Drilling

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Hydrothermal Breccia

By Miguel A Heredia

During the fifty three week of the year (December 28th to January 03rd, 2021), at least 9 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 2 news published by the media, with three announcing financial rounds, two disclosing deals and corporate issues, two reporting on resources and development of their mine operations, two commenting Mexican issues, one informing on exploration results, and one discussing social issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, The economic impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has left in the country has not affected mining companies they grew 50% their market value in the Mexican Stock Exchange. Four mining projects will start operations in Zacatecas in 2021.  ON EXPLORATION, In Zacatecas, Advance Gold released drill results from three holes collared at its Tabasquena project. ON MINING, no relevant information. ON FINANCING, Gold Resource declared December 2020 monthly dividend (Arista mine, Oaxaca). Mexican Gold announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1.4M (Las Minas project, Veracruz). Silver Dollar closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $560K (La Joya project, Durango). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, McEwen presented results of a positive Feasibility Study (FS) for its 100% owned Fenix project in Sinaloa. GoGold provided an outlook for 2021 (Los Ricos project, Jalisco). ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Megastar announced results of its 2020 annual general meeting for shareholders (Yautepec property, Oaxaca). GR Silver and Mako amended an agreement in which the first would acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Marlin Gold Mining Ltd from Mako.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Gold Resource reported a fatality at its Arista mine in Oaxaca.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The economic impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has left in the country, has not affected mining companies since they grew 50% their market value in the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV).  For comparison purposes, at the beginning of the year, the stock market value of the four largest mining companies in the country (Grupo Mexico, Industrias Peñoles, Minera Frisco and Autlan) on the BMV was MXP $524.5 billion and currently stands at around MXP $796.5 billion, according to the stock market data. The foregoing contrasts with the general mining panorama, since according to the Mexican Mining Chamber, it is estimated that investment in exploration will register an annual decrease of approximately 25%, thus reaching its worst level in 14 years. The foregoing, according to the agency, is the result of the pandemic, but also of the lack of certainty on the part of the government, higher tax burdens and delays or denial of permits, since 84 mining projects were postponed last year.
  • Four mining projects will start operations in Zacatecas in 2021:  Camino Rojo, from Orla Mining; Distrito Pinos, from Candelaria Mining, San Nicolás from Teck Resources Limited, and Juanicipio, from Grupo Peñoles.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Advance Gold Corp., released drill results from three holes collared at its Tabasquena project in Zacatecas. Significant drill intersects were encountered in hole AGT-18 with 139 g/t Ag over 4.5m, including 240 g/t Ag over 2.3m; hole AGT-19 with 172 g/t Ag over 1.45m, including 383 g(t Ag over 0.8m, and hole AGT-20 with 40 g/t Ag over 1.2m. The drill program will continue to test a 3,500m long continuous high chargeability induced polarization anomaly.

ON MINING

  • No relevant information.

ON FINANCING

  • Gold Resource Corporation, declared December 2020 monthly dividend and paid one-third of a cent per common share to shareholders (Arista mine, Oaxaca).
  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1.4M (Las Minas project, Veracruz).
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $560K. First Majestic Silver Corp., subscribed for 200,000 shares or $280,000 of the Offering Net proceeds will be used to fund exploration and development work on its projects (La Joya project, Durango).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • McEwen Mining Inc., announced positive results of a Feasibility Study (FS) of its 100% owned Fenix project in Sinaloa. The FS envisions a 9.5 year mine life, and involves two sceneries. Scenery 1 with an after tax IRR of 28% using $1,500/ Oz Au and $17/ Oz Ag; an after tax NPV (8% discount) of $32M; an after tax payback period of 3.2 years, and an average after tax cash flow per year of full production of $12M. Scenery 2 with an after tax IRR of $55% using $1,900/Oz Au and $25/ Oz Ag; an after tax NPV (8% discount) of $98M; an after tax payback period of 2.8 years and an average after tax cash flow per year of production of $25M. The Fenix FS development involves two phases: Phase 1 (years 1-6) with an average annual gold production of 26K Oz Au, $42M initial capex, and cash and AISC costs of $1,035 and $1,042 per Oz Au produced respectively; and phase 2 (years 7-9.5) with an average annual silver production of 4.2M Oz AgEq, $24M incremental capex in year 6, and cash and AISC costs of $14.20 and $14.28 per Oz AgEq produced respectively. Measured and indicated (M+I) resources for the Fenix project are 10M tonnes of 1.6 g/t Ag and 0.59 g/t Au for a total of 518K Oz Ag and 190K Oz Au, and Inferred resources of 0.1M tonnes of 1.64 g/t Ag and 0.66 g/t Au for a total of 7K Oz Ag and 3K Oz Au. For El Gallo Silver, M+I resources are 4.5M tonnes of 133 g/t Ag and 0.12 g/t Au for a total of 19M Oz Ag and 18K Oz Au, and Inferred resources of 0.1M tonnes of 129 g/t Ag and 0.14 g/t Au for a total of 286K Oz Ag and 0.3K Oz Au. M+I combined resources are 14.5M tonnes of 42 g/t Ag and 0.45 g/t Au for a total of 19.5M Oz Ag and 208K Oz Au and Inferred resources of 0.2M tonnes of 46 g/t Ag and 0.48 g/t Au for a total of 293K Oz Ag and 3K Oz Au. The company also reported proven + probable reserves of 10.1M tonnes for the Fenix project with grades of 1.g g/t Ag and 0.58 g/t Au for a total of 517K Oz Ag and 190K Oz Au; proven + probable reserves of 4.4M tonnes for the El Gallo Silver project with grades of 133 g/t Ag and 0.12 g/t Au for a total of 18.7M Oz Ag and 17K Oz Ag. Proven + probable combined reserves are 14.5M tonnes of 41 g/t Ag and 0.44 g/t Au for a total of 19.2M Oz Ag and 207K Oz Au.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., provided an outlook for 2021 and plans to deliver a PEA at Los Ricos South in January; to conduct an aggressive 10,000m drill program at Los Ricos North to test 10 of the more than 100 targets identified to date; and deliver an initial mineral resource at Los Ricos North in the summer of 2021.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Megastar Development Corp., announced results of its 2020 annual general meeting for shareholders (Yautepec property, Oaxaca).
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., and Mako Mining Corp., amended an agreement in which the first would acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Marlin Gold Mining Ltd., and to enter into a definitive agreement on or before December 31, 2020.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Gold Resource Corporation reported a fatality at its Arista mine in Oaxaca. The incident involved a light vehicle in an unauthorized and inactive area of the Arista underground mine. The Company is working with authorities in an ongoing investigation to establish the exact cause of the accident. 

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

On the picture above, a hydrothermal breccia in a prospect in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Fault slickenside

By Miguel A Heredia

During the fifty one week of the year (December 14th to December 20th, 2020), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 4 news published by the media, with seven disclosing deals and corporate issues, five communicating production and financial results, four informing on exploration results, three announcing financial rounds, two discussing social issues, two reporting on resources and development of their mine operations, and two  commenting on Mexican issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Great Panther restarted operations at its Topia mine in Durango, after experiencing contagious of COVID-19 among the workforce. The Chihuahua Mining Cluster appointed its new board president. The Association of Miners of Sonora (AMSAC) decided to extend the current board for one year.  ON EXPLORATION, In Baja California Norte, Comet announced that a drilling program will commence in 2021 at its Santa Teresa project. In Sonora, Silver Viper released drill results from its El Rubi project. In Chihuahua, Monarca Minerals announced its intention to conduct an initial 5,000m of drilling at its San Jose project. In Sinaloa, Vizsla released surface and underground sampling results from its Panuco project. ON MINING, GoGold presented Q3, 2020 production and financial results from its Parral Tailing operation in Chihuahua. Prime reported Q2, 2020 financial results. ON FINANCING, Silver Dollar granted stock options to its directors, officers, and consultants (La Joya property, Durango). Gatos Silver provided an update and announced inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index, as well as in the VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) (Los Gatos, Chihuahua).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Southern Silver reported drill results from its Cerro Las Minitas property in Durango. Capitan Mining released RC drill results from three holes collared at its Peñoles project in Durango. Gatos Silver commenced a 58,000m infill and extensional drilling program at its Cerro Los Gatos deposit in Chihuahua. GR reported drill results from 2 holes collared at its Plomosas property in Sinaloa. Fabled started an 8,000m drilling program at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Aztec Minerals and Kootenay entered into a JV option agreement for the Cervantes project in Sonora. Defiance acquired option to purchase royalty at the Tepal property in Michoacan. Pan American appointed a new member to its board of directors (La Colorada, Zacatecas). Equinox announced friendly acquisition of Premier Gold (Mercedes Mine, Sonora). Canuc appointed a new special adviser to the company (San Javier property, Sonora). Santacruz reached an agreement with Peñoles to extend the Zimapan Mine lease until June 30, 2021.   ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Minera Media Luna, a subsidiary of Torex Gold invested MXP $1.8M to improve the Nuevo Balsas Health Center. Grupo Mexico donated eight thousand plants in Colima.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Great Panther Mining Limited, restarted operations at its Topia mine in Durango, after have experienced contagious of COVID-19 among the workforce. Mining resumed on December 17 and the plant is expected to begin processing ore on December 21.
  • The Chihuahua Mining Cluster appointed its new board president. This event was joined by the special presence of the state leadership of the Association of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico; the direction of the Mining Chamber of Mexico; guild suppliers, as well as the new director of mining for the state government.
  • The Association of Miners of Sonora (AMSAC) decided to extend the current board for one year as a result of the pandemic that paralyzed multiple activities in the sector.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Comet Resources Limited announced that a drilling program will commence in 2021 at its Santa Teresa project in Baja California Norte. Comet has identified sources of water for the drilling program and has improved roads to the drill sites. It is also in the process of getting the drill permit to commence the drilling in 2021. In addition, Comet has engaged a local geological consultancy to assist them with all geological programs, including permitting for drilling.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., released drill results from its El Rubi project in Sonora. The most significant drill interval was encountered in hole LV20-283 with 0.72 g/t Au and 50 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 13.89m, including several intersection as 2.55 g/t Au and 226 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.64m, 3.26 g/t Au and 215 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.92m, 1.58 g/t Au and 108 g/t Ag over a TW of 3.84m, 4.38 g/t Au and 282 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.64m, 33.8 g/t Au and 67 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.6m, and 77.9 g/t Au and 133 g/t Ag over a TW of 1m. Silver Viper informed also that it has conducted initial bottle roll leach tests on four 500 g composites of mineralized material from El Rubi with extracting recoveries of 90-95% for Au and 62-76% for Ag. The company plans to conduct more detail test work.
  • Monarca Minerals Inc., announced its intention to conduct an initial 5,000m of drilling at its San Jose project in Chihuahua. Monarca plans to drill 10 holes to test some IP targets to depths of up to 500m. Monarca is looking to sign a surface agreement with the local Ejido as well as to apply to obtain the drilling permit.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp., released surface and underground sampling results from its Panuco project. Sampling highlights include 11.55 g/t Au and 2,091 g/t Ag (3,042 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 1m, and 6.7 g/t Au and 723 g/t Ag (1,304 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.2m at Agua Zarca target; 2.23 g/t Au and 264 g/t Ag (456 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.9 at El Batel target; 0.77 g/t Au and 315 g/t Ag (368 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4.1m, including 1.28 g/t Au and 892 g/t Ag (958 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.3m at La Bomba target; and 0.67 g/t Au and 225 g/t Ag (275 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 10.5m, including 1.34 g/t Au and 371 g/t Ag (473 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4m at Huaco target. These results will help to generate drill targets for 2021.

ON MINING

  • GoGold Resources Inc., presented Q3, 2020 production and financial results from its Parral Tailing operation in Chihuahua. The company produced 605,723 Oz AgEq at a cash and AISC of USD $11.97 and USD $14.31 per Oz AgEq respectively. GoGold reported revenue of USD $39.5M, a net income of USD $43.1M, and cash flow from operations before working capital changes of  USD $5.5M, including free cash flow from Parral of USD $6.5M.
  • Prime Mining Corp., announced Q2, 2020 financial results.   The company reported a net loss of CAD $1,656,466, cash, cash equivalent and short-term investment of CAD $7,678,959, total current liabilities of CAD $655,545, total liabilities of CAD $1,668,247, and total shareholder´s equity of CAD $19,921,788 (Los Reyes project, Sinaloa).

ON FINANCING

  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., granted stock options to its directors, officers, and consultants to purchase up to 2.55M shares of the company. Shares are exercisable at $1.75 per share for five years (La Joya property, Durango).
  • Gatos Silver Inc., provided an update and announced inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index small capitalization stocks index, effective December 2021. Gatos recently completed an IPO with gross proceeds of USD $173M resulting in the largest precious metals IPO since 2010 and the largest precious metals equity financing during 2020. The company also announced the inclusion in the VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) (Los Gatos property, Chihuahua). 

