Drilling Results

Mexico’s Best Drilling Intercepts, First Week of November 2022

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This week’s best intercepts were to be dominated by the long good-grade gold-silver intercepts of GoGold Resources on the Eagle zone of the Los Ricos South project in Jalisco…… if not by the release by Pan american Silver of lengthy intercepts of zinc-lead-silver-copper at its La Colorada Skarn deposit in Zacatecas, which is steadily confirming the presence of a World Class Mineral Deposit. Los Ricos South and the Plomosas mine, in Sinaloa, projects represent both intermediate sulfidation epithermal systems in veins and stockwork zones, while La Colorada Skarn and Cerro Las Minitas intercepts represent skarn systems.

At Los Ricos South the best intercept comprises 110.60 m @ 1.64 gpt Au, 265 gpt Ag, including a high grade zone of 11.50 m @ 11.35 gpt Au, 2,198 gpt Ag, whilst at Plomosas, in Sinaloa, the best intercept comprised 36.50 m @ 1.00 gpt Au, 268 gpt Ag, similar grades but lesser thickness, although true width and not core length as the former. Some of the core intervals at La Colorada Skarn are high-grade in silver, like the 58.30 m @ 417 gpt Ag, although far from representative of the overall grade. At Cerro Las Minitas, in Durango, the best intercept silver intercept is 1.90 m @ 599 gpt Ag, interesting, but obscured by the shadow of La Colorada Skarn, Los Ricos South and Plomosas and Plomosas silver results.

Base metals best drilling intercepts are dominated by those from La Colorada Skarn (LCS), as even a tenth of its length at those grades in lead and zinc would be considered a good intercept. The best lead intercepts from LCS comprise 58.30 m @ 11.95% Pb and 92.95 m @ 7.01% Pb, those of Plomosas 11.40 m @ 9.20% Pb and 36.50 m @ 2.40% Pb; and 1.90 m @ 16.90% Zn at Cerro Las Minitas. For zinc the results are not that different, with 197.50 m @ 7.21% Zn, 194.45 m @ 4.26% Zn and 90.85 m @ 9.08% Zn at LCS, 16.90 m @ 4.80% Zn and 6.50 m @ 6.80% Zn at Plomosas and 1.90 m @ 10.20% Zn at Cerro Las Minitas. Copper intercepts made it to this list not by the grade, but for the length of the intercepts at LCS, with 194.45 m @ 0.21% Cu and 197.50 @ 0.09% Cu.

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

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On the image above, weakly silicified ridge on strongly argillitized volcanic rocks and minor quartz veining in clay pit in Hidalgo (Man-made produced differential erosion). Picture by Jorge Cirett.

By Jorge Cirett

During the 38th week of the year (September 17th to September 23rd, 2018), at least 24 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. Prize Mining, Kootenay, Silver Viper and Radius released advances in exploration. Excellon and Consolidated Zinc released news on mining. Prospero, Oceanus, Sable, Avino and Advance Gold reported news on financing. Capstone, Goldplay, Gold Resource, Excellon, Southern Silver, Endeavour and SilverCrest reported on development of its properties. Defiance Silver, and Valoro are to merge, Arian Silver is to change name whereas Kootenay and Radius reported deals on properties. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Goldcorp opened a health clinic in Zacatecas. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Silver Viper started drilling on the Rubi-Esperanza claims of La Virginia project. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold is to drill the Amalia property. In Coahuila, Prize Mining initiated drilling at Manto Negro. ON MINING Excellon commented on production issues at Platosa, while Consolidated Zinc completed the first ore shipment from its Plomosas mine. ON FINANCING, Prospero Silver completed the private placement financing for CAD$356 K with Fortuna Silver. Oceanus raised $750 K. Sable entered a bought deal private placement for $2M. Avino Silver announced the pricing of US$4 M of an underwritten public offering. Advance Gold filed documents closing a financing for $255.3 K. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Capstone, Goldplay, Gold Resource, Excellon, Southern Silver and Endeavour released drilling results aimed to better define or increase the resource base on their properties. SilverCrest presented an updated mineral resource estimate on its Las Chispas project. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Defiance Silver and Valoro Resources signed a LOI on a merger. Kootenay optioned the Copalito property in Sinaloa. Arian Silver is to change name to Alien Metals. Pan American optioned the Amalia property in Chihuahua.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • GoldCorp opened a rural clinic in Mazapil, Zacatecas. With the investment of $40 M pesos GoldCorp executives opened the Unidad Médica Regional (Regional Medical Unit) in the Cedros community, within the Mazapil municipality of Zacatecas. The unit will be manned by IMSS-Prospera personnel, was presented as the most equipped rural clinic in the country, and is to provide 24 hours medical service to more than 2300 inhabitants.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Prize Mining Corp. initiated a 3,000 m diamond drilling program at its Manto Negro project in Coahuila. The program is focused on the El Granizo and Pilar Grande areas, which are 18 km apart, to test high-grade copper and silver surface oxide deposits.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. presented encouraging rock-chip results from its recently optioned Copalito property in Sinaloa. Highlighted samples returned: 1.0 m @ 0.23 g/t Au, 104 g/t Ag, 0.13% Pb, 0.67% Zn; 1.5 m @ 0.50 g/t Au, 32 g/t Ag, 0.85% Pb, 0.40% Zn; 1.9 m @ 2.36 g/t Au, 50 g/t Ag, 0.50% Pb, 0.72% Zn; 1.5 m @ 0.45 g/t Au, 122 g/t Ag; 1.5 m @ 0.11 g/t Au, 1,700 g/t Ag, 0.26% Pb, 0.07% Zn; 1.0 m @ 0.40 g/t Au, 1,030 g/t Ag, 0.08% Pb, 0.10% Zn on La Chiva vein, 2.0 m @ 0.02 g/t Au, 474 g/t Ag, 0.26% Pb, 0.87% Zn; 1.10 m @ 0.15 g/t Au, 309 g/t Ag; 0.11% Pb on the Agua vein and 1.0 m @ 1.23 g/t Au, 1,155 g/t Ag; 0.96% Pb, 1.68% Zn; 1.0 m @ 1.82 g/t Au, 396 g/t Ag, 0.70% Pb, 1.17% Zn; 1.9 m @ 0.04 g/t Au, 301 g/t Ag; 0.04% Pb, 0.06% Zn on the 5 Señores vein.
  • Radius Gold Inc. announced the arrival of two drill rigs and commencement of drilling at its Amalia property in Chihuahua. “The drill program is operated by Radius and funded by Pan American Silver, under a joint venture agreement”. The targets to be tested are Campamento, Guadalupe and Dulces. The three comprise a continuum from high level to deeper epithermal mineralization in rough terrain, with stockwork zones, structurally controlled breccias and veins with both bulk mining and high-grade targets.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp. announced the completion of a drill camp and the initiation of drilling at the La Virginia project in eastern Sonora. Phase I drilling will be concentrated on the Rubi-Esperanza group of claims, with a combination of confirmation drilling (25%) over known mineralized trends and exploration drilling (75%) on untested targets. “Confirmation holes are planned in and around the historic La Virginia and Con Virginia workings and seek to confirm previously reported widths and grades of the main mineralized trend. These holes are designed to complement existing data, testing gaps in the previous work and testing the main trends for continuity and grade. Exploration holes are planned for nearby prospect areas: La Colonia, La Cascada and El Rubi. Additional prospects may be tested during Phase I as the campaign progresses”.

ON MINING

  • Excellon Resources Inc. anticipates “production in the quarter to be approximately 300,000 AgEq ounces due to operational issues related to surveying and planning personnel and lower byproduct prices. The operational issues have now been addressed and the operation is getting back on track”.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. completed the first shipment of ore from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. “The Company plans to deliver 100 tonnes per day to the Santa Eulalia concentrator for the rest of this month for processing. Thereafter the Plomosas mine will scale up operations in order to deliver feed to the concentrator at or above 10,000 tonnes per month within nine months”.

