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Highlights on the Fifth Week of August, 2018. Mining and Exploration News in Mexico

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rhythmically banded quartz vein

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 35th week of the year (August 27th to September 2nd, 2018), at least 18 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with seven informing on exploration results, five announcing financing issues, four communicating deals and corporate issues, one reporting production results, and one reporting on resources and developments.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news.  ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Azure reported that project operator Teck Resources commenced its second drilling campaign on the El Alacrán project; Minaurum acquired two additional mineral concessions at its Alamos Silver project and discovered three new veins; Ridgestone commenced a 1,400m drilling program at its Rebeico project; and Riverside provided an exploration update of its Mexican projects portfolio.  In Chihuahua, Harvest approved the budget to drill its Cerro Cascaron project, and Radius mobilized a drill team to explore its Amalia project. In Sinaloa, Goldplay reported historical core sampling results from its San Marcial project.  ON MINING, Santacruz reported Q2 2018 results from their Veta Grande project in Zacatecas and the El Rosario project in San Luis Potosi. ON FINANCING, Evrim closed a private placement for $7,272,601.50. Prize closed the first tranche of a private placement for $1,530.000. Vangold announced a non-brokered private placement for up to $500,000. Sable launched an early warrant exercise incentive program to exercise warrants exercisable for common shares. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Endeavour updated mineral reserves and resource estimates and a PFS on its Terronera project in Jalisco. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Silver Viper terminated its option agreement on the Clemente project in Sonora with Riverside. Ethos Gold entered into an option agreement to acquire a contiguous claim to its la Purisima project in Chihuahua. Santacruz amended the Contracuña option and a short-term loan agreement. Endeavour announced an initiative to reduce capital and operating costs.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Azure Minerals Limited, announced that Teck Resources commenced its second drilling campaign on the El Alacrán project in Sonora. Two diamond drill rigs have been mobilized to carry out a 5,000m program with the objective to test high priority drill targets including Cerro Alacrán (porphyry Cu target) and Cerro Simon (epithermal Au-Ag target).
  • Minaurum Gold Inc., acquired the 10,159 Ha La Quintera claim and the 400 Ha Yoreme claim to expand its land package to 16,134 Ha at its Alamos Silver project in Sonora. Three new veins have been discovered on the Yoreme concession measuring between 900m to 1,800m long. Vein sampling returned from anomalous up to 250 g/t Ag, 1.29% Cu, 4.74% Pb, and 1.99% Zn. “With the newly found Yoreme veins, we have outlined a vein swarm of 12 prominent and separate veins within an overall corridor measuring 10 km long and 2.7 km wide at Alamos.” stated Darrell Rader, President and CEO of Minaurum. “The new claims not only triple the size of our holdings but also ensure that we control the strike of all known veins, greatly expanding the impressive untested exploration potential at Alamos.”
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc., commenced a 1,400m diamond drill program at its Rebeico Au-Cu project in Sonora. The drilling program has the aim to test for Au-Cu mineralization below historical workings along the Alaska vein which has a strike length of over 1km and is open at depth.
  • Riverside Resources Inc., provided an exploration update of its projects portfolio. At its Cecilia project in Sonora, the company is conducting a soil survey sampling covering the larger surrounding concession acquired through the Mexican lottery system last year. Riverside also announced that Silver Viper Minerals Corp terminated its option on the Clemente project in Sonora and is currently compiling all the new information. It is also refining targets on its three copper assets in Sonora: Thor, Ariel and El Teco.
  • Harvest Gold Corporation, approved the drill program budget submitted by Evrim Resources Corp., for the diamond drill program at its Cerro Cascaron project in Chihuahua. The drill program will consists of 3,000m in 15 holes to cover seven target areas and is expected to initiate in late September.
  • Radius Gold Inc., mobilized a drill team to explore its Amalia project in Chihuahua. The 2,000m drill program will be conducted by Pan American Silver and is expected to commence in September on multiple drill targets, including Campamento target, a 500m by 70m zone of intense silicification and brecciation with massive and stockwork veining; Guadalupe target, a high-grade andesite hosted structurally controlled breccia zone, and Dulces target, a poorly exposed vein within an extensive area of argillic altered andesite volcanics and related Au in soil anomaly.
  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd., reported sampling results of the historical core from its San Marcial project in Sinaloa and confirms open pit target near surface with 46m of 129 g/t Ag Eq, including 7.5m of 379 g/t Ag Eq, and 1.5m of 1,079 g/t Ag Eq.

