VANCOUVER, British Columbia – (March 5, 2019) Oroco Resource Corp. (TSX-V: OCO) (“Oroco” or “the Company”) wishes to provide an update on the legal status of its interests in those mineral concessions in Sinaloa State, Mexico known as the Santo Tomas Concessions. This update is provided in furtherance of the Company’s news release of October 9, 2018, wherein Oroco announced that it had entered into a definitive option agreement with Altamura Copper Corp. and its shareholders to acquire, indirectly, certain interests in those concessions.
Mining Concessions
The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of January, 2019
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.
Ley minera requiere certeza jurídica : Camimex
Cualquier modificación a la Ley minera, como lo pretenden proponer algunos legisladores, debe considerar el cuidado de las comunidades y su entorno, además de certeza jurídica, respondió la Cámara Minera de México (Camimex) en un correo.
La cámara, que agrupa a las principales empresas extractivas de minerales del país como Peñoles, Grupo México y Minera Frisco, consideró que actualmente el sector es uno de los más vigilados del país, su marco regulatorio es robusto, moderno y apegado a los estándares internacionales; sin embargo, destacó que siempre podrán existir áreas de oportunidad.
“Hemos tenido acercamiento con diversas autoridades de la Administración Pública y encontrado apertura para impulsar a la industria. Queremos trabajar con el gobierno para atender aquellos temas pendientes y fortalecer la competitividad internacional que tanto beneficia al desarrollo del país”, dijo la Camimex.
Según la cámara, en reiteradas ocasiones el equipo del presidente de México, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, ha señalado que el sector minero es pieza clave del desarrollo del país.
La Camimex no quiso pronunciarse sobre los comentarios realizados por el senador y líder del sindicato minero Napoleón Gómez Urrutia.
“En la Camimex siempre hemos respetado las decisiones y los derechos de los trabajadores mineros estipulados en la Constitución, en la Ley Federal del Trabajo”, respondieron.
‘Napo’ va contra mineras por temas fiscales, ambientales y concesiones.- El Financiero
Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, líder minero y senador por Morena.Fuente: Cuartoscuro
Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, líder del sindicato minero y senador, está listo para ir sobre las compañías que según él no pagan suficientes impuestos, contaminan el medioambiente y tienen concesiones demasiado largas.
Caen acciones mineras
Gómez Urrutia, un viejo enemigo de Grupo México, está revisando concesiones mineras en el país y considera que la industria debería contribuir más a los ingresos del gobierno, según dijo en entrevista con Bloomberg este martes.
El senador espera que las propuestas para la industria sean discutidas en el siguiente periodo de sesiones del Senado, que inicia en febrero; también dijo no tener en mente un impuesto en particular para las empresas.
“La Ley Minera de México se hizo muy flexible, y buscamos regularla de acuerdo con los intereses del país, no los de las empresas que se han beneficiado durante años”, dijo Gómez Urrutia.
“Estamos buscando en los términos de cancelación para una concesión y su extensión, porque 50, 100 años es demasiado largo”, explicó.
Gómez Urrutia se volvió senador a pesar de una controversia por su decisión de mudarse a Canadá hace más de una década después de haber sido acusado de malversación de fondos. Él ha negado todos los cargos en su contra. En un punto, México buscó extraditarlo de Canadá para enfrentar juicio por supuestamente haber malversado 55 millones de dólares de un fondo minero, pero los cargos fueron desechados posteriormente.
El líder sindical obtuvo un escaño en el Senado con el partido Morena del presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador y ahora es jefe del comité de trabajo y miembro del comité de minería. Su nominación causó algunas dudas y un gran revuelo, especialmente para el gigante minero y multimillonario Germán Larrea, director del Grupo México, quien se pronunció en contra de su candidatura.
Las acciones mineras lideraron caídas en las acciones de referencia mexicanas. Las acciones de Grupo México cayeron hasta 2.1 por ciento a 44.10 pesos en las operaciones de la tarde en Ciudad de México. Industrias Peñoles, otra compañía minera con una gran presencia en México, cayó 2.6 por ciento a 256 pesos.
Gómez Urrutia pidió a los dueños de las empresas mineras que “den al gobierno una oportunidad de gobernar, en lugar de buscar sabotearlo o crear obstáculos. Si al final no funciona, la mayoría de los mexicanos decidirá qué pasa después”.
