Llanos, Cruz and Cruz II targets were outlined, forming structural corridors up to 2 km long of quartz veins (locally banded, locally bearing calcite), anastomosing quartz veins, veins and quartz stockworks that can be up to 30 m in width and locally up 100 m in width. Alteration assemblages in these zones include sericite, silica, kaolinite and buddingtonite. All these areas display anomalous gold values, of up to 2.6 g/t Au.
  • Golden Minerals Co. released rock sampling results from its recently optioned Navegantes project in Chihuahua. Navegantes covers two vein systems, Navegantes and San Pedro‐San Francisco) as well as a number of smaller subsidiary veins, with mineralization occurring as iron oxides within quartz veins ranging up to 2 m in width and 800 m in length. Highlighted samples comprise 1.0 m @ 1,585 g/t Ag; 1.45 m @ 759 g/t Ag; 1.1 m @ 639 g/t Au; 2.1 m @ 472 g/t Ag.

ON MINING

  • Sierra Metals Inc. presented its third quarter 2018 financial report. The company, that has two mines in Mexico and one in Peru, saw its EBITDA reduced 3% in a yearly basis to $18.8 M, due to the decrease in metal prices. At the end of the period, Sierra’s net debt was $30.7 M, and its cash and cash equivalents $30.7 M. At Bolivar in Chihuahua, quarter on quarter production was affected by heavy rains, but year on year production was still increased, with the goal of achieving 3,600 tonnes per day (tpd) in Q1 2019. At Cusi, in Chihuahua, the mill continues to run at the 650 tpd capacity. The additional mill being installed will increase capacity to 1,200 tpd early in 2019. Cash cost per CuEq Lb was $1.68 and AISC $2.35 per CuEq Lb at Bolivar, while at Cusi cash cost was $14.11 per AgEq Oz and AISC $19.08 per AgEq Oz. Surface drilling at Bolivar was 8,332 m, while 2,176 m were drilled from the underground mine. At Cusi, 6,569 m were drilled from the surface.
  • Mag Silver Corp. released its Q3 2018 financial results. At Juanicipio, in Zacatecas, over 16 km of underground development have been achieved, 32% of which was realized on the last nine months. Mag advanced $8.47 M to Minera Juanicipio to fund its 44% share of ongoing development. Fresnillo has reiterated production is to start by mid-2020. Exploration during the quarter completed 48 holes, for 46,060 m of drilling focused to convert inferred resources to indicated, and to trace the Deep Zone laterally and to depth. The company ended the period with cash and cash equivalents of $141.8 M.
  • Leagold Mining Corp. reported 2018 third quarter operating and financial results. At Los Filos in Guerrero, production totaled 42,617 Oz at AISC of $1,060 per AuOz by mining 7.4 M tonnes from the open pit at a grade of 0.65 g/t Au, and 172 K tonnes @ 6.26 g/t Au.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. reported production results for its second quarter of fiscal 2019 at its San Martin mine in Queretaro. During the quarter (ended October 31st), 81.4 K tonnes were milled @ 1.4 g/t Au, 43.5 g/t Ag, recovering 86.9% Au, 58.7% Ag, to produce 4,050 AuEq Oz. The Altiplano processing facility was put on maintenance and the sale of the asset is being considered.
  • Telson Mining Corp. announced its intention to retain Glencore Technology to test its patented metallurgical approach to increase zinc recoveries and zinc concentrate grade at its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero.

ON FINANCING

  • No Relevant News.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. commented on its Q3 2018 report that a plea has been presented at the Tribunal Federal de Justicia Administrativa to oblige SEMERANAT (the Mexican environmental agency) to produce the requested environmental permit on the Don Diego offshore phosphate project in Baja California Sur.
  • Minera Alamos Inc. reported that mapping and surface sampling on the new Divisadero porphyry discovery at its Santana project, in Sonora. The work delineated a 200 x 300 m surface expression (still open) of the 95.7 m @ 0.85 g/t Au, 9.8 g/t Ag, 0.33% Cu drill intercept of porphyry style mineralization of a previous press release. Over 50% of 66 rock samples collected assayed between 0.1 and 2.2 g/t Au, with mineralization appearing to remain open under thin soil cover to the north and south. The Divisadero zone is 200 m north of the Nicho Norte breccia pipe.
  • Leagold Mining Corp. announced a significant increase in open pit mineral reserves at its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. Proven and probable reserves grew 122% compared with the 351 K Oz Au of December 2017, to reach 780 K Oz Au, contained in 40.5 M tonnes @ 0.60 g/t Au.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd. congratulated “its director, Ms. Laura Cristina Diaz Nieves, on her appointment as the next General Director of Mines in Mexico. As a result of this appointment, Ms. Diaz Nieves is required to relinquish her position as director of the Company at the end of this month” (San Marcial, Sinaloa).
  • Pan American Silver Corp. and Tahoe Resources Inc. entered into a definitive agreement for Pan American to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Tahoe, creating the world’s premier silver mining company. “Tahoe shareholders may elect to receive US$3.40 in cash or 0.2403 Pan American shares for each Tahoe share, subject in each case to pro-ration based on a maximum cash consideration of US$275 million and a maximum number of Pan American shares issued of 56.0 million, totaling US$1,067 million (the “Base Purchase Price”). The Base Purchase Price represents a premium of 34.9% to Tahoe’s volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) for the 20-day period ending on November 13, 2018……. At closing, existing Pan American and Tahoe shareholders will own approximately 73% and 27% of Pan American, respectively” (La Colorada, Zacatecas; El Escobal, Guatemala).
  • Golden Minerals Co. announced the acquisition of the 521 hectares, covered by six concessions, Navegantes property in Chihuahua. Golden holds an option to purchase six concessions totaling 521 hectares by paying $0.4M over three years.