ON FINANCING

  • Prospero Silver Corp. completed its recently announced private placement financing with Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., raising aggregate gross proceeds of CAD$356 K to test Prospero’s Bermudez project in Chihuahua.
  • Oceanus Resources Corp. closed a non-brokered private placement, raising $750K (El Tigre, Sonora).
  • Sable Resources Ltd. entered into an agreement with Haywood Securities Inc. in a bought deal private placement for total gross proceeds of $2 M (Margarita, Chihuahua).
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. announced the pricing of 6.2 M common shares and an equal amount of warrants at US$0.65 per share and associated warrant at US$0.80. The shares amount to US$4 M of underwritten public offering (Avino, Durango).
  • Advance Gold Corp. filed documents on the TSX to close its previously announced private placement financing for gross proceeds of $255.3 K. The financing was effected with two insiders of the company (Tabasqueña, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Capstone Mining Corp. disclosed high-grade results from step-out drilling at its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas, which are to be included in a re-estimation of mineral resources later this year. Since the last estimation on March 2018, Capstone has drilled 46 additional holes, with drill intercepts underpinning the decision to elaborate the new resource estimation. Selected true width intercepts comprise 15.4 m @ 3.88% Cu, 0.12% Zn, 0.01% Pb, 63 g/t Ag, 0.02 g/t Au; 8.0 m @ 2.08% Cu, 0.07% Zn, 0.01% Pb, 70 g/t Ag, 0.15 g/t Au; 17.1 m @ 2.19% Cu, 0.07% Zn, 0.01% Pb, 39 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au; 14.8 m @ 5.34% Cu, 0.8% Zn, 0.03% Pb, 112 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au; 9.7 m @ 2.26% Cu, 0.07% Zn, 0.01% Pb, 29 g/t Ag.
  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd. released additional results from sampling historical core drill holes (2010) from its San Marcial project in southern Sinaloa. “The new results expand known mineralization 200 meters down dip beyond the historic NI 43-101 resource area…” and delineate a new discovery subparallel to the main zone. Highlighted true width intervals comprise 4.0 m @ 63 g/t Ag, 1.0% Pb, 1.3% Zn, 0.07 g/t Au; 9.0 m @ 73 g/t Ag, 0.09% Pb, 0.2% Zn, 0.07 g/t Au; 3.0 m @ 139 g/t Ag, 0.03% Pb, 0.15% Zn, 0.04 g/t Au (including 1.0 m @ 501 g/t Ag, 0.09% Pb, 0.4% Zn, 0.08 g/t Au); 2.0 m @ 120 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn, 0.1 g/t Au; 16.0 m @ 57 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn, 0.04 g/t Au. The new mineralization style discovered is comprised of pervasive stockwork of millimetric veins hosted by a silicified epiclastic volcanic sequence, with a core length of 47 m showing grades from 0.2 to 1.1 g/t Au.
  • Gold Resource Corp. presented drill highlights from its Alta Gracia 2018 drill program in Oaxaca. The Alta Gracia project hosts the Mirador mine, located 16 km NW from the company’s Aguila project and mineral processing plant. Core length highlighted intervals on the Independencia and Victoria veins comprise 10.30 m @ 0.85 g/t Au, 1,052 g/t Ag; 5.18 m @ 0.55 g/t Au, 241 g/t Ag; 9.59 m @ 0.36 g/t Au, 430 g/t Ag; 2.70 m @ 1.67 g/t Au, 902 g/t Ag. Gold Resource “believes it has discovered a wide, high-grade silver ore shoot within the Independencia vein”, which is located 500 m SW along strike from its Mirador Mine.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. informed on expansion, infill and definition drill results from the 623 Manto and Rodilla manto areas on its Platosa mine in Durango. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 10.5 m @ 0.1 g/t Au, 397 g/t Ag, 2.6% Pb, 4.1% Zn; 4.7 m @ 0.1 g/t Au, 266 g/t Ag, 2.6% Pb, 2.5% Zn; 9.1 m @ 122 g/t Ag, 2.0% Pb, 0.5% Zn; 9.0 m @ 56 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 2.7 m @ 0.4 g/t Au, 783 g/t Ag, 8.2% Pb, 11.1% Zn; 3.5 m@ 489 g/t Ag, 1.5% Pb, 2.3% Zn; 5.5 m @ 2.9 g/t Au, 1,700 g/t Ag, 15.4% Pb, 21.4% Zn; 15.1 m @ 0.4 g/t Au, 1,014 g/t Ag, 10.9% Pb, 26.0% Zn; 6.5 m @ 268 g/t Ag, 4.0% Pb, 4.9% Zn. These results were not included on the previous resource estimate (Sept 7, 2018) and represent the potential for additional mineral resources.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. informed additional metallurgical test work on the Skarn Front deposit from the Cerro Las Minitas Project has resulted in both the successful separation of a potential “saleable grade” copper concentrate as well as the generation of a cleaner zinc concentrate grading above 50% zinc without sacrificing zinc, lead or silver recoveries.The test work on the Skarn Front deposit recovered three concentrates: Cu-Ag; Pb-Ag and Zn-Ag (for recoveries of 67.7% Cu, 82.5% Pb, 89.5% Zn and 90.6% Ag).
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. reported high-grade infill drilling results from its Terronera property in Jalisco. Some highlighted true width intercepts: 3.9 m @ 2.6 g/t Au, 86 g/t Ag; 3.4 m @ 2.1 g/t Au, 136 g/t Ag; 3.3 m @ 0.9 g/t Au, 782 g/t Ag; 5.3 m @ 1.2 g/t Au, 783 g/t Ag; 4.2 m @ 0.7 g/t Au, 524 g/t Ag; 6.1 m @ 0.9 g/t Au, 1,297 g/t Ag; 7.7 m @ 4.8 g/t Au, 169 g/t Ag; 9.8 m @ 2.4 g/t Au, 197 g/t Ag; 3.7 m @ 4.5 g/t Au, 102 g/t Ag; 8.0 m @ 3.0 g/t Au, 85 g/t Ag; 5.6 m @ 7.1 g/t Au, 185 g/t Ag; 4.6 m @ 3.1 g/t Au, 131 g/t Ag; 8.2 m @ 3.4 g/t Au, 49 g/t Ag; 8.7 m @ 6.2 g/t Au, 90 g/t Ag; 1.8 m @ 13.2 g/t Au, 340 g/t Ag.  “Mineralization in the Terronera vein has been intersected over 1400 m long by 500 m deep, and it remains open at depth”.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. released an updated mineral resource estimate for its Las Chispas property in Sonora. Inferred Mineral Resources are estimated at 4.3 M tonnes grading 3.68 g/t Au, 347 g/t Ag, or 623 g/t AgEq, containing 551.8 K Oz Au, 48.3 M Oz Ag, or 86.7 M Oz AgEq, using a 150 AgEq cut-off grade and minimum true vein width of 1.5 M. “The combination of the Area 51 zone (Babicanora Vein) and adjacent Babicanora Norte Vein hosts a combined Inferred Resource of 1.6 million tonnes grading 6.97 gpt gold and 568 gpt silver, or 1,091 gpt AgEq containing 56.3 million ounces of AgEq”. Eight of the 30 veins in the district were used for the updated resource estimate. .