Santacruz Silver Makes Final Option Payment to Golden Minerals
Vancouver, B.C. – Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSX.V:SCZ) (the “Company” or “Santacruz”) announces that it has made the final option payment to acquire from Golden Minerals Company certain mineral claims consisting of 149 concessions covering approximately 7,800 hectares, located in the Zacatecas Mining District, Zacatecas, Mexico (the “Zacatecas Properties”) (see press release dated May 4, 2016).
SONORO ADDS TRES AMIGOS CONCESSION TO CERRO CALICHE
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sonoro Metals Corp., (“Sonoro”) (TSXV:SMO) (OTCQB:SMOFF), announces that its Mexican subsidiary, Minera Mar De Plata, SA de C.V. has executed a formal option agreement (the “Tres Amigos Option Agreement”) with two residents of Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, Mexico (the “Vendors”), to acquire a 100% interest in the 20 hectare Tres Amigos concession (“Tres Amigos”) located contiguous to the recently-acquired Cerro Caliche concessions in the prolific Cucurpe Sonora Mega-district of Sonora, Mexico. The option agreement increases the land holdings under option to Sonoro in this important gold mining district to 1,455 hectares.
GFM ENTERS INTO EVALUATION AGREEMENT
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GFM Resources Limited (the “Corporation”) (TSX-V:GFM.H) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an exploration and evaluation agreement with Minera Auricup, S. de R.L. (“Auricup”) for exclusive access to conduct exploration and evaluation of the merits of a mineral concession (the “Evaluation Agreement”) of Auricup’s Baviácora concession (the “Concession”), located in the state of Sonora, Mexico.
Under the terms of the Evaluation Agreement, the Corporation will pay for outstanding mineral rights of the Concession, will have exclusive access rights for a period of six months, and will obtain a minimum 15% ownership stake in the Concession. The starting of the six-month initial evaluation and exploration term is subject to Auricup negotiating the land access rights with the local communal land administration. If, for any reason, such access rights are not successfully negotiated within 120 days of the date of Evaluation Agreement, the Corporation has the option of demanding full repayment, or to obtain a similar stake in a different but equivalent mineral concession owned by Auricup.
Highlights on the Fourth Week of July, 2017. Mineral Exploration in Mexico
During the 30th week of the year (July 24th to July 30th, 2017), with the presentation of second quarter reports, at least 26 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, gold production decreased 1.7% in 2016 to 4.26 M Oz, but US$2,846 M is to be invested in gold projects between 2017 and 2020. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora Riverside released first phase exploration results at Cecilia; Aztec released historical drilling results on its Cervantes property. In Durango Southern Silver released drilling results from its Cerro Las Minitas project. In Zacatecas Arian Silver commenced an auger drilling program on its lithium projects; Goldcorp updated exploration efforts in the Altiplano; Zenith completed drilling for lithium in the San Juan salt pan, results pending. In Veracruz Almadex released high grade gold-copper results from continuing drilling at El Cobre. ON MINING, Avino Silver, Americas Silver, Coeur, Goldcorp and Agnico Eagle presented production results for the second quarter of 2017. Great Panther applied for a permit on its tailings facility at Topia, in Durango. ON FINANCING, Torex Gold signed an amended agreement on a credit facility for US$400 M; Santacruz closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement for $935 K ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Candelaria submitted a MIA (environmental application) on its Caballo Blanco property in Veracruz. Excellon reported high-grade drilling results from its Platosa mine in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Goldcorp and Evrim reached an agreement on La Pinta 6 concession in Zacatecas.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
- Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) informed 12 companies are to invest US$2,846 M in gold projects between 2017 and 2020 in Mexico, with Torex Gold, Goldcorp and Fresnillo PLC leading the list. Present and coming projects include the expansion of Pan American’s Dolores mine expansion (Durango, 112 M), Argonaut’s San Agustin (Durango, 43 M), Alamos Gold’s La Yaqui (Sonora, 12 M), Torex’s Media Luna (Guerrero, 482 M), Goldcorp’s sulfide leach plant at Peñasquito (Zacatecas, 420 M), Fresnillo’s Orisyvo (Chihuahua, 350 M) and the Fresnillo and Mag Silver’s JV on Juanicipio (Zacatecas, 305 M). In 2016, Mexico produced 4.26 M Oz, a 1.7% reduction on the previous year.
ON EXPLORATION
- Arian Silver Corp. commenced an auger drill program on its lithium projects in Zacatecas. The properties to be auger drilled down to a vertical depth of 20 m are Pozo Hondo, Columpio and Abundancia, to test lithium grades and volumes.
