Lithium

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of April, 2019.

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An active hot spring system.

By Miguel A Heredia

During the thirteen week of the year (April 08th to April 14th, 2019), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with seven informing on exploration results, seven communicating financial and production results, six disclosing deals and corporate issues, one announcing financial rounds, and one reporting on resources and development of their properties.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, No relevant news.   ON EXPLORATION, In Baja California Norte, One World Lithium announced that a RC rig is moving to its Salar del Diablo project. In Sonora, Silver Viper identified new drill targets at its Virginia project and prepares a helicopter-borne magnetic and radiometric survey. In Chihuahua, Radius re-started drilling at its Amalia project and Silver Spruce announced that its ongoing field exploration work continue expanding their drill target areas and has identified new veins at its Pino de Plata project.  In Coahuila, Discovery Metals increased the anomalous area at its Minerva project. In Sinaloa, Kootenay reported sampling results and the discovery of a new vein at its Copalito project. In Durango, Gainey received an environmental permit to drill up to 32 holes at its Las Margaritas project. ON MINING, McEwen released Q1, 2019 production results from its El Gallo mine in Sinaloa. Great Panther reported Q1, 2019 production results from their Topia mine in Durango and Guanajuato Mine Complex in Guanajuato. Consolidated Zinc reported March 2019 production results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. Endeavour reported Q1, 2019 production results from its four Au-Ag mines in Mexico. Fortuna Silver reported Q1, 2019 production results from its San Jose mine in Oaxaca. Fresnillo plc announced Q1, 2019 production results from their Mexican operations. ON FINANCING One World Lithium closed a second tranche of its non-brokered private placement for $CDN 525, 675 (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California Norte). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, McEwen announced that the FS and permitting are progressing at its El Fenix project in Sinaloa, and expects to complete the FS on Q2, 2019. Fresnillo plc and MAG Silver announced that their Juanicipio project in Zacatecas has been approved for development by their respective Boards of Directors. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, One World Lithium announced the engagement of and IR firm (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California Norte). Sierra Metals announced changes of its Board of Directors (Cusi mine, Chihuahua). Goldcorp obtained a final order approving the plan of arrangement with Newmont. McEwen announced that are exploring the potential sale of their Mexican assets (El Gallo and Fenix projects, Sinaloa). Azucar Minerals reported that Newcrest confirmed its intention to exercise its top-up rights pursuant to the investor rights agreement (El Cobre project, Veracruz).  Fresnillo plc announced changes on its Board of Directors (La Herradura mine, Sonora). Oroco announced an option to purchase 40M shares of Aztec Copper Corporation (Santo Tomás project, Sinaloa). VVC announced changes on its Board of Directors (Samalayuca project, Chihuahua).

 ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • One World Lithium Inc., announced that a truck mounted RC drill rig is moving to its the Salar del Diablo project in Baja California Norte. The company plans to drill 4,250m in 12 holes to drill-test three geophysical anomalies covering more than 54 Km2, a large geochemical anomaly that covers 150 Km2, and geological structures.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., identified new drill targets based on surface geochemistry and prospecting at its Virginia project in Sonora. These new targets are located south and east of the El Rubi discovery, and will be tested during the next phase of drilling to be conducted on the property. Also, the company will carry out a 720 line-km magnetic and radiometric survey over the El Rubi and La Gloria targets for a total coverage of 4,900 hectares.
  • Radius Gold Inc., re-started drilling at its Amalia project in Chihuahua, where last year, drill hole AMD18-009 in the San Pedro structural zone intersected 7.08 g/t Au and 517 g/t Ag over 26m, including 14.71 g/t Au and 1,378 g/t Ag over 5m. The company plans to drill 2,000m to test immediately below and on strike of the hole AMD18-009.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., announced that its ongoing field exploration work continue expanding their drill target areas and has identified new veins at its Pino de Plata project in Chihuahua. “Detailed mapping of the property including the expanded area of strong alteration at the Terrero target has been the focus of our current field work. Several new veins have been mapped and systematic analysis with our handheld XRF instrument is underway providing real time data on mineralized areas. Pino de Plata has obvious potential with multiple mineralized drill targets.”
  • Discovery Metals Corp., increased the anomalous area to 1.5km long by 300m wide at its Minerva project in Coahuila. Surface sampling returned encouraging results with values up to 997 g/t Ag, 31% Zn, and 13% Pb. “The strong Ag-Zn-Pb grades of surface anomalies plus the dimensions of the corresponding areas suggest the presence of a robust carbonate replacement system”.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., reported sampling results and the discovery of a new vein at its Copalito project in Sinaloa. Six samples collected on the La Chiva vein returned Ag grades between 33 and 1,190 g/t Ag, including a sample with 1.7 Kg over 1.5m; fourteen samples taken on the Pilar vein returned grades from trace to 233 g/t Ag; and ten samples collected on the new vein called Chente returned grades from 4 to 68 g/t Ag and from traces to 2.62 g/t Au.
  • Gainey Capital Corp., received an environmental permit to drill up to 32 holes at its Las Margaritas project in Durango. The low sulphidation epithermal vein system at Las Margaritas has never been drilled and the upcoming program will be focused on the best mineralization exposed on surface with grades up to 73.7 g/t Au.

ON MINING

  • McEwen Mining Inc., released Q1, 2019 production results from its El Gallo mine in Sinaloa. The company continues recovering Au from residual of the heap leach and produced 5,413 Oz Au.
  • Great Panther Mining Limited, reported Q1, 2019 production results from its Topia mine in Durango and from its Guanajuato Mine Complex in Guanajuato. At Topia, the company milled 20,232 tonnes with grades of 1.09 g/t Au and 336 g/t Ag to produce 380 Oz Au, 203.6K Oz Ag, 1.08M Lb Pb, and 1.48M Lb Zn. Metallurgical recoveries for Au and Ag were 53.4% and 93.3% respectively. At its Guanajuato Mine Complex, the company milled 49,422 tonnes with grades of 2.07 g/t Au and 102 g/t Ag to produce 2,749 Oz Au and 134.8K Oz Ag. Metallurgical recoveries for Au and Ag were 83.7% and 83.3% respectively.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, reported March 2019 production results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The company milled 3,855 tonnes with grades of 12.4% Zn and 1.5% Pb to produce 1.07M Lb Zn and 125.4K Lb Pb.
  • Coeur Mining Inc., released Q1, 2019 production results from its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. Coeur milled 378,987 tonnes with grades of 2.18 g/t Au and 144 g/t Ag to produce 23.2K Oz Au and 1.3M Oz Ag. Metallurgical recoveries were 83.4% for Au and 72.8% for Ag.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., presented Q1, 2019 production results from their four Au-Ag mines in Mexico. The company produced 1M Oz Ag and 10K Oz Au. Figures for each of their Mexican operations is shown in the table below:

  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., reported Q1, 2019 production results from its San Jose mine in Oaxaca. Fortuna milled 256,643 tonnes with grades of 1.71 g/t Au and 267 g/t Ag to produce 12.7K Oz Au and 2M Oz Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 90.14% and 90.76% respectively.
  • Fresnillo plc., announced production results from their several Mexican operations. A total of 13.1M Oz Ag, 211K Oz Au, 27.2M Lb Pb, and 4.8M Lb Zn were produced during Q1, 2019. Figures by mine are shown in the next table:

