Mercury

CJNG ‘le entra’ a la minería: Se apodera de minas de Querétaro para traficar mercurio a Sudamérica

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Por Redacción julio 31, 2025
El Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) es acusado de traficar drogas ilícitas, extorsionar, robar combustible, realizar huachicol fiscal y, ahora, de incursionar en el sector minero y el contrabando de mercurio.

La organización con mayor presencia en el territorio nacional expandió sus operaciones a una amplia variedad de sectores que le generan ganancias multimillonarias, las cuales financian sus actividades dentro y fuera del país.

Su poder le permitió adentrarse en la minería. Actualmente, el CJNG controla terrenos donde se extrae mercurio, según el informe más reciente de la Agencia de Investigación Ambiental (EIA, por sus siglas en inglés) de Estados Unidos.

Este grupo criminal mantiene bajo su dominio todas las minas en los alrededores de La Plazuela, Querétaro, donde se extrae el elemento químico a gran escala. El EIA indicó que se instalaron portones, torres de observación con cámaras y retenes en los principales accesos a las minas ubicadas en la Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra Gorda: Cristo Vive, La Fe, La Peña, El Mono y La Perla.

Durante sus recorridos, el personal de la agencia estadounidense fue amenazado. Un sujeto en uno de los puntos de control realizó un gesto de degollar mientras decía “vete”. Posteriormente, los investigadores fueron seguidos todo el día por una camioneta.

Mineros de otras comunidades confirmaron que las minas de La Plazuela están actualmente bajo el control del CJNG.

¿Cómo funciona el negocio del tráfico de mercurio?
Las minas controladas por el crimen organizado extraen cinabrio, una roca que contiene mercurio. Sin embargo, no procesan la roca para obtener el metal líquido, sino que transportan el cinabrio en sacos.

La EIA detalló que las rocas se mezclan con grava para facilitar su paso por las aduanas de Colombia y Perú, países donde está prohibida la importación de mercurio. Además de camuflar el contenido, las declaraciones ante las autoridades aduaneras ocultan el verdadero material para evitar decomisos o retenciones.

Continuar leyendo el artículo en la fuente: https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/nacional/2025/07/31/cjng-le-entra-a-la-mineria-se-apodera-de-minas-de-queretaro-para-traficar-mercurio-a-sudamerica/

Millrock Commences Drilling Program at La Navidad Gold Project, Sonora State, Mexico November 9, 2017

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https://www.millrockresources.com/news/millrock-commences-drilling-program-at-la-navidad-gold-project-sonora-state-mexico

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, November 9, 2016 – Millrock Resources Inc. (TSX-V: MRO, OTCQX: MLRKF) (“Millrock”) is pleased to report that the first phase of surface exploration on the La Navidad gold project is near completion, and a drilling program has begun. The project, located in Sonora State, Mexico, 100 km north of the City of Hermosillo, targets orogenic gold deposits. Highlights of a rock sampling program include:

  • 24 meters grading 0.9 grams per tonne gold;
  • 12 meters grading 1.1 grams per tonne gold;
  • 14 meters grading 0.8 grams per tonne gold.

A drilling program consisting of approximately 2,000 meters in nine drill holes is in progress and is planned for completion in December.

