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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of March 2024

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By Jorge Cirett                                             

During the 11th week of the year (March 11th to March 17th, 2024), companies working in Mexico posted at least 26 press releases. Three companies reported on exploration at its properties while three more released results for the last quarter/full-year. Four companies announced financing rounds for a total of C$7.8 M, one is delisting from one Stock Exchange and listing in another one, another is extending its warrants expiry date and one more is granting stock options. One company informed on work at its advanced property. One company obtained a hard-sought community authorization for exploration activities, while one other is stopping activities in Mexico. A company announced an appointment to the board and one more the optioning of a property. One company is to process third-party material at its mill, one is cancelling an option and its related financing round and one more is updating on its legal action against the Mexican government. ON MEXICO ISSUES, a couple of judicial resolutions set the application of the new mining law on hold. The anti-mining stance by the federal government is bearing fruit, pushing mining investment out of the country. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Colibri Resource updated on work at its EP project. In Chihuahua, Kootenay Silver is to drill at Columba. In Durango, Silver Dollar is re-evaluating the Nora project. ON FINANCING, three companies informed on the opening or closing of financing rounds: Regency Silver (C$250 K), Reyna Silver (C$3.2 M), Defiance Silver (C$2.6 M) Guanajuato Silver granted options to directors, management and consultants. Pantera Silver is to extend the expiry date of warrants. Almaden Minerals is to change its listing stock exchange. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Atacama Copper started drilling at Cristina, in Chihuahua, focusing on high-grade resources. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, USAntimony is closing operations in Mexico. Vortex Metal obtained community exploration approbation. Sonoro Gold announced an appointment to the board. Riverside Resources and Fortuna Silver signed an option agreement on the Cecilia project, in Sonora.  CMC Metals dropped the option on the Gavilanes project and the concurrent financing round on lack of exploration permit. Guanajuato Silver Company signed a new third-party processing agreement. Almaden Minerals and Almadex Minerals updated on its request for consultation under the CPTPP.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • According to the newspaper La Jornada a judge upheld a partial suspension on the reforms to the mining law, specifically on the article that disposes all mining concession applications not yet titled. First Majestic Silver promoted the appeal on grounds of unconstitutionality.
  • The Poder Judicial Federal suspended multiple parts of the reform to the Mining Law of last May 2023, as these are likely unconstitutional. By Mid-April the Supreme Court has to discuss if the reforms are invalidated because of violations to the legislative process, although the project on the Mining Law still has to be included on the minute. Some points addressed in the reform include the reduction from 50 to 30 years of duration of the concession, auctioning of mining concessions, community consultation and retribution and water use limitations among others.
  • The Mexican government mining policies are bearing fruit. The Mining Law changes of last year (likely to be soon rejected by the Supreme Court), the reluctance by the environmental agency (SEMARNAT) to reauthorize mining permits, the lack of permits for open pit mining, the unwillingness to end illegal blockades and the general anti-mining stance of the current federal government are working as expected, deterring mining investment and pushing the more disadvantaged players, junior foreign companies, out of the country. Just this week USAntimony is closing operations in Mexico, CMC Metals is bailing out of a deal to option a property because of SEMARNAT’s failure to extend an exploration permit and Almaden Minerals informed on the international proceedings regarding its Ixtaca project in Puebla. Those companies are adding to the likes of Fortune Silver, Argonaut Gold, Riverside Resources and Golden Minerals, among others, that have made public during this quarter their reassessment of continuing operations in Mexico or have current arbitration cases, like Silver Bull Resources on its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. How much this scenery is to change depends on when/if the Mining Law changes are repealed and the open pit mining ban scraped.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc. commenced its re-evaluation of the Nora property in Durango during last February, with the collection of 72 surface samples on the East, West and South anomalies, as well as from the main Candy structure. Rock samples on the Candy structure attempt to replicate the results from the previous operator, and will be reported when received.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. updated on exploration activities at its EP Gold project in Sonora. Work includes an airborne magnetic survey covering 1,385 ha at a height of 35 m and a 50 m spacing between flight lines. Similar equipment and survey parameters with previous surveys allowed for the combination of the datasets. Geological mapping completed on selected areas with 64 rock samples collected as well as 23 rocks for thin section petrography. Interpretation of geological, geochemical and geophysical surveys highlighted the importance of north-northeast trending structures, and the recognition of easterly trending ones. Colibri has identified 14 target areas, prioritizing four of these for drilling.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. announced the initiation of the Q1 diamond drill program at Columba, in Chihuahua. The program envisages 15 to 17 holes for 5,000 m designed to expand upon previous intercepts along the D-Vein target. “The current drilling program is designed to extend the D-Vein in preparation of a follow up program of likely 15,000 meters, aimed to delineate a maiden resource expected in late 2024 which is dependent on additional drilling beyond the 5000 meter program and the financing it requires.”

ON MINING

  • Endeavour Silver Corp. announced financial and operating results for Q4 and full-year 2023. During the year the company produced 5.7 M Oz Ag, 37,858 Oz Au, or 8.7 M Oz AgEq, for a total revenue of $205 M, $37 M in operating cash flow before working capital changes and net income of $6.1 M. Consolidated cash cost net of by-product credits was $13.49 per Oz Ag, and an AISC of $22.93 per Oz Ag, impacted by higher costs. During the year Bolañitos in Guanajuato processed 441 K tonnes to produce 537.5 K Oz Ag, while Guanaceví in Durango processed 433.4 K tonnes to produce 5.09 M Oz Ag. Construction of the Terronera mine in Jalisco continues on schedule. Cash position of $35.3 M and $42.5 M in working capital.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. released financial results for Q4 and year 2023. During the year Las Chispas mine in Sonora mined 300.9 K tonnes, processed 431.4 K tonnes at a rate of 877 tpd, with ore averaging 4.39 gpt Au, 423 gpt Ag (or 771 gpt AgEq), recovering 98.1% Au, 96.5% Ag, to produce 59,700 Oz Au, 5.65 M Oz Ag (or 10.4 M Oz AgEq) at cash cost $7.73 per Oz AgEq. In 2023 the company completed 13.2 km of horizontal and vertical underground development. During the year SilverCrest generated $116.7 M in net earnings and free cash flow was $121.1 M, holding cash and cash equivalents of $86 M by the end of the year.
  • Gold Resource Corp. announced full-year operational results from its Don David Gold Mine in Oaxaca. During Q4 2023 the mine milled 111.2 K tonnes @ 1.44 gpt Au, 85 gpt Ag, 0.39% Cu, 1.39% Pb, 2.95% Zn to produce 4,077 Oz Au, 282.5 K Oz Ag, 341 Cu tonnes, 1,072 Pb tonnes, 2,884 Zn tonnes in the quarter, adding up to 18,534 Oz Au, 1.04 M Oz Ag (31,085 Oz AuEq). For 2024 the guidance is to produce 13,000 to 15,000 Oz Au, 1.25 to 1.4 M Oz Ag, (29,500 to 31,500 Oz AuEq) at cash cost $1,450 to $1,650 per Oz AuEq. Negotiations during Q4 2023 reduced royalties from 5% to 3% on the La Tehuana, El Aguila, and Mina El Aire mining concessions.

ON FINANCING

  • Regency Silver Corp. closed further $253 K of a previously announced non-brokered placement of $800 K. The company also granted stock options to acquire 1.7 M of common shares to directors, officers, employees and consultants (Dios Padre, Sonora).
  • Pantera Silvera Corp. applied to extend the expiry date of 11.8 M share purchase warrants to March 11, 2025 (Nuevo Taxco, Guerrero).
  • Reyna Silver Corp. increased the size of its non-brokered listed issuer financing exemption (“LIFE”) announced on Feb 14, 2024, and its previously announced concurrent non-brokered private placement. The amended LIFE offering is to raise up to $3.2 M (Guigui, Chihuahua).
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. informed that because of the low price of its share (due to the dispute with the Mexican government. – See below) the company will voluntarily delist from the NYSE and parallelly seek a listing on the OTCQB Marketplace (Ixtaca, Puebla).
  • Defiance Silver Corp. closed the final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$2.6 M. Windermere Capital Fund SPC – Breakaway Strategic Resource SP, an insider of the company purchased C$1.2 M in shares, taking its ownership to a total of 41.5 M common shares and 3.05 M warrants. (Zacatecas, Zacatecas).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. granted stock options and restricted share units to select officers, directors, employees and consultants (El Cubo, Guanajuato).
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. upsized and closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing raising total gross proceeds of $1 M (La Guitarra, Estado de Mexico).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Atacama Copper Corp. started a 10,000 m diamond drilling campaign at its Cristina project in Chihuahua. “The Cristina project consists of multiple outcropping quartz veins that are frequently greater than 10 metre in width and extend for a currently known strike length of up to five kilometres. At least four parallel mineralized vein zones have been mapped and sampled to date”. Epithermal to mesothermal mineralization is known to occur over 1,100 m of vertical range, hosted by andesitic volcanic rocks of the Lower Volcanic Group and locally covered by Upper Volcanic Group rhyolitic rocks. Current open pit constrained resources are centered on the Guadalupe vein, comprising 752 K Oz AuEq in indicated resources and 777 K Oz AuEq in inferred resources. Atacama is trying to define an underground higher-grade resource.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • United States Antimony Corp. announced plans to discontinue all Latin America operational activities and close its US Antimony Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (USAMSA) subsidiary, terminating the majority of its employees on March 11, 2024, immediately. “The Company intends to possibly sell or lease its USAMSA entity, operations, or assets over the next year and has initiated an active search for buyers or leasing opportunities of its operations and/or existing assets.” United States Antimony will continue to hold its existing Los Juarez mining claims in Queretaro. The reasons stated to close include high operating costs, new stringent Mexican mining laws, safety concerns, and the inability to collect back taxes from the Mexican government.
  • Vortex Metals Inc. announced the authorization by the Santiago Astata Agrarian Community to Vortex to carry on mineral exploration activities, including drilling, at its Zaachila project in Oaxaca. “Furthermore, the company has committed to forming an environmental monitoring committee with active community participation to oversee the activities and ensure environmental protection throughout the exploration program”.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. appointed Katherine Reagan to the board of directors, in addition to her position of vice president of corporate development and corporate secretary (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Riverside Resources Inc. signed an option agreement with Fortuna Silver on Riverside’s Cecilia project in Sonora. The option term agreement envisages 5 years to earn 51% by spending US3.75 M, delivery of $150 K in cash payments and at least $500 K spent on work in the first year. Fortuna paid Riverside the initial $25 K on signing, and is to pay $25 K on filing of the agreement in Mexico, and further $25 K per year, with Riverside acting as operator charging a 10% management fee on top of work spending. Upon earning 51%, Fortuna may earn 80% by spending an additional $2.25 M in work over 3 years. After earning 80%, Fortuna might elect within 120 days to pay Riverside $5 M cash and grant Riverside a 2% NSR where 1% NSR may be purchased for $3 M, with Fortuna earning 100% in the project. The low sulfidation Au-Ag epithermal mineralization is associated to at least two nested dome complexes in sedimentary rocks.
  • CMC Metals Ltd. announced the cancellation of the $1.2 M private placement previously announced due to the failure, of the property owner of the Ag-Au Gavilanes project in Durango, to achieve an extension of the exploration permit with SEMARNAT (Mexico’s environmental Agency). “CMC has subsequently served notice of its intent to terminate the agreement with Sailfish Royalty Corp. to acquire the Gavilanes project but remains interested in securing exclusivity rights until October 2024.” The company intends to focus on its flagship Silverknife property in British Columbia.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. announced the signing of a new third-party processing agreement with REM Marfil S.A. de C.V., a local Guanajuato based company. Under the agreement mineralized material from the past producing La Providencia mine is to be processed at the El Cubo and Cata processing facilities in Guanajuato. “The Agreement covers the processing of an initial 80,000 dry metric tonnes of mineralized material with a minimum head grade of 0.43 grams per tonne gold and 192 grams per tonne silver.”
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. and Almadex Minerals Ltd. updated on its Request for Consultation delivered to the Mexican government in December 2023 according to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement of for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The Mexican government acknowledged receipt but never proposed dates for a consultation meeting. On March 14, 2024, Almaden delivered to Mexico written notice of its intention to submit a claim to arbitration under the CPTPP. “The damages relating to the Almaden and Almadex Claim will be for no less than US$200 million, in the aggregate. The Notice enables the Company to initiate arbitration should an amicable resolution of the dispute with the Mexican government not be reached.”

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Specularite-quartz matrix breccia in a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fifth Week of February 2024

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By Jorge Cirett                                             

During the 9th week of the year (February 26th to March 3rd, 2024), companies working in Mexico posted at least 23 news releases. One company reported on exploration at its property, one published its guidance for 2024, one released production results for the last quarter and one is stopping mining operations. Four companies announced financing rounds for a total of C$5.8 M, while one more announced a C$34 M financing. One company declared a dividend and one more the increase of its loan credit facility. One company informed on work at its advanced property and one more updated on ongoing development at a new property. One company is disposing of an interesting property, two announced director’s appointments and one more informed on its litigation process against the Mexican government. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the head of the Economy Secretariat announced the acquisition of the remaining 49% of the company producing salt from coastal flats in Baja California Sur. The first work pane under T-MEC was installed to review labor matters on a Zacatecas mine. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tocvan Ventures is to commence drilling at Pilar. ON MINING, Argonaut Gold announced its production guidance for 2024. Starcore International Mines released production results for the quarter. Golden Minerals is stopping mining at Velardeña, in Durango, and evaluating its alternatives. ON FINANCING, five companies informed on the opening or closing of financing rounds: Sierra Madre Gold and Silver (C$1 M), CMC Metals (C$1.2 M), Reyna Silver (C$2.5 M + $500 K), Defiance Silver (C$1.09 M), Vizsla Silver (C$34 M). Alamos Gold declared a quarterly dividend. Guanajuato Silver Company announced the increase of its gold loan credit facility to US$13.3 M. Aztec Minerals granted options to directors, management and consultants.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Torex Gold reported good drilling intercepts on brownfields and near mine exploration on several deposits at its Limón Guajes property in Guerrero. Avino Silver updated on development work at La Preciosa, in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Ranchero Gold is disposing of its Santa Daniela property in Sonora. Silver Bull updated on the arbitration process on its dispute with the Mexican government. US Antimony and Hecla Mining announced director’s appointments. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Raquel Buenrostro, head of the Economy Secretariat (Secretaría de Economía) announced the nationalization of Exportadora de Sal, the company that produces salt from coastal plains in Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, by buying the 49% stake of the Japanese Mitsubishi company (In the 1980’s, the Mexican government managed even businesses that sold bicycles, the actual administration seems adamant in getting back to those times).   
  • The governments of the United States, Canada and Mexico installed the first work pane since the signature of the T-MEC, to resolve if there is or not a violation of workers’ rights at Grupo Mexico’s San Martín mine, in Zacatecas.   

ON EXPLORATION

  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. is set to commence drilling at its Pilar project in Sonora. After a year of focusing on bulk sampling and land consolidation, the company is to begin systematic drilling for resource definition and additional targeting. “The initial focus will be on infill and step-out targeting within and adjacent to the Pilar Main Zone including where previous drill campaigns successfully discovered the southern extension of the Main Zone, returning 108.6 meters of 0.8 g/t Au, including 9.4 meters of 7.6 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag.”

ON MINING

  • Argonaut Gold Inc. announced its 2024 guidance for production, cost per ounce and exploration expenditure forecast, including figures for its Mexican operations. At La Colorada, in Sonora, Argonaut Gold is aiming to produce 5 to 6 K Oz Au on residual operations, at $1,600 to $1,700 cash cost and an AISC of $1,600 to $1,700 per Oz AuEq. At San Agustín, in Durango, Argonaut intends to mine 6.8 to 7.1 M tonnes of ore grading 0.45 to 0.50 gpt Au, recovering 37% to 39% Au to produce 35K to 40 K Oz Au at cash cost $1,650 to $1,750 per Oz Au and an AISC of $1,800 to $1,900 per Oz Au. Argonaut’s Mexican operations are expected to be cash flow breakeven. “A financial advisor has been appointed to assess strategic alternatives for the Mexican operations, including the sale of one or more of the assets”.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. announced production results for the Q3 ended January 2024, at its San Martin mine in Queretaro. During the period 52.7 K tonnes were milled, grading 1.58 gpt Au, 14.6 gpt Ag, recovering 89.1% Au, 50.3% Ag, to produce 2,514 Oz AuEq.
  • Golden Minerals Co. announced that it has elected to stop operations at its Velardeña properties in Durango. The company restarted mining operations in December 2023 with the goal of achieving positive cash flow during the first half of 2024. As the initial performance of the mine and processing plant has not achieved the results projected, the decision to cease mining operations was reached. Golden intends to “evaluate potential alternatives for the Velardeña Properties, which may include a sale of properties or winding up of certain of the Company’s Mexico operations.”

ON FINANCING

  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. announced a non-brokered private placement aiming to raise $1 M “with an existing long-term institutional shareholder”. Net proceeds are to be used to fund the care and maintenance on, and the mine restart plan at La Guitarra mine, in Estado de Mexico.
  • CMC Metals Ltd. is to carry a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1.2 M (Gavilanes, Durango).
  • Reyna Silver Corp. increased the size of its non-brokered private listed issuer financing exemption (LIFE) private placement previously announced due to investor demand, to go from $1.5 M to $2.5 M. The company is also completing a concurrent non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up $500 K to purchasers pursuant to other applicable exemptions under NI 45-106 (Guigui, Chihuahua).
  • Defiance Silver Corp. closed the first tranche of its previously announced private placement, for aggregate proceeds of C$1.09 M. Defiance also extinguished a debt for shares in the amount of $46.6 K (Zacatecas, Zacatecas).
  • Alamos Gold Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.025 per common share (Mulatos, Sonora).
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. completed its previously bought deal prospectus for aggregate gross proceeds of C$34 M, which includes the exercise in full of the underwriter’s over-allotment option for 3 M offered shares. The company paid to the underwriter a cash commission equal to 6% of the gross proceeds raised under the Offering. (Panuco, Sinaloa).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. announced that the previously arranged US$7.5 M Gold Loan Credit Facility financing with Ocean Partners UK Ltd. has been increased to US$13.3 M. “The loan facility is for a term of 36 months from the date of the initial draw; it is repayable in equal fixed monthly installments of gold totalling approximately 338 troy ounces per month for a period of 30 months following a six-month grace period from the date of the initial draw.” The company also completed its shares-for-debt transaction totaling C$414.7 K by issuing shares, including those to three non-arms-length parties to settle for C$40 K (El Cubo mine complex, Valenciana mines complex, San Ignacio, in Guanajuato).
  • Aztec Minerals Corp. granted 3.27 M stock options to directors, management and consultants of the company (Cervantes, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. released results from its 2023 drilling program at El Limón Guajes in Guerrero. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 22.91 m @ 10.94 gpt Au, 12 gpt Ag, 0.41% Cu; 7.50 m @ 8.09 gpt Au, 119 gpt Ag, 2.12% Cu At El Limón Sur Trend, 37.08 m @ 14.04 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag, 0.38% Cu; 20.57 m @ 8.22 gpt Au, 29 gpt Ag, 1.02% Cu at El Limón Deep Trend, 12.33 m @ 8.92 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag, 0.4% Cu; 4.66 m @ 2.13 gpt Au, 37 gpt Ag, 2.05% Cu at the Sub-Sill Trend and 4.00 m @ 11.78 gpt Au, 140 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu; 3.55 m @ 10.07 gpt Au, 36 gpt Ag, 0.87% Cu at El Limón West Trend. During 2023, 60,699 m were drilled in 248 holes at El Limón Guajes brownfield and near mine exploration. For 2024, $12 M have been allocated to infill and step-out 54,500 m of drilling, focusing on further exploring the northeast trending structural corridors.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. updated on ongoing development work at La Preciosa, in Durango. Current works and prep at the Avino mill include the rehabilitation of the office building, extensive sampling of historic surface mineralized stockpiles, haulage of such stockpiles to the Avino mill complex, reinforcement of walls at the mine entrance and previously developed underground areas and the rehabilitation of a thickener tank. “Once the rehabilitation work on the thickener is complete, production of a silver-gold concentrate from this stockpile material will commence which will be another milestone for the Company.”

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Ranchero Gold Corp. approved on a special meeting of shareholders the disposition by its subsidiary the interest in four mining concessions covering the Santa Daniela property in Sonora. The disposition is subject to TSX approval, and the remaining US$1.9 M near-term cash payment will only be paid when the concessions have been transferred to Alamos Gold Inc.
  • United States Antimony Corp. added Joseph A. Carrabba as an independent director to its board (Juarez, Queretaro).
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. updated on progress with its international arbitration claim against the Mexican government. Advances include the appointment of a three-person arbitration panel by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, with a first session on February 13, 2024. A quantum expert was engaged by the company to assess its claims. Silver Bull is to file its Memorial in May 2024, with the Arbitration hearing slated for October 2025 (Sierra Mojada, Coahuila).
  • Hecla Mining Co. announced the appointment of Mark P. Board as a director, effective February 23, 2024 (San Sebastián, Durango).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: subcrop of granitic rocks on a project in the Sonora desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of February 2024

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett                                             

During the 5th week of the year (January 29th to February 4th, 2024), companies working in Mexico posted at least 19 news releases. Two companies reported exploration advances on their properties and two companies released quarterly production results. Five companies announced financing rounds, one posted on recent trading activity and one more has been added to a silver special listing. Two companies informed on work at their advanced properties and one more on commencement of mining. Two companies informed on the appointment and resignation of senior officers, one on 2023 performance and its royalty guidance for 2024 and one more on the refurbishment of a mill by a partner. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Gold production fell in Mexico during 2023, but four new projects are poised to start production in 2024. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Aztec Silver informed on RC drilling results from its Cervantes project. In Chihuahua, Kingsmen Resources updated on work at Las Coloradas. ON MINING, Gold Resource Corp. and Sierra Metals reported production results for Q4 and full-year 2023. ON FINANCING, Mexus Gold is to raise $250 K, Zacatecas Silver C$1.8 M, Atacama Copper C$12.9 M (to invest in Chile), Capstone Copper C$375 M (to invest in Chile) and Kootenay Silver C$2.5 M. Chesapeake Gold was added to the “Nasdaq Metal Focus Silver Miners Index”. Kootenay Silver informed on recent trading activity.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Silver Storm released drilling results from La Parrilla in Durango. CMC Metals updated on work at Gavilanes, in Durango. Bendito Resources is to commence mining base metals at Oposura, in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Orogen Royalties provided an update of 2023 figures and the guidance for 2024 royalties from the Ermitaño deposit in Sonora. Goldgroup Mining and Vizsla Silver informed on resignation/incorporation of senior officers. Xali Gold reported its mill in Nayarit is now operational, and is assessing a JV. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Raúl García Reimbert, president of the Colegio de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México, stated that four new projects in Mexico are set to start producing gold in 2024, bringing to the market 323,400 Oz Au per year. In 2022 the gold production in Mexico reached 4.77 M Oz, which fell to 2.27 M Oz in 2023, in part by the long Union strike at Peñasquito. The projects to start producing gold are Media Luna by Torex Gold, in Guerrero, Cerro de Oro by Minera Alamos in Zacatecas, Cerro Caliche by Sonoro Gold in Sonora and Terronera by Endeavour Silver in Jalisco.  

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp. announced additional reverse circulation drill results from its Cervantes project in Sonora. Drilling has extended the California zone of gold mineralization for 1 km in the East-West direction, and added the quartzite unit as a favorable gold host. Highlighted drill length intercepts comprise 47.12 m @ 0.51 gpt Au, 57.76 m @ 0.42 gpt Au, 59.44 m @ 0.28 gpt Au; 25.84 m @ 0.44 gpt Au, 109.44 m @ 0.20 gpt Au. “In 2024 it is planned for further technical studies, reconnaissance work on other targets, metallurgical testing and the Cervantes phase 3B RC drilling program of approximately 20 drillholes comprising 2,850 meters including California North and Jasper”.
  • Kingsmen Resources Ltd. updated on work being carried out at Las Coloradas project in Chihuahua. “Portions of the Soledad structure were mined by ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company), the U.S. based subsidiary of Grupo Mexico in the period 1944 to 1952….. Average mining diluted grades are reported to have been in the order of 0.6 to 0.8 g/t gold, 300 to 518 g/t silver, 6.2 to 10.9 % lead and 6.5 to 10.3 % zinc, from four different veins, called La Soledad, Santo Niño, Eva and Rosario.” Kingsmen’s sampling in the old workings confirmed the presence of high-grade silver, and significant silver on La Soledad and La Soledad II vein systems, which are 1.7 and 1.0 Km long respectively

ON MINING

  • Gold Resource Corp. provided preliminary fourth quarter results for 2023. During the quarter the Don David property in Oaxaca milled 111.2 K tonnes @ 1.44 gpt Au, 85 gpt Ag, 0.39% Cu, 1.4% Pb, 2.9% Zn, to produce 4,077 Oz Au, 282,5 K Oz Ag, 341 tonnes Cu. For the year, Gold Resource sold 30,119 Oz Au, 1.06 M Oz Ag (or 42,757 Oz AuEq), 1,348 tonnes Cu, 5,391 tonnes Pb, 14,157 tonnes Zn.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. reported Q4 2023 production, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Bolivar, in Chihuahua, during the fourth quarter 410 K tonnes were processed at a daily rate of 4,686 tonnes grading 0.84% Cu, 16.6 gpt Ag, 0.42 gpt Au, recovering 92.6% Cu, 82.4% Ag, 68.4% Au, to produce 7.06 M Lb Cu, 179 K Oz Ag, 3,757 Oz Au. For the year 1.48 M tonnes were processed, grading 0.85% Cu, 17.3 gpt Ag, 0.41 gpt Au, recovering 92.9% Cu, 82.0% Ag, 68.3% Au, to produce 25.77 M Lb Cu, 674 K Oz Ag, 13,347 Oz Au (or 36.6 M Lb CuEq). “… plans are underway to enhance the capacity of the tailings dam which will enable the plant to increase production levels”. For 2024 production guidance for Bolivar is 23.9 to 27.6 M Lb Cu, 650 to 750 K Oz Ag, 8,000 to 9,200 Oz Au.

ON FINANCING

  • Mexus Gold US. Announced its intent to raise $250 K “the estimated amount to pay for its currently outstanding but completed audits bringing Mexus back into compliance with the OTCQB exchange, paying for outstanding claim taxes, and general and administration purposes” (Santa Elena-Don Julio, Sonora).
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. confirms that its board and management are not aware of any corporate development “or undisclosed material change relating to the Company or its operations that would account for the recent trading activity and decrease in its share price” (Columba, Chihuahua).
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. has been added to the Nasdaq Metal Focus Silver Miners Index, “and believe that our selection to this index is further recognition of our progress and achievements” (Metates, Durango).
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp. announced a non-brokered placement financing for totals proceeds of C$1.8 M (Zacatecas Silver project, Zacatecas).
  • Atacama Copper Corp. closed the third and final tranche of the previously announced brokered private placement for gross proceeds of C$300 K and aggregate gross proceeds of C$12.9 M raised in connection with the proposed transaction (Yecora, Sonora).
  • Capstone Copper Corp. and Orion Fund JV Ltd, Orion Mine Finance Fund II LP and Orion Mine Finance (Master) Fund I-A LP jointly announce that they have entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by RBC Capital Markets, as Lead Bookrunner and including National Bank Financial and Scotiabank as Joint Bookrunners pursuant to which the underwriters have agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis, shares for aggregate gross proceeds of C$375 M. The funds are to be used on projects in Chile (Cozamin, Zacatecas).
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. announced a non-brokered private placement offering aimed to raise up to C$2.5 M in gross proceeds. (Columba, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Silver Storm Mining Ltd. released results from seven diamond holes from its phase 1 drilling program at La Parrilla, in Durango. Highlighted core length intervals from the San Nicolas Zone comprise 9.39 m @ 676 gpt Ag, 0.12% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 0.1% Zn (including 5.25 m @ 988 gpt Ag, 0.18% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 0.1% Zn); 2.20 m @ 1,186 gpt Ag, 0.32% Cu, 0.2% Pb; 1.75 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 1,479 gpt Ag, 0.25% Cu, 1.2% Pb, 2.1% Zn; 0.50 m @ 5.90 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag; 4.09 m @ 172 gpt Ag, 2.2% Pb, 3.1% Zn; 7.50 m @ 325 gpt Ag, 3.7% Pb, 3.8% Zn (including 3.45 m @ 600 gpt Ag, 6.1% Pb, 6.9% Zn); 2.45 m @ 150 gpt Ag, 2.6% Pb, 3.0% Zn. “Prior to placing La Parrilla on care and maintenance First Majestic had commenced mining over 5 established levels and 80 vertical metres at San Nicolas. We have now been able to expand and trace the high-grade mineralization 370 metres down from surface, with continuity.”
  • CMC Metals Ltd. provided an update on its Gavilanes project in Durango. The management team of the company participated on the annual assembly of the Ejido Los Gavilanes, where they agreed to enter into a letter of intent (LOI) to advance an exploration agreement. CMC is also working in the financing of the project, with its recent participation on the VRIC conference in Vancouver. The company is active working to obtain financing for phase 1 of the project, which is to include funding for up to 4,500 m of drilling. The current inferred resource is 1.76 M tonnes @ 320 gpt AgEq, containing 18.2 M Oz AgEq.
  • Bendito Resources Inc. finalized logistics for the commencement of phase 1 mining of high-grade Zn-Pb ore at Oposura, in Sonora. Ocean partners has provided a US$2 M revolving pre-financing facility, bearing interest at 11.5% and repayable 120 days from the date advanced. The transaction stipulates a minimum size of 5K tonnes per lot, grading greater than 20% Zn+Pb. The historical mineral resource estimation contains 70-100 K tonnes of this high-grade ore.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Orogen Royalties Inc. provided a 2023 update and forecast for 2024, including figures from its Mexican plays. The company holds a 2% NSR royalty on the production by First Majestic Silver on the Ermitaño project in Sonora, where 28,056 Oz Au, 582.5 K Oz Ag were produced during Q4 2023. As of the end of 2022 the Ermitaño mine had 369,000 Oz Au, 5.8 M Oz Ag in measured and indicated resources, and 269,00 Oz Au, 7.7 M Oz Ag in inferred resources. For 2024, First Majestic’s production guidance is between 81,000 to 90,000 Oz Au, and 1.1 to 1.2 M Oz Ag, “with over 90% of the production from the Ermitaño mine”.
  • Goldgroup Mining Inc. announced the resignation of Javier Reyes from the board of directors of the company (Cerro Prieto, Sonora).
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. informed Simon Cmrlec, a highly experienced senior engineer is joining Vizsla as chief operating officer (COO) and will be tasked with advancing the Panuco project in Sinaloa towards production. He will commence the role on April 1, 2024.
  • Xali Gold Corp. informed that Grupo Minero WIYA has made the required repairs to get operational Xali Gold’s San Dieguito de Arriba (SDA) Plant in Nayarit. Under the current agreement WIYA has to pay US$150 K per month for 10 months and upon completion of paying a total of US$1.5 M, WIYA would have the right to own the SDA Plant, “however discussions are now ongoing to change these terms into a Joint Venture and operate the plant together for shared profits. Currently, Magellan Acquisition Corp. (“Magellan”), and the Company each own 50% of the SDA plant”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Specularite-quartz breccia vein on a project of the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of January, 2024

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment

Silica Ridge

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 4th week of the year (January 22nd to January 28th, 2024), at least 26 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with seven reporting resources and developments of their projects, six communicating production results, six disclosing deals and corporate issues, five informing on exploration results, one announcing financing issues, and one commenting on Mexican issues.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Orla Mining, Gatos Silver, and Minaurum reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of January, 2024. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Infinitum commenced a 2,500m drilling program in its flagship La Adelita project, Sonora, Minaurum  released final 2023 drilling results at La Adelita project, and Tocvan reported rock chip samples results from its Picachos project. In Chihuahua, Reyna Silver shared results from Artificial Intelligence optimization of existing geophysical data from the Guigui project.  In Nayarit, Angel Wings provided an exploration update and filed a NI 43-101 technical report on its La Reyna project.   ON MINING, Golden Minerals commenced mining operations at its Velardeña mine in Durango. Americas Gold and Silver reported Q4 and full- year 2023 production results from its Cosalá mine operation in Sinaloa. Capstone announced Q4 and full-year 2023 production results and provided production and cost guidance for 2024 for its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. Mag Silver reported Q4 and full-year 2023 production results from its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas. Sierra Metals provided a summary of the work conducted in the year 2023 (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua).  SilverCrest reported Q4 and full-year 2023 production and financial results from its Las Chispas mine in Sonora. ON FINANCING, Bear Creek closed its previously announced restructuring transaction with Sandstorm Gold Ltd (Mercedes Mine, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Discovery Silver outlined its 2024 work program for its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Endeavour provides a development update for its Terronera project in Jalisco. Kootenay announced updated mineral resource estimate for its La Cigarra project, Chihuahua.  Gatos Silver reported results from its resource definition drilling program and exploration work being conducted at its Cerro Los Gatos project, Chihuahua. Orla provided an update of the infill drilling program at its Camino Rojo sulphide deposit in Zacatecas.  Prime Mining revealed the 2024 outlook for its high-grade Los Reyes project in Sinaloa.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Angel Wing announced that it has changed its auditors (La Reyna project, Nayarit).  Goldgroup announced that the TSX determined to delist the company common shares (Cerro Prieto property, Sonora). Guanajuato Silver announced that it will be updating the technical reports of their Mexican mining operations. Infinitum Copper informed that it has already completes the necessary expenditure commitment to earn an initial 80% of La Adelita property, Sonora from Minaurum Gold Inc. Mexus announced management changes (Santa Elena property, Caborca, Sonora). Prime granted incentive stock options to management of the company (Los Reyes, Sinaloa). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, No relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Orla Mining Ltd., Gatos Silver Inc., and Minaurum Gold Inc., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the fourth week of January, 2024. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Infinitum Copper Corp., commenced a drilling program at its flagship La Adelita project, Sonora. The program will consists of 15 diamond holes for a total of 2,500m. Objective of the drilling program is to expand the size of the high-grade mineralized area at Cerro Grande zone as well as test for mineralization at depth in the Las Trancas zone.
  • Minaurum  Gold Inc., released 2023 drilling results from the last six holes drilled at La Adelita project in Sonora. Hole AD-23-0034 encountered sporadic mineralization across multiple horizons: 0.08% Cu, 0.2 g/t Au, 16 g/t Ag, and 0.7% Zn over 3m, plus 0.40% Cu, 0.46 g/t Au, 86 g/t Ag, and 0.26% Zn over 0.95m, plus 0.117% Cu, 1.03 g/t Au, 30 g/t Ag, and 0.18% Zn over 2.80m, and plus 0.90% Cu, 0.18 g/t Au, 43 g/t Ag, and 0.33% Zn over 4.05m.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp., reported results of 75 rock chip samples from its Picachos project in Sonora. The 75 samples average 0.6 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag with the values up to 15.9 g/t Au and 32 g/t Ag. “A new mineralized trend extending over 1.6 km in length has been discovered marked by old historic workings and exposure of mineralized veins and shear zones”.
  • Reyna Silver Corp., shared results from Artificial Intelligence (AI) optimization of existing geophysical data from the Guigui project in Chihuahua. Explore Tech´s proprietary AI algorithm highlight a strong, multi-layered magnetic anomaly southeast of the 0.5 sq.km sulphide- mineralized skarn footprint identified in 2022 drilling. Explore Tech’s platform first uses AI to identify and locate where a geophysical anomaly actually is and then design the optimum hole geometry to hit it. “The results reinforce existing geological thinking that the intrusive source for the district lies in that area and greatly enhance the area’s potential. Pads to drill the target are already permitted and accessible”.
  • Angel Wings Metals Inc., provided an exploration update and filed a NI 43-101 technical report on its La Reyna project, Nayarit. La Reyna is a contiguous block of fully titled mineral claims hat consolidates most of the historical Aguila de Oro mining district, with rock chip samples returning from nil to 27.12 g/t Au and nil to 2,938 g/t Ag., as well as anomalous values of Pb, Zn, Cu, Co, Bi, and Mo. “Mineralization is hosted in an extensive area of alteration that has been mapped over 70 square kilometers and is host to numerous past producing shallow mine and gambusino workings. To date, over 20 prospects with highly anomalous gold and silver have been identified on the project. A ground geophysics program including 11.2 line kilometers of Induced Polarization and 2 line kilometers of HSMAT is underway over El Polo-Dolorosa. Data is being processed with a report including the sections and maps due in early February”.

ON MINING

  • Golden Minerals Company commenced mining operations at its Velardeña mine in Durango. It begin mining in six stopes and is steadily ramping up daily production to reach a rate of approximately 150 tonnes per day  in March, and ultimately a full production rate of approximately 325 tpd in the second quarter.
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corporation reported Q4 and full-year 2023 production results from its Cosalá mine operation in Sinaloa. The company produced 321K Oz Ag, 2.7M Lb Pb, and 8.3M Lb Zn (3.8M Oz AgEq) in Q4, 2023 to complete a total production of 1.1M Oz Ag, 11.5M Lb Pb, and 34.1M Lb Zn in the full-year 2023.
  • Capstone Copper Corp., announced Q4 and full-year 2023 production results and provided production and cost guidance for 2024 for its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. During Q4, 2023 the company produced 14.7M Lb Cu for a total production of 54.5M Lb Cu in the full year 2023. Capstone also provided production and cost guidance for 2024 and expects to produce between 49.3M Lb Cu and 53.8M Lb Cu at a cash costs of USD $1.85-USD $2.05 per Lb Cu produced. 
  • Mag Silver Corp., reported Q4 and full-year 2023 production results from its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas (56% / 44% Fresnillo plc and Mag Silver, respectively). In Q4, 2023, Juanicipio processed on 100% basis, 346,766 tonnes of 467 g/t Ag, 1.37 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, and 2.4% Zn to produce 4.5M Oz Ag, 10.59K Oz Au, 9.19M Lb Pb, and 15.08M Lb Zn. For the full-year 2023, the tonnage processed on 100% basis was 1,268,756 tonnes of 520 g/t Ag, 1.39 g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, and 1.7% Zn to produce 16.8M Oz Ag, 36.7K Oz Au, 28.35M Lb Pb, and 44.75M Lb Zn.
  • Sierra Metals Inc., provided a summary of the work conducted in the year 2023 at its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua. The company announced that Bolivar mine achieved record production levels and that it also replaced 104% of the ore mined. On the other hand, Cusi mine in Chihuahua was placed on care and maintenance allowing management to direct full effort and resources to optimize the company’s two core assets at Yauricocha (Peru) and Bolivar (Mexico).  The company also announced that it raised CAD $16M and that its share price increased by more than 210%, moving from CAD $0.24 to CAD $0.75.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc., reported Q4 and full-year 2023 production and financial results from its Las Chispas mine in Sonora. In Q4, 2023 the company milled 78,600 tonnes of 4.28 g/t Au and 410 g/t Ag, with metallurgical recoveries of 98.3% and 97.7% respectively to recover 14,100 Oz Au and 1.34M Oz Ag (2.47 M Oz AgEq), of which it sold 16,100 Oz Au and 1.27M Oz Ag (2.56M Oz AgEq) at average realized prices of USD $1,977 per Oz Au and USD $23.09 per Oz Ag, generating USD $61.3M of revenue. In the full-year 2023 the company milled 300,900 tonnes of 4.39 g/t Au and 423 g/t Ag, with metallurgical recoveries of 98.1% and 96.5% respectively to recover 59,700 Oz Au and 5.65M Oz Ag (10.4M Oz AgEq), of which it sold 58,200 Oz Au and 5,62M Oz Ag (10.25 M Oz AgEq), at average realized prices of USD $1,945 per Oz Au and USD $245.1M of revenue.

ON FINANCING

  • Bear Creek Mining Corporation closed its previously announced restructuring transaction with Sandstorm Gold Ltd. The Transaction is expected to improve the Company’s ability to produce free cash flow in the near term from the Mercedes mine in Sonora.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Discovery Silver Corp., outlined its 2024 work program for its Cordero project in Chihuahua. The Feasibility Study (FS) is nearing completion and is expected to be delivered later this quarter. The FS will include an additional 35,000m of reserve definition and expansion drilling, the results from the FS metallurgical testwork program as well as additional geotechnical and hydrogeology data collected in 2023. The Company will also provide an updated resource estimate concurrent with the results of the Study. In Permitting, the Environmental Impact Assessment is under review and approval by the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resource (SEMARNAT), while the Change of Land Use (CUS) known as Estudio Tecnico Justificativo (ETJ) will be finalized in the coming months with formal submission of the CUS expected to be made by 3Q 2024. Impact assessment and power installation studies were completed in 2023 confirming that there is sufficient capacity in the existing power grid to supply the project with power for operations at peak throughput levels. In 2023 the Company secured the surface rights that correspond with the planned open pit and key infrastructure locations at Cordero. The two potential sources of water for the project are local groundwater and water from local water treatment plants in the region. The Company has completed a hydro geological assessment through its Mexican specialist consultant utilizing data from hydrogeology drilling and pump test wells. Initial results indicate the potential for sufficient local groundwater for Phase 1 of the project (mill throughput of ~25,000 tonnes per day). In 2024, the company plans to complete mapping and sampling of new target areas along with 2,500 m of drilling.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., provides a development update for its Terronera project in Jalisco. The company has made significant construction progress and has updated its initial capital cost, schedule, and execution plan. The table below summarizes the main items:

In terms of project funding, the company expects to make the first draw under the $120 million project loan debt facility in the first quarter of 2024. Construction of the project remains on track and the funds available under the project loan debt facility will be allocated to fund construction.

  • Kootenay Silver Inc., announced updated mineral resource estimate for its La Cigarra project, Chihuahua. The 2024 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) incorporates a significantly revised geological model compared to the previous resource and features a database of 201surface diamond and RC drillholes totaling 36,988 meters and 26,419 assay intervals. The below table shows the 2024 MRE for la Cigarra project:
  • Gatos Silver Inc., reported results from its resource definition drilling program being conducted at the South-East Deeps Zone, as well as an update of the exploration work carried out a its Cerro Los Gatos project in Chihuahua. Resource definition drilling highlights (true widths reported) include holes SE-557 with 245 g/t Ag, 2.0% Zn, 1.9% Pb, 0.3 g/t Au, and 0.67% Cu over 5.5m, including 528 g/t Ag, 0.3% Zn, 1.3% Pb, 0.06 g/t Au, and 1.41% Cu over 2.8M; hole SE-558 with 88 g/t Ag, 11.7% Zn, 3.7% Pb, 0.15 g/t Au, and 0.23% Cu over 3.1m, plus 70 g/t Ag, 2.7% Zn, 1.7% Pb, 0.03 g/t Au, and 0.3% Cu over 1.2m, plus 151 g/t Ag, 2.8% Zn, 6.1% Pb, 0.18 g/t Au, and 0.43% Cu over 4m, including 291 g/t Ag, 4.3% Zn, 12.2% Pb, 0.4 g/t Au, and 0.55% Cu over 1.6m: hole SE-559 with 103 g/t Ag, 16.5% Zn, 7.0% Pb, 0.14 g/t Au, and 0.21% Cu, plus 52 g/t Ag, 9.8% Zn, 3.2% Pb, 0.22 g/t Au, and 0.13% Cu over 2.4m; hole SE-560 with 58 g/t Ag, 3.2% Zn, 2.2% Pb, 0.05 g/t Au, and 0.09% Cu over 1.3m, plus 243 g/t Ag, 9.7% Zn, 6% Pb, 0.39 g/t Au, and 0.28% Cu in 3.3m; hole SE-562 with 31 g/t Ag, 3.1% Zn, 0.9% Pb, 0.16 g/t Au, and 0.08% Cu over 2.5m, plus 179 g/t Ag, 5.8% Zn, 4.5% Pb, 1.1 g/t Au, and 0.65% Cu over 2.5m, plus 20 g/t Ag, 5.8% Zn, 2.2% Pb, 0.4 g/t Au, and 0.02% Cu over 1.7m; hole SE-563 with 133 g/t Ag, 8.3% Zn, 3.2% Pb, 0.11 g/t Au, and 0.16% Cu over 8.9m, plus 54 g/t Ag, 2.8% Zn, 4.1% Pb, 0.07 g/t Au, and 0.11% Cu over 1.2m; and hole SE-272 with 97 g/t Ag, 7.8% Zn, 2.4% Pb, 0.24 g/t Au, and 0.35% Cu over 4.8m, including 201 g/t Ag, 15.4% Zn, 4.3% Pb, 0.25 g/t Au, and 0.73% Cu over 1.3m. Greenfields exploration work in Los Gatos District continues to advance in preparation for increased drilling expected to start in Q2 2024. One hole has been completed at Portigueño and one hole at Cascabel with positive indicator minerals and favourable structures present. The company also completed detailed mapping and rock geochemistry at the Esperanza, San Agustin, Portigueño, Cieneguita and San Luis areas to support drill target generation.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., provided an update of the 37, 677m infill drilling program at its Camino Rojo sulphide deposit in Zacatecas. Drilling highlights of 23 out of 56 holes include holes CRSX23-17 with 2.54 g/t Au over 68.5m, including 13.1 g/t Au over 1.5m; hole CRSX23-19C with 2.08 g/t Au over 124.5m, including 2.46 g/t Au over 60m, and including 11.7 g/t Au over 1.5m, and including 11.7 g/t Au over 3m, and including 3.11 g/t Au over 20.5m; hole CRSX23-20B with 2.22 g/t Au over 96.5m, including 3.24 g/t Au over 33.9m, including 12.8 g/t Au over 1.2m, and including 17.5 g/t Au over 1.6m; hole CRSX23-20F with 2.36 g/t Au over 65.4m, including 2.77 g/t Au over 13.5m, and including 2.86 g/t Au over 36.5m, and including 14.8 g/t Au over 1.5m; hole CRSX23-21A with 2.44 g/t Au over 49.5m, including 4.59 g/t Au over 21m, including 17.21 g/t Au over 1.5m, and including 18.8 g/t Au over 1.5m; hole CRSX23-23A with 3.41 g/t Au over 36m, including 5.94 g/t Au over 18m, and including 29.2 g/t Au over 3m; and hole CRSX23-24A with 2.94 g/t Au over 66.5m, including 4.98 g/t Au over 16.5m, including 21.7 g/t Au over 1.5m, and including 13.9 g/t Au over 1.5m.
  • Prime Mining Corp., revealed the 2024 outlook for its high-grade Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. The 2024 plans include the targeting completion of 40,000m of drilling and continue the geological mapping and geochemical sampling; continue preliminary investigations of metallurgical, geotechnical  and mine planning parameters, including process optimization, assessment of open pit VS underground opportunities and evaluation of permitting requirements; continue to engage with local ejidos through educational and community programming access improvements, and water access; and target a late-2024 resource increase. The exploration drilling will focus on extending the high-grade at Z-T areas; expanding the high-grade mineralization at Guadalupe East; increasing the Central Area resource; and generative target drilling of high-grade intercepts at Las Primas, Mariposa, Fresnillo, Mina, and others to further develop the resource potential at Los Reyes.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Angel Wing Metals Inc., announced that it has changed its auditors from Kenway Mack SlusarchukStewart LLP to Davidson & Company LLP (La Reyna project, Nayarit).
  • Goldgroup Mining Inc., announced that the TSX determined to delist the company common shares effective at the close of market on February 16, 2024 for failing to meet the continued listing requirements of the TSX (Cerro Prieto property, Sonora).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., announced that, because of a disclosure review of the British Columbia Securities Commission, it will be providing updates to its NI 43-101 technical reports (El Cubo mine, Guanajuato).
  • Infinitum Copper Corp., informed that it has already completes the necessary expenditure commitment to earn an initial 80% of La Adelita property, Sonora from Minaurum Gold Inc., by making a total expenditure on the project of CAD $3,042,090.
  • Mexus Gold US announced management changes. The company and Mr. Mark Ashley have mutually agreed to terminate the August 2, 2023 contract between both parties. The termination of this agreement was completed on December 26, 2023 (Santa Elena property, in Caborca, Sonora).
  • Prime Mining Corp., granted incentive stock options to management of the company for a total of 991,626 options, 455,846 restricted share units, and 661,202 deferred share units. The Options were granted to management of the company and are exercisable at the price of $1.83 per share. The Options will vest and become exercisable over a three year period, with one-third vesting on the first year anniversary of the grant, one-third on the second year anniversary, and one-third on the third year anniversary (Los Reyes, Sinaloa).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No relevant news.

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

On the picture above, silica ridge in a low-sulphidation epithermal vein system in a project in Zacatecas. Photo by Miguel A Heredia

Mexico’s Best Silver Drilling Intercepts on 2023

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

Mexico has been historically a major silver producer, and the 2023 drilling intercepts attest to the shiny metal abundance in the country. Intercepts of more than 1,000 gpt*m silver were obtained from 39 ore deposits/targets across many states.

Results from just five projects surpassed the 10,000 gpt*m mark this year, with the best silver intercept by far being the one from GoGold’s Los Ricos South project in Jalisco, with 55 m averaging 2,153 gpt, or 118,399 gpt*m, more than doubling the second-best result of Pan American Silver from La Colorada, in Zacatecas. The three other projects to surpass the 10,000 gpt*m were El Tigre in Sonora from Silver Tiger, Panuco in Sinaloa from Vizsla and San Marcial from GR Silver, also in Sinaloa.

The historical silver production in Mexico has come mainly from low and intermediate sulfidation epithermal deposits, and that fact is represented in that two thirds of the projects (31 out of 49) on the table are examples of this type of mineralization, including nine of the ten top positions. If all nine of Torex Gold’s intercepts in the table are clumped together, this ratio would jump to three quarters for epithermal, or 76%, 12% for skarn, 5% for porphyry copper, and the remaining 7% to a mix of Orogenic gold, high sulfidation epithermal and complex ore deposits.

On spatial distribution, Chihuahua, Sonora and Sinaloa have the biggest number of projects producing good silver intercepts, with eight, seven and seven respectively, followed by Durango and Zacatecas with five each. Jalisco only has three, but includes the top performer Los Ricos South project. Guanajuato and Oaxaca both are twice on the table and Nayarit displays only one project in the table.

Mexico’s Best Gold Drilling Intercepts on 2023

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

Even with the headwinds of a new law tightening mining regulations and the prospect of exploration disappearing altogether in the medium term, 2023 was not a bad year for drilling in Mexico, where, more than a handful of companies were able to produce striking intercepts from their projects.

The gold results from three projects in the Guerrero Gold Belt top the chart, with Ana Paula’s intercepts almost doubling the results from the next on the list. Thirteen companies had at least one intercept running over 100 gpt*m, which is a number we all would like to see on a project of ours:

  1. Heliostar Metals
  2. Torex Gold
  3. Alamos Gold
  4. GoGold Resources
  5. Bear Creek Mining
  6. Orla Mining
  7. Coeur Mining
  8. First Majestic Silver
  9. Regency Silver
  10. Chesapeake Gold
  11. Endeavour Silver
  12. Vizla Silver
  13. Prime Mining

This year results from deposits in the Guerrero Gold Belt are dominant, as Heliostar is trying to define a high-grade core for underground mining at Ana Paula, and Torex Gold is exploring and better defining the numerous deposits within its Morelos Complex package. The Guerrero Gold Belt is synonymous with skarn deposits, although Ana Paula’s high-grade mineralization is mostly within breccias. Other skarns in the table include Lucy (also in the short list), La Adelita, La Parrilla and Bolivar. Three deposits of high-sulfidation epithermal mineralization from Alamos Gold are in the short list, all in the Mulatos district. Many projects with low to intermediate sulfidation epithermal mineralization are in the table, and seven make it to the short list above, from top to bottom: Los Ricos South, Mercedes, Palmarejo, San Dimas, Bolañitos, Panuco and Los Reyes. Other deposit types in the short list include Camino Rojo, which has intermediate sulfidation mesothermal to epithermal mineralization associated to igneous intrusions in sedimentary rocks and Dios Padre, with Au-Cu-Ag mineralization in breccias associated to a porphyry copper environment.

Other ore deposit styles represented in the table include Evelyn, La Gloria and Los Pavitos projects classified as orogenic gold systems and Cordero, a complex deposit that includes skarn, replacement and intermediate sulfidation epithermal mineralization.