ON FINANCING

  • One World Lithium Inc., closed a second tranche of its non-brokered private placement for CDN$ 525,675. Including the proceeds from the first tranche, the company has raised CDN$ 1,774,550 under the offering, leaving CDN$225,450 of the offering yet to close. Net proceeds will be used to fund the drilling program at its Salar del Diablo in Baja California Norte.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • McEwen Mining Inc., announced that the FS and permitting are progressing at its El Fenix project in Sinaloa, and expects to complete the FS on Q2, 2019.
  • Fresnillo plc and MAG Silver Corp., announced that their Juanicipio project in Zacatecas has been approved for development by their respective Boards of Directors. Fresnillo will be the operator of Juanicipio and holds a 56% majority stake. Construction will commence immediately and is expected to be completed in late 2020, with a life of mine of 12 years and a total average annual production of 11.7M Oz Ag and 43.5K Oz Au. The Juanicipio development is expected to create approximately 2,750 jobs during construction and 1,720 jobs once at full production.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • One World Lithium Inc., announced the engagement of Kaye Wynn Consulting Inc., as its IR firm (Salar del Diablo project, Baja California Norte).
  • Sierra Metals Inc., announced changes of its Board of Directors (Cusi mine, Chihuahua).
  • Goldcorp Inc., obtained a final order approving the plan of arrangement that allow Newmont Mining Corporation to acquire all outstanding common shares of Goldcorp. Goldcorp and Newmont expect to close the transaction in Q2, 2019, and the combined entity will be called Newmont Goldcorp.
  • McEwen Mining Inc., announced that are exploring the potential sale of their Mexican assets (El Gallo and Fenix projects, Sinaloa).
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd., reported that Newcrest confirmed its intention to exercise its top-up rights pursuant to the investor rights agreement. Top-up rights in favour of Newcrest entitles it to maintain its pro-rata interest in Azucar, and the right to designate one nominee to the Board of Directors of Azucar. (El Cobre project, Veracruz).
  • Fresnillo plc., announced changes on its Board of Directors, appointed Mr. Luis Robles as an independent non-executive director of the company (La Herradura mine, Sonora).
  • Oroco Resources Corp., announced that its affiliate Altamura Copper Corp., has acquired an option to purchase 40M shares of Aztec Copper Corporation. At the time of their issuance, the Aztec shares represented in excess of 90 percent ownership of Aztec (Santo Tomás project, Sinaloa).
  • VVC Exploration Corporation., appointed Ms. Emily King to its Board of Directors (Samalayuca project, Chihuahua).

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, an active hot spring system in a prospect in Queretaro, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

One World Lithium Announces Second Tranche Closing of Private Placement

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One World Lithium_11042019_nr

VANCOUVER, BC – April 11, 2019 – One World Lithium Inc. (OTCQB) (CSE-OWLI) (“OWL”) (the “Company”) announces that it has closed a second tranche of its non-brokered private placement (the “Offering”) as previously announced on June 29, 2018. The Company has raised $ 525,675 CDN through the issuance of 3,504,497 units (the “Unit”) at a price of $0.15 per unit. Including the proceeds from the first tranche, the Company has raised $1,774,550 under the Offering leaving $225,450 of the Offering yet to close.

Bacanora Lithium plc (“Bacanora” or the “Company”) Corporate Update

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Bacanora_Lithium_02042019_nr

Bacanora Lithium plc (AIM: BCN), the London traded lithium company, announces that it remains in active discussions with the State General Reserve Fund of Oman (“SGRF”), the sovereign wealth fund of the Sultanate of Oman, to conclude the proposed US$65M Strategic Investment Agreement and Offtake Agreement for Bacanora’s flagship Sonora Lithium Project in Mexico (“Sonora”).  This follows the expiry of the original strategic investment agreement with SGRF announced on 16 July 2018, which was conditional and has reached the end of its term.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of March, 2019.

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Large barite crystals

By Miguel A Heredia

During the nine week of the year (March 11th to March 17th, 2019), at least 33 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with eight announcing financial rounds, seven communicating financial and production results, six informing on exploration results, six disclosing deals and corporate issues, four reporting on resources and development of their properties, and 2 discussing Mexican news. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán recognized the contribution of women in mining and declared it is committed to continue promoting its inclusion. Ternium re-activated the ore transport from its Aquila mine in Michoacan after the highway was blocked by an indigenous community for 16 days.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec Minerals reported positive metallurgical results from its Cervantes project. In Chihuahua, Sable released drilling results from its Margarita project. In Coahuila, Prize Mining announced plans for the next phase of exploration at its Manto Negro project. In Sinaloa, e-Power staked three new mining claims. In Zacatecas, Excellon reported drilling results from its Evolution project.  ON MINING, Alio, Consolidated Zinc, Fortuna, Impact, Leagold and Starcore presented production results from their Mexican mining operations for the periods Q4 and full year 2018.  ON FINANCING, Aura announced that is undertaking a non-brokered private placement to raise up to $0.5M (East Taviche project, Oaxaca).  Defiance closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement for $1,229,500. Mexican Gold closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement for $2,143,000 (Las Minas project, Veracruz). McEwen announced its voluntary termination of the equity distribution agreement to offer shares from its common stock. Vangold has arranged a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $0.5M, and announced a shares consolidation plan (Pinguino project, Guanajuato). Xtierra announced its intention to raise up to $1M by way of a non-brokered private placement (Bilbao project, Zacatecas). Sierra Metals closed a senior secured corporate credit for up to US$100M (Cusi mine, Chihuahua).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, SilverCrest updated mineral resource estimate for its Las Chispas project in Sonora, effective February 8, 2019.  Orla Mining reported that it is advancing its Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas towards a construction decision.  Leagold announced a mine expansion FS for its Los Filos mine in Guerrero. Telson released significant assay results from underground development at its Tahuehueto mine in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Aura appointed new CEO, entered in a definitive agreement with Minaurum on its East Taviche project in Oaxaca, and the shareholders approved the change of name to Aura Resources Inc.  Coeur appointed former Nevada Governor to its Board of Directors (Palmarejo mine, Chihuahua). Mako Mining announced the resignation of its CEO and the appointment of its interim replacement (La Trinidad mine, Sinaloa). Tamino announced that it has retained the services of an experienced consultant geologist (El Volcan project, Sonora). Goldcorp announced fully support for the Nevada JV between Barrick and Newmont. Southern Copper showed interest to invest in a lithium project in Sonora.

 ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Minera Cuzcatlán S.A. de C.V., the Mexican subsidiary of Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., recognized the contribution of women in mining and declared it is committed to continue promoting its inclusion.
  • Ternium, re-activated the ore transport from its Aquila mine in Michoacan after a group of indigenous people from the community of Santa Maria Ostula blocked the Mexican Federal Highway # 200 for 16 days.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp., and Kootenay Silver Inc., announced positive bottle roll gold metallurgical results from its Cervantes project in Sonora. Drill core samples were grouped into 4 separate types of mineralization: oxide 1, oxide 2, mixed oxide/sulphide, and sulphide, showing metallurgical recoveries of 85.1%, 87.7%, 77.9%, and 51.2% respectively on 2mm material, and 94.3%, 94.2%, 89%, and 78.5% on 75 micron material.
  • Sable Resources, released drilling results from holes M-DDH-19-18 and M-DDH-19-19 from its Margarita project in Chihuahua. Hole M-DDH-19-18 intersected 71 g/t Ag and 0.13% Zn (80 g/t AgEq) over 30.8m, including 174 g/t Ag and 0.15% Zn (186 g/t AgEq) over 3.7m, and 171 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 0.12% Zn (199 g/t AgEq) over 1.55m, while hole M-DDH-19-19 intersected 24 g/t Ag, 0.08% Pb, and 0.3% Zn (44 g/t AgEq) over 55m, including 94 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, and 2.4% Zn (238 g/t AgEq) over 2.05m. “The mineralized Margarita structure can now be traced continuously with drillholes for 1,400m along strike including a central core of high-grade veins and silicified fault zones surrounded by a wide, close to surface, low-grade Ag halo, hosted by silicified and fractured volcanic rocks.”
  • Prize Mining Corporation, announced plans for the next phase of exploration at its Manto Negro project in Coahuila “to further define the scale, grade, and potential of this district scale property”. The plan is to locate structural and geological traps where there is increase thickness in mineralization to test them with a 3,000 to 5,000 m core drilling program. “Following positive results, metallurgical testing will be completed as well as 3D interpretation on key areas”.
  • e-Power Metals, staked three new mining claims totaling 4,400 ha, located south of the Company´s high grade Magenta Au-Ag-Co project, where historical sampling on veins and skarn style deposits at the La Prieta old showings have returned results of 180.4 g/t Au, 202 g/t Ag, and 5.54% Co over 0.61m in Zone # 1; 194 g/t Au, 203 g/t Ag, and 8.14% Co from an adit dump; and 8.1 g/t Au, 53 g/t Ag, and 3.27% Co over 0.5m in Zone #2.
  • Excellon Resources Inc., reported first drilling results since 2010 from its Evolution property in Zacatecas. Significant drilling results are in hole EX18MAZ-251 with 22 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, 1% Zn, and 0.1 g/t Au (101 g/t AgEq) over 154m, including 188 g/t Ag, 4.4% Pb, 2.9% Zn, and 0.1 g/t Au (532 g/t AgEq) over 2.4m, and 48 g/t Ag, 0.7% Pb, 2.8% Zn, and 0.1 g/t Au (238 g/t AgEq) over 7m; hole EX18MAZ-253 with 14 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.7% Zn, and 0.1 g/t Au (70 g/t AgEq) over 219m, including 70 g/t Ag, 1.3% Pb, 2.2% Zn, and 0.4 g/t Au (274 g/t Ag) over 12.6m; hole EX18MAZ-257 with 175 g/t Ag, 4.3% Pb, 5.4% Zn, and 0.4 g/t Au (663 g/t AgEq) over 3.4m; and hole EX18MAZ-258 with 64 g/t Ag, 1.4% Pb, 2.2% Zn, and 0.3 g/t Au (259 g/t AgEq) over 24.9m.

ON MINING

  • Alio Gold Inc., presented Q4 and full year 2018 production results from its San Francisco mine in Sonora. Alio produced 10.3K Oz Au and 4.2KOz Ag in Q4 2018 at AISC of $1,558 per Oz Au produced. Alio produced 54K Oz Au and 24.8K Oz Ag in 2018 at AISC of $1,258 per Oz.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, provided February 2019 production results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. It reported 4,158 tonnes processed with Zn recoveries of 89% to Zn concentrates. Consolidated Zinc mined 3,873 tonnes of 9.6% Zn and 2.7% Pb to produce 815.4K Lb Zn and 235.2K Lb Pb.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., released Q4 and full year 2018 financial and production results from its San Jose mine in Oaxaca. It reported Q4 sales of $59.6M, net income of $2.2M, adjusted net income of $4.4M, and adjusted EDITDA of $22.7M. For the full year 2018 Fortuna reported sales of $263.3M, net income of $34M, adjusted net income of $38.4M, and adjusted EBITDA of $113.9M. The company milled 256,181 tonnes of 1.58 g/t Au and 230 g/t Ag to produce 11.8K Oz Au and 1.72M Oz Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 91% for both metals. Fortuna also reported an AISC of $7.1 for Oz Ag or $9.9 for Oz AgEq.
  • Impact Silver Corp., announced its financial and operating results for Q4, 2018. It reported $13.1M in revenues for 2018. Impact milled 173,217 tonnes of 170 g/t Ag to produce about 947K Oz Ag.
  • Leagold Mining Corporation, presented financial and production results from its Los Filos mine in Guerrero for the period Q4 and full year 2018. It reported revenues of $376.5M, and an adjusted EBIDTA of $89.5M for the full year 2018.Leagold produced 58,201 Oz Au in Q4 and 195,362 Oz Au for the full year 2018 at an AISC of $985 per Oz Au sold.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., announced financial and production results from its san Martin mine in Queretaro for the Q3 period ended January 31, 2019. It reported revenues of $6.6M and an EBIDTA of $335M for the nine months ended January 31, 2019. Starcore milled 71,100 tonnes of 1.8 g/t Au and 33 g/t Ag to produced 3.4K Oz Au and 46.2K Oz Ag (4K Oz AuEq).

