August 2, 2018 – Bridgewater, NS – (TSXV:SSE) — Silver Spruce Resources Inc. (“Silver Spruce” or the “Company”) is very pleased to announce that the Mexican government environmental authority, SEMARNAT, has completed its review of the Informe Preventivo filed by Silver Spruce (see Silver Spruce press release of July 5, 2018), and effective on July 19, 2018, has approved the drill program proposed for Silver Spruce Resources de Mexico, SA de CV’s Pino de Plata Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu-Au project located in the Sierra Madre Occidental, Chihuahua State, Mexico. Silver Spruce contracted PRODEMIN, SA de CV to manage the environmental permitting process.
Permits
MINERA ALAMOS EXPANDS SANTANA GOLD PROJECT PERMITS TO ACCOMMODATE COMMERCIAL SCALE OPERATONS
Minera Alamos Inc. (“Minera Alamos” or the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE:MAI) is pleased to announce that it has completed the environmental studies required to amend the scope of the existing Santana gold project test mining permits and submitted them for approvals to the relevant Mexican mining regulatory agency (SEMARNAT). Acceptance of the permit expansion will provide the Company with the flexibility to transform the operation from bulk mining testwork to a commercial scale gold mine once a production decision is made.
Drilling Has Commenced on Margarita Project- Sable Resources Ltd.
TORONTO, May 9, 2018 /CNW/ – Sable Resources Ltd (“Sable”) (TSXV: SAE) is pleased to announce that drilling has begun on the Margarita Project after the Company received permits from the government of Mexico and access agreements from the surface rights holder. The initial program consists of over 4,000 m of core drilling to test the 1.7 km of silver bearing epithermal quartz veins. This Phase 1 drill program will be expanded should positive results warrant additional drilling.
U. S. ANTIMONY REPORTS APPROVAL OF LOS JUAREZ LEACH PLANT PERMIT
December 4, 2017. Thompson Falls, Montana. United States Antimony Corporation (“USAC”, NYSE American “UAMY”) reported that SEMARNAT (the equivalent of the U.S. EPA) has issued USAMSA (a wholly owned subsidiary of USAC) the permit for a cyanide leach plant for the Puerto Blanco mill in Guanajuato, Mexico.
The plant is designed to recover gold and silver from the pilot flotation mill tailings of the Los Juarez gold-silver-antimony deposit in Queretaro, Mexico. The deposit is 3.5 kilometers in length and over 1 kilometer in width. It has all the signature elements of the Carlin gold mine and the Robert’s Mountain over-thrust belt in Nevada. The deposit has been owned by two major mining Companies but has never gone into production due to the complex metallurgy. USAC has solved the metallurgical problem with the floatation product by adding an alkaline leach circuit. A second issue was that the mill only recovered 30 to 50% of the gold and 60 to 80% of the silver in the flotation concentrate. Test work showed that these values could be recovered by a cyanide leach of the mill tailings. USAC has finally gotten the permit for the cyanide leach after many years. Construction of the leach circuit has commenced. Initial projects will include a plastic liner for the tailings pond and construction of the leach plant building. In Montana, construction of leach plant equipment is underway.
Highlights on the Third Week of October, 2017. Mineral Exploration in Mexico
During the 42nd week of the year (October 16th to October 22nd, 2017), at least 29 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, including eight quarterly reports. ON MEXICO ISSUES: No relevant news. ON EXPLORATION: Nine companies disclosed exploration efforts during the week: In Sonora, Alix Resources is doing metallurgical studies at its Agua Fria project; Teck is drilling the Alacrán project; Oceanus discovered several veins at its El Tigre property; Riverside presented an exploration update on its Tajitos and Cecilia projects; SilverCrest released drill results from the Babicanora vein on its Las Chispas property; VVC Exploration boasted on the size of the mineralized system at Cumeral; Azure Minerals started drilling its Oposura project. In Chihuahua, Harvest Gold presented results on a soil program completed on its Cerro Cascaron project. In Sinaloa, VVC Exploration describes two mineralized structures at its La Tuna property. In Veracruz, Mexican Gold completed a geophysical survey that highlighted several targets at its Las Minas project. ON MINING: Avino Silver, Premier Gold, Sierra Metals, Gold Resource, Excellon, Fortuna Silver, First Majestic and McEwen Mining reported preliminary third quarter results. Corex Gold shipped the first gold concentrate from its Santana property in Sonora. ON FINANCING: Excellon is to raise up to $11.5 M on a bought deal basis; Goldcorp exercised C$3.5 M on Alio Gold warrants; Alio gold exercised a buy-back clause to acquire 1% of NSR from Goldcorp; Silver One raised C$4.3 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT: Leagold updated the resource estimate at the Bermejal Underground deposit on its Los Filos property in Guerrero; Mexican Gold presented drill results from its Las Minas property in Veracruz; Torex Gold commenced an in-fill drill program at its Media Luna project in Guerrero; Monarca Mining is reviewing the geological information and drill holes from its Tejamen property in Durango; Riverside is re-logging core from the Jesus Maria zone of its Peñoles project in Durango; Southern Silver presented an update on the exploration and resource definition at its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango; VVC Exploration is looking into bringing the Samalayuca copper property in Chihuahua to production; Bacanora Minerals received the environmental permit for plant construction on its Sonora lithium project. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES: Alix Resources informed that Lithium Australia NL holds now 54% of the Elektra project in Sonora. Goldcorp announced the completion of the sale of its 21% stake on San Nicolas (Zacatecas) to Teck.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
- No Relevant News.