ON MINING

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., reported Q2 2018 results from its Veta Grande project in Zacatecas and the El Rosario project in San Luis Potosi. 52,025 tones were processed during Q2 2018 to produce 52K Oz Ag at a production cost of $66.12 per tonne.

ON FINANCING

  • Evrim Resources Corp., closed a private placement with Newmont Canada Corporation for $7,272,601.50. Proceeds from the private placement will provide funding for the Cuale high sulphidation epithermal gold project in Jalisco, Mexico and for general corporate purposes.
  • Prize Mining Corporation, closed the first tranche of a brokered private placement for $1,530,000. Net proceeds will be used on its Manto Negro project in Coahuila.
  • Vangold Mining Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement financing for up to $500,000. Net proceeds will be used to advance its Pinguino mine project in Guanajuato.
  • Sable Resources Ltd., launched an early warrant exercise incentive program to encourage the early exercise of up to 27,205,500 of its outstanding unlisted warrants exercisable for common shares at a price of $0.25.

 

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Endeavour Silver Corp., updated mineral reserves and resource estimates and a PFS on its Terronera project in Jalisco. Indicated resources are 4,363,000 tonnes of 239 g/t Ag and 2.53 g/t Au for a total of 33.4M Oz Ag and 354K oz Au. Inferred resources are 1,073,000 tonnes of 252 g/t Ag and 2.38 g/t Au for a total of 8.8M Oz Ag and 82K Oz Au. Probable reserves are 4,701,000 tonnes of 226 g/t Ag and 2.28 g/t Au for a total of 33.8M Oz Ag and 342K Oz Au. The company also disclosed results of the PFS. Highlights include a mine life of 9.5 years with average annual production of 5.1M Oz Ag Eq in phase 2 (year 3 and onwards); a cash cost of $0.15 per Oz Ag, net of Au by-product credits and all in sustaining cost of $1.36 per Oz Ag, net of Au by-product credits, and a robust economics including an after-tax 5% NPV of $117.8M (51% increase from 2017 PFS), an Internal Rate of Return of 23.5% and Payback period of 5.4 years.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., terminated its option agreement on the Clemente project in Sonora with Riverside Resources Inc.
  • Ethos Gold Corp., entered into an option agreement to acquire an 897 Ha contiguous claim to its la Purisima project in Chihuahua. The company can acquire the 100% interest of the property at any time during the 10 years following closing of the option agreement by paying the property owner staged payments for US$550,000 and granting a 2% NSR royalty on the property of which the company can purchase 50% at any time by paying US$ 1M.
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., amended the option agreement with the Contracuña group of companies to acquire 100% ownership of the Veta Grande mine and milling facilities as well as the Minillas project in Zacatecas. Santacruz also amended the repayment terms of the US$2.3M short-term loan it has with a private Bolivian mining company. Pursuant to the amended terms the principal balance of US$2.3 million is now to be repaid in October 1, 2018
  • Endeavour Silver Corp., announced an initiative to reduce capital and operating costs due to the drop in precious metal prices this quarter. The exploration group will cease all drilling activities and will be focused on preparing new resource estimates and planning for 2019 to resume their drilling programs. The development group working on Terronera project in Jalisco has delayed hiring for certain positions and will not commence already permitted earthworks on the roads and plant site until receipt of final government permits for the mine dumps and plant tailings. It also conducted a review of possible short-term improvements to increase revenue and decrease costs at each of their mines to year-end.

