illegal blockade

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

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 36th week of the year (August 31st to September 6th, 2020), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. The dominant news on the country relating to the mining industry during the week, was the cancellation of the Sub Secretary of Mining (created during the last presidential term), headed by Francisco Quiroga, who had gained the trust of the enterprises and organizations of the industry by his relentless and hands-on daily effort to help better the mining industry in Mexico. He will be missed, unlike his predecessor. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the Sub Secretary of Mining was cancelled, its role absorbed within the Economy Secretary; loud complaints from the mining industry organizations followed, to fall on deaf ears. Pending investments in mining for the near future of US$1991 M. The Sonora Mining Fund Committee approved the investment of US$3.5 M on an aqueduct. FIFOMI has US$164 M in current credits to the mining industry. The Mining Fund is gone, for the purposes it was created for. (This is a measure taken by the actual federal government against the opinion of all mining enterprises and organizations. In my personal point of view, it opens the way to the use of the funds in a very centralized manner, same that can be exploited for political gains by those in power. There was just no need for this change). The very Mexican “illegal mine blockade roulette” now struck Equinox’s Los Filos mine in Guerrero. ON EXPLORATION, in Baja, Comet Resources updated on its Santa Teresa property. In Sonora, Redstar Gold updated on its Cumaro project. In Sinaloa, Viszla Resources released drilling results at Panuco. In Veracruz, Azucar Minerals released drilling results from El Cobre.  ON MINING, Santacruz Silver reported second quarter 2020 results. Equinox Gold’s Los Filos mine in Guerrero is affected by an illegal blockade. ON FINANCING, seven companies made announcements regarding the opening or closing of financing rounds: Southern Silver Exploration ($456 K), Barksdale Resources ($6.3 M), GoGold Resources (C$30 M), Silver Dollar Resources ($10.5 M), Inomin Mines ($400 K), Americas Gold and Silver (C$39.4 M), Alien Metals (£1.25 M). Gold79 Mines, Golden Tag Resources and Redstar Gold granted stock options to officers, directors and consultants. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Silver Bull Resources updated on the legal battle and an illegal blockade at its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Odyssey Marine Exploration received funds for the legal battle to obtain the government permit to mine its Exploraciones Oceánicas phosphate project offshore Baja California Sur. Tarachi Gold acquired the Juliana group of properties, increasing the size of its Tarachi property to 3,708 hectares. Inomin Mines executed the agreement on the acquisition of the La Gitana and Peña Blanca properties in Oaxaca. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Peñasquito, First Majestic, Minera San Javier, Alamos Gold and SilverCrest informed on donations, community involvement and safety measures on the areas near their operations.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Francisco Quiroga, in his last day as Sub-Secretary of Mining, called for the AIMMGM (Asociación de Ingenieros Mineros, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México) to play a leading role in the transformation of the industry and its relationship with the public sector.
  • The AIMMGM installed the newly elected board for the 2020-2022 period.
  • The Secretaría de Economía announced the cancellation of the Mining Sub-Secretary, onward from September 1st, 2020.
  • The cancellation of the Mining Sub-Secretary by the federal government brought loud complaints from companies and organisms within the industry (not that these complaints are to be attended to). The Cámara Minera de México (CAMIMEX), the Asociación de Ingenieros Mineros, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México (AIMMGM), the Mining Task Force of the Cámara de Comercio del Canadá en México, the Sonora, Chihuahua, Guerrero, Sinaloa and Zacatecas Mining clusters, the Colegio de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México (CIMMGM) and the organization Mujeres en la Minería (WIM Mexico) extended its congratulations to Francisco Quiroga, departing Mining Sub-Secretary and expressed the profound disagreement for the disappearance of the Sub Secretary of Mining.   
  • Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) informed Mexico has a list of projects that add up to $1,991 M dollars in programmed investment. Amongst these are the Campo Morado mine in Guerrero, La Yaqui Grande in Sonora, as well as the Orysivo project in Chihuahua, the Centauro Profundo project in Sonora and the Media Luna project in Guerrero. Mexico had a production peak of 123,364 kg of gold in 2015, same that has declined to 73,451 kg in 2019.
  • The Mining Fund Sonora Committee approved the investment of MX$75 M pesos (US$3.5 M) for the construction of the Macoyahui-Alamos aqueduct. The project includes 24.5 Km of PVC tubing and five pumping stations.
  • INEGI informed the mining activity is resuming after the COVID lockdown. Sulphur, iron,, lead, gold, copper, silver, fluorite are among the commodities that have seen their production significantly increased. In January 2020 the industry generated 381,456 direct jobs and more than 2 M indirect jobs, according to the IMSS.
  • Request for the Mining Sub Secretary to stay in Chihuahua by Omar Bazán, deputy, and the Chihuahua Mining Cluster.
  • The Fideicomiso de Fomento Minero (FIFOMI) has $3,530 M pesos (US$164 M) on current credits to the mining sector.
  • The Mining Fund is gone, for the purposes it was created for. Graciela Márquez, Economy Secretary confirmed the resources no longer are going to be distributed among mining municipalities, but through different agreements with government organisms and federal programs to help mining communities.
  • Graciela Márquez, Economy Secretary, stated the disappearance of the Mining Sub-Secretary is not to affect the mining industry as all relevant structures stay in place (We beg to disagree).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Radius Gold Inc. informed on exploration at its Amalia and Plata Verde projects in Chihuahua. At Amalia, “phase 4 drilling funded by JV partner Pan American Silver remains on stand-by due to COVID-19. Semarnat, the permitting agency in Chihuahua, has returned to work on a limited scale and Pan American has recently provided updated information requested by Semarnat”. At Plata Verde, there is advance in the signing of agreements to expand the property package. “The next phase of field work will consist of geophysical programs to identify feeder systems and expansions of the known mineralization under the thin (>100m) cover volcanics”.
  • Redstar Gold Corp. announced its Cumaro project in Sonora is adjacent to SilverCrest’s Picacho property. “Previous drilling on SilverCrest Metals’ Picacho vein, two kilometres north of the Cumaro property, returned intersections including 13.9 metres at 16.22 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 33.9 g/t silver in hole PDD07-013, and 4.1 metres at 3.86 g/t gold and 35.0 g/t silver…” in other hole on the Dos Amigos vein. The company believes there is a down-thrown block on the eastern side of the property, where the extensions of the veins exposed on the western side could be present on a much shallower level.
  • Comet Resources Ltd. Informed in a corporate presentation on its Santa Teresa property in Baja California. Santa Teresa is a high-grade mesothermal lode gold deposit (ie.- orogenic gold) with an existing NI 43-101 inferred resource of 64 K Oz Au capped at 20 gpt Au, with a cutoff grade of 4 gpt Au and average grade of 8 gpt Au. Historical drilling has intersected quartz veins grading up to 958 gpt Au over 1 m, and multiple other drill results above 30 gpt Au. The deposit is open along strike and at depth.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp. announced a fourth new discovery at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. The first four drill holes at the Tajitos vein have been completed on the Cinco Señores vein corridor. Highlighted intercepts from the three first drill holes comprise 4.5 m @ 1,200 gpt Ag, 7.29 gpt Au (including 1.15 m @ 2,210 gpt Ag, 16.13 gpt Au); 1.15 m @ 812 gpt Ag, 4.59 gpt Au. ”The Tajitos vein zone is composed of a quartz breccia vein with an early white locally banded quartz supporting andesite lithic clasts, followed by a later white to greyish quartz supporting brecciated clasts of earlier white quartz veins. This zone was then cut by a later white to clear quartz vein with local dark bands or patches of fine-grained sulphides that is cutting a zone of quartz psuedomorphs after bladed calcite and pink rhodochrosite. The better grades are in the earlier breccias associated with dark bands or dark patches of very fine-grained disseminated sulphides. This vein zone is hosted in a package of andesite flows and tuffs”.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. released drilling results from its El Cobre project in Veracruz. The holes in the Primo target returned 23.75 m  @ 0.22 gpt Au, 0.08% Cu; 8.50 m @ 0.71 gpt Au, 0.24% Cu; 123.50 m @ 0.14 gpt Au, 0.14% Cu. Azucar is currently preparing its facilities  and implementing the health protocols required to enable a safe return to work.