ON EXPLORATION
- Alix Resources Corp. completed recently a 2,500 m reverse circulation drill program at its Agua Fria project in Sonora. The program comprised 16 holes, returning 33 m @ 1,058 ppm Li; 48 m @ 1,031 ppm Li; 24 m @ 1,050 ppm Li. “A large sample is currently being composited for further metallurgical studies. “In addition to significant Li values, the clay horizons at Agua Fria are anomalous in potassium which may be recoverable as potassium sulphate…”
- Azure Minerals Ltd. informed that project operator Teck has commenced drilling on the Alacrán project in Sonora. During 2017 Teck has performed geological mapping, surface sampling and an induced polarization survey, identifying two high priority targets. The first target is the extension of the Loma Bonita Ag-Au deposit towards Cerro San Simon, with potential for epithermal mineralization. The second target is Cerro Colorado where strong chargeability and resistivity anomalies were identified under soil anomalies, pointing to a porphyry copper target. Three diamond rigs are to drill 5,000 m.
- Mexican gold Corp. completed 50 km of ground magnetic survey and 15 line km of “Moving Loop Time Domain Electromagnetic” (TDEM) on the El Dorado/Juan Bran, Cinco Señores and Las Minillas mineralized zones at its Las Minas property in Veracruz. The TDEM method was validated over known parts of the mineralized system, with multiple new targets emerging on the three zones.
- Oceanus Resources Corp. has discovered several new veins located approximately 150 m north and parallel to the Caleigh vein on its El Tigre project in Sonora. A drill rig is to arrive on the last week of October.
- Riverside Resources Inc. presented an update on its Cecilia, Tajitos and La Silla projects. At Cecilia in Sonora, the environmental permit has been received to drill test the upper portion of a dome-related epithermal system, with sampling returning 21% of 394 chip-channel samples greater than 0.3 g/t Au. At Tajitos, also in Sonora, a number of new targets have been identified after reviewing in detail the past exploration and drilling campaign. At La Silla in Sinaloa, Riverside continues to consolidate a strong land package and outlining multiple veins, with soil surveying, mapping, sampling, structural analysis, remote sensing and prospecting.
- Harvest Gold Corp. and Evrim Resources Corp. covered an area of 4.5 km by 1.6 km with a soil sampling program at its Cerro Cascaron project in Chihuahua. The soil survey included 877 Samples collected every 50 m on lines separated 200 m apart, oriented east-west. “Results have extended known veins, identified two new corridors and have highlighted a 1.4 kilometre-long, very strong gold-silver trend to the north of the ……. Serpiente Dorada vein”. The Carabina, San Pedro, and La Puerta areas show a “significant soil response in gold, silver and pathfinders along strike from known gold-silver mineralization and two additional areas between San Pedro and La Puerta, have significant pathfinder element responses”.
- VVC Exploration Corp. describes its Cumeral project in Sonora as boasting a gold mineralization zone that runs at least for 3.6 km. At La Tuna in Sinaloa, two mineralized structures are favorable for an open-pit gold/copper resource. A signed letter of intent (LOI) with a mining company is at the due diligence stage.
- SilverCrest Metals Inc. released further results from the Phase II drill campaign at its Las Chispas property in Sonora. The Babicanora vein has been drill tested for over 600 m of strike length, with a near-surface mineralized height of 150 to 175 m. High-grade intercepts occur also on the Granaditas and Amatista veins on the Babicanora area. Results include 2.9 m (true width, or TW) @ 5.6 g/t Au, 173 g/t Ag; 3.0 m @ 4.3 g/t Au, 130 g/t Ag; 2.0 m @ 3.0 g/t Au, 78 g/t Ag; 4.0 m @ nil Au, 397 g/t Ag; 4.1 m @ 3.5 g/t Au, 137 g/t Ag; 1.7 m @ 3.6 g/t Au, 190 g/t Ag. The average of the high-grade zone in 20 holes of the Babicanora vein is 3.6 m @ 2.73 g/t Au, 263 g/t Ag. Approximately 5,000 m of drilling is planned for the remaining part of 2017.
