Economy

Prismo Metals Receives Permit Extension for Palos Verdes

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Prismo Metals_

Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – October 6, 2020) –  Prismo Metals Inc. (CSE: PRIZ) (the “Company” or “Prismo“) announces receipt of an extension to the environmental permit for its Palos Verdes Project in southern Sinaloa State from SEMARNAT, the Mexican federal environmental permitting agency. Prismo has also successfully negotiated general terms to extend its surface access agreement. Extension of the environmental permit and surface right agreements allows completion of a minimum 500-meter drill program at Palos Verdes without time pressures.

GoGold Resources Reports Record Quarter of 605K AgEq Oz and Record Year 2.3M AgEq Oz Production

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2020_10_07_Q4_Production

HALIFAX, NS, Oct. 7, 2020 /CNW/ – GoGold Resources Inc. (TSX: GGD) (OTCQX: GLGDF) (“GoGold”, “the Company”) is pleased to report record production for the quarter ending September 30, 2020 of 605,287 silver equivalent ounces, consisting of 300,740 silver ounces, 3,414 gold ounces, and 128 tonnes of copper.  Annual production for the Company’s fiscal year which ended on September 30, 2020, was 2.3 million silver equivalent ounces, an increase of 29% over 2019 production of 1.8 million.

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

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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.

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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

 

