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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of March, 2026

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Hydrothermal breccia

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 11th week of the year (March 9th to March 15th 2026), at least 19 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with six disclosing deals and corporate issues, five announcing financing rounds, four informing on exploration results, two communicating production results, one reporting resources and development of their properties, and one informing on Mexican issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Colibri reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of March, 2026. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Algo Grande provided an exploration update on its Adelita project and Colibri released assay results from its Phase 1 reconnaissance RC program completed at its El Plomo project.  In Durango, Capitan Silver informed that a third rig has arrived at its Cruz de Plata project and provided an update on the ongoing 60,000m drilling program for 2026. In Zacatecas, Defiance Silver announced that it received the approval from SEMARNAT to conduct drilling at its San Acacio project. ON MINING, Altius Minerals reported its full 2025 attributable royalty revenue and adjusted earnings (Cuale project, Jalisco). Avino reported Q4 and full year 2025 production and financial results from its Avino mine in Durango.  ON FINANCING, Barksdale announces private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $953,780.51, and repricing it to CAD $763,024.41 (San Javier project, Sonora). Orex closed its previously announced private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $4M (Coneto project, Durango). Vortex announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $850K (Riqueza Marina project, Oaxaca). Orogen informed that it plans to raise up to CAD $10M by way of a non-brokered private placement (Ermitaño mine, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Kootenay provided an update on their progress with four silver deposits, focusing mostly on pushing their drilling at the Columba site and moving forward with the La Cigarra project, both located in Chihuahua. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Luca Mining announced the appointment of Nick Shakesby as Chief Operating Officer, and hired Jose Hernandez as Vice President, Metallurgy and Process Engineering (Campo Morado mine, Guerrero). Orex engaged the services of ICP Securities Inc for automated market making services (Coneto project, Durango). Vortex appointed Craig W Beasley as Technical Advisor to the company (Riqueza marina project, Oaxaca). Teck released its 25th annual sustainability report (San Nicolas project, Zacatecas). Tocvan appointed Darin Wagner as Special Technical Advisor and announced partnership with VRIFY (Pilar project, Sonora). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, No relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Colibri Resource Corporation, reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of March, 2026. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Algo Grande Copper Corp., provided an exploration update on its Adelita project in Sonora. The company recently completed Phase 1 drilling with assay results pending. Surface prospecting across the property collected 49 rock samples, 19 of which graded above 1% copper, confirming copper–gold–silver mineralization across multiple targets including Potrero South, Las Trancas, Cerro Grande Northwest, La Molina, and Mezquital. A significant new skarn zone was discovered at Potrero south, about 3 km south of Cerro Grande, with over 300 meters of surface exposure and samples exceeding 3% copper. Other highlights include high-grade samples including one with 41.4 % Cu, 1.97 g/t Au 1,570 g/t Ag at Las Trancas and 1.99 % Cu, 17.9 g/t Au and 44 g/t Ag at La Molina targets. The company confirmed mineralization on both limbs of the Cerro Grande limestone fold, and encouraging copper-bearing float samples associated with tourmaline breccias at Mezquital indicating possible porphyry systems. The results suggest a district-scale, multi-deposit copper-dominant skarn-porphyry system with notable gold and silver credits. Follow-up exploration including Phase II drilling is planned for Q2 2026 to target these multiple prospects.
  • Colibri Resource Corporation  released assay results from its Phase 1 reconnaissance RC program completed at its El Plomo project in Sonora. The company informed that 18 out of 22 holes intersected gold. Drilling highlights include hole PL26-017 with 2.92 g/t Au over 7.5m, including 9.95 g/t Au over 1.5m; hole PL26-015 with 0-73 g/t Au over 30m including 1.01 g/t Au over 6m; hole PL25-011 with 0.45 g/t Au over 30m, including 1.16 g/t Au over 6m; including 2.12 g/t Au over 1.5M; hole PL25-004 with 1.29 g/t Au over 4.5mm; and hole PL25-005 with 0.28 g/t Au over 12m.
  • Capitan Silver Corp., informed that a third rig has arrived at its Cruz de Plata project in Durango. This rig is the second of three core drill rigs that will join the existing RC drill rig to complete the ongoing aggressive 60,000 drilling campaign for 2026, which is focused on expanding the high grade silver zones identified at the property, as well as to drill-tst mineralization along the Jesus Maria silver trend. To date, 34 drill holes are pending of assay results, including the first seven core holes drilled with the first diamond rig which commenced drilling last February, 2026.
  • Defiance Silver Corp., announced that it received the approval for its Informe Preventivo (IP) from SEMARNAT to conduct drilling at its San Acacio project in Zacatecas. The IP enable authorize Defiance to increase the available roads and construct up to new 44 drill pads and for up to 35 new access road. The IP is valid for a period of 54 months.

ON MINING

  • Altius Minerals Corporation reported its full 2025 attributable royalty revenue of CAD 69.9M and adjusted earnings of CAD 422.5M (Cuale project, Jalisco).
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., announced Q4 and full year 2025 production and financial results from its Avino mine in Durango (all currency expressed in US dollars). In the period Q4, 2025, the company processed 189,338 tonnes to produce  345.3K Oz Ag, 1,687 Oz Au, and 1.29M Lb Cu (671.6K Oz AgEq) at cash and AISC of $21.1 and $31.59 per Oz AgEq payable respectively, and reported revenue of $30.54M; mine operating income of $17.84M; net income of $10.46M; EBITDA of $14.41M; adjustable earnings of $16.3M; cash provided by operating activities of $9.98M; operating cash flow before working capital adjustment of  $18.95M; and mine operating cash flow before taxes of $18.99M. For the full year 2025, it processed 736,935 tonnes to produce  1.16M Oz Ag, 7,621 Oz Au, and 5.67M Lb Cu (2.61M Oz AgEq) at cash and AISC of $16.13 and $23.75 per Oz AgEq payable respectively, and reported revenue of $92.23M; mine operating income of $48.53M; net income of $26.64M; EBITDA of $42.99M; adjustable earnings of $46.53M; cash provided by operating activities of $27.42M; operating cash flow before working capital adjustment of $35.34M; and mine operating cash flow before taxes of $52.71M. Avino also reported cash as of December 31, 2025 of $101.72M and working capital of $99.56M.

ON FINANCING

  • Barksdale Resources Corp., announces private placement of 8,478,049 common shares by Crescat Capital LLC at a price of CAD $0.1125 per common share for gross proceeds of CAD $953,780.51. The company repriced the private placement at a price of CAD $0.09 per unit for gross proceeds of CAD $763,024.41. Net proceeds will be used for on-going corporate expenses (San Javier project, Sonora).
  • Orex Minerals Inc., closed its previously announced private placement of 30,303,030 units at a price of CAD $0.165 per unit for gross proceeds of CAD $4M. part of the funds will be used to satisfy annual tax obligations associated with its current property holdings, to maintain a general reserve for potential future transactions, and to cover general corporate and overhead expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business over the next 12 months (Coneto project, Durango).
  • Vortex Minerals Inc., announced a non-brokered private placement of up to 17,000,000 units at a price of CAD $0.05 per unit for gross proceeds of up to CAD $850K. Part of the gross proceeds will be used for general working capital purposes (Riqueza marina project, Oaxaca).
  • Orogen Royalties Inc., informed that it plans to raise up to CAD $10M by way of a non-brokered private placement consisting of issuing up to 2,890,274 common shares at a price of CAD $3.46 per common share. Net proceeds will be used to develop generative exploration initiatives, executing potential royalty acquisitions, and strengthening the Company’s working capital to support its ongoing growth strategy (Ermitaño mine, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Kootenay Silver Inc., provided an update on their progress with four silver deposits, focusing mostly on pushing their drilling at the Columba site and moving forward with the La Cigarra project, both located in Chihuahua. The four deposits (Promontorio, La Cigarra, Columba, and La Negra) combined total 119.79M measured + indicated Oz Ag and another 82.78M inferred Oz Ag. On a silver equivalent basis those 4 deposits total 223M measured plus indicated Oz AgEq and 111M inferred Oz AgEq. At Columba project, Kootenay is conducting a systematic step-out drilling to expand its resource. This program will consist of 60,000m, with 18,000m completed so far in 2026, and the goal is to determine if mineralization extends at depth and toward the edges of the deposits. At La Cigarra project, a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) is underway, expected to be completed later in Q2, 2026, with a drill program planned to expand the resource by testing a “Gap Zone”. It also informed that a recent bought deal financing has fortified their treasury, providing funding for the next 18-24 months to continue exploration and future development activities.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Luca Mining Corp., announced the appointment of Nick Shakesby as Chief Operating Officer, effective April 1, 2026, and hired Jose Hernandez as Vice President, Metallurgy and Process Engineering, effective March 1, 2026 (Campo Morado mine, Durango).  
  • Orex Minerals Inc., engaged the services of ICP Securities Inc to provide automated market making services. ICP will be paid a monthly fee of CAD $7,500 plus applicable taxes (Coneto project, Durango).
  • Vortex Metals Inc., appointed Craig W Beasley as Technical Advisor to the company. The company granted 200,000 stock options at a price of CAD $0.05 per common share for a period of five years from the date of grant (Riqueza Marina project, Oaxaca).
  • Teck Resources Limited released its 25th annual sustainability report, highlighting the company’s 2025 performance in key areas, including support for communities, Indigenous Peoples, health and safety, diversity and climate (San Nicolas project, Zacatecas).
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., appointed Darin Wagner as Special Technical Advisor and informed that it partnered with VRIFY to enhance exploration activities at the El Gran Pilar project in Sonora. “The collaboration will see Tocvan integrate VRIFY Predict, specifically DORA, an AI prospectivity mapping software, to generate and prioritize new high-confidence exploration targets at its flagship Pilar Project”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No relevant news.

