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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of January, 2021

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 3rd week of the year (January 18th to January 24th, 2021), there were at least 41 press releases by companies working in Mexico. To note, six companies posted exploration advances on their properties, eight more released quarterly and full year results, six posted on financing or share options, nine on project development and four more on corporate issues, including two company name changes. ON MEXICO ISSUES, several Mexican projects saw significant investment in 2020. World exploration reduced its pace in 2020, with a total of US$8.33 B, of which 21% were spent in Latin America. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Silver Spruce is starting exploration at Jackie; Heliostar is to commence exploration at La Lola, Oso Negro and Cumaro. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold reported drill results from Amalia; Kootenay Silver released results from drilling at Columba. In Sinaloa, Vizsla Resources updated drill results from Panuco; Brigadier Gold released results from drill holes at Picachos. ON MINING, Sierra Metals, Pan American Silver, Hecla Mining, Gatos Silver, Argonaut Gold, Fortuna Silver, Premier Gold and First Majestic presented quarterly and full year 2020 reports. ON FINANCING, Candente Gold and Impact Silver granted stock options. Mexican Gold closed a private placement for $1.4 M. VanGold Mining expanded its placement to $12.6 M. Mammoth Resources increased its financing round to $688.5 K. Sierra Metals made a clarification on its shares. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Gatos Silver is to start exploration on its extensive land package this year. Discovery Metals intends to perform 65,000 m of drilling at its Cordero project. Osisko Development informed on the work to develop its San Antonio Gold project in Sonora. Sonoro Gold reported the remaining assays from its 2020 drilling campaign at Cerro Caliche. First Majestic updated on the development of the Ermitaño project, 4 km from its Santa Elena mine. GoGold Resources released the results of a PEA on the Los Ricos South project. Silver Tiger discovered a new high-grade zone on the Benjamin vein at El Tigre. Mexican Gold released the final assays from its 2020 drill program at Las Minas. Southern Silver Exploration released drill results from Cerro Las Minitas.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Candente Gold changed name to Xali Gold Corp.. Megastar Development changed name to Madoro Metals Corp.. Tocvan Ventures added Rodrigo Calles as Exploration and Corporate Development Manager. Minaurum Gold amended an agreement with an underlying royalty holder. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fresnillo PLC, Industrias Peñoles and Minera San Xavier informed on actions that benefit the communities.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Camimex (Camara minera de México) informed on several projects that are to have significant investments in 2021. Juanicipio in Zacatecas, US$440 M; Los Filos expansion in Guerrero, US$213 M; Fresnillo’s Pyrites Plant in Zacatecas, US$155 M; Camino Rojo in Zacatecas, US$134 M; Tahuehueto in Durango, US$32.2 M; Santana in Sonora, US$7.55 M. Other significant projects for the near future include Las Chispas in Sonora, with US$100 M and Buenavista Zinc in Sonora, US$413 M.  
  • The world exploration investment during 2020 reached  US$8.328 billions (US$8,328 millones), according to Cochilco. That is 10% less than the US$9.285 billion spent in 2019. Twenty five percent of that amount, US$2.05 billion, were invested in Latin America, of which 21% correspond to investment sunk in Mexico (behind Chile, with 22% and ahead of Perú, with 18%).

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Spruce Resources. is commencing the phase 1 of exploration at the Jackie project in Sonora. The program comprises prospecting, rock, soil and stream sediment sampling, initial geological mapping and collection of structural data.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp. provided results from ten more holes on the Napoleon prospect at the Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true-width (tw) intervals comprise 11.02 m @ 180 gpt Ag, 2.27 gpt Au, 0.44% Pb, 1.31% Zn (422 gpt AgEq), including 1.09 m @ 975 gpt Ag, 13.88 gpt Au, 1.63% Pb, 5.83% Zn (2,383 gpt AgEq); 3.54 m @ 181 gpt Ag, 3.75 gpt Au, 0.59% Pb, 1.52% Zn (569 gpt AgEq); 3.23 m @ 262 gpt Ag, 2.57 gpt Au, 1.26% Pb, 2.0% Zn (562 gpt AgEq).
  • Brigadier Gold Ltd. advanced drill and surface sampling results from its Picachos property in Sinaloa. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 3 m @ 9.49 gpt Au, 24 gpt Ag; 3 m @ 6.24 gpt Au, 79 gpt Ag; 3.5 m @ 7.03 gpt Au, 110 gpt Ag; 2.5 m @ 6.75 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag. Surface rock chip-channel sampling returned 5 m @ 4.89 gpt Au, 67 gpt; 10 m @ 1.85 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag; 1 m @ 0.1 gpt Au, 347 gpt Ag; 0.8 m @ 44.1 gpt Au, 47 gpt Ag; 1.2 m @ 5.25 gpt Au, 74 gpt Ag; 1.6 m @ 1.9 gpt Au, 98 gpt Ag. Brigadier states that results so far indicate a primary vein system over seven kilometers with robust mineralization.
  • Radius Gold Inc. reported results from its phase four diamond drill program at the Amalia Au-Ag, project in Chihuahua. Five drill holes have been completed in the current program, for a total of 2,035 m. A hole aimed within the high grade San Pedro shoot intercepted 23.1 m @ 6.8 gpt Au, 321 gpt Ag, with an estimated true width (tw) of 14.5 m, including 6.25 m (3.5 m tw) @ 18.34 gpt Au, 813 gpt Ag.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. announced results from the final 17 core holes completed on its phase II drill program which totaled 9,114 m at its Columba project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length results comprise 79 m @ 58 gpt Ag (including 10.1 m @ 152 gpt Ag and 3.1 m @ 325 gpt Ag); 3.78 m @ 170 gpt Ag; 27.75 m @ 40 gpt Ag; 94.06 m @ 40 gpt Ag (including 7.0 m @ 97 gpt Ag); 9.05 m @ 179 gpt Ag (including 5.35 m @ 290 gpt Ag); 1.58 m @ 525 gpt Ag; 70.5 m @ 112 gpt Ag (including 9.0 m @ 691 gpt Ag and 4.6 m @ 1,186 gpt Ag); 25 m @ 47 gpt Ag (including 7 m @ 126 gpt Ag and 2.45 m @ 208 gpt Ag.
  • Heliostar Metals Ltd. plans to start an exploration program of its Mexican projects in Sonora next month. Drilling at La Lola should commence on February, focusing on the 5 km long La Barra vein. Mapping and sampling will be completed at Oso Negro and Cumaro projects in February and March. Oso Negro is a large project with outcropping veins, while Cumaro is part of the Picacho district.