ON FINANCING

  • Aura Minerals Inc., announced that is undertaking a non-brokered private placement to raise up to $0.5M.
  • Defiance Silver Corp., closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement for $1,229,500. The first tranche is part of the non-brokered private placement for total gross proceeds of $4M (San Acacio, Zacatecas).
  • Mexican Gold Corp., closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement for $2,143,000. Gross proceeds will be used on its Las Minas project in Veracruz.
  • McEwen Mining Inc., announced its voluntary termination of the equity distribution agreement on March 13, 2019 to offer shares from its common stock from time to time for up to $90M (Fenix project, Sinaloa).
  • Vangold Mining Corp., has arranged a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to 0.5M. It also announced a consolidation of their shares in which the company will trade 2 old shares for 1 new share (Pinguino project, Guanajuato).
  • XTierra Inc., announced its intention to raise from a non-brokered private placement up to $1M. (Bilbao project, Zacatecas).
  • Sierra Metals Inc., closed a six year senior secured a corporate credit facility for up to US$100M effective on March 08, 2019 (Cusi mine, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., updated mineral resource estimate for its Las Chispas project in Sonora, effective February 8, 2019. The infill drilling program at Las Chispas has delineated an initial indicated mineral resource estimate of 1M tonnes of 6.98 g/t Au and 711 g/t Ag (1,234 g/t AgEq), containing 39.8M Oz AgEq. Inferred mineral resource are estimated at 3.6M tonnes of 3.32 g/t Au and 332 g/t Ag (581 g/t AgEq), containing 68.1M Oz AgEq.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., filed a PEA amended technical report on its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas. “The PEA supports a technically simple open-pit mine and heap-leach operation that offers low capital and operating costs, rapid payback, and strong financial performance. The PEA is based on near-surface oxide and partly oxidized (transitional) material within the overall resource, all located within Orla’s mineral concessions”. Highlights of the PEA are a pre-tax NPV (5%) of USD$231 and an IRR of 38.1% or after-tax NVP (5%) of USD$121M and an IRR of 24.5%; production rate per day of 18K tonnes; total material to leach pad of 42.5M with grades of 0.71 g/t Au and 13.6 g/t Ag (966K Oz Au and 18.5M Oz Ag contained) with metallurgical recoveries of 67% and 15% respectively; and an annual gold production of 97.5K Oz Au. It also reported that it is advancing its project towards a construction decision later this year and ensuring the company remains on track with the development of its first mine. Orla is also advancing the feasibility study on its Camino Rojo project which is expected to be completed by the end of Q3, 2019. Construction is expected to start during H2, 2020 following receipts of all necessary permits.
  • Leagold Mining Inc., announced a mine expansion FS in March 2019 which incorporates “the potential for developing the Bermejal underground mine, enlarging the Los Filos open pit mine, re-phasing the Bermejal open pit into two distinct sections (Bermejal and Guadalupe), and building a 4,000 tonne per day (tpd) carbon-in-leach (CIL) plant to complement the existing heap leach facilities”.
  • Telson Mining Corporation, released significant assay results from underground development on the Creston Zone at its Tahuehueto mine in Durango. Significant channel sampling results are 8.48 g/t Au, 104 g/t Ag, 0.85% Cu, 5.8% Pb and 11% Zn (20.9 g/t AuEq) over 4.95m; 5.66 g/t Au, 62 g/t Ag, 0.26% Cu, 3.6% Pb, and 7.4% Zn (13.24 g/t AuEq) over 3m; 8.89 g/t Au, 88 g/t Ag, 0.34% Cu, 2.3% Pb, and 6.3% Zn (15.54 g/t AuEq) over 3m; 11.87 g/t Au, 78 g/t Ag, 0.54% Cu, 2.7% Pb, and 4% Zn (17.59 g/t AuEq) over 3.35m; and 8.12 g/t Au, 134 g/t Ag, 0.44% Cu, 2.4% Pb, and 4% Zn (14.13 g/t AuEq) over 3.25m.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Aura Resources Inc., appointed new CEO and made changes of its Board of Directors. The company also entered in a definitive agreement with Minaurum Gold Inc., in which Minaurum can acquire an 80% interest on its East Taviche project in Oaxaca.
  • Coeur Mining Inc., appointed former Nevada Governor to its Board of Directors.
  • Mako Mining Corp., announced the resignation of its CEO and the appointment of its interim replacement (La Trinidad mine, Sinaloa).
  • Tamino Minerals Inc., retained the services of an experienced geological consultant to assist them to achieve its goals within its mining exploration projects in order to meet corporate milestones (El Volcan project, Sonora).
  • Goldcorp Inc., announced fully support for the Nevada JV between Barrick Gold Corporation and Newmont Mining Corporation.
  • Southern Copper Corp., showed interest to invest in a Canadian owned lithium project in Sonora, on which a Chinese company seems to be also interested. Southern Copper has not made an offer yet and did not reveal the name of the lithium project.

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, large barite crystals and manganese oxides in a low-intermediate sulphidation epithermal system in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of February, 2019

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 8th week of the year (February 18th to February 24th, 2019), at least 31 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The first declaration of liberties for the year was issued on February 19th. ON EXPLORATION, In Baja, One World Lithium is to drill the Salar del Diablo property. In Chihuahua, Valterra presented the exploration plan for Los Reyes Cu-Au project. In Coahuila, Prize Mining presented drilling results from its Manto Negro Cu project. ON MINING, Mc Ewen Mining, Torex Gold, Coeur Mining, Argonaut Gold, Pan American Silver and Hecla presented Q4 and full year 2018 production or financial results. Camrova presented mining details from El Boleo in Baja. Mako Mining has recommenced mining activities at La Trinidad in Sinaloa. Magellan Gold processed third-party’s ore on its mill. ON FINANCING, Mexican Gold presented, and then withdrew, for an extension on the date for warrants exercise. Alamos Gold augmented its annual dividend. Solaris Copper is considered a public corporation. Mako Mining is undertaking a financing round of up to CAD$4.5 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Impact Silver is drilling other veins in Zacualpan. Minera Alamos is still selling gold from the pilot plant at Santana, in Sonora. Alamos Gold and Pan American Silver presented updated resources for its properties. Silver Bull is to perform a new drilling round at Sierra Mojada, Coahuila. Goldplay is finding mineralization on trend of its resource at El Magistral, in Sinaloa. Telson reported on development of Tahuehueto, in Durango.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Riverside entered into a definitive agreement with Sinaloa Resources on La Silla project, in Sinaloa. Aztec Minerals and Aloro Mining appointed senior figures for its business and technical advisory committees. Pan American Silver completed the acquisition of Tahoe Resources.  

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • The first declarations of liberties (or open ground for staking) for the year was released on February 19th. The 95 concessions on several states will be open for staking at 10:00 am, 30 days after the date of publication on the official gazette (Diario Oficial de la Federación).

ON EXPLORATION

  • One World Lithium Inc. signed a contract to drill 4,200 m of reverse circulation holes on its Salar del Diablo property in Baja California. The program includes 12 holes varying between 150 and 500 m of depth to test three geophysical highly conductive zones and two geochemical surface sampling anomalies.
  • Prize Mining Corp. presented drilling results from its Manto Negro project in Coahuila. Mineralized intercepts include 4.4 m @ 1.02% Cu, 28 gpt Ag; 3.55 m @ 1.69% Cu, 28 gpt Ag at Manto Negro; 4.10 m @ 0.88% Cu, 49 gpt; 3.40 m @ 1.58% Cu, 122 gpt Ag; 4.05 m @ 0.82% Cu, 55 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 1.43% Cu, 126 gpt Ag; 2.90 m @ 0.72% Cu, 24 gpt Ag; 2.05 m @ 0.76% Cu, 33 gpt Ag; 6.05 m @ 1.29% Cu, 77 gpt Ag; 1.05 m @ 3.23% Cu, 135 gpt Ag; 3.80 m @ 1.62% Cu, 143 gpt Ag at Pilar Grande; 6.75 m @ 0.75% Cu, 9 gpt Ag; 1.20 m @ 0.71% Cu, 13 gpt Ag at La Cuchilla, and 1.10 m @ 1.21% Cu, 26 gpt Ag; 1.50 m @ 1.24% Cu, 102 gpt Ag at El Pilon. At El Granizo, a 150 m log by 50 m wide zone contains a 2-4 m thick horizon of copper oxide mineralisation, but is disrupted by strong faulting. At Pilar Grande, drilling probed mineralisation on a longitude of 180 m, but further testing is problematic due to strong topographic relief. The British Columbia Securities Commission lifted the cease trade order issued on Prize Mining after the company complied on the presentation of its 2018 annual filings.
  • Valterra Resource Corp. has received permits for exploration at its Los Reyes Cu-Au property in Chihuahua, Mexico. The exploration program for 2019 includes surface mapping and sampling to be followed by an 8-10 km line-km IP geophysical program and a 2,500 diamond drilling program in 8 holes to test a 600 m strike length of the Cu-Au skarn. “The company is initially targeting a five to ten million tonne, shallow high grade Cu-Au resource localized along the strike length of the exposed skarn zone“.  

