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

By Jorge Cirett

During the 40th week of the year (September 28th to October 5th, 2025), companies working in Mexico presented 36 press releases.  No companies presented exploration advances on early-stage properties or production figures. Nine companies presented news on financing rounds and share-related issues. Two companies updated on their advanced properties. Two companies commenced drilling on advanced projectsOne company announced mining developments. Nineteen companies informed on deals and corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the government is cancelling a large number of mining concessions that overlap protected areas.  ON EXPLORATION, no relevant news. ON MINING, no relevant news. ON FINANCING, six companies informed on financing rounds: Zacatecas Silver (C$3.75 M), Vortex Metals (C$700 K), Guanajuato Silver (C$30 M), Apollo Silver (C$20.9 M), Silver Tiger (C$25 M) and Sonoro Gold (C$3 M). Guanajuato Silver Company and GR Silver Mining granted stock options. Aura Minerals announced the conversion of receipts into shares. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Regency Silver is to commence drilling at its Dios Padre project in Sonora. Capitan Silver updated on its Cruz de Plata project in Durango. Sierra Madre Gold and Silver announced that development has started at La Guitarra mine, in Estado de Mexico. Sonoro Gold provided an update on the Cerro Caliche and San Marcial projects in Sonora. Silver Viper Minerals commenced a drilling campaign at La Virginia, in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Royal Gold received government regulatory approvals for the acquisition of Sandstorm Gold. Prime Mining’s security holders approved its acquisition by Torex Gold. Fuerte Metals, GR Silver, Empress Royalty, Almaden Minerals and Altius Minerals announced appointments to the board. Empress Royalty announced senior appointments. Mexican Gold is to acquire the Tatatila project in Veracruz from Chesapeake Gold. Sierra Madre Gold and Silver engaged marketing services. Sonoro Gold is considering to spinout the San Marcial project in Sonora. Silver Bull reported dates for the hearings on its arbitration case against Mexico. Prismo Metals and Vizsla Silver held their AGM’s. Canasil is to review opportunities in its Mexican portfolio. Silver Storm Mining contracted investor relations services. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Vizsla Silver released its third sustainability report.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The Ministry of Economy (Secretaría de Economía) started the procedure to cancel 805 mining concessions that overlap protected natural areas (Áreas Naturales Protegidas, or ANP’s), on the base that these are not complying on certain obligations, like the payment of annual mining duties.

ON EXPLORATION

  • No Relevant News.

ON MINING

  • No Relevant News.