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

On the picture below, HQ core showing a hydrothermal breccia in an intermediate sulphidation epithermal vein-breccia system in Chihuahua, Mexico. Photo taken by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of August 2025

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By Jorge Cirett
During the 32nd week of the year (August 04th to August 10th, 2025), companies working in Mexico presented 36 press releases. Two companies presented news on two early-stage properties. Nine companies presented quarterly operational updates, one informed on actions to be taken on a pit wall failure and one more reported steady commissioning progress. Six companies reported on financial rounds. One company is drawing funds from a loan facility, another one received a cease trade order, while another company is voluntarily delisting from the TSX, another one is paying a dividend, a further one is changing its stock options plan and finally another is retracting amendments to outstanding debentures. One company received a key operational permit and one more informed on actions to be taken regarding a recent pit failure. Five companies informed on deals and corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mexico advanced several positions in the Fraser Institute Attractiveness Index. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec Minerals informed on surface exploration work at Cervantes; Questcorp Mining and Riverside Resources commenced a drilling program at La Union. ON MINING, Capstone Copper, Aura Minerals, Gold Resource, Torex Gold, Go Gold Resources, Pan American Silver, Gold Royalty, Coeur Mining, and Sandstorm Gold released Q2 2025 results. Orla Mining informed on actions to be taken on its recent pit wall failure. Endeavour Silver reported steady progress at Terronera in Jalisco. ON FINANCING, nine companies informed on financing rounds: Gold Group Mining (C$12 M), Aura Minerals (US$21.75 M), Pinnacle Silver and Gold (C$1.7 M), Minera Alamos (C$110 M), Prismo Metals (C$385 K) and Alamos Gold (US$500 M). Aura Minerals is to pay a dividend and delist from the TSX. Bear Creek Mining has drawn down US$0.6 M from a loan facility and Colibri Resource is not proceeding with debenture amendments. Xali Gold has been notified of a cease trade order. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Guanajuato Silver received a key explosives permit for its Pinguico project in Guanajuato. Orla Mining provided an update on exploration and definition drilling on the extension of the Sulfide zone at its Camino Rojo mine in Zacatecas. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Fresnillo plc is acquiring the Los Coyotes project in Sonora from Orogen Royalties. Pan American Silver made an appointment to the board. Angel Wing Metals presented results of its AGM. Minera Alamos is acquiring several properties in Nevada for Equinox Gold. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Oroco Resource signed a cooperation agreement with Mexico’s government program “Sembrando Vida” for supporting local initiatives near its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • México advanced from the 78 to the 49 position (from 82 constituencies evaluated) in the Fraser Institute Attractiveness Index. The Index is 60% based in the geological potential and 40% in the political perception. Mexico climbed almost 18 points supported by its geological potential (from 37.5 to 64.29 points) and a little bit less by its political perception (35 to 40 points). The index is based in a poll that included answers from 2,289 exploration and development companies.   

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp. updated on 2025 exploration work realized at its 3,649 ha Cervantes project in Sonora. Field crews collected 151 outcrop and subcrop samples, extending “the known extent of the California Au-Cu porphyry system another 0.5 kms to the east, finding and confirming new prospects with porphyry related mineralization with results of up to 15.6 gpt Au, 177.3 gpt Ag, and 8,062 ppm Cu in the adjoining target areas of Brasil, Estrella, California East, California North, and Purisima East”. Small outcrops of B-type vein stockworking and disseminated mineralization in quartz feldspar porphyry along with hydrothermal breccias were found on the rugged terrain up to 0.5 km to the east of the California target.
  • Questcorp Mining Inc. commenced drilling on its 25 square Km La Union project in Sonora. The 1,500 m diamond drill program across six holes is being carried out by vendor and operator Riverside Resources Inc. Four areas are to be tested: Union Main mine, North Union mine, Cobre and Central Union. The project is a carbonate replacement deposit (CRD) project “hosted by Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks (limestones, dolomites, and siliciclastic sediments) overlying crystalline Paleoproterozoic rocks of the Caborca Terrane”