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., reported drill results from Mina La Bocona target area at its Cerro Las Minitas property in Durango. Significant drill intersects were encountered at hole 20CLM-125 with 1.41 g/t Au and 36 g/t Ag (201 g/t AgEq) over a 28.5m, including 5.1 g/t Au and 72 g/t Ag (552 g/t AgEq) over 2.8m, and a deeper intersection of 0.45 g/t Au, 421 g/t Ag, 5.5% Pb, and 1.9% Zn (704 g/t AgEq or 17.9% ZnEq) over 6.1m (true width of 4.0m), including 0.64 g/t Au, 1,420 g/t Ag, 16.8% Pb, and 00.6% Zn (2,012 g/t AgEq or 51% ZnEq) over 0.9m (true width of 0.6m). This drill result is part of a 10,000m, 2020-2021 core drilling program on the Cerro Las Minitas project. Two additional holes have been completed at Mina La Bocona target. Seven holes totaling 2,470 metres have now tested the Mina La Bocona target area with assays still pending from each hole.
  • Capitan Mining Inc., released drill results from three holes collared at its Peñoles project in Durango. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in holes 20-CARC-12 with 0.63 g/t Au over 73.15m, including 0.91 g/t Au over 36.5m; hole 20-CARC-09 with 0.69 g/t Au and 21 g/t Ag over 64.01m, including 1.26 g/t Au over 13.72m; and hole 20-CARC-08 with 0.58 g/t Au over 48.77m, including 0.82 g/t Au and 16 g/t Ag over 28.96m.
  • Gatos Silver Inc., commenced a 58,000m infill and extensional drilling program at its Cerro Los Gatos deposit in Chihuahua. The program is expected to cost USD $6.1M. Drilling has already begun with a program of 27,000m with an expected cost of USD $2.8M and is focused on definition and extension of the Cerro Los Gatos deposit. Completion of the program is anticipated by June 2021. A second program focused on expanding resources throughout the Los Gatos district is planned to initiate in early 2021.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., reported drill results from 2 underground holes collared at its Plomosas property in Sinaloa. Hole PLI20-01 intersected 30 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, and 2.8% Zn (254 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 16m, including 55 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 4% Pb, and 8.3% Zn (424 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4m; and hole PLI20-02 intersected 18 g/t Ag, 0.3 g/t Au, 1% Pb, and 1.7% Zn (130 g/t AgEq), including 107 g/t Ag, 1.7 g/t Au, 6.6% Pb, 9.6% Zn, and 0.2% Cu (778 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 4.2m. GR also reviewed and validated historical data from holes SD-62 and SD-67, confirming the presence of Au-Cu rich mineralization in other levels of the Plomosas Mine area. Hole SD-62 encountered  31 g/t Ag, 0.12 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.4% Zn, and 1.3% Cu (200 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 25.3m, while hole SD-63 intersected 115 g/t Ag, 1.04 g/t Au, 11.3% Pb, 5.4% Zn, and 0.7% Cu (800 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 6.1m.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., started an 8,000m drilling program at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua to test 11 new IP anomalies identified during the first ever geophysical survey conducted at the property. A 3-D IP survey covered the entire property at 50m-line spacing and was 16 blocks in size with penetration to -500m minimum. In addition, 27km of ground magnetic was completed over the property resulting in the creation of several products such as total field, first derivate, reduce to pole, and 3D inversion magnetics.  “Fabled’s management team strongly believes that the Santa Maria Property is an under-explored, high-grade silver-gold project with significant exploration potential to expand mineral resources and identify new discoveries”. 

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Aztec Minerals Corp., and Kootenay Silver Inc., entered into a JV option agreement for the Cervantes project in Sonora. Aztec has already completed its earn-in and exercised its option to acquire a 65% interest in the property. Now Aztec hold 65% interest in the property while Kootenay the remaining 35%. Both parties will keep their interest at Cervantes through share ownership in Aztec Minerals JV Corporation through its wholly owned subsidiary, Minera Azteca Dorado S.A. de C.V.
  • Defiance Silver Corp., acquired option to purchase the 2.5% NSR of the Tepal property in Michoacan from Minera Tepal, over four years for a total consideration of USD $4.85M.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., appointed a new member to its board of directors (La Colorada, Zacatecas).
  • Equinox Gold Corp., announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Premier Gold Mines Limited to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Premier. Premier will spin-out to its shareholders shares of a newly created US-focused gold production and development company to be called i-80 Gold Corp. On closing of the transaction, existing Equinox Gold and Premier shareholders will own approximately 84% and 16% of Equinox Gold, and Equinox Gold and existing shareholders of Premier will own 30% and 70% of i-80 Gold, respectively, on an issued share basis.
  • Canuc Resources Corporation appointed a new special adviser to the company (San Javier property, Sonora). 
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reached an agreement with Minera Cedros S.A.de C.V., a subsidiary of Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V. to extend the Zimapan Mine lease from December 31, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Media Luna, a subsidiary of Torex Gold invested MXP $1.8M to improve the Nuevo Balsas Health Center, which will serve close to four thousand inhabitants of communities such as Nuevo Balsas, San Nicolás, La Fundición, Real del Limón, Acalmantlila, Balsas Sur, San Luis and Tomixtlahuacán. This center seeks to provide decent medical care since the areas that are farthest from the municipal capitals are severely affected in their health services due to the conditions of difficult access and remoteness.
  • Grupo Mexico donated eight thousand plants to the City Council and to the  Integral Development of the Family (DIF) of Colima to reforest the public gardens of the rural communities contributing to improve the environment and quality of life of the families of the municipality of Colima.

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

On the picture above, a fault slickenside in a Mn-Fe occurrence in a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

GR Silver Mining Reports Significant Drill Results at the Plomosas Silver Project

/ lauragpm / Leave a comment

20-12-15_GR-Silver-News-Release-Final

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 15, 2020 /CNW/ – GR Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV: GRSL) (FRANKFURT: GPE) (OTCQB: GRSLF) (“GR Silver Mining” or the “Company”) – is pleased to report drill results from the Company’s recently announced surface and underground core drilling program in the Plomosas Mine Area, as well as validation sampling results from historic drilling at its 100%-owned Plomosas Silver Project (“Plomosas Project”) in Sinaloa, Mexico.

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment
Quartz blade (boiling texture)

By Miguel A Heredia

During the fifty eight week of the year (November 30th to December 06th, 2020), at least 25 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 7 news published by the media, with fourteen disclosing deals and corporate issues, six informing on exploration results, four discussing social issues, three reporting on resources and development of their mine operations, three commenting on Mexican issues, and two communicating production and financial results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Fernando Alanis, President of The Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX) declared that mining is one of the most regulated sectors that care for the environment.  There is a great hope to reactivate the economy of Naica, Chihuahua.  Newmont Corporation, operator of the Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas, reported to the Ministry of the Interior the progress of the definitive agreement to end the conflict with ejidatarios.   ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Tocvan and its JV partner Colibri announced the commencement of a 1,500m RC drilling program at its El Pilar project and Tarachi released drill results from its la Dura mine. In Chihuahua, Golden Minerals reported that it has completed a 3,400m drilling program in 15 drill holes at its Yoquivo project. In Sinaloa, Prismo has commenced a 500m drilling program at its Palos Verdes project. In Durango, Mithril provided an update on the drilling activities carried out at its Copalquin project.  ON MINING, Mexus announced that leaching commenced at its 250,000 tonnes leach pad at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Santacruz announced Q3, 2020 financial results from its Mexican operations.  ON FINANCING, no relevant information.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Capitan Mining released RC drill results from the first seven holes collared at its Peñoles project in Durango, expanding the known gold mineralization. Endeavour intersected high grade mineralization at its Bolañitos mine in Guanajuato. VanGold reported underground channel sampling results from its Pinguico mine in Guanajuato, with assays up to 1,136 g/t AgEq.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Almaden announced that the court decision upholded the original, 14,000 Ha larger concessions, which the Company originally held at its Ixtaca project in Puebla. Auxico announced the resignation of one of its directors and the appointment of a new member to its board of directors (Zamora property, Sinaloa). Barksdale announced that its common shares commenced to trade on the OTCQX best market in the USA under the symbols “BRKCF” (San Javier project, Sonora). Defiance announced that it has entered into an option agreement with Pan American Silver to acquire 100% interest in the Lucita property in Zacatecas. Fabled closed its previously announced acquisition of the Santa Maria mine in Chihuahua. Fortuna Silver provided and update on the status on a dispute royalty on one of its extracting mining concessions at its San Jose mine in Oaxaca. Magna Gold announced the change of its fiscal year-end from March 31 to December 31 (San Francisco mine, Sonora).  Orex announced management changes (Sandra-Escobar project, Durango).  Orla Mining appointed a new member to its board of directors (Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas). Prismo announced that it has entered into an option agreement to acquire the remaining 25% interest in the Palos Verdes property in Sinaloa. Silver Spruce signed a definitive agreement to acquire 50% interest in the Jackie property in Sonora. Tarachi announced the appointment of its new CFO and its Corporate Secretary (La Dura mine, Sonora). Vizsla appointed its new CFO (Panuco project, Sinaloa). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, The Sonora Mining Cluster recognized 40 partners for their commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), during the closing of the MINNOVACIÓN 2020 Forum. Fresnillo plc donated 30,000 face masks to the Zacatecas State Government.  Newmont Peñasquito delivered pantries and cleaning kits in localities of Mazapil. The mining sector in Mexico has supported efforts to alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Fernando Alanis, President of The Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX) declared that mining is one of the most regulated sectors that cares for the environment. The mining sector makes strong investments to promote social development at its communities, invests in environmental issues and is one of the main producers of trees and reforestation. Mining complies with 1,077 federal, state and municipal requirements in compliance with standards, laws and regulations.
  • Economy in Naica, Chihuahua could be reactivated since there has already been a proposal acceptable by members of the Naica Ejido and the Peñoles Mining Company for the extraction of water for agricultural use, and in turn the company will start with the exploration works contemplating a possible opening of the mine. For now, the hiring of 40 people is contemplated to work in the mine, and the ejidatarios will start fallow work.
  • Newmont Corporation, operator of the Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas, reported to the Ministry of the Interior the progress of the definitive agreement to end the conflict with ejidatarios.  The company reported that 95% of the ejidatarios have received a payment for the rental of lands for exploration. It also confirmed that a permit was obtained from the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) for the drilling of a domestic water well, which will benefit Ejido Cedros.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., and its JV partner Colibri Resource Corp., announced the commencement of a 1,500m RC drilling program at its El Pilar project.  This RC drilling has been designed to confirm selected historical drilling and extend mineralization in the Main Zone along strike. It also will provide information to better define drill targets to test deeper mineralization based on geophysical results and structural interpretations.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., released drill results from its la Dura mine in Sonora. Significant results were encountered in hole JAB-20-06 with 3.95g/t Au over 8m (from 2.25m to 10.25m),  5.05 g/t Au over 200.75m (from 22.25m to 43m), including 14.5g/t Au over 6.10m (from 27.65m to 33.75m).
  • Golden Minerals Company, reported that it has completed a 3,400m drilling program in 15 drill holes at its Yoquivo project to test the Pertenencia, San Francisco and Esperanza vein systems. Drilling results will be announced within the next few months.
  • Prismo Metals Inc., announced the commencement of a 500m drill program at its Palos Verdes property in Sinaloa. The program will consists of four to five holes, with the longest planned at 150-175m to test the vein lateral to, and below, high-grade intercepts drilled in the past. The best intercept from that program was 8.4 g/t Au and 2,336 g/t Ag, over 0.8m true width.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd., provided an update on the drilling activities carried out at its Copalquin project. Recent drill results from El Refugio target with 15-30m quartz breccia zones indicate the top of a large hydrothermal system at El Cometa project, characterized by extensive surface alteration and rhyolite dome intrusions. This alteration is observed to extend at least 1.5km west of El Refugio in addition to the widespread alteration and rhyolitic dome intrusives in the Copalquin district. The drilling at the El Refugio target now extends for over 300m with highlights including  hole CDH-022 with 1.93 g/t Au and 124 g/t Ag (3.48 g/t AuEq) over 5.05m, including 3.28 g/t Au and 140 g/t Ag (5.03 g/t AuEq) over 2.15m; hole CDH-024 with 1.59 g/t Au and 37 g/t Ag (2.05 g/t AuEq) over 15.75m, including 3.27 g/t Au and 53 g/t Ag (3.93 g/t AuEq) over 5.93m, and  14.75 g/t Au and 150 g/t Ag (16.63 g/t AuEq) over 1m; and hole CDH-025 with 0.8 g/t Au and 34 g/t Ag (1.22 g/t AuEq) over 7m, including 1.81 g/t Au and 70 g/t Ag (2.68 g/t AuEq) over 2m (within 27.55m of 0.41 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag, or 0.66 g/t AuEq).

ON MINING

  • Mexus Gold US, announced that leaching commenced at its 250,000 tonnes leach pad at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Mineralized material is under way and returning values of 0.32 to 0.42 g/t Au in solution. Flows are expected to reach 0.6 g/t Au in solution by December 16th. Mexus CEO added that gold production by year end should reach 225 Oz.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., announced Q3, 2020 production and financial results from its Mexican operations. At Zimapan mine, Hidalgo, the company processed 164,846 tonnes to produce 920,985 Oz AgEq at a cash and AISC of USD $17.45 and USD $18.54 per Oz AgEq respectively. At the Rosario project, San Luis Potosi, it processed 11,794 tonnes to produce 56,693 Oz AgEq at cash and AISC of USD $34.13 and USD $42.07 per Oz AgEq respectively. Santacruz reported revenue of USD $9.44M, gross profit of USD $1.26M, a net loss of USD $163K, and an EBITDA of USD $12K.