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

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Hydrothermal breccia

By Miguel A Heredia

During the thirty three week of the year (August 24th to August 30th, 2020), at least 39 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with eleven commenting on Mexican issues, ten disclosing deals and corporate issues, six informing on exploration results, five announcing financial rounds, four reporting on resources and developments of their mine operations, two communicating production and financial results, and one discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, AMLO stated in one of its morning press conferences that the Mining Fund will be re-activated and re-organized. The Undersecretary of Mining, The Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX) demanded that the Mining Fund go back to communities. Francisco Quiroga spoke about the role that the mining industry plays in Mexico. Mexico Mining sector captures USD $873M of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Fernando Alanis, President of the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), declared that the investment in mining exploration in Mexico could fall to its lowest level in 14 years. The Undersecretary of Mining, Francisco Quiroga, informed that in Mexico, mining is promoted without environmental disasters or social conflicts. Coeur Mining Inc, a US mining company, claimed MXP $1,000M (over USD $46M) to the government of Mexico.  Jorge Mátar Vargas, a businessman from Morelos, said that the investment of the Esperanza Silver mining project would reactivate the economy of Morelos, given the crisis it faces due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, senator and leader of one of the Mexican mining union tweeted that he won a labor lawsuit against Grupo Peñoles. Sergio Almazán is the new President of the Association of Metallurgical, Mining and Geologist Engineers of Mexico A.C (AIMMGM). Francisco Quiroga, Undersecretary of Mining of Mexico, declared that the recovery of the prices of the main minerals produced in Mexico will reinforce mining investment projects in the country. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Tocvan released results from the structural analysis carried out at its El Pilar project, Silver Viper reported results from ten drill holes collared at its El Rubi project, and Tarachi announced the beginning of a 5,000m drilling program at its Tarachi Gold project. In Sinaloa, Vizsla released drill results from its Panuco project. In Durango, Mithril released drilling results from its Copalquin project. ON MINING, Impact reported Q2, 2020 production and financial results from its Zacualpan mining district in the State of Mexico. Santacruz reported the filing of a NI43-101 technical report for its Zimapan mine in Hidalgo.  ON FINANCING, Redstar completed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $7M (Heliodor properties, Mexico). Kootenay closed its previously announced private placement for gross proceeds of $7M (Columba project, Chihuahua). Capitan Mining closed a private placement for gross proceeds of $3,840,855 (Peñoles project, Durango). VVC announced a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to CAD $3.3M (Kaity Copper project, Chihuahua).  Gold Resource declared its August monthly dividend to shareholders (Arista mine, Oaxaca). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexus provided an update on progress at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora.  Silver Dollar reported phase 3 drilling results not previously reported by SilverCrest from its la Joya project in Durango. GoGold announced the filing of a NI43-101 technical report on the initial mineral resource estimate for their Los Ricos South project in Jalisco. Santacruz reported the filing of a NI43-101 technical report for its Zimapan mine in Hidalgo. Golden Minerals released results from its resource definition drill program at its Rodeo project in Durango.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Redstar announced the acquisition of Heliodor Metals Limited and appointed its new CEO. Orla appointed its Senior VP Exploration (Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas). Sonoro announced that its board of directors approved the change of the company´s name to Sonoro Gold Corp (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora). Azure presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Mesa de Plata project, Sonora).   Newmont announced the replacement of the General Manager of the Peñasquito mine, Zacatecas.  Silver Spruce granted stock options to its CFO (El Mezquite project, Sonora). SilverCrest acquired El Picacho property near its Chispas project in Sonora. Orogen (former Evrim) optioned the Sarape Au property in Sonora to Minera Hochschild SA de CV, a subsidiary of Hochschild Mining PLC. Comet executed a share purchase a JV agreement with El Alamo Resource to acquire 100% interest in the Santa Teresa project in Baja California. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fresnillo plc trains its staff on COVID-19.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), President of Mexico, stated in one of its morning press conferences held in Zacatecas that the Mining Fund will be re-activated and re-organized. He cited that, in the case of the Mining Fund, the resources reached the governments municipalities, but not to the communities.
  • The Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), demanded that the Mining Fund go back to communities. Mexico imposed a 7.5% royalty in 2014, plus a special mining tax of 0.5% on gold and silver operations. Most of the proceeds go to social infrastructure projects in mining communities, distributed through the Mining Fund. However, under a reorganization announced by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the funds were redirected to a federal budget for schools. Although AMLO has said that the previous system recorded corruption cases and sometimes the cash for projects did not arrive, some industry experts consider that the Mining Fund is a critical tool for mines and projects to win and maintain support of the communities.
  • The Undersecretary of Mining, Francisco Quiroga, spoke about the role that the mining industry plays in Mexico. He said that mining, which is carried out generally in remote locations with difficult access, is a great generator of foreign exchange, as it is mainly an exporter in the case of Mexico, where it contributes more than 4% of GDP. He also emphasized that only small and medium-sized mines require investments of between USD $350-500M, and that medium-scale mines generate 1,000 to 2,000 direct jobs and around 5,000 – 10,000 indirect jobs.
  • Mexico Mining sector, captures USD $873M of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the first half of 2020, a year-on-year decline of 18.6%, according to statistics from the Ministry of the Economy. About 25% of the Mexican territory has been explored in detail, so there is a great opportunity for the development of new projects. Mexico places 12 to 19 minerals year after year within the top 10 production places globally. Development risk in mining is concentrated in the exploration stages and decreases as the operation stage progresses.