ON MINING

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. Reported operating and financial results for the second quarter 2020. At Veta Grande in Zacatecas, 37.1 K tonnes were milled to produce 204.6 K Oz AgEq at cash cost $17.68 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $19.70 per Oz AgEq. At Rosario in San Luis Potosi, 20.8 K tonnes were milled to produce 141.4 K Oz AgEq at cash cost $14.23 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $15.59 per Oz AgEq.
  • Equinox Gold Corp. reports that “mining activities at its Los Filos mine in Mexico have been suspended since September 3, 2020 as the result of an illegal road blockade by members of the nearby Carrizalillo community. The individuals allege non-compliance with the community social collaboration agreement signed in 2019. The mine remains staffed with a reduced workforce to maintain appropriate safety, security and environmental systems. Equinox Gold is in active discussions with the Carrizalillo community leaders to resolve the issues”.

ON FINANCING

  • Gold79 Mines Ltd. Approved the granting of 6 M stock options to officers, directors and consultants of the company (Taviche, Oaxaca).
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. plans to conduct a non-brokered private placement to raise $456 K (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango).
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. Granted 9.9 M incentive stock options to management and directors (San Diego, Durango).
  • Barksdale Resources Corp. increased the size of its non-brokered private placement financing for gross proceeds of up to $6.3 M (San Javier, Sonora).
  • GoGold Resources Inc. entered into an agreement on a bought deal basis with a syndicate of underwriters for the acquisition of shares for gross proceeds of C$30 M (Los Ricos, Jalisco).
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc. has arranged a non-brokered private placement to raise up to $10.5 M (La Joya, Durango).
  • Redstar Gold Corp. announced the granting of 20.73 M stock options to directors, officers and consultants of the company (Cumaro, Oso Negro and La Lola, Sonora).
  • Inomin Mines Inc. announced a non-brokered private placement to raise up to $400 K in gross profits (La Gitana, Oaxaca).
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. closed its previously announced and up-sized bought deal financing for aggregate gross proceeds of C$39.4 M (Cosalá, Sinaloa).
  • Alien Metals Ltd. announced that it has conditionally raised £1.25 M (Los Campos and Los Celsos, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. updated on its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. Sociedad Cooperativa de Exploración Minera Mineros Norteños, S.C.L. (Mineros Norteños), the group which is illegally blocking the Sierra Mojada project, has filed an appeal in the recently reopened Mexican courts to try and overturn a favorable ruling for Silver Bull on their lawsuit against the Company filed in 2014. The company sees the whole lawsuit as frivolous (looking for payment of an NSR on production that has not taken place), and explains Mineros Norteños has lost already three rulings, and Silver Bull expects a final ruling on the case, which cannot be appealed by Mineros Norteños, to be handed down from the courts within the next 6 months. Mineros Norteños has illegally blocked access to the project since September 2019.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. had a financing transaction that provides the company with $11.3 M, a portion of which will be used to fund operating expenses of the “Exploraciones Oceánicas” phosphate project offshore Baja California Sur. “The investor group was anchored by Odyssey’s existing NAFTA funding partner, Poplar Grove LLC. Poplar Grove is managed by Drumcliffe LLC, a private investment management firm that oversees high-value litigation funding portfolios of over $14 billion in claims”.   
  • Telson Mining Corp. announced the resignation from its board of directors by Remigio Martínez Muller.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp. entered into an arm’s length option agreement with Exploradora Cobre de Bacanoras S. de R.L. de C.V. to acquire 100% interest in the group of mining concessions known as the Juliana, Juliana No.1, Juliana No.2 and Las Morita mining concessions covering 1,140 hectares in Sonora. “Tarachi’s projects now consist of the San Javier, Pretoria, Chivitas, Jabali, Juliana, Texana and Tarachi concessions for a total of 3,708 ha in the Mulatos District. The deal involves the payment of $40 K on the execution date, $30 K on six months, $30 K on 12 months, $30 K on 18 months, $60 K on 24 months, $60 K on 30 months, $150 K on 36 months, $150 K on 42 months, $150 K on 48 months, $700 K on 54 months and $700 K on 60 months, and the issue of 4 M common shares, 400 K of those on the execution date, 1 M shares on 12 months, 1 M shares on 24 months and 1.5 M shares on 26 months. The transfer of the concessions is subject to a 3% NSR from production, with the company having the right to buy at any time 1/3 of the NSR for $1 M.
  • Inomin Mines Inc. announced the execution of the agreement to acquire the La Gitana and Peña Blanca projects in Oaxaca. Inomin is acquiring 100% interest on both properties for 1 M common shares of Inomin, $25 K cash and the grant of 1.5 % NSR on the Peña Blanca property, of which 0.5% can be bought at any time for $1 M.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Peñasquito continues to apply bio-security protocols. Up to date 27,359 fast test have been applied in the facilities and neighboring communities, resulting in six confirmed cases.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. invested during 2019 US$3.8 M in local community, health youth programs, infrastructure and access to clean water. Over 25,600 medical consultations were provided in local communities. Planted 105,730 native plant species through reforestation initiatives .
  • Minera San Javier (NewGold) donated personal medical equipment to hospitals in San Luis Potosí, and personal medical equipment and sanitization supplies to the Cerro San Pedro municipality health clinics. The company continues to deliver food pantries to persons in need in Planta del Carmen, La Zapatilla, Monte Caldera, Cuesta de Campa, Calderón, Portezuelo and Cerro San Pedro.
  • Alamos Gold donated medical equipment and a mobile unit to the Sahuaripa DIF (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia) in Sonora.
  • SilverCrest’s Las Chispas project has accumulated 600 days without accidents in Sonora.