- Azure Minerals Ltd. is drilling with two core rigs its Zn-Pb-Ag Oposura project in Sonora. The 120 hole program is to total 7,000 m, aiming to produce a mineral resource estimate by the end of March 2018.
ON MINING
- Avino Silver and Gold Mines Ltd. reported third quarter 2017 production results from its Avino property in Durango. At the Avino mine 119.3 K tonnes were mined, with 117.9 K tonnes milled @ 66 g/t Ag, 0.7 g/t Au, 0.48% Cu; recoveries stood at 85% Ag, 70% Au, 88% Cu to produce 213.8 K Oz Ag, 1,847 Oz Au, 1.1 M Lb Cu (501.8 ton). At the San Gonzalo vein 18.4 K tonnes were mined, 20.3 K tonnes milled @ 281 g/t Ag, 1.55 g/t Au; with recoveries of 85% Ag, 82% Au, producing 155.2 K Oz Ag, 826 Oz Au.
- Premier Gold Mines Ltd. announced preliminary third quarter results, including figures from its Mercedes mine in Sonora, where 18,564 Oz Au, 82,856 Oz Ag were produced.
- Gold Resource Corp. disclosed preliminary production results for the third quarter 2017 on its El Aguila property in Oaxaca. The company produced 6,465 Oz Au, 392.1 K Oz Ag, 291 tonnes Cu, 1,449 tonnes Pb, 4,628 tonnes Zn.
- Sierra Metals Inc. reported third quarter 2017 production results, including figures from its Cusi and Bolivar mines in Chihuahua. At Bolivar 223.3 K tons were processed @ 0.92% Cu, 14 g/t Ag, 0.14 g/t Au, achieving recoveries of 77.9% Cu, 74.5% Ag, 61.6% Au, to produce 3.52 M Lb Cu, 76 K Oz Ag, 629 Oz Au. At Cusi, 13.2 K tonnes were processed @ 154 g/t Ag, 0.26 g/t Au, 1.0% Pb, 1.1% Zn, with recoveries of 84.1% Ag, 55.7% Au, 83.5% Pb, 50.9% Zn, to produce 55 K Oz Ag, 61 Oz Au, 247 K Lb Pb, 160 K Lb Zn.
- Excellon Resources Inc. announced third quarter 2017 results from its Platosa mine in Durango, where 18.1 K tonnes were mined, and 19.9 K tonnes milled @ 409 g/t Ag, 4.4% Pb, 6.1% Zn. Recoveries stood at 87.6% Ag, 81.8% Pb, 81.1% Zn, to produce 226.2 K Oz Ag, 1.6 M Lb Pb, 2.2 M Lb Zn. “All-in sustaining cost decreased during the quarter to approximately $11-$13 per payable silver ounce…”.
- Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc. released third quarter 2017 production results, including figures from its San Jose mine in Oaxaca. At San Jose 263.7 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 3,038 tonnes per day (tpd), and an average grade of 229 g/t Ag, 1.71 g/t Au, with recovery rates of 90.5% Ag, 91.4% Au, to produce 1.77 M Oz Ag, 13,248 Oz Au. Mine production was sourced from Trinidad Central and Trinidad North.
- First Majestic Silver Corp. released production results for the third quarter 2017 from its six mines in Mexico: Santa Elena in Sonora, La Encantada in Coahuila, La Parrilla in Durango; Del Toro in Zacatecas, San Martin in Jalisco, and La Guitarra in Estado de Mexico. Total production from the six mines amounts almost four million silver equivalent ounces during the period.
- Corex Gold Corp. shipped the first gold–in-carbon concentrate from its Santana heap-leach project in Sonora. Corex has been conducting continuous bulk testing heap-leach activities on coarser crushed material than in the next anticipated program to be performed on finer crushed material.
McEwen Mining Inc. reported production results for the first quarter 2017, including figures from its operations at El Gallo in Sinaloa, where 7,213 AuEq ounces were produced. Production below expectations is the result of a serious mechanical failure that halted crushing for a period of time. Better grades and increased crushing rates in the rest of the year are expected to partially compensate for the shortfall.