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Defiance Silver Corp. and ValOro Resources Inc. entered into a letter of intent (LOI) to complete a friendly merger, on which the combined company will continue under the name of Defiance Silver Corp.. Defiance owns the San Acacio silver project in Zacatecas, whereas ValOro owns the Tepal gold-copper project in Michoacan. ValOro shareholders will receive 0.71 common shares of Defiance for each share of ValOro held.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. recently optioned the Copalito property in Sinaloa. Kootenay can acquire 100% ownership on the concession by making staged payments over a 4 year period totaling an aggregate of US$985 K. The property consists of seven concessions totaling 3,700 hectares, with a classic low sulfidation epithermal vein system with numerous small old workings and no evidence of historic exploration drilling.
  • Arian Silver Corp. informed on a favorable vote in its annual general meeting to change the name of the company to Alien Metals Ltd. (San Celso, Zacatecas).
  • Radius Gold Inc. granted Pan American Silver Corp. the option to earn up to an initial 65% interest in the Amalia project in Chihuahua, by making staged cash payments to Radius totaling US$1.5M (US$100 K already paid) and expending US$2 M in exploration over four years. Pan American can earn an additional 10% by advancing the property to preliminary feasibility study. Initially Radius will be the project operator.

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, weakly silicified ridge on strongly argillitized volcanic rocks and minor quartz veining in clay pit in Hidalgo (Man-made produced differential erosion). Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 24th week of the year (June 11th to June 17th, 2018), at least 16 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. Four companies updated on exploration advances, and one the commencement of mining activities. Four companies announced financing rounds, loans and bonds for an aggregate of over $55 M. One company disclosed news on drilling near resources and development while one other released metallurgical test results. ON MEXICO ISSUES, mining companies are awaiting a Supreme Court resolution on a Zacatecas State tax imposition on mining. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aloro updated on exploration work at Los Venados; Colibri finished drilling at El Pilar, and released results from a soil survey; Colibri disclosed drilling results by Agnico at its Pitaya project. In Veracruz, Azucar Minerals started a drilling campaign on the Norte zone and the north part of the Villa Rica zone at its El Cobre porject. ON MINING, Mexus started pilot mining at its 8 Hermanos property in Sonora. ON FINANCING, Alamaden raised $9.4 M; Starcore launched a private placement for CDN$3 M; Telson paid US$8 M and obtained a loan for US$8.5 M; Endeavour Silver is to sell common shares for an aggregate of up to $35.7 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, SilverCrest Metals released high-grade results from drilling of the Granaditas vein on Las Chispas project, in Sonora. Azure Minerals released metallurgical test results from Oposura, also in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Starcore decided not to go ahead with the acquisition of the Santa Fe property in Sinaloa. Defiance Silver entered into an agreement to acquire Mag Silver’s properties in the Zacatecas District.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Fresnillo PLC and Mag Silver Corp. are awaiting a Supreme Court (Suprema Corte de la Nación) resolution on a mining duty attached to environmental impact, set by the state of Zacatecas. The federal government challenged the State’s right to impose such a duty back in 2017.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aloro Mining Corp. updated on its exploration of the Los Venados project in Sonora. Mapping and sampling have defined a rhyodacitic volcanic dome associated with high sulfidation style alteration with Au-Bi-Mo anomalies. Several felsic dome/silica breccia complexes have been located, with the highest priority target on the dome at the southeast part of the property, where gold in soil anomalies and IP anomalies coincide. A new environmental report is being submitted to the authorities, seeking permit for 12 reverse circulation holes.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. completed the final 900 m of its 3,000 m phase 1 drilling program on its Pilar project in Sonora. Samples have been taken to the lab and results are pending. A 56 sample soil survey returned 10 samples greater than 0.1 g/t Au, and 3 samples over 1 g/t Au.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. released results from drilling on its Pitaya project in Sonora, by joint venture partner Agnico Eagle. Highlighted results from the last four holes comprise 9 m @ 0.26 g/t Au; 26 m @ 0.19 g/t Au; 34 m @ 0.22 g/t Au. During 2016-2017, Agnico drilled 7,641 m in 27 drill holes.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. has begun drilling the North zone and the north end of the Villa Rica zone of its El Cobre project in Veracruz. Preparations for this drilling campaign include surface and soil geologic and alteration focused mapping and sampling. “The current drilling at Villa Rica is focused on the Naranjo zone, a new area of exposed porphyry alteration and mineralisation located approximately 500 metres north of the previous Villa Rica drilling and about 1.2 kilometres south of the Norte Zone.”

ON MINING

  • Mexus Gold US begun mining at the 8 Brothers/370 project in Sonora. “The company has mined 1000 tons of material containing an average of 9 grams Au and 50 grams Ag per ton. This material is currently being run through a crushing system and placed into an aerated VAT holding tank”. Its portable Merril Crowe system has been installed and tested.

ON FINANCING

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement, raising gross proceeds of $9.44 M. Finders fees of $384.9 K cash and finder warrants of 192,450 shares at $1.35 until June 7, 2020 were paid to arms-length, licensed securities dealers on a portion of the offering (Ixtaca, Puebla).
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. launched a private placement of secured bonds for CDN$3 M. “The Bonds will bear interest at 8% per annum, payable on maturity, and will mature 24 months from the date of closing” (San Martin mine, Queretaro).
  • Telson Mining Corp. announced the payment of US$8 M to Nyrstar Mining Ltd. as partial payment, and entered into a loan agreement with Nyrstar Canada (Holdings) Ltd. that converts the final US$8.5 M due on the Campo Morado acquisition agreement into a loan that extends the payment terms for eight months. The principal due is US$8.5 M that are to be paid starting July 13, 2018 with a monthly minimum of US$1 M plus interest, plus 70% of the free cash flow generated by Telson and any monthly excess cash balance above US$500 K.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. is to sell from time to time and its discretion common shares for an aggregate of up to US$35.7 M, through “at the market” distributions (Terronera, Jalisco).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  •  SilverCrest Metals Inc. announced new drill results for the Granaditas vein at its Las Chispas property in Sonora. Highlighted true width (TW) intervals comprise 1.5 m @ 3.63 g/t Au, 190 g/t Ag; 1.8 m @ 12.14 g/t Au, 1,440 g/t Ag (including 0.40 m @ 47.50 g/t Au, 5,620 g/t Au); 1.3 m @ 3.24 g/t Au, 339 g/t Ag; 1.2 m @ 1.23 g/t Au, 114 g/t Ag. The vein has a high-grade footprint currently at 150 m long by 100 m high and 1.5 m average true width, grading 5.69 g/t Au, 596 g/t Ag.
  • Azure Minerals Ltd. released metallurgical test work results on its Oposura project in Sonora. Azure highlights a 34% overall increase in the recovery of Pb and Zn using a dense media separation technique.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. completed its due diligence and review of the Santa Fe project in Sinaloa, under a previously signed LOI (letter of intent). Starcore will not be proceeding with the acquisition.
  • Defiance Silver Corp. entered into an agreement to acquire Mag Silver’s Zacatecas silver district holdings. Mag Silver is to receive 5 M common shares of Defiance, approximately a 5% investment position. Defiance is to receive a 100% interest in the Lagartos project, along with a regional database. The company is to control 1,506 ha, including 65% of the Veta Grande vein and the San Acacio silver deposit.