ON FINANCING

  • No relevant information.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Capitan Mining Inc., released drill results from the first seven holes collared at its Peñoles project in Durango. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in holes 20-CARC-06 with 0.34 g/t Au over 111.30m, including 0.63 g/t Au over 45.7m; hole 20-CARC-05 with 0.41 g/t Au and 21 g/t Ag over 76.2m, including 0.68 g/t Au and 28 g/t Ag over 16.8m; hole 20-CARC-03 with 0.4 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over 68.6m, including 0.74 g/t Au and 16 g/t Ag over 16.8m;  and hole 20-CARC-02 with 0.4 g/t Au and 26 g/t Ag over 56m, including 0.53 g/t Au over 25.9m. The drill results expand the known gold mineralization reported in the mineral resource estimate released in March, 2015 within the conceptual, open pit shell, and confirm that there is significant room to expand the existing oxide resource.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., intersected high grade gold-silver mineralization at its Bolañitos mine in Guanajuato. Highlights include the following intersections along the Melladito vein: 12.76 g/t Au and 55 g/t Ag (1,176 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 4.5m, including  43.5 g/t Au and 171 g/t Ag (3,651 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.4m in hole BN-58, and 0.51 g/t Au and 491 g/t Ag (531 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.7m, including 1.74 g/t Au and 2,220 g/t Ag (2,359 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.4m in hole BN-52. At San Bernabe Vein, hole BN-59 intersected 7.91 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag (645 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.7m.
  • VanGold Mining Corp. reported results from 267 underground channel samples from its Pinguico mine in Guanajuato, with assays up to 1,136 g/t Ag.  Highlights include Pinguico Shaft with 15m  strike length of grade weighted average of 733 g/t Ag and 5 g/t Au (1,136 g/t AgEq); Pinguico Norte with 47m strike length of of 256 g/t Ag and 1.7 g/t Au (394 g/t AgEq); and San Jose NW Pillar  with 25m strike length of 154 g/t Ag and 1.9 g/t Au (303 g/t AgEq).

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd.,  announced that all the mining concessions which cover its Ixtaca project in Puebla are not affected by the denial of Almaden´s appeal noted in December 01, 2020 news release. A court decision upholded the original, 14,000 Ha larger concessions, which the Company originally held, confirming that Almaden owns 100% of the property.
  • Auxico Resources Canada Inc., announced the resignation of one of its directors and the appointment of a new member to its board of directors (Zamora property, Sinaloa).
  • Barksdale Resources Corp., announced that its common shares commenced to trade on the OTCQX best market in the USA under the symbols “BRKCF” (San Javier project, Sonora).
  • Defiance Silver Corp., announced that it has entered into an option agreement with Pan American Silver Corp., to acquire 100% interest in the Lucita property in Zacatecas. With this option agreement, Defiance expands its land package on the mining district from 1,600 Ha to 4,300 Ha. The option terms include an initial payment of USD $100K upon signing; USD $100K on or before the first year anniversary; USD $500K on or before the second year anniversary; and a final payment of USD $800K on or before the third year anniversary.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp., closed its previously announced acquisition of the Santa Maria mine in Chihuahua. In order to acquire 100% interest in the property, Fabled has to make an initial cash payment of USD $500K in cash and 1M common share on the closing date of the transaction, USD $1.5M in cash 12 month after the acquisition closing, USD $2M in cash 24 months after the closing date, and a total of USD $480K in payments due by the vendor to the optionors under the vendor´s agreement with those optionors as follow: USD $100K on the acquisition closing, USD $120K on 2/4/2021, USD $120K on 8/4/2021, and USD $140K on 2/4/2022. Fabled will also grant the Vendor a 1% NSR with respect to the property upon exercise of the option under the option agreement and will assume from the vendor the obligations in respect of an existing 2% NSR that exists over 3 of the 5 mineral claims that comprise the property.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., provided and update on the status on a dispute royalty on one of its extracting mining concessions at its San Jose mine in Oaxaca. “In January 2020, the company received notice from the Dirección General de Minas (DGM) seeking to cancel the mining concession if the royalty (MXP $30M + VAT from the period 2011-2019) was no paid before March 15, 2020. Fortuna began legal proceedings against the DGM on February 2020. The District Court in Mexico City admitted the company’s legal proceedings on March 2, 2020 and granted a permanent stay of execution, which protects the company from the cancellation of the concession until a final non-appealable resolution is reached on the legality of DGM’s cancellation procedure. On November 27, 2020 the District Court found that the Company suffered no harm from the notice of cancellation procedure and dismissed the proceedings without deciding on the merit of the Amparo Proceedings and on the validity of the royalty. The company’s legal position with respect to the disputed royalty remains unchanged. The company intends to vigorously defend its position and appeal the Procedural Finding and file an appeal with the Collegiate Court in Mexico by the deadline of December 14, 2020.  A decision of the Collegiate Court is expected during mid-2021”.
  • Magna Gold Corp., announced the change of its fiscal year-end from March 31 to December 31 to align the fiscal year-end of the company with that of its subsidiaries, Molimentales del Noroeste, S.A. de C.V., LM Mining, S.A. de C.V. and Minera Magna, S.A. de C.V., which are required to have fiscal periods for Mexican tax purposes ending on December 31. (San Francisco mine, Sonora). 
  • Orex Minerals Inc., announced management changes. The former CEO has resigned and Ben Whiting has been appointed as President and CEO and as Director of Orex immediately (Sandra-Escobar project, Durango).
  • Orla Mining Ltd., appointed a new member to its board of directors (Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas).
  • Prismo Metals Inc., announced that it has entered into an option agreement to acquire the remaining 25% interest in the Palos Verdes property in Sinaloa. The option gives Prismo control of 100% of the concessions that makes up the property. Under the terms of the option agreement, Prismo will make a cash payment of USD $250K to the optionor an aggregate of US$250K in cash over a four-year period, with the initial payment of USD $30K made on signing. Additionally, 100K warrants will be awarded, with each warrant entitling its owner to purchase one common share of the company at an exercise price of CAD $0.35 per share for two years from the date of execution of the option agreement.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., signed a definitive agreement to acquire 50% interest in the Jackie property in Sonora by making a payment to Colibri for USD $250K and CAD $25K in common shares as the first property payment within 7 days of the TSX approval. Spruce also agrees to spend USD $100K in exploration and drilling expenses with a minimum of USD $50K within 12 months of TSX approval and to pay to Colibri a second payment of USD $25k and CAD $25K in common shares also within 12 months of TSX approval. Upon completion of this terms, Spruce will hold 50% interest in the property and a JV will be formed to direct all exploration and drilling expenses. There are no underlying royalties on the property.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., announced the appointment of its new CFO and its Corporate Secretary (La Dura mine, Sonora).
  • Vizsla Resources Corp, appointed its new CFO (Panuco project, Sinaloa).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • The Sonora Mining Cluster recognized 40 partners for their commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), during the closing of the MINNOVACIÓN 2020 Forum.
  • Fresnillo plc., donated 30,000 face mask to the Zacatecas State government to contribute to the authorities to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic in the entity. The face mask delivered to the authorities are model L03, which have five layers of protection and comply with all security protocols. This action adds to the effort and commitment that the Mexican mining company has made since the beginning of the pandemic to work hand in hand with the community.
  • Newmont Corporation (Minera Peñasquito) delivered pantries and cleaning kits in localities of Mazapil as a service to the community.
  • The mining sector in Mexico has supported efforts to alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mining industry in the state of Zacatecas has joined the efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and through different companies, such as Newmont, Fresnillo plc, Grupo Mexico, and Orla Mining, has supported many communities with the donation of medical equipment and ventilators. In total, 90,692 N95 masks have been delivered , 164 thousand 452 googles, more than one million 221 thousand masks, as well as 513 thousand 378 isolation gowns and 12 thousand 522 masks, according to the Mexican Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX).

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, quartz blade (boiling texture) in a low sulphidation epithermal vein system in a prospect in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment
Barite crystals

By Miguel A Heredia

During the forty eight week of the year (November 16th to November 22th, 2020), at least 29 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 1 news published by the media, with eight reporting on resources and development of their mine operations, six disclosing deals and corporate issues, six informing on exploration results, four commenting on Mexican issues, three  communicating production and financial results, two announcing financial rounds, and one discussing social issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Equinox announced that the community blockade at its Los Filos mine in Guerrero has been lifted and access to the mine has been restored. First Majestic announced its intention to appeal the Circuit Court decision to nullify the Advance Pricing Agreement concluded in 2012 between Primero Empresa Minera and the Mexican tax authority, Servicio de Administracion Tributaria (SAT). Deputies of the mining commission of the State Congress and the State Secretariat of Economy of Sonora will join forces to request to the Federal Government that the Mining Fund returns to the Municipalities of the State.   Great Panther has temporarily suspended the operations at its Topia mine in Durango due to the detection of COVID-19 among the workforce.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Canuc started a drone supported, high frequency, magnetic survey over its newly acquired claims at its San Javier project, Silver Tiger reported drill results from its El Tigre project, Colibri released results from the trenching sampling carried out at its Evelyn project, and Riverside and its JV partner Carlyle reported channel sampling results from its Cecilia project. In Jalisco, GoGold released drilling results from El favor target at its los Ricos North project. In the State of Mexico, Impact has commenced a trenching sampling at its Manto America gold target.  ON MINING, Excellon reported Q3, 2020 production and financial results from its Platosa mine in Durango.  Santacruz reported October 2020 production results from its Zimapan and Rosario mines in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi respectively. Starcore reported Q2, 2020/2021 production results from its San Martin mine in Queretaro.  ON FINANCING, Magna Gold closed the acquisition of the Margarita Silver project in Chihuahua. Telson executed a Trust Agreement with Trafigura Mexico (Tahuehueto project, Durango).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Azucar resumed drilling at its El Cobre property in Veracruz.  Endeavour expanded its land position at its Terronera property in Jalisco. Elemental Royalties presented Q3, 2020 results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. Mexus provided an update on its new heap leach pad at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Golden Minerals received the final environmental permit for its Rodeo property in Durango. Minera Alamos announced an independent NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate of 630K Oz Au at its Cerro de Oro project in Zacatecas. Sierra Metals announced a significant increase of its mineral resource estimate at its Cusi mine in Chihuahua. SilverCrest announced new high-grade discovery at the Babi Vista Splay Vein within its Las Chispas project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Aura announced a new and improved offtake agreement with Trafigura starting in 2022 (Aranzazu property, Zacatecas). Barksdale appointed its company Senior VP Project Development (San Javier project, Sonora).  Comet changed its provider for shareholder registry services from Advanced Share Registry Services to Automic Pty Ltd (Santa Teresa property, Baja California).  SilverCrest announced the appointment of a new member for its Board of Directors (Las Chispas project, Sonora). Starcore presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (San Martin mine, Queretaro).  Silver Dollar announced it has hired a Country Manager for its la Joya Silver project in Durango.   ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Torex achieved 10M hours work without a lost time injury (El Limon-Guajes mine complex, Guerrero).