ON MINING

  • Camrova Resources Inc. provided an update on mining at El Boleo, Baja California, property on which it has a 7.24% interest. On administration, the CEO and chairman were appointed. On financing, a US$713.1 M comes due in 2019 and will need refinancing. On mining, underground mine production was 440 K tonnes @ 1.18% Cu (558 K tonnes @ 1.21% Cu budgeted for the period). The forecast for 2019 is 654 K tonnes @ 1.26% Cu. Open pit mine production on 2018 was 2,215 tonnes @ 0.93% Cu (2.06 M tonnes @ 1.19% Cu budgeted for the period) and the forecast for 2019 is 2.35 M tonnes @ 0.87% Cu. Ore delivered to the plant in 2018 was 2.81 M tonnes @ 0.95% Cu, to produce 19,438 metric tons of copper, 226 tons of cobalt, 452 tons Zn, averaging recoveries of 77.5% Cu, 15.8% Co, 1.6% Zn. Minera y Metalúrgica del Boleo, S.A.P.I. de C.V. has a $303.4 K debt with Camrova, and has been served with a judicial notice demanding the payment.
  • Mako Mining Corp. owns 100% interest on the La Trinidad property in Sinaloa, as result of the acquisition of Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. After Hurricane Willa hit the mine installations on October of last year, operations were halted due to the inundation of the pit. Dewatering of the Taunus pit is near completion and mining has recommenced. Crushing and stacking on the leach pad is ongoing, and this month to date over 71 K tonnes @ 1.22 g/t gold has been mined.
  • McEwen Mining Inc. Reported fourth quarter and full year 2018 results, including information on its Mexican operations. At El Gallo in Sinaloa, 5,632 Oz AuEq were produced on the quarter, and 39,105 on the year, at cash cost $733 and AISC $771. El Gallo 2019 production guidance is 13,000 gold ounces at cash costs and AISC per GEO of $875 and $915, respectively. These ounces are derived from residual heap leaching activities that are ongoing and will continue for several years.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. presented its yearly production report 2018. During the last quarter Torex delivered 96,316 Oz Au, reaching 353,947 Oz Au produced on the year. This was achieved by the mining of 32.6 M tonnes, or 93,214 tonnes per day (tpd), of which 4.33 Mt @ 2.69 gpt Au were ore. The plant processed 4.15 Mt at a rate of 13,011 tpd @ 2.97 gpt during the year, with a recovery of 85% Au, a cash cost of $646 per Oz Au and AISC of $964 per Oz Au.
  • Coeur Mining Inc. reported fourth quarter and full year 2018 financial results, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Palmarejo, in Chihuahua, 1.38 M tons were milled @ 202 gpt Ag, 3.11 gpt Au, recovering 83.8% Ag and 88.9% Au, to produce 7.52 M Oz Ag, 122,722 Oz Au during the year. On the 4Q, 378.4 K tonnes were milled @ 185 gpt Ag, 2.49 gpt Au, recovering 84.0% Ag and 97.6% Au, to produce 1.89 M Oz Ag, 31,239 Oz Au. During the year over 74,500 m were drilled on the property. Coeur will no longer provide guidance or final reporting on all-in-sustaining cost (AISC), and is using the figure of “CAS” (costs applicable to sales), which is here interpreted as cash cost per silver ounce. Given these considerations, Palmarejo produced at a cash cost of $8.46 per AgEq ounce (the lowest on its international portfolio).
  • Argonaut Gold Inc. disclosed its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year 2018. During the year Argonaut had $196.1 M of revenue, an increase of $41 M. on the prior year. At El Castillo Complex (El Castillo and San Agustin mines), in Durango, 15.52 M tonnes of waste and 16.18 M tonnes of ore were mined at a rate of 87 K tonnes per day (tpd) with a waste/ore ratio of 0.96.  A total of 9.17 M tonnes of ore were crushed and piled on the leach pads, at a grade of 0.38 gpt Au, producing 113,180 Oz Au and 276,272 Oz Ag at cash cost $737 per Au Oz. At La Colorada, Sonora, 18.86 M tonnes of waste and 4.49 M tonnes of ore were mined at a rate of 64 K tpd and a waste/ore ratio of 3.74. Tonnes placed on the leach pad were 5.05 M at a grade of 0.40 gpt Au, producing 45,886 Oz Au, 147,348 Oz Ag at cash cost $914 per Au ounce.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. presented its financial results for Q4 and full year 2018, including figures from its Mexican operations. At La Colorada, in Zacatecas, production for the quarter 2.1 M Oz Ag, 1,200 Oz Au, and 7.6 M Oz Ag, 4,400 Oz Au for the year, at cash cost $2.02 per Ag Oz. At Dolores, in Chihuahua, production for the quarter was 0.8 M Oz Ag, 29,400 Oz Au, and 4.1 M Oz Ag, 136,600 Oz Au for the year, at cash cost ($1.87).
  • Hecla Mining Co. disclosed its Q4 and full year 2018 earnings conference call. In the presentation, San Sebastian in Durango is expected to produce 2.0 M Oz Ag, 14 K Oz Au at cash cost $9.00, AISC $12.00 per silver ounce after byproduct credits.
  • Magellan Gold Corp. informed it has processed ore from a private third-party on its SDA mill in Acaponeta, Nayarit. Magellan is advancing the El Dorado project 50 km to the south of the mill. “Quotes have been obtained for contract mining and applications for environmental and blasting permits are in progress”.

ON FINANCING

  • Mexican Gold Corp. made an application to the TSX Venture Exchange to extend for six months the expiry date of outstanding warrants exercisable to purchase over 8.4 M common shares of Mexican Gold. Later on the week Mexican Gold withdrew the application for the extension (Las Minas, Veracruz).
  • Alamos Gold Inc. announced the doubling of its annual dividend to $0.01 per common share quarterly (Mulatos, Sonora).
  • Solaris Copper Inc. received notification from the Canada Revenue Agency that it is considered a “public corporation” as of November 30, 2018 (La Verde, Michoacan).
  • Mako Mining Corp. is undertaking a non-brokered private placement to raise up to CAD$4.5 M, through the issuance of shares that can be bought by existing shareholders (La Trinidad, Sinaloa)