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, magnetic biotite book from a porphyritic intrusive rock, attached to a field magnet in Jalisco. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

Highlights on the Third Week of October, 2018. Mining and Exploration News in Mexico

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IMG_4463 - copia

By Jorge Cirett

During the 42nd week of the year (October 15th to October 21st, 2018), at least 31 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. San Marco and Odyssey released advances in exploration. Galore Resources and Aura Minerals released news on mining, while Avino Silver, First Majestic, Premier Gold and Gold Resource reported Q3 production results. Sonoro Metals, First Majestic, Azucar Minerals and Plata Latina reported news related to financing. Telson, Azure, Candelaria and Goldplay reported on advances on its properties. Santacruz, Prize Mining, Azucar Minerals, Alio Gold, Canuc Resources, Minera Alamos and Excellon presented information on deals or corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, CAMIMEX stated there are 19 ongoing projects to augment gold production in Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, In Baja California Sur, Odyssey informed on SEMARNAT’s refusal for permitting the Don Diego project. In Sonora, San Marco is to start mapping and sampling the Espiritu project. In Coahuila, Prize Mining continues drilling at its Manto Negro project. ON MINING, Avino Silver, First Majestic, Premier Gold, and Gold Resource reported on Q3 2018 production. Galore begun mining at Los Gemelos, Zacatecas. Aura Minerals completed the first copper concentrate shipment from Aranzazu, also in Zacatecas. ON FINANCING, Sonoro is undertaking a private placement to raise up to $500 K. First Majestic filed a shelf prospectus that enables the raising of up to US$300 M in 25 months. Newcrest is exercising its top up rights to maintain 19.9% ownership of Azucar Minerals. Plata Latina settled C$231 K of indebtedness by share issuing. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Telson released high grade results from development sampling at Tahuehueto, Durango. Azure Minerals announced a positive scoping study on its Oposura project in Sonora. Candelaria Mining filed a NI-43-101 report on its Pinos project in Zacatecas. Goldplay was approved the drilling permit by SEMARNAT for drilling at its San Marcial project in Sinaloa. Azure Minerals released a positive scoping study on its Oposura project in Sonora, for an open pit/underground operation. Newcrest is to maintain its 19.9% ownership of Azucar Minerals (see above).  Minera Alamos reported second round drill results on its Santana property in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Santacruz Silver made the final payment to acquire a considerable land package in the Zacatecas district. Newcrest is to maintain its participation in Azucar Minerals. Canuc received conditional approval for its acquisition of Circle Energy. Alio Gold is disposing of some assets in Nevada and reducing its debt levels. Excellon is to sell the Beschefer project in Canada.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • According to CAMIMEX (Cámara Minera de México) there are 19 investment projects to be developed during the 2018-2019 period, five in Durango (Camino Rojo, Piritas in Peñasquito, El Compás, Fresnillo’s Piritas project and Juanicipio), four in Guerrero (Ana Paula, Bermejal underground, Media Luna, and Rey de Plata), four in Durango (Tahuehueto, Pitarrilla, Metates and San Agustin), Two in Sonora (Santa Gertrudis and a second leach plant at La Herradura), one in Puebla (Ixtaca) and one in Chihuahua (San Julian). Gold production in 2017 was 4,080,000 ounces, decreasing by 4% on the prior year, but considerably larger than the 848,000 ounces produced in year 2000.

ON EXPLORATION

  • San Marco Resources Inc. is to start exploration at its Espiritu porphyry copper project in Sonora. Work in the property will consist of geological mapping, surface rock sampling and assessment of past drill hole and surface data. San Marco’s first pass review suggest the system is open in most directions. Past drill hole intercepts include 48.0 m @ 0.19 g/t Au, 0.10 % Cu and 220.5 m @ 0.14 g/t Au, 0.15% Cu.
  • Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. received notification that SEMARNAT repeated their refusal to issue an environmental permit for the phosphate deposit, “in direct contravention of the Order of the Federal Administrative Court”. SEMARNAT did not inform of any new environmental information used as a basis their decision, as was required in the Court’s Order. Odyssey “expects its legal team to file a new action before the Superior Section of the Federal Administrative Court demonstrating that SEMARNAT is in contempt of the Court’s Order with a request for sanctions and notification to Mexico’s Internal Control Unit” (Don Diego, Baja California Sur).
  • Prize Mining Corp. continues with the 30-hole 3,000 m drill program at its Manto Negro project in Coahuila. “Core is being logged and sampled and sent out for assay, with first results expected in November”.

ON MINING

  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. announced its third quarter production results for 2018. In the Avino mine. during the period 81.5 K dry tonnes were milled @ 58 g/t Ag, 0.52 g/t Au, 0.54% Cu; with 84% Ag, 67% Au, 88% Cu recoveries to produce 112.6 K Oz Ag, 882 Oz Au, 865 K Lb Cu (or 3,935 Kg Ag, 28.31 Kg Au, 392.36 Tonnes Cu). In the San Gonzalo mine (which is nearing the end of its mine life) 19.7 K dry tonnes were milled @ 226 g/t Ag, 1.15 g/t Au; with 78% Ag, 75% Au to produce 107.8 K Oz Ag, 532 Oz Au (or 3,461 Kg Ag, 17,086 g Au). From the above ground stockpile 88.7 K tonnes were milled @ 62 g/t Ag, 0.45 g/t Au, 0.15% Cu; with 57% Ag, 52% Au, 37% Cu recoveries, to produce 97.4 K Oz Ag, 652 Oz Au, 112.8 K Lb Cu (or 3,127 Kg Ag, 20,931 g Au). An additional 8,212 Oz Ag were produced by a test program to recover precious metals and zinc from the San Gonzalo mine tailings. To counter significantly lower metal prices, Avino is reducing costs by postponing exploration, as well as reducing general and administrative costs in Mexico and British Columbia.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. announced production results for Q3 2018. Consolidated results include the milling of 864 K tonnes of ore to produce 3.5 M Oz Ag, 35,260 Oz Au, 4.44 M Lb Pb, 1.23 M Lb Zn (or 6.74 M Oz AgEq). A 20% cost reduction program across all areas is being implemented to deal with the prolonged low silver prices. AgEq year on year production grew by 69%, mainly by the addition of the San Dimas operations. The mine by mine production table is below.