ON FINANCING
- Excellon Resources Inc. entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters to sell shares on a bought deal basis for gross proceeds of $10 M. If an over-allotment option is exercised in full, gross proceeds for the offering can reach $11.5 M. (Platosa, Durango).
- Alio gold Inc. announced that Goldcorp Inc. exercised its warrants that expire on October 19, 2017 for total proceeds of C$3.5 M. Alio Gold also exercised a buy-back right from Goldcorp of a 1% NSR on its Ana Paula project in Guerrero, for US$2.9 M. After the buy-back, the NSR held by Goldcorp on Ana Paula is now 2%. (San Francisco, Sonora).
- Silver One Resources Inc. closed an oversubscribed non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of C$4.3 M (Peñasco Quemado, Sonora).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
- Leagold Mining Corp. updated the Bermejal Underground mineral resource estimate at its Los Filos property in Guerrero. The updated resource includes 9.9 M tonnes @ 6.15 g/t Au, 22 g/t Ag in the measured and indicated category, and 4.7 M tonnes @ 5.36 g/t Au, 16 g/t Ag in the inferred bracket, containing 1.97 M Oz Au and 820 K Oz Au in each category respectively. The estimate includes data from form 505 drill holes totaling 195,261 m, with mineralization having been tested along 1,600 m along the strike of the intrusive contact, with a vertical depth extent of over 800 m. Drill hole spacing is roughly 35 m for indicated resources and less than 25 m for measured resources.
- Mexican Gold Corp. reported mineralized intercepts from its ongoing resource expansion drilling at El Dorado/Juan Bran zone at its Las Minas property in Veracruz. One hole intersected a 21 m interval of chalcopyrite, bornite and magnetite, and a second interval of 56 m of stronger mineralization. Both intervals have wide zones outside the outline of the mineral resource. One other hole intersected two intervals of 3 m and 8 m with chalcopyrite, bornite and magnetite.
- Torex Gold Resources Inc. has initiated the in-fill drilling program at its Media Luna development project in Guerrero. The program’s purpose is to upgrade to the Indicated confidence level, 25% of the current resource (7.4 M Oz AuEq). The US$15 M program contains 175 holes averaging 600 m in depth, for a total of 105,000 m of drilling.
- Monarca Mining Inc. is currently re-analyzing geological information and the re-logging of historical drill results from its Tejamen property in Durango. Monarca has identified three high grade intercepts at the Los Mantos and Cerro Prieto portions of Tejamen, including an 80 m zone containing 417 g/t Ag. The feeder veins strike to the SW for approximately one km. Drilling reached only about 150 m of depth, and the core was not assayed for other metals.
- Riverside Resources Inc. informed that re-logging of 15 holes of the Jesus Maria zone at its Peñoles project in Durango resulted in the interpretation that at least one and possibly multiple high-grade vein structures remain untested for hundreds of meters along strike and down dip.
- Southern Silver Exploration Corp. presented an update on activities at its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. During 2017 13,600 m were drilled in 18 holes, identifying and extending the new Skarn Front zone beneath the Blind and El Sol deposits. Exploration has been funded by Electrum Global Holdings L.P., earning a 60% stake on the project by spending US$5.0 M. A total of 107 drill holes for 49,600 m have been completed on the project, with exploration expenditures reaching US$10 M.
- VVC Exploration Corp. is looking to bring the Samalayuca copper project to production in 2018. A 2013 NI-43-101 resource estimate shows a resource of 4.1 M tonnes of ore. VVC plans to use low cost, low tech processing to produce copper cement that is directly usable in many industrial processes.
- Bacanora Minerals Ltd. announced the environmental impact statement (Manifestacion de Impacto Ambiental, or MIA) on its Sonora project has been approved by SEMARNAT (Environmental agency). The MIA approved is for the production of 35,000 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate through a conventional beneficiation process followed by a standard SO4 roasting process.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
- Alix Resources Corp. announced that Perth-based lithium processing technologist, Lithium Australia NL (LIT) is controlling now 54% of the Elektra lithium project in Sonora. LIT has the right to earn up to 65% interest on the project under the current JV agreement.
- Goldcorp Inc. announced the completion of the sale of its 21% minority interest in the San Nicolas Cu-Zn project in Zacatecas, to Teck Resources Ltd., for a cash consideration of US$50 M.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the picture below, sheeted quartz veins cutting an intrusive rock on a prospect of the Durango Altiplano. Photo by Jorge Cirett.