ON MINING

  • Capstone Copper Corp. reported financial results for the second quarter 2025. The company had a consolidated Cu production of 57,416 tonnes at cash cost $2.45 per Lb Cu., with a net income of US$24 M, adjusted net income of US$27.5 M, adjusted EBITDA of US$ 215.6 M, operating cash flow of US212.4 M and the net debt decreasing to US$691.9 M. At Cozamin, in Zacatecas, the company produced 6,509 tonnes Cu at $1.49 per Lb Cu during the period.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. reported steady progress at its Terronera mine in Jalisco. The company milled 57 K tonnes at the site at an average rate of 1,841 tpd, with recoveries of 71% Ag, 67% Au while processing lower grade ore. “Higher-grade material is scheduled for processing soon, while optimization efforts continue. The introduction of higher-grade material is expected to directly enhance recoveries”.
  • Orla Mining Ltd. updated on the recent pit wall event at its Camino Rojo mine in Zacatecas. The comprehensive assessment determined that “The material movement was bounded by two faults acting as release features from increased pore pressure due to rainfall and the steepness of the interwall angle… The north wall will be re-established at a lower overall slope at single 10 metre benches”.  The pit wall is to be pushed back 50 to 80 m, to remove approximately 9 M tonnes, material that is expected to average 0.74 gpt Au and will be crushed and stacked on the heap.
  • Aura Minerals Inc. filed audited consolidated financial statements for Q2 2025. The company had a consolidated production of 64,033 Oz AuEq at a cash cost of $1,146 per Oz Au, an AISC of $1,149 per Oz Au, with a net revenue of US$190.4 M, gross profit of US$103.9 M, EBITDA of US$106.2 M, net income of US$8.1 M, adjusted net income of US$36.8 M. At Aranzazu, in Zacatecas, 22,290 Oz AuEq were produced at cash cost $1,110 per Oz AuEq, an AISC of $1,514 per Oz AuEq, for a revenue of US$62.5 M and a gross profit of US$31.5 M.
  • Gold Resource Corp. announced its second quarter operational results from its Don David mine in Oaxaca. During the period 63.5 K tonnes were milled, averaging 0.56 gpt Au, 115 gpt Ag, 0.13% Cu, 0.88% Pb, 2.72% Zn, to produce 758 Oz Au, 196.4 K Oz Ag, 50 tonnes Cu, 373 tones Pb, 1,380 tonnes Zn at cash cost $4,017 per Oz AuEq and an AISC of $5,458 per Oz AuEq. Productivity is being hindered by the lack of equipment to work several mining faces simultaneously. The company had US$10.4 M in working capital and US$12.7 M in cash at the end of the period.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported financial and operational results for Q2 2025. During the period the company produced at its Morelos Complex in Guerrero 82,856 Oz AuEq at an AISC of $2,103 per Oz AuEq, to have US$83.2 M in net income, adjusted net earnings of US$43.8 M, EBITDA of US$114.1 M and adjusted EBITDA of US$117.7 M, generating US$67.8 M in net cash and US$95.3 M before changes in non-cash operating working capital.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. announced financial results for the quarter ending in June 2025. From the operation of the Parral tailings in Chihuahua, the company obtained revenue of US$17.7 M, operating income of US$4.6 M, net income of US8.2 M and cash flow of US7.2 M. At the Parral tailings project in Chihuahua 402.9 K tonnes were stacked, 527.9 K Oz AgEq sold with a cash cost of $17.21 and an AISC of $22.78.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. reported unaudited results for the second quarter. The company produced 5.1 M Oz Ag, 178,700 Oz Au to obtain US$811 M in revenue, net earnings of US$189.6 M, mine operating earnings of US$273.3 M and adjusted earnings of US$155.4 M. Cash flow from operations was US$293.4 M with US$233 M of free cash flow. Consolidated cash cost was $19.69 per Oz Ag and $1,611 per Oz Au. At La Colorada, in Zacatecas, 1.5 M Oz Ag, 1,300 Oz Au were produced at an AISC of $24.18 per Oz Ag, while at Dolores, in Chihuahua, 0.29 Moz Ag, 10,100 Oz Au were produced at an AISC of $811 per Oz Au. The company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all shares of Mag Silver Corp. (Juanicipio, Zacatecas).
  • Gold Royalty Corp. filed its operating and financial results for Q2, 2025. The company had US$3.8 M in revenue during the period, a net loss of US$829 K, with an adjusted EBITDA of US$2.36 M and an adjusted net loss of US$66 K (Royalty on Cozamin, Zacatecas).
  • Coeur Mining Inc. reported second quarter 2025 financial results. During the period the company had a consolidated production of 108,487 Oz Au, 4.7 M Oz Ag, at a cash cost $1,260 per Oz Au, $13.41 per Oz Ag. for a revenue of US480.7 M, a net income of US$70.7 M, an adjusted net income of US$127.4, EBITDA of US$203.0 M, adjusted EBITDA of US$243 .5 M, free cash flow of US$146.2 M while holding a total debt of US$380.7 M. At Las Chispas, in Sonora, 118.4 tonnes were milled, grading 4.67 gpt Au, 414 gpt Ag, recovering 93.8% Au, 94.4% Ag, to produce 16,271 Oz Au, 1.49 M Oz Ag at cash cost $894 per Oz Au, $8.94 per Oz Ag. At Palmarejo, in Chihuahua, 483.9 K tonnes were milled, averaging 1.93 gpt Au, 134 gpt Ag, recovering 92.9% Au, 88.6% Ag, to produce 27,272 Oz Au, 1.74 M Oz Ag at a cash cost of $888 per Oz Au, $14.39 per Oz Ag.  The 2025 production guidance includes 42,500 to 52,500 Oz Au, 4.25 M to 5.25 M Oz Ag at Las Chispas and 95,000 to 105,000 Oz Au, 5.4 M to 6.5 M Oz Ag at Palmarejo.
  • Sandstorm Gold Ltd. released its financial results for the second quarter 2025. The company obtained revenue of US$51.4 M during the period, with 1,098 Oz AuEq attributable, cash flow of US$37.7 M, a net income of US$16.9 M, with an operating margin of $2,981 per Oz AuEq (Cosala, Sinaloa).

ON FINANCING

  • Aura Minerals Inc. intends to commence an application for a voluntary delisting of the common shares from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), following the completion of listing on the Nasdaq on July 16, 2025 (Aranzazu, Zacatecas).
  • Bear Creek Mining Corp. announced that pursuant to the promissory note issued by a wholly owned subsidiary of Sandstorm Gold Ltd. funds in the amount of US$0.6 M were drawn down by the company on August 1, 2025. “The principal amount of the 2025 Sandstorm Note is a maximum of US$6.5 million, of which the Company may draw down up to US$600,000 per month. An aggregate total of funds drawn to date is US$4.2 million and the remaining amount of up to US$2.3 million may be drawn down subject to prior approval by Sandstorm in its sole discretion” (Mercedes, Sonora).
  • Goldgroup Mining Inc. closed the previously announced C$12 M private placement. Mr. Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., acquired approximately $1.5 M of shares. Following completion of the private placement Mr. Eric Sprott owns 29.8 M shares and 15.8 M warrants, representing 10.5% of the outstanding shares on a non-diluted basis and 15.2% on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of warrants (Cerro Prieto, Sonora).
  • Aura Minerals Inc. declared the payment of a dividend “of US$0.33 per share, achieving a 7.4% dividend yield, including share buybacks, over the last twelve months…” (Aranzazu, Zacatecas).
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. adopted a fixed up to 10%” stock option plan to replace its prior “rolling up to 10%” stock option plan. “Under the terms of the Fixed Plan, the Company may issue up to 7,209,338 common shares of the Company pursuant to the exercise of outstanding options granted to eligible persons under the Fixed Plan” (Metates, Durango).
  • Aura Minerals Inc. closed the sale of “897,134 common shares as a result of the partial exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares granted to them in connection with the U.S. initial public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form F-1 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) at the public offering price of US$24.25 per common share, less underwriting discounts and commissions…. The principal purposes of this offering are to transfer Aura’s principal listing venue to a stock exchange in the United States equity market, which the Company believes will increase the liquidity of its common shares, as well as strengthen and diversify its shareholder base through broader access to global capital markets” (Note of compiler: The not stated gross proceeds of the financing can be calculated as US$21.75 M) (Aranzazu, Zacatecas).
  • Colibri Resource Corp. announced that it will not be proceeding with certain amendments to its outstanding debentures, related common share purchase warrants and finder’s fee options as announced on its July 16, 2025 news release (EP, Sonora).
  • Xali Gold Corp. informed that the British Columbia Securities Commission has notified the company that it has issued a cease trade order (FFCTO). “The FFCTO was issued as a result of the Company’s delay in filing its audited annual financial statements, accompanying management discussion and analysis, and CEO and CFO certifications for the financial year ended March 31, 2025….. The Company expects to be able to file the Annual Filings as required and resume trading within the next 3 or 4 days” (El Oro, Estado de Mexico).
  • Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp. announced the closing its non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of C$1.7 M. “Finder’s fees consisting of $20,622 in cash commission and 343,700 non-transferable finder’s warrants were paid in connection with the offering” (El Potrero, Durango).
  • Minera Alamos Inc. entered into an agreement with Stifel Canada, as lead underwriter and sole bookrunner, on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters in connection with a bought deal private placement offering for gross proceeds of C$110 M which under certain circumstances may be increased to an additional C$25 M (Santana, Sonora).
  • Prismo Metals Inc. proceeded with an upsized closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of C$385 K (Palos Verdes, Sinaloa).
  • Alamos Gold Inc. filed a base shelf prospectus with the Ontario Securities Commission. The base shelf prospectus qualifies the issuance of up to US$500 M of class A common shares, debt securities, warrants and subscription receipts of the company. The Base Shelf Prospectus is effective for a period of 25 months (Mulatos, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. received a key explosives permit for its Pinguico project in Guanajuato. Restarting of drifting along the mineralized San Jose structure towards the Pinguico underground stockpile (historic backfill) is expected in Q4, 2025. The company expects to find economic mineralization during the development work, material that will be sent to the El Cubo processing plant.
  • Orla Mining Ltd. provided an exploration update on Zone 22 extensions of the Sulphides Zone at its Camino Rojo mine in Zacatecas. The 15,000 m infill drill program was launched in early 2025 and completed in mid-July, returning consistently high-grade Au-Ag-Zn results. “This press release provides results from 16 of 21 drill holes and 9,470 metres drilled as part of the 2025 infill drilling program, and 7 drill holes and 5,278 metres from the final portion of the 2024 program”. The company has expanded the program by an additional 5,000 m in 2025. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 2.1 m @ 21.20 gpt Au, 115 gpt Ag, 0.13% Cu, 1.2% Pb, 5.8% Zn; 1.5 m @ 142 gpt Au; 14.7 m @ 3.0 gpt Au, 15 gpt Ag, 0.26% Cu, 0.6% Zn; 1.6 m @ 13.60 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag, 0.11% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 14.3% Zn; 4.4 m @ 9.06 gpt Au, 62.1 gpt Ag, 0.22% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 8.3% Zn; 10.50 m @ 9.42 gpt Au, 16 gpt Ag, 0.4% Zn (including 1 m @ 72.30 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag, 0.5% Zn); 9.8 m @ 8.00 gpt Au, 11 gpt Ag, 1.5% Zn; 1.50 m @ 21.00 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag, 0.2% Cu, 0.1% Pb, 1.7% Zn; 1.50 m @ 14.00 gpt Au, 168 gpt Ag, 0.11% Cu, 2.4% Pb, 6.0% Zn; 11.60 m @ 4.77 gpt Au, 17 gpt Ag, 0.12% Cu, 2.2% Zn.      