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, a rhythmically banded quartz vein in a low sulphidation epithermal project in Durango, Mexico.  Photo by Miguel A Heredia.

Highlights on the First Week of April, 2018. Mining and Exploration News in Mexico

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083 - copia

On the picture above, pervasive kaolinization of volcanic rocks in the vadose zone of an epithermal system in Guanajuato. Geologist Miguel Heredia for scale.

By Jorge Cirett

During the 14th week of the year (April 1st to April 8th, 2018), at least 12 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, of which three had information on exploration, one in mining, one in financing, five on resources and development and two in corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, No relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Riverside informed on exploration of its Ariel copper project. In Sinaloa, Goldplay completed a geophysical survey at El Habal. In Durango, Southern Silver announced its exploration program for 2018 at Cerro Las Minitas. ON MINING, Torex Gold announced all access to its projects in Guerrero has been restored.  ON FINANCING, Palamina granted options to officers, directors and consultants.  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Alio Gold released drill results on two more holes on its Ana Paula project in Guerrero. Telson Resources disclosed PEA figures for its Campo Morado project in Guerrero. Evrim announced a maiden resource on its Ermitaño project in Sonora. Americas Silver released drill results from the 120 zone of its Cosalá project in Sinaloa. Bacanora Lithium announced that a recent feasibility study demonstrated good economics for its Sonora project.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Evrim announced First Majestic commenced arbitration proceedings on its Ermitaño project in Sonora. Bacanora Lithium announced the termination of a “placing letter” with NextView New Energy Bull HongKong Limited, regarding funding for its Sonora lithium project.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No Relevant News.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd. completed a ground CSMAT (Controlled source audio frequency magnetotellurics) and magnetics survey at its El Habal property in Sinaloa, delineating 15 new drill targets. Goldplay completed a 27-line survey consisting of 100 m line spacing and 409 total stations over the 1.5 km of mineralized known length at El Habal. “Results confirm anomalous zones previously identified by historical drilling results and nearby shallow historical underground workings”. Several resistive geophysical anomalies were identified that correlate with anomalous surface trenching results and structural trends mapped previously.
  • Riverside Resources Inc. identified through mapping altered porphyritic intrusive rocks in the western part of its Ariel porphyry copper project in Sonora. The hydrothermal alteration measures 2.8 km in length by up to 1.9 km in width.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. announced that a 2018 budget totaling US$3 M has been approved by the joint venture partners for exploration work at the Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. “The program comprises 13,000 metres of drilling in two phases which will target both the systematic resource expansion in the Area of the Cerro containing the existing Mineral Resource Estimate and continued surface sampling and reverse circulation drilling on new discoveries in the recently staked CLM West claim group.”

ON MINING

  • Torex Gold Resources. Reported that negotiations between community leaders have resulted in an end to the illegal blockades of the El Limon-Guajes mine complex, supporting infrastructure and the Media Luna project in Guerrero. “The official government-regulated process for selecting between the two competing unions, continues. Since midMarch, there have been two public hearings at the Federal Labour Board, regarding the timing of a union selection vote. It is Torex’s understanding that the public hearing stage of the process is now complete, and that the next stage is a decision as to when and where the vote will occur. As Torex has said since the beginning, the Company will work with whichever union the workers democratically select.” Cash reserves at the end of Q1 were US$124 million, including US$14 million set aside for reclamation obligations. Also during Q1 a US$9.3 million principal repayment was made to reduce the term loan under the debt facility to US$290.7 million.