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Equinox Gold Corp., announced that the community blockade at its Los Filos mine in Guerrero has been lifted and access to the mine has been restored. Los Filos has commenced a staged restart and workers will resume their duties only after testing negative for COVID-19.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., announced its intention to appeal the Circuit Court decision to nullify the Advance Pricing Agreement concluded in 2012 between Primero Empresa Minera SA de CV (PEM) and the Mexican tax authority, Servicio de Administracion Tributaria (SAT).   “The Federal Court’s decision directs SAT to re-examine the evidence and basis for the issuance of the APA with retroactive effect, for the following key reasons: (i) SAT’s errors in analyzing PEM’s request for the APA and the evidence provided in support of the request; and (ii) SAT’s failure to request from PEM certain additional information before issuing the APA. The Company’s legal advisors having now reviewed the written reasons continue to be of the view that the Federal Court’s decision is flawed both due to procedural irregularities and failure to address the relevant evidence and legal authorities. The Company intends to appeal the decision to the Circuit Courts by the December 1, 2020 deadline”.
  • Deputies of the mining commission of the State Congress and the State Secretariat of Economy will join forces to request to the Federal Government that the Mining Fund returns to the Municipalities of the Sonora State. The commission reported that the Federal Government has pending the contribution of MXP $1,500M corresponding to fiscal year 2019 to be exercised in fiscal year 2020 in works of high social impact in municipalities with mining activities. One of the deputies stated that the resources of the Mining Fund originated in the State of Sonora, must remain here, because it is a resource of Sonora and must be applied, definitely, to the needs of the State. Sonora ranks first in the country in the extraction of copper, gold, molybdenum, wollastonite, and graphite and second in silver, substances that are exploited by national and foreign companies with investments around the world.
  • Great Panther Mining Limited has temporarily suspended the operations at its Topia mine in Durango due to the detection of COVID-19 among the workforce.   A reduced workforce will remain on site to maintain essential activities for the duration of the voluntary suspension. The health and safety of employees, contractors, and host communities remains a priority.  The company will continue working closely with the local government and regional health authorities to ensure a safe restart of normal operations.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Canuc Resources Corporation, started a drone supported, high frequency, magnetic survey over the 800m in length and 80 m in width silver-bearing magnetite swarms that have been identified within, and proximal to the large silver-bearing breccia structures uncovered in July and August of this year and first reported in a press release dated September 22nd.   
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., reported drill results from its El Tigre project in Sonora, where the company is currently exploring with core drilling the Caleigh and Protectora Veins. The company has drilled ten holes and highlights include hole 163 on Protectora Vein with 1,782 g/t Ag and 3.56 g/t Au (2,049 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m, and a second intercept of 1,374 g/t Ag and 0.89 g/t Au (1,441 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m; hole 164 on Protectora Vein with 805 g/t Ag and 10.5 g/t Au (1,593 g/t AgEq) over 0.5m; hole 158 on Caleigh Vein with 815 g/t Ag and 4.09 g/t Au (1,122 g/t AgEq) over 0.7m; and hole 156 on Caleigh Vein with 752 g/t Ag and 7.09 g/t Au (1,284 g/t AgEq) over 0.3m.
  • Colibri Resource Corporation, released results from the trenching sampling carried out at its Evelyn project in Sonora.  Fifty six chip samples from 0.30 to 2.00m in length were taken from trenches at The Cerro Rojo, El Sahuaro, and the West Evelyn targets. Nine samples returned values greater than 1 g/t Au and a total of 16 samples returned values greater than 0.1 g/t Au, with a peak of 23.2 g/t Au at the Cerro Rojo target area. The trenching has defined a northwest-southeast mineralized trend over an approximate strike length of 35 metres with samples ranging from 0.304 g/t Au to 27.5 g/t Au.
  • Riverside Resources Inc and its JV partner Carlyle Commodities Corp., reported channel sampling results from its Cecilia project. Thirty six channel samples were collected from underground working as well as at surface over the San Jose target from brecciated and silicified rhyolite. Over 43% of the samples returned more than 0.2 g/t Au with a peak of 48.3 g/t Au over a width of 0.75m. Other significant results were 0.86 g/t Au over 1.7m; 0.78 g/t Au over  0.85m; 0.66 g/t Au over 1.6m; 0.66 g/t Au over 0.8m; and 0.56 g/t Au over 1.25m.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., released drilling results from El Favor target at its los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole LRGF-20-005 with 0.11 g/t Au and 74 g/t Ag (1.10 g/t AuEq or 83 g/t AgEq) over 21m, including 0.23 g/t Au and 150 g/t Ag (2.23 g/t AuEq or 167 g/t AgEq) over 9.0m; hole LRGF-20-006 with 2 intercepts, one of 0.2 g/t Au and 96 g/t Ag (1.48 g/t AuEq or 111 g/t AgEq) over 12m, including 0.53 g/t Au and 271 g/t Ag (4.15 g/t AuEq or 311 g/t AgEq) over  3.4m, and 0.97 g/t Au and 113 g/t Ag (2.47 g/t AuEq or 186 g/t AgEq) over 27m, including 3.35 g/t Au and 350 g/t Ag (8.01 g/t AuEq or 601 g/t AgEq); hole LRGF-20-007 with 0.28 g/t Au and 160 g/t Ag (2.4 g/t AuEq or 180 g/t AgEq) over 11m, including 0.53 g/t Au and 291 g/t Ag (4.41 g/t AuEq or 331 g/t AgEq) over 3.5m; hole LRGF-20-008 with 0.69 g/t Au and 255 g/t Ag (4.08 g/t AuEq or 306 g/t AgEq) over 52.1m, including 0.93 g/t Au and 343 g/t Ag (5.51 g/t AuEq or 413 g/t AgEq) over 37.1m, including 5.62 g/t Au and 2,052 g/t Ag (32.98 g/t AuEq or 2,473 g/t AgEq) over 5m, including 8.47 g/t Au and 3,039 g/t Ag (49 g/t AuEq or 3,675 g/t AgEq) over 3.3m; and hole LRGF-20-009 with 2 intercepts, one of 0.43 g/t Au and 148 g/t Ag (2.41 g/t AuEq or 180 g/t AgEq) over 11.6m, including 1.22 g/t Au and 324 g/t Ag (5.55 g/t AuEq or 416 g/t AgEq) over 2.5m, and 0.32 g/t Au and 63 g/t Ag (1.15 g/t AuEq and 87 g/t AgEq) over 32.5m, including 0.64 g/t Au and 171 g/t Ag (2.93 g/t AuEq or 220 g/t AgEq) over 7m. The drilling program at El Favor target has tested 1,000m along strike of the historic El Favor vein and workings. These first nine drill holes have confirmed the wide zones of mineralization mapped and sampled on surface continue down dip for close to 600m. The company stated that the mineralization is open along strike in both directions and down dip and will aggressively advance this zone towards a mineral resource estimate.
  • Impact Silver Corp., has commenced a trenching sampling at its Manto America gold target in the State of Mexico. Thirty three rock chip samples returning more than 2 g/t Au have been collected on this target, with a peak of 19.5 g/t Au over a true width of 1.2m. Additionally, 67 soil samples taken on a 50m by 25m grid have returned an average of 250 ppb Au. The 900m trenching sampling plans to test an area of 450m by 300m over the strongest Au-in soil anomalies. Previous operators of this target excavated two trenches, the same that were sampled by Impact, returning 0.51 g/t Au over 5.6m in width  and  a length of 23.5m, and 0.3 g/t Au over 5.5m in width and a length of 17.2m.

ON MINING

  • Excellon Resources Inc., reported Q3 2020 production and financial results from its Platosa mine in Durango. The company mined 21,877 tonnes and processed 22,612 tonnes of 483 g/t Ag, 5.3% Pb, and 6.8% Zn, with metallurgical recoveries of 93%, 85% and 80.9% respectively. Excellon produced 326.9K Oz Ag, 2.23M Lb Pb, and 2.75M Lb Zn (or 524.3K Oz AgEq), and sold 310.3K Oz Ag, 2.18M Lb Pb, and 2.28M Lb Zn (or 485.8K Oz AgEq) at  a cash and AISC of USD $12.60 and USD $18.92 respectively per Oz Ag sold. The company reported revenues of USD $9.7M, gross profit of USD $2.5M, net working capital of USD $10.5M, and cash and marketable securities of USD $10.1M as at September 30, 2020.
  •  Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported October 2020 production results from its Zimapan and Rosario mines in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi respectively. At Zimapan mine in  Hidalgo, the company milled 62,543 tonnes of 81 g/t Ag, 0.8% Pb, 2.6% Zn, and 0.32% Cu to produce 114K Oz Ag, 983.3K Lb Pb, 2.45M Lb Zn, and 315.3K Lb Cu (or 363.7K Oz AgEq). At Rosario mine in San Luis Potosi, Santacruz milled 6,319 tonnes of 85 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 1.5% Zn to produce 15.1K Oz Ag, 26 Oz Au, 52.9K Lb Pb, and 169.7K Lb Zn. 
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., reported Q2, 2020/2021 production results from its San Martin mine in Queretaro. Starcore milled 56,731 tonnes of 1.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 88.5% and 56.99% respectively to produce 2,867 Oz AuEq.

ON FINANCING

  • Magna Gold Corp., closed the acquisition of the Margarita Silver project in Chihuahua from Sable Resources Ltd and Exploraciones Sable S de RL de CV. Magna acquired the property by paying CAD $1.5M in cash plus an additional CAD $800K in cash representing Mexican VAT, and CAD $3.5M in common shares in the capital of Magna, being 3,219,278 Magna shares at a deemed price of CAD $1.0872 per Magna Share. Immediately following the acquisition, the Purchaser exercised the option to acquire the property by payment to the titleholders of the property of CAD $500K in cash, plus an additional $368K in cash representing Mexican VAT; and CAD $1.8M in Magna Shares, being 1,655,629 Magna Shares at the Issue Price. In addition, Magna will pay Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd  a 2% NSR on all products mined and produced from the Property.
  • Telson Mining Corporation executed a Trust Agreement with Trafigura Mexico. Under the terms, Trafigura waived all defaults plus deferred all principal and interest payments until June30, 2021, under certain terms and conditions, related to certain loan agreements entered into between the parties in late 2017.  Additionally, Telson agreed to place its assets into the Trust to guarantee full repayment of all outstanding financial obligations under the loan agreements with Trafigura. Telson has advanced its Tahuehueto construction plans and currently calculates a construction budget at approximately USD $13M, including a 15% contingency. Telson is contemplating to enter into a USD $12M medium term loan facility with Accendo Banco S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple,  the possibility of a small silver stream metal purchase funding or conducting a private placement financing to supplement the Accendo loan for Tahuehueto construction, and to provide working capital.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Azucar Minerals Ltd., resumed drilling at its El Cobre property in Veracruz. The company is  first deepening hole EC-20-108, which is located at the Primo Zone, in an effort to further delineate resource potential at the project beyond that contained in the initial Norte Zone mineral resource estimate. The Primo Target was discovered in 2019 based on the hole EC-19-086 which intersected 0.4 g/t Au and 0.24% Cu over 200m, including 0.94 g/t Au and 0.56% Cu over 55.6m.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., expanded its land position at its Terronera property in Jalisco to 20,128 hectares by acquiring two adjacent groups of mineral concessions called La Sanguijuela and Cerro Gordo. La Sanguijuela, which covers the possible NW extension of the Terronera Vein and the possible west extension of the Los Reyes Vein, comprises 2,759 hectares and Endeavour has an option to purchase it by USD $550K in a four years staged payments. The Los Cuates Vein is the main structure at la Sanguijuela and has been traced for over a length of 1.5km with thickness of 2 to 6m with values of 0.5 – 5 g/t Au and 50-300 g/t Ag. Cerro Gordo, which covers the possible southeast extension of four Terronera footwall veins (Pena Gorda-Canoas, Los Venados-La Carbonera, Pena Blanca-El Alacran and El Mirador-Los Tablones) as well as three other veins (El Maguey-El Madrono, Monte Obscuro-Musgos and La Muda-Monte Grande), was acquired by staking 2,200 hectares. The El Maguey-El Madrono vein has been observed over a length of 1.6 km with a thickness of 2 to 4 m, carrying values of 0.6 to 2 g/t Au and 10-30 g/t Ag.  The Pena Gorda-Canoas vein outcrops over a length of 1.7 km with a thickness of 2 to 5 m, returning values up to 0.5 g/t Au and 40 g/t Ag. Vein systems in these two properties have never been drilled and Endeavour plans to test some portion during Q4, 2020.
  • Elemental Royalties Corp., presented Q3, 2020 results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. The company announced that Mercedes mine was placed on care and maintenance following a decree from the Mexican Federal Government on March 30. 2020 in which listed mining operations as non-essential industry, and restarted activities on July, 2020 following a two-month suspension. Mining activities were focused with a reduce staff on higher grades and are concentrated on the Diluvio-Lupita-San Martin system while also implementing continued exploration, underground development and mill maintenance programs with the intention of returning to full production in due course.
  • Mexus Gold US provided an update on its new heap leach pad at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. It has completed phase 1 of its new 250K tonnes pad which is expandable to 1M tonnes, and will have crush mineralized material averaging 2.7 g/t Au. Mexus is looking for a return of 0.6 g/t Au in solution. In addition, Mexus is scheduled to begin blasthole drilling to expand its open pit 2 by approximately 1,741 Oz Au at a grade of 2.7 g/t Au.
  • Golden Minerals Company received the final environmental permit for its Rodeo gold-silver property in Durango, which is scheduled to begin gold production in January 2021, delivering mineralized material at its Velardeña mill to process it immediately.   “The Velardeña plant is a typical agitated leach plant rated to handle up to 450 tonnes per day of throughput from Rodeo. It is equipped with a Merrill Crowe circuit and a modern doré refinery, and the attached tailings facility was recently expanded and is expected to be sufficient for the tailings produced from Rodeo’s operations”.
  • Minera Alamos Inc., announced an independent NI43-101 compliant inferred mineral resource estimate of 630K Oz Au at its Cerro de Oro project in Zacatecas. The inferred mineral resource was prepared using an economic pit shell at a gold price of USD $1,450 per Oz and contains 630K Oz of oxide gold mineralization from 48M tonnes of 0.41 g/t Au.  Minera Alamos has also identified a number of high priority targets with potential to expand resources at Cerro de Oro, as well as a limited number of diamond drill holes which have demonstrated the potential for sulphide mineralization to extend to depth below the current estimate area.
  • Sierra Metals Inc., announced a significant increase of its mineral resource estimate at its Cusi mine in Chihuahua. The company increased 18% the measured and indicated resources from 4,557,000 tonnes to 5,356,000 tonnes, and 200% the inferred resources from 1,633,000 tonnes to 4,893,000 tonnes. The updated mineral resource estimate include measured + indicated resources of  5,356,000 tonnes of 182 g/t Ag, 0.12 g/t Au, 0.5% Pb, and 0.6% Zn (215 g/t AgEq) for a total of 31.26M Oz Ag, 20.22K Oz Au, 58.26M Lb Pb, and 67.99M Lb Zn (37M Oz AgEq), and Inferred resources of 4,893,000 tonnes of 146 g/t Ag, 0.18 g/t Au, 0.43% Pb, and 0.69% Zn (183 g/t AgEq) for a total of 23M Oz Ag, 27.7K Oz Au, 46M Lb Pb, and 74.81M Lb Zn (28.82M Oz AgEq).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., announced new high-grade discovery at the Babi Vista Splay Vein within its Las Chispas project in Sonora as a result of an in-fill drilling program at the northwestern extension of the Babi Vista Vein. Twenty four holes have been collared at this target with a high grade footprint of approximately 300m along strike and average height of 175m. Weighted average results are 74.27 g/t Au and 3,437 g/t Ag (9,071 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 1.6m. The most significant drill intercept was encountered in hole BV20-201 with 555.36 g/t Au and 19,453 g/t Ag (61,105 g/t AgEq) over a true width of 2.4m. This discovery at Babi Vista Splay Vein will be included as inferred resources for the upcoming resource estimation in the ongoing PFS study.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Aura Minerals Inc., announced a new and improved offtake agreement with Trafigura Mexico S.A. de C.V., starting in 2022. The new agreement, in which Trafigura has agreed to purchase 100% of the copper and gold concentrate produced at Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas,  is effective as of the beginning of 2022 and continues until the end of 2024.
  • Barksdale Resources Corp., appointed its company Senior VP of project Development. Its role will be overseeing the advancement of the Company’s project portfolio, including the San Javier copper-gold project in Sonora, Mexico. In connection with this appointment, Barksdale has granted a stock option to purchase 250K common shares, exercisable at $0.68 per share over a three-year period. 
  • Comet Resources Limited, changed its provider for shareholder registry services from Advanced Share Registry Services to Automic Pty Ltd (Santa Teresa property, Baja California).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., announced the appointment of a new member for its board of directors (Las Chispas project, Sonora).
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (San Martin mine, Queretaro).  
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., announced it has hired a Country Manager to work alongside the company at its la Joya Silver project in Durango.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., achieved 10M hours work without a lost time injury (El Limon-Guajes mine complex, Guerrero).