Highlights on the Second Week of July, 2017. Mineral Exploration in Mexico
During the 28th week of the year (July 10th to July 16th, 2017), with the reporting of second quarter reports, at least 21 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora Pan American Silver is drilling La Negra. In Sinaloa Santana released drilling results from Cuitaboca. In Durango Southern Silver released more assays from drilling at Cerro Las Minitas. In Chihuahua Harvest Gold updated its exploration effort at Cerro Cascaron., and In Veracruz Mexican Gold has awarded a ground magnetic survey on its Las Minas project. ON MINING, First Majestic, McEwen Mining, Fortuna Silver, Great Panther, Cozamin and Endeavour Silver presented production results for the second quarter of 2017. Excellon achieved dry mining conditions at Platosa. ON FINANCING, Silver Bull completed the first tranche of a private placement, raising CDN$1.46 M, while Silver Spruce raised $166.5 K. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Leagold presented results from 20 holes on the Bermejal underground deposit. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Alset acquired five more salars in Zacatecas and Leagold received approbation from government’s agency COFECE respect financing in connection with the Los Filos mine purchase.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
- No Relevant News.
ON EXPLORATION
- Kootenay Silver Inc. informed that Pan American Silver Corp. commenced a drill program on La Negra, a silver discovery within its Promontorio project in Sonora. The program will total over 4,000 meters of core drilling over 25 holes, focusing in infill drilling and step out holes to depth.
- Santana Minerals Ltd. reported the remainder assay results for the recently completed RC drill program at the Mojardina prospect within its Cuitaboca project in Sinaloa. Highlights comprise 6 m @ 100 g/t Ag, and 12 m @ 148 g/t Ag in one hole; 32 m @ 104 g/t Ag and 5 m @ 93 g/t Ag in other hole; 12 m @ 118 g/t Ag; 5 m @ 121 g/t Ag. A new zone of mineralization was identified at the south end of the structure and mineralization remains open at depth and along strike below Evangelina and Las Animas.
- Southern Silver Exploration Corp. reported further assay results deeper on the hole previously reported with copper enrichment (32.8 m @ 105 g/t Ag, 0.9% Cu) at its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. The new intercepts include 1.8 m @ 406 g/t Ag, 3.8% Cu, 0.6% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 8.1 m @ 49 g/t Ag, 1.2% Cu. “The entire mineralized interval occurs within a broad zone of veined sulphides and breccia that extend into the skarn-altered margin of the central intrusion and is significant in that it represents the thickest zone of higher grade mineralization hosted within the monzonite identified to date. The interval is strongly copper enriched (up to 3.7% over 4.8 metres) and may represent a transition into a mineralized endoskarn which remains open down-dip and along strike to the northeast.”
- Harvest Gold Corp. provided an update on exploration at its Cerro Cascaron project in Chihuahua. In the Main Cerro Cascaron vein Field a low to intermediate sulfidation epithermal system includes 14 veins 70 to 1,980 m in length (over 11 km cumulative length), where some good intervals sampled include 1.3 m @ 12 g/t Au, 54 g/t Ag; 0.9 m @ 10.5 g/t Au, 46 g/t Ag; 1.4 m @ 5.6 g/t Au, 45 g/t Ag; 5.4 m @ 2.1 g/t Au, 14 g/t Ag; 6.3 m @ 2.1 g/t Au, 29 g/t Ag. The 200 m by 300 m Stockwork area presents multiple sub-parallel structures and breccias cutting the lower part of the rhyolite sequence. La Reyna/El Rico Veins are tourmaline rich silver and base metals veins and breccias where grab samples have returned up to 1.8 g/t Au, 516 g/t Ag. At La Prieta target tourmaline and quartz in a hydrothermal breccia returned 0.56 to 39.7 g/t Au in four samples. The Divisadero Veins are in the largest alteration zone, with limited sampling returning 0.1 to 599 g/t Ag, and locally up to 9.2 g/t Au. At La Cascarita intermediate sulfidation veins and breccias up to 3 m in width have been traced for over 150 m and are still open to the NE and SE. initial sampling here has returned up to 1,170 g/t Ag, 2.7 g/t Au, 1.0% Zn, 1.6% Pb.
- Mexican Gold Corp. has engaged Geofisica TMC to complete a ground magnetic survey at the Cinco Señores zone at Las Minas, Veracruz.
ON MINING
- First Majestic Silver Corp. reported second quarter 2017 production results from its six mines in Mexico. The company processed 691.8 K tonnes (7,603 tonnes per day, or tpd) averaging 130 g/t Ag, to produce 2.29 M Oz Ag, 15,186 Oz Au, 7.6 M Lb Pb, 860 K Lb Zn.
- McEwen Mining Inc. reported production results for Q2 2017, including 9,780 AuEq Oz from El Gallo mine in Sinaloa. Production in the second half of the year is expected to improve with the higher gold grade to be mined.
- Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. released second quarter 2017 production results, including information from the San Jose Mine in Oaxaca, where 268.4 K tonnes were milled (1,483 tpd) @ 238 g/t Ag with a recovery of 91.8% to produce 1.887 M Oz Ag; and 1.82 g/t Au with a recovery of 91.5% to produce 14,410 Oz Au.
- Excellon Resources Inc. has achieved dry mining conditions and completed its mine optimization plan at Platosa, in Durango. Two booster stations and 12 submersible pumps were installed and commissioned; drawdown rates met or exceeded the forecasts, with pumping rates over 30 K gpm. The mine still has to transition to higher production rates, possible under dry mining conditions.
- Great Panther Silver Ltd. announced production results for the second quarter 2017. At the Guanajuato Mine Complex 80.5 K tonnes were milled @ 150 g/t Ag, 2.32 g/t Au, recovering 89.5% Ag, 87.2% Au, to produce 348.1 K Oz Ag, 5,247 Oz Au. At Topia in Durango, 18,041 tonnes were milled @ 414 g/t Ag, 0.74 g/t Au, recovering 92% Ag, 68.6% Au, to produce 221.1 K Oz Ag, 296 Oz Au, 405 tonnes Pb, 638 tonnes Zn. The company continues its efforts to obtain the Phase II permit on the tailings storage facility.
- Endeavour Silver Corp. reported its production results for the second quarter 2017, when 1.143 M Oz Ag, 13,057 Oz Au were produced on its three Mexican mines.
- Capstone Mining Corp. announced production results for the second quarter 2017, including from its Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. By processing 230.8 K tonnes (2,536 tpd) @ 1.85% Cu, 0.55% Zn, 0.07% Pb, 40 g/t Ag (recoveries of 96.1% Cu, 62% Zn, 11.4% Pb, 79.6% Ag) 3,774 tonnes of copper plus Zn and Pb concentrates were produced.
ON FINANCING
- Silver Bull Resources Inc. has completed the initial tranche of its previously announced private placement, for aggregate gross proceeds of CDN$1.46 M (Sierra Mojada, Coahuila).
- Silver Spruce Resources Inc. closed its current non-brokered private placement and raised gross proceeds of $166.5 K (Pino de Plata, Chihuahua).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
- Leagold Mining Corp. reported drilling results for the first 20 holes of its infill and step-out exploration program in the Bermejal Underground deposit at the Los Filos mine in Guerrero. Over 12,900 m (23%) of the 56,000 m program have been completed, with eight diamond rigs and two reverse circulation rigs in operation. The mineralization occurs along contacts between the intrusive and the carbonate host rock, extending approximately 1,600 meters along the strike of the intrusive contact and has a vertical depth extent of over 600 meters. True width intercepts include 18.8 m @ 7.2 g/t Au; 13.3 m @ 6.8 g/t Au; 2 m @ 26.3 g/t Au; 18.9 m @ 3.8 g/t Au; 16.35 m @ 5.0 g/t Au; 25.96 m @ 3.3 g/t Au; 8.24 m @ 6.0 g/t Au; 1.52 m @ 20.2 g/t Au.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
- Alset minerals Corp. will acquire 100% interest in five more salars in zacatecas by issuing 4 M shares plus a 2.5% NSR to Hot Spring Mining, a Mexican mining company. Alset will have the right to purchase up to 1.5% of the NSR for CAD $500 K for each half-percent. Two managing partners of Hot Spring Mining will be paid a consulting fee of $1500 CAD each per month for an initial six month period which can be extended.
- Leagold Mining Corp. received approval from the Mexican anti-trust commission (COFECE) with respect to the US$ 29 M subscription receipt financing provided by a fund managed by Orion Resource Partners in connection with the acquisition of the Los Filos mine from Goldcorp.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the picture below, porphyritic andesitic dike with chilled margins intruding andesitic tuffs in Jalisco. Photo by Jorge Cirett.