ON FINANCING

  • Palamina Corp. granted 950 K stock options to certain officers, directors and consultants of the company under its stock options plan. The options granted at $0.39 per common share expire in five years for officers and directors and in three years for consultants (Santuario, Hidalgo).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Alio Gold Inc. released drill results for the last two holes at its Ana Paula project in Guerrero. The 3,800 m program targets the complex breccia extension below the proposed open pit. On the first hole a hydrothermal breccia south of the proposed pit returned 0.94 g/t Au over 44.2 m, while the complex breccia below assayed 1.91 g/t Au over 40.90 m. The second hole returned 0.90 g/t Au over 32.4 m on the hydrothermal breccia south of the proposed pit and 2.03 g/t Au over 48.2 m on the complex breccia below. The fourth and fifth holes of the program have been completed and the last hole is in progress.
  • Telson Mining Corp. informed a positive result of a 43-101 compliant independent preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on its Campo Morado project in Guerrero. The current resource contains five mineral volcanogenic massive sulfide zones (G9, El Largo, Naranjo, Reforma and El Rey) containing zinc, copper, silver, gold and lead. The 2017 mineral resource estimate using a 5.5% ZnEq cut-off holds 16.6 M tonnes @ 1.70 g/t Au, 123 g/t Ag, 0.80% Cu, 0.93% Pb, 4.01% Zn (or 8.68% ZnEq) as measured and indicated resources, and 988 K tonnes @ 1.32 g/t Au, 116 g/t Ag, 0.64% Cu, 0.92% Pb, 3.20% Zn (or 7.27% ZnEq)as inferred resources.
  • Evrim Resources Corp. announced a maiden resource was disclosed by its partner First Majestic Silver Corp. on its Ermitaño project in Sonora. The inferred resource was calculated on the Ermitaño West vein, holding 3.36 M tonnes @ 3.99 g/t Au, 68 g/t Ag (or 377 g/t AgEq), containing 432 K Oz Au, 7.38 M Oz Ag.
  • Americas Silver Corp. released results of step-out holes on its Cosalá operations in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width (TW) intervals comprise 4.94 m @ 33 g/t Ag, 7.2 g/t Au, 0.13% Cu; 41.68 m @ 148 g/t Ag, 0.25 g/t Au, 0.32% Cu; 26.24 m @ 181 g/t Ag, 0.11 g/t Au, 0.51% Cu; 12.32 m @ 84 g/t Ag, 0.17 g/t Au, 0.23% Cu. “The zone 120 deposit is characterized by steeply dipping parallel lenses of Ag-Cu-Au skarn mineralization developed in volcanically derived calcareous sediments adjacent to intermediate intrusive dykes and sills. Skarn mineralization is characterized by disseminated chalcopyrite and tetrahedrite….. Mineralization at area 120 has been found over an area greater than 500 meters in length, 300 meters in width and down to a depth of 550 meters. Individual lenses have widths of up to 60 meters.”
  • Bacanora Lithium plc. Informed a recently completed feasibility study (FS) demonstrated economics of US$1.25 billion NPV; 26.1% IRR; and life of mine gross operating costs of US$3,910/t Li2CO3 comparable to those of the low cost brine producers of South America. Design of both the roaster/kiln FEED and the crystalliser/evaporation/IX FEED has commenced. “The current FEED schedule is to have designs, cost estimates and process guarantee scopes completed in Q2 2018 with orders for long lead items being placed at the end of the FEED process. The current ­time table is based on commissioning and lithium carbonate production commencing in Q1 2020” Currently advance is being made on water licenses, natural gas supplies and land surface access.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Evrim Resources Corp. announced “that First Majestic has initiated arbitration proceedings in connection with its purported exercise of the option pursuant to which First Majestic can earn a 100% interest in the Ermitaño property, subject to the retention by Evrim of a 2% net smelter return royalty interest. It is expected that the arbitration will deal with the requirements under the option agreement for First Majestic to exercise the option and not the relative interests of the parties in the Ermitaño property.” (Ermitaño, Sonora).
  • Bacanora Lithium plc. “As previously announced, the Company entered into a binding placing letter (the “Placing Letter”) with NextView New Energy Bull HongKong Limited (“NextView”) in December 2017 and as announced on 28 February 2018, although the Company had fulfilled all of its obligations in respect of the Placing as of that ­me, NextView failed to forward the Placing proceeds to the Company, leaving it in default under the terms of the Placing Letter. In spite of repeated efforts on the part of the Company requesting that NextView remedy its continuing default, NextView has continued to fail to complete the Placing as contemplated under the Placing Letter. Accordingly, the Company has terminated the Placing Letter and has reserved its rights to pursue any available legal remedies against NextView.”