firstmajestic_2018-10-151 - copia.jpg

  • Galore Resources Inc. Has begun mining at Los Gemelos, in Zacatecas. Mining has begun without a feasibility study at Galore’s owned Duraznillo ranch, which includes the Los Gemelos and Duende 7 claims, within the Concepción del Oro district. The mining contractor has installed a gold processing plant with initial capacity of 90 tons per week. The proceeds, net of costs, are to be allocated with 40% to Galore and 60% to the contractor, URBYASA.
  • Aura Minerals Inc. completed the first shipment of copper concentrate since the reopening of its Aranzau mine in Zacatecas. Aura “continues to further progress on the underground mine development and operational improvements to the plant. Construction of the new tailings disposal system (TD5) is expected to be completed this year”.
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. released Q3 2018 production results, including figures from its Mercedes mine in Sonora, where 17,465 Oz Au; 88,390 Oz Ag were produced. “The Mercedes Mine remains focused on cost reduction and the development of new deposits to increase flexibility and productivity……. construction to expand tailings capacity began. Additionally, development continued on a drift from the Lagunas mine to access the higher-grade Marianas deposit located along the main Mercedes mine trend”.
  • Gold Resource Corp. reported preliminary production results for the third quarter 2018. During the period production totaled 434 tonnes Cu, 2,119 tonnes Pb, 4,970 tonnes Zn, and no details were disclosed on precious metals. For the first three quarters of 2018, 18,864 Oz Au, 1.34 M Oz Ag, 1,206 tonnes Cu, 5,274 tonnes Pb, 14,236 tonnes Zn were produced.

ON FINANCING

  • Sonoro Metals Corp. proposes to undertake a non-brokered private placement, aiming to raise up to $500K (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. filed a preliminary short form base shelf prospectus that will allow First Majestic to raise up to US$300 M during the next 25 months (Six producing mines in Mexico).
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. announced Newcrest Canada Holdings Inc. exercised its top-up rights pursuant to the May 2018 investor rights agreement with Azucar, acquiring additional shares for a total of $124.4 K, and maintaining its 19.9% ownership.
  • Plata Latina Minerals Corp. has agreed to settle indebtedness of C$201 K owing to its directors and indebtedness of C$30 K owing to its former CEO, by issuing common shares.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Telson Mining Corp. reported assay results from veins exposed during underground development at its Tahuehueto mine in Durango. Highlighted results comprise 3.25 m @ 7.10 g/t Au, 37 g/t Ag, 0.22% Cu, 0.9% Pb, 5.4% Zn; 6.10 m @ 5.04 g/t Au, 36 g/t Ag, 0.16% Cu, 1.8% Pb, 3.9% Zn; 8.05 m @ 2.52 g/t Au, 28 g/t Ag, 0.19% Cu, 0.8% Pb, 2.9% Zn; 4.20 m @ 8.02 g/t Au, 96 g/t Ag, 2.93% Cu, 5.0% Pb, 8.2% Zn; 4.40 m @ 2.62 g/t Au, 19 g/t Ag, 1.3% Cu, 3.8% Pb, 3.7% Zn.
  • Candelaria Mining Corp. filed a NI-43-01 preliminary feasibility assessment (PEA) report on its Pinos project, Zacatecas. The resources stand at: 85,847 tonnes @1.6 g/t Au, 83 g/t Ag measured; 175.7 K tonnes @ 3.6 g/t Au, 47 g/t Ag indicated; 529.6 K tonnes @ 3.6 g/t Au, 48 g/t Ag as inferred. The measured resources are in dumps, whereas the indicated and inferred resources are contained in veins 1.3 to 2.1 m in average widths. Production costs were evaluated for a range of 200 to 400 tonnes per day (tpd) operation. The capital cost is estimated at $13.5 M and the sustaining capital at $9.15 M.
  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd. received approval from SEMARNAT (Mexican environmental agency) for its upcoming drill programs at San Marcial, Sinaloa. Up to 69 drill holes can be completed within a two year window. A NI-43-101 resource estimate is to be completed before the end of 2018., and a PEA is expected to be undertaken in 2019.
  • Azure Minerals Ltd. announced a positive scoping study (SS) completed at its Oposura project in Sonora. “The Study delivers a Life of Mine (LOM) EBITDA of A$237 million, NPV(8%) (pre-tax) of A$112 million and an IRR (pre-tax) of 76%….. ”. The study calls for mining by open pit and underground methods 2.5 M tonnes @ 4.6% Zn, 2.6% Pb, 15.9 g/t Ag. The initial mine life is 5.3 years, with average annual production of 19 Kt Zn, 10 Kt Pb, 145 K Oz Ag. The total capital expenditure needed to achieve production is A$ 69.9 M (US$ 52.4 M).
  • Minera Alamos Inc. reported results on the second round of its phase 1 drilling program at its Santana property in Sonora. Highlighted results comprise 80.4 m @ 1.05 g/t Au; and 8.0 m @ 1.0 g/t Au and 24.5 m @ 0.81 g/t Au on a second hole. “Planning of the Phase 2 drill program will begin once the remaining drilling results have been received and interpreted”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. has made the final option payment to acquire 149 concessions covering 7,800 ha in the Zacatecas district. Santacruz now controls 8,900 ha in the district.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. informed Newcrest Canada Holdings Inc. has confirmed its intention to exercise its top-up rights on their last May signed agreement. Under the scheme, Newcrest is to maintain its 19.9% ownership of Azucar (El Cobre, Veracruz).
  • Alio Gold Inc. entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Lincoln Hill, Wilco and Gold Ridge projects in Nevada to Coeur Mining Inc.. Alio is to receive $19 M upon the closing of the transaction. Recently, Alio has also reduced its outstanding debt with Macquarie Bank Ltd. from $15 million in past June, to $5 million now. The Company expects to fully extinguish the MBL debt during the fourth quarter. Alio also settled a $5 M contingent liability that the Company acquired with its acquisition of Rye Patch Gold Corp. and the Florida Canyon Mine earlier this year. The Company has also updated its surety bond for the Florida Canyon Mine in Nevada, releasing an additional $5.1 million in cash (San Francisco, Sonora).
  • Canuc Resources Corp. received conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange for the previously announced acquisition of Circle Energy Ltd., a company with six oil prospective sections in Saskatchewan (San Javier, Sonora).
  • Excellon Resources Inc. entered into an option agreement with Wallbridge Mining Co. to sell the Beschefer project in Canada (Platosa, 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, epidote veinlet with feld-K halo in andesitic volcanic rocks in a porphyry-Cu prospect in Jalisco. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