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, intense kaolinitization of felsic volcanic rocks on a shallow epithermal system in Guanajuato. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

 

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 20th week of the year (May 14th to May 20th, 2018), at least 17 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. Seven companies updated exploration advances, with only one company reporting a quarterly report and one other a round of financing. Two companies disclosed news on resources and development while four reported on deals and company issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, No relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, San Marco was awarded the Espiritu concession, and Millrock begun a new drilling campaign at La Navidad. In Chihuahua, Endeavour Silver released drill results from its Parral properties; VVC Exploration commenced a new drill campaign at its Samalayuca project. In Coahuila, Discovery Metals presented rock sample results from three prospects within its Minerva project. In Sinaloa, Kootenay optioned the Copalito property. In Jalisco, Evrim commenced a third phase exploration campaign at Cuale. ON MINING, Starcore International presented a quarterly report. ON FINANCING, SilverCrest Metals announced the closing of a $17.25 M financing. Mexus Gold paid a $183 K debt. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mag Silver presented an advance on development of the Juanicipio project in Zacatecas. Minera Alamos completed the second phase of bulk leach testing at its Santana property in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Marlin Gold and Golden Reign signed a LOI pursuing a business combination. Kootenay Silver optioned the Copalito property in Sinaloa. Argonaut Gold informed on the state of affairs of the legal battle to resume blasting at its La Colorada mine in Sonora. Leagold received clearance from the Mexican government to complete a business combination with Brio Gold.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No Relevant News.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Endeavour Silver Corp. disclosed drilling results from its Parral properties in Chihuahua. At the San Patricio vein system 8,846 m of core drilling have been completed over 1400 m of strike length. “Three mineralized areas were intersected, of which the largest and central zone now measures 600 m long by 250 m vertical (starting 150 m deep) by 1-3 m true thickness, still open to the south and at depth”. Highlighted true width (TW) intercepts include 2.1 m @ 303 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, 0.5% Zn; 1.0 m @ 678 g/t Ag, 0.22 g/t Au, 3.5% Pb, 0.9% Zn; 3.0 m @ 689 g/t Ag, 0.24 g/t Ag, 1.6% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 1.6 m @ 293 g/t Ag, 0.27 g/t Au, 3.5% Pb, 7.6% Zn; 2.3 m @ 1,660 g/t Ag, 0.72 g/t Au, 6.5% Pb, 14.4% Zn. Metallurgical recoveries from core samples with flotation and leaching tests include 47% Ag from Sierra Plata (oxide), 98% Ag on El Verde (mixed), 95% Ag on Remedios-Argentina (mixed), 94% Ag and 93% Au on Palmilla (oxide) and 91% Ag and 86% Au in Cometa-San Juanico (mixed).
  • San Marco Resources Inc. announced it was awarded the Espiritu 2,712 ha SMR concession in the recent mineral concession lottery by the Mexican government. The property is less than 30 km SE from San Marco’s Chunibas and 1068 projects in the Sahuaripa district. “Espiritu SMR overlies a window of pre-mineral cretaceous volcanic and sedimentary rocks intruded by Laramide age granitoids”. Previous operator in the area, Kootenay Silver Inc. stated: “An extensive area of polymetallic vein, stockwork, breccia and gold-copper porphyry mineralization”. A porphyry copper setting and a vein and stockwork zone of precious and base metal mineralization are separated by a major fault. Selected drill hole intercepts include 48.0 m @ 0.19 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu; 220.5 m @ 0.14 g/t Au, 0.15% Cu. San Marco is preparing to do a first-pass ground validation and prospecting.
  • VVC Exploration Corp. commenced the third phase of diamond drilling at its Samalayuca copper project in Chihuahua. VVC expects to drill about 3,000 m in the next 180 days.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. optioned the Copalito project in Sinaloa (See below). “The Copalito Project covers a gold and silver epithermal vein system comprised of numerous veins, with individual veins currently traced over strike lengths up to 2 kilometres. Veins vary in width from 0.5 to 10 meters at surface and grade from background to highs of 7.2 gpt gold and 1,620 gpt silver in grab samples”. Vein textures indicate a low or intermediate sulfidation vein system.
  • Millrock Resources Inc. is beginning a second round of drilling at its La Navidad project in Sonora. The target in the project is orogenic gold mineralization, bulk mineable run-of-mine oxidized deposit. The 1,650 m program aims to drill 150 – 250 m in depth in seven holes, testing areas of gold soil anomalies that now are supported by gold anomalies in trenches. The strongest anomalies occur in folded, faulted metasedimentary rocks of Jurassic age, in close proximity to diorite and monzonite dikes. An induced polarization survey has identified low angle structures conducive of orogenic gold deposits. A 1.4 km of trenching on 16 trenches has been completed, with multiple intervals of anomalous gold, like 18.0 m @ 0.56 g/t Au, 24.9 m @ 0.32 g/t Au, 18.2 m @ 0.20 g/t Au, 10.9 m @ 0.38 g/t Au.
  • Evrim Resources Corp. commenced a third phase exploration at its Cuale high sulfidation project in Jalisco. The program includes 3,000 m of drilling, following on discovery trenches 1 to 4 from La Gloria zone, where trench 1 returned 1.67 g/t Au over 263.7 m and trench 4 returned 13.61 g/t Au over 106.2 m. “The soil survey has already commenced and will be followed with up to 650 metres of trenching at La Gloria and surrounding targets to extend the known footprint of outcropping gold mineralization”. A 40 line-km controlled source audio-magnetotellurics (CSMAT) is planned on potential mineralization under shallow cover. A 3,000 m program is expected to commence on July.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. disclosed assay results of 152 samples from its Minerva project in Coahuila. “Minerva encompasses Ag-Pb-Zn mineralization hosted in skarns, mantos, chimneys and breccias”, similar to La Encantada mine 30 km to the East. The mineralization is located along the margin of a polyphase granitoid intrusive body, with ample zone of shallow gravel cover. At La Tercia prospect, channel samples returned 0.8 m @ 30 g/t Ag, 2.3% Pb, 4.6% Zn; 2.0 m @ 249 g/t Ag, 6.9% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 4.0 m @ 37 g/t Ag, 1.6% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 0.6 m @ 3.8% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 0.6 m @ 84 g/t Ag, 5.8% Pb, 0.2% Zn. At Concordia samples returned 0.8 m @ 1,775 g/t Ag, 14.5% Pb, 40.3% Zn; 0.7 m @ 51 g/t Ag, 2.6% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 0.4 m @ 11 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, 25.8% Zn. At Mina Minerva results include 5.1 m @ 39 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, 2.0% Zn; dump @ 229 g/t Ag, 30.5% Pb, 5.7% Zn; 0.8 m @ 143 g/t Ag, 9.7% Pb, 5.3% Zn; 1.0 m @ 41 g/t Ag, 2.0% Pb, 16.4% Zn.

ON MINING

  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. announced production results for the fourth quarter of its fiscal year 2018. During the quarter 71.9 K tonnes of ore @ 1.69 g/t Au, 40.6 g/t Ag were processed on its San Martin mine in Queretaro, resulting in the production of 4,140 Oz AuEq. Mill recoveries averaged 88.4% Au, 57.4% Ag. Also during the quarter the Altiplano facility received 373 tonnes of concentrate containing approximately 805 Oz Au and 26,813 Oz Ag.

ON FINANCING

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. completed its prospectus offering for gross proceeds of $17.25 M, including the exercise of the over-allotment option in full. The company paid the underwriters a cash commission of up to 6% of the gross proceeds of the offering. The proceeds are to be used on the preparation of a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) at the Las Chispas property in Sonora, as well as continuing exploration in the several targets it contains.
  • Mexus Gold US. announced the payment of $183.3 K due to JMJ Financial, closing the current outstanding debt agreement prior to the expiration date (8 Hermanos, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mag Silver Corp. presented financial results for the first quarter of 2018. Underground development rate has intensified, and exploration drilling is now utilizing directional drilling to infill and expand the Deep Zone, which remains open to depth and on strike. The company funded advances on the Juanicipio project in Zacatecas, mainly by “cash calls” by the operator (Fresnillo PLC). At the end of the period the company had $152.7 M in cash and cash equivalents.
  • Minera Alamos Inc. has completed the second phase of its bulk testing heap-leach activities at its Santana project in Sonora. The initial phase used coarse crushing (<3”) and the second phase involved fine crushing (<1.2-5/8”) and agglomeration of the same mineralized material prior to leaching. The recoveries from the second phase were faster and consistent with those of the first phase of leaching, with 190 Oz Au recovered from 9,000 tonnes of material over a three month period, representing 0.65 g/t of recovered gold.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. and Golden Reign Resources Ltd. entered into a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) together with Wexford Capital LP, pursuing a business combination of Golden Reign’s San Albino-Murra property in Nicaragua, and Marlin’s La Trinidad mine in Sinaloa. Golden reign plans to acquire all Marlin shares. Upon completion of the transaction Marlin shareholders will own approximately 45% of Golden Reign shares, while Golden Reign shareholders will own 55% of the shares.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. entered into an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest on the Copalito Ag-Au project in Sinaloa. The seven concessions 3,700 ha project can be acquired by making staged payments over a 4-year period, totaling US$985 K, with the vendors retaining a 0.5% NSR. A finders fee of C$10 K and 100 K common shares have to be paid.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc. reported that the Judiciary court hearing with respect to the company’s explosives permit for its La Colorada mine has been rescheduled to June 4, 2018. The company also appealed the Judiciary court’s original decision to temporarily suspend the explosives permit to the Collegiate Tribunal, requesting to re-instate the explosives permit so the company can blast material while the judiciary legal process continue. Argonaut estimates it has sufficient ore to continue operations until the end of July, at the present rate of 12,000 tonnes per day (tpd).
  • Leagold Mining Corp. received clearance from the Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (COFECE) with respect to Leagold’s acquisition of Brio Gold Inc. “COFECE approval was the final government agency approval required before completing the acquisition, which is anticipated to occur on or around May 24, 2018”