- Almadex Minerals Ltd. released results from its more recent drill hole at the Norte zone of its El Cobre property in Veracruz. From 204.1 m an interval of 431.9 m @ 0.86 g/t Au, 0.27% Cu was intercepted, including 40.45 m @ 1.38 g/t Au, 0.43% Cu; 46.2 m @ 1.04 g/t Au, 0.29% Cu; 70.45 m @ 2.32 g/t Au, 0.59% Cu.
- Aztec Minerals Corp. pretends to drill test its Cervantes property in Sonora by September or October. Results of past drilling by Peñoles on the California target in 1996 include 22.1 m @ 0.21 g/t Au; 23.0 m @ 0.40 g/t Au; 99.4 m @ 0.40 g/t Au (including 29.5 m @ 0.74 g/t Au; 88.1 m @ 0.42 g/t Au (including 16.8 m @ 1.16 g/t Au; 141.1 m @ 0.41 g/t Au (including 40.9 m @ 0.96 g/t Au); 42.6 m @ 0.47 g/t Au. A 50 x 50 m soil survey was completed the previous week on the Jasper copper target, where the IP anomaly of the California target continues. A total of 60 rock chip samples were recently collected at two additional copper oxide locations, and a channel sampling program across the gold soil anomaly will commence shortly on the California target.
- Goldcorp Inc. released an exploration update on the Altiplano around its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. Exploration was focused on ground validation of 13 targets identified on the first quarter, as well as regional rock chip and selective leach soil sampling at a 1 km grid spacing near the mine. Biogeochemical sampling of creosote plants is also to be used. A 15,000 m program of reverse circulation (RC) holes to the top of bedrock is to evaluate targets overlain by Tertiary cover in several valleys. Detailed mapping and re-logging of core from the Noche Buena and Santa Rosa projects was carried out.
- Riverside Resources Corp. released results from the first phase of exploration at its Cecilia project in Sonora. The second batch of samples include 8.0 and 9.7 m wide zones at the North Breccia zone averaging 3.90 g/t Au and 1.2 g/t Au respectively. About 400 m SW from the North Breccia zone a fault zone assayed 5.4 g/t Au over 3.0 m. Several priority drill targets have been selected and the process for drill permitting has started. The target is a low sulfidation epithermal mineralization system within and beneath a felsic volcanic flow-dome complex which has been defined in an area of 1,200 x 400 m, and over 400 m of vertical span.
- Southern Silver Exploration Corp. released recent results from its current drilling campaign at Cerro Las Minitas, Durango. The last hole intersected 12.5 m true width (TW) @ 154 g/t Ag, 2.0 g/t Au, 3.2% Pb, 3.9% Zn (including 3.0 m TW @ 329 g/t Ag, 4.6 g/t Au, 7.4% Pb, 7.3% Zn); 9.2 m @ 220 g/t Ag, 0.3% Cu, 3.6% Pb, 5.4% Zn.
- Zenith Minerals Ltd. completed a shallow drilling program at the Zacatecas Lithium project. The 11 auger holes reached a maximum of 27 m of depth at the San Juan salt pans, recovering sediment and brine samples. The brines were within 5 to 15 m of the surface. Drilling results are expected within four weeks.
ON MINING
- Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. reported second quarter 2017 production results from its Avino property in Durango. At the Avino mine 115.5 K tonnes were mined, 117.4 K tonnes milled @ 76 g/t Ag, 0.53 g/t Au, 0.49% Cu, recovering 84% Ag, 69% Au, 89% Cu to produce 241.7 K Oz Ag, 1,384 Oz Au, 1.13 M Lb Cu. At the San Gonzalo mine 21.2 K tonnes were mined, 20.1 K tonne milled @ 277 g/t Ag, 1.19 g/t Au, recovering 81% Ag, 74% Au to produce 144.3 K Oz Ag, 570 Oz Au.
- Americas Silver Corp. provided second quarter 2017 production results, including figures from its Cosalá operations in Sinaloa. At Cosalá 134.8 K tonnes of ore were milled @ 66 g/t Ag to produce 242.5 K Oz Ag, 273.5 K Lb Cu, 1.35 M Lb Pb, 2.9 M Lb Zn, or 564.1 K Oz AgEq at cash cost ($2.43) and AISC ($2.43).