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, barite crystals from a low-intermediate sulphidation epithermal system in a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Banded quartz vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the forty five week of the year (November 2nd to October 8th, 2020), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 1 news published by the media, with ten communicating production and financial results, eight informing on exploration results, five reporting on resources and development of their mine operations, three announcing financial rounds, two disclosing deals and corporate issues and one discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Carlyle and its JV partner Riverside received results from the geophysical survey carried out at its Cecilia project. In Chihuahua, Mammoth provided an update of the current activities it is performing at its Tenoriba project and Consolidated revealed exploration plans for its La Chona-Enrique and Potreros gold prospects. In Sinaloa, Brigadier announced that the first five core drill holes collared at its Picachos property have intersected the San Agustin Vein and Oroco announced progress of a 3D IP geophysical survey on its Santo Tomas project.  In Durango, Mithril presented drill results from its Copalquin project. In Jalisco, GoGold released drill results from its Los Ricos Norte project.  ON MINING, Gold Resource, Torex, Premier, Magna Gold, Endeavour Great Panther, First Majestic, Golden Minerals, and Pan American Silver reported Q3, 2020 production and / or financial results from their Mexican operations while Consolidated Zinc announced October 2020 production from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua.   ON FINANCING, Gatos Silver completed its initial public offering and commencement of trading on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange (Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua). Orla Mining completed the second tranche drawdown of USD $50M (Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas). Candente announced its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $200K (El Oro project, State of Mexico).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, SilverCrest announced new high grade discovery at its Las Chispas project in Sonora. Golden Minerals provided a business summary for the Q3, 2020 period (Rodeo property, Durango). Sonoro Gold announced drill results from its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. Consolidated Zinc provided an update of its Plomosas operation in Chihuahua. Magna Gold provided a mine performance and operational update from its San Francisco mine in Sonora.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Aura announced results from its annual general and special meeting of shareholders (Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas). Defiance announced several appointments to its executive and management team (San Acacio project, Zacatecas). Mammoth reached agreement to extend surface access for two years with one of the two communities at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Minera Peñasquito continues supporting the communities in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Carlyle Commodities Corp. and it JV partner Riverside Resources Inc., received results from the 3.8 Km-line IP survey in five lines carried out across the Cerro Magallanes at its Cecilia project in Sonora. The IP survey defined resistive anomalies in an area where previous operators drilled 30m of 1.41 g/t Au. Carlyle has refined and detailed drill targets with the IP survey using 50-m dipole spacing. Carlyle and Riverside are expecting results in the upcoming weeks including a drone aeromagnetic survey and a batch of channel samples covering the E-W extension between The San Jose and Central targets.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., provided an update of the current activities it is performing at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. Mammoth is advancing the 3D interpretation of its 2015 IP-Mag survey to enhance the understanding of features that appear to control mineralization intersected in previous drilling campaigns. It is also planning to conduct an additional up to 72 line-km IP-Mag to cover gap areas at El Moreno target where coarse gold nuggets were reported to occur. This additional survey is also planning to cover east and west of the eastern and western most areas covered by the past survey where the trend of the mineralization remains open.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited revealed exploration plans for its La Chona-Enrique and Potreros gold prospects in Chihuahua. The company has engaged an experienced senior geologist to develop a deeper understanding of the gold mineralization within the regional concessions.
  • Brigadier Gold Limited announced that the first five core drill holes collared at its Picachos property in Sinaloa have intersected the San Agustin Vein up to 180 m below surface. The company has already sent the core samples of the five holes to the lab. Assays will be released upon completion of the analytical work.
  • Oroco Resource Corp., announced that approximately 40% of a 3D IP geophysical survey has been completed on its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. The IP survey was designed to cover an area of approximately 10 square kilometers of the property which will encompass the mineralized South Zone, North Zone and exploration targets in the Brasiles Zone. Results to date have shown a strong correlation between chargeability features and the historical drill results in the known sulphide mineralization at the South Zone, represented by a chargeability high and resistivity low response that spans 1Km wide by 1.2km long located below the volcanic and limestone units and above contact with an inferred Laramide batholiths exposed to the south and west of the South Zone. The responses are open at depth and to the east.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd., presented drill results from El Refugio target at its Copalquin project in Durango. The company also has drilled the Cometa target but assays are pending. At El Refugio target, significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole CDH-015 with 4.48 g/t Au and 119 g/t Ag (5.97 g/t AuEq) over 3.85m, including 6.32 g/t Au and 187 g/t Ag (8.66 g/t AuEq over 2.15m; hole CDH-019 with 2.05 g/t Au and 52 g/t Ag (2.71 g/t AuEq) over 3m; hole CDH-020 with 3.07 g/t Au and 94 g/t Ag (4.24 g/t AuEq) over 8.7m, including 7.52 g/t Au and 184 g/t Ag (9.82 g/t AuEq) over 2.9m, including 5.08 g/t Au and 117 g/t Ag (6.55 g/t AuEq) over 1.5m. Holes CDH-022 to 025 also intersected the Refugio Breccia but assay are pending. Mithril also announced that the drill will be moved to test the Los Pinos, Reyes, Constancia and Apolonia targets.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., released drill results from La Trini at its Los Ricos Norte project in Jalisco. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole LRGT-20-046 with 1.55 g/t Au and 70 g/t Ag (2.48 g/t AuEq or 186 g/t AgEq) over 17.2m, including 2.1 g/t Au and 109 g/t Ag (3.56 g/t AuEq or 267 g/t AgEq) over 11m; and hole LRGT-20-048 with 0.48 g/t Au and 54 g/t Ag (1.2 g/t AuEq or 90 g/t Ag) over 29.8m, including 1.96 g/t Au and 141 g/t Ag (3.84 g/t AuEq or 288 g/t AgEq) over 4.9m.  

ON MINING

  • Gold Resource Corporation reported Q3, 2020 production results from its Oaxaca Mining Unit in Oaxaca. The company processed 153,531 tonnes to produce 4,728 Oz Au, 324.6K Oz Ag, 943.6K Lb Cu, 4.76M Lb Pb, and 12.2M Lb Zn during Q3, 2020. Through the first three quarters, Gold Resource has processed 415,584 tonnes to produce 13,619 Oz Au, 912.5K Oz Ag, 2.56M Lb Cu, 12.8M Lb Pb, and 31.7M Lb Zn.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., announced Q3, 2020 production and financial results from its El Limon-Guajes Mining Complex in Guerrero. The company mined 1.52M of 3.15 g/t Au and processed 1.18M tonnes of 3.83 g/t Au at a metallurgical recovery of 89%. Torex produced 131.8K Oz Au at a cash cost and AISC of USD $633 and USD $877 per Oz respectively, and sold 133K Oz Au. The company reported revenues of USD $256.5M, cost of sales of USD $153.5M for a net income of USD $60.3M. It also reported adjusted net earnings of USD $51.3M, an EBIDTA and adjusted EBIDTA of USD $162.9M and USD $156.2M respectively. As at the end of September, cash position totaled USD $204M.
  • Premier Gold Mines Limited, released Q3, 2020 production and financial results from its Mercedes mine in Sonora. The company milled 117,751 tonnes of 3.37 g/t Au and 32 g/t Ag at metallurgical recoveries of 95.6% and 40.8% respectively to produce 12,183 Oz Au and 49,975 Oz Ag. Cash cost and AISC were USD $608 and USD $885 per Oz Au sold respectively. The company reported gold revenue of USD $20.3M and silver revenue of USD $1.2M (USD $21.5M total).
  • Magna Gold Corp., presented Q3, 2020 production results from its San Francisco mine in Sonora. The company sold 7,473 Oz Au.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., reported Q3, 2020 consolidated production and financial results from its Mexican operations. The company produced 932.8K Oz Ag and 10K Oz Au at a cash and AISC of USD $3.69 and USD $17.48 per Oz payable Ag respectively. Endeavour reported revenue of USD $35.6M from the sale of 741.3K Oz Ag and 8,997 Oz Au, a cash flow of USD $10.3M before working capital changes, and a net income of USD $0.5M for a cash position of USD $44.9M and working capital of USD $53.8M.
  • Great Panther Mining Limited, released consolidated production results from their Mexican operation in Durango and Guanajuato for the period Q3, 2020. Great Panther mined 65,393 tonnes and milled 65,393 tonnes with a grade of 1.31 g/t Au or 311 g/t AgEq. 
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., announced Q3, 2020 production results from their Mexican operations. Figures for each operation are shown in the table below:

Cash and AISC were USD $2.49 and USD $9.94 per Oz Ag produced respectively. The company reported revenues of USD $125.9M, mine operating earnings of USD $48M, net earnings of USD $30.9M, cash and cash equivalents of USD $232.4M and working capital of USD $266.7M.

  • Golden Minerals Company announced consolidated financial results for the Q3, 2020 period. Golden reported revenue of USD $2.1M and a net operating margin of USD $1.6M related to the lease of its oxide´s plant to Hecla Mining Co., as well as a cash and cash equivalents balance of USD $8.7M.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., presented production and financial results for the period Q3, 2020 from its La Colorada mine in Zacatecas and Dolores mine in Chihuahua. At La Colorada mine in Zacatecas, Pan American produced 1.44M Oz Ag at a cash and AISC cost of USD $6.54 and USD $10.07 per Oz Ag produced respectively. At Dolores mine in Chihuahua, the company produced 871K Oz Ag at a cash and AISC of USD $5.12 and USD $22.92 per Oz Ag produced respectively.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited reported October 2020 production from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The company produced 216K Lb Pb and 584.2K Lb Zn resulting in sales of approximately USD $820K. Metallurgical recoveries were 72%Zn to Zn concentrates and 39% Pb to Pb concentrates.