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Impact Silver Corp. informed drilling has commenced on the El Canelo vein, in the Santa Teresa area of its Zacualpan property in Estado de Mexico. “Trench sampling along the strike of the vein at 10m intervals returned an average gold grade of 6.5 g/t over a true width of 1.66m and a length of 50m”. Exploration programs are ongoing in the San Ramon Sur area to the south of the San Ramon mine and at the Manto America area 4 km south of the Santa Teresa area.
  •  Minera Alamos Inc. reported the sale of 162 Oz Au from residual leaching of its 50 K tonnes bulk leach test at the Santana project in Sonora. The cumulative gold recovered from the bulk test is 1,060 Oz Au, for a calculated recovered gold of 0.66 g/t. The exploration program at the project involves over 10,000 m of drilling on the Nicho and Nicho Norte deposits, and a number of high priority targets, like Zata, Benjamin and Ubaldo.
  • Alamos Gold Inc. reported its updated mineral reserves and resources, as the end of 2018. Of the 22.4 M Oz Au held by Alamos in all categories, 7.4 M Oz Au are in Mexico.
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. is about to start an 8,000 m surface drill program on its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. The program will test a series of the sulphide extension at depth of the main deposit, and a series of untested targets. The updated resource presented on last October includes an open pittable M&I resource of 13.5 M tonnes @ 11.2% Zn, and an open pittable M&I resource of 15.2 M tonnes @ 114.9 gpt Ag, and a total of M&I resources of 70.4 M tonnes @ 38.6 gpt, 3.4% Zn containing 5.3 B Lb Zn, 87.4 M Oz Ag.
  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd. obtained high-grade silver results from a trench extending mineralisation from the resource area to the Faisanes target at its San Marcial project in Sinaloa. The trench samples were collected with a rock saw, with results highlighting two true width (TW) intervals of 15.0 m @ 472 g/t Ag and 14.6 m @ 211 g/t Ag within a 56 m @ 196 gpt Ag TW interval.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. presented its updated mineral reserve and resource base to the end of 2018, including figures for its Mexican properties, as can be seen on the table below. At La Colorada, in Zacatecas, over 20,800 meters of drilling were performed during the period. “Exploration drilling of the skarn mineralization at depth, approximately 500 to 800 metres below the drill stations, indicates wide intercepts with high-grade, polymetallic mineralization”. Recent drill hole intercepts include: 44.5 m @ 40 gpt Ag, 0.1% Cu, 2.0% Pb, 4.7% Zn; 48.8 m @ 29 gpt Ag, 0.17% Cu, 1.4% Pb, 4.3% Zn; 67.9 m @ 18 gpt Ag, 0.07% Cu, 0.6% Pb, 4.7% Zn; 308.1 m @ 46 gpt Ag, 0.20% Cu, 1.9% Pb, 4.5% Zn; 64.7 m @ 33 gpt, 0.16% Cu, 2.0% Pb, 2.9% Zn.
  • Telson Mining Corp. reported on development progress and significant underground assay results at its Tahuehueto property in Durango. Mineralisation exposed during development returned high-grade assays, like: 6.74 m @ 3.80 gpt Au, 53 gpt Ag, 0.42% Cu, 2.4% Pb, 5.2% Zn; 4.40 m @ 5.39 gpt Au, 62 gpt Ag, 0.46% Cu, 3.0% Pb, 8.5% Zn; 3.55 m @ 8.61 gpt Au, 35 gpt Ag, 0.12% Cu, 1.4% Pb, 0.9% Zn; 6.77 m @ 5.36 gpt Au, 109 gpt Ag, 0.25% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 2.4% Zn, 2.0 m @ 5.54 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag, 0.12% Cu, 2.2% Pb, 6.2% Zn. Pre-production mining produced 37.7 K tonnes @ 3.86 gpt Au, 43.6 gpt Ag, 3.9% Zn, 0.24% Cu, 2.1% Pb. A total of 1.44 km of underground development was completed, and mill construction continues.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Riverside Resources Inc. announced that partner Sinaloa Resources Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement that begins with an initial option to acquire a 70% interest in the La Silla project, in Sinaloa. “Under the terms of the Agreement, the Initial Option to earn 70% is predicated upon the issuance by Sinaloa Resources of shares at a value of $1,000,000, $60,000 in cash payments and exploration work totaling $2,000,000 over 36 months”. To earn an additional 30%, Sinaloa Resources is to spend $1 M in exploration work and issue $500 K in shares. Riverside will retain a 3% NSR on the project should Sinaloa Resources complete 100% earn-in, or Riverside’s interest dilutes to less than 10%.
  • Aztec Minerals Corp. reported the appointment of Mr. Marc Prefontaine and Dr. David Jones to the company’s newly formed Business and Technical Advisory Committee (Cervantes, Sonora).
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. signed in June 2018 an agreement with South32 Ltd., granting an option to form a 30/30 JV with respect to the Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. To maintain the option, South32 must contribute US$10 M during a 4 year option period with aggregate US$3 M, US$6 M and US$8 M to be made by the end of years 1, 2 and 3 of the period. South32 may exercise its option to subscribe for 70% of the property, by contributing US$100 M (less previous contributions) to project funding.
  • Aloro Mining Corp. announced the appointment of Kenneth J. Balleweg as technical advisor to the company. Ken has extensive experience in the Mulatos district in Sonora, and is to aid Aloro in the exploration of its Los Venados property in the same district.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. completed the acquisition of Tahoe Resources Inc. (the latte with mines in Guatemala, Peru and Canada).

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, quartz-sulfide sheeted veinlets with sericitic halos in an intrusive rock from a porphyry copper project in Michoacan. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of February, 2019.

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

“Quartz blade” texture in a low sulphidation epithermal vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the seventh week of the year (February 11th to February 17th, 2019), at least 32 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with twelve communicating production results, seven informing on exploration results, six disclosing deals and corporate issues, three announcing financing rounds, three reporting on resources and development of their properties, and one discussing Mexican issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Michael Harvey, director of Corporate Affairs for GoldCorp declared that Zacatecas has lost attractiveness for mining.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Silver One commenced a 1,000m drilling program at its Peñasco Quemado project,  SilverCrest reported drill results and discover of the Babi Sur Vein within its Las Chispas project, and Silver Viper provided an update of the 2018 drilling program at its La Virginia project. In Chihuahua, Evrim and its partner, Harvest Gold reported drilling results from its Cerro Cascaron project, and Ethos received permits for trenching and drilling its La Purisima Au project. In Jalisco, Evrim reported drilling results from its Cuale project. In the State of Mexico, Candente commenced a drilling program to explore near surface drill targets at its El Oro project.  ON MINING, Alio provided an update of the operation of its San Francisco mine in Sonora. Hecla reported Q4, 2018 production results from its San Sebastian mine and Avino reported full 2018 year production from its Avino mine in Durango. Capstone presented Q4 and full year 2018 production results from its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. Santacruz Silver announced Q4 and full year 2018 production results from their Mexican operations. Telson released full year 2018 production results from its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero.  Consolidated Zinc presented January 2019 production results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. Fortuna reported and confirmed no contamination of soil at its San Jose mine in Oaxaca.  ON FINANCING, Auxico closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $400K (Zamora project, Sinaloa). Riverside announced a private placement to raise gross proceeds for CAD$1.5M (Cecilia project, Sonora). Magna Gold announced a proposed non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD$3.2M (Mercedes project, Sonora).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Fortuna Silver announced results from the brownfield exploration program conducted at its San Jose mine in Oaxaca.  Torex announced infill drill results from its El Limon Deep project in Guerrero. Bacanora Lithium provided an update of the H2 activities developed at its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. Hecla increased mineral resource at its San Sebastian mine in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Sonoro announced management appointments (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).  Prospero Silver provided an update of its option agreement with Fortuna Silver on its Pachuca SE property in Hidalgo. Great Panther announced the approval from their shareholders to acquire Beadell Resources and change its name to Great Panther Mining Limited (Topia mine, Durango). Evrim granted 200K stock options to their employees (Cuale project, Jalisco). Magna Gold provided an update of its option agreement to acquire 100% interest on the Mercedes property in Sonora. Telson announced that they have identified a sophisticated concentrate theft from its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero during its transportation to the Trafigura warehouses in the Manzanillo port.

 ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Michael Harvey, director of Corporate Affairs for GoldCorp Inc., declared that Zacatecas has lost attractiveness for mining after the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) declared constitutional 4 taxes called ecological (Extraction of Minerals, Emission of Gases to the Atmosphere, Emission of Contaminants to the Soil, Subsoil and Water and the Deposit and Storage of Residues) on the mining sector. It sends a very negative signal about the stability of the investment in Zacatecas.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver One Resources Inc., commenced a 1,000m drilling program at its Peñasco Quemado project in Sonora. The drilling program will test three targets selected on coincidental geochemical and geophysical anomalies. The company will test two targets in the eastern part of the property: a) the down-dip extension of the drill defined historic Ag resource area, interpreted as a shallow southwest-dipping replacement manto, coincident with a low-intermediate resistivity anomaly, and b) the along-strike extension of the historic Ag resource area as identified by strong > 3 km long southeast trending Zn, Pb, Ba, and Mn in soil anomalies and partially coincident with geophysical anomalies. In the western part of the property, Silver One will test strong Zn, Pb, and Cu soil anomalies with coincidental geophysics in an area drill tested by Silvermex in 2008 where significant intersections were encountered as that in Hole PQRC51 with 4.5m of 340 g/t Ag at a depth of 88m from surface.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., reported drill results and discover of the Babi Sur Vein within its Las Chispas project in Sonora. Highlights results are Hole BAS18-31 which intersected 2.2m (TW) of 18.78 g/t Au and 2,147 g/t Ag (3,556 g/t AgEq), and Hole BAS18-07 with 2.2m of 4.63 g/t Au and 209 g/t Ag (556 g/t AgEq). “The high-grade footprint of the Babi Sur Vein has been drill intercepted with 14 core holes over approximately 1.5 km strike length. Of the 14 intercepts with an average true width of 1.4 metres, six are greater than 400 g/t AgEq (400 to 3,555 g/t AgEq)”.
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., provided an update of the 2018 drilling program conducted at its La Virginia project in Sonora. 4,753m were completed in 20 core drill holes, over five distinct prospect areas, distributed along 11km of the prospective structural trend. “The highlight of 2018 was El Rubi, a never-before drilled showing, located some 1.5km north of any previous drilling.  El Rubi returned a best result of 6m true width (13.3m core length) averaging 3.16 g/t gold and 228g/t silver for a gold equivalent grade of 6.42g/t Au”.
  • Ethos Gold Corp., received the approved permits for trenching and drilling its La Purisima Au project in Chihuahua. Ethos announced the commencement of the trenching program and expects to start the drilling program in March, 2019. The target area is at least 2km long and has not seen modern and systematic exploration. The company has estimated an initial and modest budget of approximately US$350K to conduct trenching and drilling at La Purisima project.
  • Evrim Resources Corp., and its partner Harvest Gold Corp., reported drill results from their Cerro Cascaron project in Chihuahua. Nine core drill holes were completed at Serpiente Dorada, San Pedro, and Cascarita target areas for a total of 1,885m. Assay results have been received for only seven of the nine holes drilled to date. Significant drill interceptions were encountered in Hole SPT 18-01 (Serpiente Dorada target area) with 6.5m of 3.29 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag, including 1m of 20.1 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag, and Hole SPED 19-02 (San Pedro target area) with 4.8m of 1.02 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag and 0.35m of 5.39 g/t Au and 24 g/t Ag.
  • Evrim Resources Corp., released additional drilling results from its Cuale project in Jalisco. Evrim has received assays from ten core drill holes completed in 2018 for a total of 2,179m. Significant drill intersections were encountered in Hole GLR18-04 with 32m of 0.83 g/t Au from surface, including 22m of 1.06 g/t Au, and a deeper interval with 12m of 0.34% Cu; Hole GLR18-09 with 11m of 0.31 g/t Au from 36m downhole, and Hole GLD18-10 with 4m of 0.42% Cu from 136m downhole.
  • Candente Gold Corp., begun a drilling program to test near surface drill targets at its El Oro project in the State of Mexico. “The Company remains committed to pursue drill targets previously developed on the San Rafael vein in the Mexico-Esperanza mine border area where three holes intersected high grades of gold and silver (30.7 g/t Au over 1.9m; 18.1 g/t Au and 137 g/t Ag over 0.4m, and 16.7 g/t Au and 32 g/t Ag over 1.4m) in the San Rafael and parallel veins as well as disseminated gold (1.0 g/t Au over 75m) in the overlying porous tuff horizon and has decided to develop more shallow targets as well”. The first target to be drill tested is the Cortaduras area which is about 6.5km west of the San Rafael vein and 5km west of the Veta Verde vein from which 6.4M Oz Au and 74 M Oz Ag (8M Oz AuEq) were produced historically in 4 mines.

ON MINING

  • Alio Gold Inc., reported that 528,770 tonnes of stockpile with a grade of 0.31 were stacked on the leach pads. Au production for the month of January was consistent with Q4 production at approximately 3,890 Oz (subject to finalization and refinery adjustments). Alio also announced that they have sufficient stockpiles to operate at this capacity throughout 2019 while the company continues developing an engineered plan for recommencing mining activities.
  • Hecla Mining Company, presented Q4, 2018 production results from its San Sebastian mine in Durango. Hecla processed 156,733 tonnes at the mill to produce 2.04M Oz Ag and 14,979 Oz Au.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., released full 2018 production results from its Avino mine in Durango. In 2018, the company produced 1.28M Oz Ag, 8,100 Oz Au, and 4.8M Lb Cu (or 2.8 M Oz AgEq).
  • Capstone Mining Corp., presented Q4 and full year 2018 production results from its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. In Q4, 2018, Capstone produced 9.3M Lb Cu for a total of 155.2M Lb Cu produced in the full year. Zn production in 2018 totaled 15M Lb Zn.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., announced Q4 and full year production results from their Mexican operations. At its Veta Grande mine in Zacatecas, Santacruz milled 36,719 tonnes of 81 g/t Ag to produce 58.9K Oz Ag, 113 Oz Au, 660.8K Lb Pb, and 891K Lb Zn. In the full year, 150,281 tonnes were milled with a grade of 73 g/t Ag to produce 190.3K Oz Ag, 367 Oz Au, 1.76M Lb Pb, and 2.5M Lb Zn. At its El Rosario mine in San Luis Potosi, the company milled 16,676 tonnes of 42 g/t Ag to produce 18.9K Oz Ag, 131 Oz Au, 89.6K Lb Pb, and 358.4 Lb Zn. In the full year, Santacruz milled 61,184 tonnes of 43 g/t Ag to produce 72.4K Oz Ag, 379 Oz Au, 286.7 Lb Pb, and 2.3M Lb Zn.
  • Telson Mining Corporation, released full year production results from its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero. In 2018, Telson processed 585,601 tonnes of 1.02 g/t Au, 118 g/t Ag, 1.1% Pb, 4.3% Zn, and 0.37% Cu to produce 2,870 Oz Au, 622.3K Oz Ag, 4M Lb Pb, 36.3M Lb Zn, and 373.3K Lb Cu.
  • Consolidated Zinc Limited, presented January 2019 production results from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. The company mined 3,530 tonnes of 10.3% Zn and 3.3% Pb to produce 813K Lb Zn and 262K Lb Pb, with metallurgical recoveries of 84% and 85% respectively.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Ltd., reported and confirmed that the overflow of the contingency pond at its San Jose mine in Oaxaca did not contaminate soils, and therefore no remediation is required. PROFEPA has already completed its investigation and confirmed the no contamination of soils from the overflow.