Highlights on the Fourth Week of March, 2017. Mineral Exploration in Mexico

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During the 12th week of the year (March 20th to March 26th, 2017), at least 21 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, Southern Silver and Orex Minerals reported drilling results from their respective projects in Durango. Riverside disclosed interesting trench assay results from its project in Sonora, Silver Bull presented the results from deep drilling in Coahuila, Canasil reported drilling results from a project in Zacatecas/Durango and Alset received needed drilling permits in Zacatecas. ON MINING, Argonaut gold, Excellon, Premier Gold and Santacruz presented operating and/or financial results for 2016. ON FINANCING, Starcore closed the sale of a surface land package, and Primero Mining obtained an extension on a loan. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Argonaut presented drilling results that support a potential pit expansion in Sonora, Consolidated Zinc disclosed assay results from underground sampling on its Chihuahua property, Pan American Silver filed a technical report on SEDAR regarding its mine in Chihuahua and Mexus US informed of advances on the commissioning of its Sonora mine.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Lithium Australia increased its stake on a lithium property in Sonora.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. reported drilling results for two holes at its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Results include 9.9 m (True width) @ 48 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, 3.6% Zn; 2.9 m @ 26 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, 3.0% Zn; 9 m @ 601 g/t Ag, 7.1% Pb, 17.9% Zn. The results table mentions “dilution” ranging from 38% to 61%, meaning perhaps poor core recovery.
  • Riverside Resources Inc. reported assays from trench sampling at its Glor project in Sonora, funded by partner Centerra Gold Inc. Results from the Pitaya target area include 105 m @ 0.49 g/t Au, 84 m @ 0.53 g/t Au, 12 m @ 0.64, 36 m @ 0.34 g/t Au. A first-phase drill program is being planned, with 2,000 m to test the Pitaya zone and previously reported induced polarization anomalies.
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. disclosed assay and geologic results from five deep holes (515-833 m depth) targeting high grade feeder structures at its Sierra Mojada property in Coahuila. Assay results include 50 m @ 0.15% Cu, 27 g/t Ag, 115 m @ 0.25% Zn, 81 m @ 0.64% Zn, with this last interval including 17 m @ 65 g/t Ag and 41 m @ 1.4% Pb. The holes intercepted 180, 360 and 460 m of intense silica alteration resulting in total replacement of the original country rock in places. The company interprets these results as the proximal halo to an intrusive rock source, thus providing a vectoring for future drill holes.
  • Canasil Resources Inc. has received assay results for three more holes at its La Esperanza project in Durango/Zacatecas. Intercepts include 0.7 m @ 0.3 g/t Au, 131 g/t Ag, 0.64% Zn, 0.23% Pb, 0.84% Cu; 2.1 m @ 38 g/t Ag, 0.5% Zn, 0.14% Pb; 2.5 m @ 63 g/t Ag, 0.5% Zn, 0.15% Pb; 4.1 m @ 33 g/t Ag, 1.0% Zn, 0.6% Pb; 1.5 m @ 51 g/t Ag, 1.9% Zn, 1.4% Pb. A further drill hole is in progress, increasing the current program to 2,00 m in seven holes.
  • Alset Energy Corp. has received the necessary environmental permits for drilling its La Salada lithium property in Zacatecas. The company intends to drill two holes, and make a 100-meter grid for subsurface sampling of the salar.
  • Orex Minerals Inc. informed that project partner Fresnillo PLC completed a phase-V exploration diamond drilling program with 11 holes in 5,214.9 m. Results include 1.22 m @ 1.5 g/t Au, 28 g/t Ag; 0.65 m @ 2.3 g/t Au, 42 g/t Ag; 31.6 m @ 0.42 g/t Au; 14.5 m @ 0.56 g/t Au; 1.0 m @ 1.31 g/t Au; 1.0 m @ 2.12 g/t Au; 0.9 m @ 0.40 g/t Au, 402 g/t Ag; 0.4 m @ 0.48 g/t Au, 812 g/t Ag; 0.9 m @ 1.01 g/t Au, 67 g/t Ag.

ON MINING

  • Argonaut Gold Inc. presented financial and operating results for 2016, which includes figures from its operations in Mexico. At El Castillo in Durango, 11.1 M tonnes of ore and 16.4 M tonnes of waste were extracted, while moving 75 K tonnes per day (tpd), at a grade of 0.37 g/t Au, producing 62,235 Oz Au at cash cost $884 per Au Oz. At La Colorada in Sonora, 11.1 M tonnes of ore and 16.4 M tonnes of waste were moved, with the ore grading 0.55 g/t Au to produce 56,492 Oz Au and 184.5 K Oz Au. The first pour of gold at San Agustin (10 km from El Castillo) is expected during the third quarter of 2017.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. reported operational and financial results for 2016, period during which 55,593 tonnes of ore were processed at a grade of 456 g/t Ag, 4.4% Pb, 5.7% Zn, to produce 752.7 K Oz Ag, 4.44 M Lb Pb, 5.58 M Lb Zn (with recoveries at 90.5% Ag, 82.1% Pb, 80.1% Zn). Cash cost per Ag Oz was $13.42 and all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $33.04 per Ag Oz. An optimization plan to enable dry mining on Platosa is set to double productivity and halving costs by the second quarter of 2017. Cash, current accounts receivable and marketable securities totaled $7.7 M at the end of 2016.
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. presented operational and financial results for 2016, including figures for its Mexico operations. At Mercedes in Sonora (which was bought at the end of the third quarter) production during the fourth quarter included the milling of 175 K tonnes of ore @ 4.27 g/t Au, 44.5 g/t Ag to produce 22,481 Oz Au and 98.4 K Oz Ag, on recoveries of 94.8% Au, 39.1% Ag. Cash cost was $690 per Au Oz and AISC  $811 per Au Oz including co-products. Also during the quarter 8,532 m of drilling were completed in 44 holes. Premier aims to produce 85-90 K Oz Au at Mercedes during 2017.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reported operating results from the Rosario project in San Luis Potosi and the Veta Grande project in Zacatecas, for 2016. At Rosario 93.2 k tonnes of ore were milled @ 163 g/t Ag, to produce 456.3 K Oz Ag, 454 Oz Au, 759 tonnes Pb, 2,657 tonnes Zn (Ag recovery @ 94%). At Veta Grande 28.5 K tonnes @ 56 g/t Ag were milled to produce 29,843 Oz Ag, 115 Oz Au, 232 tonnes Pb, 382 tonnes Zn (Ag recovery 58%). The Rosario mill has been processing ore from the nearby Cinco Estrellas mine, where the company has completed development work in three levels and expects to mine at a 250 tpd rate. At Veta Grande more than 2,000 m of development have been completed on two mines, furthermore, back-fill mineralized material was identified and is to be a primary source of millfeed combined with material from other mine working faces.