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

On the image below: The whitish ledge from left to center is a silicified paleo water table in the Mexican Altiplano. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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

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225aBy Jorge Cirett

During the 6th week of the year (February 3rd to January 9th, 2020), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, CAMIMEX urged the Mining Fund to be used on the grounds it was meant to (infrastructure on Mining localities), as this year these funds will flow to the Education Secretariat for use in school’s remodelling. Mexico’s mining production decreased year on year during November 2019 by 1.9%. UNAM offers an Earth Science’s degree at its Juriquilla facilities, in Queretaro. The Sonora Mining Cluster presented its annual report and 2020 program. The San Martin mine (Zacatecas) legal duel between two Unions continues with a recent ruling by the Supreme Court. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Minera Alamos released drill results which confirm long intervals of significant mineralization at its Santana property; Canuc Resources surface rock sample results confirm the extension of mineralization within its concessions in San Javier. Minaurum Gold released historical drill intercepts that confirm extensions of wide, high-grade mineralization on the veins that were mined in the past on its Alamos Silver project. Colibri Resource prepares to drill two mineralized corridors on the Evelyn project. In Zacatecas Advance Gold completed the third phase geophysical survey at the Tabasqueña project. ON MINING, GoGold, Consolidated Zinc and Hecla Mining presented Q4 and full year 2019 results. Americas Gold and Silver installations on the Copalá complex in Sinaloa have seen its access blocked. Mexus Gold continues leaching operations at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. US Antimony initiated pilot plant production at its Los Juarez property in Queretaro. ON FINANCING, Sonoro Metals is discussing financing options with Chinese companies. Ridgestone Mining ($1.05 M), San Marco Resources (C$500 K), Advance Gold ($250 K), First Mining ($5 M) and GoGold (C$5 M) released information on its planned or undergoing financing rounds. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Argonaut Gold filed the PFS report on the Cerro del Gallo in Guanajuato. Azure Minerals released good drilling results from the Loma Bonita deposit at its Alacrán property in Sonora. Prime Mining released good results of road cuts and trenches at its Guadalupe de Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Premier Gold Mines reported on the development of the Lupita Extension ore body at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. Starcore International is drilling the Santa Elena target at its San Martin mine in Queretaro.    ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Consolidated Zinc is dealing with a legal issue regarding claims for compensation from a former mining contractor. Sierra Metals announced the settlement on an outstanding litigation regarding mining concessions within its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Minera San Xavier donated two water concessions to the Cerro San Pedro municipality in San Luis Potosí. Minera Peñasquito donated agriculture equipment to farmers in Mazapil, Zacatecas, valued at over $9 M pesos ($480 K).