  • Fernando Alanis, President of the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), declared that the investment in mining exploration in Mexico could fall to its lowest level in 14 years, although the drop would be even greater given that it does not consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that in recent years exploration activities in the country have suffered a strong fall due to the uncertainty of investors. “Mexico has lost attractiveness as a mining investment destination… that is a fact”. “We have seen a very important reduction of more than 150 exploration companies that are no longer in Mexico and that is worrying.”
  • The Undersecretary of Mining, Francisco Quiroga, informed that in Mexico, the mining sector has to do it environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive, with zero fatalities, no environmental disasters or generating social conflicts. He also informed that active mining concessions represent only four million hectares, that is, a little more than 2% of the national territory and after conducting a review, total concessions decreased from 25 thousand to 21 thousand, which represented a reduction from 21 million to 16 million hectares.
  • Coeur Mining Inc , a US mining company, claimed MXP $1,000M (over USD $46M) to the government of Mexico. Coeur, the fifth silver producer in Mexico, seeks to obtain this compensation from the federal government because the Mexican Tax Administration (SAT) did not refund the VAT. This is the second case that is presented so far in 2020. The first was the notice of the Canadian company First Majestic Silver Corp to the Mexican government, also due to an action by the SAT. On May 13, in its notification, it communicated that the claim amounts to USD $500M, in addition to the interest generated, expenses and costs applicable in the arbitration procedure.
  • Jorge Mátar Vargas, a businessman from Morelos, said that the investment of the Esperanza Silver mining project would reactivate the economy of Morelos, given the crisis it faces due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also argued that with the Esperanza Silver mining project, state economic activity would be detonated. It would help reduce the deficit of jobs in the state and rescue small entrepreneurs. This project represents a millionaire private investment for the entity, with the capacity to generate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs and is a potential to strengthen the local economy.
  • Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, senator and leader of one of the Mexican mining union tweeted (by the way, a very strange tweet), that he won a labor lawsuit against Grupo Peñoles for unjustified dismissal, for which the company must pay him MXP $1M of lost wages and benefits for 12 years and 8 months that he worked for Minera Mexicana La Ciénega.
  • Sergio Almazán is the new President of the Association of Metallurgical, Mining and Geologist Engineers of Mexico A.C (AIMMGM) for the biennium 2020-2022.
  • Francisco Quiroga, Undersecretary of Mining of Mexico, declared that the recovery of the prices of the main minerals produced in Mexico will reinforce mining investment projects in the country and will allow mining to be part of the competitive advantage for other industries in the country such as manufacturing.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., JV partner of Colibri Resource Corporation, released results from the structural analysis carried out at its El Pilar project in Sonora. “The initial overview of the 3D inversion of magnetic susceptibility data has revealed stand-out significant major structures that are universally associated with “plumbing” systems for gold-silver fluid flow and deposition. Structures appear as shear zones, faults, brecciated rock, rotational gashes within shear zones and other such dilation structures”. The main identified structure is a 1,000m by 250m large NW-SE trending structure bounded by additional N-S trending structures with approximate lengths of 300m. The NW-SE structure as been interpreted as a structural corridor holding a shear zone with rotational features that suggest excellent means of plumbing for metal-mineral-rich fluids to flow through and deposit.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., reported results from ten drill holes collared its La Virginia project in Sonora. Of the ten holes, six were drilled at El Rubi and four at Macho Libre. At El Rubi area, a broad zone of mineralization was encountered in hole LV20-245#1 with 0.76 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 55.2m, including 1.79 g/t Au and 92 g/t Ag over a TW of 3m; and 2.49 g/t Au and 152 g/t Ag over a TW of 1m; and 7.98 g/t Au and 353 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.5m, including 20.7 g/t Au and 854 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.5m; hole LV20-245#2 with 0.6 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag over a TW of 11.2m, including 1.43 g/t Au and 4 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.5m; and hole LV20-245#3 with 0.56 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag over a TW of 7.5m, including 3.26 g/t Au and 19 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.5m, and an interval of 0.93 g/t Au and 124 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.2m. At Macho Libre, the most significant drill intercept was encountered at hole LV20-240M with 0.5 g(t Au and 7 g(t Ag over a TW of 0.6m.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp., announced the beginning of a 5,000m drilling program at its Tarachi Gold project in Sonora. The company plans to start the drill program at La Dura mine where channel sampling returned 6.34 g/t Au over 62.55m.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp., released the first step-out drill results along the Napoleon Vein corridor at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Hole NP-20-18, located 1km north from the original discovery at Napoleon encountered 3.76 g/t Au, 689 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.6% Zn (1,019 g/t AgEq) over a width of 2.5m, including 7.96 g/t Au, 1,515 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (2,206 g/t AgEq) over a width of 1m. Assays are pending for holes NP-20-19 and NP-20-21 separated each other for a distance of 90m.
  • Mithril Resources Ltd, announced results from the two first drill holes collared at its Copalquin project in Durango. Hole CDH-001 encountered 34.72 g/t Au and 3,129 g/t Ag over 3m, including 88.4 g/t Au and 6,750 g/t Ag over 1m; and hole CDH-002 with 5.64 g/t Au and 325 g/t Ag over 4.55m, including 9.82 g/t Au and 574 g/t Ag over 1.5m, plus 9.27 g/t Au and 825 g/t Ag over 0.5m. The two first holes are part of a 5,000m (35 holes) drilling program and intercepted the Soledad vein, confirming historically bonanza grades.