Highlights on the Second Week of August, 2018. Mining and Exploration News in Mexico

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 32nd week of the year (August 6th to August 12th, 2018), at least 16 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. Sable, Oroco, Millrock and One World Lithium updated on exploration advances. Hecla, Torex, Golden Minerals, Argonaut, Alio and Odyssey Marine Exploration released Q2 2018 reports. HarvestGold closed the final tranche of a financing round. Hecla, Alio and Consolidated Zinc reported advances on the development or exploration of their resource base. Three companies announced deals on projects, or company mergers. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Mexican Core Shack now counts with displays from three properties in Chihuahua and two in Durango. The newly elected president of Mexico seems to have mining development as one of its 25 key projects. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Millrock reported drill results from its Navidad project. In Chihuahua, Sable Resources released wide, high-grade silver intercepts from its Margarita property. In Sinaloa, Oroco received the title for a concession on the Santo Tomás district. In Baja California, One World Lithium is preparing to drill its Salar del Diablo project.   ON MINING Hecla, Torex gold, Golden Minerals, Alio Gold, Argonaut and Odyssey Mineral Exploration released Q2 2018 reports.  ON FINANCING, Harvest Gold closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement, accruing C$857 K in gross proceeds. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Hecla, Alio Gold and Consolidated Zinc reported on actions and programs to affect their resource estimates or development to mining. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Golden Reign and Marlin Gold reported on their merger agreement, Megastar closed a deal on three properties in Oaxaca and San Marco optioned the Chunibas project in Oaxaca to Antofagasta.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Mexican Core Shack added images of drill core from Hecla’s San Sebastian project in Durango, at https://gambusinoprospector.com/mexican-core-shack/durango/san-sebastian/ . The Mexican Core Shack now displays three properties in Chihuahua and two in Durango.
  • The newly elected president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, presented 25 priority projects for his coming tenure, one of which is mining development, on a meeting with the Colegio de Ingenieros Civiles de México (Civil Engineers Association of Mexico), the Unión Mexicana de Asociaciones de Ingenieros A.C. and the Engineering Faculty of the Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM). Carlos Slim was among the cohort of industry leaders in the luncheon held at the Palacio de Minería (Mining Palace) in Mexico City. No details were exposed.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Sable Resources Ltd. released results from a third drill hole on the Margarita vein of its Margarita property in Chihuahua (near Sunshine’s Los Gatos property). The most recent intercept confirms vein continuity over 500 m of longitude. The vein was intercepted 40 m from surface, returning 12.4 m @ 514 g/t AgEq (with Pb and Zn credits, no details released), including 4.10 m @ 902 g/t AgEq, which includes 1.0 m @ 1,048 g/t AgEq and 1.05 m @ 1,035 g/t AgEq. Other five holes have been finished, with similar vein textures having been intersected across similar widths down to a depth of 100 m from surface.
  • Oroco Resources Corp. announced that the Papago 17 concession in Sinaloa has been granted by the government, and the company is now to register its 77.5% interest (got on a deal with a private owner) in the Mexican Public Registry of Mining. The 213 ha Papago 17 concession lies south from the Santo Tomás porphyry copper project, and contains quartz monzonite dikes and hornfelsed andesite.
  • Millrock Resources Inc. reported second phase drilling results from its Navidad project in Sonora. The program focused on targets identified by soil and rock sampling, geophysical surveys and trenching, as well as the Crossover and El Cobre prospects. In total 2,969 m in 14 holes were drilled. Highlighted core length intercepts include 3.9 m @ 1.78 g/t Au; 12.5 m @ 1.14 g/t Au; 8.0 m @ 0.46 g/t Au; 6.3 m @ 0.39 g/t Au, 3.3 m @ 3.84 g/t Au; 8.7 m @ 0.43 g/t Au, 9.0 m @ 0.39 g/t Au; 5.5 m @ 0.72 g/t Au; 8.5 m @ 0.39 g/t Au; 2.6 m @ 1.73 g/t Au; 6.3 m @ 0.43 g/t Au; 7.9 m @ 2.34 g/t Au; 6.0 m @ 0.45 g/t Au; 17.4 m @ 1.61 g/t Au; 9.2 m @ 0.71 g/t Au.
  • One World Lithium Inc. has accepted the Lithium Partnership’s final report summarizing pre-drilling programs for its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California. Eleven drill hole locations have been selected to test the three geophysical anomalies and two geochemical targets. One World intends to commence drilling on the latter part of October 2018.