ON FINANCING

  • Zacatecas Silver Corp. announced the closing of its non-brokered private placement financing for total gross proceeds of C$3.75 M (Zacatecas Silver, Zacatecas).
  • Vortex Metals Inc. increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement to C$700 K. “Vortex intends to allocate the gross proceeds raised from the sale of the Units as follows: approximately 40% to pay for mining concession fees, approximately 40% to pay for exploration fees and remaining 20% for general working capital purposes” (Riqueza Marina, Oaxaca).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. entered into an agreement with Cannacord Genuity Corp. and Red Cloud Securities Inc. as co-lead underwriters and joint bookrunners to purchase on a “bought deal” basis units of the company for gross proceeds of C$30 M (El Cubo and Valenciana, Guanajuato).
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. granted incentive stock options to certain eligible persons to purchase up to an aggregate of 600 K common shares (Plomosas, Sinaloa).
  • Apollo Silver Corp. announced a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$20.88 M (Cinco de Mayo, Chihuahua).
  • Aura Minerals Inc. “Announces to the holders of the Company’s Brazilian Depositary Receipts (“BDRs”) the launch of the Incentive Program for the conversion of BDRs into common shares (“Incentive Program”), under which holders may request the conversion of their BDRs (“AURA33”) into the underlying common shares (“AUGO”) listed on Nasdaq (“common shares”), at a ratio of three to one, without being required to pay the applicable fees charged by Banco Bradesco. The Incentive Program will be available for a fixed period of 32 days, from October 6, 2025, to November 6, 2025” (Aranzazu, Zacatecas).
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc. filed a short form prospectus with the securities commissions in each of the provinces of Canada, except Quebec, in connection with its bought deal public offering of common shares for aggregate gross proceeds of C$25 M (El Tigre, Sonora).
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. announced a fully subscribed non-brokered private placement offering for gross proceeds of C$3 M (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Prismo Metals Inc. granted 850 K stock options to certain directors and officers of the company, and 100 K options to a consultant of the company. Also, 725 K restricted share units were issued to certain directors and officers of the company (Palos Verdes, Sinaloa).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Capitan Silver Corp. provided an update on its Cruz de Plata project in Durango. Since 2020 the company has consolidated its position in the district, more recently with the acquisition of 2,171 ha from Fresnillo plc. Capitan Silver has elaborated a geological model that includes annular structures to an elliptical intrusive body with silver mineralization in sedimentary rocks and gold mineralization in the contact of these rocks with overlying volcanic rocks. Six main targets are comprised by Casco Norte, Jesús María Northwest, Jesús María East, San Rafael, La Providencia, La Purísima, Jesús María North and El Tubo Hill. The 2025 drilling program is being expanded from 10,000 m to 15,000 m. Just over 8,000 m of drilling have been completed to date, with assays pending for 38 holes. A property-wide 385 line-km regional airborne magnetic and magnetotelluric survey has been contracted. The press release includes a table with grab and chip sample results of up to 62 gpt Au, 991 gpt Ag, 0.76% Cu, 6.25% Pb, 7% Zn.
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. announced that development has started at the Nazareno mine in the La Guitarra complex in Estado de México. Over 700 tonnes of ore have been delivered to the La Guitarra processing plant, material that was not included in the mineral resource estimate. The company also announced the purchase of a new rig capable of drilling up to 150 m of NWL size and 250 m of BWL size core. The rig is capable of underground and surface drilling.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. provided an update on the Cerro Caliche and San Marcial projects in Sonora. The company intends to commission an updated preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on Cerro Caliche by the first quarter of 2026. The current PEA contemplates a 9-year mining operation at a 12,000 tpd rate based on a gold price of US$1,800 per Oz Au. The updated PEA will include 55,360 m of drilling, trenching and the changes in the environmental report that covers the property. The project counts with a surface agreement access for the property.
  • Regency Silver Corp. commenced drilling at its Dios Padre project in Sonora. The company plans to drill approximately 4,500 m in 6 to 8 holes, focused on targeting along-strike extensions of high-grade Au-Cu-Ag mineralization previously intercepted.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp. commenced a 5,000 m diamond drill program at its advanced stage La Virgina project in Sonora, with the program being carried out by Globexplore Drilling Corp. Drilling will begin with 8-9 reconnaissance holes at El Molino area, the first drill testing of this area with high priority geophysical anomalies. The program will continue at El Rubi, aiming to expand mineralization along strike and at shallow depths.  