US. ANTIMONY REPORTS LOS JUAREZ PRODUCTION PLANS
http://www.usantimony.com/2017_newsroom.htm#U._S._ANTIMONY_REPORTS_LOS_JUAREZ_PRODUCTION_PLANS
July 3, 2017. Thompson Falls, Montana. United States Antimony Corporation (“USAC”, NYSE MKT “UAMY”) reported that following the milling of 400 metric tons of Los Juarez gold/silver/antimony at the Puerto Blanco mill in Guanajuato, Mexico that it will proceed with the cyanide circuit to increase the recoveries of both the silver and gold from the flotation mill tailings. Initial results of the floatation assays without the cyanide circuit are as follows:
| Item | Gold | Silver | Antimony |
| Heads | 0.035 opmt | 3.27 opmt | 0.652% |
| Tails | 0.016 opmt | 1.618 opmt | 0.348% |
| Recovered grade | 0.019 opmt | 1.65 opmt | 0.17% |
| % recovery | 52.8% | 49.6% | 31.5 |
(opmt = ounces per metric ton)
The flotation concentrate contained 2.52 opmt gold, 496.4 opmt silver, and 52.0% antimony. The floatation concentrates will be processed by the caustic leach circuit which is operational.
Cyanide testing of the mill tailings has indicated excellent recoveries, and the antimony recovery has been on the order of 70% at lower depths. The estimated recovery of the values after the caustic leach and cyanide circuit of the tailings is as follows:
| Metal | Assay | Recovery | Value | Value /mt |
| Gold | 0.035 opmt | 90% | $1,250/oz | $39.38 |
| Silver | 3.27 opmt | 90% | $16.50/oz | $48.56 |
| Antimony | 0.652% | 70% | $3.90/lb | $39.12 |
| Total | $127.06 |
Construction of the cyanide leach circuit for the Puerto Blanco mill tailings will begin when the permit is approved by SEMARNAT (Mexican equivalent of the EPA). Tentatively, the plan is to leach in Mexico and handle the second part of the process in Montana which is expected to cut Capex costs significantly, reduce operating costs, and expedite the start of the circuit.
Following are the sales estimates for Q2 2017 compared to Q2 2016:
| Product | Q2 2017 | Q2 2016 | % change |
| Antimony pounds | 505,760 | 732,802 | -31.0 |
| Zeolite tons | 3,352 | 4,218 | -20.5 |
| Silver ounces | 17,552.32 | 29,219.25 | -39.9 |
| Gold ounces | 61.1552 | 76.09 | -19.62 |
Field Programs to Prepare for Drilling of Zenith’s American Lithium Portfolio Underway
Click to access 170501%20ZNC_American%20Lithium%20Update.pdf
Zenith Minerals Limited (“Zenith” or “the Company”) has previously announced (ASX Release 7 th March 2017) a funding deal with Bradda Head Ltd, a private company controlled by prominent UK investor Jim Mellon, to jointly unlock the potential of Zenith’s USA and Mexican lithium project portfolio. Zenith is now pleased to advise that field programs in Mexico funded by Bradda Head are underway, and the JV will shortly start lithium exploration activities in Arizona and Nevada. Initial activities on the projects include: Infill surface geochemical sampling of three lithium targets at Zacatecas in Mexico, with samples now collected and dispatched for analysis; An electrical geophysical survey at the Wilson Salt Flat lithium brine project in Nevada to determine the presence of brine and its depth, as a prerequisite to drill testing; Electrical geophysical surveys at San Vicente and San Juan lithium brine projects at Zacatecas in Mexico, as prerequisites to drill testing, along with preparation for drilling, including community and landholder liaison; Ongoing sighter metallurgical testwork at Burro Creek lithium clay project in Arizona, which has shown encouraging initial results. Further more definitive work is in progress to determine the options for the extraction of lithium & potassium; and Burro Creek state lease permitting for trenching & drilling and associated state lease renewal – as prerequisites to planned trenching & resource drilling.
Highlights on the Fifth Week of November 2016, Mineral Exploration in Mexico
During the fifth week of November at least eighteen press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, including two third quarter reports. ON EXPLORATION, in Chihuahua one company obtained a long extension on its drill permit, while other signed a LOI to acquire ground close to its main property. In Puebla, high grade drilling results continue to pour during the feasibility study, while in Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi large concession are being split to reduce investment obligations. ON MINING, two companies, one with mines in Sonora and the other with mines in San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas presented third quarter financial and operational results. One company is to re-start iron mining in Sonora, and one other company will temporarily shut processing operations at its mine Durango, while mining continues. ON FINANCING, One company closed its bought deal offering for gross proceeds of CAD$20 M; four companies completed bought deals and non-brokered private deals for US$ 12.46 M; and one other entered into a debt settlement agreement worth up to $0.24 M. ON RESOURCES, two amended technical reports were filed at SEDAR, from properties in Sonora and Guerrero. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, a lithium exploration company, created a subsidiary to focus on recycling. A project was optioned and two property options were terminated in Sonora
ON EXPLORATION
- Mammoth Resources Corp. was granted a four year extension on its permit to drill from up to 16 drill pad locations at its Tenoriba property in Chihuahua. Mammoth is negotiating with a drill contractor to pay part of a future drill program with cash, and part with Mammoth shares.
- Almaden Minerals Ltd. released new high grade mineralized drill intercepts within and outside the amended PEA pit at its Tuligtic project (Ixtaca) in Puebla. Results include 5.5 m @ 27.3 g/t Au, 66 g/t Ag; 9.6 m @ 2 g/t Au, 139 g/t Ag; 29.5 m @ 1.0 g/t Au, 39 g/t Ag; 25.6 m @ 0.7 g/t Au, 37 g/t Ag; 15.8 m @ 4.3 g/t Au, 34 g/t Ag; 22 m @ 1.9 g/t Au, 34 g/t Ag; 16.7 m @ 2.2 g/t Au, 161 g/t Ag; 20.3 m @ 2.2 g/t Au, 118 g/t Ag.
- Alset Energy Corp. is splitting its largest concession, Sutti 19 (8,776 ha.), into 18 smaller concessions, action that will result in a reduction of the annual work requirements. The company intends to begin drilling on the first quarter of 2017.
- Silver Spruce Resources Inc. signed a binding letter of intent (LOI) to explore a submittal prospect in the Chinipas district in Chihuahua. The terms include the payment of a total $50 K on installments over four years and a 3% NSR. The concession is over 300 ha in size, close to its Encino de Plata property
ON MINING
- Red Tiger Mining Inc. reported its financial and operating results for the third quarter 2016. 96.6 K tonnes of ore were mined, 477.8 K tonnes of waste moved (Waste-Ore ratio: 4.9), at an average grade of 1.22% Cu. 101.8 K tonnes were crushed and staked, @ 1.49% Cu, producing 626 tonnes of copper, at a cash cost of $1.89 per pound (Luz del Cobre, Sonora).
- Arcelor Mittal is to re-start operations at it El Volcan iron mine in Sonora.
- Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. presented its financial and operational results for the third quarter of 2016; when 24.7 K tonnes were milled, producing 164.9 K Oz AgEq, at cash cost $12.2 per AgEq Oz and all-in sustaining cost $15.88. The Veta Grande milling facility in Zacatecas is operating at 400 tpd, with mineralized material from the Garica and Guadalupana mines. The company expects to increase production to 1,500 tpd with the addition of another ball mill and crushing plant. The Cinco Estrellas mine supplied 5 K tonnes of ore @ 3 g/t Au, 103 g/t Ag to the El Rosario mill in San Luis Potosi.
- Great Panther Silver Ltd. is to stop work at its processing facilities in the Topia mine in Durango for three months. During that time a plant upgrade and transition to a new tailings storage facility will be implemented, and mining will continue with ore stockpiled for later processing.
ON FINANCING
- Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. closed a bought deal financing for gross proceeds of US$11.18 M (Avino and San Gonzalo, Durango).
- Aura Silver Resources Inc. announced a non-brokered private placement offering to raise gross proceeds of up to $500 K (Taviche, Oaxaca).
- Timmins Gold Corp. confirms the closing of its previously announced bought deal offering for gross proceeds of C$20 M (San Francisco, Sonora; Ana Paula, Guerrero).
- Cyprium Mining Corp. entered into debt settlement agreements with various creditors for up to $248.7 K of indebtedness by issuing shares (El Potosi, Chihuahua).
- Source Exploration Corp. closed a tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private financing, raising $778.8 K (Las Minas, Veracruz).
ON RESOURCES
- Timmins Gold Corp. filed on SEDAR amended technical reports for its projects San Francisco, in Sonora, and Ana Paula, in Guerrero.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
- Alix Resources Corp. has formed a new subsidiary, Upcycle Metals Corp. with the aim of forming a global recycling operation to retrieve battery metals and materials used in Lithium-ion batteries.
- Almadex Mineral Ltd. signed a definitive agreement to option all of its interest at Los Venados project (Sonora) to Wolverine Minerals Corp. The deal involves CAD$30 K on signature, up to 2 M Wolverine shares and a 2% NSR. A minimum of 1,000 m have to be drilled by the second anniversary, with a minimum US$500 K spent by the third anniversary. The 1,500 hectare claim is adjoining the Mulatos and La India mines in Sonora.
- First Mining Finance Corp. and Exploraciones Mineras Peñoles, S.A. de C.V. have terminated the option agreement under which Peñoles had the right to earn an interest on the Puertecitos and Los Tamales properties in Sonora.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the picture below, chalcedonic quartz vein, in otherwise covered terrain, Zacatecas Altiplano. Geologist Miguel Heredia on the outcrop.