ON FINANCING

  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. announced the closing of the sale of its San Pedrito surface property in Queretaro. The property is near the Santiago de Queretaro city limits, and has gained value in recent years. The total amount paid was C$10,171,415 dollars for 55 hectares of the land package, with payments amounting over C$3 M pending for the remaining 17 hectares.
  • Primero Mining Corp. announced that it has agreed in principle with its lenders to an extension of its $75 M revolving credit facility, extending it for six months to November 2017.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Argonaut gold Inc. has completed a 5,139 m, 22 holes RC drill program at its La Colorada mine in Sonora, aiming to confirm resources for a pit expansion at the Creston deposit. Results include 15.2 m @ 0.62 g/t Au, 5 g/t Ag; 19.8 m @ 0.72 g/t Au, 10 g/t Ag; 12 m @ 0.44 g/t Au, 5 g/t Ag; 41.1 m @ 1.15 g/t Au, 6 g/t Ag; 27.4 m @ 0.96 g/t Au, 5 g/t Ag; 16.8 m @ 2.69 g/t Au, 3 g/t Ag; 59.4 m @ 1.24 g/t Au, 6 g/t Ag; 51.8 m @ 0.52 g/t Au, 4 g/t Ag; 48.8 m @ 0.97 g/t Au, 12 g/t Ag; 54.9 m @ 0.89 g/t Au, 5 g/t Ag; 36.6 m @ 1.22 g/t Au, 12 g/t Ag; 57.9 m @ 1.0 g/t Au, 4 g/t Ag; 132.6 m @ 1.29 g/t Au, 24 g/t Ag. These results are not included on the mineral resource estimate prepared on December 2016, which includes 13.1 M tonnes of indicated resources @ 0.63 g/t Au, 16.5 g/t Ag, for 264 K Oz Au, 6.9 M Oz Ag and 2.38 M tonnes of inferred resources @ 0.82 g/t Au, 12.1 g/t Ag, for 63 K Oz Au, 0.9 M Oz Ag.
  • Mexus Gold US announced that cyanide solution assays on its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake for First Majetic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora) are better than expected at this early stage, before heap saturation.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. presented assay results for 40 underground samples collected on the Carola South zone of its Plomosas property in Chihuahua, which extends the mineralized zone for other 800 m. The average for all the samples is 20.4% Zn+Pb, with a high of 56.3% Zn+Pb.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. filed on SEDAR an updated technical report on its Dolores property in Chihuahua. The reports provides current information on mineral resource and reserve drilling, updated mineral resource and reserve estimates and the current expansion on the Dolores mine to include a pulp agglomeration treatment option and an underground mine to extract ore beneath the planned pit limits.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Lithium Australia increased its interest in the Electra lithium clays joint venture with Alix Resources, ahead of a 3,000 m drilling program to begin this week. Lithium Australia has boosted its stake in the Electra project, in Sonora, from 25% to 49%.

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 below, Agglomerate fragment within a more recent agglomerate, Soconusco area in Chiapas. Photo by Jorge Cirett.