ON MINING

  • Sierra Metals Inc. reported production results for Q4 2020, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Bolívar, in Chihuahua, 383.6 K tonnes were processed at a rate of 4,384 tonnes per day (tpd) and a grade of 0.79% Cu, 14.5 gpt Ag, 0.25 gpt Au, recovering 88.21% Cu, 83.44% Ag, 64.41% Au, to produce 5.87 M Lb Cu, 149 K Oz Ag, 2,017 Oz Au. For the year total production of 24.54 M Lb Cu was recorded. At Cusi, in Chihuahua, 82.7 K tonnes were processed during the period at a rate of 945 tpd and a grade of 160.62 gpt Ag, 0.19 gpt Au, 0.28% Pb, recovering 80.37% Ag, 46.73% Au, 82.79% Pb, to produce 343 K Oz Ag, 234 Oz Au, 590 K Lb Pb. For the year, a total of 890 K Oz Ag, 619 Oz Au, 1.37 M Lb Pb were produced.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. executed an agreement with Industrias Peñoles S.A. de C.V. “to reduce the transport costs/allowances of Plomosas concentrate delivered and sold to Penoles under an extended offtake agreement for the sale of 100% of the Plomosas zinc concentrate” (Plomosas, Chihuahua).
  • Capstone Mining Corp. is working on a technical report that is to include an updated mineral resource and a prefeasibility study to increase the vein rate recovery at its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. “The $45 to $50 million project will commence this year and when in operation, targeted for Q1 2023, will allow for maximizing the extraction of high-grade ore. It will also improve environmental performance given 60% of our tailings will be sent underground and the remaining tailings will employ best practice dry-stack technology…. The 2021 budget for brownfield exploration is $5 million and $4 million for greenfield exploration in Mexico and Brazil”.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. released preliminary production results for the fourth quarter of 2020, including figures from its Mexican operations. At La Colorada, Zacatecas, 1.18 M Oz Ag were produced, while at Dolores, in Chihuahua, production reached 764 K Oz Ag. For 2021 the company aims to produce 7.16 – 7.44 M Oz Ag, 4.0 – 4.2 K Oz Au at La Colorada, and 2.73 – 2.97 M Oz Ag, 160.8 – 179.3 K Oz Au at Dolores, Chihuahua.
  • Hecla Mining Co. released preliminary production for 2020, including figures from its Mexican operations. At San Sebastian, Durango, “1.0 million ounces of silver and 7,223 ounces of gold were produced. For the fourth quarter, 0.2 million ounces of silver and 1,159 ounces of gold were produced. Mining was completed in the third quarter and milling completed in the fourth quarter of 2020. The mill operated at an average of 474 tpd when in production. The Company continues to explore this highly prospective land package and will evaluate further mining based on exploration results”.  
  • Gatos Silver Inc. achieved 2,324 tonnes per day operation of its Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua. By the end of 2020 mine development had reached just under 16,000 m of development. During 2020 Gatos Silver produced 4.2 M OZ Ag, 34.2 M Lb Zn, 27.4 M Lb Pb and 4,900 Oz Au, in Ag, Zn and Pb concentrates.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc. announced production results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2020, including figures from its Mexican operations. At El Castillo, in Durango, 12,568 Oz AuEq were produced in the quarter, 46,182 Oz AuEq in the year. At San Agustín, Durango, 18,622 Oz AuEq were produced in the quarter, 63,866 Oz AuEq in the year. At La Colorada, in Sonora, 11,294 Oz AuEq were produced in the last quarter, and 47,064 in the year.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. reported production results for the fourth quarter and full year 2020, including figures from its Mexican operations. During the quarter in San José, Oaxaca, 272.1 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 3,024 tpd and a grade of 206 gpt Ag, 1.26 gpt Au, recovering 91.42% Ag, 91.27% Au, to produce 1.65 M Oz Ag, 10,095 Oz Au. For the full year 934.4 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 2,647 tpd and a grade of 224 gpt Ag, 1.38 gpt Au, recovering 91.52% Ag, 91.34% Au, to produce 6.16 M Oz Ag, 37,805 Oz Au.
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. released fourth quarter and full year 2020 results, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Mercedes, Sonora. During the last quarter 11,185 Oz Au, 65,735 Oz Ag were produced, which added up to the production of 34,955 Oz Au, 167,917 Oz Ag in the year.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. announced Q4 and full year 2020 results from its Mexican mines. For the Full year, San Dimas, in Durango, produced 6.4 M Oz Ag, 71,598 Oz Au, or 12.67 M Oz AgEq; Santa Elena, in Sonora, produced 1.7 M Oz Ag, 28,242 Oz Au, or 4.18 M Oz Ag Eq; La Encantada, in Coahuila, produced 3.50 M Oz Ag, 241 Oz Au, or 3.53 M Oz Ag. Last quarter production results can be seen in the table below.
  • Mexus Gold US. informed it is moving 600 tonnes per day to the crushing plant at its San Elena mine in Sonora (Not to mistake for First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora). Leaching continues to produce about 3 Oz per day, which is expected to double by February.