ON MINING

  • Hecla Mining Co. reported second quarter 2018 results, including figures from its San Sebastian project in Durango, where 559,647 Oz Ag, 3,872 Oz Au were produced during the period. The mill operated at an average of 415 tpd (tons per day). Cash cost was $9.79 per Ag Oz and AISC $17.15 per Ag Oz, reflecting the higher cost of transitioning from open pit to underground mining. “A reduction in per ounce costs is expected in the second half of the year as underground production continues to ramp up”.
  • Torex Gold Inc. reported its financial results for the second quarter 2018. Mine production at Limon-Guajes totaled 7.15 Mt (tonnes), averaging 78,629 tpd (tonnes per day) of which 1.28 Mt was ore processed at 11,140 tpd. Mined ore averaged 2.45 g/t Au and processed ore 2.86 g/t Au, for the production of 78,796 Oz Au, with 87% Au recovery in the period and cash cost of $680 per Oz Au and AISC of $1,017 per Oz Au. Cash held at the end of the period was $117.9 M.
  • Golden Minerals Co. announced financial results for the second quarter 2018. During the quarter Golden reported final drill results from the Santa Maria project (Chihuahua) 2017-2018 drill program and announced the preparation of an updated technical report and preliminary economic assessment (PEA). In August 2018, Golden entered into a non-binding letter of intent with The Electrum Group LLC upon which Electrum is to purchase Golden’s remaining interest in the Celaya property in Guanajuato for a payment of $3 M. Cash and cash equivalents stood at $2.5 M at the end of the period.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc. released financial results for the second quarter 2018. During the period the company produced 38,441 GEOs (Gold equivalent ounces) at cash cost $704 per Oz Au and AISC of $832 per Oz Au. At El Castillo, in Durango, 2.22 Mt (tonnes) of waste, and 2.15 Mt (tonnes) were moved, with 2.12 Mt ore @ 0.37 g/t Au crushed to the pads to produce 10,079 Oz Au, 8,111 Oz Ag at cash cost $992 per Au Oz. At San Agustin in Durango, 618 Kt of waste, 1.85 Mt of ore were moved, with 1.88 Mt of ore @ 0.36 g/t Au crushed to the pads to produce 15,528 Oz Au, 55,781 Oz Ag. At La Colorada, in Sonora, 1.81 Mt of waste, 1.06 Mt of ore were moved (32 K tpd), with 1.14 Mt of ore @ 0.36 g/t Au crushed to leach pads to produce 11,503 Oz Au, 29,360 Oz Ag at cash cost $833. “The Company expects the third quarter 2018 will see lower production due to the lower grades stacked on the leach pad during the second quarter 2018 and also expects higher costs during the third quarter 2018 associated with drilling, blasting and hauling costs for normal state operations”.” While the Company’s explosives permit has been reinstated at La Colorada, the legal action brought against the Secretary of National Defense and the Municipality of La Colorada continues through the Judiciary court process”.
  • Alio Gold Inc. reported second quarter 2018 results. The San Francisco mine in Sonora produced 14,466 Oz Au, 7,661 Oz Ag at by-product cash cost $950 per Oz Au, while AISC was $1,172 per Oz Au. The Company is reducing stripping and focuses mining on more profitable ounces to maintain cash neutral operations. As a result of the reduced stripping, the ”production guidance of 90,000 to 100,000 ounces of gold for 2018 will not be met.” At Ana Paula in Guerrero, all development work including the construction of the underground decline, the completion of the feasibility study and further exploration have been temporarily suspended as result of the recent decline in the gold price.
  • Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. reported second quarter 2018 results. “Odyssey holds a controlling interest in Oceanica Resources, S. de R.L., and ExO, a subsidiary of Oceanica. ExO controls exclusive 50-year mining permits in an area in Mexican waters that contains a large amount of phosphate mineralized material”.” On March 21, 2018, the 11-judge panel of the Superior Court of the Federal Court of Administrative Justice in Mexico ruled unanimously in favor of ExO, nullifying the original denial of the environmental permit application.“ (Don Diego, Pacific Ocean cost of Baja California Sur)