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Fernando Alanís Ortega, Camimex president, urged that the use of the Mining Fund should stick for its creation purpose, like helping municipalities on infrastructure. In 2019 a change was approved by Congress, by which in March 2020 the funds are to be delivered to the Secretaría de Educación Pública (Education Secretariat) for school remodelling. Camimex is to stay working in keeping the mining sector united, better the industry public perception and to find the way to develop a public policy that incentives mining.
  • Mexico’s Mining production decreased during November 2019. Mining production decreased 1.9% from November 2018 to November 2019, gold decreased 5.2%, silver 1.7%, lead 3.8%, zinc 3.4%, fluorite 11.4%, coke 19.2%, coal 9%, while copper production increased by 1.8%.
  • UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) has a new major at its Juriquilla unit in Queretaro. This Earth Sciences studies at this facilities are focused on two themes: The Solid Earth and Environmental Geology.
  • The Cluster Minero de Sonora presented its annual report and guidelines for 2020, in Hermosillo. The event counted with the participation of members, industry leaders and state and federal level officials, which were exposed to the different objectives the Sonora Mining Cluster has planned for the year.
  • The Supreme Court discarded the amparo review that acknowledges the strike in Sombrerete, Zacatecas. According to the publication, the ruling obliges Grupo Mexico to recognize the strike that started on the San Martin mine in July 2007.
  • The Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Exploración, Explotación y Beneficio de Minas en la República Mexicana posted a letter on the San Martin mine in Zacatecas. In this letter the union states that the Supreme Court ruling that debunks its representativeness is not final, and can be appealed. Furthermore, the ownership procedure is independent of the termination of the strike dated august 2018, and that it is false that the mine facilities have to be surrendered. The Union has the solid commitment to fight all the legal battles needed to make the voice of hundreds of miners to be heard.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Advance Gold Corp. completed the third phase of a geophysical study campaign at its Tabasqueña property in Zacatecas. The survey expanded the length of a chargeability anomaly to 3,200 x 500 m. “The second hole currently being drilled on the chargeability anomaly has intersected 24 metres of quartz vein above the anomaly”.
  • Minera Alamos Inc. provided confirmation of significant disseminated mineralization at the Divisadero discovery at its Santana project in Sonora. Significant drill intersections from 2018-2019 comprise: 95.7 m @ 0.85 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag, 0.33% Cu; 96.4 m @ 0.42 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag, 0.12% Cu; 133.6 m @ 0.56 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag, 0.16% Cu.
  • Canuc Resources Corp. released results from surface rock samples at its San Javier property in Sonora. Highlighted results comprise: 0.6 m @ 1.8 gpt Au, 11 gpt Ag; 0.6 m @ 0.33 gpt Au, 114 gpt Ag; 0.8 m @ 17.9 gpt Au, 11 gpt Ag; 1.1 m @ 11.6 gpt Au, 99 gpt Ag; 0.4 m @ 3.1 gpt Au, 138 gpt Ag; 1.1 m @ 4.13 gpt Au, 197 gpt Ag; 0.6 m @ 0.65 gpt Au, 170 gpt Ag; 0.5 m @ 0.02 gpt Au, 182 gpt Ag; 0.4 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 262 gpt Ag; 0.9 m @ 0.02 gpt Au, 192 gpt Ag; 0.3 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 399 gpt Ag; 1.5 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 239 gpt Ag; 1.4 m @ 0.02 gpt Au, 705 gpt Ag; 1.6 m @ 0.02 gpt Au, 578 gpt Ag. These results confirm the extension of the mineralized structures over the three kilometers of strike length of the mining concessions held by Canuc.
  • Minaurum Gold Inc. acquired historical data including mine maps, sections and results of 40 holes (6,099 m) drilled at its Alamos Silver project in Sonora. The holes were drilled between the 1960’s and 1980’s, and focused on the Promontorio and Minas Nuevas underground mines. The results indicate that the deposits included multiple veins and continue at depth and along strike. It is estimated that 200 M Oz Ag were mined from the Quintera, Promontorio and Minas Nuevas mines. Highlighted results from the Promontorio mine comprise 1.2 m @ 5,588 gpt Ag; 1.2 m @ 1,008 gpt Ag; 4.6 m @ 2,838 gpt Ag; 4.6 m @ 305 gpt Ag; 1.4 m @ 377 gpt Ag; 12.2 m @ 710 gpt Ag; 7.6 m @ 747 gpt Ag; 11.3 m @ 785 gpt Ag; 1 m @ 2,177 gpt Ag; 1.2 m @ 854 gpt Ag, 23 gpt Au. Highlighted results from the Promontorio mine include 1.7 m @ 452 gpt Ag, 2 m @ 367 gpt Ag, 1.8 m @ 839 gpt Ag. The results indicate that the deposits included multiple veins and continue at depth and along strike. It is estimated that 200 M Oz Ag were mined from the Quintera, Promontorio and Minas Nuevas mines.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. has contracted Major drilling for the maiden drilling program at Evelyn, in Sonora. Drilling is to test to main corridors, Cerro Rojo and El Sahuaro. Activities are to start as soon as the relevant permit is received.