- Coeur Mining Inc. reported second quarter 2017 financial results, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Palmarejo in Chihuahua 335.8 K tons were mined @ 155 g/t Ag, 2.49 g/t Au, with 335.4 K tons milled and a recovery rate of 87.3% Ag, 91.1% Au to produce 1.45 M Oz Ag, 24,292 Oz Au. Mining rates were 2,600 tons per day (tpd) at Guadalupe and 1,000 tpd at Independencia. Exploration expenses during the quarter were $3.1 M, to accelerate resource expansion and new target definition efforts.
- Goldcorp Inc. released its second quarter 2017 results, without detail on figures from its various operations in several countries, including Mexico. The by-product cash cost per gold ounce was $510 and all-in sustaining cost (AISC) $800 per gold ounce.
- Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. reported second quarter 2017 results, including information on its Mexican operations. At Pinos Altos in Chihuahua 620 K tonnes were processed (6,811 tpd) @ 2.65 g/t Au, to produce 48,196 Oz Au at cash cost $595 per Oz Au and total cash cost of $373 per Oz Au. In late June a new silver flotation circuit was commissioned, and a 10-12% increase in silver recovery is expected. At Creston Mascota, which operates as a satellite operation to Pinos Altos, 596 K tonnes were processed (6,554 tpd) @ 1.17 g/t Au, to produce 12,074 Oz Au at cash cost $610 per Oz Au and total cash cost $550 per Oz Au. Recent drilling of the Bravo and Madrono zones at Creston Mascota has intersected 18.2 m (TW) @ 1.6 g/t Au; 5.4 m @ 10.9 g/t Au; 12.3 m @ 1.7 g/t Au; 10 m @ 1.4 g/t Au; 13.6 m @ 1.4 g/t Au; 13.6 m @ 1.9 g/t Au; 3.5 m @ 4.2 g/t Au; 8.2 m @ 2.5 g/t Au; 5.4 m @ 3.3 g/t Au. At La India in Sonora, 1.33 M tonnes were processed (14,605 tpd) @ 0.65 g/t Au, to produce 24,211 Oz Au at cash cost $617 per Oz Au and total cash cost $552 per Oz Au. The company is evaluating location options to construct additional pad capacity. At the El Barqueño project in Jalisco, 18,200 m of drilling were completed in 55 holes, focusing on the extension of the Azteca-Zapoteca zone, as well as at the Tecolote, San Diego and Olmeca prospects.
- Great Panther Silver Ltd. has resubmitted the permit application in connection with the Phase II Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) at Topia, Durango, and expects a response with 60 days from SEMARNAT. Normal operations will continue using the existing Phase I TSF, although the deposition of dry tailings cannot continue indefinitely and avoidance of disruption cannot be assured.
ON FINANCING
- Torex Gold Resources Inc. signed an amended and restated credit agreement with BNP Paribas, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ING Capital LLC and SG Americas Securities, in connection with the previously announced secured US$400 M debt facility (Los Guajes-El Limon).
- Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. closed the first tranche of the previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $935 K (Rosario, Cinco Estrellas in San Luis Potosi).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
- Candelaria Mining Corp. submitted the environmental Impact assessment report (MIA) to SEMARNAT (Mexican environmental authority). The company has already received an exploration permit for a 2,000 m program at the La Paila zone, which holds the current resource. Exploration permits for 7,500 m of drilling on several other areas are under preparation. Additional metallurgical test work, re-design of the conceptual pit, resource update, water supply studies and ore and waste rock characteristic studies are to be advanced.
- Excellon Resources Inc. reported high-grade drilling results from the current program at the Platosa mine in Durango, of which 15,000 m have been completed on 120 drill holes from surface and underground. Relevant intersections include 2.19 m @ 104 g/t Ag, 2.6% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 3.45 m @ 124 g/t Ag, 5.2% Pb, 5.2% Zn; 6.76 m @ 886 g/t Ag, 8.8% Pb, 20.5% Zn; 1.45 m @ 2,995 g/t Ag, 16.4% Pb, 0.9% Zn; 1.06 m @ 1,171 g/t Ag, 9.3% Pb, 2.9% Zn; 3.70 m @ 1,600 g/t Ag, 6.4% Pb, 8.7% Zn; 1.80 m @ 316 g/t Ag, 3.2% Pb, 0.9% Zn; 1.30 m @ 287 g/t Ag, 6.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 1.27 m @ 3,574 g/t Ag, 28.2% Pb, 18.7% Zn; 2,10 m @ 1,238 g/t Ag, 5.3% Pb, 2.9% Zn.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
- Goldcorp Inc. reached an agreement with San Marco Resources Inc. to acquire the La Pinta 6 concession, adding 80 Km2 contiguous to Noche Buena, providing early stage targets.