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Sandstorm Gold Ltd. announced that Royal Gold Inc. has received all government regulatory approvals required for the previously announced acquisition of Sandstorm” (Royalty on Mercedes, Sonora).
  • Prime Mining Corp. announced that the company’s security holders have approved the plan of arrangement with Torex Gold Resources Inc., whereby Torex will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Prime (Los Reyes, Sinaloa).
  • Fuerte Metals Corp. announced that CFO Martin Rip is retiring at the end of September 2025. “Mr. John Teo, Fuerte’s Vice President of Finance, has been appointed Interim CFO” (Cristina, Chihuahua).
  • Altius Minerals Corp. announced the retirement of Ben Lewis, chief financial officer (CFO) and Chad Wells, vice president corporate development. Stephanie Hussey, current vice president finance, has been appointed chief financial officer (Llano del Nogal royalty, Sonora).
  • Royal Gold Inc. received all governmental regulatory approvals required for the company’s previously announced acquisitions of Sandstorm Gold Ltd. and Horizon Copper Corp. (Sandstorm Gold holds a royalty on Cuale, Jalisco and Llano del Nogal, Sonora).
  • Empress Royalty Corp. announced the appointment of Brad Breetzke as business development advisor, Africa and Christian Agarnaz as busines development analysts (Royalty on Tahuehueto, Durango).
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. announced the nomination of Daniel Schieber as vice president of corporate development and corporate relations (Plomosas, Sinaloa).
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. entered into a definitive agreement sell its Tatalila project in Veracruz to Mexican Gold Mining Corp. “in exchange for such number of common shares of Mexican Gold representing 14.99% of the outstanding common shares of Mexican Gold at closing” and a 1.5% net smelter royalty. Mexican Gold may repurchase 0.5% of the royalty  for US$500 K within ten years from the date of the agreement. “Tatatila is a gold-copper skarn district located in Veracruz State that Chesapeake identified in 2007. Tatatila surrounds Mexican Gold’s Las Minas Project, which has a reported NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment. Several skarn prospects were discovered on Tatatila by Chesapeake, including possible extensions of the Las Minas existing resource.”
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. engaged “Triomphe Holdings Ltd., doing business as Capital Analytica, an arm’s length service provider, to provide certain marketing and social media services to the company” (La Guitarra, Estado de México).
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. is considering a spinout of its San Marcial project into its subsidiary Oronos Gold Corp. The property is in Santa Ana, Sonora, covering the historic San Marcial and Soledad mines that were subject to drilling programs in the last two decades of the past century.
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. reported that the hearing for its arbitration case against Mexico  will commence on October 6, 2025, in Washington, D.C., and will conclude no later than October 11, 2025. The international arbitration proceedings under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) arised from Mexico’s refusal to take action with respect to the illegal blockade of Silver Bull’s Sierra Mojada Project in Coahuila, which commenced in September 2019 and remains ongoing.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. acknowledges the current postal strike across Canada, which has created significant challenges in ensuring timely delivery of shareholder communications and proxy materials. The company took a number of measures to overcome these challenges, that can be seen on the press release at the company’s website (San Martin, Querétaro).
  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp. entered into a mining concession assignment agreement with Chesapeake Gold Corp. to acquire 100% interest on the 3,824 hectares Tatatila project in Veracruz. Mexican gold shall issue Chesapeake 4.45 M common shares of the company (a $222.6 K value), representing 14.99% of the total issues and outstanding common shares of the company. As further consideration for the interest, Mexican Gold shall grant to Chesapeake a 1.5% net smelter return (NSR) royalty, of which the company might purchase 0.5% of the royalty for US$500 K within 10 years of the execution of the agreement.
  • Prismo Metals Inc. held its annual general meeting (AGM) on October 2, 2025. A board of directors was elected, comprising Alain Lambert, Louis Doyle, Craig Gibson and Martin Dupuis, with DeVisser Gray LLP re-appointed as auditor. A new long-term incentive plan was approved. Finally, a possible new corporate name as determined by the directors of the company was reviewed (Palos Verde, Sinaloa).
  • Canasil Resources Inc. is to review opportunities in its portfolio in Durango and Zacatecas. “Of Canasil’s seven Mexican silver-gold projects, the Company’s interest in the Sandra and Nora projects have been sold to Pan American Silver and Silver Dollar Resources respectively. The Company retains a 2% NSR on its claims in each project with a 1% buyout for US$ 4 million on the Sandra NSR, and 1% buyout for $1 million on the Nora NSR. Canasil holds 100% interest in all the remaining projects. La Esperanza, Salamandra, and Colibri have had successful past drill programs which have returned high-grade silver-gold intercepts”. The company sees an improved positive environment for advancing mining projects under the current federal administration.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. announced the results of its annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on October 2, 2025. Shareholders approved all motions put forth including its change of auditor from MNP LLP to Deloitte LLP (Panuco, Sinaloa).
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. announced the appointment of Douglas McDonald as president and CEO. Morgan Poliquin has been appointed vice chair of the company (Ixtaca, Puebla).
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. announced the resignation of Douglas McDonald from all his roles in the company, including as director and executive vice president, but will continue in an advisory role to support related succession initiatives and ongoing business activities El Cobre, Veracruz).
  • Silver Storm Mining Inc. retained the services of Renmark to provide investor relations services to the company for an initial term of twelve months, subject to monthly renewal and a consideration of C$9 K per month (La Parrilla, Durango).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Vizsla Silver Corp. released its third annual sustainability report which highlights its key initiatives on environmental, social and governance matters (Panuco, Sinaloa).

On the image below: Late specularite seams on quartz vein, HQ core. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

Economía inicia cancelación de 805 concesiones mineras

Roberto Morales 28-09-2025

La Secretaría de Economía inició los procedimientos para cancelar 805 concesiones mineras que ocupan territorio en Áreas Naturales Protegidas (ANP), argumentando que incumplen ciertas obligaciones, entre ellas el no pago de derechos sobre minería.

Un ANP en México es una zona terrestre o marina con biodiversidad relevante, decretada por el gobierno federal para conservar ecosistemas, especies y recursos naturales, regulando su uso mediante planes de manejo y protección ambiental oficiales.

Compartir por Linkedin
La Secretaría de Economía inició los procedimientos para cancelar 805 concesiones mineras que ocupan territorio en Áreas Naturales Protegidas (ANP), argumentando que incumplen ciertas obligaciones, entre ellas el no pago de derechos sobre minería.