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, opaline silica from a shallow epithermal system in Guanajuato. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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On the picture above, pervasive kaolinization of volcanic rocks in the vadose zone of an epithermal system in Guanajuato. Geologist Miguel Heredia for scale.

By Jorge Cirett

During the 14th week of the year (April 1st to April 8th, 2018), at least 12 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, of which three had information on exploration, one in mining, one in financing, five on resources and development and two in corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, No relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Riverside informed on exploration of its Ariel copper project. In Sinaloa, Goldplay completed a geophysical survey at El Habal. In Durango, Southern Silver announced its exploration program for 2018 at Cerro Las Minitas. ON MINING, Torex Gold announced all access to its projects in Guerrero has been restored.  ON FINANCING, Palamina granted options to officers, directors and consultants.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Alio Gold released drill results on two more holes on its Ana Paula project in Guerrero. Telson Resources disclosed PEA figures for its Campo Morado project in Guerrero. Evrim announced a maiden resource on its Ermitaño project in Sonora. Americas Silver released drill results from the 120 zone of its Cosalá project in Sinaloa. Bacanora Lithium announced that a recent feasibility study demonstrated good economics for its Sonora project.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Evrim announced First Majestic commenced arbitration proceedings on its Ermitaño project in Sonora. Bacanora Lithium announced the termination of a “placing letter” with NextView New Energy Bull HongKong Limited, regarding funding for its Sonora lithium project.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No Relevant News.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd. completed a ground CSMAT (Controlled source audio frequency magnetotellurics) and magnetics survey at its El Habal property in Sinaloa, delineating 15 new drill targets. Goldplay completed a 27-line survey consisting of 100 m line spacing and 409 total stations over the 1.5 km of mineralized known length at El Habal. “Results confirm anomalous zones previously identified by historical drilling results and nearby shallow historical underground workings”. Several resistive geophysical anomalies were identified that correlate with anomalous surface trenching results and structural trends mapped previously.
  • Riverside Resources Inc. identified through mapping altered porphyritic intrusive rocks in the western part of its Ariel porphyry copper project in Sonora. The hydrothermal alteration measures 2.8 km in length by up to 1.9 km in width.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. announced that a 2018 budget totaling US$3 M has been approved by the joint venture partners for exploration work at the Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. “The program comprises 13,000 metres of drilling in two phases which will target both the systematic resource expansion in the Area of the Cerro containing the existing Mineral Resource Estimate and continued surface sampling and reverse circulation drilling on new discoveries in the recently staked CLM West claim group.”

ON MINING

  • Torex Gold Resources. Reported that negotiations between community leaders have resulted in an end to the illegal blockades of the El Limon-Guajes mine complex, supporting infrastructure and the Media Luna project in Guerrero. “The official government-regulated process for selecting between the two competing unions, continues. Since midMarch, there have been two public hearings at the Federal Labour Board, regarding the timing of a union selection vote. It is Torex’s understanding that the public hearing stage of the process is now complete, and that the next stage is a decision as to when and where the vote will occur. As Torex has said since the beginning, the Company will work with whichever union the workers democratically select.” Cash reserves at the end of Q1 were US$124 million, including US$14 million set aside for reclamation obligations. Also during Q1 a US$9.3 million principal repayment was made to reduce the term loan under the debt facility to US$290.7 million.

ON FINANCING

  • Palamina Corp. granted 950 K stock options to certain officers, directors and consultants of the company under its stock options plan. The options granted at $0.39 per common share expire in five years for officers and directors and in three years for consultants (Santuario, Hidalgo).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Alio Gold Inc. released drill results for the last two holes at its Ana Paula project in Guerrero. The 3,800 m program targets the complex breccia extension below the proposed open pit. On the first hole a hydrothermal breccia south of the proposed pit returned 0.94 g/t Au over 44.2 m, while the complex breccia below assayed 1.91 g/t Au over 40.90 m. The second hole returned 0.90 g/t Au over 32.4 m on the hydrothermal breccia south of the proposed pit and 2.03 g/t Au over 48.2 m on the complex breccia below. The fourth and fifth holes of the program have been completed and the last hole is in progress.
  • Telson Mining Corp. informed a positive result of a 43-101 compliant independent preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on its Campo Morado project in Guerrero. The current resource contains five mineral volcanogenic massive sulfide zones (G9, El Largo, Naranjo, Reforma and El Rey) containing zinc, copper, silver, gold and lead. The 2017 mineral resource estimate using a 5.5% ZnEq cut-off holds 16.6 M tonnes @ 1.70 g/t Au, 123 g/t Ag, 0.80% Cu, 0.93% Pb, 4.01% Zn (or 8.68% ZnEq) as measured and indicated resources, and 988 K tonnes @ 1.32 g/t Au, 116 g/t Ag, 0.64% Cu, 0.92% Pb, 3.20% Zn (or 7.27% ZnEq)as inferred resources.
  • Evrim Resources Corp. announced a maiden resource was disclosed by its partner First Majestic Silver Corp. on its Ermitaño project in Sonora. The inferred resource was calculated on the Ermitaño West vein, holding 3.36 M tonnes @ 3.99 g/t Au, 68 g/t Ag (or 377 g/t AgEq), containing 432 K Oz Au, 7.38 M Oz Ag.
  • Americas Silver Corp. released results of step-out holes on its Cosalá operations in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width (TW) intervals comprise 4.94 m @ 33 g/t Ag, 7.2 g/t Au, 0.13% Cu; 41.68 m @ 148 g/t Ag, 0.25 g/t Au, 0.32% Cu; 26.24 m @ 181 g/t Ag, 0.11 g/t Au, 0.51% Cu; 12.32 m @ 84 g/t Ag, 0.17 g/t Au, 0.23% Cu. “The zone 120 deposit is characterized by steeply dipping parallel lenses of Ag-Cu-Au skarn mineralization developed in volcanically derived calcareous sediments adjacent to intermediate intrusive dykes and sills. Skarn mineralization is characterized by disseminated chalcopyrite and tetrahedrite….. Mineralization at area 120 has been found over an area greater than 500 meters in length, 300 meters in width and down to a depth of 550 meters. Individual lenses have widths of up to 60 meters.”
  • Bacanora Lithium plc. Informed a recently completed feasibility study (FS) demonstrated economics of US$1.25 billion NPV; 26.1% IRR; and life of mine gross operating costs of US$3,910/t Li2CO3 comparable to those of the low cost brine producers of South America. Design of both the roaster/kiln FEED and the crystalliser/evaporation/IX FEED has commenced. “The current FEED schedule is to have designs, cost estimates and process guarantee scopes completed in Q2 2018 with orders for long lead items being placed at the end of the FEED process. The current ­time table is based on commissioning and lithium carbonate production commencing in Q1 2020” Currently advance is being made on water licenses, natural gas supplies and land surface access.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Evrim Resources Corp. announced “that First Majestic has initiated arbitration proceedings in connection with its purported exercise of the option pursuant to which First Majestic can earn a 100% interest in the Ermitaño property, subject to the retention by Evrim of a 2% net smelter return royalty interest. It is expected that the arbitration will deal with the requirements under the option agreement for First Majestic to exercise the option and not the relative interests of the parties in the Ermitaño property.” (Ermitaño, Sonora).
  • Bacanora Lithium plc. “As previously announced, the Company entered into a binding placing letter (the “Placing Letter”) with NextView New Energy Bull HongKong Limited (“NextView”) in December 2017 and as announced on 28 February 2018, although the Company had fulfilled all of its obligations in respect of the Placing as of that ­me, NextView failed to forward the Placing proceeds to the Company, leaving it in default under the terms of the Placing Letter. In spite of repeated efforts on the part of the Company requesting that NextView remedy its continuing default, NextView has continued to fail to complete the Placing as contemplated under the Placing Letter. Accordingly, the Company has terminated the Placing Letter and has reserved its rights to pursue any available legal remedies against NextView.”