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, pervasive kaolinization of volcanic rocks in the vadose zone of an epithermal system in Guanajuato. Geologist Miguel Heredia as scale.

083 - copia

Highlights on the Third Week of May, 2017. Mineral Exploration in Mexico

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During the 20th week of the year (May 15th to May 21st, 2017), at least 27 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, In Chihuahua Kootenay has begun drilling at La Cigarra, whereas Levon started drilling at Cordero. In Zacatecas Alset has sent the first drill samples for assay and Defiance commenced a drill program at San Acacio. In Veracruz Mexican Gold announced one high grade gold drill intercept  at Las Minas.  ON MINING, Fortuna presented financial results 2016. Mexus keeps advancing to production at Santa Elena in Sonora. ON FINANCING, three companies announced private placements, or increased placements for $7.8 M. One company completed and offering to reduce paid interest on outstanding notes for 300 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Alio announced a PFS on its Ana Paula project in Guerrero, while Almaden Minerals presented a PFS, on Ixtaca, in Puebla. Consolidated Zinc continues drilling to get a resource on its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, SilverCrest Metals began trading at the OTCQX® Best Market, Fortuna is getting up to date with its SEC filings, Mexican Gold has bought two more concessions at its Las Minas project in Veracruz and Colibri received confirmation that it is to resume trading on May 18th.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No relevant news.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Kootenay Silver Inc. has initiated a 7,500 m drill program at its La Cigarra project in Chihuahua. The program is to focus on the expansion of the current mineral resource by first targeting an 800 m expanse between Las Venadas and Las Carolinas zones.
  • Levon Resources Ltd. starts a 5,000 m core drilling campaign at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. The holes are being drilled in the Cordero felsic dome complex in the central portion of the resource, looking for better grades near the surface.
  • Alset Minerals Corp. has completed one drill hole and five auger holes at La Salada, the first of seven salars to be drilled in Zacatecas. Soil and brine samples were collected and sent for assay.
  • Mexican Gold Corp. announced that step-out drilling at the Cinco Señores zone, in its Las Minas project in Durango, has indicated a potential parallel mineralized zone. One hole intersected 2.0 m @ 10.8 g/t Au, 42 g/t Ag, 2.8% Cu.
  • Defiance Silver Corp. commenced a drill program at its San Acacio property in Zacatecas, with the aim to expand the current deposit. Previous drilling at Esperanza intersected 12.7 m grading 297 g/t AgEq, and at Almaden 8.3 m @ 278 AgEq. A third target to be tested is the Quartz-Pyrite Breccia. Previous drilling includes intercepts of 17.0 m @ 110 g/t Ag, 0.1 g/t Au (including 8.1 m @ 222 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au); 16.7 m @ 101 g/t Ag, 0.75 g/t Au (including 3.2 m @ 419 g/t Ag, 0.8 g/t Au); 10.1 m @ 100 g/t Ag, 0.56 g/t Au. These intercepts display lead and zinc values of up to 1.9% and 4.6% respectively.

ON MINING

  • Fortuna Silver Mines Ltd. presented full year 2016 financial results, with a net income of $17.8 M on revenue of $213 M. At San Jose in Oaxaca 273 K tonnes were milled (3,103 tonnes per day, TPD) @ 225 g/t Ag, 1.69 g/t Au, recovering 92% Ag, 92% Au, to produce 1.82 M Oz Ag, 13,660 Oz Au at cash cost $1.85 and all-in sustaining cost $6.73 per silver ounce, net of by-product Au credits.
  • Mexus Gold US. has completed two holding ponds and a heap leach pad, commenced a cyanide drip system on the heap and started the Merryl Crowe recovery system at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake with First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora). Smelting the first 250 pounds of precipitate is the next step to be accomplished in May.