Un ANP en México es una zona terrestre o marina con biodiversidad relevante, decretada por el gobierno federal para conservar ecosistemas, especies y recursos naturales, regulando su uso mediante planes de manejo y protección ambiental oficiales.

En abril de 2025, la Secretaría de Economía terminó una revisión del estado que guardan las concesiones mineras que ocupan territorio en ANP y detectó 1,043 concesiones mineras que incumplen con sus obligaciones de un total de 2,007 concesiones mineras.

Por consiguiente, la dependencia implementó en mayo un programa de recuperación de superficie de concesiones mineras con al menos 70% de ocupación dentro de un ANP, las cuales se encontraban en incumplimiento de sus obligaciones mineras, entre ellas el no pago de derechos sobre minería durante dos años consecutivos, específicamente en 2023 y 2024.

Al 31 de julio de 2025, mediante oficio, se iniciaron los procedimientos de cancelación para 805 concesiones que ocupan una superficie susceptible a recuperar de un poco más de 216,000 hectáreas. Con estas acciones, la Secretaría de Economía indicó que será posible determinar durante el segundo semestre de 2025 el impacto de los procedimientos, ya sea en términos de recuperación de superficie del territorio nacional dentro de un ANP o, en su caso, mediante el incremento en la recaudación por derechos de minería.

De acuerdo con la visión de la Secretaría de Economía, las poseedoras de títulos de concesiones se beneficiaban antes con grandes extensiones, especulando con las características del terreno y determinados potenciales de minerales para su explotación.

Leer el artículo completo en la fuente, El Economista: https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/empresas/economia-inicia-cancelacion-805-concesiones-mineras-20250928-779124.html

Corte resuelve a favor de Ley Minera de AMLO; revoca amparo concedido a un particular

Manuel Espino 25/09/2025

El pleno de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (SCJN) revocó un amparo que se concedió a un particular contra las reformas a la Ley Minera en materia de concesiones para minería y agua impulsada por el expresidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Por siete votos a favor y dos en contra, los ministros negaron la protección de la justicia solicitada por el particular porque las nuevas solicitudes de concesión que estaban en proceso, fueron desechadas sin mayor trámite, tras la entrada en vigor de las reformas en mayo de 2023.

Durante el debate, Hugo Aguilar, presidente del Alto Tribunal, afirmó que la soberanía del Estado debe prevalecer en todo momento y que bajo ninguna consideración alguien que presenta una solicitud de concesión minera, ya tenga un derecho adquirido, por el solo hecho de presentarlo.

………

Para el ministro Giovanni Azael Figueroa Mejía, las reformas a la Ley Minera vulneran el principio de irretroactividad en perjuicio de las personas, porque en uno de sus artículos establece que “las solicitudes en trámite de nueva concesión de [exploración y] explotación se desecharán sin mayor trámite”.

“Con ello creo que se desconoce la situación jurídica regulada en la legislación previa, como lo es la Ley Minera. Lo anterior, por supuesto que no se traduce en que la parte quejosa necesariamente deba obtener una concesión de explotación, sino solo que su solicitud sea tramitada conforme a la normativa vigente al momento de su formulación.

Leer el artículo completo en El Universal: https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/corte-resuelve-a-favor-de-ley-minera-de-amlo-revoca-amparo-concedido-a-un-particular/

Mexico to review bill to ban open pit mining

Staff Writer | December 11, 2024

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that her government will review a controversial bill, approved by the lower chamber of Congress in August, which aims to ban open-pit mining.

The proposed legislation also seeks to prohibit fracking and restrict water usage in areas where the resource is scarce, except for domestic purposes in populated areas.

Sign Up for the Copper Digest

“Open-pit mining warrants a thorough review, as activities such as sand extraction for cement production and lithium mining — critical for national development — are conducted using this method. It is vital to assess the specifics of the constitutional reform’s provisions,” Sheinbaum said in a statement.

She emphasized that the review will focus on ensuring environmental protection and is independent of corporate interests.

The Mexican Mining Chamber (Camimex) has voiced strong opposition to the proposed ban. Open-pit mining accounts for 60% of the value of Mexico’s national mining and metallurgical production. Camimex warns that the prohibition could lead to a 1% contraction in the country’s GDP and jeopardize nearly 200,000 jobs.

Sheinbaum’s announcement follows a post by Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard on X, where he reported a “productive meeting” with representatives of Mexico’s mining sector, including Camimex President Pedro Rivero. The discussions centred on the exploration and production of strategic minerals, although specific details were not disclosed.