ON FINANCING

  • Candente Gold Corp. announced the granting of 3.2 M stock options to directors, senior officers, employees and consultants of the company (El Oro, Estado de Mexico).
  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp. closed its non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1.4 M. The press release presented a lengthy explanation of a “related party transaction” involving Palisades Goldcorp Ltd.  (Las Minas, Veracruz).
  • VanGold Mining Corp. expanded the size of its non-brokered private placement financing previously announced, to $12.6 M in gross proceeds (El Pinguico, Guanajuato).
  • Impact Silver Corp. granted 2.11 M stock options to directors, officers and employees (Real de Zacualpan, Estado de Mexico).
  • Mammoth Resources Corp. is increasing the amount of the recently announced private placement, for total gross proceeds of $688.5 (Tenoriba, Chihuahua).
  • Sierra Metals Inc. “refers to the announcement earlier today by Arias Resource Capital Fund L.P. (“ARCF I”) regarding its distribution of an aggregate of 52,721,964 common shares of the Company from ARCF I to underlying limited partners (the “Distribution”) which was made in connection with the winding-up and dissolution of ARCF I. In view of the ongoing strategic review process announced by Sierra on January 8, 2021, the Company confirms that the strategic review process continues to have the full support of its Board of Directors, management team, Arias Resource Capital Fund II L.P. (now the Company’s largest shareholder) and Arias Resource Capital Fund II (Mexico) L.P” (Cusi and Bolivar mines, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Gatos Silver Inc. commenced in December 2020 a 27,000 meter exploration program at its Cerro Los Gatos property in Chihuahua, to convert 3.2 M tonnes of inferred resources to measured and indicated categories, and to discover resources to the SE and NW of the deposit. Gatos Silver “intends to reactivate Los Gatos District exploration in early 2021, starting with the Esther resource located four kilometers from CLG. During the first quarter of 2021, Gatos Silver will begin a 5,400-meter exploration program on its wholly-owned Santa Valeria project”.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. intends to perform 65,000 meters of diamond drilling in 2021 at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. The aim is to produce a PEA with a resource update of the bulk tonnage mineralization and complete the initial testing of the high-grade veins with 20,0000 meters, and drill 46,000 meters more for bulk-tonnage mineralization resource upgrade and expansion, resource definition of the high-grade veins and initial scout drilling on the property.
  • Osisko Development Corp. informed its San Antonio Gold project in Sonora has an initial resource estimate of 27.6 M tonnes grading 1.18 g/t Au for 1 M Oz Au in the inferred category. Osisko is currently targeting development of a scenario for initial annual production of 50 K to 70 K Oz with additional near-term potential from reprocessing the 1.3 M tonnes stockpile located on site. The company also entered into an agreement to purchase a semiportable crushing plant for the project with capacity of 15 K tpd, with a jaw crusher, cone crushers and the related screening and material handling equipment. “The equipment is in good condition and currently stored in Nevada, USA and will be transported to the project in the next quarter”.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. reported the remaining assays from it 2020 drilling campaign at Cerro Caliche, Sonora. “The 2021 drilling program is currently underway with approximately 50 additional RC and core holes expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter”. Core length intercepts comprise 8.4 m @ 0.72 gpt Au; 7.2 m @ 0.60 gpt Au; 6.0 m @ 0.88 gpt Au at El Colorado zone, 3.9 m @ 0.36 gpt Au and 3.9 m @ 0.23 gpt Au in one hole at the Guadalupe zone, 9.3 m @ 0.72 gpt Au; 15 m @ 0.50 gpt Au at the Cabeza Blanca zone, 16.25 m @ 0.74 gpt Au. “The latest assays further support the Company’s consideration of the viability for a bulk mining heap-leach development proposal with a conceptual throughput of up to 20,000 tonnes per day”.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. updated on the Ermitaño project, located only 4 km east from its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Approximately 72,270 m of drilling have been completed since 2016 to define the current indicated resource of 4.7 M Oz Ag, 311 K Oz Au at an average grade of 70 gpt Ag, 4.59 gpt Au, and an inferred resource of 7.0 M Oz Ag and 370 K Oz Au averaging 58 gpt Ag, 3.08 gpt Au. “In 2021, the Company has budgeted a total of $42.1 million to be invested at Ermitaño and expects to begin initial test block mining by mid-2021 to assess the geotechnical conditions, subject to delineation drilling results, and extract approximately 30,000 to 60,000 tonnes of material to be used for industrial metallurgical testing”.