ON FINANCING

  • Auxico Resources Canada Inc., closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $400K (Zamora project, Sinaloa).
  • Riverside Resources Inc., announced a plan to complete a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds for CAD$1.5M. Net proceeds will be used to drill its Cecilia gold project in Sonora.
  • Magna Gold Corp, announced a proposed non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD$3.2M.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., reported results from the brownfield exploration program conducted at its San Jose mine in Oaxaca. The brownfield exploration program comprised 50.904m in 105 holes completed with up to six rigs in 2017 and 2018. Victoria is a primary target explored by underground drilling in which 27,302m in 53 holes were collared. Drill highlights include Hole SJOM781 with 13.5m (TW) of 119 g/t Ag and 0.57 g/t Au, Hole SJOM789 with 3m (TW) of 404 g/t Ag and 2.81 g/t Au, Hole SJOM794 with 6.3m (TW) of 213 g/t Ag and 1.24 g/t Au, Hole SJOM830 with 5.3m (TW) of 273 g/t Ag and 2.1 g/t Au, and Hole SJOM833 with 7.8m (TW) of 217 g/t Ag and 1.72 g/t Au. “Following the successful exploration results for 2018, the Company has allocated US$4.5 million to continued brownfield exploration at San Jose in 2019, including an estimated 11,500 meters of surface and underground diamond drilling and 450 meters of underground development for exploration drilling”.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., released results of the first 32 holes of its infill drill program completed at its El Limon Deep Zone project in Guerrero, which is the downdip extension of mineralization below the El Limon open pit. Significant drill intersections were encountered in Hole LDUG-026 with 8.5m of 25 g/t Au, Hole LDUG-013 with 7.5m of 24.9 g/t Au, Hole LDUG-021 with 15.2m of 16.8 g/t Au, and Hole LDUG-002 with 45.9m of 12.5 g/t Au.
  • Bacanora Lithium Plc., provided an update of the H2, 2018 activities developed at its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. Bacanora has secured US$240M as part of the financing package to construct an initial 17,500 tpa Li carbonate operation and continues discussions with industry and strategic financial parties with regards to completing Sonora’s finance package. The company also obtained and unrestricted access to develop and operate the Sonora mine secured following acquisition of La Ventana and La Joya mineral concessions for US$2.9M with the final consideration settled in August 2018. The processing plant sites change of land use permission was approved and augments the Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental (MIA-Environmental impact assessment permissions) for the project and the MIA for permanent road construction previously approved in 2018.These developments enable the project to commence construction, immediately after the project financing package is completed.
  • Hecla Mining Company, increased reserves and mineral resources at its San Sebastian mine in Durango. Proven reserves are 22,000 tonnes of 121 g/t Ag and 2.48 g/t Au (85K Oz Ag and 2K Oz Au contained), and probable reserves are 206,000 tonnes of 407 g/t Ag and 3.11 g/t Au (2.7M Oz Ag and 21K Oz Au contained). Total proven and probable reserves are 228,000 tonnes of 382 g/t Ag and 3.11 g/t Au (2.79M Oz Ag and 23K Oz Au contained).Indicated resources at San Sebastian are 2,243,000 tonnes of 202 g/t Ag, 1.55 g/t Au, 2.5% Pb, 3.5% Zn, and 1.6% Cu (14.7M Oz Ag, 115K Oz Au, 68.12M Lb Pb, 95.7M Lb Zn, and 44.3M Lb Cu contained). Inferred resources are 3,487,000 tonnes of 205 g/t Ag, 1.24 g/t Au, 1.7% Pb, 2.5% Zn, and 1.3% Cu (22.9M Oz Ag, 143K Oz Au, 27.1M Lb Pb, 39M Lb Zn, and 19.9M Lb Cu contained). Hecla also presented Q4 2018 drill results conducted with three core drill rigs and one RC drill. One underground drill rig completed in-fill drilling in the central and upper portion of the oxide zone along the Middle vein. Additionally, two core drill rigs tested shallower oxide mineralization along the West Francine, Esperanza veins and El Toro vein. Highlights drill results at the Middle vein are 3.6m of 2,080 g/t Ag and 6.84 g/t Au, at West Francine are 0.43m of 295 g/t Ag and 0.62 g/t Au, and at El Toro vein are 3.6m of 305 g/t Ag and 4.04 g/t Au, and 3.05m of 127 g/t Ag and 4.04 g/t Au.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Sonoro Metals Corp., announced the appointment of its Executive Director and Corporate Secretary (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Prospero Silver Corp., announced that TSX approved its option agreement with Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., in which Fortuna can earn up to 70% interest in the Pachuca SE property in Hidalgo.
  • Great Panther Silver Limited, announced the approval from their shareholders to acquire Beadell Resources Limited and to change its name to Great Panther Mining Limited.
  • Evrim Resources Corp., granted 200K options to their employees. The stock options are exercisable at a price of $0.32 per share for a period of five years.
  • Magna Gold Corp., provided an update of its option agreement on the Mercedes property in Sonora, to acquire 100% interest in two mining concessions for a four year period. These mining concessions cover approximately 345 hectares and Magna is entitled to acquire 100% interest by paying to the seller an aggregate of US$1.34M plus VAT of 16% in installments commencing on the 6th month from the effective date, and ending  on the 48th from the effective date; issue to the seller 3% NSR capped at US$3.5M and subject to the right of Magna to acquire all the NSR at a price of US$0.5M  per percentage point within the first three years of commercial production of the Mercedes property, and conditional on the completion of a going public transaction within six months of the effective date, issue 2,442, 105 common shares.
  • Telson Mining Corp., announced that the company has identified a sophisticated criminal operation to intercept concentrate trucks, remove some part of the Campo Morado concentrates and replace the same with lower quality concentrates. Now the company has taken measures to eliminate this issue with increased security including performing monitored and guarded concentrate transport from the mine to point of sale.

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

On the picture above, “quartz blade” texture in a low sulphidation epithermal vein system in a prospect in Jalisco, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.