ON FINANCING

  • Geologix Explorations Inc. intends to carry a private placement for proceeds of up to $1 M (Tepal, Michoacan).
  • Mexican Gold Corp. announced an increase on its private placement, from $1.5 M to $1.8 M (Las Minas, Veracruz).
  • New Gold Inc. announced that it has completed its offering of $300 million aggregate principal amount of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025, intending to use the net proceeds to fund the redemption of its outstanding $300 million 7.00% Senior Notes due 2020 on or about June 3, 2017.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. announced a private non-brokered placement intended to raise $5 M (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango).
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Ltd. announced that “The Company will not be proceeding with the brokered private placement announced on April 4, 2017 and April 27, 2017”.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Alio Gold Inc. announced the pre-feasibility study (PFS) results on its Ana Paula project in Guerrero. The report defines 13.4 M tonnes @ 2.36 g/t Au as proven and probable mineral reserves, containing 1.02 M Oz Au. The scope of the PFS involves an open-pit with a mine life of 7.5 years to produce 868 K Oz Au on an 85% recovery rate. A capital cost of $137.2 M and an NPV of $223 M and IRR of 34% after tax at $1,250/oz Au. “Mineralization occurs in the complex breccia, granodiorite, monolithic breccia, hornfels and limestoneshale. The bulk of the high grade mineralization at Ana Paula is centered on the complex breccia domain which is surrounded by a high-grade mineralized halo, mainly granodiorite. “
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. has filed the pre-feasibility study (PFS) on its Ixtaca project in Puebla.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. is drilling to determine the full scope and geometry of the Carola South and Tres Amigos zones, both with high-grade zinc recent results, as both areas are to be included in the upcoming resource update.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. has begun trading on the OTCQX® Best Market under its existing ticker symbol “SVCMF”, operated by OTC Markets Group, providing a better platform to reach U.S. investors (Las Chispas, Sonora).
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. has filed its 2016 annual financial documents, complying with SEC requirements. The company still has to file the Q1 2017 financial statements, and is planning to comply by May 24th, 2017.
  • Mexican Gold Corp. Acquired two mining concessions at its Las Minas project in Veracruz. The company paid $150 K plus VAT for 100% interest on the properties, while the previous private owner is to retain 1.5% NSR, of which 0.5% can be purchased by $500 K. The Pueblo Nuevo concession covers 97.5 has with several historical underground mines, including one with 21 levels. The veins in marble and diorite are 100 to 300 m in length, and 0.50 to 3.0 m in width. Of three samples collected, one returned 11.99 g/t Au, 41 g/t Ag, 1.3% Cu over 1 m and one other 0.2 m @ 28 g/t Au, 14 g/t Ag. The 43 hectares La Luz concession covers an area prospective for skarn mineralization akin to the adjacent Las Minas area.
  • Colibri Resources Corp. has received confirmation from the TSX Venture Exchange that its shares will resume trading on May 18th.

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, incipient brecciation sealed by oxidized sulfide in a volcanic rock, Central Chiapas. Photo by Jorge Cirett.