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released results of its preliminary economic assessment (PEA) at Los Ricos South project in Jalisco. The report includes an after tax NPV (5% discount rate) of US$296 M, with an after tax IRR of 46% on an 11 year mine life to produce 69.6 M Oz AgEq; initial capital costs of $125 M and average LOM costs of $8.65 per Oz AgEq and all-sustaining costs of $11.35 per Oz AgEq. Approximately two thirds of the production would be from open pit mining, and one third from underground mining.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc. announced the discovery of a new zone of high-grade Au-Ag mineralization at its El Tigre project in Sonora. Core length intercepts comprise 5.5 m @ 726 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, including 3.0 m @ 1,303 gpt Ag,0.09 gpt Au; 0.5 m @ 625 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au; 0.5 m @ 474 gpt Ag, 0.13 gpt Au. These intercepts are from the newly discovered Benjamín vein, 900 m to the north of the El Tigre historic workings.
  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp. released the final assay results from the 2020 drill program covering 10,221 m in 65 holes at its Las Minas project in Veracruz. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 18 m @ 2.45 gpt Au, 0.6% Cu; 21 m @ 9.32 gpt Au, 0.33% Cu; 28.3 m @ 1.48 gpt Au, 0.36% Cu; 15 m @ 2.42 gpt Au, 0.22% Cu; 10 m @ 1.23 gpt Au, 0.61% Cu; 10 m @ 2.09 gpt Au, 0.96% Cu; 10 m @ 1.72 gpt Au, 0.54% Cu, 52 m @ 1.5 gpt Au, 1.1% Cu; 12 m @ 2.55 gpt Au, 1.18% Cu; 7.8 m @ 1.05 gpt Au, 0.51% Cu; 8.4 m @ 1.03 gpt Au, 0.22% Cu; 9 m @ 0.99 gpt Au, 0.94% Cu; 14 m @ 1.08 gpt Au, 0.96% Cu; 10 m @ 0.54 gpt Au, 0.63% Cu; 2 m @ 1.7 gpt Au, 2.33% Cu; 1.8 m @ 3.62 gpt Au, 4.63% Cu. Areas with highlighted intercepts include El Dorado, the West Dike Contact and the East Dike Contact.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. reported “further intervals of gold-enriched oxide and sulphide mineralization in step out drilling as well as a significant downhole extension of earlier reported high-grade, silver enriched polymetallic sulphide mineralization” at the Mina La Bocona zone of its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 26.5 m @ 0.37 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag of shallow oxide mineralization and 6.1 m @ 162 gpt Ag, 0.57 gpt Au, 3.2% Pb, 1.3% Zn, that correlates with the deeper sulfide mineralization in one hole; 6.1 m @ 344 gpt Ag, 0.59 gpt Au, 5.7% Pb, 3.9% Zn; 1.4 m @ 520 gpt Ag, 0.34 gpt Au, 10.6% Pb, 9.8% Zn; 5.0 m @ 364 gpt Ag, 0.3 gpt Au, 7.0% Pb, 1.8% Zn. 1.4 m @ 1,070 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 23.3% Pb, 3.2% Zn.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Candente Gold Corp. announced the name change to Xali Gold Corp. has taken place (El Oro, Estado de Mexico).
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. announced Rodrigo Calles-Montijo has been appointed to the Board of Directors and management team as Exploration and Corporate Development Manager, Mexico (Pilar, Sonora).
  • Minaurum Gold Inc. “is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with its underlying Royalty Holder (“RH”) on the Biricu Project (“Biricu”) located in the Guerrero Gold Belt (“GGB”), Mexico. Minaurum has been provided with both a limited time option to repurchase a portion of the NSR along with eliminating the outstanding Bankable Feasibility Study payment on Biricu in exchange for issuing 100,000 common shares to RH”. The Biricu project is on the southeastern projection of the Guerrero Gold Belt and is underlain by the same Cretaceous sedimentary rocks and Laramide intrusive rocks.
  • Megastar Development Corp. announced that its board of directors approved a name change to Madoro Metals Corp., subject to approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (Yautepec and Magadalena, Oaxaca).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Industrias Peñoles informed on the donations, equipment provided and activities executed in the Torreon-Gomez Palacio area (La Laguna) to aid with the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
  • Fresnillo PLC provides 1,500 liters of diesel fuel monthly to the firefighters department in Caborca, Sonora.
  • Minera San Xavier has commenced the remediation of historic mining liabilities in Cerro San Pedro, San Luis Potosí. The liabilities were generated by mining by Asarco between 1930 and 1950. Since 2016 140 K tonnes of material have been moved from Patio Victoria to the installations of the mine, which is now closed.
  • Fresnillo PLC signed an agreement with the Fresnillo municipality to provide resources to aid the communities of Mexico Nuevo and Carrillo, in Zacatecas.
  • Peñoles informed its Museo de Los Metales (Metals Museum) continues with an intense program of online activities.

Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group. On the image below Quartz vein stockwork on andesite from a project in Sinaloa. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

LEAGOLD FILES LOS FILOS MINE EXPANSION FEASIBILITY STUDY; INCREASES NET CASH FLOW TO $884 MILLION

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leagold files los filos mine expansion feasibility study

Vancouver, March 12, 2019 – Leagold Mining Corporation (TSX:LMC; OTCQX:LMCNF) (Leagold or the Company) announces that it has filed the report entitled “Independent Technical Report for the Los Filos Mine Complex, Mexico” which presents the results of the Expansion Feasibility Study (Expansion Feasibility Study) under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of January, 2019

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Monzonite porphyry dike intrusive contact with andesitic tuff -note the flow banding- on a project in Jalisco. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

By Jorge Cirett

During the 4th week of the year (January 21st to January 27th, 2019), at least 20 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, CAMIMEX expressed it is in contact with diverse actors of the public administration to consolidate the international competitivity of the mining industry. ON EXPLORATION, In Chihuahua, Radius Gold staked the 9,600 ha. Rambler project, covering a 9 km trend of epithermal mineralization. In Sinaloa, Kootenay Silver released interesting surface sample results from its Copalito project. In Durango, Orex is to perform a VTEM airborne survey on the San Luis Del Cordero property. In Hidalgo, Prospero Silver initiated drilling at the Pachuca SE project, with funding by Fortuna Silver. ON MINING, Pan American, Argonaut, Gold Resource, Fresnillo, Sierra Metals and Americas Silver presented Q4 and full year 2018 production results (by the way, anyone has heard from Frisco on this regard?). Endeavour presented its 2019 production guidance. ON FINANCING, Premier Gold signed a credit agreement with Investec Bank as administrative agent for the lenders for a US$50 M credit facility. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Endeavour updated its reserve and resource base, for a consolidated grand total of 132 M Oz Ag, 1.042 M Oz Au. Premier Gold presented high-grade intercepts from drilling at Mercedes, Sonora, where over 40,000 m of drilling were completed in 2018. Leagold is to produce 200-220 K Oz Au in 2019 at Los Filos, Guerrero. Azure Minerals presented a favorable scoping study for its Oposura project in Sonora. Impact Silver is defining extensions on veins at its Zacualpan property in Estado de Mexico. Excellon released high-grade results from surface exploration at its Platosa mine in Durango. Capstone filed on Sedar a technical report for Cozamin, Zacatecas. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Prospero Silver announced the signature of the option agreement with Fortuna Silver on the Pachuca SE project.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • CAMIMEX (Cámara Minera de México), in a response to El Financiero, expressed that any modification to the mining regulations has to take into account the wellbeing of the communities and its environment. The organization, of which leading companies like Peñoles, Grupo México and Minera Frisco are members, considers mining is one of the most supervised sectors in the country, with a modern and robust regulatory frame, following international standards, although areas of opportunity can always be identified.  “We have approached diverse authorities on the public administration and found openness to solve any pending issues and consolidate the international competitivity that benefits the country development”.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Orex Minerals Inc. contracted Geotech Ltd. To perform a VTEM (Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic) airborne survey over its San Luis del Cordero project in Durango. Old mine workings and mineralized showings wrap around a Tertiary quartz-feldspar-porphyry intrusive. The helicopter-borne survey, with accompanying horizontal gradiometer and radiometric surveys, is to identify discrete conductive anomalies, as well as mapping lateral and vertical variations in resistivity. The airborne survey will be conducted over a grid at 100 m line-spacing for approximately 275 line-km, with measurements every 2-3 m along survey lines.
  • Prospero Silver Corp. has started phase 2 drilling at its Pachuca Se project in Hidalgo. Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. has an option to acquire up to a 70% interest in the 6,699 hectares project (24 km SE from Pachuca) by spending a total of US$8 M and completing a preliminary economic assessment (PEA), spending more than US$1 M in the first year. A six-hole, 4,200 m program started to test a number of potential drill targets. In a Fortuna funded program in early 2018, 1,800 m of drilling tested three distinct targets, intercepting what is interpreted to be the upper parts of a mineralized epithermal system.
  • Radius Gold Inc. staked a 9,600 ha property called the Rambler project, in Chihuahua, some 20 km NW from Radius’s Amalia project. Regional prospecting discovered epithermal mineralization in veins, vein breccias and disseminated zones over a 9 km trend, where samples with up to 16.5 gpt Au, 2,030 gpt Ag, 3.8% Cu, 13.9% Zn, 3.4% Pb were collected. Saucito is the main target area, where a 500 x 70 m stockwork returned an average of 177 gpt Ag on 31 samples. Other target areas with interesting rock chip sample results include La Machomera (up to 7.3 gpt Au, 469 gpt Ag), La India (up to 10.3 gpt Au, 16 gpt Ag), El Gringo (4.8 gpt Au, 3.8% Cu).
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. released results from surface sampling and mapping at the Copalito Ag-Au project in Sinaloa, same that covers an epithermal system with numerous veins 0.5-15 m in width and up to 2 km in strike length. Sampling Highlights include 7.2 Gpt Au, 3,770 gpt Ag at the 5 Señores and Agua veins respectively; 8.2 gpt Au, 583 gpt Ag across 1.1 m on the 5 Señores vein; 401 gpt Ag across 5.3 m on 5 Señores vein; 532 gpt Ag over 3.0 m and 306 gpt Ag over 4.9 m across the Agua vein; 17.4% Zn, 9.9% Pb, 0.52 gpt Au, 76 gpt Ag on a grab sample at Pillar vein and 5.1%, 1.6% and 1.5 Cu along the Cobriza vein. Of 117 rock samples collected, 29 returned silver grades over 90 gpt, including 11 over 300 gpt and 6 over 500 gpt.