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, pervasive kaolinization of volcanic rocks in the vadose zone of an epithermal system in Guanajuato. Geologist Miguel Heredia as scale.

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Highlights on the Fourth Week of March, 2018. Mining and Exploration News in Mexico

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On the picture above, take geologists to a mining museum, and this is what you get. Geologists Ruben Padilla, Barry Quiroz and Miguel Heredia at El Oro Museum in Estado de Mexico. Photo by Jorge Cirett.

By Jorge Cirett

During the 12th week of the year (March 19th to March 25th, 2018), at least 16 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, a gold nugget weighing 850 grams was found in northern Sonora. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Colibri has begun drilling at El Pilar project; while Azure updated work on its Oposura project releasing new high grade drill results. Kootenay has drilled six of seven holes on one target of its La Cigarra project, other targets to follow. ON MINING, three companies, Primero Mining, Excellon and Sierra Metals presented financial and or production results for the fourth quarter and/or full year 2017. Santacruz Silver completed expansion of milling capacity at Veta Grande in Zacatecas.  ON FINANCING, Evrim received $3 M from the exercise of warrants.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Americas Silver presented an updated resource on its San Felipe property in Sonora. Almaden provided an update on work being done on the feasibility study at the Ixtaca project in Puebla. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Alio Gold is to acquire all shares outstanding of Rye Patch, a company with several properties in USA. Bacanora Minerals extended the timetable for re-domiciling by a few days. Sonoro executed an option agreement on a group of properties adjoining its Cerro Caliche property in Sonora.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • A gold nugget weighing 850 grams was found in La Cienega area, south of Pitiquito in Sonora. The nugget was discovered using a metal detector by a local gambusino. Northwest Sonora is known by the presence of orogenic gold style deposits, like La Herradura, Nochebuena, La Choya, San Francisco and El Chanate. This type of ore deposits has produced large gold nuggets, of up to 12 kg in weight, with the most famous specimens coming from the El Boludo, La Cienega and Tajitos gold placers.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Colibri Resource Corp. has begun phase 1 of its 2018 drilling program on its Pilar property in Sonora. The program envisages up to 30 holes to be drilled focusing on modelling and extending the known mineralization of the Main Zone to the northwest and southwest along trend. “To date, Colibri has defined an in-house resource of 700 K tonnes @ 1.9 g/t Au”.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. informed on advances on the current drill program at its La Cigarra property in Chihuahua. Six holes have been completed, and one more is in progress at La Borracha zone, which is the extension of the structure that hosts La Cigarra resource, and drilling has now tested 1,000 m of strike length beyond the resource. Results will be disclosed once all assays have been received. The next drill target is the newly identified Nogalera gold zone, with 8 holes planned on anomalous mineralization over more than 1,000 m of length. Once Nogalera has been drilled, the 104-Vein on the southern part of La Cigarra resource is to be drill tested.
  • Azure Minerals Ltd. updated on work being done at its Oposura project in Sonora. Drilling along strike of an outcrop carrying up to 59.6% Pb+Zn on the West Zone intersected high grade mineralization over an area of 400 x 400 m. Some of the best combined Pb + Zn intercepts returned 2.4 m @ 15.5%. 7.4 m @ 15.9%, 2.8 m @ 19.0%, 3.7 m @ 15.6%, 3.5 m @ 13.2%, 4.6 m @ 15.0%. To date drilling in the West Zone has comprised 64 holes for 4,936 m, with assay results received for 26 drill holes.

ON MINING

  • Primero Mining Corp. reported financial and operating results for 4Q and full year 2017. Primero commenced a strategic review process that resulted in the sale of the Cerro del Gallo project (Guanajuato) in November 2017, and the entering into an arrangement agreement whereby First Majestic will acquire all issued and outstanding common shares of Primero. At San Dimas in Durango, 21,076 Oz Au and 1.32 M Oz Ag were produced during the fourth quarter. For full year 2017, San Dimas produced 111,376 Oz Au, 3.96 M Oz Ag. A strike at San Dimas in early 2017 stopped work for more than two months, significantly impacting yearly production levels.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2017. During the fourth quarter the Platosa mine in Durango produced 16.1 K tonnes, processing 18 K tonnes @ 424 g/t Ag, 3.8% Pb, 5.8% Zn, with recoveries of 90.3% Ag, 80.0% Pb, 82.2% Zn, to produce 206.4 K Oz Ag, 1.17 M Lb Pb, 1.67 M Lb Zn. For the year 57.2 K tonnes were produced, while milling 55.6 K tonnes @ 456 g/t Ag, 4.4% Pb, 5.7% Zn, with recoveries of 90.5% Ag, 82.1% Pb, 80.1% Zn, producing 668 K Oz Ag, 4.09 M Lb Pb, 4.60 M Lb Zn. During 2017 the optimization plan was completed at the Platosa mine, resulting in dry mining conditions that increased production and lowered the costs. Total cash cost per Ag Oz decreased to $10.38, with an AISC of $21.89. All in sustaining cost was $15.84 per Ag Oz for the fourth quarter and $21.89 per Ag Oz for the year.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. informed that expansion of milling capacity at its Veta Grande project to 750 tpd (tonnes per day) has been completed. The mill is currently operating at 450 tpd, and full capacity operations are expected to be achieved early in the second quarter 2018. Santacruz now will focus in the consolidation of underground operations.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. reported fourth quarter and year end 2017 financial results, without separating figures for its operations in Mexico. Production at Bolivar is expected to reach 3,000 tpd in Q1 2018 and 3,500 tpd in the second half of 2018. An update in resources is expected in the coming months. At Cusi production is being ramped up to the 650 tpd Mal Paso mill capacity by Q2 2018. The installation of another mill is expected to take production to 1,200 tpd by 2019. At the end of the period the company had 23.9 M in cash and cash equivalents.