Breccia, La Javia SE 2

Highlights on the Fifth Week of March, 2017. Mineral Exploration in Mexico

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During the 13th week of the year (March 27th to April 2nd, 2017), at least 24 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, Alix Resources commenced a lithium drilling program in Sonora, and One World announced an exploration second phase that is to include drilling in Baja California. Canuc presented historical rockchip results from its Santa Rosa property in Sonora, while Almadex resumed drilling at El Cobre in Veracruz, also presenting surface assays supporting a gold copper porphyry target on an undrilled area, and Gainey is finishing a drilling campaign in Nayarit. ON MINING, Americas Silver, Mag Silver and Sierra Metals presented operating and/or financial results for 2016, while First Majestic presented production results from its six mines in Mexico. ON FINANCING, Agnico Eagle announced a US $220 M offering, Wealth Minerals raised $4.86 M and Primero Mining closed an extension on a revolving credit facility for $75 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Endeavour Silver presented a resource estimate for its El Compas mine in Zacatecas. Torex Gold announced a high-grade resource for its sub-sill deposit at its El Limon-Guajes property in Guerrero. Corex Gold continues mine construction at its Santana property in Sonora and Golden Minerals disclosed a corrected resource estimate for its Santa Maria property in Chihuahua. First Majestic presented resource estimates for its six operating mines in Mexico.  ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Santacruz Silver finalized the sale of El Gachi property in Sonora to First Majestic. HECLA exercised the right to lease Golden Minerals mill in Durango until the end of 2018.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Alix Resources Corp. commenced a 3,000 m drilling program at its Agua Fria lithium project in Sonora. The reverse circulation program is to test 5 km of prospective length of sedimentary units hosting Li-enriched clay horizons. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy is to be used for real-time field analysis of drill cuttings.
  • One World Minerals Inc. announced a second phase program at is Rico Litio project in Baja California. This phase is to include a geophysical survey, geochemical sampling and a 4,000 m drill program to be completed before the end of June 2017. A third phase program will include pump test work to determine aquifer capacity, draw down flow rates and concentrations of lithium and potassium.
  • Canuc Resources Corp. provided a summary of previously compiled information on the Santa Rosa mine in the San Javier district, Sonora. The Santa Rosa mine consists of five levels spanning a strike length of 490 m and 135 down dip, ranging from 0.3 to 5.0 m in width and staying open along strike and to depth. The average of 341 samples of vein material is 1.45 m @ 388 g/t Ag, 2.02 g/t Au, 1.6% Pb, 1.3% Zn. Two subparallel veins, El Capulin and Las Norias, are virtually unexplored.
  • Almadex Minerals Ltd. informed that drilling recommenced in February on the Norte zone of its El Cobre project in Veracruz, and that a second rig has started coring at the site. Two kilometres south of the Norte zone is the undrilled Villa Rica target area, where 18 subcrop and outcrop samples collected in a 150 x 150 meters area (now called Raya Tembrillo). Once the mapping is complete, drilling is planned for the Villa Rica zone later in 2017.
  • Gainey Capital Corp. is currently finishing its phase 1 drill program on its Colomo property in Nayarit, focused on La Higuerita and La Nueva Victoria zones, with results for La Nueva Victoria already released and those of La Higuerita still pending.

ON MINING

  • Americas Silver Corp. presented financial and operational results for 2016. Cash and cash equivalents were $24.1 M by the end of the 2016, with net working capital of $20.1 M. “A low interest rate $15.0 million concentrate pre-payment facility was entered in January 2017 after year end with a subsidiary of Glencore PLC (“Glencore”) to fund a portion of the development costs for San Rafael” (Cosala and San Rafael, Sinaloa).
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. released 2016 production results for its six operating mines in Mexico: La Encantada in Coahuila, La Parrilla in Durango, Del Toro in Zacatecas, San Martin in Jalisco, La Guitarra in Estado de Mexico and Santa Elena in Sonora, according to the following table:

First Majestic 20161

  • Sierra Metals Inc. presented financial results for 2016, which include $42.1 M of cash and cash equivalents by the end of the period, and a net debt of $36.5 M (Cusi and Bolivar, Chihuahua).
  • Mag Silver Corp. presented the financial results for 2016, with working capital of US$139.1 M including cash, cash equivalents and term deposits of $138.3 M. In March 2016, the company closed a $65 M bought deal financing with an over-allotment option that took the total gross proceeds to $74.7 M. During 2016 the company funded $7.36 M on the Juanicipio project (under JV, Fresnillo PLC 56%, Mag Silver 44%). A 20,000 metre exploration drill program is expected to be approved for 2017 for Juanicipio (Juanicipio, Zacatecas; Cinco de Mayo, Chihuahua).