ON FINANCING

  • Harvest Gold Corp. closed a fourth and final tranche of its non-brokered private placement to raise CDN$200 K for a total of CDN$857 K gross proceeds. “The Company paid finder’s fees of 8% cash and 8% warrants to Canaccord Genuity Corp. on certain funds”. Harvest delivered $700 K to Evrim Resources Corp. to fund the Cerro Cascaron project (in Chihuahua) drill program of up to 3,000 m, beginning the third week of September.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Hecla Mining Co. reported on brownfield exploration on its mining units, including on the San Sebastian project in Durango, where it continues to expand high-grade polymetallic zones on the Middle and Francine veins. Additional oxide mineralization is being defined along the Professor and East Francine veins. On the Francine vein mineralization has been traced for over 360 m on surface, and over 240 at depth, but once incorporated the newly defined East Francine vein the total strike length of continuous mineralization along the Francine Vein exceeds 2,400 m and can be traced to a depth of over 600 m. Proven and probable reserves stand at 398 K tons @ 3.42 g/t Au, 432 g/t Ag, containing 43,000 Oz Au, 5.52 M Oz Ag and Measured and Indicated resources of 1.5 M tons @ 2.25 g/t Au, 186 g/t Ag, 2.9% Pb, 3.8% Zn, 1.7% Cu, containing 103,000 Oz Au, 8.8 M Oz Ag, 15,520 tons Pb, 20,350 tons Zn, 9,020 tons Cu.Hecla-Q2-2018-ExplorationUpdate1 - copia
  • Alio Gold Inc. informed on the update of mineral reserve estimates at its San Francisco mine in Sonora. “Mining depletion of Mineral Reserves was partly offset by expansion of the reserves in Phases 6 through 9 of the San Francisco Pit. Total proven and probable mineral reserves totaled 854,472 ounces of gold (55.5 million tonnes at 0.49 g/t) as of July 1, 2018, an approximate decrease of 74,228 ounces of gold or 8% from April 1, 2017.”
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. informed on its plan to start pilot plant production at its Plomosas project in Chihuahua. The mining scoping studies focus on sulfide mineralization of the updated resource, starting with a 20,400 tonnes indicated resource @ 13.8% Zn, 2.4% Pb. The capital cost is expected to be low, including plant refurbishment and tailings dam upgrade.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Golden Reign Resources Ltd. and Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. Entered into a definitive agreement to combine businesses and amend stream agreement with Sailfish Royalty Corp. Golden Reign will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Marlin and satisfaction of all closing conditions of the business combination by way of plan of arrangement. As a condition to closing the Transaction, Sailfish has agreed to restructure its existing gold stream on San Albino (La Trinidad, Sinaloa).
  • Megastar Development Corp. closed the transaction to acquire 100% interest on the Rama de Oro, Magdalena and Yautepec projects in Oaxaca. Megastar paid USD$45 K and issued 1.5 M common shares to Minera Zalamera S.A. de C.V., as contemplated in the option agreement. “Furthermore, Mr. David M. Jones, president of Minera Zalamera, has been appointed to the board of directors of Megastar.”
  • San Marco Resources Inc. signed an earn-in agreement with Antofagasta plc on the Chunibas project, located in Sonora. Antofagasta can acquire a 70% interest in the project by spending US$8 M in exploration, and making cash payments on the aggregate of US$200 K over a period of 4 years. A firm commitment of US$700 K will be used primarily for an initial drill program, including $100 K of reimbursement to San Marco of recent exploration expenditures. “The Project consists of stratiform, volcanic hosted coppersilver mineralization, similar to several ore deposits in northern Chile and is a style of mineralisation not previously discovered in Mexico.”

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 below, open cut in one of the structures of the Pozos District, Guanajuato. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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ARGONAUT GOLD ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER 2018 OPERATING AND FINANCIAL RESULTS

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ArgonautGold_nr_20180809

Toronto, Ontario – (August 9, 2018) Argonaut Gold Inc. (TSX: AR) (the “Company”, “Argonaut Gold” or “Argonaut”) is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018.  The Company reports a quarterly cash flow from operating activities before changes in operating working capital of $17.0 million, net income of $0.4 million or earnings per share of $0.00, adjusted net income[1] of $7.0 million or adjusted earnings per share1 of $0.04, net cash1 increase of $1.5 million and production of 38,441 gold equivalent ounces[2] (“GEO” or “GEOs”).  All dollar amounts are expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise specified (C$ refers to Canadian dollars).