ON MINING

  • Impact Silver Corp., reported Q2, 2020 production and financial results from its Zacualpan mining district, State of Mexico. Despite losing nearly half the quarter (April to June) due to mandatory shutdown, Impact milled 25,602 tonnes with an average mill feed grade of Ag of 187 g/t to produced 129,570 Oz Ag. Q2, 2020 production at the Guadalupe mill came from the Guadalupe mine (37%), the San Ramon mine (23%), the Cuchara mine (23%), and the Veta Negra mine (17%). Impact reported revenues for $2.84M and an adjusted EBIDTA of $0.48M. At June 30, 2020, cash position was at $6.3M with working capital at $5.3M.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported the filing of a NI43-101 technical report for its Zimapan mine in Hidalgo. Zimapan consists of 34 mining concessions totalling 5,138.76 ha and has had an extensive mining history dating back to the 1660´s. There are fourteen known mineral zones that are hosted in Lower Cretaceous limestone and calcareous shales. The zones contain targets that range from 3-10 m in width that have been traced 40-1000 m along strike and 40-590 m down dip. The property has been in production since January 1, 2010 and as of December 31, 2019 Carrizal Mining mined approximately 5.88M tonnes of mineralized material, including 3.43M tonnes at head grades ranging from 73-101 g/t Ag, 0.4-0.5% Pb, 1.8-2.8% Zn, and 0.49-0.67 % Cu from the Monte mine, and  45 MT at head grades ranging from 82-124 g/t Ag, 0.6-1.2 % Pb, 2.-4.4 % Zn, and 0.28-0.48 % Cu from the Carrizal mine.