ON FINANCING

  • Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. announced an offering to an institutional investor in the United States for total consideration of approximately US$220 M (La India, Sonora; Pinos Altos, Chihuahua).
  • Wealth Minerals Ltd. arranged a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $4.86 M (Coronado and Valsequillo, Chihuahua).
  • Primero Mining Corp. has closed the extension of the maturity of its $75 M revolving credit facility with its syndicate of lenders.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Endeavour Silver Corp. reported its initial NI-43-101 mineral resource estimate and a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for its El Compas mine project in Zacatecas. The indicated resource stands at 184.4 K tonnes @ 104 g/t Ag, 7.31 g/t Au, for 495 K Oz Ag, 34.9 K OZ Au, and the inferred resource is 216.8 K tonnes @ 76 g/t Ag, 5.38 g/t Au, for 527 K Oz Ag, 37.5 K Oz Au. The process is expected to recover 73% and 83.5% of the silver and gold contained in the ore at an estimated cash cost of $9.09 and AISC $9.64 per AgEq Oz. The company has made a production decision subject to receiving an explosives permit and further clarity from the Zacatecas government regarding an exemption from the new Zacatecas state environmental tax.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. announced a high-grade CIM compliant resource for the Sub-Sill deposit at its El Limon-Guajes property in Guerrero. Indicated resources include 0.35 M tonnes @ 7.82 g/t Au, 6 g/t Ag, 0.27% Cu, containing 89 K Oz Au, 71 K Oz Ag, and inferred resources include 1.33 M tonnes @ 7.58 g/t Au, 11.5 g/t Ag, 0.6% Cu, containing 324 K Oz Au, 490 K Oz Ag. Near term production is expected from the deposit, as the access ramp is now less than 170 m from the skarn rocks that host it.
  • Corex Gold Corp. is continuing construction and mining activities at its Santana project in Sonora. To date over 23 K tonnes have been placed on the first leach pad, and metal leaching is expected to start later in April. A second leach pad will be supplied with finer crush material, with the results from the two heaps aiding to optimize the process.
  • Golden Minerals Co. released a new resource estimate for its Santa Maria property in Chihuahua. “Due to an adjustment in the precise location of the claim, the updated property position results in an approximate 25 percent reduction to the previously announced inferred resource estimate…”. Indicated resources stand at 180 k tonnes @ 304 g/t Ag, 1.4 g/t Au, for 1.73 M Oz Ag, 8.1 K Oz Au, and inferred resources at 120 k tonnes @ 343 g/t Ag, 1.0 g/t Au, for 1.37 M Oz Ag, 1.64 K Oz Au, with an expected dilution of 10% and 19% respectively.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. disclosed mineral resource estimates for its six mining units in Mexico and one advanced project: La Encantada in Coahuila, La Parrilla in Durango, Del Toro in Zacatecas, San Martin in Jalisco, La Guitarra in Estado de Mexico, Santa Elena in Sonora, and La Joya in Durango, with the consolidated figures on the following table:

First Majestic Resources to Dec 20161

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. announced the completion of the sale of its interest on the El Gachi property in Sonora, to First Majestic Silver Corp. for total consideration of US$2.5 M plus VAT. The company made payments to JMET LLC (US$0.75 M) and Minera Hochschild Mexico (US$0.5 M + VAT), leaving a non-interest balance of US$1.5 M owing to JMET related to previous restructuring fees. Having divested El Gachi to First Majestic and the San Felipe project to Americas Silver, the company is now to focus on its production assets, The Veta Grande project in Zacatecas and the Rosario project in San Luis Potosi.
  • Golden Minerals Co. announced that Minera Hecla S.A. has exercised its right to extend the lease of Golden’s oxide mill in Durango, through December 2018. At HECLA’s anticipated average 400 tonnes per day production rate, Golden anticipates net cash of approximately $0.4 M per month.

 

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, A hydrothermal breccia hosted in intrusive rocks stands out in a stream polished face, located in the Soconusco region of Chiapas. Photo by Jorge Cirett.

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