ON FINANCING

  • Gatos Silver Inc., completed its initial public offering and commencement of trading on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “GATO”. Net proceeds will be used to increase Gatos Silver´s ownership in the Los Gatos District, explore and define further mineral resources within the 103,000 Ha of mineral concessions in the Los Gatos District, fund a future production expansion study at Cerro Los Gatos, retire high-cost debt, and for general corporate purposes.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., completed the second tranche drawdown of USD $50M on its previously announced project finance facility (credit facility). The funds will be used to develop its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas.    To date, USD $75M of the USD $125M credit facility has been drawn. The third and final tranche of US$50 million must be drawn within six months of the second tranche and remains subject to meeting certain conditions precedent.
  • Candente Gold Corp., announced its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $200K. Gross proceeds will be used to advance drill targets on its El Oro property in the State of Mexico, build a cash flowing business platform and gain access to properties with near surface exploration potential and for general working capital purposes.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., announced the discovery of the El Muerto zone, a new high grade discovery in the northwest part of the Babicanora Vein at its Las Chispas project in Sonora. The company has drilled 11,350m in 45 holes within El Muerto to expand high grade deeper in the Babicanora area. Highlights include hole EM20-37 with 12.68 g/t Au and 1,724 g/t Ag (2,675 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 1.5m, and hole EM20-35 with 9.46 g/t Au and 720 g/t Ag (1,430 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1m. El Muerto has an estimated high-grade footprint of 500m along strike and 100-200m below the current resource in the Babicanora Vein. A weighted average of these drill results is 5.27 g/t Au and 389 g/t Ag (784 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.1m. El Muerto will be included in the updated resource that will be issued with the ongoing FS.
  • Golden Minerals Company provided a business summary for the Q3, 2020 period and announced planes for the development of its Rodeo property in Durango. Golden has completed the infill/definition drilling in preparation for projected production in Q1, 2021. It also commenced the installation of a new regrind mill circuit at its Velardeña´s oxide mill to improve recoveries and throughput of ore material projected to come from Rodeo project in 2021.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp., released results from 12 RC holes collared at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. Highlights include holes SCR-104 and SCR-106 collared at Japoneses with 1.28 g/t Au over 15.24m and 0.85 g/t Au over 16.76m respectively; holes SCR-096 and SCR-097 collared at Buena Suerte with 0.84 g/t Au over 16.76m and 0.51 g/t Au over 12.19m respectively. The company expects that these results will add ounces to the Cerro Caliche´s existing 201K Oz AuEq inferred resource estimate. Sonoro also drilled PQ core holes to obtain ore material to run metallurgical tests. “Management is expanding its development plans from the previously announced pilot level project to assess the economic viability of a proposed 8,000 ton per day mining operation”.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited provided an update of its Plomosas operation in Chihuahua. Consolidated has commenced the reimbursement of its processing plant. A ball mill with capacity for 200 tonnes per day was identified, inspected and purchased. It also identified a flotation cells which plans to purchase.
  • Magna Gold Corp., provided a mine performance and operational update from its San Francisco mine in Sonora. The company is focused on establishing its San Francisco mine as a stable and profitable operation. Magna is advancing an underground decline to reach a higher grade vein system by the end of 2020. It also is conducting exploration drilling around its existing pits to expand the mineralized envelope as well as to indentify higher-grade underground mineral resource. Additionally, Magna has been pre-stripping both the San Francisco and La Chicharra open pits, and has been processing lower grade stockpile material and, more recently, fresh ore from the open pits. It has generated operating profit that has been re-invested into the mine. Magna remains on track to bring the San Francisco mine to full-scale operations in 2021.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Aura Minerals Inc., announced results from its annual general and special meeting of shareholders (Aranzazu mine, Zacatecas).
  • Defiance Silver Corp., announced several appointments to its executive and management team including its VP Exploration, VP of Corporate Development and Senior Technical Advisor, and Principal Geologist. The company also granted incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, employees, and consultants.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., reached agreement to extend surface access for two years with one of the two communities at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. The company plans to meet with members of the second community and expects to obtain a similar two years extension agreement enabling Mammoth to advance exploration activities on its Tenoriba project. Meanwhile, the company awaits approval of a drill permit for up to 139 drill sites submitted in August, 2020.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Peñasquito continues supporting the communities in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The company donated 10,000 one-liter gel bottles, 25,000 three-layer face masks, 500 KN95 face masks, and 1,500 plastic face mask.

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, banded quartz from a low sulphidation epithermal vein system in a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

SONORO ANNOUNCES INITIAL DRILLING RESULTS AND FAST-TRACK TO GOLD PRODUCTION IN 2021

/ lauragpm / Leave a comment

20201104-Sonoro-Announces-Initial-Drilling-Results

VANCOUVER, Canada, November 4, 2020 – Sonoro Gold Corp. (TSXV: SGO), formerly known as Sonoro Metals Corp. (TSXV: SMO) | OTCQB: SMOFF | FRA: 23SP) (“Sonoro” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce assay results from 12 reverse-circulation (RC) drill holes at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora State, Mexico.  These results reflect all assays received to date from the Company’s ongoing RC drilling program focused on expanding four of the 17 gold mineralization zones at Cerro Caliche. Highlights include key intercepts at the premier Japoneses and Buena Suerte zones.

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Rich-Mn jasperoid

By Miguel A Heredia

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

ON MEXICO ISSUES

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

ON EXPLORATION

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

ON MINING

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

ON FINANCING

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

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

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

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

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

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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

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

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

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

 

Rich-hematite quartz vein

 

By Miguel A Heredia

During the thirty nine week of the year (September 21th to September 27th, 2020), at least 24 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 11 news published by the media, with eight discussing social issues,  seven disclosing deals and corporate issues, seven informing on exploration results, six announcing financial rounds, four commenting on Mexican issues, two reporting on resources and development of their mine operations, and one communicating production and financial results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, According to a report by the Bank of Mexico (Banxico), mining in Mexico suffered strong impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020. First Majestic provided an update related to its ongoing TAX dispute with the Mexican TAX authority. Resources from the Mining Fund are being used to build an outdoor fitness park at Guadalupe y Calvo, Chihuahua. Alejandro Armenta, senator for MORENA, presented an initiative to nationalize lithium, arguing that it is a strategic mineral for the country’s energy future. It is worrying for the mining sector that voices like this are heard and have weight in making decisions about something extremely delicate without considering the participation of technicians, operators, scientists, businessmen, academics dedicated to mining in Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Canuc released preliminary exploration results from its San Javier project, Carlyle and its JV partner Riverside reported high grade results from the Cecilia project, Minaurum presented results from the first 4 holes collared in the Europa-Guadalupe vein zone at its Alamos Silver project, and Ridgestone announced drill results from 8 holes collared at its Rebeico project. In Chihuahua, Mammoth provided an update on exploration activities at its Tenoriba project.  In Jalisco, GoGold released the first drilling results from the Salomon-Favor target on its Los Ricos North project.  ON MINING, Hecla reported estimated production results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango for the period January-September, 2020.  ON FINANCING, Advance Gold granted stock options to its directors, key employees, and consultants (Tabasquena project, Zacatecas). Aloro cancelled its previously announced non-brokered private placement (Los Venados project, Sonora).  Comet gave a cleansing notice under section 708A of the corporations acts 2001 (Santa Teresa project, Baja California). Defiance repaid in full the company´s outstanding loan with Windermere Capital Fund SPC (San Acacio project, Zacatecas). Newmont entered into a definitive agreement with Maverix Metals to sell eleven royalties for a total consideration of $90M. Santacruz announced a CAD $6M non-brokered private placement with a lead order from Palisades Goldcorp Ltd., for CADS $3M (Zimapan mine, Hidalgo).   ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Southern Silver will commence a 10,000m drilling program in 20-25 holes which will focus on the development of mineral resources on the east side of its Cerro Las Minitas project, Durango. Xtierra announced its intention to conduct a small drill campaign of five holes for a total of 1,500m at its Bilbao project in Zacatecas.    ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Barksdale signed a definitive agreement to acquire San Javier project in Sonora. Excellon announced that its common shares will commence trading on the NYSE American LCC (La Platosa mine, Durango).  First Majestic announced that it has filed an early warning report for the acquisition of common shares of Silver Dollar (La Joya project, Durango). Global Li-Ion entered into a letter agreement with Grupo Minera Diflor to acquire a 100% interest in the MVZ Au-Ag property in Chihuahua. Reyna Silver appointed new chairman and announced additional changes to the board of directors (Guigui and Batopilas projects, Chihuahua). Silver Tiger announced that it will commence to trade on the OTCQX Best Market under the ticker symbol “SLVTF” (El Tigre project, Sonora).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Autlan supported communities affected by heavy rains in Hidalgo. La Cantera Desarrollos Mineros, a subsidiary of Peñoles, signed a constitutive act for healthy work returned to its Capela mine located in Guerrero. Fresnillo plc launched its “take care of yourself” campaign that fights against COVID-19 pandemic. Minera Penmont, a subsidiary of Fresnillo plc celebrated 23 years of making history in Caborca, Sonora (La Herradura and Noche Buena mines), ​​with a team of more than 4 thousand people committed to cutting-edge and responsible mining. Dr. Vagón, the ambulating clinic of Grupo Mexico Foundation celebrates six years of operation providing totally free medical services throughout the Mexican Republic. Mina La Colorada, a subsidiary of Pan American Silver, received for the first time the Inclusive Company Distinction (DEI), which accredits it as a company of good labor practices. Fresnillo plc, through Minera San Julian, donated 10 thousand masks to the inhabitants of Parral, Chihuahua. Pan American Silver Mexico carried out a campaign for the use of face masks and delivery of antibacterial kit.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • According to a report by the Bank of Mexico (Banxico), mining in Mexico suffered strong impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020. All regions had to suspend activities during April and May, since at the beginning practically the entire sector was declared a non-essential activity during the health emergency.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., provided an update related to its ongoing TAX dispute with the Mexican TAX authority (SAT). The company was informed by its Mexican legal advisors that the Primero Empresa Minera (PEM) transaction will be served with a decision made on September 23, 2020 by the Federal Court on Administrative Matters, nullifying the advance pricing agreement (APA) granted to PEM and directing the TAX authority to re-examine the evidence and basis for the issuance of the APA. The Federal Court decision is appealable to the Circuit Courts. The company´s legal advisers are of the view that the Federal Court´s decision was not arrived following regular procedures, was undertaken hastily, and did not provide opportunity for the presentation of evidence from PEM. The Company continues to assess all of its legal options, both domestic and international.
  • Resources from the Mining Fund are being used to built an outdoor fitness park at Guadalupe y Calvo, Chihuahua, with the goal of generating spaces for healthy recreation to help to maintain a good physical condition of the community population.
  • Alejandro Armenta, senator for MORENA, presented an initiative to nationalize lithium, arguing that it is a strategic mineral for the country’s energy future. Alberto López Santoyo, Director of Mundo Minero stated that it is worrying for the mining sector that voices like this are heard and have weight in making decisions about something extremely delicate without considering the participation of technicians, operators, scientists, businessmen, academics dedicated to mining in Mexico. “The great technical-political errors in the history of Mexico have definitely been those that make an economic activity less competitive. If the government has the intention of producing lithium is fine, but that it participates in the battle field as one more company, like any other protagonist of this new productive context. Let’s not take away competitiveness from mining companies and thousands of capable Mexicans with legitimate intentions to participate in this challenge in a responsible and technically viable manner. Freedom to produce, freedom to compete”.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Canuc Resources Corporation presented preliminary exploration results from its San Javier project in Sonora. The company has conducted reconnaissance geological mapping and rock sampling on the eastern and northeast part of the property and has identified swarms of Fe-matrix hydrothermal breccias over a large area of 900m by 1,200m. One of these individual breccias measures from 30m to 70m in width and has been traced for over at least 800m along strike. This breccia is controlled by two fault structures. To date, 267 rock samples have been collected but assay results are only available for the first 157 samples. Values range from trace to 2,859 g/t Ag and from 74 ppm to 0.59% Cu, with 35 samples exceeding > 100 g/t Ag. Additional work is planned to continue the mapping and sampling on unmapped ground along these breccia zones.
  • Carlyle Commodities Corp., and its JV partner Riverside Resources Inc., announced high grade results from the Cecilia project in Sonora. Riverside is acting as the JV operator and has focused on channel sampling at the San Jose and North Breccia targets. First results from 21 rock samples returned high grades including 43.2 g/t Au over 0.4m wide, 5.6 g/t Au over 0.6m wide, and 2.5 g/t Au over 0.1m wide. In addition, Riverside is also working on drilling preparation, including construction of drill pads and improvement of foot/trail roads, conducting a drone aeromagnetic survey, carrying out a detailed mapping and sampling of the main dome target at Cerro Magallanes, and conducting an IP survey to define the depth of potential conductors interpreted to be sulphide zones.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., presented drill results from the first 4 holes collared in the Europa-Guadalupe vein zone at its Alamos Silver project. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole AL20-042 with 404 g/t Ag, 0.54% Cu, 1.3% Pb, 1.8% Zn over 3.50m, including 999 g/t Ag, 1.29% Cu, 3% Pb, 3% Zn over 1.55m, and hole AL20-047 with 356 g/t Ag, 0.39% Cu, 0.4% Pb, 0.6% Zn over 6.35m, including 2,090 g/t Ag, 1.98% Cu, 2.5% Pb, 2.4% Zn over 0.7m. Drilling will continue to test down-dip as well as along strike of vein intersections at Europa- Guadalupe at 75-150 m increments.
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc., announced results from 8 holes totalling 1,238m collared at its Rebeico project in Sonora. Significant drill intersects were encountered in hole 20REB018D with 0.54% Cu over 29.15m, including 1.95% Cu over 2.25m; hole 20REB022D with 2.62 g/t Au and 0.54% Cu over 0.65m; and hole 20REB023D with 3.82 g/t Au and 0.75% Cu over 4.35m, including 8.61 g/t Au and 0.5% Cu over 1.55m. “Drilling results continues to extend the lateral footprint of mineralization. These latest results definitely warrant follow up and we will commence a strategic targeting exercise for follow-up drilling”.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., provided an update on exploration activities at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. It also received a notification from Minera Centerra, its JV partner on Tenoriba project, about its decision to cease exploration activities in Mexico, including at Tenoriba, however Centerra expressed their enthusiasm for drilling the Tenoriba project. Over the last 6 months, Mammoth-Centerra geologists have been reinterpreting the geophysical surveys, carrying out extensive surface lithological and structural mapping and sampling, and conducting drill core mapping and sampling, including Terraspec alteration clay analysis. In mid-August Centerra filed an application for permission to drill up to 139 drill locations at Tenoriba and a response/approval of this permit application is expected within weeks. Two drill contractors were preparing bids on the Centerra drill program.
  • Xtierra Inc., announced its intention to conduct a small drill campaign of five holes for a total of 1,500m at its Bilbao project. The first target area is located adjacent to and west of the main Bilbao Silver-Lead-Zinc deposit, while the second target is called El Cabezon, a former Ag mine operated by the Frisco Industrial Group.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., released the first drilling results from the Salomon-Favor target on its Los Ricos North project. Highlights include hole LRGS-20-001 with 0.24 g/t Au and 280 g/t Ag (3.98 g/t AuEq or 298 g/t AgEq) over 14m, including 0.51 g/t Au and 699 g/t Ag (9.82 g/t Au and 737 g/t AgEq) over 5m; hole LRGF-20-001 with 0.36 g/t Au and 142 g/t Ag (2.25 g/t AuEq and 168 g/t AgEq) over 41.7m, including 1.12 g/t Au and 444 g/t Ag (7.05 g/t AuEq or 529 g/t AgEq) over 11m; and LRGF-20-004 with 0.24 g/t Au and 74 g/t Ag (1.24 g/t AuEq or 93 g/t AgEq) over 41.1m, including 1.45 g/t Au and 419 g/t Ag (7.04 g/t AuEq or 528 g/t AgEq) over 4.1m. The drilling program will continue to test the known zones of mineralization along strike and down dip from the historical underground workings of the La Trini deposits located 5km northwest.