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Highlights on the First Week of December, 2016. Mineral Exploration in Mexico

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During the first week of December at least twenty press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, including two third quarter reports. ON MEXICO ISSUES, China is already the third biggest foreign player in Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, a PFS was completed on a property in Durango, while in Chihuahua a drilling campaign continues and another one is on the planning stage. In Sonora results from a drilling campaign on a gold property were released, as were surface rock chip results from one Li property. In Hidalgo a property was staked, showing interesting initial rock chip sample results, whereas in San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas assay results were released for a Li property.  ON MINING, construction of a heap leach processing plant has begun in a project in Sonora, while in Sinaloa the high grade output was increased in one property, and development work continues in another one. In Queretaro a flotation mill continues with production tests. ON FINANCING, A C$10 M bought deal financing was completed by a company. ON RESOURCES, a technical report with a maiden resource was filed at SEDAR, and a PFS was completed on another, both from properties in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, the saga for the control of a property in Sinaloa continues, a property was optioned and one more sold, both in Sonora. A company is applying to be listed in USA and a second payment has been made on the option to earn interest on a tailings property in Durango.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mexico sets its eyes in China for investment in mineral resources. China is already the third most active foreign player in the Mexican mining sector, according to Mario Cantu, General Coordinator of Mining at the Ministry of Economy. The Ministry of Economy is currently setting up a taskforce in a bid to streamline the process of permit approvals that clarify the requirements for purchasing and renting mining concessions.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Telson Resources Inc. announced the completion of a pre-feasibility study (PFS) on its Tahuehueto property in Durango. The report states a proven mineral reserve of 3.3 M tonnes @ 3.4 g/t Au, 41 g/t Ag, 0.31% Cu, 1.1% Pb and 2.0% Zn, to be mined mainly by underground cut and fill method at a 790 tpd rate, with a mine life of 21 years. The reserves contain 356 K Oz Au, 4.38 M Oz Ag, 25 M Lbs Cu, 85.7 M Lbs Pb, and 161.3 M Lbs Zn.
  • Levon Resources Ltd. intends to proceed next year with a drilling program on its Cordero project in Chihuahua, once the silver price moves up in a “sustained and positive way.” The program will target the center of the pit resource, in a claim acquired after the resource was delineated.
  • Alix Resources Corp. reported more lithium-rich clay layers identified at its Electra project in Sonora. Assays from 31 samples returned 10 samples over 1,000 ppm Li. Clay layers are traced for approximately 4.5 km, over a surface up to 800 m in width.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. continues the drilling campaign on its La Cigarra project, in Chihuahua. Samples from six more holes have been sent for assaying, and drilling is now continuing on the La Soledad structure, where a breccia zone can attain eight meters in width.
  • Prospero Silver Corp. staked a 4,690 ha mining concession in a high level epithermal vein system 85 km NW from Pachuca, in Hidalgo. The La Florida vein system is over 3.5 km long, with eight out of 22 samples returning 0.1 – 0.5 g/t Au and 1.4 – 11.1 g/t Ag, up to 525 ppm As, up to 6 ppm Hg and up to 6,860 ppm Sb. An additional structure, at least one kilometer long, returned on the only two samples 0.6, 0.61 g/t Au; 2, 2, g/t Ag; 1,595, 1,945 ppm As; and 1.7, 2.1 ppm Hg.
  • Alset Energy Corp. released assay results for 30 samples collected by the previous owner of the company, for three of the salars: La Salada, Santa Clara and Caligüey. The results run from 340 to 1,680 ppm Li, a bit lower than the previous assay results of 411 to 2,590 ppm Li. Potassium values range from 1.57% to 4.78%. Studies on x-ray diffraction show none to very small amounts of smectite, which points to Li not being inside the clay structure and an easier extraction.
  • Millrock Resources Inc. completed a ten hole 1,990 m drilling program at Los Chinos project in Sonora. The property is under a JV with Centerra, where the company can earn a 70% interest by funding US$5 M. Three target areas were tested; El Camino, La Tinaja and Pitalla zones. The best intersections were 4 m @ 0.69 g/t Au and 6.3 m @ 0.18 g/t Au.