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Orogen Royalties Inc. signed a purchase and sale agreement with Fresnillo plc whereby Fresnillo has acquired the Los Coyotes project in Sonora. “To acquire a 100% interest in the Los Coyotes project, Fresnillo will pay Orogen US$118,000 on signing (received) and US$1 million on the commencement of commercial production. Orogen will retain a 1% net smelter return (“NSR”) royalty”. The property comprises six claims covering 600 ha with multiple sub parallel subvertical structures and replacements within a limestone interbedded with Laramide age andesites.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. appointed Mr. Pablo Marcet to its board of directors La Colorada, Zacatecas).
  • Angel Wing Metals Inc. informed shareholders voted in favor of the election of all directors nominees and in favor of all matters present in the Annual General Meeting (AGM) circular (La Reyna, Nayarit).
  • Minera Alamos Inc. entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Calibre USA Holding Ltd. from Equinox Gold Corp. for total consideration of US$115 M. Calibre USA holds a 100% economic interest in the producing Pan Gold Mine, Gold Rock Project and Illipah Project located in Nevada. “Pan is a heap leach gold operation producing approximately 40 koz….. Post-Transaction, the Company’s asset base when fully developed will hold the potential to produce, in aggregate, over 175 koz gold annually based on the current development plans for Copperstone, Cerro de Oro and Gold Rock”. Jason Kosec is joining the leadership team of Minera Alamos as chairman with a mandate to lead the Company’s strategic growth initiatives and capital markets presence (Santana, Sonora; Cerro de Oro, Zacatecas).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Oroco Resource Corp. signed a cooperation agreement with Sembrando Vida, a flagship environmental and social program of the Government of Mexico. “Through this collaboration, Oroco will provide material, logistical, and advisory support for local initiatives, including native tree planting, land recovery, and training for program participants” (Santo Tomás, Sinaloa).

On the image below: Quartz-chlorite lined veinlet with feld-K alteration halo on HQ core. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of May 2024

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By Jorge Cirett                                             

During the 19th week of the year (May 6th to May 12th,2024), companies working in Mexico posted at least 31 press releases. One company released exploration results in its property, while eleven companies released production results for Q1 2024. Two companies announced financing rounds for C$11.77 M, two more granted stock options, one is arranging a US$20 M loan, while another one obtained a US$5 M loan from another company. A company informed on the discovery of a new vein near mining workings, another one updated the mineral resource estimate at its property, two presented drilling results and one more a positive PEA on a copper play. One company issued shares whilst acquiring mining concessions, another one is assessing its ownership on its only Mexican asset, while one other is selling all its Mexican assets. One company informed on board changes. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mexico was the venue for the meeting of mining industry unions from Argentina, Peru, Canada and Mexico. Golden Minerals announced the divestment of all its Mexican assets, to focus in Argentina. ON EXPLORATION, In Chihuahua, Kingsmen Resources released results from surface sampling at Las Cristinas. ON MINING, Gatos Silver, Aura Minerals, Fortuna Silver, First Majestic, GoGold Resources, Starcore International, Avino Silver & Gold, Pan American Silver, Torex Gold, Equinox Gold and Endeavour Silver presented financial/operational results for Q1 2024. ON FINANCING, Guanajuato Silver Company raised C$11.35 M, Tocvan Ventures raised C$420.6 K. GR Silver Mining granted shares to employees, officers, directors and consultants, and Osisko Development granted 283 K to independent directors. Heliostar Metals is arranging a US$20 M loan for test mining. Silver Storm received a US$5 M loan for advancing La Parrilla project in Zacatecas. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Impact Silver discovered a new vein at its Zacualpan project. Sierra Metals updated the mineral resource and reserve estimate for Bolivar, in Chihuahua. Silver Storm released drilling results from La Parrilla, Durango. Vizsla Silver released drilling results from La Luisa vein at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Barksdale Resources announced positive results from a PEA on the San Javier project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Vizsla Silver issued shares on the acquisition of the San Enrique project concessions. Osisko Development is assessing its ownership on the San Antonio project in Sonora. GoGold announced board changes. Golden Minerals is selling all its assets in Mexico to focus in Argentina. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Torex Gold and Equinox Gold informed on ESG matters.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mining unions from Argentina, Perú, Canada and Mexico reunited on the second Encuentro del Frente Internacional Minero, under which the unions bid to design strategies to support and defend the rights of mining industry workers.
  • Golden Minerals is the company of the week announcing its departure from Mexico for greener pastures in Argentina.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Kingsmen Resources Ltd. reported surface sampling results from Las Coloradas project in Chihuahua. Twenty-eight samples were collected on the north end of the 1.7 km long Soledad structure/vein system, over a 530 m interval. Highest results comprise 0.6 m @ 0.121 gpt Au, 362 gpt Ag, >1% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 0.5 m @ 0.266 gpt Au, 449 gpt Ag, >1% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 0.8 m @ 205 gpt Ag, >1% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 0.5 m @ 106 gpt Ag, 1% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 1.1 m @ 76 gpt Ag, 2.0% Pb, 0.3% Zn, and two grab samples running 0.12 gpt Au, 81 gpt Ag, 2.6% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 432 gpt Ag, 4.7% Pb, 3.8% Zn. “The better silver grades are localized in structural intersections and flexures in all rock types. The mineralization likely continues at depth below the water table which is at a depth of approximately 125 meters. Blind extensions to all the mineralized structures, as well as new structures, are likely at depth…. The sizes of the old workings suggest the mined mineralization may have been up to several meters in width”. The mineralized structures have not been explored by drilling.