Highlights on the First Week of May, 2018. Mining and Exploration News in Mexico

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 18th week of the year (April 30th to May 6th, 2018), at least 21 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with news on the exploration of eight properties, eight more companies releasing Q1 2018 results, and Primero Mining extending its revolving credit facility. ON MEXICO ISSUES, production statistics for the mining sector on February 2018 were published. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Azure updated on exploration efforts at its Oposura, Alacrán and Sara Alicia projects; Alamos Gold presented exploration plans on the Mulatos district; San Marco Resources obtained the Suanse property by lottery. In Coahuila, Discovery Metals disclosed underground channel sample results from its Puerto Rico property; Silver Bull acquired a 60 ha claim within its large land package in Sierra Mojada. In Veracruz, Mexican Gold released channel sampling results from the Changaro zone at its Las Minas project. ON MINING, Argonaut Gold, Santacruz Silver, Gold Resource, Alamos Gold, Golden Minerals, Leagold, Great Panther and Telson Mining presented Q1 2018 production reports. ON FINANCING, Primero Mining agreed on the extension of its revolving credit facility. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Golden Minerals released drill results from its Santa Maria property in Chihuahua. Argonaut updated on exploration in properties in Guanajuato and Baja. Minera Alamos announced drilling plans on the now combined Santana/Los Verdes properties.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Endeavour Silver released its annual review and sustainability report. Advance Gold contracted a third party to assist with investors relations.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The mining and metallurgic production in Mexico grew 4% in February, which is the best result since April 2016, although in a yearly basis a 1.3% decrement was recorded. During February, the production of lead (-34.6%), sulphur (-12.2%), silver (-11.3%), copper (-8.2%) and coke (-5.7%) decreased, while that of iron pellets (1.1%), fluorite (1.7%) zinc (4.6%), gold (5.8%), coal (18.8%) and gypsum (19.2%) showed an increment. Sonora was the leader in gold production during February, with 3,710 Kg (119,720 Oz), while Zacatecas  kept the title in silver with 171,903 Kg (5,526,806 Oz).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Azure Minerals Ltd. completed the mineral resource drill-out of the Oposura project, in Sonora. The program included 157 holes totaling 10,112 m (assays for 27 holes still awaited), confirming good height (width) and grade continuity of the horizontal mineralization. Metallurgical studies show 85.6% Zn and 84.0% Pb recoveries. The initial mineral resource estimate is expected in June 2018.
  • Azure Minerals Ltd. completed the stage 2 drilling program at its Sara Alicia Au-Co project in Sonora. Results awaited.
  • Azure Minerals Ltd. informed the operator of its Alacrán project in Sonora, Minera Teck, S.A., completed an 11 hole drill program in December 2017, with final results awaited. Teck has informed it will continue with the year 2 work program “comprising further geological, geochemical and geophysical surveys in the first half of 2018, which will be followed by more drilling in the second half of the year”.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. disclosed assay results from continuous underground channel sampling at its Puerto Rico project in Coahuila. Results on 100 samples out of 600 samples collected on the Zaragoza mine have been received. Select significant channel samples include: 2.1 m @ 822 g/t Ag, 2.1% Zn, 2.5% Pb, 0.7% Cu; 1.8 m @ 55 g/t Ag, 27.9% Zn, 2.9% Pb, 0.1% Cu; 3.3 m @ 175 g/t Ag, 2.1% Zn, 15.2% Pb, 0.2% Cu; 2.3 m @ 62 g/t Ag, 9.2% Zn, 6.5% Pb, 0.1% Cu; 1.3 m @ 75 g/t Ag, 16.8% Zn, 3.2% Pb, 0.1% Cu. Average manto grades 157 g/t Ag, 6.2% Zn, 5.5% Pb, 0.1% Cu.
  • Mexican Gold Corp. released channel sampling results from the La Perdida mine in the Changaro zone at its Las Minas project in Veracruz. At La Perdida adit, four 2.0 m samples returned 7.85 g/t Au, 3 g/t Ag, 0.14% Cu; 0.30 g/t Au, 1 g/t Ag, 0.05% Cu; 16.70 g/t Au, 12 g/t Ag, 0.49% Cu; 27.30 g/t Au, 12 g/t Ag, 0.17% Cu, averaging 8.0 m @ 13.04 g/t Au, 7 g/t Ag, 0.21% Cu.
  • Alamos Gold Inc. informed exploration in its 28,777 ha land package at Mulatos, Sonora, is to focus in 2018 outside the Mulatos mine, including the El Carricito, El Halcon, and El Jaspe areas. During the first quarter Alamos invested $4.5 M in exploration activities within the Mulatos district, including 14,792 m of diamond drilling and 1,059 m of RC drilling.
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. acquired a 68 ha mineral license nine kilometers NW from its main Sierra Mojada deposit in Coahuila. The application “covers 13 historical mine shafts in the Palomas Negros area including a 120 meter long x 25 meter wide x 25 meter deep historical open pit”. Select sampling on the open pit returned up to 542 g/t Ag, 36.5% Zn, 9.3% Pb, 0.14% Cu on 2 m channel sampling.
  • San Marco Resources Inc. obtained the Suanse property in Sonora through the recent mineral concession lottery by the Mexican government. The property is located between two mineral concessions within Evrim’s LLano del Nogal porphyry copper moly play.