ON MINING

  • GoGold Resources Inc. released financial results for Q4 2019. During the period the company had revenue of $9.3 M, net income of $535 K, producing 585 K Oz Ag at cash cost $12.54 and AISC $14.59 per AgEq Oz. By the end of the period the company had $5 M in cash.
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. announced that a group of individuals, including a small minority of the company’s unionized workers, illegally blockaded access to facilities at its Cosalá operations in Sinaloa. “The Company has already filed the legal motions with the Government of Mexico at the state and federal levels but remains receptive to having good‐faith discussions with the proper representatives of the certified union”. Mining and processing operations have been temporarily halted.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. presented its quarterly activities report for Q4 2019. During the period 9,062 tonnes @ 16.1% Zn, 8.4% Pb were mined, 11,712 tonnes @ 16.1% Zn, 8.4% Pb were processed. Cash cost per Lb Zn was $1.48. The cash balance at the end of the period was US$556 K plus concentrate receivables of US$617 K.
  • Hecla Mining Co. presented fourth quarter and full year 2019 financial and operating results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At San Sebastian, in Durango, 422.4 K Oz Ag, 3,897 Oz Au were produced at cash cost $8.89 and AISC $11.78 per Oz Ag in Q4, 2019; while 1.87 M Oz Ag, 15,673 Oz Au were produced at cash cost $8.02 and AISC $12.10 per Oz Ag during the full year 2019. Operations in San Sebastian have transitioned from higher grade open pit to underground production, with the mill operating at a daily rate of 425 tpd for the quarter and 479 tpd for the year. “The Company is completing its study on the Hugh Zone sulfide ore and expects a decision on development in the first quarter, which would allow production to begin by the end of the year”.
  • Mexus Gold US. announced that gold production is continuing at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake by First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora).
  • United States Antimony Corp. initiated pilot phase precious metal production at its Los Juarez property in Queretaro. The procedure involves crushing, flotation and cyanide leach of the ore.