ON MINING

  • Pan American Silver Corp. announced preliminary operating results for the fourth quarter and full year 2018, including information from its operations in Mexico. At La Colorada in Zacatecas, 7.6 M Oz Ag, 4,400 Oz Au were produced during the year, at cash cost $2.02 per Ag Oz, whereas at Dolores in Chihuahua, 4.1 M Oz Ag and 136,600 Oz Au were produced at cash cost ($1.87) per Ag Oz. Pan American is planning to sustain 2,000 tonnes per day  (tpd) throughput at La Colorada during 2019, and continue to explore and define the potential of the “significant skarn deposit discovered in 2018”.  At Dolores the company plans to ramp-up underground production rates to 1,500 tpd and sustain the 20 K tpd throughput rate to the heap leach from the pit.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc. informed on Q4 production and yearly results for 2018, including numbers from its Mexican operations. At El Castillo Complex, in Durango, 37,977 GEOs (Gold equivalent ounces) were produced during the quarter, 18,984 from El Castillo mine and 18,993 from the San Agustin mine. At La Colorada, in Sonora, 13,681 Oz Au were produced during the same period. For the year, El Castillo Complex produced 117,126 GEOs and La Colorada 47,991 GEOs. Argonaut plans to invest $50-$60 M in capital expenditures during 2019, with $15 M allocated to the expansion of crushing and leaching facilities at San Agustin to increase the rate of production from 20K tpd to 30 K tpd.
  • Gold Resource Corp. reported 2018 year-end and fourth quarter production results from their El Aguila mining operations in Oaxaca. During the year Gold Resource produced 26,838 Oz Au, 1.67 M Oz Ag, 1,652 tonnes Cu, 7,280 tonnes Pb and 19,808 tonnes Zn. During the fourth quarter 7,974 Oz Au and 330.6 K Oz Ag were produced.
  • Fresnillo PLC. released 4Q and full year 2018 results, with a consolidated production of 61.8 M Oz Ag and 923 K Oz Au for the year and 15.5 M Oz Ag, 232 K Oz Au for the quarter. Lead (53,181 tonnes) and Zinc (88,520 tonnes) production amounted to 19.9 M Oz AgEq. “The cumulative drilling for the year at our operating mines and exploration projects was 579,000 and 346,000 metres respectively. Resources and reserves (in the case of the operating mines) are presently in audit by SRK and the results of which will be disclosed in the first quarter of 2019 with our Preliminary results. Resources were increased at the Guanajuato and San Juan projects, while mapping identified new targets at the Fresnillo and Herradura districts, and a geophysical survey detected areas for follow up in the San Julián district. Further to this, and for the first time in the Company’s history, drilling began in Chile. Exploration teams are working out of the Hermosillo, Chihuahua, Zacatecas, Toluca, Lima-Peru and Santiago de Chile offices in selected areas of favorable silver-gold belts in Mexico, Peru, Chile and Argentina”. (Note from editor: the mining community is waiting for Frisco to produce reports like this one).
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. announced its consolidated silver and gold production guidance for 2019, to be 4.4-5.2 M Oz Ag, 46.2-52.2 K Oz Au, or 8.1-9.4 M Oz AgEq. “Cash costs, net of gold by-product credits, are expected to be $8.50-$9.50 per oz of silver produced in 2019. Consolidated cash costs on a co-product basis are anticipated to be $11.50-$12.50 per oz silver and $900-$1,000 per oz gold”. The final dumps and tailings permit at Terronera is needed to make a development decision. The company plans to drill 24,500 m during 2019 in Guanaceví, Bolañitos, El Cubo, El Compas, Terronera, Parral and Guadalupe y Calvo.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. Disclosed Q4 and full year 2018 results, including figures from its Mexican operations. The Bolivar mine in Chihuahua processed (at 2,948 tonnes per day, or tpd) in the year 1 M tonnes of ore @ 0.95% Cu, 18 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, with recoveries of 79.9% Cu, 77.1% Ag, 68.5% Au, to produce 17.23 M Lb Cu, 452 K Oz Ag, 3,968 Oz Au. For the quarter, 272.6 K tonnes were processed (3,116 tpd) @ 0.94% Cu, 15 gpt Ag, 0.15 gpt Au, to produce 4.23 M Lb Cu, 128 K Oz Ag, 1,163 Oz Au. At Cusi, also in Chihuahua, 186.9 K tonnes were processed (534 tpd) during the year at a grade of 140 gpt Ag, 0.16 gpt Au, 0.36% Pb, 0.40% Zn, recovering 83.1% Ag, 39.1% Au, 79.9% Pb, 4.3% Zn, to produce 700 K Oz Ag, 372 Oz Au, 1.19 M Lb Pb, 937 K Lb Zn. During the last quarter Cusi processed 58.3 K tonnes (666 tpd) @ 111 gpt Ag, 0.16 gpt Au, 0.41% Pb, 0.49% Zn, to produce 171 K Oz Ag, 124 Oz Au, 421 K Lb Pb, no Zn.
  • Americas Silver Corp. announced production and operating results for 2018, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Cosalá, in Sinaloa, 544.5 K tonnes were milled @ 47 gpt Ag, to produce 448.1 K Oz Ag, 34.22 M Lb Pb, 12.86 M Lb Zn, or 4.16 M Oz AgEq at cash cost ($37.95) and AISC ($19.69).