ON MINING

  • Argonaut Gold Inc. presented first quarter 2018 operating and financial results. At El Castillo in Durango, 4.72 M tonnes of waste were moved, 1.62 M tonnes of ore were mined (52 K tonnes per day, or tpd) @ 0.44 g/t Au, producing 8,657 Oz Au, 7,528 Oz Ag. At San Agustin in Durango, 356 K tonnes of waste were moved 1.72 M tonnes of ore mined (23 K tpd) @ 0.50 g/t Au, producing 15,824 Oz Au, 80,331 Oz Ag. Cash cost was $1,020 for El Castillo and $365 for San Agustín. At La Colorada in Sonora, 6.13 M tonnes of waste were moved, 1.1 tonnes of ore mined (80 K tpd) @ 0.43 g/t Au, producing 14,291 Oz Au, 57,767 Oz Ag at cash cost $726. Cash and cash equivalents of $21.3 M at the end of the period.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reported financial and operating results for Q4 2018. During the period 181 K tonnes were processed, producing 865.5 K Oz AgEq at cash cost $23.07 and AISC $27.56 per AgEq Oz.
  • Gold Resource Corp. reported first quarter 2018 production results. During the period the company produced from three different orebodies on its El Aguila property in Oaxaca. At Arista 130.8 K tonnes were milled @ 1.92 g/t Au, 106 g/t Ag, 0.39% Cu, 1.63% Pb, 4.41% Zn, with recoveries of 78% Au, 91% Ag, 75% Cu, 76% Pb, 83% Zn. At the El Aguila open pit, 5.1 K tonnes were milled @ 2.16 g/t Au, 45 g/t Ag, and recoveries of 84% Ag, 86% Ag. At Altagracia 3.2 k tonnes were milled @ 1.16 g/t Au, 182 g/t Ag, and recoveries of 60% Au, 82% Ag. Production amounted to 6,647 Oz Au, 425.9 K Oz Ag, 385 tonnes Cu, 1,615 tonnes Pb, 4,793 tonnes Zn. Cash cost was ($316) per AuEq Oz after by-product credits, and AISC $347 per precious metal gold equivalent ounce sold. Cash and cash equivalents at quarter end totaled $28.6 M.
  • Alamos Gold Inc. reported its financial results for the first quarter 2018, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Mulatos in Sonora, 2.2 M tonnes were mined and 2 M tonnes of waste moved. Average grade of 1.75 M tonnes stacked was 0.84 g/t Au. As for high grade, 30.4 k tonnes were milled @ 8.11 g/t Au, for the production of 46,000 Oz Au at cash cost $786 per OZ Au, and AISC $842 per Oz Au. At El Chanate in Sonora, 1 M tonnes of ore were mined @ 0.60 g/t Au, with recoveries of 71% Au, to produce 13,800 Oz Au.
  • Golden Minerals Co. provided business and financial results for the first quarter 2018. During the period Golden received $1 M from Electrum Global Holdings, LP. in exchange for an amendment to the Electrum farm-out agreement providing Electrum an additional 20% interest in the Celaya project. Also 4,800 m in 22 holes were drilled on the Santa Maria property in Chihuahua. Cash and cash equivalents of $2.7 M at the end of the period.
  • Leagold Mining Corp. reported Q1 2018 production. During the period 7.7 M tonnes were moved on the open pit at Los Filos, Guerrero, of which 2.0 M tonnes were from ore @ 0.57 g/t Au. From underground 101 k tonnes were mined @ 5.47 g/t Au. In total 1.6 M tonnes were processed @ 0.97 g/t Au to produce 51,003 Oz Au at cash cost $880 per Au Oz and AISC of 1,039 per Au Oz. Test mining at the Bermejal underground deposit is to begin in Q2 2018. Leagold’s goal is to raise quarterly production from 50 K to almost 70 K by the end of the year.
  • Great Panther Silver Ltd. presented first quarter 2018 financial results, including figures from its operations in Mexico (Topia, Durango; Guanajuato mine complex, Guanajuato). Consolidated production came from 96.9 K tonnes milled, to obtain 491 K Oz Ag, 5,831 Oz Au at cash cost $12.76 per AgEq Oz and AISC $16.16 per AgEq Oz. For 2018 14,000 m of underground drilling are planned at the Guanajuato mines, and 5,000 m of surface drilling and 5,000 of underground drilling in the San Ignacio mine (part of the mine complex). Cash and cash equivalents were $60.9 M at the end of the period.
  • Telson Mining Corp. informed on first quarter 2018 pre-production toll milling at its Tahuehueto property in Durango. During the period 9,503 tonnes of ore were milled @ 5.44 g/t Au, 62 g/t Ag, 4.5% Zn, 2.2% Pb, recovering 79.4% Au, 85.7% Pb, 84.4% Pb, 76.4% Zn to produce 360 tonnes of lead concentrate (50.2% Pb), 99.25 g/t Au, 1,185 g/t Ag, 12.2% Zn) and 713 tonnes of zinc concentrate (46.3% Zn, 7.41 g/t Au, 105 g/t Ag, 0.93% Pb).

ON FINANCING

  • Primero Mining Corp. agreed to the extension of its revolving credit facility and the related guarantee provided by Wheaton Precious Metals Corp., to May 15th, 2018 or the closing of the business combination with First Majestic Silver Corp. (San Dimas, Durango).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Golden Minerals Co. released results from the 2,400 m, 22-hole drilling program at its Santa Maria property in Chihuahua. Some of the highlighted true width (TW) results comprise: 0.6 m @ 593 g/t Ag, 0.79 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb+Zn; 0.8 m @ 183 g/t Ag, 0.33 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb+Zn; 2.5 m @ 415 g/t Ag, 0.29 g/t Au, 1.5% Pb+Zn; 3.8 m @ 213 g/t Ag, 0.47 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb+Zn; 1.2 m @ 200 g/t Ag, 0.22 g/t Au, 0.15% Pb+Zn; 3.5 m @ 310 g/t Ag, 0.77 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb+Zn; 1.3 m @ 1,322 g/t Ag, 2.06 g/t Au, 1.4% Pb+Zn; 0.9 m @ 148 g/t Ag, 2.0 g/t Au, 1.5% Pb+Zn; 6.5 m @ 1,094 g/t Ag, 3.64 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb+Zn. The mineralization comprised oxide, mixed and sulfide materials in different intersects.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc. informed the re-logging of drill core and the development of a geological model at Cerro del Gallo, in Guanajuato. On its San Antonio project in Baja California Sur, technical sessions were held with the Mexican Environmental Authority DGIRA in preparation of new future Environmental Assessment application submittal.
  • Minera Alamos Inc. released its plans for a drilling campaign at the now combined Santana/Los Verdes property in Sonora. The phase one is to include 20 holes in 3,000 m of drilling, focusing on the Nicho extensions and Nicho Norte, into the contiguous Los Verdes claims. Previous drilling at the Santana project outlined significant mineralization associated to hydrothermal breccias hosted by stocks and batholithic intrusions. Heap leaching tests are being conducted on the Nicho Norte zone.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Endeavour Silver Corp. released its annual review and sustainability report. Sections of the report include: Safety and Health, Our People, Community, Environment, Economic. In words of its CEO, Bradford Cooke: “..is intended to show that sustainability relies on the connectedness between people, communities and the environment” (La Colorada, Sonora, El Castillo, Durango).
  • Advance Gold Corp. engaged Nicosia Capital to assist on Investor Relations. “Advance will pay Nicosia a fee of $3,500 per month and issue 100,000 stock options at a price of $0.12 per share. The initial agreement with Nicosia has a term of two months to commence May.1st, 2018” (Tabasqueña, Zacatecas).

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

On the picture below, Very strong silicification and minor silicification on structures from a shallow epithermal system in Guanajuato. Picture by Jorge Cirett.