ON FINANCING

  • Redstar Gold Corp., completed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD $7M. The company plans to use the net proceeds for exploration drilling and resource delineation, updating the resource and general working capital (Heliodor properties, Mexico).
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., closed its previously announced private placement for gross proceeds of $7M. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for exploration and development activities, working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes (Columba project, Chihuahua).
  • Capitan Mining Inc., closed its private placement for gross proceeds of $3,840,885.00 instead of the 10,000,000 shares ($2,000,000) originally contemplated. Net proceeds will be used to fund a focused drill program at the Peñoles project in Durango, additional project acquisitions and general corporate purposes.
  • VVC Exploration Corporation, announced a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to CAD $3.3M. Gross proceeds will be used for development of its Kaity project, Chihuahua, including costs associated with various permits, metallurgical bench testing, and investigation, evaluation and implementation of the Gloria pilot mining; option payments in Mexico; current accounts payable; general administrative expenses; and working capital.
  • Gold Resource Corporation, declared its August monthly dividend to shareholders. It will consists of one-third of a cent per common share for August 2020 payable on September 23, 2020 to shareholders of record as of September 11, 2020. (Arista mine, Oaxaca).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mexus Gold US, provided an update on progress at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. The company improved the crushing circuit to maximize efficiencies, hired two new equipment operators and a lab technician, and acquired a 330 excavator a 40 ton haul truck and repaired existing equipment. The company expects to show an increase in production during the Q2 of its fiscal year (July through September).
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., reported phase 3 drilling results not previously reported by SilverCrest from its la Joya project in Durango. This in-fill drilling program consisted of 17 drill holes targeted to advance towards an updated resource model in H1, 2015. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole LJDD14-109 with 0.73 g/t Au, 33 g/t Ag and 0.36% Cu (119 g/t AgEq) over a width of 21.92m, including 3.45 g/t Au, 12 g/t Ag and 0.1% Cu (231 g/t AgEq) over a width of 4.4m; LJDD14-114 with 0.09 g/t Au, 193 g/t Ag and 2.58% Cu (501 g/t AgEq) over a width of 1.2m and 0.38 g/t Au, 43 g/t Ag, and 0.27% Cu (98 g/t AgEq) over a width of 66.4m. including 1.26 g/t Au, 219 g/t Ag, and 1.48% Cu (468 g/t AgEq) over a width of 3.15m; hole LJDD20-115 with 0.06 g/t Au, 234 g/t Ag, and 1.24% Cu (382 g/t AgEq) over a width of 6.1m, including 0.17 g/t Au, 734 g/t Ag, and 3.75% Cu (1,182 g/t AgEq) over a width of 1m; hole LJDD20-116 with 0.06 g/t Au, 76 g/t Ag, and 0.55% Cu (144 g/t AgEq) over a width of 25.1m, including 0.04 g/t Au, 185 g/t Ag, and 1.37% Cu (348 g/t AgEq) over a width of 9.1m, and 0.11 g/t Au, 602 g/t Ag, and 4.64% Cu (1,151 g/t AgEq) over a width of 1.8m, and 0.29 g/t Au, 106 g/t Ag, and 1.2% Cu (234 g/t AgEq) over a width of 23.1m, including 0.09 g/t Au, 723 g/t Ag, and 8.97% Cu (1,778 g/t AgEq) over a width of 2m.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., announced the filing of a NI43-101 technical report on the initial mineral resource estimate for their Los Ricos South project in Jalisco. Measured and indicated mineral resource are 10M tonnes of 199 g/t AgEq to contain 63.7M Oz AgEq, and Inferred resources are 3.3M tonnes of 190 g/t AgEq to contain 19.9M Oz AgEq. Los Ricos South mineral resource is potentially amenable to both open pit and bulk underground mining methods. The company also expanded the surface rights agreement. On August 9,2020 the Ejido Cinco Minas, which owns the surface rights over the majority of the Los Ricos South concessions including all of those within the mineral resource estimate, signed an agreement with the company for a period of 12 years with an additional 12 year renewal period.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported the filing of a NI43-101 technical report for its Zimapan mine in Hidalgo. Zimapan consists of 34 mining concessions totalling 5,138.76 ha and has had an extensive mining history dating back to the 1660´s. There are fourteen known mineral zones that are hosted in Lower Cretaceous limestone and calcareous shales. The zones contain targets that range from 3-10 m in width that have been traced 40-1000 m along strike and 40-590 m down dip. The property has been in production since January 1, 2010 and as of December 31, 2019 Carrizal Mining mined approximately 5.88M tonnes of mineralized material, including 3.43M tonnes at head grades ranging from 73-101 g/t Ag, 0.4-0.5% Pb, 1.8-2.8% Zn, and 0.49-0.67 % Cu from the Monte mine, and  45 MT at head grades ranging from 82-124 g/t Ag, 0.6-1.2 % Pb, 2.-4.4 % Zn, and 0.28-0.48 % Cu from the Carrizal mine.
  • Golden Minerals Company, released results from its resource definition drill program at its Rodeo project in Durango. Golden reported results from 11 drill holes with significant intercepts showing wide zones of high-grade near-surface Au mineralization. Highlights include hole RDO_20_012 with 6.66 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag over 24.5m, including 9.3 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag over 8.6m; hole RDO_20_014 with 5.87 g/t Au and 27 g/t Ag over 23.5m, including 8.83 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag over 12.9m; and hole RDO_20_017 with 2.85 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over 21.4m, including 5.1 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag over 6m.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Redstar Gold Corp., announced the acquisition of Heliodor Metals Limited., and appointed its new CEO and board of directors. To acquire Heliodor, Redstar issued an aggregate of 86,621,003 shares to the former Heliodor shareholders in exchange for all the issued and outstanding Heliodor securities.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., announced the appointment of its Senior VP Exploration (Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas).
  • Sonoro Metals Corp., announced that its board of directors approved the change of the company´s name to Sonoro Gold Corp (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora).
  • Azure Minerals Limited, presented results from its annual general meeting of shareholders (Mesa de Plata project, Sonora).
  • Newmont Corporation, announced the replacement of the General Manager of the Peñasquito mine, Zacatecas. The former General Manager was ceased for violations of Newmont´s Code of Conduct.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., granted 300K stock options to its CFO (El Mezquite project, Sonora).
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., announced the acquisition of El Picacho property, near its Las Chispas project in Sonora, from American Metal Mining. The purchase price paid by SilverCrest was for the amount of USD $1.6M and is for a 100% ownership in 11 mining concessions totalling approximately 7,060 hectares. The company also paid all the mining taxes to bring these concessions to good standing. The Property was a historic gold and silver producer, with the first noted production in late 1800s with grades greater than 15 g/t Au. “There are seven (7) low-sulphidation epithermal main veins on the concessions, with numerous near parallel hanging and footwall veins. The main veins have a known cumulative strike length of over 10km with widths ranging from 0.5 to 15m”.
  • Orogen Royalties Inc., (former Evrim) optioned the Sarape Au property in Sonora to Minera Hochschild SA de CV, a subsidiary of Hochschild Mining PLC.  Hochschild can earn a 100% interest in the Sarape project by making cash payments of USD $5.35M and completing expenditures of USD$5M over a five-year period. Upon exercise of the option, Hochschild will grant to Orogen a 3% NSR of which 1% can be purchased for USD $2M.
  • Comet Resources Ltd., executed a share purchase and JV agreement with El Alamo Resources Limited to acquire 100% interest in the Santa Teresa project in Baja California. The acquisition will be completed on a staged basis, with Comet acquiring an initial 50% interest by making a refundable $100K cash payment. The remaining 50% interest will be acquired upon a decision to mine being made in respect of the Project within a two year period. Comet is now 50% owner of the Santa Teresa property and has the option to increase its ownership to 100% within two years. Historical production in the surrounding El Alamo district has been estimated in between 100K-200K Oz Au. The Santa Teresa project is comprised of two mineral claims totalling 202 hectares. Previous operator drilled 32 holes with significant results such as 32.4 g/t Au over 2m ; 958.4 g/t Au over 1m; 38 g/t Au over 2.5m; 39 g/t Au over 3.9m; 19.9 g/t Au over 3m; 125.9 g/t Au over 1m; 14.4 g/t Au over 3.1m; and 16 g/t Au over 3.1m. The company plans are to re-assay historic drill core to prepare a JORC compliant mineral resource estimate and then to test the upside potential at under explored areas.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Fresnillo plc, seeks to promote knowledge about COVID-19 among its employees and train them to carry out all the actions and measures necessary to prevent the spread of the virus in their homes, community and in the company.