ON FINANCING

  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. Announced the signing of a definitive credit agreement with Investec Bank PLC, as administrative agent for the lenders of a US$50 M secured term credit facility. Premier also announced financing arrangements with OMF Fund II SO Ltd. and Orion Mine Finance Fund II LP for aggregate gross proceeds of US$18.2 M. (Mercedes, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Endeavour Silver Corp. updated its reserve and resource base for its mines and projects for 2018. Consolidated reserves and resources, including inferred resources for its seven units comprise 132 M Oz Ag and 1.042 M Oz Au, as displayed on the following table:
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. provided an update on its exploration programs, including information from its Mexican operations. At Mercedes in Sonora, positive exploration results include 18.3 m @ 38.3 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag on the Aida vein, and 22.0 m @ 36.6 gpt Au, 171 gpt Ag at Rey de Oro. During the past year 280 brownfield and greenfield holes were completed representing 40,720 m of drilling.
  • Leagold Mining Corp. announced its intention to produce 200 K to 220 K Oz Au during 2019, at an AISC of $925 to $925-975 at Los Filos, in Guerrero. The proven and probable reserves at the property stand at 111.33 M tonnes @ 1.22 gpt Au, containing 4.363 M Oz Au, and 114 K Oz Au on the leach pad inventory.
  • Azure Minerals Ltd. Presented its quarterly report for the period ended on December 2018. The company highlighted the Scoping Study for the Oposura project in Sonora, with an EBITDA of A$237 M, pre-tax NPV of A$112 M, pre-tax IRR of 76%, average life of mine cash cost US$0.42 per Zn Lb and a pre-production CAPEX of A$69.9 M. At the Alacrán project in Sonora, Teck completed its Phase 2 drilling program comprising 10.537 m in 21 holes, with focus on testing porphyry copper potential at Cerro Alacrán, with assays pending. At Oso Negro, also in Sonora, sampling returned more high-grade mineralization, with the best sample returning 15.5 gpt Au, 1,935 gpt Ag, 5.9% Zn, 4.6% Pb. At Sara Alicia, also in Sonora, the company has been showing the property to potential partners or buyers.
  •  Impact Silver Corp. hired a consultant to define extensions to the vein systems on its Zacaualpan property in Estado de Mexico. Work to date has defined on strike extensions to the San Ramon silver vein system through geological work and soil sampling, and better characterizing the potential for bulk mineable ore in the Santa Teresa area.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. released high-grade results from ongoing surface exploration at its Platosa mine in Durango. Highlighted intervals comprise 0.9 m @ 283 gpt Ag, 9.8% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 5.6 m @ 383 gpt Ag, 8.0% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 2.5 m @ 406 gpt Ag, 3.7% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 0.6 m @ 2,060 gpt Ag, 7.8% Pb, 9.1% Zn; 5.0 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 968 gpt Ag, 9.4% Pb, 20.2% Zn; 4.8 m @ 1,127 gpt Ag, 8.4% Pb, 10.5% Zn.
  • Capstone Mining Corp. filed on SEDAR a NI-43-101 compliant report titled “NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Cozamin Mine, Zacatecas, Mexico”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Prospero Silver Corp. announced the signature of the previously disclosed option agreement with Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. on the Pachuca SE project. “On December 10, 2018 Prospero announced that Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. (“Fortuna”) exercised its right to be granted an option to acquire up to a 70-per-cent interest in the Pachuca Southeast project located close to the historic mining city of Pachuca in Hidalgo state, Mexico, by spending a total of $8-million (U.S.) in qualifying expenditures and completing a preliminary economic assessment, with a minimum spend of $1-million in the first year” (Pachuca SE, Hidalgo).

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, monzonite porphyry dike intrusive contact with andesitic tuff -note the flow banding- on a project in Jalisco. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

Leagold Provides 2018 Production and Cost Guidance for Los Filos Gold Mine

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Leagold-Reports-2018-Guidance-Jan-19

Vancouver, January 19, 2018 – Leagold Mining Corporation (TSX:LMC; OTCQX:LMCNF) (“Leagold” or “the Company”) reports that 2018 gold production at Los Filos is expected to be within the range of 215,000 to 240,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $875 to $925 per ounce (“oz”).

Leagold CEO Neil Woodyer stated: “The 2018 production guidance range includes growth of 12% to 25% over the 191,195 oz produced in 2017. Our 2018 outlook benefits from the operational improvements implemented since we acquired Los Filos in April 2017 and several optimizations planned for the year ahead. During Q2 2018, we will realize the benefits from the overland conveyor and agglomerator capital projects. In addition, the mine plan sequence is scheduling higher gold production during H2 2018. As a result of this production profile, we expect higher costs in H1 2018 and lower costs during H2 2018. Looking ahead and considering the highly successful exploration programs in 2017 that significantly increased both the size and grade of our mineral resources, we are now in a strong position to evaluate the benefits of building a carbon-in-leach processing plant at Los Filos.”

SIERRA METALS REPORTS 2017 PRODUCTION RESULTS AND ANNOUNCES 2018 PRODUCTION, COST, AND CAPEX GUIDANCE

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Sierra-Metals-Reports180118

TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ – Sierra Metals Inc. (TSX: SMT) (BVL: SMT) (NYSE AMERICAN: SMTS) (“Sierra Metals” or “the Company”) is pleased to report fourth quarter 2017 and full year 2017 production results, as well as 2018 production, cost, and capex guidance.

Results are from Sierra Metals’ three underground mines in Latin America: The Yauricocha polymetallic mine in Peru, and the Bolivar copper and Cusi silver mines in Mexico.

Fortuna Silver Mines reports 2017 production of 11.9 million silver equivalent ounces and issues guidance for 2018

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News _ Fortuna Silver Mines Inc

Vancouver, January 17, 2018—Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc. (NYSE: FSM) (TSX: FVI)is pleased to announce 2017 production figures from its two underground operating silver mines, the San Jose Mine in Mexico and the Caylloma Mine in Peru.  The company produced 8.5 million ounces of silver and 56.4 thousand ounces of gold or 11.9 million AgEq1 ounces.