ON FINANCING

  • Evrim Resources Corp. received $3.06 M from the exercise of common share purchase warrants, representing 98% of the warrants issue dated December 16, 2015. As a result, Evrim’s current cash position approximates $5.5 M (Cerro Cascaron, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Americas Silver Corp. provided an update on the mineral resource estimate at the San Felipe project in Sonora (optioned from Hochschild in early 2017). Of 342 holed drilled by four companies since 1998, 294 are within La Ventana, San Felipe, Transversales and Las Lamas deposits which host the current resource. The new resource contains 4,685 K tonnes @ 5.4% Zn, 2.5% Pb, 61 g/t Ag in the indicated category and 2,008 K tonnes @ 3.6% Zn, 1.4% Pb, 48 g/t Ag in the inferred category. These resources host 560 M Lb Zn, 256 M Lb Pb, 9.1 M Oz Ag; 158 M Lb Zn, 63 M Lb Pb, 3.1 M Oz Ag respectively.
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. updated on work related to the feasibility study (FS) at the Ixtaca project in Puebla. Work underway includes a resource model update, metallurgy testwork, engineering design, optimization studies, work to move the Rock Creek processing plant to Ixtaca, construction planning, geotechnical site investigation and water management studies. Almaden is also preparing an environmental impact assessment study (Manifiesto de Impacto Ambiental, or MIA) for Ixtaca.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Alio Gold Inc. and Rye Patch Corp. entered on an arrangement under which Alio Gold (San Francisco, Sonora; Ana Paula, Guerrero) is to acquire all the outstanding shares of Rye Patch (Florida Canyon, Nevada; Lincoln Hill, Nevada). The offer values Rye Patch outstanding equity at C$128 M. The transaction is expected to close on or about May 25, 2018.
  • Bacanora Minerals Ltd. announced that the proposed timetable for the proposed Re-domicile has been changed to 26 March 2018.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp. executed a formal option agreement with a Tucson, Arizona resident to acquire a 100% interest in the 403.5 ha Rosario group of concessions, adjacent to its Cerro Caliche property in Sonora, thus increasing the land holdings of the project to 1,455 ha. The option agreement entails a total consideration to the vendor of US$1.6 M, payable in escalating cash installments over 72 months, and a 2% NSR which can be bought for US$1 M for each percentage point. The initial US$60 K was paid on execution. Total drilling in the two properties before 2008 is 10,118 m in 101 holes.

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

 

 

Highlights on the Fifth Week of November, 2017. Mineral Exploration in Mexico

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

During the 48th week of the year (November 27th to December 3rd, 2017), at least 33 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES: In Sonora, representatives of the State Congress proposed to form citizen committees to supervise the application of the Mining Fund (Fondo Minero). ON EXPLORATION: ten press releases from eight companies working in Mexico informed on exploration efforts during the week: In Sonora SilverCrest released high-grade results from drilling two different zones at its Las Chispas project; Azure Minerals released high-grade drilling results from its Sara Alicia Au-Co project, and updated on drilling progress at its Oposura property; Wolverine Minerals commenced exploration at Los Venados project; San Marco Resources is to complete an induced polarization survey at its 1068 porphyry copper project, updating also in the geological model of its Chunibas project. In Chihuahua, Evrim Resources completed phase I exploration at its Cerro Cascaron project, and is now in the drill targeting stage; Ethos gold optioned the Purisima property, and presented the project summary, which includes two previous drilling campaigns. ON MINING: Santacruz Silver presented its third quarter report; Marlin Gold presented financial results for the first nine months of the year, and an update on drilling on the Colinas target, at its La Trinidad property; U.S. Antimony informed that it now has the needed permits to construct a cyanidation plant at its mill in Guanajuato. ON FINANCING: Alix Resources, Canuc Resources and Millrock Resources are to conduct or closing non-brokered private placements of $750 K, $465 K and $1.6 M respectively; Mag Silver closed a non-brokered private placement for $48.16 M; SilverCrest is to raise C$6 M on a bought deal private placement; Primero Mining obtained an extension of its credit facility; Candelaria Mining is seeking a one year extension on the exercise period of over 12 M warrants. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT: Consolidated Zinc recommenced extensional and infill resource definition drilling at its Plomosas mine. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES: Argonaut Gold announced the closing of the acquisition of the Cerro del Gallo project in Guanajuato to Primero Mining for $15 M;  GFM Resources entered into an exploration and evaluation agreement with Minera Auricup on the Baviacora concession in Sonora; Magellan Gold completed the purchase of the SDA Mill to Rose Petroleum in Nayarit; Ethos Gold entered into an option agreement with Coztic Recursos Minerales on the Purisima property in Chihuahua.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • In Sonora, representatives of the State Congress proposed to form citizen committees to supervise the application of the Mining Fund (Fondo Minero). The proposal aims to give transparency to the application of the funds, and also a mean to control the infrastructure projects generated in the municipalities that are to receive the participation generated by the mining activity (Note of editor.- This is a pressing problem in many other States, where the application of the funds of a mining royalty introduced by the current Federal government is nowhere to be seen).

ON EXPLORATION

  • SilverCrest Metals Corp. released phase II drill results for the Babicanora vein at its Las Chispas property in Sonora. The latest results increase by 400 m the high-grade footprint of the Babicanora vein, which is now 1 km in length. True width (TW) intercepts: 3.2 m @ 27 g/t Au, 1,494 g/t Ag (including 0.7 m @ 137 g/t Au, 4,720 g/t Ag); 1.5 m @ 1.8 g/t Au, 101 g/t Ag; 3.8 m @ 5.6 g/t Au, 451 g/t Ag; 4.0 m @ 1.5 g/t Au, 101 g/t Ag; 3.1 m @ 5.1 g/t Au, 570 g/t Ag; 2.0 m @ 3.6 g/t Au, 452 g/t Ag; 3.6 m @ 4.2 g/t Au, 165 g/t Ag; 2.2 m @ 3.8 g/t Au, 388 g/t Ag.
  • Azure Minerals Ltd. released high-grade results on the maiden drilling on its Sara Alicia property in Sonora. Six holes for 480 m tested around and beneath historical underground mine workings that exploited high-grade Au and Co shoots in the 1930’s. Cobalt results for the last hole are still pending. Significant gold results comprise: 11.4 m @ 3.3 g/t Au; 5.5 m @ 5.1 g/t Au; 26.2 m @ 8 .6 g/t Au (including 12.6 m @ 14.9 g/t Au); 19.65 m @ 4.95 g/t Au; 8.45 m @ 1.2 g/t Au; 13.7 m @ 3.6 g/t Au. Significant cobalt intercepts comprise: 5.5 m @ 0.13% Co; 1.0 m @ 0.14% Co; 26.2 m @ 1.26% Co (including 6.35 m @ 3.57% Co); 4.7 m @ 0.11% Co; 20.6 m @ 0.13% Co (including 1.9 m @ 1.11% Co). This garnet-magnetite-sulfide skarn developed in limestone intruded by a porphyry contains a zone several meters in width with disseminated cobaltite (CoAsS) associated with abundant magnetite, and a wider, overlapping zone of gold mineralization.
  • Evrim Resources Corp. announced the completion of phase I exploration at its Cerro Cascaron project in Chihuahua. Highlights include: A 1.8 km long rich vein corridor defined by soil sampling, with up to 1.4 g/t Au; Soil sampling extended all veins by 600 m to 1.8 km in length, and two more veins were identified; Adit channel sampling results are 1.4 m to 3.3 m in width @ 231 to 542 g/t AgEq; Six subparallel veins were defined in an area 300 m x 900 m in the Ag-rich Cascarita zone. Drill targeting is underway.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. released surface and underground results from the second phase of drilling of the Las Chispas and Giovanni veins at Las Chispas, in Sonora. Highlighted results contain (true thickness, or TW) 2.1 m @ 2.3 g/t Au, 469 g/t Ag; 1.6 m @ 2.4 g/t Au, 516 g/t Ag; 1.5 m @ 13.2 g/t Au, 2,007 g/t Ag; 2.0 m @ 5.8 g/t Au, 1,191 g/t Ag; 4.0 m @ 18.6 g/t Au, 696 g/t Ag (including 0.8 m @ 92.6 g/t Au, 2,890 g/t Ag); 2.2 m @ 9.4 g/t Au, 1,369 g/t Ag. SilverCrest intends to deliver a maiden resource estimate during Q1, 2018.
  • Wolverine Minerals Corp. commenced an exploration program on the 1,500 hectares Los Venados property, in the Mulatos district, Sonora. Wolverine is to focus work on a felsic dome/silica breccia complex with intense alteration and brecciation accompanied by anomalous gold. Activities planned include rock and soil sampling, geological mapping and a 7.4 Km induced polarization survey.
  • Almadex Minerals Ltd. released results from the three first holes on the Raya Membrillo area on its El Cobre property in Veracruz. This area is part of the Villa Rica zone, which is two kilometers south from the Norte zone (where previous drilling was done). The three holes intersected a chalcocite dominant enriched copper zone right from the surface which locally is up to 186 m down hole. Results comprise: 69.5 m @ 0.10 g/t Au, 0.41% Cu (including 14.5 m @ 0.14 g/t Au, 1.2% Cu); 139.0 m @ 0.49 g/t Au, 0.24% Cu; 41.0 m @ 0.91 g/t Au, 0.42% Cu in one hole; 117 m @ 0.13 g/t Au, 0.55% Cu (including 15.9 m @ 0.51 g/t Au, 1.74% Cu) in the second hole; 159.5 m @ 0.22 g/t Au, 0.22% Cu (including 36.0 m @ 0.86 g/t Au, 0.16% Cu and 111.5 m @ 0.03 g/t Au, 0.27% Cu) on the third hole.
  • San Marco Resources Inc. provided the scope of exploration at its 1068 and Chunibas projects in Sonora. At the 1068 project, an undrilled porphyry Cu-Mo-Au system displays  phyllically altered and veined zones which extend 1 Km to the east and 400 m to the south from previously identified porphyritic rock with potassic alteration and a coincidental geochemical footprint on a grid rock sampling survey. An induced polarization survey is to be conducted during December. At Chunibas a new larger model involving a porphyry related breccia with gold values has been generated. Field mapping and prospecting is mostly completed, with a mineralization corridor extending 1.2 km based on mapping and a soil survey. New outcrops with epidote-calcite-specularite alteration bearing copper oxides have been found.
  • Azure Minerals Ltd. updated on the resource definition drilling at its Zn-Pb-Ag Oposura project in Sonora, where 51 of the planned 120 holes have been completed with 2,665 m. Many of Azure holes are either twinning or drilled close to historical holes, closely replicating the sulfide intercepts on those. Azure is aiming to conclude drilling by February 2018, and complete the maiden mineral resource estimate by March-April 2018.
  • Ethos Gold Corp. optioned the Purisima property in Chihuahua (see note on the deals section). An epithermal low sulfidation vein system is present over 1.5 Km of strike length and 200 m of width exposure. The property saw some drilling in 1997 and 1997-98 by Teck Resources and the SGM (Servicio Geologico Mexicano, or Consejo de Recursos Minerales at the time). Gold-bearing intervals were obtained on both programs, with only minor parts of the core obtained by SGM drilling having been assayed, although many areas contained chalcedonic quartz veining.