ON MINING

  • Gatos Silver Inc. announced first quarter 2024 financial and operating results. The company owns 70% of the Cerro Los Gatos project in Chihuahua, where 292.1 K tonnes were milled during the period at a 3,210 tpd rate, with ore averaging 284 gpt Ag, 3.99% Zn, 1.77% Pb, 0.28 gpt Au, to produce 2.37 M Oz Ag, 15.8 M Lb Zn, 10.1 M Lb Pb, 1,390 Oz Au, at $11.70 co-product cash cost per Oz Ag, $6.09 By-product cash cost per Oz Ag, $14.36 Co-product AISC per Oz Ag and $10.08 By product per Oz Ag. Total revenue was $72.2 M, at an EBITDA of $35.1 M and cash flow from operations of $37.3 M. At the end of the period the company had a cash balance of $70.6 M.
  • Aura Minerals Inc. filed its unaudited consolidated financial statements for Q1 2024. At Aranzazu, in Zacatecas, the company produced 25,000 Oz AuEq at cash cost $926 per Oz AuEq and an AISC of $1,263 per Oz AuEq.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. reported its financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2024. The company had consolidated international production of 89,678 Oz Au, 1.07 M Oz Ag (112,543 Oz AuEq). At San Jose, in Oaxaca, during the period 246.7 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 2,182 tpd, grading 147 gpt Ag, 0.90 gpt Au, recovering 89% Ag, 87% Au, to produce 759.1 K Oz Ag, 4,533 Oz Au, at cash cost $21.98 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $24.24 per Oz AgEq. “The operation is experiencing further cost pressures driven by the continued appreciation of the Mexican peso. The Company conducts regular assessments and trade-offs between maintaining operations and opting for a care and maintenance option”.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. announced “the unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial results” for the first quarter 2024. During the period, at San Dimas, in Durango, 179 K tonnes were processed to produce 1.16 M Oz Ag, 13,543 Oz Au. At Santa Elena, in Sonora, 224.4 K tonnes were processed to produce 355.2 K Oz Ag, 21,713 Oz Au. At La Encantada, in Coahuila, 588.6 K tonnes were processed to produce 456.2 K Oz Ag, 33 Oz Au. Total production in Mexico amounted to 1.97 M Oz Ag, 35,289 Oz Au. At the endo of the period the company had $102.1 M in cash and cash equivalents, and $127.2 M of restricted cash.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. announced financial results for Q1 2024. The company generated net income of US$1.3 M and revenue of US$8.9 M on the sale of 374.1 K Oz AgEq produced at its Parral tailings project in Chihuahua. GoGold had US$80.8 M in cash by the end of the period.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. announced production results for the fourth fiscal quarter ended April 2024. During the period its San Martin mine in Queretaro milled 55.8 K tonnes grading 1.91 gpt Au, 19.6 gpt Ag, recovering 88.6% Au, 56.9% Ag, to produce 3,242 Oz AuEq. The company informs new orebodies have been found with a new geological model, and industrial tests have shown carbonaceous ore is able to be treated to recover precious metals economically.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. announced its consolidated financial results for the first quarter of 2024. At Avino, in Durango, 169.6 K tonnes were milled to produce 250.6 K Oz Ag, 1,778 Oz Au, 1.35 M Lb Cu (or 629.3 K Oz AgEq), at cash cost $14.89 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $20.23 per Oz AgEq, at cash cost $14.89 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $20.23 per Oz AgEq, remaining on track for the production in 2024 of 2.5 M to 2.8 M Oz AgEq. At La Preciosa, near to the Avino mine, capital costs for 2024 are expected to be between US$3.0 to US$4.0 M, to include “surface works and equipment procurement intended for the first phase of mine development for the Gloria and Abundancia Veins”. The company had revenue of $12.4 M and gross profit of $2.3 M.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. reported unaudited results for Q1 2024, including some figures from its Mexican operations. At La Colorada, in Zacatecas, 1.11 M Oz Ag, 500 Oz Au were produced at cash cost $25.01 per Oz Ag and an AISC of $25.37 during the period, while at Dolores, in Chihuahua, 430 K Oz Ag, 17,900 Oz Au were produced at cash cost $1,412 per Oz Au, an AISC of $2,367 per Oz Au. At the end of the period the company had working capital of $693.5 M, inclusive of cash and cash investments of $331.4 M, and $750 M available on its credit facility. Total debt of $806.6 M.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported financial and operational results for the first quarter of 2024. The company produced from its El Limón-Guajes deposit in Guerrero 115,494 Oz Au, or 117,306 Oz AuEq at cash cost $943 per Oz AuEq and an AISC of $1,221 per Oz AuEq. “The quarter closed with net cash1 of $69.2 million, including $113.2 million in cash and $44.0 million of lease-related obligations, no borrowings on the credit facilities of $300.0 million as at March 31, 2024 and letters of credit outstanding of $7.9 million, providing $405.3 million in available liquidity1”.
  • Equinox Gold Corp.  announced its first quarter 2024 summary financial and operating results, without providing figures per project (Los Filos, Guerrero).
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. announced its financial and operating results for Q1 2024. During the period the company processed 115 K tonnes at Guancaeví, in Durango, to produce 1.33 M Oz Ag, or 1.66 M Oz AgEq at an-in sustaining cost of $21.96 per Oz. At Bolañitos, in Guanajuato, 106.8 K tonnes were processed to produce 118.6 K Oz Ag, or 605 K Oz AgEq at an AISC of $15.59 per Oz. Total production without specifying the source was 1.46 M Oz Ag, 10,133 Oz Au. Cash position of $34.9 M at the end of the period.

ON FINANCING

  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. filed an amended and restated offering document in relation to its previously announced brokered, best efforts offering, for aggregate proceeds of up to C$10.87 M (El Cubo, Guanajuto).
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. granted stock options, deferred share units and performance share units in accordance with the omnibus long-term incentive plan approved on September’s 2023 AGM. The company granted 1.58 M incentive stock options to certain employees, executive officers, directors and consultants, and also 1.8 M incentive stock options to certain directors and executive officers. 35,294 deferred shares were granted to each non-executive directors for directors’ fees. Also 1.8 M performance share units were granted to certain executive officers of the company Plomosas, Sinaloa).
  • Heliostar Metals Ltd. entered into a non-binding letter of intent on a senior secured debt facility for US$20 M, with an expected fixed 10% rate of interest with a syndicate of lenders led by a New York based Asset Manager. “The net proceeds of the Facility will be used to advance the underground decline and complete test mining to process a bulk sample from the Ana Paula deposit in Guerrero…. Funds from the sale of gold produced from the bulk sample are anticipated to repay the principal and interest of the loan and the floor price for a portion of the test mining ounces minimizes completion risk”. The company will also issue 17.24 M warrants to the lenders at $0.40 and $0.55 per share (Ana Paula, Guerrero).
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. announced that First Majestic Silver Ltd. advanced the company a US$5 M non-revolving secured loan. The loan is for a 2-year term and bears 15% interest rate, compounded monthly. The company agreed to pledge all the shares of the subsidiary that owns La Guitarra project in favour of First Majestic.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. announced the closing of its previously announced brokered, best-efforts offering for aggregate gross proceeds of C$11.35 M, under a combined Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (LIFE) and concurrent placement to accredited investors. Certain directors, officers and other insiders and their affiliates participated in the offering and acquired $503 K in shares (El Cubo, Guanajuato).