2017 Consolidated Production Highlights

  • Silver and gold production were 4 % and 8 % respectively above 2017 guidance
  • Silver production of 8,469,593 ounces; 15 % increase over 2016
  • Gold production of 56,441 ounces; 21 % increase over 2016
  • Zinc production of  44,347,035 pounds; 3 % increase over 2016
  • Lead production of 29,877,890 pounds;  9 % decrease over 2016

Note: 1. Silver equivalent is calculated using silver to gold ratio of 60 to 1

Premier Reports Production Results For 2017 And Guidance For 2018

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PG-2017-Q4-FullYearProductionResults

PREMIER GOLD MINES LIMITED (TSX:PG) (“Premier”, “the Company”) is pleased to announce fourth quarter and full-year 2017 production results as well as consolidated production and cost guidance for 2018.

All dollar figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated.

2017 Fourth Quarter Highlights:

  • Gold production of 24,385 ounces
  • Silver production of 77,082 ounces

2017 Full-Year Highlights:

  • Gold production of 139,658 ounces
  • Silver production of 357,901 ounces
  • Commenced work on El Nino underground project and advanced the Phase 1 pit project
  • New resource estimates released for the McCoy-Cove (Nevada) and Hasaga (Ontario) projects

2018 Production and Cost Guidance:

  • Gold production of between 85,000 to 95,000 ounces
  • Silver production of between 300,000 to 325,000 ounces
  • Forecast cash operating costs of between $690 to $740 per ounce of gold(i)
  • Forecast all-in sustaining costs (AISC) of between $800 and $850 per ounce of gold(i)

SIERRA METALS PROVIDES UPDATE REGARDING ITS OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM AT THE MEXICAN OPERATIONS

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http://www.sierrametals.com/investors/news-releases/press-release-details/2017/Sierra-Metals-Provides-Update-Regarding-Its-Operational-Improvements-Program-at-the-Mexican-Operations/default.aspx

  • Major changes in the Corporate Team, which is now strengthened in Mexico to better support and improve operations
  • Metallurgical recovery levels have increased to above 80% at both mills in Mexico from the low 60% range at Cusi and low 70% range at Bolivar
  • 13 new pieces of equipment commissioned at Bolivar Mine to maximize ore delivery
  • Drift development underway on four sub-levels on the planned pilot sub level longhole stoping area in the Santa de Rosa de Lima structure at the Cusi Mine.  This development is increasing the mill campaigns with higher grade ore. This trend is expected to continue until full mill capacity from Santa Rosa de Lima is reached targeted for Q2 2018

Toronto, ON – October 24, 2017 – Sierra Metals Inc. (TSX: SMT) (NYSE AMERICAN: SMTS) (BVL: SMT) (“Sierra Metals” or “the Company”) is pleased to provide an update on the operational improvement program currently taking place at its Bolivar and Cusi Mines in Mexico, focusing on modernizing operations, improving production, and reducing unit costs. A similar program was successfully implemented at the Yauricocha Mine starting in late 2015. The program to date has focused on strengthening the corporate team, adding technical expertise at the projects, improvements to production capacity through mine design, planning and sequencing, and improving metals production through improvements to the metallurgical recovery process and ore throughput.

Igor Gonzales, President, and CEO of Sierra Metals commented: “Management is committed to improving operations in Mexico and to increase the profitability of both the Bolivar and Cusi Mines.  We have undertaken efforts to appoint experienced and qualified personnel to run the operational improvements program and improve the efficiency and operations at both mines.  We expect that our program efforts should be more apparent in the latter part of 2017 and we will continue working toward completion of the improvements scheduled for the end of Q1 2018.  We are optimistic about the outcome and expect to see higher cash flow from our Mexican operations starting in Q2 2018.”

Goldcorp Resumes Operations at Peñasquito

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http://www.nasdaq.com/article/goldcorp-resumes-operations-at-peasquito-cm856090

Good news for Goldcorp Inc. ( GG ) investors. After a brief period of disruptions to operations at Penasquito, caused by an entrances blockade, the Canadian miner can start the mining activities at its Mexican gold mine again.

The blockade – set up last Thursday by protesters who asked Goldcorp to keep its word on supplying the neighboring communities with water – was removed. According to Goldcorp, reports Reuters.com, this interruption at Penasquito’s operations will not have any negative impact on gold production.

U.S. Antimony Reports Plans to Increase Mexican Mine Production

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https://www.accesswire.com/476701/US-Antimony-Reports-Plans-to-Increase-Mexican-Mine-Production

THOMPSON FALLS, MT / ACCESSWIRE / October 2, 2017 / United States Antimony Corporation (“USAC,” NYSE American “UAMY”) reported plans to increase Mexican mine production at three of its four mines in the next 30 days. USAC production is in a “sold out condition” and additional raw material is needed for the USAC smelter at Madero, Coahuila, Mexico.

In San Luis Potosi at the Wadley Mine, the gravity mill will be started on lower grade ore that has accrued during the mining of direct shipping ore (DSO) for the smelter. Typically, this ore will make a 35-45% antimony concentrate that is also shipped to Madero. This could increase production by 25-50% at the Wadley mine. In Queretaro, the Soyatal District mines are awaiting new powder magazines to start production of DSO and mill feed for the mill at Puerto Blanco. Grades similar to the Wadley are expected. In Zacatecas, the Guadalupe Mines access road will be repaired and mining will be resumed at the Santa Monica mine for DSO and mill feed for the Puerto Blanco flotation and gravity mill circuits.