ON MINING

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reported third quarter 2017 production and financial results. At Rosario in San Luis Potosi 46.9 K tonnes were processed @ 51 g/t Ag (241 g/t AgEq), recovering 85% Ag, to produce 26,274 Oz Ag, 328 Oz Au, 49 tonnes Pb, 449 tonnes Zn. At Veta Grande in Zacatecas, 28 K tonnes were processed @ 107 g/t Ag (174 g/t AgEq), recovering 64.5% Ag to produce 61,960 Oz Ag; 66 Oz Au, 99 tonnes Pb, 146 tonnes Zn. Production cost per tonne was 62.91, and a cash cost of $23.65 per AgEq Oz, AISC of $28.14 per AgEq Oz.
  • United States Antimony Corp. announced that SEMARNAT (Mexico environmental authority) has issued the permit for the construction of a cyanide leach plant for the Puerto Blanco mill in Guanajuato. This plant is designed to recover Au and Ag from the flotation mill tailings of the Los Juarez Au-Ag-Sb deposit in Queretaro. The ore grade is 1.1 g/t Au, 102 g/t Ag, 0.65% Sb, and the expected recovery  90% Au, 90% Ag, 70% Sb.
  • Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. presented financial results for the first nine months of 2017, period on which the company produced 29,995 Oz Au, and acquired the Gavilanes property from Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. for $3.6 M. Revenue to the end of September was $58.2 M, holding $1.9 M in cash and finished gold, and $14.4 M in gold-in-process. Investment on Golden Reign Resources Ltd. stood at $12.7 M at quarter end. Principal on the loan owed to Wexford Capital LP. (Controlling shareholder) stood at US$38.9 M, with the maturity of the loan extended to January 2019.
  • Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. disclosed drilling results from the Colinas area, less than 1 km from the Taunus pit within its La Trinidad mine in Sinaloa. The drilling tested a structurally complex zone with low and high angle faults, along a projected structural corridor under post mineral cover. The significant core intervals comprise 11.65 m @ 0.61 g/t Au in the first hole and 6.00 m @ 0.35 g/t Au; 7.03 m @ 0.82 g/t Au; 6.00 m @ 10.57 g/t Au in the second hole. “The anomalous zones appear to be associated with quartz carbonate veinlets and ferruginous argillic zones, which are likely fault zones within andesitic breccias and tuffs. All intervals are oxide.”

ON FINANCING

  • Alix Resources Corp. is to conduct a non-brokered private placement to raise up to $750 K in gross proceeds (Agua Fria, Sonora).
  • Canuc Resources Corp. closed a non-brokered private placement with gross proceeds of $465 K. Proceeds are to be used to continue exploration of newly discovered breccia zones on El Tule claim block and other high grade structures (San Javier, Sonora).
  • Mag Silver Corp. announced the closing of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of US$48.16 M (Juanicipio, Zacatecas).
  • Millrock Resources Inc. plans to conduct a non-brokered private placement planning to raise up to $1.6 million. Finder’s fee of 6% cash may be paid in connection with this financing (La Navidad, Sonora).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters for a bought deal private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to C$6 M. SilverCrest will pay the underwriters a cash commission of up to 6% of the gross proceeds (Las Chispas, Sonora).
  • Primero Mining Corp. announced that the company agreed with its lenders to an extension of its revolving credit facility and guarantee provided by Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (San Dimas, Durango).
  • Candelaria Mining Corp. intends to make an application to the TSX to extend the exercise period of 12.6 M share purchase warrants by 12 months.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. recommenced extensional and infill resource definition drilling at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The first of two underground rigs was mobilized to Cuddy, level 5.4 to drill eight short holes before the Christmas break.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Argonaut Gold Inc. announced the closing of the acquisition of the 25,269 hectares Cerro del Gallo project in Guanajuato to Primero Mining Corp. for $15 M. Argonaut could recover up to $1.7 M of value added tax, and the companies acquired in this transaction include approximately $22 M in tax losses.
  • GFM Resources Ltd. entered into an exploration and evaluation agreement with Minera Auricup S. de R.L. on its Baviacora concession in Sonora. GFM has paid the outstanding mining duties of CAD$95 K for a six months right to explore the property and obtain a minimum 15% stake. If land access rights are not secured by Auricup on a four-month period, GFM has the right to demand full repayment, or to obtain a similar stake on in a different but equivalent mineral concession owned by Auricup. GFM drew on its facility with Metallorum Holding, S.A.P.I. de C.V., the corporation’s majority shareholder for this payment.
  • Magellan Gold Corp. completed the purchase of the SDA Mill to Rose Petroleum PLC. in Nayarit. Total consideration for the purchase was $1.5 M, with $1.0 M in cash and $500 K in Magellan stock, of which $100 K was paid in cash in June 2017. In August Magellan arranged $900 K in bridge loans to support the purchase.
  • Ethos Gold Corp. entered into an option agreement with Coztic Recursos Minerales S. de R.L. de C.V. to earn a 100% interest in the Purisima property in Chihuahua. Ethos Gold is to pay an aggregate of US$3.49 M and issue up to 3 M common shares to the property owner, in installments over 72 months, with the initial consideration of $45 K and 50 K shares due on signing. In addition, Ethos Gold is to pay outstanding mining duties of CAD$71 K and incur in exploration expenditures of not less than US$1 M within 72 months. The property owner is to retain a 2% NSR.

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, fine grained silica on boulders extracted from a farming field in Durango. Photo by Jorge Cirett.

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