  • Osisko Development Corp. granted 283.2 K deferred share units to its independent directors (San Antonio, Sonora).
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. closed a final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of C$420.6 K, and total combined gross proceeds of $2.52 M. Since early April 1,825 m of reverse circulation drilling have been completed in 15 holes at its Pilar project in Sonora, sample results are pending.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Impact Silver Corp. announced a new silver vein discovery in its currently producing Guadalupe mine in the Royal Mines of Zacualpan district in Estado de México. The Kena Vein south is within 100-200 m of active mine workings. Core length results from the first four holes comprise 1.65 m @ 378 gpt Ag, 0.40 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 0.75 m @ 1,400 gpt Ag, 0.39 gpt Au, 0.9% Pb, 2.1% Zn; 17.30 m @ 214 gpt Ag, 0.02 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn (including 3.90 m @ 358 gpt Ag, 0.03 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn); 0.78 m @ 463 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 1.20 m @ 198 gpt Ag, 1.99 gpt Au, 3.3% Pb, 5.9% Zn; 0.40 m @ 1,450 gpt Ag, 0.65 gpt Au, 2.2% Pb, 3.0% Zn; 0.70 m @ 1,615 gpt Ag, 0.58 gpt Au, 1.8% Pb, 6.0% Zn. “The Kena Vein South has now been drill tested over a length of 150 metres from mine Level 140 and is open for extension to the southeast, updip and downdip. Drilling is continuing”.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. updated the mineral resource and reserve estimates for its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua. Measured and indicated resources comprise 18.4 M tonnes @ 0.76% Cu, 15.29 gpt Ag, 0.25 gpt Au, containing 306 M Lb Cu, 9 M Oz Ag, 150,000 Oz Au, whilst inferred resources amount to 12.11 M tonnes @ 0.72% Cu, 12.21 gpt Ag, 0.19 gpt Au, containing 193 M Lb Cu, 4.75 M Oz Ag, 70,000 Oz Au. Mineral resources are inclusive of mineral reserves, which amount to 5.6 M tonnes @ 0.77% Cu, 16.83 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au, containing 94.7 M Lb Cu, 3 M Oz Ag, 50,000 Oz Au
  • Silver Storm Mining Ltd. Released further drill results from its La Parrilla mine complex in Durango. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 4.13 m @ 376 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 1.3% Pb, 1.4% Zn (including 0.60 m @ 1,270 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 5.0% Pb, 7.4% Zn); 7.50 m @ 284 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 0.9% Pb, 0.4% Zn (including 1.12 m @ 390 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 2.0% Pb, 0.6% Zn and 1.38 m @ 611 gpt Ag, 0.03 gpt Au, 2.6% Pb, 0.9% Zn); 2.36 m @ 619 gpt Ag, 0.19 gpt Au, 1.3% Pb, 1.5% Zn (including 0.57 m @ 1,555 gpt Ag, 0.24 gpt Au, 1.6% Pb, 2.0% Zn); 1.21 m @ 466 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 1.6% Pb, 0.7% Zn. These results come from the C1940, San Rafael and La Estrella zones in the Quebradillas mine, and are not included in the last resource estimate of August 2023.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. reported results from six new holes at the La Luisa vein, at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width results comprise 1.90 m @ 0.47 gpt Au, 29 gpt Ag; 1.30 m @ 2.07 gpt Au, 682 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 1.00 m @ 0.69 gpt Au, 65 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb; 0.75 m @ 2.78 gpt Au, 827 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 1.8% Zn; 2.0 m @ 2.94 gpt Au, 102 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 0.56 m @ 7.96 gpt Au, 78 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 1.5% Zn; 2.90 m @ 0.71 gpt Au, 185 gpt Ag, 1.4% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 1.22 m @ 0.71 gpt Au, 255 gpt Ag, 2.3% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 0.56 m @ 0.53 gpt Au, 234 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 2.11 m @ 0.93 gpt Au, 33 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 1.8% Zn; 0.80 m @ 1.05 gpt Au, 77 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 2.70 m @ 0.42 gpt Au, 52 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 0.48 m @ 61.60 gpt Au, 3,310 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 1.10 m @ 7.79 gpt Au, 103 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.8% Zn; 0.73 m @ 9.73 gpt Au, 115 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 1.0% Zn. La Luisa vein has been mapped for 1,500 m on the surface, and defined by 57 holes for 1,670 m and 450 m downdip, averaging 2.56 m @ 3.09 gpt Au, 150 gpt Ag, 0.36% Pb, 1.35% Zn.
  • Barksdale Resources Corp. announced positive results of a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) completed on the San Javier oxide copper-gold project in Sonora. “The PEA envisions a modest capital cost project utilizing conventional openpit mining with a solvent-extraction and electrowinning (“SXEW”) plant to produce LME-grade copper cathodes on-site”. Highlights include a 13-year mine life producing 209 M Lb of cathode Cu with an on-site SXEW, open pit mining with a waste to ore ratio of 0.66 to 1, average LOM cash costs of $2.16 per Lb Cu, low initial cost of US$116.8 M an upside expansion on the Mesa Grande and Trinidad areas and the assessment of potential gold recovery and run of mine processing. Metallurgical testwork returned 85% recovery of soluble copper in the leach cap and oxide zones, 75% in the mixed oxide/sulfide and 60% recovery in the sulfide zone. The mineral resource estimate stands at 70.1 M tonnes @ 0.271% Cu containing 289.4 M Lb soluble Cu in the measured and indicated category, and 6 M tonnes @ 0.240% Cu, containing 19.9 M Lb of soluble Cu.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Vizsla Silver Corp. has now issued 448.1 K shares in relation to the acquisition of the 10,667 Ha San Enrique project claims in Sinaloa from Inca Azteca Gold S.A.P.I. de C.V. Minera Canam, S.A. de C.V. The claims are south and partially adjacent to Vizsla’s Panuco project, and covered 100% with LiDAR and partially covered with high-resolution aero-magnetic and radiometric surveys.
  • Osisko Development Corp. informed the San Antonio project in Sonora was placed in care and maintenance after completion of processing of the remaining stockpile inventory from the heap leach pad in Q3 2023. The company waits for the next steps the government takes after the June 2024 presidential elections with respect to the permitting process and the status of open pit mining in the country. Osisko is “exploring the potential for a financial or strategic partner in the asset or for a full or partial sale of the asset”.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. announced the retirement of George Wayne, FCPA, FCA from its board. The company has appointed Douglas Reid to its board (Parral Tailings, Chihuahua).
  • Golden Minerals Co. entered into a definitive agreement to sell the primary assets comprising its Velardeña properties in Durango. “The assets being sold include the Velardeña and Chicago mines, both of the Company’s oxide and sulfide processing plants and related equipment”. On April 29, 2024, the buyer paid a non-refundable $1 M in cash. On May 20, 2024, the buyer shall pay $2.0 M in cash and on July 1, 2024, the buyer shall pay $2.5 M in cash. In other matters, the company agreed to pay $250 K to Unifin Financiera S.A.B. de C.V. in exchange for UNIFIN’s withdrawal of an ongoing lawsuit. “The sale will enable us to divest of our production assets and related liabilities in Mexico and allow us to focus on exploration and development, principally of our Argentina assets. We also anticipate future net proceeds from the sale of tax credits related to the holding companies of the production assets.”