ON MINING

  • Hecla Mining Company reported preliminary production results for the period January-September, 2020 from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. Hecla produced 6K Oz Au and 0.8M Oz Ag

ON FINANCING

  • Advance Gold Corp., granted stock options to its directors, key employees, and consultants to purchase up to 2Mshares over a five year term (Tabasquena project, Zacatecas).
  • Aloro Mining Corp., reported that due the COVID-19 pandemic, it cancelled its previously announced non-brokered private placement (Los Venados project, Sonora).
  • Comet Resources Ltd., gave a cleansing notice under section 708A of the corporations acts 2001. The company issued a total of 11.5M fully paid ordinary shares and 65M options, as per the proposed 3B forms lodged on 25 August 2020 and 21 April 2020. (Santa Teresa project, Baja California).
  • Defiance Silver Corp., repaid the total outstanding balance of $1,312,018 to Windermere Capital Fund SPC including accrued interest. (San Acacio project, Zacatecas).
  • Newmont Corporation entered into a definitive agreement with Maverix Metals Inc., to sell eleven royalties for a total consideration of $90M, consisting of $15M in cash, 12M Maverix common shares, and up to $15M in contingent cash payments payable upon completion of certain milestones. The royalties provide exposure to five flagship gold assets owned and operated by growth-oriented mining companies. The portfolio includes royalties on Camino Rojo and Ana Paula in Mexico, Cerro Blanco in Guatemala, and Mother Lode and Imperial in the United States.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining ltd., announced a CAD $6M non-brokered private placement with a lead order from Palisades Goldcorp Ltd., for CADS $3M. The proceeds from the private placement are expected to be used by the company to purchase underground equipment for its Zimapan property in Hidalgo and for general working capital and corporate purposes.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., will commence a 10,000m drilling program in 20-25 holes which will focus on the development of mineral resources on the east side of its Cerro Las Minitas project, Durango through step-out drilling from previously identified high-grade, strongly silver-enriched mineralization in the Mina La Bocona and South Skarn target areas. Some meterage will also be used to further extend mineralization at the Las Victorias target.
  • Xtierra Inc., announced its intention to conduct a small drill campaign of five holes for a total of 1,500m at its Bilbao project. The first target area is located adjacent to and west of the main Bilbao Silver-Lead-Zinc deposit, while the second target is called El Cabezon, a former Ag mine operated by the Frisco Industrial Group.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Barksdale Resources Corp., signed a definitive option agreement with Tusk Exploration Ltd., to acquire the San Javier del Cobre project in Sonora.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced that its common shares will commence trading on the NYSE American LCC under the ticker symbol “EXN” (La Platosa mine, Durango).
  • First Majestic Silver Corp., announced that it has filed an early warning report for the acquisition of common shares of Silver Dollar. First Majestic has acquired ownership and control of 5,146,401 shares, representing approximately 14.9% of the outstanding shares (La Joya project, Durango).
  • Global Li-Ion Graphite Corp., entered into a letter agreement with Grupo Minera Diflor S.A.de C.V., to acquire a 100% interest in the MVZ Ag-Au property in Chihuahua. The 1,200 hectare property hosts 3 past producing Ag-Au deposits: El Moro, La Virginia and La Zorra (MVZ Property). The Property is situated within Grupo Minero Diflor’s Pajarito project which covers an area of 10 X 25 km.
  • Reyna Silver Corp., appointed new chairman and announced additional changes to the board of directors (Guigui and Batopilas projects, Chihuahua).
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., announced that it will commence to trade on the OTCQX Best Market under the ticker symbol “SLVTF” (El Tigre project, Sonora).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Compañía Minera Autlan S.A. B de C.V., supported more than 6,100 people from Tepehuacan de Guerrero and 705 people from Molango affected by the heavy rains in Hidalgo which caused landslides and floods in these entities. To date, communication between the communities has been completely reestablished and significant progress has been made in cleaning up the material that was carried by the rain (Molango mine, Hidalgo).
  • La Cantera Desarrollos Mineros, a subsidiary of Peñoles, signed a constitutive act for healthy work returned to its Capela mine located in Guerrero. The new work normality is accompanied by activities and sanitary measures in order to reduce the risks of COVID-19.
  • Fresnillo plc launched in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, its “take care of yourself” campaign that fights against COVID-19 pandemic. The company delivered 150,000 face masks on the streets of the downtown area.
  • Minera Penmont, a subsidiary of Fresnillo plc, celebrated 23 years of making history in Caborca, Sonora (La Herradura and Noche Buena mines) ​​with a team of more than 4 thousand people committed to cutting-edge and responsible mining. Since its arrival in 1997, it has meant an economic, social and environmental watershed for the state and, particularly for the region and its surroundings.
  • Vagón, the ambulating clinic of Grupo Mexico Foundation celebrates six years of operation providing totally free medical services throughout the Mexican Republic. It offers from general consultations to specialized ones; currently, it has five specialties: Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Pediatrics, Gynecology and Geriatrics. Dr. Vagón, with 17 wagons and 65 people as part of the crew, including administrative and medical personnel, has the capacity to serve 500 people a day.
  • Mina La Colorada, a subsidiary of Pan American Silver Corp., received for the first time the Inclusive Company Distinction (DEI), which accredits it as a company of good labor practices. This award is a recognition given by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare to companies, academic institutions, organizations, federal, state and municipal public agencies that implement and operate inclusive, egalitarian and equitable labor policies for the benefit of workers, without discrimination towards people in vulnerable situations.
  • Fresnillo plc, through Minera San Julian, donated 10 thousand masks to the inhabitants of Parral, Chihuahua. The company considers that these measures are part of the strategy for the health care of the inhabitants, since, together with an information campaign, remind the population of the importance of maintaining sanitary measures in the current situation.
  • Pan American Silver Corp., through Minera Dolores, Chihuahua and Mina La Colorada, Zacatecas carries out a campaign for the use of face masks and delivery of antibacterial kit to reduce the risk of contracting COVO¡ID-19. More than 2,500 kits (antibacterial spray, wet towels, antibacterial gel, face masks) as well as triptychs, were delivered to the elderly, single mothers, vulnerable people, the general population, as well as personnel who work in government offices of the H. Town Hall of the municipalities of Sombrerete and Chalchihuites, Zacatecas; Municipality of Madera, Chihuahua and all the workers of Mina La Colorada and Minera Dolores.

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

On the picture above, a rich-hematite quartz vein displaying boiling texture from a low-sulphidation epithermal vein system in a prospect in Sinaloa, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia

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

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Stibnite in a fine grained quartz vein.

By Miguel A Heredia

During the thirty seven week of the year (September 7th to September 13th, 2020), at least 24 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 13 news published by the media, with ten disclosing deals and corporate issues, seven discussing social issues, six commenting on Mexican issues, five informing on exploration results, five announcing financial rounds, two reporting on resources and developments of their mine operations, and two communicating production and financial results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Deputy Mario Delgado from MORENA party presented a reform to eliminate trust funds, including the Mining Fund. Mexico intends to lead lithium production. Federal Deputy Monica Almeida of the PRD party stated that the disappearance of the undersecretary of Mining must be re-considered. Mining companies operating in Mexico have cut their capital investment budgets by 20% on average in 2020 due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. The company Roca Fosforica Mexicana (Rofomex) seeks to expand its mining area in Baja California Sur.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Colibri received an exploration permit to begin a trench program at its Evelyn project, and Silver Tiger provided an exploration update for its El Tigre project. In Sinaloa, Brigadier provided an exploration update on its Picachos project, and Oroco initiated a 3D IP survey at its Santo Tomas project. In Durango, Canasil released results from 2 drill holes collared recently at its Nora project. ON MINING, Excellon provided an operation update on its La Platosa mine in Durango. Consolidated Zinc reported H1, 2020 production and financial results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua.  ON FINANCING, Mag Silver completed its previously announced at the market equity program for gross proceeds of USD $50M (Juanicipio property, Zacatecas). Comet Resources announced that it will be conducting a placement to raise gross proceeds of $2M (Santa Teresa project, Baja California). Excellon completed its share consolidation (La Platosa mine, Durango). Monarca completed its previously announced shares for debt transaction to settle an aggregate of $301,324 owing to certain officers, directors and services providers of the company. Sable closed its previously announced private placement for total gross proceeds of approximately $9.9M (Margarita and Vinata project, Chihuahua). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Bacanora provided an operational update of its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. Capstone provided updated proven and probable mineral reserves and positive results of an updated technical report for its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas.    ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Excellon announced that it has applied to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) American (La Platosa mine, Durango).  Mithril announced that its CEO was appointed as Managing Director (Copalquin project, Durango). Sonoro announced results of its annual general meeting of shareholders and changed its name from Sonoro Metals Corp. to Sonoro Gold Corp (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora). Alien entered into an exclusivity agreement with Capstone in respect of the potential farm out of an interest in its Donovan 2 Copper-Gold project in Zacatecas. Almaden announced the decision of the Second District Court in Puebla in respect of its environmental permit application for its Ixtaca project in Puebla.  Argonaut entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its Ana Paula property in Guerrero.  Consolidated Zinc secured an agreement with Industrias Peñoles to sale the 100% of the Zn concentrate produced by the company in 2021. Newmont appointed Susan N Story to its board of directors and achieves gender parity for non-executive directors (Peñasquito mine, Zacatecas).  Southern Silver presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Cerro Las Minitas project, Durango). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, First Majestic invested USD $3.8M in local communities where it operates.  Fresnillo plc, continued donating personal equipment to prevent infections by COVID-19 in Caborca, Sonora. The Municipal President of Fresnillo, Zacatecas delivered the first stage of the rainwater collector with an investment of MXP $6M from the Mining Fund. The Municipal President of Cuencame, Durango announced that MXP $16.6M from the Mining Fund were invested in the construction of domes and paved streets, installation of electrical network, potable water and drainage in several communities in Cuencame, Durango. Grupo Mexico offered more than 130 weekly workshops via social networks generating content for the community. Minera Media Luna (Torex) improved public spaces in the Atzcala community in Guerrero. The Peñoles nursery garden continues donating trees to people seeking to expand the green folder in their home, plaza or a larger space for the population, and continue supporting the community with other social activities.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Deputy Mario Delgado from MORENA party presented a reform to eliminate trust funds, including the Mining Fund. A period is proposed for the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit and the Welfare Bank (Banco del Bienestar, created by MORENA) to proceed to the extinction of the Public Administration and Payment Trust called “Fund for the Development of Mining Production Zones” (Mining Fund), in accordance with provided for in the Federal Budget and Fiscal Responsibility Law. Obviously, this is not the reason and the goal the Mining Fund was created for.
  • Mexico intends to lead lithium production since lithium is required to make rechargeable batteries, and the demand for this mineral has multiplied in the last decade, with the rise of laptops and smartphones. Annual sales of batteries made from lithium-ion batteries are projected to reach a value of $100B in 2029 and about $116B in 2030, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. While Mexico’s reserves are not yet certified, the size of the deposit found in Sonora (Sonora Lithium project owned by Bacanora)- which, according to Mining Technology, is the largest deposit under development in the world – placed the country on the radar of global lithium investors. The project will be the first to produce significant volumes of lithium in Mexico. Initially, production is estimated to approach 17,500 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate, which will double to 35,000 tonnes starting in 2026, after a projected expansion in its investment of USD $380M.
  • Monica Almeida, Federal Deputy of the PRD party, stated that the disappearance of the undersecretary of Mining must be re-considered and warned that neither the economic adjustments nor the so-called “republican austerity” should be a pretext for the disappearance of an undersecretary that served a sector of utmost importance for Mexico, since at the world is within the top 10 in the production of 19 minerals. This measure was not shared by the members of the country’s mining sector, among which are the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), the Association of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico (AIMMGM), the Mining Task Force of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico (CANCHAM), the Mining Clusters of Chihuahua, Guerrero, Sinaloa, Sonora and Zacatecas, the College of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico (CIMMGM) and the organization Mujeres en la Mineria – WIM Mexico; who have openly expressed their disagreement with the measure. It should be remembered that the mining-metallurgical sector in Mexico contributes 2.4% of GDP. Also this year, our country ranks first in silver production worldwide, generating 379 thousand direct jobs and 2.4 million indirect ones.
  • Mining companies operating in Mexico have cut their capital investment budgets by 20% on average in 2020 due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. Updated estimates from nine of the country’s largest gold, silver and copper producers show total spending of USD $1.95B, down USD $488M from the projected amount of USD $2.44B before the pandemic.
  • The company Roca Fosforica Mexicana (Rofomex) seeks to expand its mining area in San Juan de la Costa north of La Paz Baja California Sur. Rofomex filed an environmental permit to explore outside the boundaries of the mining project. The exploration plan established an area where the project will be carried out. It is more than 1,203 ha and contemplates the completion of works for the drilling of 7 holes.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Colibri Resource Corporation received an exploration permit to begin a trench program at its Evelyn project. The company plans to dig up to 2.2km of trenches in up to 13 separate areas on Evelyn project in order to extend mineralization at selected occurrences and to provide exposure for geological and structural mapping of veins and structures.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., provided an update on ongoing exploration at its wholly-owned El Tigre Silver project in Sonora. The company is currently conducting a drill program with two rigs focused on the Caleigh, the Protectora and the Fundadora veins, all of which outcrop on surface and are exposed in exploration drifts in the 3km north of the historic El Tigre mine.
  • Brigadier Gold Limited provided an exploration update on its Picachos project in Sinaloa. The company is preparing a fully financed 5,000m drilling program in approximately 40 holes targeting four high grade Au-Ag veins found within the Colomeca vein system, comprised of several sub-parallel veins over a 1.5km wide zone. In addition, Brigadier is also planning approximately 3 line-km of trenching across several historic sample sites to follow-up anomalies identified by the historic work to define drill targets. “Brigadier intends to have drills turning by the third week of September and look forward to providing updates as results become available.”
  • Oroco Resource Corp., initiated a 3D resistivity and IP survey at its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. The survey is targeted to cover an area of approximately 10 km of the property which will encompass the mineralized South Zone, North Zone and the Brasiles Zone at Santo Tomas. The survey comprises a dipole – pole – dipole arrangement and targets the layout of some 26 Rx (receiver) lines spaced at 200m.
  • Canasil Resources Inc., released results from 2 initial drill holes collared at its Nora project in Durango. Hole NCR-20-01tested the Candy vein and intersected 1.6 g/t Au, 440 g/t Ag, 2.51% Cu, 2.1% Pb, and 0.61% Zn over 0.29m, while hole NCR-20-02 encountered 0.72 g/t Au, 21 g/t Ag, 0.1% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 4.8m, including 1.81 g/t Au, 62 g/t Ag, 0.08% Cu, 0.1% Pb, and 0.61% Zn over 0.38m. Drill hole NRC-20-03, targeted below NRC-20-02 has been completed to a depth of 302 metres, and NRC-20-04 is in progress, targeted below NRC-20-01 as planned.