ON MINING

  • Corex Gold Corp. has begun construction of its heap-leach Santana project in Sonora. The initial step involves forming two heaps, one with jaw-crushed material and the other with fine crushed, to test metallurgical recoveries.
  • Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. crushed 127.5 K tonnes of ore @ 5.26 g/t Au during November at its La Trinidad mine in Sinaloa. During the same period 21,567 Oz Au were stacked on the heaps, and 279 Oz Au recovered daily. Cash cost is estimated to be below $400 per gold ounce for the month.
  • United States Antimony Corp. continues production testing with an alkaline leach plant in Guanajuato, to process material from its Los Juarez mine in Queretaro. The two options under consideration are to use the flotation mill and the alkaline leach circuit, or to use the flotation mill, alkaline leach circuit, and the cyanide leach plant for the mill tailings. To date tests have shown recoveries of 50%, 70% and 70% for Au, Ag and Sb respectively under the first option, and 90%, 90% and 70% for Au, Ag and Sb respectively under the second option.
  • Americas Silver Corp. continues with the primary ramp development at its San Rafael project in Sinaloa, which is expected to reach commercial production in Q3 2017. The ramp is now 25 % complete, the electrical substation has been energized and water storage facilities have been constructed.
  • DynaResource Inc. processed 5,075 tons of feed material @ 11.38 g/t Au grade at its pilot mill in its San Jose de Gracia property in Sinaloa. The pilot mill facility averaged 182 tpd output.

ON FINANCING

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. completed a CA$10 M bought deal financing (Las Chispas, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES

  • Orex Minerals Inc. filed on SEDAR a technical report for the first inferred resource estimate of the Sandra Escobar project in Durango. Utilizing 59 drill holes and a 45 g/t Ag cut-off base case, the inferred resource estimate yielded 9.8 M tonnes @ 106 g/t Ag, for a total of 33.3 M Oz Ag.
  • Telson Resources Inc. announced the completion of a pre-feasibility study (PFS) on its Tahuehueto property in Durango. The reserves contain 356 K Oz Au, 4.38 M Oz Ag, 25 M Lbs Cu, 85.7 M Lbs Pb, and 161.3 M Lbs Zn. The total resource (inclusive of mineral reserves) includes 6.1 M tonnes @ 2.1 g/t Au, 48 g/t Ag, 0.375 Cu, 1.36% Pb, 2.25% Zn on the measured and indicated categories, and 3.5 M tonnes @ 1.5 g/t Au, 41.6 g/t Ag, 0.32% Cu, 1.33% Pb, 2.21% Zn on the inferred category, for total contained metal amounts of 634 K Oz Au, 12.6 M Oz Ag, 61.8 M Lb Cu, 265.3 M Lb Pb and 483.9 M Lb Zn.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Dyna Resource de Mexico S.A. de C.V. has seized assets of Goldgroup Resources Inc. as part of a US$48 M damages award. A lien was approved upon stock certificates in the name of Goldgroup Resources Inc.
  • Riverside Resources Inc. signed an option agreement with Silver Viper Minerals Corp. on its Clemente project in Sonora. Silver Viper can earn a 100% on the project by staged payments on five years to sum $750 K, delivering 2 M shares and investing $4 M during the life of the option, Riverside will retain a 2% NSR, same that can be bought for $4 M.
  • Americas Silver Corp. has initiated the process to become listed on the NYSE MKT, and is to undergo a voting for a needed share consolidation in the procedure.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. has entered into an agreement with a private Mexican company based in Hermosillo (the “Hermosillo Group”) to sell 100% of its interest in the San Felipe project in Sonora. The deal involves a cash consideration of US$15 M, in three installments, with the final one on February 15, 2017.
  • MX Gold Corp. has paid the second installment of $750 K in its agreement to gain 50% interest on the Magistral del Oro tailings project in Durango. Two more $750 K payments are to be made before January 19, 2017, to earn that 50% interest. The tailings have an historical (non 43-101 compliant) estimate of 1.25 M tonnes @ 2.06 g/t Au.

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 below, flow banding on a rhyodacitic dome, Zacatecas Altiplano. The flow bands are a few millimeters thick.

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Prospero Stakes Epithermal Vein System in Hidalgo State Mexico

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https://www.juniorminingnetwork.com/junior-miner-news/press-releases/1003-tsx-venture/psl/27443-prospero-stakes-epithermal-vein-system-in-hidalgo-state.html

Prospero Silver Corp. (TSX.V: PSL) (“the Company” or “Prospero”) is pleased to announce that it has staked a high level epithermal vein system 85 kilometers northwest of Pachuca, Hidalgo State, Mexico; the closest town is Zimapan. Known as La Florida, the property covers 4,690 hectares.

The La Florida vein system is at least 3.5 kilometers long and strikes N70°W, dipping steeply to the SW. The property is located close to excellent infrastructure, and Hidalgo is one of the safest states in the Mexican Republic. The target area occurs within the western boundary of Sierra Madre Oriental where other proximal deposits such as Pachuca-Real del Monte, Zimapan, and La Negra are located.