ON FINANCING

  • Sonoro Metals Corp. announced “discussions regarding project debt finance and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts with China-based EPC companies continue to advance”. (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc. intends to complete a non-brokered private placement for up to $1.05 M in gross proceeds (Rebeico, Sonora).
  • San Marco Resources Inc. announced that its non-brokered private placement intended to raise C$500 K has been over-subscribed, and now is to total C$717 K in gross proceeds (project 1068, Sonora).
  • Advance Gold Corp. is to undertake a non-brokered private placement, aiming to raise gross proceeds of $250 K (Tabasqueña, Zacatecas).
  • First Mining Gold Corp. intends to complete a non-brokered placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $5M, with some insiders of the company participating. (Miranda, Sonora; Lachatao, Oaxaca).
  • GoGold Resources Inc. entered into an agreement with Sprott Capital Partners LP and PI Financial Corp. as co-lead underwriters, along with BMO Capital Markets, pursuant to which they agreed to purchase on a bought deal basis units of the company for gross proceeds of C$5 M (Los Ricos, Jalisco).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Argonaut Gold Inc. filed the technical report for the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) on the Cerro del Gallo project in Guanajuato.
  • Azure Minerals Ltd. released good results from infill and extension drilling on the Loma Bonita deposit at its Alacrán project in Sonora. Highlighted intervals include 126 m @ 1.96 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag (including 64.5 m @ 2.8 gpt Au, which includes 34.5 m @ 3.94 gpt Au, 60 gpt Ag) in an infill hole; 36 m @ 1.0 gpt Au, 13 gpt Ag on an expansion drill hole.
  • Prime Mining Corp. released results from new trenches and road cuts on the Zapote North and South deposits at its Guadalupe de Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Highlighted Road cuts results comprise 30 m @ 2.87 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag; 43.5 m @ 1.24 gpt Au, 13 gpt Ag; 22.5 m @ 0.87 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag; 37.5 m @ 3.9 gpt Au, 36 gpt Ag; 16.5 m @ 0.66 gpt Au, 8 gpt Ag; 12 m @ 1.56 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag; 6 m @ 11.72 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag. Underground adit sampling returned 10.5 m @ 0.58 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag; 10.5 m @ 1.32 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag; 22.5 m @ 3.23 gpt Au, 68 gpt Ag.
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. reported progress ahead of schedule on the “development of the Lupita Extension underground development” at its Mercedes mine in Sonora…. During 2019, a successful delineation program of 87 drill holes extended the known Lupita mineralization along a strike length of 300 m. A clear difference between the two Lupita areas are the noticeable higher grade and width in Lupita Extension versus Lupita as well as the steeper dipping geometry of about 50 degrees. The delineation drilling program returned an average true width of 2.9 m of 5.56 g/t Au length-weighted average grade“.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. has started drilling the Santa Elena target at its San Martin mine in Queretaro. “The Company is conducting an exploration program that will consist of 10 holes between 200 to 400 meters each targeting the Santa Elena vein, which is thought to be a mirror of the San Martin vein(s), a typical epithermal gold-silver deposit characterized by low sulfation (sic)”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • First Majestic Silver Corp. announced the appointment of Mr. Steve Holmes to the role of Chief Operating Officer (San Dimas, Durango; Santa Elena, Sonora).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. informed on legal proceedings by its former mining contractor at the Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. Caminos y Construcciones Ganti S.A. de C.V. is suing CZL for final outstanding costs MXN$23.63 M, including VAT. CZL has presented counterclaims totaling MXN$89.15 M. On January 31, 2020, Ganti representatives seized control of the physical inventory at the third party Aldama plant. (Plomosas mine, Chihuahua).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. stated that it has succeeded in legal action to end the intimidation and excessive actions of Caminos and Construcciones Ganti S.A. de C.V.. Ganti was CZL’s mining contractor “until they were terminated on the 25 November 2019, in accordance with their contract”. Ignoring the contracted conflict resolution procedures, Ganti submitted legal proceedings in the Federal District Court of Chihuahua. On 4 February the Court rescinded the orders given to Ganti (Plomosas mine, Chihuahua).
  • Tamino Minerals Inc. informed the company has plans to make acquisitions (El Volcán, Sonora).
  • Sierra Metals Inc. announced the settlement of the outstanding litigation with Polo y Ron pertaining mining concessions where mine operations and mineral reserves estimates are located on its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua. “The impact of the settlement amount paid on Sierra Metals’ financial condition and operating results is not significant”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera San Xavier is donating two water concessions to the Cerro San Pedro municipality, in San Luis Potosi. The concessions add up to 480 thousand cubic meters of water per year. The use of the resource is exclusively for the communities of Cerro de San Pedro, La Zapatilla, Divisadero, Planta del Carmen, Granjas de San Francisco, Monte Caldera, Cuesta de Campa, Calderón y Jesús Maria, all within the Cerro San Pedro Municipality.
  • Minera Peñasquito supports farmers in Zacatecas. The Newmont GoldCorp subsidiary delivered agriculture machinery to El Vergel producers. In collaboration with the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), the equipment valued at more than nine million pesos (US$480 K) is to benefit more than 400 inhabitants of Mazapil, Zacatecas.

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

On the image below: Twentieth Century tauna on a stream in Oaxaca, picture by Jorge Cirett.

225a

Cachetadita Minera

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https://www.elimparcial.com/columnas/Cachetadita-minera-20190508-0112.html

Sergio Sarmiento 

Alfonso Romo, jefe de la Oficina de la Presidencia, afirma que: “El primer trimestre nos dio una cachetadita”. Como jinete experimentado añadió: Eso es “como cuando montas a caballo, te vuelves a subir para montar mejor”.

            Para superar la contracción del primer trimestre, y conservar las posibilidades de crecer 4% al año en el sexenio, es importante mantener la inversión productiva, pero esto no ocurrirá si seguimos viendo casos en que los políticos extorsionan a los inversionistas.

            La mina de Peñasquito en Zacatecas es un ejemplo. Desde el pasado 27 de marzo sus accesos han sido bloqueados por integrantes del ejido de San Juan de Cedros, así como por líderes de la empresa transportista CAVA, también formada por miembros de ese ejido. El senador de Morena, José Narro Céspedes, parece ser el organizador de este bloqueo.