Please continue reading the note at the source: https://www.mining.com/mexico-to-review-bill-to-ban-open-pit-mining/

Senadores aprueban en lo particular la Ley Federal de Derechos 2025; “cobro a cruceristas es un golpe directo al turismo”, acusa oposición

Por: Sebastián Díaz Mora, Rolando Ramos 03 de diciembre de 2024

Después de casi cuatro horas y media de análisis y discusión, el pleno del Senado de la República aprobó en lo general la reforma a la Ley Federal de Derechos (LFD), para incrementar su cobro durante 2025 en actividades como minería, servicios migratorios y uso de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (ANP), y además empezar a cobrarle a las escuelas de aviación y a los cruceristas.

Por 79 votos a favor, 38 en contra y 0 abstenciones, y tras desechar 43 reservas presentadas por 19 legisladores, los senadores aprobaron la LFD 2025 en lo particular y ahora iniciaban el análisis y la discusión de la Ley de Ingresos de la Federación (LIF) del siguiente año.

Durante la presentación del dictamen de la Ley Federal de Derechos, el presidente de la Comisión de Hacienda y Crédito Público de la cámara alta, el senador Cuauhtémoc Ochoa Fernández (Morena), destacó que los aumentos para 2025 en el cobro de derechos, se tratan de actualizaciones a las cuotas con base en la inflación y ajustes congruentes con la “evolución de las tecnologías y procesos”

El gobierno proyecta recaudar 374,400 millones de pesos por derechos, aprovechamientos y productos durante 2025, un crecimiento de 10.4% en términos reales respecto al presente año que, dijo el senador Ochoa Fernández, responde en su mayoría a la actualización aprobada en las cuotas de derechos.

“Este aumento (de 10.4% en la recaudación) responde en su mayoría a la actualización de cuotas con base en la inflación, así como a ajustes congruentes con la evolución de las tecnologías en proceso, asegurando así un cobro justo que refleja el costo real de los servicios prestados y el uso de los bienes de la nación”, afirmó Ochoa Fernández.

¿Qué derechos incrementarán en 2025?
En la Ley Federal de Derechos 2025, se incrementa para el siguiente año la tasa de derecho especial sobre minería de 7.5 a 8.5% sobre los ingresos que obtengan los titulares de concesiones mineras derivados de la enajenación o venta de la actividad extractiva. Además, se eleva la tasa de derecho extraordinario sobre minería de 0.5 a 1.0% sobre los ingresos que obtengan los concesionarios mineros derivados de la enajenación del oro, plata y platino.

El senador de Morena, Ochoa Fernández, explicó que estos incrementos a las tasas de los derechos mineros se hacen para atender el aumento de los precios internacionales de los metales.

Favor de continuar leyendo la nota en la fuente: https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/economia/senadores-aprueban-general-ley-federal-derechos-20241203-736785.html

Proponen aumento a derechos mineros; recaudación ha caído 32%

Por: Sebastián Díaz Mora 02 de diciembre de 2024

El incremento de los derechos a la minería que propone el gobierno federal en la Ley Federal de Derechos 2025, que está por aprobarse en el Senado de la República, se da luego de que en este 2024 su recaudación ha caído en casi un tercio.

En enero-septiembre del 2024, el gobierno recaudó 6,205.60 millones de pesos por derecho especial sobre minería y derecho extraordinario sobre minería, de acuerdo con el último informe trimestral de la Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público al Congreso de la Unión.

Mientras que en el mismo periodo del 2023, la recaudación de dichos derechos ascendió a 9,177.71 millones de pesos, por lo que en el presente año la recaudación ha caído 32% en términos reales.

La SHCP propone incrementar la tasa de derecho especial sobre minería de 7.5 a 8.5% sobre los ingresos que obtengan los titulares de concesiones mineras derivados de la enajenación o venta de la actividad extractiva.

Además, busca aumentar la tasa de derecho extraordinario sobre minería de 0.5 a 1.0% sobre los ingresos que obtengan los concesionarios mineros derivados de la enajenación del oro, plata y platino.

Por el derecho especial sobre minería, el gobierno federal ha recaudado 5,422.70 millones de pesos en los primeros nueve meses de 2024 (una caída anual de 34%), mientras que por el derecho extraordinario sobre minería ha obtenido 782.9 millones de pesos (17% menos que en el 2023).

Favor de continuar leyendo la nota en la fuente: https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/economia/proponen-aumento-derechos-mineros-recaudacion-caido-20241202-736643.html