ON MINING

  • Excellon Resources Inc., provided an operation update on its La Platosa mine in Durango. The company achieved a strong production after resuming mining and milling activities in mid-June, 2020. In July, 2020 the company mined and processed 7,044 and 7,408 tonnes respectively with grades of 528 g/t Ag, 5.8% Pb, and 7.7% Zn at metallurgical recoveries of 92.4%, 85.7%, and 77.6% respectively, to produce 116.3K Oz Ag, 972K Lb Pb, and 7K Lb Zn (198.5K Oz AgEq).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd., reported H1, 2020 production and financial results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The company mined in H1, 2020, over 12,332 tonnes of 16.4% Zn and 8.6% Pb to produce 2.25M Lb of payable Zn, 546.7K Lb of payable Pb, and 455 Oz of payable Ag sold in Zn and Pb concentrates. Consolidated Zinc reported a net loss after income tax of USD $2.19M, a profit of USD $0.56M, total assets of USD $4.14M, and total liabilities of USD $3.79M. Total cash reported was USD $0.77M and borrowings were USD $0.98M.

ON FINANCING

  • Mag Silver Corp., completed its previously announced at the market equity program for gross and net proceeds of USD $50M and USD $48.62M respectively. Net proceeds will be used to fund the completion of construction of the Juanicipio project, with any reminder to fund further exploration of Juanicipio and other projects, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.
  • Comet Resources Limited announced that it will be conducting a placement for gross proceeds of $2M. The offer under the plan will raise a maximum of $500K on the terms and conditions contained in this letter. In conjunction with the placement, this will provide the company with additional funds of up to $2.5M. Part of the funds raised will be used for ongoing exploration at Santa Teresa project in Baja California as well as for the payment of costs associated with the plan and placement and general working capital.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., completed its share consolidation in connection with its plan to trade on the NYSE American LLC, which is now effective. Excellon’s shares are expected to commence trading on the NYSE American by the end of September under the ticker symbol “EXN” (La Platosa mine, Durango).
  • Monarca Minerals Inc., completed its previously announced shares for debt transaction to settle an aggregate of $301,324 owing to certain officers, directors and services providers of the company. The amount settled includes $194K out of $342K of accrued directors, management, and consulting fees (Tejamen property, Durango).
  • Sable Resources Ltd., closed its previously announced private placement for total gross proceeds of approximately $9.9M. Net proceeds will be used for exploration and general corporate and working capital purposes (Margarita and Vinata project, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Bacanora Lithium plc., provided an operational update of its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. The pilot plant has completed the bulk sampling required for the Sonora plant, the same that were submitted to relevant partners in China and USA for optimization of the final design. GR Engineer completed its concentrator design work and will integrate this into the overall project scope, and its JV partner Ganfeng Lithium completed its flow sheet design testwork for the production of battery grade lithium from the samples provided by the pilot plant.  Bacanora therefore remains on schedule to commence initial site works at Sonora in H1 2021, subject to completion of financing, which would enable commencement of production at the plant in 2023.
  • Capstone Mining Corp., provided updated proven and probable mineral reserves and positive results of an updated technical report for its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. Proven and probable reserves as of April 30, 2020 are 10,178,000 tones of 1.79% Cu, 41 g/t Ag , o.36% Zn and 0.05% Pb for a total of 2M Lb Cu, 13.5M Oz Ag, 79.4M Lb Zn, and 11M Lb Pb. Capstone updated life of mine plan with annual average Cu and Ag production increased by 70% to 61.4M Lb Cu and 43% to 1.75M Oz Ag respectively. Average annual C1 costs (net of by-products) are expected to move 23% lower to $0.67 per payable Lb Cu. It also announced that ramp-up to 1.35 million tonnes milled per annum (“tpa”) by Q2 2021 is on time and budget, that tailings management transformation activities are progressing on schedule, and that a PFS of an underground paste backfill system is underway. Finally, it also reported that a new step-out hole drill program totalling 80 holes targeting the down dip extension to the southeast of both Vein 10 and Vein 20 is underway. Hole S499 and S503 intersected high grade polymetallic copper, zinc, lead and silver in a 650-meter step-out from the current mineral resource. A 1 km exploration drift is being considered to provide a drilling platform to target this new area.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Excellon Resources Inc., announced that it has applied to list its issued and outstanding common shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) American, LLC., under the ticker symbol “EXN” (La Platosa mine, Durango).
  • Mithril Resources Limited announced that its CEO was appointed as Managing Director (Copalquin project, Durango).
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders and announced it has changed its name from Sonoro Metals Corp., to Sonoro Gold Corp., and will commence to trade with the new ticker symbol “SGO” (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora).
  • Alien Metals Ltd., entered into an exclusivity agreement with Capstone Mining Corp., in respect of the potential farm out of an interest in its Donovan 2 Copper-Gold project in Zacatecas. The agreement provides for a 45-day period for Capstone to undertake due diligence to their satisfaction. If the parties decide to move into a definitive agreement, then Capstone could earn-in to the Donovan 2 property through a combination of carried expenditures and cash payments.
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., announced the decision of the Second District Court in Puebla in respect of its environmental permit application for its Ixtaca project in Puebla. “The company challenged an October, 2019 decision by Mexico’s environmental authority (“SEMARNAT”) to suspend its review of the Ixtaca project’s environmental permit application (“MIA”) until resolution of legal proceedings (the “Amparo”) regarding certain of the Company’s mineral concessions which encompass the area of the Ixtaca project. In its recent decision, the Court dismissed the “incident” principally on the basis that SEMARNAT is not a party to the Amparo. Furthermore, in a related communication with SEMARNAT, the Court also confirmed that the existence of the Amparo does not prevent SEMARNAT from resolving the MIA permit application and that SEMARNAT is free to act within its jurisdiction and authority in respect of the MIA review. The Ministry of the Economy, the Mining Authorities, the Congress, Senate, and the Office of the Presidency all made submissions to the Court as part of this decision. The Company awaits a response from SEMARNAT to the Court decision”.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc., entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its Ana Paula property in Guerrero. Total consideration to Argonaut includes USD $30M on closing, CAD $10M upon the announcement of commencement of construction, a 1% NSR, and 9.9% of the outstanding common shares of the acquiring company, which will be formed by a business combination of 1252201 BC Ltd (“AP Mining”) and Pinehurst Capital II Inc. (“Pinehurst”), creating a new publicly traded gold development company (the “Resulting Issuer”).
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited secured an agreement with Industrias Peñoles to sale under favorable terms the 100% of the Zn concentrate produced by the company in 2021 at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua.
  • Newmont Corporation appointed Susan N Story to its board of directors and achieves gender parity for non-executive directors (Peñasquito mine, Zacatecas).
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders. In this meeting shareholders re-elected directors and approved the purchase of Electrum Global Holdings L.P.’s 60% ownership interest in Southern Silver Holdings Limited and indirect 60% interest in the Cerro Las Minitas property in Durango.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • First Majestic Silver Corp., invested during 2019, USD $3.8M in local communities where it operates, destined to health programs, infrastructure, access to water, and youth projects. In 2019, First Majestic planted 105,730 native plants through reforestation initiatives, and also recycled more than 80% of the water used in its operations. At the end of 2019, First Majestic employed a total of 4,681 people: 3,305 employees and 1,376 contractors, distributed in the six operating mines of the company: San Dimas, and La Parrilla, in Durango; La Encantada, in Coahuila; Santa Elena, in Sonora; Del Toro, in Zacatecas, and San Martín, in Jalisco.
  • Fresnillo plc, continued donating personal equipment to prevent infections by COVID-19 in Caborca, Sonora. The company delivered 8,000 face masks as part of a social program to raise awareness among the population about the importance of health care to avoid the spread of the virus.
  • The Municipal President of Fresnillo, Zacatecas delivered the first stage of the rainwater collector with an investment of MXP $6M from the Mining Fund. This work has 180 linear meters and has favored the inhabitants of the El Vergel subdivision and neighboring colonies since it is channeled to rainwater and prevents floods.
  • The Municipal President of Cuencame, Durango announced that MXP $16.6M were invested in the construction of domes and paved street, installation of electrical networks, potable water and drainage in several communities in Cuencame, Durango. In addition, she also reported that more than two thousand direct and indirect jobs were generated.
  • Grupo Mexico S.A.B de C.V., offered more than 130 weekly workshops via social networks generating content for the community with a focus on prevention, healthy distance and stay at home, as well as implementation of workshops in the areas of education and culture, health and safety, environment and sports.
  • The Peñoles nursery garden continues donating trees to people seeking to expand the green folder in their home, plaza or a larger space for the community. Goal of the program is to reforest public spaces in order to maintain an ecological balance. The company also is carrying out cleaning and disinfection of classrooms, furniture and teaching materials at a Federal Middle School #2.
  • Minera Media Luna (Torex Gold Resource) improved public spaces in the Atzcala community in Guerrero. Among the activities carried out were the pruning of trees, painting of sidewalks and fences, construction of concrete tops, cleaning of planters, reforestation, cleaning in the elementary school and kindergarten, placement of fencing in the field, replacement of lights and other activities.

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, stibnite in a fine grained quartz vein from an epithermal vein system in a prospect in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia