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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of May 2023

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By Jorge Cirett                                             

During the 19th week of the year (May 8th to May 14th, 2023), 19 companies working in Mexico posted news releases. Three companies informed on exploration on their properties, eight companies informed on Q1 2023 or full-year 2023 production/financial results, one company informed on the termination of an illegal blockade. One company announced the opening of a financing round. Assay results were released on an advanced property in Sinaloa, and a mill started  test work in Nayarit. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Fitch Ratings warned on the impact of the new mining law, specially in exploration activities. ON EXPLORATION, in Sinaloa, Vizsla Silver reported drilling results from Panuco; Prismo Metals started drilling at Palos Verdes. In Jalisco, Stroud Resources provided a summary of the 2021-2022 drilling at Santo Domingo Hostotipaquillo. ON MINING, Endeavour Silver, GoGold Resources, Mag Silver, Avino Silver, Torex Gold, Pan American Silver, Golden Minerals, SilverCrest Metals released Q1 2023 production reports. Fortuna Silver informed on the termination of the illegal blockade at its San José mine in Oaxaca. ON FINANCING, Stroud Resources is to raise up to C$1.5 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Oroco Resource released assay results from its Santo Tomás project in Sinaloa. Xali Gold informed its optioned processing plant in Nayarit has begun test work. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, GR Silver updated on work at its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Silver Valley informed on negotiations with the Mexican Lithium Agency pertaining a possible partnership involving the lithium component of its properties in Mexico. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Zacatecas Silver continues to build its relationship with the Tetlama community in Morelos.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Fitch Ratings stressed that the new mining law is to have far-reach implications in the Mexican mining industry, as it is to slow the pace of exploration, shorten the concessions term and generate worries on the operational continuity, and also to revitalize community negotiations. Even as the details are still to be defined, exploration is the activity that will be hit the hardest, with exploration activities now to be conducted by the Servicio Geológico Mexicano (SGM) and later expanded by special collaboration agreements.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Stroud Resources Ltd. provided a summary of the 2021-2022 drilling program at its Santo Domingo property in Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco. The program consisted of 9,936 m in 32 holes to explore the extent of known vein-hosted epithermal mineralization and to define additional parallel systems. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 1.55 m @ 624 gpt Ag; 47.70 m @ 0.18 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 48.90 m @ 0.42 gpt Au, 41 gpt Ag; 68.35 m @ 0.18 gpt Au 66 gpt Ag; 34.70 m @ 1.23 gpt Au, 60 gpt Ag; 32.15 m @ 0.55 gpt Au, 106 gpt Ag; 36.80 m @ 0.23 gpt Au, 141 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 24.00 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 105 gpt Ag; 14.70 m @ 0.78 gpt Au, 165 gpt Ag; 34.70 m @ 1.23 gpt Au, 60 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 1.8% Zn; 35.45 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 47 gpt Ag. “To date, the Santo Domingo Project has approximately 85 drill holes totalling 18,184 metres”.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. reported results from 16 expansion holes at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. These expansion holes targeted the Copala resource area, with highlighted true width intervals comprising 5.89 m @ 1,403 gpt Ag, 4.24 gpt Au (or 1,591 gpt AgEq); 4.90 m @ 345 gpt Ag, 1.12 gpt Au (or 396 gpt AgEq); 2.14 m @ 1,319 gpt Ag, 22.46 gpt Au (or 2,743 gpt AgEq); 1.45 m @ 789 gpt Ag, 5.13 gpt Au (or 1,080 gpt AgEq). “Ongoing drilling at Copala has now traced mineralization along ~1,250 metres of strike length and ~400 metres down dip…… Vizsla has to date completed 35,000 m of its planned 90,000 m 2023 drill program”.
  • Prismo Metals Inc. has started the drilling program at its Palos Verde project in Sinaloa. The at least 2.500 m drilling is to test the 65% of the Palos Verdes structure that has not been drilled, along with some other veins that have been mapped. The company is trying to intercept large ore shoots as in the adjacent Panuco project (See above).

ON MINING

  • Endeavour Silver Corp. announced its financial and operating results for Q1 2023. During the period 1.62 M Oz Ag, 9,342 Oz Au (or 2.4 M Oz AgEq) were produced at $11.12 per Oz Ag and an AISC of $20.16 per Oz Ag, net of gold credits. Cash position was $61.6 M at the end of the period, and working capital $92.8 M. The company is going ahead with the development of the Terronera project in Jalisco, with over $58 M invested to date
  • GoGold Resources Inc. announced the financial results for Q1 2023. The company produced 173.7 K Oz Ag, 2,016 Oz Au, 143 tonnes Cu, at adjusted cash cost of $14.00 per Oz AgEq and adjusted AISC of $19.76 per Oz AgEq. Revenue was $7.6 M on the sale of 355.7 K Oz AgEq. Cash on hand is US$100.9 M (Parral tailings, Chihuahua).
  • Mag Silver Corp.  released unaudited financial results for Q1 2023. Concentrate production has commenced at the Juanicipio mine in Zacatecas (Fresnillo 56%, MAG 44%), containing 2 M Oz Ag, 5,291 Oz Au, 1,281 tonnes Pb, 1,656 tonnes Zn. MAG reported net income of $4.7 M, and closed a $42.6 M offering of shares and a $17.1 M private placement during the period.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. reported that the illegal blockade at its San Jose Main in Oaxaca has been lifted. The company and union workers have reached an agreement to resume operations at the mine and processing plant which recommenced on May 10, 2023.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. released its consolidated financial results for the first quarter of 2023. During the period, the company milled 159.8 K tonnes at Avino, in Durango, to produce 234.3 K Oz Ag, 2,286 Oz Au, 1.4 M Lb Cu (678.2 K Oz AgEq), at cash cost of $14.22 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $20.17 per Oz AgEq. Revenues of $9.8 M were impacted by timing of concentrate shipments, EBITDA was $0.3 M, cash provided by operating activities of $0.4 M. The dry-stack tailings facility is now complete and fully operational. The company is assessing the continuity of mineralization to depth, with mineralization extending at least 800 m downdip … “it appears that the Avino vein is getting richer in copper as we go deeper with a grade of 1.63% copper over 16.66 metres” intercepted at depth.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported financial and operational results for Q1 2023. During the period the company produced 122,918 Oz Au at its El Limón-Guajes property in Guerrero, milling 13,073 tpd and mining form ELG underground. Cash cost was $709 per Oz Au and AISC of $1,079 per Oz Au. Reported income of $68.2 M and adjusted earnings of $50.3 M. The company has reserves of 38.6 M tonnes @ 2.91 gpt Au, 17.1 gpt Ag, 0.58% Cu at the Morelos Complex in Guerrero, 47.8 M tonnes @ 3.33 gpt Au, 22.6 gpt Ag, 0.80% Cu in measured and indicated resources and 15.8 M tonnes @ 2.49 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag, 0.86% Cu in inferred resources. The quarter closed with net cash of $318.4 M.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. reported unaudited results for the Q1 2023, without figures or specific news on its Mexican properties.
  • Golden Minerals Co. released financial results for Q1 2023. Revenue was $4.2 M, net operating margin $0.2 M related to the Rodeo mine operations in Durango, where 2,081 Oz Au, 11,535 Oz Ag were produced. Golden is assessing the possibility of restarting the Velardeña property mining operations in Durango. During the period a maiden resource of 937 K tonnes @ 570 gpt Ag was announced on its Yoquivo property, in Chihuahua, and the return of the Santa Maria property, also in Chihuahua, by Fabled Silver. The company had $2.0 M in cash and cash equivalents by the end of the period.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. announced its financial and operational results for the first quarter 2023. Undeground mining rates at Las Chispas, in Sonora, averaged 707 tonnes per day (tpd), processing 1,160 tpd with an estimated 40% of production feed sources from stockpiles. Grades averaged 4.06 gpt Au, 419 gpt Ag, recovering 97.5% Au, 91.0% Ag, to produce 13,300 Oz Au, 1.29 M Oz Ag (2.45 M Oz AgEq), at cash cost $6.57 per Oz AgEq and AISC of $11.45 per Oz AgEq. The company had revenue of $58.0 M, resulting in mine operating income of $35.6 M with net free cash flow of $19.3 M, ending the quarter with cash of $45.8 M and net cash of $21.0 M.

ON FINANCING

  • Stroud Resources Ltd. announced a non-brokered private placement to raise up to C$1.5 M (Santo Domingo Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Oroco Resources Corp. released assay results for the last two drill holes of the 2021-2023 program, which test the North Zone of its Santo Tomás project in Sinaloa. Highlighted core length results comprise 185.4 m @ 0.27% Cu, 0.013 gpt Au, 1.1 gpt Ag; 228.5 m @ 0.43% Cu, 0.035 gpt Au, 2.52 gpt Ag in one hole and 387.4 m @ 0.45% Cu, 0.043 gpt Au, 3.0 gpt Ag; 39.0 m @ 0.26%, 0.012 gpt Au, 1.68 gpt Ag in the other. “The North Zone program comprises 47 diamond drill holes and 30,909 m of drilling”.
  • Xali Gold Corp. advised that Minera Cinco Reales S.A. de C.V. has commenced work on the San Dieguito de Arriba plant in Nayarit. The company is planning to carry their first bulk sample test by the end of May. The company will be allowed to conduct the bulk test work while the environmental impact permit is authorized. “Xali Gold will have the right to receive 15% of the net profits from any mineral that is processed at the SDA Plant”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES             

  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. updated on work and plans for 2023 at its 43,187 ha. Plomosas project in Sinaloa. The property hosts intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal mineralization on the Plomosas, San Marcial and San Juan-La Colorada areas, on which a new resource estimate was filed early this month, based in 60,020 m of drilling in 424 holes. Indicated resources stand at 15 M tonnes @ 117 gpt Ag containing 55 M Oz Ag, or 179 gpt AgEq, containing 85 M Oz AgEq. Inferred resources stand at 9 M tonnes @ 78 gpt Ag, containing 22 M Oz Ag, or 171 gpt AgEq, holding 49 M Oz AgEq. A drill rig has been mobilized to the SE Area in San Marcial and a 12,500 m drilling exploration program has been recommended. On the cost reduction initiative, staff has been reduced by 38% and vehicles by 50%, “with executives taking reduced cash salaries and directors waiving cash fees.”
  • Silver Valley Metals Corp. provided an update on its MexicCan Lithium-Potassium project in Zacatecas-San Luis Potosí. The company “has been in discussions with LitioMX, (the national lithium company of Mexico)” pertaining the possibility of forming a partnership for exploration and production on Silver Valley’s concessions. “The negotiation is focused solely on the lithium component of the multi-commodity deposit(s). This represents an inferred resource of 243,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) defined to date at surface to an average depth of only 5 metres”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Zacatecas Silver Corp. continues to build on its relationship with the Tetlama community, on its Esperanza project in Morelos. “The Company continues to provide on-going social benefit support with programs currently implemented including: medical assistance, funerary compensation, educational scholarships, and the community forest fire fighting brigade”. The company is combining resources with the community nucleus for the construction of the first stage of a new community cemetery.

On the image below: Silicified breccia-vein ridge in a copper project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of January 2023

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 3rd week of the year (January 16th to January 22nd, 2023), 20 companies working in Mexico released news on their properties. Two companies posted on exploration of non-advanced properties, six companies posted on Q4 2022 production figures, one released its 2023 production guidance and one announced the re-start of operations at a processing plant in Guanajuato. One company extended the maturity date of convertible debentures. Five companies informed on work at its advanced properties, including three that released drilling results and two that updated on mineral resources. One company restricted the NSR agreement on an advanced property, one informed on the acquisition of a past-producing mine and one other informed on the leasing of its processing plant for part of the profits. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Reyna Gold released sample results from its La Gloria project. In Jalisco, Almadex Minerals updated on exploration plans at San Pedro. ON MINING, Orla Mining, Avino Silver, Fortuna Silver, Gold Resource, Pan American Silver and First Majestic Silver presented production reports for Q4 2022. Torex Gold released its 2023 production guidance and Guanajuato Silver is to start processing at the Cata mill in Guanajuato. Capitan Mining released drill results from the Jesús María system at its Cruz de Piedra project in Durango.  ON FINANCING, Excellon Resources is to convert C$4.5 M of debentures into equity and extend the maturity of remaining principal. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GR Silver released drilling results from the SE zone of the San Marcial project in Sinaloa. Regency Silver updated the resource estimate at Dios Padre in Sonora. GoGold Resources posted drilling results from El Favor deposit at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Excellon Resources filed a PEA on La Negra deposit in Hidalgo. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Defiance Silver restructured an option agreement to acquire the NSR at the Tepal project in Michoacan. Excellon Resources announced last week the acquisition agreement on the past-producing La Negra mine in Hidalgo. Xali Gold signed a lease for part of the profits obtained in the processing of minerals by a private company at its San Dieguito de Arriba mill in Nayarit. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, First Majestic Silver received the “Silver Helmet Award” for underground mining with more than 500 workers for its health and safety performance.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No Relevant News.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Reyna Gold Corp. released sample results from district-scale exploration at its 24,215 hectare La Goloria property in Sonora. At Las Carmelitas 43 samples average 2.25% Cu, 89 gpt Ag, 0.21 gpt Au and 0.48% Sb defining a supergene enrichment zone on conglomerate, agglomerate and sandstone with a 2.5 Km by 1.7 km footprint continuing undercover in several directions. At the Western target new parallel structures have been discovered on a 1,500 by 450 m zone with eight samples returning 2.89 to 11.35 gpt Au, up to 27 gpt Ag and 22 to 135 gpt Tellurium. At La Republicana the northwest-southeast trend has now been extended with discontinuous veins and veinlets for 2.8 km, and a width of 625 m with grades of up to 103.5 gpt Au, 283 gpt Ag, 2.4% Cu, 5.33% Pb, 0.12% Zn. “At least 3 hydrothermal events have occurred in the zone: 1) veins and veinlets of white quartz (occasionally greyish) with the presence of galena, chalcopyrite, and covellite, 2) veins and veinlets of quartz-tourmaline (cutting first event structures) coarse pyrite is observed, traces of chalcopyrite and secondary minerals such as hematite, jarosite, malachite and chrysocolla, 3) filling of calcite and iron carbonates within second event structures”. Drilling is programmed for March 2023.
  • Almadex Minerals Ltd. updated on exploration plans for its San Pedro project in Jalisco. The breccias intercepted in 2022 drilling appear to have a sub horizontal distribution. “Further surface mapping is planned to confirm and refine this interpretation in order to optimise the next drilling program. The elevated base metals and copper seen in the breccia, along with acid sulphate altered fragments suggests that the breccia and related mineralisation may be a late feature in the lithocap environment”. It is interpreted that the acid sulphate lithocap present has potential for gold mineralization, and deep copper potential beneath.

ON MINING

  • Orla Mining Ltd. provided an operational update for the fourth quarter 2022. The Camino Rojo Oxide mine produced 32,017 Oz Au during the period, and 109,596 Oz Au throughout the full year. All-in sustaining costs (AISC) has been maintained at $600 to $700 per Oz Au for the year. Production for 2023 is expected to be between 100,000 to 110,000 Oz Au. “Income taxes accrued during 2022, including Mexican Special Mining Duty, totalling approximately $35 million, will be paid in a lump sum in March 2023. Thereafter, Orla expects to pay income tax instalments monthly, beginning in May 2023”. Orla ended the year with a cash position of $96.6 M.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. reported fourth quarter 2022 production results at the Avino mine in Durango. During the period 150.3 K tonnes were milled at an average grade of 70 gpt Ag, 0.62 gpt Au, 0.53% Cu, recovering 92% Ag, 81% Au, 88% Cu to produce 309.8 K Oz Ag, 2,426 Oz Au, 1.54 M Lb Cu (770 .1 K Oz AgEq). For the year 541.8 K tonnes were milled @ 62 gpt Ag, 0.42 gpt Au, 0.61% Cu, recovering 92% Ag, 78% Au, 89% Cu, to produce 985.2 K Oz Ag, 5,778 Oz Au, 6.50 M Lb Cu (2.65 M Oz AgEq). The dry-stack tailing facility was commissioned and is now fully operational.
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. announced that the Cata mill has commenced precious metals processing at the Valenciana Mines Complex (VMC) in Guanajuato. The company is to start processing material at a rate of 8 K tonnes per month and to increase it later in the year to 20 K tonnes per month. The mill has a nameplate capacity of 36 K tonnes per month. “The Company plans to operate the Cata mill with production from both VMC and the San Ignacio mine …… intends to backfill tailings underground using a hydraulic fill system that will make use of select voids and open stopes that have been created at VMC over the past 450 years of underground mining”.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. provided operational guidance for 2023 and 5-year production outlook for the Morelos Complex in Guerrero, which comprises the El Limón Guajes (ELG) Complex and the Media Luna project. For 2023 at ELG the expected gold production is between 440 K and 470 K Oz Au at total cash costs $740 to $780 per OZ Au and all-in sustaining costs of $1,080 to $1,130. “The strip ratio for 2023 is expected to average 10.7:1 compared to 8.9:1 in 2022 given additional laybacks within the El Limón and El Limón Sur open pits. Based on the current mine plan, a higher portion of waste is expected to be mined in the second and third quarters compared with the first and fourth quarters”. Approximately $39 M are budgeted for exploration and drilling in 2023, including $20 M for Media Luna, $6 M for ELG underground, $8 M for exploration in near mine on early exploration targets and $5 M in definition and grade control drilling. For the next five years production is expected to be in the 400 K to 500 K Oz Au per year.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. reported production results for the fourth quarter 2022, including figures from its Mexican operations. During the fourth quarter 259.5 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 2,883 tonnes per day (tpd), averaging 194 gpt Ag, 1.13 gpt Au, recovering 91.1% Ag, 89.8% Au to produce 1.47 M Oz Ag, 8,499 Oz Au. For the year, 1.03 M tonnes were milled at a rate of 2,925 tpd, averaging 191 got Ag, 1.14 gpt Au, to produce 5.76 M Oz Ag, 34,124 K Oz Au. For 2023 the company plans to process 1.03 M tonnes @ 186 gpt Ag, 1.19 gpt Au, reflecting the declining grade profile of mineral reserves.
  • Gold Resource Corp. released fourth quarter 2022 production for the Arista mine in Oaxaca. During the period 97.8 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 1,353 tonnes per day, averaging 2.68 gpt Au, 91 gpt Ag, 0.37% Cu, 2.29% Pb, 4.79% Zn to produce 6,933 Oz Au, 265.8 K Oz Ag, 284 tonnes Cu, 1,808 tonnes Pb, 3,920 tonnes Zn.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. announced preliminary production results for the Q4 2022, including figures from its Mexican operations. At La Colorada, in Zacatecas, 1.34 M Oz Ag, 700 Oz Au were produced during the period, for a yearly total of 5.93 M Oz Ag, 3,300 Oz Au. At Dolores, in Chihuahua, 0.59 M Oz Ag, 34,600 Oz Au were produced during the quarter, for a yearly production of 2.24 M Oz Ag, 136,900 Oz Au.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. released total production results for the fourth quarter of 2022. The company’s consolidated production from its three operating mines in Mexico (San Dimas in Durango, Santa Elena in Sonora, La Encantada in Coahuila) was 2.39 M Oz Ag, 46,194 Oz Au (or 6.17 M Oz AgEq). The liquid natural gas powerplant at Santa Elena was expanded from 12 MW to 24 MW “to supply low‐cost, clean power to the Ermitaño mine and the recently completed dual‐circuit plant”. In exploration, four drilling rigs are operating at Dan Dimas, in Durango, three at Santa Elena in Sonora and one at La Encantada, in Coahuila.

ON FINANCING

  • Excellon Resources Inc. entered into a binding term sheet with holders representing approximately 66.67% of the principal “amount of outstanding convertible debentures to convert 25% of the debentures (C$4.5 M) into equity and reprice and extend maturity of remaining principal outstanding upon closing the acquisition of La Negra property in Queretaro, providing greater flexibility to the Company. Furthermore, reprice the conversion price of the remaining principal to C$0.535 per share, 6.5% interest rate or 10.0% payable in shares at the company’s election” (La Negra, Hidalgo).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. released surface drilling results from six holes in the Southeast Area of the San Marcial project in Sinaloa. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 5.6 m @ 1,223 gpt Ag, 1.4% Pb, 1.2% Zn (including 0.3 m @ 25,150 gpt Ag, 30% Pb, 18.6% Zn); 82.7 m @ 121 gpt Ag (including 0.4 m @ 3,386 gpt Ag and 1.1 m @ 1,391 gpt Ag); 112.6 m @ 61 gpt Ag (including 0.9 m @ 1,055 gpt Ag); 0.6 m @ 14.3 gpt Au. “The six holes represent extensions along strike or down dip, creating the potential to expand silver mineralization boundaries”.
  • Capitan Mining Inc. released drill assays for five holes on the Jesus Maria zone at the Cruz de Piedra project in Durango. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 16.8 m @ 0.35 gpt Au, 187 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn (including 1.5 m @ 1.36 gpt Au, 1,381 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 0.5% Zn); 4.6 m @ 0.63 gpt Au, 183 gpt Ag (including 1.5 m @ 1.45 gpt Au, 504 gpt Ag); 15.2 m @ 0.44 gpt Au, 21 gpt Ag, 0.5% Pb, 0.8% Zn (including 1.5 m @ 1.82 gpt Au, 81 gpt Ag, 3.2% Pb, 4.2% Zn). The Jesus Maria zone has been traced by trenching and drilling for 750 m of strike length to a depth of up to 150 m “On Dec 6 th, 2022, Capitan announced that it had entered into a transaction with a third party to consolidate the 2.5km high grade Jesus Maria trend”.
  • Regency Silver Corp. announced an updated resource estimate for its Dios Padre project in Sonora. The updated resource estimate incorporates 1,056 m of drilling in 8 holes drilled in 2022 and 10,425 m of historic drilling in 66 holes, to define inferred resources of 1.384 M tonnes @ 228 gpt Ag, 0.32 gpt Au (255.6 gpt AgEq) containing 10.14 M Oz Ag, 14,000 Oz Au. “The resource estimate contains information from the historic Dios Padre silver mine only and does not include any information from the recent discovery hole REG 22-01 which contained an intercept of 35.8 metres of 6.84 g/t gold, 0.88% copper and 21.82 g/t silver”.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released the results of eight holes from El Favor East deposit within Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 84.5 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 79 gpt Ag; 44.8 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 111 gpt Ag (including 17.3 m @ 0.71 gpt Au, 225 gpt Ag); 7.8 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 190 gpt Ag; 19.9 m @ 0.59 gpt Au, 392 gpt Ag (including 5.0 m @ 1.97 gpt Au, 1,300 gpt Ag, which includes 1.2 m @ 6.48 gpt Au, 3,722 gpt Ag); 18.3 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 97.4 gpt Ag; 35.2 m @ 0.18 gpt Au, 130 gpt Ag. “El Favor is located approximately 800 meters along strike to the east of the El Orito deposit. The combined systems cover approximately 2.9km in mineralized strike length over a 3.7km distance”.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. filed a preliminary economical assessment on La Negra project in Queretaro. The report summarizes the mineral resource estimate with 2.46 M tonnes @ 64 gpt Ag, 1.95% Zn, 0.50% Cu, 0.27% Pb, containing 5.1 M Oz Ag, 105.8 M Lb Zn, 27.1 M Lb Cu, 14.6 M Lb Pb in indicated resources and 6.42 M tonnes @ 80 gpt Ag, 1.80% Zn, 0.40% Cu, 0.65% Pb, containing 16.5 M Oz Ag, 254.8 M Lb Zn, 56.6 M Lb Cu, 92.0 M Lb Pb as inferred resources. The PEA envisages 7.4 years of mine life processing 6.22 M tonnes averaging 63 gpt Ag, 1.5% Zn, 0.4% Cu, 0.4% Pb at a daily rate of 2,500 tonnes.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Defiance Silver Corp. restructured the option agreement to acquire the 2.5% NSR at the Tepal project in Michoacan with Minera Tepal S.A. de C.V. “The company is making a payment of US $100,000 to defer all payments until June 30, 2024, at which time the remaining payment schedule will resume”.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. announced on January 9, 2023 a definitive acquisition agreement with Orion Resource Partners on the acquisition of the permitted, past-producing mine of La Negra, in Queretaro. The deal involves the payment on US$50 M paid through an upfront payment in shares of Excellon totaling US$20 M upon closing of the acquisition and a further US$30 M of deferred, “contingent consideration payable in common shares of the Company or in cash at the Company’s option, following the restart of commercial production”. La Negra property counts with 2.46 M tonnes @ 64 gpt Ag, 1.95% Zn, 0.50% Cu, 0.27% Pb, containing 5.1 M Oz Ag, 105.8 M Lb Zn, 27.1 M Lb Cu, 14.6 M Lb Pb in indicated resources and 6.42 M tonnes @ 80 gpt Ag, 1.80% Zn, 0.40% Cu, 0.65% Pb, containing 16.5 M Oz Ag, 254.8 M Lb Zn, 56.6 M Lb Cu, 92.0 M Lb Pb. The current PEA envisages 7.4 years of mine life processing 6.22 M tonnes averaging 63 gpt Ag, 1.5% Zn, 0.4% Cu, 0.4% at a daily rate of 2,500 tonnes.   
  • Xali Gold Corp. signed a binding letter of intent with Minera Cinco Reales S.A. de C.V. on the San Dieguito de Arriba plant in Nayarit. Xali will have the right to receive 15% of the net profits from any mineral that is processed at the plant, or minimum payments of US$10 K in the fourth month from the signing, US$20 K on the fifth month, US$30 K on the sixth month, US$40 k on the seventh to tenth months, US$50 K from month eleven on. Before the fourth month, Xali should receive US$6.5 K on January 30th, US$6.5 K on February 27th, US$6.5 K on March 22nd. “Upon the execution of this Agreement, MCR will act as the only operator of the plant and will have the exclusive option to obtain permits and refurbish the plant and equipment to operational status and to manage and operate the SDA plant for their benefit for an initial period of 14 months …… Minera Cinco Reales operates several mines and processing plants (150 to 300 tonnes per day) in Northern and Central Mexico producing gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • First Majestic Silver was awarded the prestigious “Silver Helmet Award” in the category of “Underground Mining of More Than 500 Workers” by the Mining Chamber of Mexico for its outstanding performance in occupational safety and health on its Santa Elena operations in Sonora.

On the image below: Tectonic breccia in granitic rock sealed by fine grained darker intrusive on a copper project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Abraham López.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of October 2022

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 43rd week of the year (October 24th to October 30th, 2022), 17 companies working in Mexico released news on their properties. Three companies posted exploration advances on their projects, three companies released Q3 2022 results, one company closed the first tranche of a private placement, one is newly trading at another Stock Exchange and one more expanded on the deferment of payment on the acquisition of a mine. Three companies presented Q3 2022 results. Six companies presented drilling results on their advanced properties. One Company is acquiring a large adjoining land package adjacent to its project and one more expanded on a legal suit regarding the illegal transfer of several of its mining concessions.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, mining companies at the BMV are taking a pounding due to reduced production, inflation and lower metal prices. The AIMMGM is asking the government for increase security and raised the danger of explosives theft. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Aztec Minerals released drilling results from its Cervantes project; Colibri Resource resumed exploration at Evelyn. In Nayarit, Angel Wing Metals updated on exploration at El Grande. ON MINING, Mag Silver, Agnico Eagle Mines and Alamos Gold released Q3 2022 production results. ON FINANCING, Capitan Mining closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement for $2.6 M gross proceeds. Guanajuato Silver Company is now on the Apex segment of the Aquis Stock Exchange. Bear Creek Mining reached an agreement to defer the payment of the Mercedes mine in Sonora for two years. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Prime Mining released drilling results from Los Reyes in Sinaloa. Oroco Resources presented assays from drilling at Sant Tomás, in Sinaloa. Silver Tiger presented results from drilling El Tigre and Sooy veins at El Tigre, in Sonora. Vizsla Silver reported results from 12 holes on La Luisa vein at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Defiance Silver updated on the drill program at the Veta Grande vein system of the Zacatecas Silver project in Zacatecas. Silver Dollar reported the last assays from drilling of La Noria zone at La Joya project in Durango . ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Angel Wing Metals entered into a binding agreement to acquire a large land package adjacent to its El Grande project in Nayarit. Defiance Silver initiated a case “against the illegally and fraudulently transferred mineral concessions concerning its Tepal Project” in Michoacan. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Agnico Eagle and Alamos Gold presented information on their social responsibility work and achievements at the corporate and community levels.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mining companies in the BMV (Bolsa Mexicana de Valores) had a negative Q3 2022 due to inflation and lower metal prices. Grupo México reported a 34.7% year to year fall in Q3 2022 of EBITDA and a 24.4% decline in share price to a 6.6% reduction in copper production and a 18.6% drop in the red metal price. Total copper production was 256.3 K tonnes in the period. Industrias Peñoles EBITDA is 18.5% lower in the same period, as well as a 10.9% drop in the share price.
  • The AIMMGM (Asociación de Mineros, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México) asked for government intervention to increase security on their operations. States with the strongest mining tradition like Chihuahua, Estado de México, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Sonora and Zacatecas are among those with greater insecurity perception ratings. Companies in some states spend up to 2% of their total budget in security, and some companies have reported to the government their compliance with racketeering schemes to be able to operate. The risk posed by the increase in the theft of explosives was also raised.  

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp. completed the phase 3 core drilling program at the Cervantes project in Sonora. Eleven core hole totaled 2,515.5 m of drilling at the California, California North and Jasper targets. Highlighted core length results comprise 9.0 m @ 1.72 gpt Au; 16.5 m @ 0.34 gpt Au; 26.7 m @ 0.54 gpt Au, 7.5 m @0.43 gpt Au; 46.5 m @ 0.44 gpt Au; 5.65 m @0.25 gpt Au. “… the gold mineralization appears to be widely distributed in disseminations, fractures and veinlets at high levels within in a Quartz-feldspar porphyry intrusive complex and related hydrothermal breccias”.
  • Angel Wing Metals Inc. updated on the exploration program at El Grande project after the acquisition of the adjoining La Reyna land package in Nayarit (See Deals and Corporate Issues below). “The first phase of greenfield exploration has focused on the near surface low sulphidation exploration potential, starting with regional geological mapping and prospecting, structural and alteration mapping, outcrop chip and channel sampling rock sampling, and environmental baseline studies. Detailed mapping and sampling of selected targets are prioritised for grid soil and outcrop sampling programs and drilling…. An airborne geophysical survey is proposed with follow-up ground geophysics on selected targets pending receipt of permits. The results from this work will be used to design a Phase One 3,000 metre diamond drill program to commence in late Q4 2022 or Q1 2023, once updated drill permits including the newly acquired claims are received.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. has resumed exploration at its Evelyn property in Sonora. Soil samples are currently being collected by geologists on site, and an application for drilling and trenching was submitted to SEMARNAT. One program of reverse circulation (RC) drilling comprises 2,000 m in five holes to test a chargeability and resistivity anomalies and a second program is to explore under alluvial cover, comprising several short, closely spaced holes to penetrate the alluvium and sample the top of the bedrock

ON MINING

  • Mag Silver Corp. reported third quarter 2022 production from the Juanicipio project (56% Fresnillo PLC, 44% Mag Silver) in Zacatecas. On a 100% basis, 180.8 K tonnes of underground development and initial stopes were processed during the period, to produce 2.62 M Oz Ag, 5,422 Oz Au (Mag’s attributable 44% interest: 1.15 M OZ Ag, 2,386 Oz Au). “Mineralized material from Juanicipio continues to be processed through the nearby Saucito (70%) and Fresnillo beneficiation plants (30%) which are owned by Fresnillo PLC.
  • Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. released third quarter results, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Pinos altos, in Chihuahua, 378 K tonnes were processed at a rate of 4,109 tonnes per day (TPD), grading 1.98 gpt Au to produce 23,041 Oz Au at a production cost of $1,498 per OZ Au and total cash cost of $1,295 per Oz Au. Exploration drilling confirmed the existence of a high-grade block 100 m below the lowest production level at Pinos Altos, with a reported drill intercept of 11.6 m @ 3.1 gpt Au, 122 gpt Ag. At the Cubiro deposit under development, 9.2 m @ 3.3 gpt Au were intercepted in the western limits of the main Cubiro Corridor. At La India, in Sonora, 1.04 M tonnes were processed at a rate of 11,359 TPD, grading 0.72 gpt Au at a production cost of $1,246 per Oz Au and a total cash cost of $1,196 per Oz Au. “In the third quarter of 2022, the Main Zone pit was depleted and ore production transitioned to the La India and El Realito pits, resulting in higher gold grades and a higher stripping ratio”.
  • Alamos Gold Inc. reported its financial results for the Q3 2022, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Mulatos, in Sonora, 42,700 Oz Au were produced at total cash cost $1,781 per Oz Au and mine site AISC of $1,137 per Oz Au, with a capital expenditure of $6.9 M. At the Mulatos mine 759.3 K tonnes were mined and 1.57 M tonnes of waste moved (2.07 waste to ore ratio), with 1.27 M tonnes stacked @ 0.75 gpt Au (30,916 Oz Au stacked, 56% Au recovery rate) and 14 K tonnes crushed per day. At La Yaqui Grande 739 K tonnes were mined, 5.3 M tonnes of waste moved, 794 .1 K tonnes @ 1.23 gpt Au were stacked (31,362 Oz Au stacked, 81% Au recovery) and 8.7 K tonnes crushed per day. “La Yaqui Grande is an open pit mine with an independent leach pad located approximately seven kilometres from the existing Mulatos operation….  La Yaqui Grande performed well in its first full quarter of operation, producing 25,300 ounces of gold”.

ON FINANCING

  • Capitan Mining Inc. closed the first tranche of the previously announced $3.2 M non-brokered private placement for total proceeds of $2.6 M. The second tranche for total proceeds of $600 K is expected to close on or before the end of October (Cruz de Plata, Durango).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. completed its admission to the Apex segment of the Aquis Stock Exchange, whilst continuing to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange (El Cubo and Valenciana, Guanajuato).
  • Bear Creek Mining Corp. reached a “heads of agreement” with Equinox Gold Corp. to amortize over a two-year period the payment of the final $25 M purchase price installment for the Mercedes mine in Sonora. The payment that was to be made on October 2022 has been converted in a promissory note maturing on October 2024, with monthly principal and interest payments commencing in February 2023, with an interest rate of 12.5% plus the greater of 2.5% or the 90-day average SOFR and monthly payments of US$500 K or 50% of free cash flow (Mercedes, Sonora).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Prime Mining Corp. announced further phase 2 drill results from the Guadalupe area of the Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width (TW) intercepts comprise 11.8m @ 2.7 gpt Au, 88 gpt Ag (including 2.2 m @ 27.9 gpt Au, 509 gpt Ag); 17.0 m @ 1.7 gpt Au, 59 gpt Ag (including 5.8 m @ 4.9 gpt Au, 176 gpt Ag); 12.2 m @ 1.7 gpt Au, 140 gpt Ag; 3.5 m @ 4.9 gpt Au, 614 gpt Ag (including 0.6 m @ 23.2 gpt Au, 2,550 gpt Ag); 1.9 m @ 6.08 gpt Au, 913 gpt Ag. “Reported intercepts are up to 100 m to the west, 240 m to the east, and 100 m below the 2020 pit-constrained resource”.
  • Oroco Resource Corp. released assay results from an additional 2,668 m of drilling in the North zone and 1,456 m in the Brasiles zone of its Santo Tomás project in Sinaloa. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 195.2 m @ 0.41% Cu; 117.8 m @ 0.22% Cu; 132.0 m @0.40% Cu; 36.0 m @ 0.20% Cu; 106.1 m @ 0.31% Cu; 211.6 m @ 0.41% Cu; 133.0 m q 0.17% Cu; 159.6 m @ 0.32% Cu; 228.0 m @ 0.31% Cu. “The 2021-2022 North Zone drill program is continuing to confirm and expand the 2009 Gradeshell model of Cu >0.30%” in the 2019 technical report, with a total of 38 holes now completed on the North zone spanning 1,400 of strike length.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc. presented results from drilling the El Tigre and Sooy veins at El Tigre project in Sonora. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 0.5 m @ 1.46 gpt Au, 1,320 gpt Ag; 5.4 m @ 220 gpt Ag; 10.7 m @ 120 gpt Ag (including 1.1 m @550 gpt Ag); 20.5 m @42 gpt Ag; 1.6 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 528 gpt Ag; 0.5 m @ 991 gpt Ag; 5.9 m @ 0.10 gpt Au, 678 gpt Ag (including 1.0 m @0.37 gpt Au, 2,754 gpt Ag; 36.4 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag; 3.1 m @211 gpt Ag; 9.4 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 641 gpt Ag; “These next three wide consistently mineralized high grade holes confirm the new discovery in the El Tigre Vein we first reported in September 2022. Drilling continues on this exploration target under the unmined portion of the Historic El Tigre Mine as we follow this wide high grade along strike to the North.”
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. reported results from 12 holes targeting the La Luisa vein, close to the Napoleon vein, at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intervals comprise 6.13 m @ 133 gpt Ag, 3.68 gpt Aum 0.2% Pb, 0.3% ZN (including 0.68 m @ 595 gpt Ag, 27.50 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 0.6% Zn); 2.59 m @ 197 gpt Ag, 4.60 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn (including 0.57 m @ 596 gpt Ag, 18.50 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 0.9% Zn); 1.00 m @ 49 gpt Ag, 2.90 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 3.44 m @ 77 gpt Ag, 1.11 gpt Au; La Luisa vein structure has been mapped for almost 1 Km hosted in rhyolite tuffs and “bears vein-textures indicative of being at higher-levels in the epithermal profile …… there exists the potential for increased grades and widths along strike and down plunge to the south”.
  • Defiance Silver Corp. updated on the drill program at the Veta Grande vein system of the Zacatecas Silver project in Zacatecas. Highlighted core length results comprise 10.16 m @ 0.70 gpt Au, 121 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 2.9% Zn (or 339 gpt AgEq, including 3.38 m @ 1.96 gpt Au, 345 gpt Ag, 2.2% Pb, 8.0% Zn, which includes 0.9 m @ 4.18 gpt Au, 868 gpt Ag, 4.6% Pb, 17.0% Zn); 2.0 m @ 0.51 gpt Au, 121 gpt Ag, 1.4% Pb, 4.8% Zn; 1.94 m @ 0.62 gpt Au, 29 gpt Ag, 0.4% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 2.19 m @ 0.29 gpt Au, 79 gpt Ag, 0.2% Zn. These results confirm the continuity of mineralization below the 2014 mineral resource. “The highest-grade silver mineralization at the San Acacio project is typically associated with honey-coloured sphalerite, argentiferous galena, variable silver sulfides and sulfosalts, and spatially correlated with amethyst”.
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc. reported final assays from phase II drilling at the Noria portion of the La Joya project in Durango. Highlighted core length results comprise 25.44 m @ 21 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 0.17% Cu, 0.2% Zn; 3.86 m @ 72 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.09% Cu, 0.5% Zn; 1.29 m @ 304 gpt Ag, 0.68 gpt Au, 1.8% Pb, 5.3% Zn; 2.88 m @ 52 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu, 0.1% Pb, 0.5% Zn; 3.0 m @ 2.3% Zn; 1.50 m @ 20.60% Zn; 0.66 m @ 43 gpt Ag, 2.1% Pb, 5.8% Zn; 6.67 m @ 63 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 0.18% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 1.0% Zn.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Angel Wing Metals Inc. entered into a binding agreement with a private entity to acquire 100% interest in the 102.87 square Km La Reyna property land package in six titled concessions adjoining the El Grande project, and cover the Aguila de Oro (Golden Eagle) mining district in Nayarit. Angel Wing Metals Is to make a total payment of US$700 K, of which US$150 K have been paid upon signing, US$150 K have been paid upon filing of the agreement at the Public Registry of Mining in Mexico (Registro Público de Minería), and US$400 K to be paid upon positive resolution on the agreement by the Public Registry of Mining. A further payment of US$50 K will be due upon the identification of each 1.0 M OZ Au in the measured and indicated categories of a mineral resource on a NI43-101 technical report, and a 1.5% net smelter return (NSR) royalty with Angel Wing Metals retaining the right of first refusal to purchase the royalty for US$2.0 M.
  • Defiance Silver Corp. announced “that the case initiated against the illegally and fraudulently transferred mineral concessions concerning its Tepal Project” in Michoacán, has been admitted for trial by a District Court in Michoacán. The mineral concessions have to “stay” until the trial concludes and a final judgement is rendered. The Mexican Mining Public Registry has been informed. “Defiance has a substantial likelihood of success on the merits. Mexican Law, Mexican Precedents, and Mexican Courts are consistent in declaring null and void illegal transfers made fraudulently”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Agnico Eagle Mexico was awarded 17th place among the Top 100 of the best companies to work for in Mexico by Great Place to Work®. La India mine in Sonora received the “Distinction of Socially Responsible Company” distinction “granted by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía) and the Foundation for Sustainability and Equity (Alianza por la Responsabilidad Social Empresarial en México) to recognize companies for their commitment to ensuring the well-being of employees, operating with superior business ethics, community outreach and environmental care and preservation”.
  • Alamos Gold Inc. held information sessions on the company’s cyanide management practices with the communities of Yécora, El Trigo and Matarachi, Sonora, within the framework of the International Cyanide Management Code. An ambulance was donated to the Sahuaripa municipality, an online high school was established at Matarachi through an agreement with the Tec de Monterrey. Two freshwater pumping stations were set at Matarachi. New scholarship committees established in Matarachi, Sahuaripa and Yécora as part of the Company’s continued support for local students.

On the image below Late milky white quartz veinlets cross cutting previous quartz-specularite veining in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of May, 2022

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 21st week of the year (May 23rd to May 29th, 2022), at least 25 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, six companies posted exploration advances on their properties, one released first quarter 2022 reports, one announced the commissioning commencement on its project, one updated on a merger, one on the significant ownership by one investor, one on the compliance to issue by-weekly reports until its management cease trade order is lifted, three released drilling results from their advanced projects and one commissioned a company to prepare a resource estimate for its property.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, SEMARNAT, the Mexican environmental agency, voiced its support for anti-mining organizations in Morelos. A miner’s Union has taken legal steps to get back to previous profit-sharing schemes by mining companies. The president of Mexico expressed the likelihood of its government going to court to stop a company from mining limestone in Quintana Roo. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Benjamin Hill Mining released results from drilling at its Sonora Gold property; Ranchero Gold updated on exploration at Santa Daniela; Silver Spruce Resources is preparing ground for drilling at Diamante; Tocavan Ventures released drill results from Pilar. In Nayarit, Sierra Madre Gold and Silver released results from drilling at La Tigra. In Veracruz, Azucar Minerals completed the first hole near the center of a large target at El Cobre. ON MINING, SilverCrest Metals announced the completion of construction of the processing plant at Las Chispas, in Sonora. Magna Gold presented its Q1 2022 operating and financial report. ON FINANCING, Sailfish Royalty received a lead order commitment in its path to create a silver exploration company starting with the Gavilanes project in Durango.  Eric Sprott owns 26.2% of outstanding shares of Discovery Silver. Gatos Silver is providing a by-weekly default status report.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Avino Silver & Gold Mines released drill results from the Oxide Tailings project at Avino, Durango. GR Silver released results from underground drilling at Plomosas, in Sinaloa. Sonoro Gold reported results from drilling at Cerro Caliche, in Sonora. Barksdale Resources engaged a company for the elaboration of the resource estimate at San Javier, in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Sierra Madre Gold and Silver signed an agreement with First Majestic to acquire La Guitarra, in Estado de Mexico. Bear Creek Mining has been placed on the default list by the British Columbia Securities Commission, on concerns regarding the credentials of consultants that signed a technical report on the Mercedes mine, in Sonora. Discovery Silver updated on activities at Cordero, in Chihuahua.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • SEMARNAT, the Mexican environmental agency, pointed that it backs those against mining projects in Morelos. This statement was done regarding Alamos Gold’s Esperanza project near Temixco, in the process of acquisition by Zacatecas Silver Corp.. The agency stressed that the Mexican government maintains its commitment to not authorize any new open pit development in the country, based on ideological ideas (No mention was done whatsoever about the project complying or not with the law).
  • The Union “Sindicato Nacional Minero Metalúrgico FRENTE” informed on legal procedures taken by the organization to fight for the 10% of profits that previously were distributed among the workforce of mining companies in Mexico, same that were recently capped at three months of salary per worker.
  • The president of Mexico, Andrés M. López Obrador, stated that Mexico will take Vulcan Materials, a company mining limestone in Quintana Roo, to court if necessary. The company has stated in the past that it has all the needed permits for its operations.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. released results from diamond drilling at its Sonora Gold project in Sonora. A total of 34 holes were completed covering 5,800 m on seven targets in the 6,400 hectares property. Assays have been received for the first 20 holes. Highlighted intervals from the Sonora Copper area comprise 28.2 m @ 0.42% Cu (interval that includes 16 m @ 0.3 gpt Au; 3.5 m @ 26 gpt Ag; 1.44 m @ 2.99% Cu, 0.664 gpt Au, 103 gpt Ag) and 9.21 m @ 0.92% Cu (including 5.36 m @ 1.7% Cu, 1.95 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag) in one hole; and 20.55 m @ 0.55% Cu (including 2 m @ 1.05% Cu, 0.379 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag; 3.96 m @ 1.12%) in a second hole. Highlighted intervals from other areas comprise 1.2 m @ 0.43% Cu, 1.52 gpt Au; 0.90 m @ 0.14% Cu, 1.73 gpt Au; 0.60 m @ >10% Cu, 2.11 gpt Au, 52 gpt Ag).
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. announced results from the three first holes of its drilling program at La Tigra project, Nayarit. Highlighted core length intervals (interpreted as 90% of the core interval) comprise 9.0 m @ 0.46 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag; 6.60 m @ 0.49 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag; 5.10 m @ 2.21 gpt Au, 24 gpt Ag; 32.0 m @ 1.00 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag (including 4.0 m @ 3.03 gpt Au and 4.45 m @ 2.72 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag). An application was filed for a new 1,653 ha claim to the west of La Tigra, named Sabra.
  • Ranchero Gold Corp. provided an update on exploration at its Santa Daniela concessions in Sonora. Machine-learning technology has been applied in the 2,220 hectares land package to identify 47 exploration targets, of which nine are high priority. Follow-up field visits are ongoing to Rincon, San Francisco and Yaqui Sur.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is preparing access trails and pads for its incoming 2,000 m reverse circulation drilling campaign at its 1,057 hectares Diamante project in Sonora. The drilling company it to mobilize to site next week.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd. announced the completion of the first hole (1,280 m of depth) in a large lithocap target at El Cobre, in Veracurz. This area has been targeted for drilling based on a mineral vectoring study utilizing chlorite and epidote that indicates a fertile medium to large sized porphyry system, a coinciding deep IP geophysical anomaly, surface pyrophyllite, spectral mineral mapping and high crystallinity illite over the entire target. Drill hole results are pending. “The closest hole to this deep core IP anomaly, which did not test the anomaly, intersected intense quartz pyrite sericite (QSP) phyllic alteration which provides further support to this new target representing a possible porphyry centre”.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. released diamond drill results from its Pilar property in Sonora. An infill hole in the Main zone intercepted a core-length interval of 108.6 m @ 0.8 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag (including 31.9 m @ 2.4 gpt Au, 2 gpt Ag and 9.4 m @ 7.6 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag). As part of the Phase III program, nine drill holes totaling 1,562 m have been completed.

ON MINING

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. announced that Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. has completed the construction of the processing plant at Las Chispas in Sonora. The processing plant commissioning is now underway, and expected to reach commercial production in Q4, 2022.
  • Magna Gold Corp. released operating and financial results for the first quarter of 2022. At San Francisco, in Sonora, 7.3 M tonnes were mined with a strip ratio of 6.7:1, processing 1.4  M tonnes to produce 11,874 Oz Au at cash cost $1,675 per Oz Au and AISC at $2,467 per Oz Au. The San Francisco deposit has measured and indicated resources of 99.7 M tonnes @ 0.446 gpt Au, containing 1,430 K OZ Au and inferred resources of 11.4 M tonnes @ 0.446 gpt Au, containing 171 K Oz Au.

ON FINANCING

  • Sailfish Royalty Corp. has received a lead order commitment from Barnwell Investments LLC. in connection to the private placement contemplated as part of a combination transaction with Swordfish Silver. The proposed transaction includes a private placement of Swordfish shares for US$5 M. The goal of the proposed transaction is to create a silver focused exploration and development company, resulting in the transfer of Sailfish’s Gavilanes property in Durango.
  • Ontario Ltd., a company Eric Sprott owns, announced the exercise of warrants on Discovery Silver Corp. for an aggregate consideration of $7 M. As a result of the warrant exercise Mr. Sprott owns 26.2% of the outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and approximately 27.3% on a partially diluted basis.
  • Gatos Silver Inc. is providing a by-weekly default status report in accordance with National Policy 12-203 – Management Cease Trade Orders. “The Company believes that it will be able to file its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 in the second half of 2022. The Company is also evaluating the material weaknesses in its internal controls over financial reporting related to the mineral reserve reporting errors”.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. released results from 17 short holes drilled on its Oxide Tailings project at Avino, in Durango. “The 2022 drill program included 17 drill holes for a total of 209 metres of drilling”. The average of 90 m drilled on the sulphide zone of the tailings returned 0.34 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag, whereas those from the oxide zone averaged 0.49 gpt Au, 41 gpt Ag on a total of 90 m.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. announced results from underground infill drilling at the Plomosas Project in Sinaloa. Highlighted apparent width intervals comprise 2.9 m @ 190 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 14.0 m @ 146 gpt Ag; 6.5 m @ 1,458 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. reported results from 10 holes completed at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. The highlighted core length results from the El Colorado and Buena Suerte zones comprise 21.34 m @ 0.557 gpt Au (including 3.04 m @ 1.52 gpt Au); 1.52 m @ 2.19 gpt Au; 7.62 m @ 0.72 gpt Au; 10.67 m @ 1.183 gpt Au; 4.57 m @ 1.09 gpt Au; 1.52 m @ 9.57 gpt Au; 28.95 m @ 1.021 gpt Au (including 3.05 m @ 2.706 gpt Au). Results from further seven drill holes at Las Abejas are pending.
  • Barksdale Resources Corp. engaged Independent Mining Consultants Inc. (IMC) to prepare a resource estimate and NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Cerro Verde copper zone on the San Javier project in Sonora. Approximately 30,000 m of drilling data will be utilized in the process to create the report. The resource estimate is expected to be delivered to Barksdale within the next 30 days.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. signed an arm’s length definitive agreement with First Majestic Silver Corp. to acquire the 39,714 hectare La Guitarra property in Estado de Mexico. La Guitarra is a past-producing underground mine with an on-site process facility that operated until 2018. Historical measured and indicated resources in the property amount to 7.45 M Oz AgEq and inferred resources to 10 M Oz AgEq. Sierra Madre will issue to First Majestic 69.06 M of its common shares, for an aggregate value of $35 M. Upon completion of the transaction First Majestic will become the largest shareholder of Sierra Madre.
  • Bear Creek Mining Corp. has been placed on the default list by the British Columbia Securities Commission. This as a result of the BCSC’s concerns regarding the credentials of certain independent third-party consultants to act as qualified persons under National Instrument 43-101 in respect of certain chapters of the Aprill 22 technical report on the Mercede mine, in Sonora. “Bear Creek estimates that the Amended Mercedes Report will be filed within approximately 30 days”.
  • Discovery Silver Corp.released its financial results for the first quarter 2022 and an update on activities. The Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) work for the Cordero project in Chihuahua is to be delivered on the fourth quarter 2022, the metallurgical test work on sulfides is 60% complete, the reserve definition drilling is now complete, and the first of three open pit geotechnical drill holes is underway. More than 30,000 m of drilling are planned this year on resource expansion targets and the first ever drilling of five targets within 10 km of Cordero. Cash and cash equivalents by the end of the period was at $61.2 M

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Sampling of quartz-barite vein in the Sonora Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of May, 2022. 

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Phyllic alteration

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 18th week of the year (May 2nd to May 8th, 2022), at least 23 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 6 news published by the media, with ten reporting resources and developments of their properties, six commenting on Mexican issues, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, four informing on exploration results, three communicating production and financial results, and two discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Torex Gold announced the investment of USD $848M to develop its Media Luna project in Guerrero. Expo Minero Chihuahua 2022 closed its doors with the attendance of 15,610 people. Arcelor Mittal announced that it will invest USD $150M to boost the iron mining in Michoacán. According to Miner Deck, one company working in Mexico participated in the best eight gold intercepts of the week, and two in the best seven silver intercepts of the week. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec Minerals-Kootenay JV released results from California and Jasper targets within its Cervantes project, and Canuc provided an update on its exploration program at its San Javier project. In Chihuahua, Kootenay announced that it will commence a 15,000m drilling program at its Columba project. In Coahuila, Monumental announced the results of a geophysical survey recently completed at its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth Elements project. ON MINING, Altaley reported Q4, and full year 2021 production and financial results from its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero. Coeur Mining reported Q1, 2022 production and financial results from its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. Santacruz reported Q4 and full year 2021 consolidated production and financial results from their Mexican operation mines. ON FINANCING, no relevant news.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Capitan Mining released results from 5 RC holes collared at its Jesus Maria Silver Zone at the Cruz de Plata project (former Peñoles project) in Durango. Zacatecas Silver received permits for 30 drill pads at El Cristo Vein System within its Zacatecas property. Sonoro Gold filed an Environmental Impact Statement or Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental (MIA) for its Cerro Caliche property in Sonora.  Orex-Pan American Silver JV received a permit to drill 2,500-3,000m at its Sandra project in Durango. Southern Silver reported drilling results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Silver Dollar released the remaining assay results from the phase 1 drilling program completed at its la Joya project in Durango. Sierra Madre reported results of the last four holes collared at its Tepic project in Nayarit. Golden Tag announced results from 2 holes drilled at its San Diego project in Durango. Guanajuato Silver reported drill results from its ongoing exploration programs at its El Cubo mine and El Pinguico projects in Guanajuato. Prime Mining announced new results from 17 holes drilled at Zapote North and Mariposa areas within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Golden Minerals announced the appointment of its COO (Rodeo project, Durango). Vizsla announced the appointments of its COO and VP of Exploration (Panuco project, Sinaloa). Orogen and the Riverside-BHP JV signed an option agreement for the Llano de Nogal project in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Esperanza Silver de México obtained the support of the Tetlama community in Morelos for the Esperanza project. Alamos Gold has generated 2,200 new jobs in the last two years for the construction of its La Yaqui Grande mine in Sonora.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Torex Gold Resources Inc., announced the investment of USD $848M to develop its Media Luna project in Guerrero to bring it into commercial production by the end of 2024. The initial capital investment in the Media Luna Project includes USD $85M of underground mine development during the pre-commercial mining period, between Q4, 2023 and Q4, 2024. The initial capital required to develop the Media Luna Project excludes USD $124M of direct project expenses incurred before April 1, 2022, of which USD $37M are related to the Guajes Tunnel and USD $28M to the development of the Upper and Lower South Portal. Of the direct expenses of the project, the largest capital expenditures are related to the development of the underground mine (USD $173M), access to the deposit through the Guajes Tunnel (USD $76M), as well as the Upper and Lower South Portal (USD $40M), improvements to the process plant (USD $98M) and tailings/paste plant (USD $78M). Of indirect expenses, the largest components are contingency costs (USD $100M).
  • Expo Minero Chihuahua 2022 closed its doors with the attendance of 15,610 people. For four days, from April 28 to May 1, the attendees learned about the importance of the mining industry in the development of Mexico and its usefulness in everyday life.
  • Arcelor Mittal Mexico announced that it will invest USD $150M to boost the iron mining in Michoacán. The company also stated that it will increase the domestic rolled steel production from 2.5M to 5.3M tonnes.
  • According to Miner Deck, one company working in Mexico was in the best eight drill intercepts of the week.  Aztec Minerals-Kootenay JV was eight with 136.8m @ 1.486 g/t Au at Cervantes project in Sonora.
  • According to Miner Deck, two of the best silver drill intercepts of the week were drilled by companies working in Mexico. Golden Tag was first with 395m @ 35 g/t Ag at San Diego project in Durango, and Capitan Mining was seventh with 16.8m @ 291 g/t Ag at Cruz de Plata project in Durango.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Aztec Minerals Corp – Kootenay Silver Inc. JV released results from the California and Jasper targets within its Cervantes project in Sonora. Drilling highlights include hole JAS22-001 with 0.33 g/t Au over 9.1m, with 150m visible Cu oxides and secondary sulphides in mineralized quartz feldspar porphyry intrusive, sediments and hydrothermal breccia; hole CAL22-017 with 0.31 g/t Au over 24.3m, and 1.65 g/t Au over 6.1m in mineralized quartz feldspar porphyry intrusive, sediments and hydrothermal breccia; hole CAL22-016 with 0.47 g/t Au over 56.2m, and 0.35 g/t Au over 13.7m in mineralized porphyries and hydrothermal breccia; and hole CAL22-015 with 0.42 g/t Au over 68.4m, and 2.25 g/t Au over 10.6m in mineralized porphyries and hydrothermal breccia. These drill results extended the known mineralized zone at depth and over 350m to the north onto the California North target and also to the south on the eastern end of the California zone. The company reported that the phase 2 RC drilling program at the Cervantes property is completed and consisted of 26 holes totalling 4,649m.
  • Canuc Resources Corporation provided an update on its exploration program at its San Javier project in Sonora. On the Silver Mountain Zone, the 63-sample grid covered the central part of a NE-SW trending magnetic high in the north part of the San Javier project area. Within the soil grid, samples ranging from 5,123 to 36,671 ppb Ag (5 to 36 g/t) define a 50 to 100 m wide trend that extends for approximately 300 m across the grid. Only 7 of the 63 samples collected contained less that 1 g/t Ag and. The Ag anomaly is accompanied by a modest Au anomaly having values ranging from 38.6 to 87.5 ppb within a relatively high 2.0 to 32.5 background. Only 9 samples contained less than 5.0 ppb Au. On the Gold Zone, the company excavated 3,295m of trenches ranging from 65m to 638m in width. From these trenches, 1,829 channel samples have been collected and additional 46 samples have been collected from various locations within the trend. Results have been reported only on the first 3 trenches which returned elevated gold and copper values. Sampling results are still pending for the rest of the trenches. On the Copper-Gold Stockwork Zone, a total of 22 samples were collected from 3 locations on the north flank of a donut shaped magnetic high in the north–central part of the property. Average grade of the sampling is 0.38% Cu, 0.29 g/t Au, and 3.9 g/t Ag. Canuc plans to cover with soil samples the southwest extension of the strong Ag anomaly referred as Silver Anomaly target; to carry out a detailed mapping on at least 40 know mineralized zones within the property, as well as along the 11 trenches excavated across the Gold Zone, and in the area of the Stockwork Copper-Gold Zone, to provide necessary information in advance of drilling.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc., announced that it will commence a 15,000m drilling program at its Columba project in Chihuahua. Initial focus of this program will be on deeper drill testing on the F Vein and expanding on the D and B Vein intercepts, as well as explore the JZ Zone located 700 meters east of the F Vein; and the East Block located 200 meters east form the JZ Zone.
  • Monumental Minerals Corp., announced the results of a heli-borne magnetic, radiometric, and very-low frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) geophysical survey recently completed at its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE) project in Coahuila. The geophysical survey confirmed that a significantly larger area of the property is prospective for HREE (from approximately 1 km to 10 km of prospective strike length), and defined two parallel 8 km arcuate anomalies that occur along the south and west margin of the Sierra La Vasca intrusion complex. The company announced that the next step is to carry out a rapid evaluation and prioritization of targets for diamond drill testing.

ON MINING

  • Altaley Mining Corporation reported Q4, and full year 2021 production and financial results from its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero. In Q4, 2021 the company processed 183,091 tonnes to produce 12,209 tonnes of Zn concentrate grading 46% Zn with metallurgical recovery of 71%, and 2,691 tonnes of Pb concentrate grading 22% Pb with metallurgical recovery of 30% respectively, at cash and all in sustaining cost (AISC) of USD $0.74 and USD $0.95 per Lb Zn respectively. Altaley reported gross revenues of CAD $29.7M, mine operating profit of CAD $10.1M, income for the period of CAD $20.6M, and cash of CAD $3.04M. In the full year 2021, the company processed 689,963 tonnes to produce 45,778 tonnes of Zn concentrate grading 46% Zn, 2.12 g/t Au, and 658 g/t Ag, with metallurgical recovery of 71% for Zn, and 9,936 tonnes of Pb concentrate grading 22%, 1.65% Cu, 6.08 g/t Au, and 776 g/t Ag, with metallurgical recovery of 29% for Pb, at cash and AISC of USD $0.60 and USD $0.83 per Lb Pb respectively. Altaley reported gross revenues of CAD $98.4M, mine operating profit of CAD $34.25M, income for the period of CAD $36.26M, and cash of CAD $3.04M.
  • Coeur Mining Inc., reported Q1, 2022 production and financial results from its Palmarejo mine in Chihuahua. The company milled 565,211 tonnes of 1.74 g/t Au and 120 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 90.6% and 83% respectively to produce 28.9K Oz Au and 1.8M Oz Ag. It sold 28.2K Oz Au and 1.79M Oz Ag during the Q1, 2022 period. Coeur reported metal sales of USD $83.1M; cost applicable to sales of USD $730 and USD $12.43 per Oz Au and Oz Ag respectively; cash flow from operating activities of USD $34.3M; sustaining capital expenditures of USD $13.6M; and free cash flow of USD $20.7M. The company announced that the full year 2022 production is expected to be 100K-110K Oz Au and 6M-7M Oz Ag, and the cost applicable to sales is expected to be USD $750-850 per Oz Au and USD $13.50-14.50 per Oz Ag.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported Q4 and full year 2021 consolidated production and financial results from their Mexican operation mines (Zimapan, Hidalgo and Rosario San Luis Potosi). In Q4,2021, the company milled 192,901 tonnes to produce 318.4K Oz Ag, 2.27M Lb Pb, 7.7M Lb Zn, and 1.1M Lb Cu (or 842K Oz AgEq with an average grade of 184 g/t AgEq). Santacruz reported for this period revenues of USD $13.8M, gross profit of USD $621K, a net loss of USD $10.45M and an adjusted EBIDTA loss of USD $4,47M. In the full year 2021, it milled 730,412 tonnes to produce 1.29M Oz Ag, 132Oz Au, 8.4M Lb Pb, 28M Lb Zn, and 4.07M Lb Cu (or 3.2M Oz Ag with an average grade of 185 g/t AgEq). The company reported for the full year 2021 revenues of USD $53.3M, gross profit of USD $10.3M, a net loss of USD $11.56M, and an adjusted EBIDTA loss of USD $713K.

ON FINANCING

  • No relevant news.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Capitan Mining Inc., released results from 5 RC holes collared at its Jesus Maria Silver Zone at the Cruz de Plata project (former Peñoles project) in Durango. Drilling highlights include hole 21-JMRC-10 (at the Upper Zone) with 291 g/t Ag, 0.15 g/t Au, 0.08% Pb, and 0.08% Zn (332 g/t AgEq) over 16.8m, including 478 g/t Ag, 0.56 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (539 g/t AgEq) over 9.1m, including 2,217 g/t Ag, 1.77 g/t Au, 1.1% Pb, and 0.4% Zn (2,406 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m; plus (at the Lower Zone) 71 g/t Ag, 0.4 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, and 1.6% Zn (186 g/t AgEq) over 13.7m, including 114 g/t Ag, 0.67 g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, and 2.7% Zn (309 g/t AgEq) over 7.6m; hole 21-JMRC-06 (at the Upper Zone) with 100 g/t Ag, 0.12 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.8% Zn (146 g/t AgEq) over 13.7m, including 152 g/t Ag, 0.17 g/t Au, 0.5% Pb, and 2.4% Zn (271 g/t AgEq) over 3m, including 154 g/t Ag, 0.17 g/t Au, 0.6% Pb, and 3.6% Zn (319 g/t AgEq), plus (at the Lower Zone) with 145 g/t Ag, 0.14 g/t Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn (189 g/t AgEq) over 4.6m, including 380 g/t Ag, 0.28 g/t Au, 0.5% Pb, and 0.8% Zn (448 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m; and hole 21-JMRC-08 with 44 g/t Ag, 0.36 g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, and 1.3% Zn (149 g/t AgEq) over 7.6m, including 62 g/t Ag, 0.48 g/t Au, 1.4% Pb, and 2.1% Zn (218 g/t AgEq) over 4.6m, and including 92 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 2.9% Pb, and 4.5% Zn (350 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m.
  • Zacatecas Silver Corp., received permits for 30 drill pads at El Cristo Vein System within its Zacatecas property to drill test multiple veins within a zone of dilation that is almost 4 km long and up to 600m wide.  The cumulative strike length of all veins at El Cristo is at least 12km long. A total of 2,500m of diamond drilling has been designed in this initial phase of drilling at El Cristo Vein System.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp., filed an Environmental Impact Statement or Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental (MIA) for its Cerro Caliche property in Sonora. “Under Mexican law, mining construction and operation activities require an approved MIA, as well as a Change of Land Use permit, or Autorización en Cambio de Uso de Suelo (“ETJ”), from the Mexican federal permitting authority, Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (“SEMARNAT”). The company is currently completing the required documentation for the Change of Land Use application and anticipates filing with SEMARNAT in the near future.
  • Orex Minerals Inc. – Pan American Silver Corp JV received a permit to drill its Sandra project in Durango. Phase-I of this new drilling program will consist of approximately 2,500 to 3,000m. Orex conducted a geological mapping and litho geochemical sampling program over the combined 6,970 hectares of the project, where multiple drill target areas have been identified.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp., reported drilling results from the North Felsite and El Sol targets on its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Drilling highlights include hole 21CLM-185 with 185 g/t Ag, 0.6 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 3.1% Pb, and 0.6% Zn (358 g/t AgEq or 9.1% ZnEq) over a true width (TW) of 0.7m at the North Felsite HW zone, plus 101 g/t Ag, 0.3 g/t Au, 0.8% Cu, 2.4% Pb, and 3.3% Zn (1,321 g/t AgEq or 33.5% ZnEq) over a TW of 1.8m, including 1,785 g/t Ag, 0.5 g/t Au, 1.4% Cu, 3.1% Pb, and 5.9% Zn (2,309 g/t AgEq or 56.6% ZnEq) over a TW of 1m at the North Felsite skarn area; hole 22CLM-184 with 7 g/t Ag, 1.1 g/t Au, 0% Cu, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (112 g/t AgEq or 2.8% ZnEq) over a TW of 11.7m at the North Felsite HW zone, including 19 g/t Ag, 5.6 g/t Au, 0% Cu, 0.3% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (495 g/t AgEq or 12.5% ZnEq) over a TW of 1m, plus 121 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 1.9% Pb, and 6.5% Zn (460 g/t AgEq or 11.7% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.3m at North Felsite Skarn, plus 117 g/t Ag, 0.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 1.1% Pb, and 1% Zn (213 g/t AgEq or 5.4% ZnEq) over a TW of 6m, including 301 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 0.5% Cu, 1.1% Pb, and 10.7% Zn (830 g/t AgEq or 21% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.3m, plus 302 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 0.4% Cu, 2.9% Pb, and 0.7% Zn (485 g/t AgEq or 12.3% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.8m. “The North Felsite target is located on the eastern side of the Cerro Las Minitas, approximately 400m to the northwest of the La Bocona and Mina Piña shafts, in an area that was not included in the most recent NI43-101 Mineral Resource update on the property. New drilling tested the continuity of mineralization in both the main Ag-Pb-Zn Skarn as well as strongly Au-enriched hanging wall zone.
  • Silver Dollar Resources Inc., released the remaining assay results from the phase 1 drilling program completed on the underexplored Noria portion at its la Joya project in Durango. This phase of drilling consisted of 11 core holes totaling 2,424m. Drilling highlights include hole NOR-22-008 with 41 g/t Ag, 0.11 g/t Au, 0.05% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.6% Zn (90 g/t AgEq) over 125.3m, including 137 g/t Ag, 0.23 g/t Au, 0.14% Cu, 0.4% Pb, and 1.7% Zn (268 g/t AgEq) over 10.47m; and hole NOR-22-009 with 3 g/t Ag, 0.66 g/t Au, 0.03% Cu, 0% Pb, and 0.03% Zn (60 g/t AgEq) over 58.84m. “Phase II drilling is now in progress and targeting the wide intervals of mineralization intersected in the new Phase I discoveries”.
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd., reported results of the last four holes collared at its Tepic project in Nayarit. Drilling highlights include hole TDH014 with 322 g/t Ag and 0.96 g/t Au (424 g/t AgEq) over 6.35m, including 544 g/t Ag and 1.5 g/t Au (656 g/t AgEq) over 3.85m, plus 332 g/t Ag and 1.85 g/t Au (470 g/t AgEq) over 6.05m, including 786 g/t Ag and 3.78 g/t Au (1,070 g/t AgEq) over 2.3m. Holes were designed to test areas adjacent to and outside of the areas that were volumetrically included in historic resource estimations. “The Tepic drill holes are being incorporated into the project’s 3-D database and model to plan the continuation of the Phase 2 drilling at Tepic. Drill pads have already been constructed on the Taunas targets to drill the first test holes within the newly discovered area on the eastern portion of the project”.
  •  Golden Tag Resources Ltd., announced results from 2 holes drilled at its San Diego project in Durango. Key highlights include hole 22-65A (Rata Zone) with 0.02 g/t Au, 1,350 g/t Ag, 1.4% Pb, 3% Zn, and 0.35% Cu (1,556 g/t AgEq) over 0.6m, plus 0.03 g/t Au, 981 g/t Ag, 2.4% Pb, 2.5% Zn, and 0.35% Cu (1,194 g/t AgEq) over 0.65m, plus 0.11 g/t Au, 210 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 1.1% Zn, and 0.05% Cu (288 g/t AgEq) over 1.67m, and plus (at Cata Zone) with 0.12 g/t Au, 197 g/t Ag, 1.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn, and 0.06% Cu (280 g/t AgEq) over 0.85m; and hole 22-65B (Rata Zone) with 0.08 g/t Au, 286 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn, and 0.04% Cu (312 g/t AgEq) over 1.20m, plus (at Cata Zone) with 0.27 g/t Au, 103 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 0.6% Zn, and 0.05% Cu (174 g/t AgEq) over 16.48m, including 0.09 g/t Au, 108 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, 0.7% Zn, and 0.05% Cu (163 g/t AgEq) over 2.20m, plus 0.12 g/t Au, 460 g/t Ag, 3% Pb, 2.7% Zn, and 0.19% Cu (690 g/t AgEq) over 2.50m, plus (at CS Play Zone) with 0.11 g/t Au, 135 g/t Ag, 2.9% Pb, 3% Zn, and 0.09% Cu (363 g/t AgEq) over 4.27m, plus (at Fernandez Zone) with 0.05 g/t Au, 35 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, 0.8% Zn, and 0.11% Cu (93 g/t AgEq) over 395.1m, including 0.03 g/t Au, 37 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, 1.1% Zn, and 0.14% Cu (109 g/t AgEq) over 185.90m. “Combining the results from hole 65B with the results from the previously reported hole 21-58, we can now anticipate that the potential extension of the Fernandez Zone could measure approximately 140 m x 70 m in the horizontal plane and 530 m in the vertical plane.  There are no drill holes to the west of hole 22-65B and thus the Fernandez Zone remains open to the west.” 
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., reported drill results from its ongoing exploration programs at its El Cubo mine and El Pinguico projects in Guanajuato. Key highlights include hole VP022-002 with 12.90 g/t Au and 1,956 g/t Ag (2,988 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 0.35m (Arroyo structure), plus 0.21 g/t Au and 31 g/t Ag (47 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 13.55m (Villalpando structure), including 0.76 g/t Au and 115 g/t Ag (176 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.15m, plus 0.44 g/t Au and 92 g/t Ag (127 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.39m (Villalpando FW structure); hole SC22-001 with 7.56 g/t Au and 42 g/t Ag (647 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.30m (680 Vein); hole SC22-002 with 4.49 g/t Au and 276 g/t Ag (636 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.13m (Tuberos Vein), plus 2.60 g/t Au and 194 g/t Ag (402 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.30m (Poniente Vein); and hole P21-22 with 1.04 g/t Au and 130 g/t Ag (203 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.56m (Arroyo structure), including 2.11 g/t Au and 227 g/t Ag (396 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.60m, plus 1.15 g/t Au and 193 g/t Ag (285 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.24m (Pinguico Vein). “These results serve to build confidence in our understanding of geological controls of high-grade mineralization within the various veins and different zones of our Guanajuato mine holdings. Further, drilling at the El Cubo mine continues to identify mineralization that the Company can quickly build into its near-term mining plans”.
  • Prime Mining Corp., announced new results from 17 holes drilled at Zapote North and Mariposa areas within its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. “This drilling is targeting the expansion of the Zapote North deposit northwards along the structure and confirming the continuity of mineralization of Mariposa to the south. These holes confirm that gold-silver mineralization extends from Zapote North to Mariposa”. Drilling highlights at Zapote North  include hole 22ZAP-56 with 4.81 g/t Au and 17 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 1.7m; hole 22ZAP-66R with 2.42 g/t Au and 24 g/t Ag over a TW of 9.70m, including 4.72 g/t Au and 36 g/t Ag over a TW of 4.2m; hole 22ZAP-67R with 3.83 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.4m; hole 22ZAP-59 with 1.4 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag over a TW of 8.2m, including 5.55 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.4m; hole 22ZAP-52R with 1.07 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag over a TW of 19.9m, including  2.62 g/t Au and 28 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.3m, including 3.32 g/t Au and 31 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.3m, plus 0.77 g/t Au and 27 g/t Ag over a TW of 8.2m; hole 22ZAP-68R with 0.68 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag over a TW of 8.2m, including 2.19 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.2m, plus 0.39 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over a TW of 8.2m; and hole 22ZAP-69R with 0.47 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag over a TW of 6.6m, plus 1.42 g/t Au and 28 g/t Ag over a TW of 5m, including 2.42 g/t Au and 44  g/t Ag over a TW of 2.5m. Drilling highlights at Mariposa include hole 22MA-08 with 1.1 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over a TW of 8.3m, including 3.38 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.9m, plus 0.99 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag over a TW of 5.4m, including 2.05 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.1m, plus 0.69 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag over a TW of 4.90m; and hole 22MA-09 with 1.55 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.9m, including 5.35 g/t Au and 29 g/t Ag over a TW of 0.60m. “To date for Phase 1 and 2 combined, Prime has drilled 255 holes totalling 64,070 metres (122 in Phase 1 for 25,650 m and 133 holes so far in Phase 2 for 38,420 m)”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Golden Minerals Company announced the appointment of its COO, effective May 9, 2022 (Rodeo project, Durango).
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., announced the appointments of its COO and VP of Exploration (Panuco project, Sinaloa).
  • Orogen Royalties Inc. and the Riverside Resources Inc-BHP Group JV signed an option agreement for the Llano de Nogal Copper-Gold porphyry project in Sonora. Riverside can earn a 100% interest by making cash payments of USD $2.48M and USD $5M in cumulative exploration expenditures (CEE) subject to the following schedule: USD $30K (closing of transaction); USD $50K (1st anniversary) and  USD $500K in CEE; USD $50K (2nd anniversary) and USD $1.3M in CEE; USD $100K (3rd anniversary) and $USD $2M (CEE); USD $200K (4th anniversary) and USD $3M (CEE); USD $300K (5th anniversary) and USD $4M (CEE); and USD $1.75M (6th anniversary) and USD $5M (CEE). “During the option period, Orogen and Riverside will jointly retain the right to exercise and retain any Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty buydown rights with respect to the Suanse claims (0.5% NSR royalty for CAD $1M) and the Coyotes claims (1.5% NSR royalty for USD $1.5M). Once Riverside has exercised its option on Llano de Nogal, Riverside will grant to Orogen a 1% Production Royalty, of which 0.5% can be purchased for USD $10M within 10 years of the exercise date”.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Esperanza Silver de México obtained the support of the Tetlama community to the extent of accompanying the request for federal environmental permits for its operation for the Esperanza project in Morelos. The company determined to promote the project from the beginning hand in hand with the inhabitants since it is based on lands that belong to the community, and showing full respect for their human rights. Esperanza Silver will be delivering the Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) report and the study to propose the change of land use in forest land to the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources of the federal government (SEMARNAT) by the end of this year. Currently, the Esperanza Project is in the evaluation stage of the technical studies carried out during 2021 in terms of water and geotechnics. This year will be dedicated to the design of the technical project that will allow establishing the model of the mine’s industrial plant. At this point, both the company and the community will submit the request for an Environmental Manifesto to SEMARNAT, which could occur in mid-2023.
  • Alamos Gold Inc., has generated 2,200 new jobs in the last two years, 700 of them for people hired directly and 1,500 more indirectly for the construction of its La Yaqui Grande mine in Sonora. La Yaqui Grande mine, is in its final stage of construction and will start commercial production during Q3, 2022. The Yaqui Grande mine is already being a development opportunity for communities in the Sierra de Sonora in the municipalities of Sahuaripa, Yécora and Arivechi, among others.

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, phyllic alteration in a porphyry copper prospect in Michoacán Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of April, 2022

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 17th week of the year (April 25th to May 1st, 2022), at least 24 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, five companies posted exploration advances on their properties, four released first quarter 2022 reports, one reported a temporary suspension of mining, one on a financing round, another one on an updated credit facility, eight reported either drill results or updated on work in their advanced properties. ON MEXICO ISSUES, according to Miner Deck, one company working in Mexico had the best gold intercept of the week, and five companies in Mexico participated in the best eight silver intercepts. The SGM stated that Ixtlilco el Grande in Tepalcingo, Morelos, is one of several sites favorable for lithium mineralization. Several institutions pointed out that Mexico can be involved in international litigations if proceeds to nullify mining concessions under the reform to the mining law recently approved. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tocvan Ventures provided drill results on the Pilar project; Silver Spruce received results from Diamante. In Durango, Commander Resources informed on drilling by Southern Empire Resources at Pedro. In Chihuahua, Mammoth Resources provide drilling results from Tenoriba. ON MINING, Guanajuato Silver reported 2021 production, Mag Silver, Alamos Gold and Agnico Eagle reported Q1 2022 production results. Gatos Silver temporarily suspended mining operations at Cerro Los Gatos in Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, Sonoro Gold is to raise up to C$3 M. Orla Mining informed on a project finance facility for US$150 M.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Barksdale Resources released the last results from its drilling campaign at San Javier, in Sonora. Endeavour Silver reported drilling results from its Parral project in Chihuahua. Altaley Mining filed an updated technical report on Tahuehueto, Durango. Sierra Madre Gold and Silver announced results from drilling at the Tepic project, in Nayarit. Chesapeake Gold released results from metallurgical infill holes at Metates, in Durango. SilverCrest Metals updated on construction work at Las Chispas, in Sonora. Discovery Silver updated on work at Cordero, in Chihuahua, GR Silver Mining released high-grade results from drilling at Plomosas, in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • According to Miner Deck, one company working in Mexico, Chesapeake Gold, drilled the best gold drilling intercept of the week, with 405 m @ 0.90 gpt Au at Metates, in Durango.
  • According to Miner Deck, five of the top eight silver intervals were drilled by companies working in Mexico. Gr Silver Mining was first with 24.2 m @ 1,094 gpt Ag at Plomosas, in Sinaloa. Chesapeake Gold was third with 357 m @ 31.6 gpt Ag, at Metates, in Durango. Radius Gold was fifth, with 11.8 m @ 450 gpt Ag at Amalia, in Chihuahua. Endeavour Silver was sixth, with 5.7 m @ 392 gpt Ag at Guanaceví, in Durango. Sierra Madre was eighth, with 3.05 m 625 gpt Ag at Tepic, in Nayarit.
  • The Servicio Geológico Mexicano (SGM), stated that Ixtlilco el Grande in Tepalcingo, Morelos, is one of several sites favorable for lithium mineralization.
  • The Cámara de Comercio Internacional argued that if the Mexican government nullifies mining concessions as results of the recently approved reform to the mining law, will be obligated to indemnify investors. This as a result of modifying the regulatory framework, as also pointed the Comisión de Comercio y Políticas de Inversión y el Comité de Arbitraje de Inversión de la International Chamber of Commerce.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Radius Gold Inc. reported drilling results from El Cuervo target at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 14.60 m @ 117 gpt Ag, 0.92 gpt Au (including 0.9 m @ 1,185 gpt Ag, 6.93 gpt Au); 17.35 m @ 253 gpt Ag, 1.11 gpt Au (Including 7.60 m @ 414 gpt Ag, 2.10 gpt Au); 11.80 m @ 450 gpt Ag, 1.31 gpt Au (including 2.10 m @ 1,577 gpt Ag, 2.27 gpt Au). These holes were drilled from two platforms testing 350 m of strike and 300 m of depth.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. announced results from one more drill hole at its Pilar project in Sonora. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 108.6 m @ 0.8 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag (including 31.9 m @ 2.4 gpt Au, 2 gpt Ag, which includes 9.4 m @ 7.6 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag). The drill hole intersected a silicified andesite, including the 9.4 m high-grade breccia zone.
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. received high-grade surface sample results from its Diamante project in Sonora. The results are part of the phase 1 geological mapping program on the main drill target areas. Intense silica, sericite, clay and propylitic alteration was confirmed peripheral to veins and breccias in andesitic tuff, rhyolite and granodiorite. Highlighted surface sample results comprise 51.5 gpt Au, 11 gpt Ag; 7.57 gpt Au, 186 gpt Ag, 114 ppm Bi, 6.3% Pb; 3.31 gpt Au, 191 gpt Ag, 0.5% Pb; 2.99 gpt Au, 2,270 gpt Ag, 422 gpt Bi, 0.29% Cu, 4.4% Pb; 2.08 gpt Au, 533 gpt Ag, 0.19% Cu, 3.8% Pb, 7.5% Zn; 1.80 gpt Au, 199 gpt Ag, 2.8% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 1.141 gpt Au, 140 gpt Ag, 0.17% Cu, 2.6 % Pb, 3.6% Zn; 1.38 gpt Au, 1,980 gpt Ag, 3,290 ppm Bi, 11.1% Pb; 1.34 gpt Au, 100 gpt Ag, 100 ppm Bi, >1000 ppm Cd, 3.2% Cu, 5.7% Pb, 16.7% Zn; 0.94 gpt Au, 223 gpt Ag, 0.27% Cu, 4.0% Pb, 6.5% Zn; 0.72 gpt Au, 226 gpt Ag, 375 ppm Bi, 2.4% Pb; 0.27 gpt Au, 82 gpt Ag, 44 ppm Bi, >1,000 ppm Cd, 3.6% Pb, 22.9% Zn; 0.20 gpt Au, 1,310 gpt Ag, 0.37% Cu, 42.3% Pb, 8.2% Zn.
  • Commander Resources Ltd. informed on work by partner Southern Empire Resources at the Pedro project in Durango. Southern Empire completed six core holes for a total of 856 m. Highlighted core length results comprise 9.26 m @ 0.087 gpt Au; 5.28 m @ 0.151 gpt Au; 19.82 m @ 0.311 gpt Au; 5.26 m @ 0.115 gpt Au; 15.23 m @ 0.577 gpt Au; 5.88 m @ 0.098 gpt Au; 14.75 m @ 0.230 gpt Au. “The Au-As-Sb-Hg-Tl-Te geochemical suite associated with strong orpiment (As S ) and realgar (AsS) mineralization observed in the Pedro drill core is, in part, indicative of Carlin-style gold deposits”.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp. provided results from three additional diamond drill holes at Tenoriba, in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 6.0 m @ 0.20 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag; 15.0 m @ 0.34 gpt Au, 2 gpt Ag; 6.0 m @ 0.59 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag in one hole on the Moreno zone; 46.5 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag in another hole on the Carneritos zone and 37.5 m @ 0.98 gpt Au, 15 gpt Ag (including 18.0 m @ 1.13 gpt Au, 21 gpt Ag, 0.55% Cu) and 12.0 m @ 0.08 gpt Au, 0.45% Cu in one other hole on the Moreno zone. To date, results for 1,914 m have been released from 13 holes on the current drilling program of 27 holes with 3,240 m drilled. The program has been halted for lack of water for drilling.

ON MINING

  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. reported selected financial and production results for 2021. Production at El Cubo mine in Guanajuato commenced in October 2021. A total of 89.1 K tonnes were mined from El Cubo and existing stockpiles from El Pinguico, with 77.5 K tonnes milled, recovering 82.6% Ag, 78.8% Au to produce 124,7 K Oz Ag, 1,440 Oz Au at cash cost $20.36 per Oz AgEq mined. By the end of the period the company had $8.23 M in cash and an additional $1.6 M in bullion.
  • MAG Silver Corp. reported first quarter 2022 production of underground development and stope material at Juanicipio (56% Fresnillo/44% Mag Silver), in Zacatecas. On a 100% basis, 145.5 K tonnes were processed @ 597 gpt Ag, producing 2.4 M Oz Ag, 5,837 Oz Au. MAG Silver attributable production is 1.06 M Oz Ag, 2,568 Oz Au; the associated Pb and Zn production is to be reported with MAG’s first quarter filings.
  • Gatos Silver Inc. suspended temporarily mine operations at Cerro Los Gatos in Chihuahua. “The Mexican Ministry of Defense (“SEDENA”), who regulates all explosives permits in Mexico, temporarily suspended CLG’s explosive and blasting permit on April 21, 2022, following a blasting incident during underground development activities where two blasts were detonated prematurely”. No personnel were injured and no significant damage to equipment occurred. The company expects the resumption of mining activities next week.  
  • Alamos Gold Inc. reported Q1 2022 financial results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Mulatos in Sonora, 613.8 K tonnes of ore were mined, 1.97 M tonnes of waste moved, stacking 1.74 M tonnes @ 0.73 gpt Au, for 40,852 Oz Au stacked. During the period 22,500 Oz Au were produced at cash cost $1,570 per Oz Au, and an AISC of $1,782 per Oz Au. “Mulatos produced 22,500 ounces in the first quarter, lower than the prior year period though consistent with first half 2022 guidance of between 45,000 and 50,000 ounces. Initial production from La Yaqui Grande in the third quarter and higher grades from El Salto are expected drive production substantially higher in the second half of the year to between 85,000 and 95,000 ounces”.
  • Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. released first quarter 2022 results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Pinos Altos, in Chihuahua, 384 K tonnes were processed at a rate of 4,267 tonnes per day (tpd), averaging 2.14 gpt Au, to produce 25,170 Oz Au at cash cost $1,078 per Oz Au. At Creston Mascota, residual recovery from the heap leach pad continued, producing 1,006 Oz Au at cash cost $407 per Oz Au with residual leaching to continue throughout the second quarter of 2022. At La India, in Sonora, 1.56 M tonnes were processed at a rate of 17.4 K tpd, averaging 0.57 gpt Au, to produce 21,702 Oz Au at cash cost $820 per Oz Au.

ON FINANCING

  • Sonoro Gold Corp. is to undertake a non-brokered private placement offering to raise up to C$3 M (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
  • Orla Mining Ltd. announced the refinancing of its US$125 M project finance facility with a new US$150 M secured credit facility which includes a US$100 M term facility and a US$50 M revolving facility through the Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank of Montreal, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (Camino Rojo, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Barksdale Resources Corp. announced additional drill results from its 5,000 m phase I drilling program at the Cerro Verde zone of the San Javier project in Sonora. Highlighted core length intervals in three holes comprise 21 m @ 0.14% Cu, 0.47 gpt Au; 21 m @ 0.61% Cu, 0.28 gpt Au; 6 m @ 0.04% Cu, 1.90 gpt Au; 6 m @ 0.19% Cu, 0.49 gpt Au; 15 m @ 1.48% Cu (including 9 m @ 2.22% Cu); 6 m @ 0.10% Cu, 0.49 gpt Au in one hole; 27 m @ 0.31% Cu; 18 m @ 0.36% Cu; 6 m @ 0.25% Cu; 12 m @ 0.80% Cu; 6 m @ 1.19% Cu; 66 m @ 0.33% Cu in a second hole, 33 m @ 0.29% Cu; 6 m @ 0.25% Cu in the third hole and 15 m @ 0.23% Cu; 3 m @ 0.10% Cu, 0.45 gpt Au; 3 m @ 0.17% Cu, 0.37 gpt Au; 6 m @ 0.29% Cu. “Two additional holes on the western flank of Cerro Verde have intercepted broad zones of mineralization further to the west, while hole SJ21-32 has confirmed copper mineralization in addition to further extending oxide gold”. Next in line is the completion of an initial resource estimate at Cerro Verde and planning of the next exploration phase, which is likely to include targets at La Trinidad and Mesa Grande prospects.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. reported results from drilling at its Parral project in Chihuahua. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 0.98 m @ 169 gpt Ag, 3.9% Pb, 2.3% Zn; 3.24 m @ 194 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 5.91 m @ 218 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 2.31 m @ 314 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 1.92 m @ 203 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb; 1.13 m @ 439 gpt Ag, 0.23% Cu, 0.6% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 3.27 m @ 392 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 2.1% Zn at Veta Colorada Sierra Plata Deep vein; 1.96 m @ 513 gpt Ag, 0.11% Cu, 2.0% Pb, 1.7% Zn; 4.23 m @ 0.14 gpt Au, 331 gpt Ag, 2.8% Pb, 2.2% Zn; 1.84 m @ 178 gpt Ag, 0.9% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 1.25 m @ 0.14 gpt Au, 310 gpt Ag, 1.8% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 3.49 m @ 395 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu, 2.8% Pb, 2.7% Zn; 1.17 m @ 289 gpt Ag, 0.12% Cu, 3.0% Pb, 2.6% Zn; 1.18 m @ 191 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 1.6% Zn; 2.48 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 532 gpt Ag, 0.28% Cu, 3.1% Pb, 3.1% Zn at the Veta Colorada El Verde vein zone, and 2.09 m @ 0.61 gpt Au, 55 gpt Ag, 0.13% Cu, 3.0% Pb, 3.5% Zn; 0.48 m @ 0.49 gpt Au, 75 gpt Ag, 5.8% Pb, 4.7% Zn, at the Veta Colorada-San Joaquín vein. “Veta Colorada (including the Sierra Plata and El Verde mines) was a past producing mining operation owned by Grupo Mexico that closed in 1991 due to low silver prices. Mineralization, which occurs in a major silver vein structure that ranges from 1 to 30 metres thick, was mined seven levels down to 300-metre depths below surface in places and was traced for seven kilometres”.
  • Altaley Mining Corp. filed an updated technical report, including a preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for its Tahuehueto project in Durango. The previous report released in March 2021 “contained errors related to net smelter return calculations that under-estimated the PFS economics”, the updated disclosure increases “approximately 30% to the overall economics of the project”. The project envisages 1 K tpd operation with a mine life (LOM) of 10.9 years, to process a total of 3.55 M tonnes of ore @ 2.58 gpt Au, 50.5 gpt Ag, 0.3% Cu, 1.1% Pb, 1.9% Zn, with planned recovery of 87% Au, 85% Ag, 85% Cu, 85% Pb, 68% Zn to have a total net smelter return (NSR) of $645.4 M, LOM total capital cost of $56.9 M, an AISC of $855 per Oz AuEq, an EBITDA LOM of 357.7 M and an IRR of 65.5 with a payback period of 2 years. The project estimate of resources stands at 6.26 M tonnes @ 47 gpt Ag, 2.11 gpt Au, 0.27% Cu, 0.9% Pb, 1.98% Zn containing 9.45 M Oz Ag, 425 K Oz Au, 36.6 M Lb Cu, 123.9 M Lb Pb, 273.3 M Lb Zn in measures and indicated resources and 0.92 M tonnes @ 28.5 gpt Ag, 1.02 gpt Au, 0.15% Cu, 1.16% Pb, 1.96% Zn, containing 0.84 M Oz Ag, 30 K Oz Au, 3.K M Lb Cu, 23.6 M Lb Pb, 39.7 M Lb Zn.
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. announced results from additional drill holes from the phase 2 program at its Tepic project in Nayarit. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 6.65 m @ 210 gpt Ag, 1.06 gpt Au (including 1.5 m @ 524 gpt Ag, 2.47 gpt Au); 4.5 m @ 264 gpt Ag, 1.85 gpt Au (including 1.5 m @ 740 gpt Ag, 2.37 gpt Au); 3.05 m @ 625 gpt Ag, 1.60 gpt Au; 1.5 m @ 185 gpt Ag, 0.26 gpt Au; 1.5 m @ 110 gpt Ag, 0.23 gpt Au. “Ten of the twelve holes were designed to test up dip or strike extensions of known structures outside of the volumes used in the historical resource estimations”.
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. released results for the last 13 PQ size infill core drill holes at its Metates project in Durango. The 2021-2022 infill drill campaign totaled 7,485 m, returning 22% higher grades within intrusive hosted mineralization. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 357 m @ 0.63 gpt Au, 20.5 gpt Ag; 357 m @ 1.00 gpt Au, 31.6 gpt Ag; 39 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 30.9 gpt Ag; 118 m @ 1.24 gpt Au, 14.4 gpt Ag; 350 m @ 0.74 gpt Au, 23.2 gpt Ag (including 43 m @ 1.17 gpt Au, 8.6 gpt Ag); 69 m @ 0.50 gpt Au, 16.3 gpt Ag; 45 m @ 1.01 gpt Au, 11.5 gpt Ag; 226 m @ 0.95 gpt Au, 16.2 gpt Ag; 9 m @ 2.20 gpt Au, 6.8 gpt Ag; 405 m @ 0.90 gpt Au, 27.6 gpt Ag; 172 m @ 0.41 gpt Au, 25.4 gpt Ag; 45 m @ 0.82 gpt Au, 56.8 gpt Ag; 63 m @ 0.59 gpt Au, 10.6 gpt Ag; 138 m @ 1.38 gpt Au, 11.1 gpt Ag. “The infill drill holes targeted the intrusive-hosted mineralization and are spaced at approximately 50 metre intervals”.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. updated on construction at Las Chispas project in Sonora. At the end of Q1 construction at Las Chispas was 95.7%, with plant start-up on track for Q2 2022. Capital costs remain on budget, the power line is to be completed in Q2 and energized in Q3 while rental power generators were commissioned and are operational. A total of 19 .5 Km of underground development have been completed, 2.0 km in the last quarter. “The H1, 2022 exploration focus at Las Chispas is to map and sample unexplored areas and generate new drill targets”. At the end of Q1 2022 SilverCrest had cash and cash equivalents of $152 M, and $30 M available on a $120 M financing facility.
  • Discovery Silver Corp. updated on work at Cordero, in Chihuahua, to the Q4 2021. During the period a PEA on Cordero was completed, outlining a 16-year mine life producing 26 M Oz AgEq per year at an AISC of $12.35 per Oz AgEq. Work for this 2022 includes the pre-feasibility study (PFS), resource expansion and initial drill testing of five targets within the extensive land package owned by Discovery.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. announced results from its surface infill drill program at Plomosas, in Sinaloa. The results are part of the phase 1 program in the Plomosas mine area. Some of the highlighted true width results comprise 0.9 m @ 435 gpt Ag, 1.1% Pb, 5.1% Zn; 0.9 m @ 805 gpt Ag, 4.2% Pb, 5.6% Zn; 4.5 m @ 257 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 9.0 m @ 96 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 2.8 m @ 176 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 8.5 m @ 410 gpt Ag, 0.30 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 6.9 m @ 1,521 gpt Ag, 1.2% Pb, 1.6% Zn; 30.5 m @ 12 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 0.8% Zn; 16.0 m @ 289 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 15.7 m @ 238 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 9.5 m @ 372 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn.  

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • No Relevant News.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Quartz-barite-FeOx vein in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of April, 2022

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

By Jorge Cirett

During the 15th week of the year (April 11th to April 17th, 2022), at least 30 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, nine companies posted exploration advances on their properties, six released first quarter 2022 reports, one updated on project work, six reported drill results on their advanced properties and one signed an exploitation agreement on a small scale mine. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mexico’s president Andrés M. López Obrador warned he will change the mining law to make a government’s monopoly on lithium, if his Energy bill is not approved. According to Miner Deck, three of the top ten gold intercepts on the second week of April were drilled by companies working in Mexico. Six of the top ten silver intercepts were by companies in Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tocvan Ventures provided drill results on the Pilar project; Infinitum Copper released trench results at La Adelita; Silver Spruce had the preventive report approved for drilling at Diamante; Reyna Gold started drilling at La Gloria; Aztec Minerals finished the phase 2 RC drill campaign at Cervantes. In Chihuahua, Reyna Silver released drill results from Batopilas. In Nayarit, Sierra Madre Gold and Silver released drilling results from Tepic. In Guerrero, Pantera Silver reported drill results from Nuevo Taxco. In Zacatecas, Defiance Silver completed drilling at the Lucita prospect in its Zacatecas Silver project. ON MINING, Endeavour Silver, Fortuna Silver, Avino Silver, Golden Minerals, Great Panther and Torex Gold released first quarter 2022 reports. ON FINANCING, No Relevant News.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Prime Mining released drill results from Los Reyes, in Sinaloa. Silver Tiger Metals provided drilling results for El Tigre, in Sonora. Silverton Metals released RC drilling results from Peñasco Quemado, in Sonora. Vizsla Silver reported drilling results from the Animas vein corridor at Panuco, in Sinaloa. Endeavour Silver informed on drill results from the El Curso property at its Guanaceví mine in Durango. Fabled Silver Gold is planning phase 2 drilling at Santa Maria, in Chihuahua. SilverCrest Metals announced drill results from Picacho, in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Galore Resources entered into an exploitation agreement with Oztoc Metal Corp for mining at the Duraznillo mine in Zacatecas.  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mexico’s president Andrés M. López Obrador, warned that, “if Congress does not approve a constitutional reform on electrical matters next week….. he will push for a rewrite of the country’s Mining Law”. He stated that modifying the Mining Law requires simple majority (which he has), “to make lithium a mineral that belongs to the nation, to the Mexicans”.
  • According to Miner Deck, three of the top ten gold intercepts on the second week of April were from companies working in Mexico: Prime Mining (fifth) with 4.23 m @ 52.08 gpt Au at Los Reyes, in Sinaloa; Tocvan Ventures (eighth) with 116.9 m @ 1.2 gpt Au at Pilar, in Sonora, and Silver Crest Metals (tenth) with 4.7 m @ 20.86 gpt Au at Picacho, in Sonora.
  • According to Miner Deck, six of the top ten silver intercepts on the second week of April were by companies in Mexico: Endeavour Silver (third) with 7.46 m @ 2,067 gpt Ag at Guanaceví, in Durango; Prime Mining (fourth) with 4.3 m @ 1,008 gpt Ag at Los Reyes in Sinaloa; Defiance Silver (sixth) with 3.33 m @ 709 gpt Ag, Vizsla Silver (seventh) with 2.4 m @ 959 gpt Ag at Panuco, in Sinaloa; Silver Tiger Metals (nineth) with 23.8 m @ 95 gpt Ag at El Tigre in Sonora; Sierra Madre Gold and Silver (tenth) with 2.55 m @ 878 gpt Ag at Tepic.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. announced the approval by SEMARNAT (Environmental authority) of the preventive report for drilling at the 1,057 ha Diamante property in Sonora. The program envisages 2,000 m of reverse circulation drilling starting in May, on the La Prieta, Aguaje, El Chon, El Chon Oeste, La Olla, Calton, El Cumbro, and Mezquite-Raizudo targets.
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. released results from seven drill holes of the phase II drilling program at the Tepic project in Nayarit. “Four of the holes are up-dip extensions from the previously defined historic resource area while three are strike extensions”. Highlighted core-length intercepts comprise 7.05 m @ 125 gpt Ag, 0.90 gpt Au; 3.2 m @ 194 gpt Ag, 1.36 gpt Au; 12.1 m @ 146 gpt Ag, 0.64 gpt Au (including 1.5 m @ 489 gpt Ag, 0.77 gpt Au); 2.25 m @ 48 gpt Ag, 0.90 gpt Au; 1.5 m @ 7 gpt Ag, 1.89 gpt Au; 4.6 m @ 156 gpt Ag, 1.20 gpt Au; 4.8 m @ 106 gpt Ag, 1.48 gpt Au; 2.55 m @ 878 gpt Ag, 3.04 gpt Au; 1.05 m @ 11 gpt Ag, 2.66 gpt Au. True widths estimated at 90% of core-length intervals.
  • Reyna Gold Corp. reported channel and dump sample results from the Sombrero target at its La Gloria property in Sonora. Highlighted results comprise 8.68 gpt Au, 0.56% Cu, 64 gpt Ag, 0.4% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 8.17 gpt Au, 0.34% Cu, 49 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb; 2.84 gpt Au, 0.17% Cu, 36 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.2% Zn. “Reyna has started drilling at El Sombrero and expanded the number of planned holes from an initial 10 to now 22 holes in the El Sombrero target as part of its ongoing 10,000-meter drill program, which now comprises of a total of 36 holes”.
  • Pantera Silver Corp. reported initial drill results from the Nuevo Taxco project in Guerrero. Highlighted true width (tw) results comprise 0.55 m @ 98 gpt Ag; 1.15 m @ 0.10 gpt Au, 48 gpt Ag; 1.6 m @ 98 gpt Ag; 1.3 m @ 96 gpt Ag; 0.8 m @ 82 gpt Ag; 1.85 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 225 gpt Ag on the Negrilla vein and 5.05 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 108 gpt Ag; 1.75 m @ 0.42 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag; 1.00 m @ 0.41 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag; 0.86 m @ 1.86 gpt Au, 35 gpt Ag; 1.25 m @ 0.51 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag; 4.29 m @ 0.78 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag on the Creston de Maria vein. This drilling campaign tested 630 m along strike on two veins of 21 in the property, with a combined longitude of more than 11 km.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. announced results from one core hole at its Pilar property in Sonora. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 116.85 m @ 1.19 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag (including 48.05 m @ 2.81 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag, which includes 10.20 m @ 12.04 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag). This core hole is a twin form a reverse circulation hole that returned 94.6 m @ 1.6 gpt Au. Nine holes totalling 1,562 m have been completed of phase III drilling.
  • Reyna Silver Corp. released results from 19 holes totalling 7,964 m of its 10,000 m stage 1 drill program at Batopilas, in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 9.35 m @ 3.38 gpt Au (including 3.65 m @ 8.18 gpt Au, which includes 1.65 m @ 12.75 gpt Au); 1.45 m @ 6.87 gpt Au (including 0.35 m @ 18.95 gpt Au); 5.40 m @ 5.68 gpt Au (including 3.65 m @ 8.18 gpt Au); 0.75 m @ 9.55 gpt Au; 1.8 m @ 4.06 gpt Au. Reyna Silver is doing more exploration work to define the extent of gold rich versus silver rich mineralization, and their relationship.
  • Aztec Minerals Corp. and JV partner Kootenay finished the phase 2 reverse circulation program with 26 holes totaling 4,649 m at Cervantes, in Sonora. Highlighted hole length intervals comprise 88.41 m @ 1.10 gpt Au (including 15.24 m @ 3.96 gpt Au); 108.2 m @ 0.37 gpt Au; 45.7 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 167.20 m @ 1.00 gpt Au, (including 24.4 m @ 4.25 gpt Au); 136.8 m @ 1.49 gpt Au (including 51.68 m @ 3.42 gpt Au); 100.32 m @ 0.75 gpt Au; 12.2 m @ 0.92 gpt Au; 7.6 m @ 0.68 gpt Au; 54.72 m @ 0.88 gpt Au; 7.6 m @ 0.74 gpt Au; 86.64 m @ 0.50 gpt Au; 138.32 m @ 0.53 gpt Au; 132.2 m @ 0.43 gpt Au; 9.1 m @ 0.46 gpt Au; 152.4 m @ 0.97 gpt Au (including 33.5 m @ 2.05 gpt Au); 54.9 m @ 0.48 gpt Au.  The focus of the program was to “better define the open pit, heap leach gold potential of the porphyry oxide cap at California, evaluate the potential for deeper copper-gold porphyry sulfide mineralization underlying the oxide cap, test for north and west extensions of the California mineralization at California North and Jasper, and assess the breccia potential of Purisima East”.
  • Infinitum Copper Corp. released trenching results from La Adelita project in Sonora-Sinaloa. Trench 2 returned a true thickness of 9.15 m @ 16.45 gpt Au, 1.90% Cu, 3 gpt Ag. Three magneto-telluric lines have been completed at Las Trancas, with interpreted results pending. Surface samples from Andalucia and Cerro Potreritos have returned up to 5.49 gpt Au, 1.34% Cu, 139 gpt Ag. “Additional surface sampling at Pericos confirmed the presence of skarn mineralization on the west limb of the Cerro Grande anticline, 800 m to the west of the Cerro Grande zone” with samples up to 1.38% Cu, 77 gpt Ag, 1.31 gpt Au.
  • Defiance Silver Corp. informed in the completed 4,750 m drill program at the 2,674 ha Lucita property, on Defiance’s Zacatecas project in Zacatecas. This is the first drilling in the central Lucita asset currently under option from Pan American Silver Corp.. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 3.33 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 709 gpt Ag (including 1.15 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 1,604 gpt Ag); 0.94 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 107 gpt Ag; 2.73 m @ 0.16 gpt Au, 102 gpt Ag; 3.48 m @ 514 gpt Ag (including 1.9 m @ 940 gpt Ag); 1.05 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 317 gpt Ag; 4.09 m @ 0.10 gpt Au, 137 gpt Ag (including 0.6 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 618 gpt Ag); 1.51 m @ 0.76 gpt Au, 192 gpt Ag. “The dominant silver mineralization consists of pyrargyrite-proustite, acanthite, and argentite hosted in polyphase quartz and calcite veins, breccias, and stockwork veinlet zones”.

ON MINING

  • Endeavour Silver Corp. reported first quarter 2022 production. At Guanceví, in Durango, 101.2 K tonnes were produced at 1,125 tonnes per day (tpd) grading 407 gpt Ag, 1.19 gpt Au, recovering 85.6% Ag, 89.8% Au to produce 1.13 M Oz Ag, 3,477 Oz Au. At Bolañitos, in Guanajuato, 104.9 K tonnes were produced @ 61 gpt Ag, 1.73 gpt Au, recovering 85.9% Ag, 89.6% Au to produce 181.1 K Oz Ag, 5,218 Oz Au.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. released production results for the first quarter 2022, including figures from its operations in Mexico. In San Jose, in Oaxaca, 250.9 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 2,918 tpd, grading 185 gpt Ag, 1.13 gpt Au, recovering 91% Ag, 90% Au to recover 1.36 M Oz Ag, 8,239 Oz Au.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. reported first quarter 2022 production results. At Avino, in Durango, 111.1 K tonnes were milled, averaging 50 gpt Ag, 0.29 gpt Au, 0.56% Cu, recovering 92% Ag, 77% Au, 89% Cu, to produce 164.4 K Oz Ag, 801 Oz Au, 1.22 M Lb Cu (457.8 K Oz AgEq). During the quarter the acquisition of La Preciosa project was completed, and drill results from La Potosina of up to 2.95 m @ 668 gpt AgEq were released. “Avino is completing its conversion to dry stack tailings”.
  • Golden Minerals Co. reported production for the first quarter 2022. At Rodeo, in Durango, 203.6 K tonnes were mined, 10.9 K tonnes stockpiled awaiting process, 88.6 K tonnes in low grade stockpiles 47.4 K tonnes processed at a rate of 527 tpd, grading 3.1 gpt Au, 11.6 gpt Ag, recovering 75.4% Au, 82.8% Ag, to produce 3,608 Oz Au, 13.9 K Oz Ag (3,787 Oz AuEq).
  • Great Panther Mining Ltd. reported production first quarter 2022 results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Topia, in Durango, 16.3 K tonnes were mined, 16.2 K tonnes milled, averaging 362 gpt Ag, 0.84 gpt Au, recovering 92% Ag, 64% Au, to produce 173.7 K Oz Ag, 282 Oz Au, 365 tonnes Pb, 525 tonnes Zn (3,876 Oz Au Eq). The Guanajuato Mine Complex is currently in care and maintenance, while waiting for the CONAGUA (water use authority) tailings dam permit.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. released production results for Q1 2022. At its Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero, 12,600 tpd were processed, 1,260 tpd mined from underground, 11,780 tpd mined by open pit, to produce 112,440 Oz Au during the period.  

ON FINANCING

  • No Relevant News.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Prime Mining Corp. released drill results for 26 holes at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. A second high-grade ore shoot and the deepest mineralization to date was identified in Guadalupe East, with bonanza-grades found in 550 m step out from the inferred open pit boundary. True width highlighted results comprise 4.0 m @ 52.0 gpt Au, 1,008 gpt Ag; 0.6 m @ 7.62 gpt Au, 1,970 gpt Ag; 18.3 m @ 1.38 gpt Au, 39 gpt Ag; 14.1 m @ 1.12 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag; 2.5 m @ 4.09 gpt Au, 103 gpt Ag; 7.5 m @ 1.47 gpt Au, 40 gpt Ag; 1.9 m @ 3.72 gpt Au, 370 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 1.57 gpt Au; 0.6 m @ 1.19 gpt Au, 9 gpt Ag; 2.8 m @ 1.38 gpt Au, 63 gpt Ag.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc. provided drilling results from its El Tigre project in Sonora. The seven drill holes targeted down dip under El Tigre historic workings at the North end, highlighted core-length intervals comprise 27.8 m @ 0.08 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag; 1.0 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 158 gpt Ag; 26 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 25 gpt Ag; 2.1 m @ 0.23 gpt Au, 250 gpt Ag; 10.2 m @ 1.63 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag (including 1.5 m @ 10.7 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag); 1.2 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 104 gpt Ag; 0.5 m @ 1.69 gpt Au, 101 gpt Ag; 23.8 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 95 gpt Ag (including 2.3 m @ 0.94 gpt Au, 542 gpt Ag); 0.5 m @ 2.21 gpt Au, 1,200 gpt Ag. Underground rehabilitation is progressing at the historic El Tigre mine, with 215 m completed to date.
  • Silverton Metals Corp. released results from its step-out reverse circulation drilling at Peñasco Quemado, in Sonora. Highlighted hole-length intervals comprise 6.75 m @ 0.10 gpt Au, 46 gpt Ag; 1.00 m @ 75 gpt Ag, 0.37% Cu; 0.97 m @ 69 gpt Ag, 0.42% Cu; 5.10 m @ 27 gpt Ag; 11.30 m @ 54 gpt Ag (including 0.95 m @ 438 gpt Ag, 0.62% Cu); 3.74 m @ 47 gpt Ag; 11.85 m @ 17 gpt Ag; 19.70 m @ 27 gpt Ag; 5.30 m @ 46 gpt Ag; 54.10 m @ 23 gpt Ag; 6.45 m @ 73 gpt Ag; 7.45 m @ 26 gpt Ag; 10.30 m @ 31 gpt Ag; 5.60 m @ 42 gpt Ag. A total of 2,105 meters were drilled in nine holes.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. reported results for 19 holes targeting the Animas vein corridor at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 5.84 m @ 39 gpt Ag, 0.48 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 1.9% Zn; 3.09 m @ 84 gpt Ag, 1.30 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 5.25 m @ 85 gpt Ag, 0.50 gpt Au; 1.14 m @ 121 gpt Ag, 2.21 gpt Au, 1.9% Pb, 3.2% Zn; 4.71 m @ 391 gpt Ag, 2.23 gpt Au, 1.5% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 7.13 m @ 39 gpt Ag, 1.16 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.8% Zn; 4.62 m @ 29 gpt Ag, 1.24 gpt Au, 0.2% Zn; 1.10 m @ 195 gpt Ag, 1.17 gpt Au; 5.66 m @ 124 gpt Ag, 0.98 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 1.14 m @ 312 gpt Ag, 1.23 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 1.00 m @ 622 gpt Ag, 2.75 gpt Au; 1.26 m @ 787 gpt Ag, 3.65 gpt Au, 0.2% Zn. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 2.40 m @ 959 gpt Ag, 5.97 gpt Au; 2.10 m @ 486 gpt Ag, 2.68 gpt Au; 0.95 m @ 113 gpt Ag, 4.85 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. informed on high-grade underground drill results from El Curso property at its Guanceví mine in Durango. Highlighted true width results from the underground program comprise 2.09 m @ 0.92 gpt Au, 296 gpt Ag; 4.22 m @ 0.93 gpt Au, 428 gpt Ag; 7.26 m @ 0.84 gpt Au, 324 gpt Ag; 7.23 m @ 0.63 gpt Au, 323 gpt Ag; 1.34 m @ 1.30 gpt Au, 498 gpt Ag; 4.18 m @ 2.63 gpt Au, 857 gpt Ag; 7.46 m @ 5.83 gpt Au, 2,067 gpt Ag (including 0.47 m @ 56.50 gpt Au, 22,562 gpt Ag); 7.57 m @ 1.89 gpt Au, 975 gpt Ag; 6.26 m @ 0.60 gpt Au, 354 gpt Ag; 1.80 m @ 1.33 gpt Au, 814 gpt Ag; 13.12 m @ 0.74 gpt Au, 214 gpt Ag; 7.99 m @ 1.52 gpt Au, 262 gpt Ag; 1.87 m @ 2.36 gpt Au, 807 gpt Ag. El Curso property, covers the Santa Cruz vein “between Endeavour’s previously mined Porvenir Cuatro orebody and the Milache orebody currently being mined”.
  • Fabled Silver Gold Corp. is currently planning the phase 2 diamond drill program at Santa Maria, in Chihuahua. The Santa Maria veins were found in phase 1 drilling to be “mineralized breccias at the contacts or within diorite dikes”, which has led to the definition of five mineral/structural trends to pursue.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. announced results from drilling at El Picacho property in Sonora. This release covers 56,780 m in 247 holes (of a total to date of 68,200 m in 289 holes by SilverCrest). The focus of this campaign was to redefine and expand the Picacho Main vein historical resource of 364.4 K tonnes @ 8.54 gpt Au, 40 gpt Ag, containing 100 K Oz Au, 473 K Oz Ag defined in 2010 with only 14 holes and underground workings. The Picacho Main vein is 550 m long, 300 min depth, with an estimated true width of 2.4 m @ 5.42 gpt Au, 24 gpt Ag (Best tw intercept: 3.7 m @ 20.86 gpt Au, 73 gpt Ag); The Picacho Hanging Wall vein is 500 m long, 200 m in depth, 1.5 m in width @ 4.38 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag (Best tw intercept: 1.3 m @ 42.3 gpt Au, 542 gpt Ag); The Picacho Hanging Wall 2 vein is 200 m long, 135 m in depth, 0.8 m in width @ 6.32 gpt Au, 46 gpt Ag (Best tw intercept: 2.8 m @ 11.9 gpt Au, 21 gpt Ag); The Picacho Hanging Wall 3 vein is 80 m long, 100 m in depth, 0.5 m in width @ 8.7 gpt Au, 450 gpt Ag (Best tw intercept: 0.8 m @ 10.71 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag); The Picacho Footwall vein is 100 m long, 175 m in depth, 1.3 m in width @ 9.45 gpt Au, 16.1 gpt Ag (Best tw intercept: 1.7 m @ 37.09 gpt Au, 32 gpt Ag).  

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Galore Resources Inc. entered into an exploitation agreement between Oztoc Metal Corp. S. de R.L. de C.V. to reengage the mining activities that the previous tenant, URBYASA was conducting at the Duraznillo ranch in Zacatecas. The five-year contract includes the Los Gemelos I and Duende 7 mining concessions. Galore will receive 30% of gross revenues and OZTOC is to keep 70% for development, production and profit from the Duraznillo mine.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Banded quartz-barite vein in the Sonoran desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of April, 2022. 

/ gambusinoprospectormexico / Leave a comment
Flow banded rhyolite

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 14th week of the year (April 04th to April 10th, 2022), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and one news published by the media, with nine reporting resources and developments of their properties, seven informing on exploration results, five communicating production and financial results, one disclosing deals and corporate issues, and one discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Silver Spruce reported the approval of an Informe Preventivo for its second drilling permit at its Mezquite project, Ranchero Gold released results from its inaugural drilling program at its Santa Daniela project, and Starcore presented results from its drilling program conducted at its Opodepe project. In Chihuahua, Mammoth presented results from three holes drilled at its Tenoriba project, and Reyna Silver announced results from its 8,000m phase 2 drilling program conducted at its Guigui project. In Durango, Silver Wolf released results from 88 samples collected at its Ana Maria project. In Nayarit, Sierra Madre commenced a maiden drilling program at its La Tigra project. ON MINING, Gatos Silver reported Q1, 2022 production results from its 70%-owned Cerro Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua. GoGold announced Q1, 2022 production results from its Parral Tailings mine in Chihuahua. Mexus completed an open pit test heap leach Au recovery process that produced 278 Oz Au from 6 test pits at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora.  Minera Alamos announced Q1, 2022 production results from its Santana mine in Sonora. Orla presented Q1, 2022 production results from its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas. ON FINANCING, no relevant news. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Vizsla reported that it filed on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) an independent technical report on its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Azucar Minerals commenced to drill test a large lithocap target discussed previously at its El Cobre project, Veracruz. GR Silver reported results from three underground drill holes collared at its San Marcial project, Sinaloa. Avino published results from 110 holes drilled on the oxide tailings project at its Avino property in Durango. Golden Tag released results from hole 22-64 drilled at its San Diego mine, Durango. Silver Dollar announced that phase 2 exploration drilling program is underway at its la Joya project in Durango. Silver Viper conducted a TITAN-MT deep-penetrating geophysical survey centered on the El Rubi deposit, Paredones, and El Molino target areas at its La Virginia project in Chihuahua. Starcore provided an update on the diamond drilling program conducted at its San Martin mine in Querétaro. Zacatecas Silver announced results from its ongoing diamond drilling program on the Panuco North and Panuco Central Veins at its Zacatecas project in Zacatecas state.   ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Sailfish provided an update on its previously announced Swordfish silver transaction (Gavilanes project, Durango).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Esperanza Silver has a Community Engagement Plan to meet the objectives proposed by the New Socially and Environmentally Responsible Mining Model.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc., reported the approval of an Informe Preventivo by the Mexican government Environmental Authority (SEMARNAT) for its second drilling permit at its Mezquite project in Sonora. The second drilling program will consists of 1,500-2,500m of Reverse Circulation (RC), which include twenty-four new pads on the northern, northwestern and southeastern sections of the property.
  • Ranchero Gold Corp., released results from its 16 holes, Phase 1 inaugural drilling program at the Maíz Azul prospect within its Santa Daniela project in Sonora. All of the 16 holes intersected Au mineralization and were planned to drill test shallow-near surface mineralization. Highlights include hole MA22-10 with 4 g/t Au over 31.5m; hole MA21-14 with 1.2 g/t Au over 21.2m; hole MA22-25 with 1.2 g/t Au over 15.6m, and hole MA21-11 with 1.1 g/t Au over 21m. Mineralization remains completely open at depth since it was only tested at depths of 100-150m below surface. The company is currently designing a second phase of drilling. The plan of this drilling program is to expand La Colmena zone eastward, initiate drill testing of the X-structure target, initiate drilling of new targets identified by the on-going modelling, and start definition drilling. In addition, Ranchero Gold is also advancing its regional reconnaissance program on the entire property. The company has identified from a previous Aster study, nine high-priority targets that warrant follow-up field work. “Ranchero Gold will continue its field investigation in parallel with the work conducted at Maíz Azul with the objective of identifying new drill targets by year-end.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp., presented results from three holes drilled at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. The most significant mineralized interval was encountered in hole TEN-21-13 on the Moreno Zone with 0.98 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag (1.18 g/t AuEq) over 37.5m, including 1.13 g/t Au, 21 g/t Ag, and 0.55% Cu (2.34 g/t AuEq) over 18m.
  • Reyna Silver Corp., announced results from its 8,000m phase 2 drilling program conducted at its Guigui project in Chihuahua. Drilling highlights include hole GG21-31 with 130 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 2.62m, including 338 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 0.7m, including 1,040 g/t Ag, 1.5% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 0.18m, plus 54 g/t Ag, 2.2% Pb, and 9.9% Zn over 3.15m, including 128 g/t Ag, 3.7% Pb, and 16% Zn over 1.85m; hole GG21-30 with 233 g/t Ag, 0.02% Pb, and 0.02% Zn over 2.11m; hole GG21-31 with 105 g/t Ag, 4.9% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over 1.20m; and hole GG21-33 with 106 g/t Ag, 0.9% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 4.51m. The company reported that the mineralized skarn footprint now exceeds 0.5km2.
  • Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd., released results from 88 grab samples collected at its Ana Maria project in Durango. Highlights include 246 g/t Ag, 0.03% Cu, 4.5% Pb, and 1.7% Zn; 578 g/t Ag, 0.03% Cu, 11.9% Pb, and 0.3% Zn; 442 g/t Ag, 0.04% Cu, 11.4% Pb, and 1.5% Zn; 163 g/t Ag, 0.04% Cu, 6.2% Pb, and 0.5% Zn; 168 g/t Ag, 0.01% Cu, 4.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn; 1,227 g/t Ag, 0.06% Cu, 25.7% Pb, and 0.6% Zn; 309 g/t Ag, 0.03% Cu, 2.3% Pb, and 4.8% Zn; 1,306 g/t Ag, 0.09% Cu, 20.4% Pb, and 7.4% Zn; and 792 g/t Ag, 0.04% Cu, 16.9% Pb, and 0.6% Zn. Silver Wolf is waiting for the final geophysical data interpretation to better define drill targets for later this year.
  • Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd., commenced a maiden drilling program at its La Tigra project in Nayarit. This is the first ever drill program undertaken within the district and is focused primarily on areas defined by the ongoing trenching program. Trenching highlights include 1.22 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag (1.3 g/t AuEq) over 11.6m, including 2.52 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag (2.7 g/t AuEq) over 4.3m; 1.45 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag (1.57 g/t AuEq) over 12.8m, including 3.22 g/t Au and 35 g/t Ag (3.69 g/t AuEq) over 5.3m; 1.59 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag (1.63 g/t AuEq) over 24.2m, including 5.58 g/t Au and 4 g/t Ag (5.64 g/t AuEq) over 4.7m; and 1.78 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag (1.85 g/t AuEq) over 22.9m, including 2.2 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag (2.3 g/t AuEq) over 7.1m.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd., presented results from its drilling program conducted at its Opodepe project in Sonora. The drill program consisted of 3,289.6 m in 25 short holes. Drilling highlights include hole OPDS-21-001 with 4.79 g/t AuEq over 6.73m; hole OPDS-21-018 with 2.3 g/t AuEq over 1.91m; and hole OPDS-21-021 with 1.96 g/t AuEq over 2.19m. The first stage of drilling was focused on the upper part of the veins and has been considered as recognition drilling. “However, in this year 2022, the drilling is focused on the zone of the veins which the geologists have considered as favorable zones to find economic reserves”.

ON MINING

  • Gatos Silver Inc., reported Q1, 2022 production results from its 70%-owned Cerro Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua. The company milled 234,985 tonnes of 353 g/t Ag, 0.3 g/t Au, 2.2% Pb, and 4.1% Zn at metallurgical recoveries of 89.7%, 57.1% , 89.2%, and 64.3% respectively, to produce 2.39M Oz Ag, 1.3K Oz Au, 10.3M Lb Pb, and 13.8M Lb Zn. Gatos reported over USD $40M in cash as of March 31, 2022.
  • GoGold Resources Inc., announced Q1, 2022 production results from its Parral Tailings mine in Chihuahua. The company produced 186,655 Oz Ag, 2,791 Oz Au, and 280K Lb Cu (455,991 Oz AgEq).
  • Mexus Gold US completed an open pit test heap leach Au recovery process that produced 278 Oz Au from 6 test pits at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora.  The company is looking for a mining company to joint venture with at its Santa Elena mine. Mexus believes that the property contains > 1M Oz Au. It stated that is open to also JV its Ures Au-Ag-Cu property in Sonora.
  • Minera Alamos Inc., announced Q1, 2022 production results from its Santana mine in Sonora. It mined 600K tonnes to produce 3,390 Oz Au. Cumulative Au recovery from mineralization under leach for more that 30 days is now approximately 75% with additional recovery ongoing. The company reported that the total of Au inventory moved to leach pad to date is 14K Oz. In addition, the company announced that site preparation activities were initiated at the Nicho Main Zone with a goal to start mining activities at that deposit later in Q2-2022.
  • Orla Mining Ltd., presented Q1, 2022 production results from its Camino Rojo project in Zacatecas. The company mined 684,255 tonnes and processed 539,379 tonnes of 0.8 g/t Au to produce 23,031 Oz Au. Gold guidance for the full year 2022 is maintained by Orla at 90-100 Oz Au.

ON FINANCING

  • No relevant news.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Vizsla Silver Corp., reported that it filed on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR), an independent technical report containing a maiden mineral resource estimate on its Panuco project in Sinaloa.
  • Azucar Minerals Ltd., commenced to drill test a large lithocap target discussed previously at its El Cobre project, Veracruz. The lithocap target was outlined by several exploration techniques, including geophysics, mineralogy, geochemistry and past drilling campaigns at the property.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd., reported results from three underground drill holes collared at its San Marcial project, Sinaloa. The most significant drill intercepts were encountered in holes SM121-07 with 201 g/t Ag, 0.02 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over a true width (TW) of 3.7m, including 1,413 g/t Ag, 0.11 g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, and 1.3% Zn over a TW of 0.2m, plus 124 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over a TW of 8.5m, including, 223 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over a TW of 2.4m, including 553 g/t Ag, 0.03 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over a TW of 0.5m. Results confirmed a significant expansion of high-grade Ag mineralization approximately 300m down dip below the lower limit of the pit-constrained San Marcial mineral resource. A two phase 4,500m drilling program is planned for 2022 at San Marcial to support future resource expansion and an updated NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., published results from 110 holes drilled on the oxide tailings project at its Avino property in Durango. The drilling program consisted of 3,645m. The drill density of the current program should be sufficient to upgrade most of the existing inferred mineral resources to the measured and indicated categories, and to potentially expand the resources. Selected highlights are shown below:
·        Golden Tag Resources Ltd., released results from hole 22-64 drilled at its San Diego mine, Durango. This hole is part of an exploration program targeting bulk-tonnage mineralization and encountered several mineralized intervals. Key highlights include 0.07 g/t Au, 45 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn, and 0.02% Cu (60 g/t AgEq) over 73.5m, including 0.45 g/t Au, 882 g/t Ag, 0.7% Pb, 0.8% Zn, and 0.17% Cu (980 g/t AgEq) over 0.91m, 0.31 g/t Au, 371 g/t Ag, 0.7% Pb, 0.4% Zn, and 0.07% Cu (441 g/t AgEq) over 2.80m, plus 0.24 g/t Au, 385 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, 1.4% Zn, and 0.05% Cu (482 g/t AgEq) over 1.80m, plus  0.2 g/t Au, 475 g/t Ag, 1% Pb, 4.9% Zn, and 0.15% Cu (734 g/t AgEq) over 0.53m (all in the 57 target zone); plus 3.64 g/t Au, 18 g/t Ag, 0.04% Pb, 0.1% Zn, and 0.01% Cu (317 g/t AgEq) over 0.60m (on the Montanez zone), plus 0.18 g/t Au, 212 g/t Ag, 1.8% Pb, 2.9% Zn, and 0.07% Cu (405 g/t AgEq) over 0.70m (on the Canta target area), plus 0.32 g/t Au, 355 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, 0.5% Zn, and 0.08% Cu (422 g/t AgEq) over 0.63, and plus 0.08 g/t Au, 286 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.6% Zn, and 0.06% Cu (331 g/t AgEq) over 1.04m (On the Rata target area). This result extends the open pit mineralization for over 290m vertical.
·        Silver Dollar Resources Inc., announced that phase 2 exploration drilling program is underway at its la Joya project in Durango. Phase 2 drilling will remain focused on the underexplored Noria portion of the Property and new targets that were identified in the results received to date from the Phase 1 drilling program, which consisted of 11 holes for a total of 2,424 m of drilling. Assays for the first seven holes were reported and results for the remaining holes are expected shortly.
·        Silver Viper Minerals Corp., conducted a TITAN-MT deep-penetrating geophysical survey centered on the El Rubi deposit, Paredones, and El Molino target areas at its La Virginia project in Chihuahua, to assist in targeting for deeper portions of the mineralized system. The TITAN Magnetotelluric (MT) survey is capable of acquiring information from depths in excess of 1,500m below surface. Geologist of the company have reviewed preliminary 2D imaging from the first of the MT survey lines and believe the method will be very effective at La Virginia property. Silver Viper expects to receive final deliverables in the coming weeks.
·        Starcore International Mines Ltd., provided an update on the diamond drilling program conducted at its San Martin mine in Querétaro. A total of 9,410m were drilled in 2021 until the end of March, 2022 which focused on two areas of the mine:  the first focusing on the northwest part of the operating mine, and the second searching for the extension of the orebodies of high – grade discovered during the 30 years of the mine’s life.  Highlights on the area 33 include hole DC3221-10 with 7.36 g/t Au and 28 g/t Ag over 3m; hole DC3221-11 with 2.21 g/t Au and 26 g/t Ag over 8m; hole DC3221-12 with 16.27 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag over 0.5m; and hole DC3221-15 with 12.2 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag over 0.60m. Highlights on the area 28 include hole DC2820-214 with 2.14 g/t Au and 57 g/t Ag over 2.4m; hole DC2820-215 with 2.42 g7t Au and 21 g/t Ag over 2.95m; and hole DC2821-217 with 8.08 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag over 2.15m.
·        Zacatecas Silver Corp., announced results from its ongoing diamond drilling program on the Panuco North and Panuco Central Veins at its Zacatecas project in Zacatecas state. Drilling highlights include hole PAN2022-042 with 1,423 g/t Ag and 0.28 g/t Au (1,440 g/t AgEq) over 1.25m; hole  PAN2022-044 with 353 g/t Ag and 0.29 g/t Au (379 g/t AgEq) over 4.35m; hole PAN2022-043 with 358 g/t Ag and 0.28 g/t Au (379 g/t AgEq) over 1.55m; hole PAN2022-046 with 201 g/t Ag and 0.28 g/t Au (222 g/t AgEq) over 1.05m; and hole PAN2022-045 with 115 g/t Ag and 0.85 g/t Au (179 g/t AgEq) over 5.96m. “Following the recent grant of 27 additional drill pads, Zacatecas Silver will be able to test the depth extension of mineralization at south-eastern Panuco North over a strike length of 600 m and to complete a maiden drill program along the central part of the Panuco North vein over a strike length of 1.4 km”.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

·        Sailfish Royalty Corp., provided an update on its previously announced Swordfish silver transaction. The proposed transaction is expected to result in the transfer of the Company’s wholly owned Gavilanes silver property located in Durango, Mexico. Closing of the Gavilanes Acquisition is subject to, among other things, Swordfish acquiring the Commonwealth Silver-Gold Project in exchange for shares of Swordfish, a concurrent private placement financing for proceeds of USD $5M.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

·        Esperanza Silver has a Community Engagement Plan to meet the objectives proposed by the New Socially and Environmentally Responsible Mining Model. It has the objective of developing a gold and silver mine in the lands of common use of the community of San Agustín Tetlamam, located in the municipality of Temixco in the state of Morelos. “This new way of developing mining, prioritizing social bonding and the use of techniques that allow avoiding, minimizing, mitigating and compensating for environmental impacts, is due to the genuine interest of Esperanza Silver de México and Alamos Gold Inc. in responding to the demands of a society interested in caring for the environment and the social environment.”

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, flow banded rhyolite in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.