 La empresa señala que el mismo 27 de marzo que empezó el bloqueo el representante de los ejidatarios, Felipe Pinedo, asesor de Narro Céspedes, presentó “como principal exigencia un pago de 442 millones de dólares por la presunta afectación a un cuerpo de agua en dicha comunidad. Socios de CAVA indicaron que Pinedo y dos asesores jurídicos recibirían 80 millones de dólares de dicho pago”. La empresa ha afirmado que no cederá a lo que tilda de extorsión.

            El cierre de la mina ha tenido consecuencias negativas importantes en la zona. Peñasquito ha creado seis mil empleos directos y unos 14 mil indirectos. Es la segunda generadora de empleo en Zacatecas. La empresa ha tenido ya que suspender pagos a trabajadores, empleados, proveedores, contratistas y comunidades a las que otorga ayuda desde hace años.

Favor de continuar leyendo en :
https://www.elimparcial.com/columnas/Cachetadita-minera-20190508-0112.html

Labour conflict at Torex mine in Mexico cools off

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Labour conflict at Torex mine in Mexico cools off

Canada’s Torex Gold Resources (TSX: TXG) announced that, following last week’s negotiations that put an end to a five-month blockade at its El Limón-Guajes mine, today it received a notification stating that the union in conflict had withdrawn its case before Mexico’s Federal Labour Board.

Los Mineros Union, led by expat in Vancouver Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, had been fighting since November 3, 2017, to be the legally constituted union for the union-eligible ELG Mine Complex employees. According to its representatives, Torex had unilaterally decided which union would advocate for workers, as opposed to letting them choose for themselves, accusations that the company denies.

Torex Reports Third Quarter 2017 Financial And Operational Results

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https://www.torexgold.com/news/torex-reports-third-quarter-2017-financial-and-operational-results

TORONTO, Ontario, November 9, 2017 – Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the “Company” or “Torex”) (TSX:TXG) reported today the Company’s financial results for the third quarter of 2017, as ramp-up continues at its El Limón Guajes Mine (ELG) in southwest Mexico. The Company also provided the following update to the previously announced blockade situation at ELG.

Blockade Update:

  • This is day 7 of the blockade, that resulted from a conflict between two unions
  • The military is patrolling the area and attending the site
  • Care and maintenance activities resumed yesterday
  • Discussions are underway with the Federal Police (Gendarmerie) to provide security personnel to the site
  • Blockades are illegal, but they also have a political aspect to them. Excellent political support has been received from State and Federal governments to advance the legal charges and to find a negotiated resolution to the dispute between the two unions
  • The Operations team is optimizing the plan for an efficient plant start up, once the blockade is removed

Torex Reports Credible Threats By The Blockaders Against ELG Site Staff

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https://www.torexgold.com/news/torex-reports-credible-threats-by-the-blockaders-against-elg-site-staff

TORONTO, Ontario, November 7, 2017 – Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the “Company” or “Torex”) (TSX:TXG) reports that during the evening of Monday, November 6th, a group of approximately 35 persons, entered the ELG mine site and threatened the site staff. These staff members were monitoring to protect the environment, monitoring the pumps in the open pits, and maintaining the processing plant status to that required for a rapid restart of operations upon conclusion of the illegal blockade of the site access road. Of the 35 persons, about 25% were unknown to the Company, the rest were local citizens. These individuals told the ELG staff, that if they did not leave by Tuesday, November 7th, then they would be forcibly removed from site. The staff have been evacuated from the site and the off-site accommodation facilities are in the process of being evacuated. The Company has requested to the appropriate authorities that they take action to restore law and order.

Torex Reports An Illegal Blockade At The ELG Mine

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https://www.torexgold.com/news/torex-reports-an-illegal-blockade-at-the-elg-mine

TORONTO, Ontario, November 6, 2017 – Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the “Company” or “Torex”) (TSX:TXG) announced that during the afternoon of Friday, November 03, a group of approximately 20 local unionized workers illegally blockaded the main gate to the ELG mine, demanding a change in labour union. This action came after a meeting held earlier in the day where the Company explained to these workers that the Company did not have the authority to enact such a change. It could only be accomplished through a government sanctioned process that considered the intentions of the majority of unionized employees. The illegal blockade has continued since then, in a peaceful manner, and no unionized workers remain on site. Without a workforce, the Company shutdown the processing plant in an orderly manner. During the stoppage, there will be a focus on maintaining environmental protections.