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 related to an epithermal system in a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

Discovery Reports Q2 2020 Operating & Financial Results

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20200827_pr_-_2q2020_financials_final

August 27, 2020, Toronto, Ontario – Discovery Metals Corp. (TSX-V: DSV, OTCQX: DSVMF) (“Discovery” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce its operating and financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2020, and to provide a summary of key events subsequent to quarter end. All amounts are presented in Canadian dollars (“C$”) unless otherwise stated.

Pan American Silver to Host ESG Conference Call and Webcast

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Pan American Silver _ Corporate Site

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 26, 2020 /CNW/ – Pan American Silver Corp. (NASDAQ: PAAS) (TSX: PAAS) (“the Company”) will host a call to discuss the Company’s approach and performance on environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters on September 14, 2020 at 11:00 am ET (8:00 am PT). Senior members of the Company’s management team will describe the key opportunities and challenges regarding its sustainability strategy, discuss the Company’s 2019 Sustainability Report, and respond to questions from investors and analysts.

SilverCrest Announces Acquisition of El Picacho Property Near Las Chispas

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nr_20200827

VANCOUVER, BC – August 27, 2020 – SilverCrest Metals Inc. (“SilverCrest” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce it has acquired the El Picacho Property (“Picacho” or the “Property”) located near its Las Chispas Project (“Las Chispas”) in Sonora, Mexico. The Property was acquired by the Company’s subsidiary, Compañía Minera La Llamarada, S.A. de C.V., from American Metal Mining, S.A. de C.V. (the “Vendor”, a Mexican company), and an affiliate. The purchase price for a 100% ownership in 11 mining concessions of the Property totalling approximately 7,060 hectares was US$1.6 million (paid to the Vendor). The Company also paid the necessary government taxes to bring these concessions to good standing.