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, kaolin mine in argillitized tuffs in eastern Chihuahua. Photo by Jorge Cirett.
Highlights on the Third Week of June, 2017. Mineral Exploration in Mexico
During the 24th week of the year (June 12th to June 18th, 2017), at least 19 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the Mexican government released ground for staking for the first time in over two years. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora Millrock and Centerra are to explore the Navidad project, while Canuc released information on the San Javier project. In Chihuahua VVC Exploration obtained a coveted drilling permit, and Harvest Gold disclosed high-grade rock sampling results from Cerro Cascaron. In Guanajuato, Vangold released results from an extensive rockchip program at its Pinguico property. ON MINING, no relevant news . ON FINANCING, Southern Silver closed the first tranche of a placement, raising $2.5 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexus Gold announced the arrival of a secondary crusher and the installation of an atomic absorption lab at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Millrock and Western Mining. Entered into an agreement for the purchase of the Navidad property in Sonora. Nyrstar and Telson completed the transaction on the Campo Morado mine sale in Guerrero. San Marco sold to Goldcorp the La Pinta 06 concession in Zacatecas. Discovery Metals is to buy from private owners the La Kika concession in Coahuila.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
- The Direccin General de Regulación Minera released the first liberty announcement in more than two and a half years, to liberate ground for staking. The release includes 104 concessions that have been reduced in size, and a new title issued, 43 concessions relinquished by the concessionaires and 40 concessions cancelled by payment defaults. It is hoped the agency now can liberate ground on a steady manner (A bigger release was promised on October of 2015).
ON EXPLORATION
- Millrock Resources Inc. and Centerra Gold Inc. are to explore the recently optioned (see below) La Navidad gold project in Sonora. The 25 K hectares project presents gold mineralization hosted by low-angle faults related to the Magdalena Core Complex, with a zone of faults traced over 2.2 Km and 300-600 m surface width. Historic drill intercepts include 13.2 m @ 2.09 g/t Au; 6.6 m @ 1.34 g/t Au; 3.3 m @ 2.03 g/t Au; 19.5 m @ 0.84 g/t Au; 14.9 m @ 0.66 g/t Au; 8.3 m @ 1.03 g/t Au.
- Mammoth Resources Corp. released results from its surface channel sampling at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. At the Moreno zone 11.5 m (true width, or TW) were cut @ 0.64 g/t Au, while at Carnertios (3 km to the ENE) the samples returned 15.5 m @ 0.99 g/t Au and 7.0 m @ 1.28 g/t Au.
- Canasil Resources Inc. informed that the last drilling campaign at its Esperanza project in Zacatecas extends the known well-mineralized envelope on the Esperanza vein over 400 m of strike length and 350 m of depth, open in all directions. Based on alteration in volcanic rocks and geophysics, Canasil has outlined a 5 km long target for further exploration, as well as the presence of four other untested veins.
- VVC Exploration Corp. announced that the SEMARNAT (Environmental Agency) has approved the application for advanced exploration drilling at its Salamayuca copper project in Chihuahua. The program envisages core drilling in up to 53 locations at the site.
- Canuc Resources Corp. released compiled information from work done by the Santa Rosa Silver Mining Corp. on the San Javier project in Sonora, subsequent to 2012. Mineralization appears as vein and vein-breccia zones 1 to 4.5 m in width, alteration zones associated to the margins of felsic to intermediate dykes and quartz-stockwork breccia zones than can be much wider. At Colorado, the silica clay alteration is at least 11 m wide, with 11.2 m returning 284 g/t Ag, while the Carranza zone locally attains 31 m in width, with 11 m returning 283 g/t Ag. Nine prospects are located on a 2.4 km long corridor.
- Harvest Gold Corp. disclosed rock sampling results at Cerro Cascaron project in Chihuahua. At La Cascarita two samples returned 3 m @ 1,170 g/t Ag, 2.7 g/t Au, 1.0% Zn; 1.3 m @ 331 g/t Ag, 0.07 g/t Au, 1.6% Pb. A select sample from the Serpiente Dorada vein returned 826 g/t Au, and six other samples from the main vein field returned between 0.25 and 38.0 g/t Au.