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. “exited the quarter with one lost-time ankle injury at the Media Luna Project and reached 14 million hours lost-time injury free at the El Limón-Guajes (“ELG”) Mine Complex”. The lost-time injury frequency for the Morelos Complex in Guerrero was 0.15 per million hours worked for employees and contractors on a rolling 12-month basis.
  • Equinox Gold Corp. published its 2023 Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) report.

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

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of February, 2024

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Silica sinter

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 6th week of the year (February 5th to February 11th, 2024), at least 25 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 3 news published by the media with eight reporting resources and developments of their projects, six announcing financing issues, five disclosing deals and corporate issues, four commenting on Mexican issues, two communicating production results, two informing on exploration results, and one discussing social issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Analysts announced that Q4, 2023 reports will be disparate on the Stock Market.  President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has presented 20 proposals for constitutional reforms in Mexico. AMLO presented initiative to prohibit open pit mining. Orla Mining, First Majestic, Prismo Metals, and Prime Mining reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of February, 2024. ON EXPLORATION, In Sinaloa, Prismo provided an exploration update on its Palos Verdes project.  In Durango, Silver Dollar acquired from Canasil a 100% interest in the Nora project, and provided a project update. ON MINING, Argonaut announced that it will report Q4 and year-end 2023 production and financial results of their Mexican operations on March 6, 2024. GoGold released Q1, 2024 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project, Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, Capstone and Orion closed its previously announced CADS $431M bought deal offering (Cozamine mine, Zacatecas). Defiance announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $3M (San Acacio project, Zacatecas). Kootenay increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement to $3.5M (Columba project, Chihuahua). Sonoro announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $1M (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora).  Regency Silver extended the closing its private placement (Dios Padre project, Sonora).  Zacatecas Silver upsized and closed its previously announced private placement from $1.8M to $2.5M (Zacatecas Silver project, Zacatecas). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Luca Miningprovided an update progress at its Tahuehueto property in Durango. Avino presented the results of the Pre Feasibility (PFS) for its Oxide Tailings project at its Avino mine operation in Durango. Sierra Madre provided an update on La Guitarra mine in the State of Mexico. Heliostar announced that it is evaluating test mining scenarios for its Ana Paula project, Guerrero in 2024. Orla concluded its 2023 Camino Rojo Sulphides Infill program in Zacatecas with strong results.  Prime Mining released results from the 2023 drilling program at the Z-T Area within its Los Reyes project, Sinaloa. First Majestic reported positive exploration results from their San Dimas property in Durango, and Santa Elena property in Sonora. Torex provided a Q4, 2023 update on its Media Luna project in Guerrero.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Capstone announced that it has commenced trading on the Australian Securities Exchange (Cozamin mine, Zacatecas). Colibri appointed Douglas Coleman to its Advisory Board (Evelyn project, Sonora).  Fabled Silver terminated its letter of intent with Kootenay with respect to the proposed acquisition the Mecatona Property, Chihuahua. Luca Mining appointed a new member to its Board of Directors (Tahuehueto project, Durango). Defiance clarified technical disclosures pertaining to its technical reports related to their Tepal project, Michoacan and San Acacio project, Zacatecas. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fortuna Silver announced its objectives, metrics, and targets to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Analysts predict that the fourth quarter of 2023 will be a mixed bag for Mexican mining companies due to pressures on costs and falling prices of industrial metals. While some companies may benefit from increasing prices of precious metals like gold and silver, others will also face higher costs. Grupo Mexico has already reported weak financial results due to decreased sales of copper, while the other companies are expected to face similar challenges in 2024 due to China’s economic slowdown. Only Minera Frisco has generated a positive return so far this year among the four mining companies. Autlán is expected to make some sequential improvements due to cost-cutting efforts, but the industry as a whole is predicted to face challenges in the coming year. All of last year, only the companies that are part of the S&P/BMV stock index IPC Grupo México (+37.66%) and Peñoles (+3.58%) had gains on the Stock Market. While the share of Fresnillo, a subsidiary of Peñoles listed on the London Stock Exchange, lost 34.08%, that of Autlán lost 26.43% and that of Frisco lost 9.01%.
  • President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has presented 20 proposals for constitutional reforms in Mexico. One of the proposals is to return the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) to its status as a public, strategic, and nationally important company.  AMLO also proposes to prohibit the extraction of hydrocarbons through hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and to not grant concessions to private companies for open-pit mining activities. However, in the economic budget planned for 2024, the government has contemplated two projects with fracking for MXP $4.63M, according to data from the organization Mexican Alliance against Fracking (AMCF). Currently, of the almost 250 mines that operate in the country, 97 are open pit metal mines and 152 more are underground mines; However, until March 2022, 15,551 mining concessions were registered in the country with validity after 2050. It should be noted that since the arrival of AMLO to the presidency, not a single mining concession has been granted, which has led the sector to have a drop in investment that decreased its participation in the national GDP, from 2.50 in 2021 to 2.46 percent in 2022, while in industrial GDP from 8.78% to 8.63%. The proposed reforms also aim to eliminate “costly and elitist” dependencies and organizations that were supposedly autonomous but disconnected from the interests of the people. Some of the autonomous bodies that could be affected by these proposals include the Comisión Reguladora de Energía (CRE), Comisión Nacional de Hidrocarburos (CNH), and Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (COFECE). AMLO will submit these initiatives to the Chamber of Deputies for discussion in the current or next legislative session.
  • President Andrés Manuel López (AMLO) presented initiative to prohibit open pit mining. On February 5, on the anniversary of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, AMLO presented an Initiative with a Draft Decree to carry out various reforms, one of these being the prohibition of open pit mining. According to the initiative, addressed to Dip. Marcela Guerra Castillo, President of the Chamber of Deputies, in order to protect the environment and health, we seek to modify art. 27 constitutional to “prohibit both the granting of concessions and the activities of exploration, exploitation, benefit, use or exploitation of minerals, metals or metalloids in the open pit, with the addition that the people who carry out these activities will be sanctioned.” The AMLO project indicates that there are currently around 264 open pit mines in Mexico, and much emphasis is placed on the old vision of predatory mining, leaving aside that for a mine to operate in our country it must have more than a thousand rules and regulations, in addition to having comprehensive closure plans.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., First Majestic Silver Corp., Prismo Metals Inc., and Prime Mining Corp., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of February, 2024. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Prismo Metals Inc., provided an exploration update on its Palos Verdes project in Sinaloa.  Following the completion of its third drill campaign with 2,923 meters drilled in 15 holes, and in preparation of the upcoming expanded drill program to be drilled from Vizsla Silver Corp, Prismo completed an alteration and geochemical study that confirmed a downward offset of the mineralized ore shoot defined by drilling to date and that a second blind mineralized shoot may exist to the northeastern portion of the Palos Verdes vein, based on a geochemical sampling which revealed high-grade silver, gold, zinc, and lead values in the vein system.  The best sample from this program assayed 930 g/t silver and 10.55 g/t gold with 15.4% zinc and 4.5% lead (2,605 g/t Ag/Eq) over 0.5m. The company plans to conduct deep drilling from Vizsla Silver’s ground to explore these concepts further.
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., acquired from Canasil a 100% interest in the Nora project in Durango, and provided a project update. In connection with the acquisition of the Nora property, Silver Dollar encountered certain unresolved discrepancies in verifying the 2020 and 2021 drill results Canasil reported on the Nora property. For gold: of the 157 samples duplicated, Canasil reported 42 samples >1 g/t Au (1.23 – 43.7 g/t) including 18 samples >5 g/t (5.3 – 43.7 g/t), whereas Silver Dollar’s re-assaying yielded only three samples >1 g/t Au (1.04, 1.75, and 2.30 g/t). For silver: of the 157 samples duplicated, Canasil reported 44 samples >200 g/t Ag (133 -1,924 g/t) including 19 samples >500 g/t Ag (504 – 1,925 g/t), whereas Silver Dollar’s re-assaying yielded only three samples >100 g/t Ag (129, 158, and 448 g/t). “The QPs from both companies discussed the situation and recommended a further analytical program be carried out to provide some insight into what may have caused the assay discrepancies. However, Canasil did not have the financial resources to contribute to the recommended program and alternatively offered to waive certain of Silver Dollar’s consideration obligations under the Nora Option Agreement and transfer 100% ownership of the Nora property to Silver Dollar for the consideration that has been provided to date (as detailed below), subject to a 2% net smelter returns royalty with Silver Dollar having the right to buy back 1% of the Royalty for $1M. As of the date hereof, Silver Dollar has incurred a total of approximately $134,779 in exploration expenditures on the Nora property, as full consideration for the acquisition thereof. Silver Dollar is not required to provide any further consideration to Canasil to complete the acquisition and the transfer of the Nora concessions to Silver Dollar has been initiated”.

ON MINING

  • Argonaut Gold Inc., announced that it will report Q4 and year-end 2023 production and financial results of their Mexican operations on March 6, 2024.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., released Q1, 2024 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project, Chihuahua. The company produced 109K Oz Ag, 1,848 Oz Au, and 212.8K Lb Cu (300,260 Oz AgEq). It also reported a revenue of USD $6.8M on the sale of 305,087 Oz AgEq, at a realized price of USD $22.28 per Oz Ag, and an adjusted cash cost and all in sustaining cost of USD $16.83 and USD $24.64 per Oz AgEq respectively ; a net income of USD $192K; and a cash of USD $88.8M.

ON FINANCING

  • Capstone Copper Corp., and Orion Fund JV Limited, Orion Mine Finance Fund II LP and Orion Mine Finance (Master) Fund I-A LP (collectively, Orion) closed its previously announced bought deal offering of common shares of Capstone by a syndicate of underwriters, which consisted of a total of 68,448,000 common shares at a price of CAD $6.30 per common share, which included the exercise in full of the Underwriters’ over-allotment option of 8,928,000 common shares from the company, for aggregate gross proceeds under the offering of CAD $431,222,400 (Cozamine mine, Zacatecas).
  • Defiance Silver Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD $3M. The offering is priced at $0.10/unit. Each unit shall consist of one common share of the company and one half of one common share purchase warrant. Net proceeds will be used for exploration of the company’s projects and for general working capital purposes (San Acacio project, Zacatecas).
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement to $3.5M, at a price of $0.75 per unit. The net proceeds from the offering will be used for exploration activities, property commitments on the company’s projects, working capital and general corporate purposes (Columba project, Chihuahua).
  • Sonoro Gold Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement offering consisting of up to 22,222,222 units at a price of CAD $0.45 per unit for gross proceeds of up to CAD $1M. Net proceeds will be used to fund the ongoing development of the company’s Cerro Caliche gold project in Sonora, Mexico as well as working capital.
  • Regency Silver Corp., extended the closing its previously announced private placement dated January 17, 2024 (Dios Padre project, Sonora).
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., upsized and closed its previously announced private placement from $1.8M to $2.5M. The Company will now proceed to immediately close the financing, by way of receiving subscription agreements and funds and intends to close within the next week. The Company intends to use the net proceeds to satisfy ongoing costs associated with its properties as well as general working capital purposes (Zacatecas Silver project, Zacatecas). 