- Vangold Mining Corp. released exploration results from its El Pinguico project in Guanajuato. To date 452 rock samples have been collected from surface and underground locations, results include (no widths provided) 3.4 g/t Au, 450 g/t Ag; 3.8 g/t Au, 331 g/t Ag; 4.1 g/t Au, 354 g/t Ag; 12.6 g/t Au, 1,490 g/t Ag; 5.5 g/t Au, 403 g/t Ag; 4.6 g/t Au, 350 g/t Ag; 9.2 g/t Au, 63 g/t Ag; 13.9 g/t Au, 278 g/t Ag. The program confirms the El Pinguico/El Carmen vein extends to the south, connecting with the La Joya, La Joyita and El Pirul vein systems, extending mineralization 1.5 km from the midpoint of the property.
ON MINING
- No Relevant News.
ON FINANCING
- Southern Silver Corp. closed the first tranche of the previously reported brokered private placement, for gross proceeds of $2.5 M (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
- Mexus Gold US. announced the arrival of a secondary crusher to its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake with First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora), and reported assays for samples near the Don Julio vein system, reporting results of 8.3; 0.7; 1.9; 5.8; 5.0 ; 1.1; 1.3 g/t Au. The atomic absorption machine has been installed.
- Consolidated Zinc Ltd. announced that two more drill holes at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua have intersected 1.75 m and 0.80 m of massive and semi-massive sulphide mineralization. Furthermore, 33 rock chip samples were collected over 150 m strike in underground workings, with massive and semi-massive sphalerite and galena mineralization in the Las Espadas area.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
- Millrock Resources Inc. entered into an option agreement to purchase La Navidad project from a private Mexican firm, Western Mining S.A. de C.V.. To complete the 100% interest purchase, 2.5 M in option payments to Western may be made over a four-year period. An initial payment of 125 K has been made. Three further option payments of 125 K each may be made at annual intervals. A final option payment of $2 M could be made to complete the purchase of the mineral rights. Through its agreement with Millrock, Centerra has the option to earn an 80% interest in La Navidad by funding all the financial obligations in the underlying agreement between Millrock and Western.
- Nyrstar NV. Announced the completion of the sale of its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero to Telson Resources Inc. for a total cash consideration of USD 20 M, and the potential for additional future proceeds through a variable price agreement linked to production from the mine. The Campo Morado poly-metallic mine can process 2,500 tonnes per day, with the mining concessions covering over 12 thousand hectares. During 2014 the mine processed 657 k tonnes @ 1.2 g/t Au, 115 g/t Ag, 4.6% Zn, 1.2% Cu, 0.9% Pb.
- San Marco Resources Inc. entered into an agreement to sell its La Pinta 06 concession in Zacatecas to Goldcorp Inc. for US$225 K and a 1% NSR.
- Discovery Metals Corp. (formerly Ayubowan Capital Ltd.) entered into a mineral exploration and option agreement to acquire the La Kika concession in Coahuila from private vendors. On closing US $45 K are to be paid, and the company is to incur in not less than US $2 M in exploration expenditures, half of which is a firm commitment, and the issuance of an aggregated 1 M shares to the vendors. A 30% royalty on the operating profit of direct shipping operations (for the first 450 K tonnes), or a 2% NSR otherwise.
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, setting up a geophysical survey in northeastern Chihuahua, circa year 2000. Photo by Jorge Cirett.
Millrock Acquires Option On El Picacho Gold Project, In An Alliance Agreement With Centerra Gold, Sonora State, Mexico
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, June 8th, 2017 – Millrock Resources Inc. (TSX-V: MRO) (“Millrock”) announces it has entered an option agreement to purchase the El Picacho project. The project consists of district-scale concessions that cover approximately 6,300 hectares, located in Sonora State, Mexico, 18 kilometres southwest of the San Francisco Gold Mine which is operated by Alio Gold Inc. The target is an orogenic gold deposit of similar scope to that present at San Francisco. The project was identified to Centerra Gold Inc. (“Centerra”) by Millrock, and Centerra has agreed that El Picacho will become a “designated project” under the terms of the strategic alliance agreement (“Alliance”) in place between the companies. The Alliance was announced here in early 2017. Centerra has provisionally approved a US$460,000 exploration budget for 2017 for the El Picacho project.