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Luca Mining Corp., provided an update progress at its Tahuehueto property in Durango. The project to increase throughput at the Tahuehueto mill to 1,000 tonnes per day is in the final commissioning stage. The testing of the second ball mill is well advanced and will provide a total installed grinding capacity of 1,250 tonnes per day. Once the second mill is commissioned, production will ramp up and progressively increase to 35,000-40,000 oz AuEq per year.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., presented the results of the Pre Feasibility (PFS) for its Oxide Tailings project at its Avino mine operation in Durango. Highlights include a NVP of USD $98M (pre-tax) and USD $61M (after-tax) at a 5% discount rate; an IRR of 35% (pre-tax) and 26% (after-tax); a payback period of 2.9 years (pre-tax) and  3.5 years (after-tax); an initial capital cost of USD $49.1M, including a contingency provision in the amount of USD $5.3M; the ongoing sustaining capital cost is USD $5.1M; On-site Operating Costs (OOC) and All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) of USD $9.71 and USD $10.23 per Oz AgEq respectively; proven and probable mineral reserves of 6.70M tonnes at a silver and gold grade of 55 g/t and 0.47 g/t respectively; metal recoveries: 77.2% Ag and 74.9% Au; Doré production: Total 9,073,000 Oz Ag and 76,000 Oz Au, life-of-project (averaging 1,008,000 Oz Ag and 8,445 Oz Au per year); and the project will generate USD $52.4M in tax contributions to the local economy and government.
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd., provided an update on La Guitarra mine in the State of Mexico. The company has retained TechSer Mining Consultants Ltd., to complete the Mine Restart Study (MRS), which include an estimation of underground mine material for the Guitarra, Coloso and Nazareno mines and the Los Angeles bulk tonnage deposit. The   MRS is expected to be completed in Q2 of this year. On the other hand, work has been ongoing to determine necessary steps for the potential re-start of production. In accordance with recommendations made by officials with the Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional, SEDENA, improvements to the underground powder magazines have been completed. Finally, all circuits in the processing plant are undergoing maintenance and rehabilitation work which would be required for the resumption of operations. In the grinding circuit, the three ball mills are being relined, all parts of the central drive shaft mechanisms overhauled, and the motors cleaned and tested. A fourth ball mill with limited capacity will not be rebuilt at this time.
  • Heliostar Metals Ltd., announced that it is evaluating test mining scenarios for its Ana Paula project, Guerrero in 2024. The company is exploring the potential to complete the existing underground decline at the Ana Paula deposit in Guerrero, to enable test mining of a bulk gold sample. This would help de-risk the underground plan for Ana Paula while creating a potential pathway to production from test mining in 12 months. The company has initiated a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for completion in H2, 2024, and will continue resource growth drilling. Heliostar is assessing non-equity funding options for this program and has held discussions with potential offtake partners. Multiple scenarios indicate the potential to recover more than 20K Oz Au from a bulk sample from stocks averaging 7-10 g/t Au.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., concluded its 2023 Camino Rojo Sulphides Infill program in Zacatecas with strong results. Drilling highlights of the remaining unreported 14 holes completed as part of the 52 drill holes, 35,070 m infill program are shown in the table below:

“A preliminary underground resource estimate on the Camino Rojo Sulphides is eagerly anticipated to be completed in the second half of 2024. Metallurgy evaluation on the recent phase of Camino Rojo sulphide infill drilling is expected to continue throughout 2024”.

  • Prime Mining Corp., released results from the 2023 drilling program at the Z-T Area within its Los Reyes project, Sinaloa. Highlights of the drilling are shown in the table below:

“Ongoing drilling at Z-T aims to extend the high-grade shoots that remain open at depth, as well as following up on the newly discovered mineralization along strike”.

  • First Majestic Silver Corp., reported positive exploration results from their San Dimas property in Durango, and Santa Elena property in Sonora. At San Dimas, Durango, exploration drilling intersected significant gold and silver mineralization in multiple veins at Sinaloa North-Elia, Santa Teresa, Rosario and Perez Areas. Drilling highlights (true widths reported) include holes ST23-014 with 7.03 g/t Au and 903 g/t Ag (1,466 g/t AgEq) over 0.78m, plus 3.95 g/t Au and 270 g/t Ag (586 g/t AgEq) over 1.86m, plus 2.07 g/t Au and 130 g/t Ag (296 g/t AgEq) over 2.90m, plus 40.40 g/t Au and 2,092 g/t Ag (5,324 g/t AgEq) over 0.91m; hole SIN23-073 with 13.50 g/t Au and 1,007 g/t Ag (2,087 g/t AgEq) over 0.7m, plus 11.83 g/t Au and 758 g/t Ag (1,681 g/t AgEq) over 2.97m: hole PE23-225 with 1.6 g/t Au and 243 g/t Ag (371 g/t AgEq) over 0.77m, plus 14.18 g/t Au and 2,439 g/t Ag (3,574 g/t AgEq) over 1.03m, plus 3.78 g/t Au and 4.21 g/t Ag (723 g/t AgEq) over 7.78m, plus 9.16 g/t Au and 242 g/t Ag (974 g/t AgEq) over 0.84m, plus 1.33 g/t Au and 293 g/t Ag (293 g/t AgEq) over 0.96m; and hole PE23-242 with 7.36 g/t Au and 1,238 g/t Ag (1,826 g/t AgEq) over 2.41m. At Santa Elena, Sonora, the drilling program designed to convert Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves at the Ermitaño mine, cut multiple high-grade intersections of gold and silver mineralization. Drilling highlights (true widths reported) include holes EWUG-23-012 with 7.02 g/t Au and 189 g/t Ag (750 g/t AgEq) over 10.05m, plus 20.95 g/t Au and 311 g/t Ag (1,987 g/t AgEq) over 4.88m, plus 7.99 g/t Au and 187 g/t Ag (826 g/t AgEq) over 2.38m; hole EWUG-23-007 with 4.51 g/t Au and 155 g/t Ag (516 g/t AgEq) over 8.18m, plus 4.33 g/t Au and 88 g/t Ag (434 g/t AgEq) over 3.93m, plus 18.50 g/t Au and 304 g/t Ag (1,784 g/t AgEq) over 1.71m, plus 7.44 g/t Au and 107 g/t Ag (702 g/t AgEq) over 1.32m; and hole EWUG-23-15 with 9.38 g/t Au and 230 g/t Ag (980 g/t AgEq) over 5.23m, plus 3.43 g/t Au and 192 g/t Ag (466 g/t AgEq) over 1.63m.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., provided a Q4, 2023 update on its Media Luna project in Guerrero.  In Q4 2023, Torex Gold’s Media Luna Project made significant progress towards completion. During Q4 2023, USD $124M was invested in the project, the highest quarterly spend to date. Total spend in 2023 was USD $366.3M, in line with revised annual project guidance of USD $360 to USD $390M. USD $350 to USD $400M has been guided for project capital expenditures in 2024, with quarterly expenditures through Q3 2024 expected to be similar to the level experienced in Q4 2023, before declining as the project nears completion. The project was 60% complete, with detailed engineering at 84% and procurement at 63%. Underground development and construction advanced, with the Guajes Tunnel breakthrough achieved ahead of schedule. Operational readiness activities continued, and the project remained on track for first concentrate production in late 2024 and commercial production in early 2025. Funding has exceeded remaining capital expenditures, and the project execution plan remains unchanged, with only minor adjustments to interim activities.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Capstone Copper Corp., announced that it has commenced trading on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) (Cozamin mine, Zacatecas). Capstone was admitted to the official list of ASX on January 31, 2024, and will trade under the ticker symbol “CSC” (ASX: CSC).
  • Colibri Resource Corporation appointed Douglas Coleman to its Advisory Board (Evelyn project, Sonora).
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., terminated its letter of intent with Kootenay Silver Inc., with respect to the proposed acquisition the Mecatona Property, Chihuahua.
  • Luca Mining Corp., appointed a new member to its Board of Directors (Tahuehueto project, Durango).
  • Defiance Silver Corp., clarified technical disclosures pertaining to its technical reports entitled “NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Tepal Project, Michoacan” dated February 24, 2017 with an effective date of January 17, 2017, and its technical report entitled “Technical Report and Resource Estimate, San Acacio Silver Deposit, Zacatecas, Mexico” dated September 26, 2014, with an effective date of April 1, 2014. The company understands it will need to amend the technical reports accordingly.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., announced its objectives, metrics, and targets to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 15% in 2023 compared to the forecasted emissions in 2030 without intervention measures. The company is committed to supporting the global ambition of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. To achieve the 2030 GHG emissions reduction target, Fortuna plans to implement projects such as providing renewable energy to its operations, providing low-carbon electricity, and constructing and modernizing mine paste fill plants. Fortuna is committed to monitoring the GHG emissions of each of its mines on a monthly basis, reviewing progress against GHG emissions reduction target and its pathway, and assessing potential climate-related risks and opportunities.

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, silica sinter in a low-sulphidation epithermal vein system in a project in Durango. Photo by Miguel A Heredia