During the 5th week of the year (January 31st to February 6th, 2022), at least 16 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, three companies posted exploration advances on their properties, three released Q4 and full year 2021 reports, one granted share options and two completed private placements, six reported on project development and one on a property deal. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mexico’s president said that a state controlled company is to be the sole lithium miner in the country. Fortuna Silver is demanding from the government to respect and confirm an already issued environmental permit for the San Jose mine in Oaxaca. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Benjamin Hill Mining commenced a maiden drill program at its Sonora Gold property; Tocvan Ventures released surface sample results. In Durango, Southern Empire Resources updated on drilling at the Pedro project. ON MINING, Consolidated Zinc and Santacruz Silver Mining presented operating results for Q4 and full year 2021. Guanajuato Silver Company presented results for November and December 2021. ON FINANCING, Defiance Silver granted options to directors and officers. Benjamin Hill Mining and Barksdale Resources closed their private placements for $2.1 M and US$1.75 M respectively. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Defiance Silver continues drilling at its Zacatecas project. GR Silver Mining released drill results from San Marcial, on its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Discovery Silver is to drill 55,000 m during 2022 at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. GoGold Resources released drill results from El Favor East at Los Ricos North in Jalisco. Candelaria Mining received the drilling permit for Pinos, Zacatecas, and submitted the dilling permit for Caballo Blanco, in Veracruz. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Commander Resources presented the deal on which its Pedro property in Durango was optioned to Southern Empire Resources. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
Mexico’s president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, on his daily conference while speaking on the proposed energy bill that includes the nationalization of the (non-existent) lithium industry, said that the Mexican government is to create a company for lithium extraction. With an anti-neoliberalist overtone and speaking of sovereignty, he affirmed lithium is owned by the Mexican people, and that no foreign countries are to have it.
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. received in December 17, 2021, a 12 year extension on its environmental impact authorization for the San Jose Mine in Oaxaca. On January 28, 2022 received a notice form SEMARNAT stating a typographical mistake, by which the term of the permit would be reduced from twelve to two years. Minera Cuzcatan (Fortuna’s subsidiary) “has initiated legal proceedings in the Federal Court to challenge and revoke said typographical error and to reconfirm the 12 year extension period granted by SEMARNAT in December 2021”.
ON EXPLORATION
Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. announced the commencement of the maiden drill program at its Sonora Gold property in Sonora. The drill rig is currently working on the fourth of 34 planned holes on the Sonora Copper, Caracahui, El Fierro and La Salada areas. A 10,000 m induced polarization and resistivity geophysical survey covers the Sonora Copper, El Fierro, Caracahui, El Crestado, El Tanque, Las Antenas and La Salada areas. Benjamin Hill Mining paid a posthumous tribute to its Special Advisor David Jones: “He shared his knowledge and experience freely to the profession and to society, with honest exuberance to advance the development of economic projects, boosting local economies in the Americas and the around the world. Some of his projects have become mines that have positively impacted our world, socially and economically, proving himself one of the best economic geologists of modern times”.
Tocvan Ventures Corp. released surface sample results from its Pilar project in Sonora. Of 59 samples, 21 returned over 0.5 gpt Au, defining several new areas to be drilled. The Main Zone was expanded with up to 9.2 gpt Au, 279 gpt Ag in a silicified quartz vein breccia, the 4-T Trend was extended to the southeast with values of up to 6.6 gpt Au, 433 gpt Ag and a new vein corridor over 200 m long is highlighted by samples of up to 523 gpt Ag, 1.3 gpt Au and additional mineralization 300 m to the south returned up to 3.1 gpt Au, 27 gpt Ag.
Southern Empire Resources Corp. updated on drilling of the Pedro project in Durango. Three holes have been completed totaling 421 m, and a fourth is in progress. Core review “suggests zones of up to 70 m of moderately silicified, limestone dominated conglomerate with zones of up to 20 m (core length) exhibiting disseminated and vein controlled arsenical minerals including orpiment and realgar”. Historical drilling by Newmont produced intervals of up to 5.55 m @ 0.59 gpt Au.
ON MINING
Consolidated Zinc Ltd. presented its Q4 2021 report. At its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua, 3,140 tonnes were mined, 5,099 tonnes brought to the surface and 4,592 tonnes processed, grading 13.4% Zn, 7.1% Pb, 41 gpt Ag, recovering 77.1 % Zn, 37.8% Pb, to produce 377 tonnes Zn, 112 tonnes Pb in concentrate. The mining rate was affected by the flooding of stopes related to failures on pumping and generator equipments. “Access to the under-water stopes should be re-established during February 2022”. The company continues with the exploration of the Mina Mexico and the Juarez mine prospects within the project area.
Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. presented production numbers on the last two months of 2021 and exploration highlights at El Cubo and Pinguico properties in Guanajuato. During November and December 2021, 238 K Oz AgEq were produced, resulting from the mining of 76 K tonnes from El Cubo and the El Pinguico above ground stockpile, of which 33 K tonnes were milled in December. Metallurgical recoveries for material from Pinguico averaged 74% Au, 72% Ag. The company completed 6,800 m of drilling at El Pinguico and El Cubo, and plans to complete over 22,000 m in 2022.
Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reported operating results for Q4, 2021. At Zimapan, in Hidalgo, 192.9 K tonnes were processed @ 76 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb, 2.26% Zn, 0.35% Cu (or 184 gpt AgEq), recovering 67.2% Ag, to produce 318.4 K Oz Ag, 1,012 tonnes Pb, 3,442 tonnes Zn, 488 tonnes Cu (or 842 K Oz AgEq), to reach 691.4 K Oz Ag, 3,659 tonnes Pb, 12,101 tonnes Zn, 1,820 tonnes Cu (or 3.11 M Oz AgEq) in the year. At the Rosario mine in San Luis Potosi, operations were suspended in Q3, 2021, resulting on an annual processing of 39 K tonnes @ 53 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, 0.29% Pb, 1.46% Zn, recovering 79% Ag, to produce 52.3 K Oz Ag, 132 Oz Au, 88 tonnes Pb, 417 tonnes Zn (or 107.7 K Oz AgEq).
ON FINANCING
Defiance Silver Corp. granted incentive stock options to certain directors and officers covering 1.76 M common shares (Zacatecas project, Zacatecas).
Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. completed the over-subscribed private placement announced on December 17, 2021, for gross proceeds of $2.1 M (Sonora Gold project, Sonora).
Barksdale Resources Corp. closed the previously announced non-brokered private placement of US$1.75 M.
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Defiance Silver Corp. has recommenced drilling at the Zacatecas project in Zacatecas. The general exploration program in 2022 will focus on testing prospective regional targets at Lucita, Tahuares, and Veta Grande. Over 3,000 m of drilling have been completed on the Lucita land package, and 4,500 m of drilling are planned on Tahuares and the central Lucita land package. “Results from the 2020-2021 phase of drilling in the Veta Grande resource area successfully demonstrated the down-dip and lateral continuity of the mineralized Veta Grande vein system below the current resource estimate”.
GR Silver Mining Ltd. released good drilling results from the San Marcial area of the Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 29.1 m @ 299 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn (including 5.0 m @ 614 gpt Ag, 0.02 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.2% Zn); 1.6 m @ 1,091 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 1.4% Pb, 1.8% Zn; 13.0 m @ 58 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn. “Large sections of the mineralized body are hosted by brecciated rock units above the main San Marcial Breccia body …….. related to late-stage quartz-calcite-sulphide veining which post-dates the San Marcial Breccia”. These intercepts are 420 m below the surface and 170 m down dip from the current resource.
Discovery Silver Corp. outlined the 2022 work program and budget for its Cordero project in Chihuahua. The company plans to drill 55,000 meters in 2022, of which 25,000 m are to be in the reserve-resource definition and engineering of the prefeasibility study, 14,000 m on resource growth and 16,000 m in the initial drill testing of five new targets within the property: Sanson, Dos Mil Diez, Molina del Viento, Porfido Norte and La Perla.
GoGold Resources Corp. released results from six holes sunk at El Favor East within the Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 10.5 m @ 0.05 gpt Au, 72.3 gpt Ag; 3.4 m @ 0.68 gpt Au, 101 gpt Ag; 26.3 m @ 0.43 gpt Au, 107 gpt Ag (including 12.4 m @ 0.79 gpt Au, 184 gpt Ag); 25.7 m @ 1.55 gpt Au, 776 gpt Ag (including 4.3 m @ 8.65 gpt Au, 4,164 gpt Ag); 5.1 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 69 gpt Ag; 8.1 m @ 0.46 gpt Au, 90 gpt Ag; 3.7 m @ 0.34 gpt Au, 158 gpt Ag; 63.6 m @ 0.23 gpt Au, 109 gpt Ag (including 2.9 m @ 2.36 gpt Au, 1,109 gpt Ag.
Candelaria Mining Corp. received the permit for its infill drilling program at Pinos, Zacatecas. “The drilling will seek to validate recently updated structural interpretations of the distribution of higher-grade mineralization, together with some additional holes in other high-grade veins in different parts of the mineralized system”.
Candelaria Mining Corp. submitted in late December 2021 a drill permit application for its Caballo Blanco project in Veracruz. “This initial Phase 1 drilling program will comprise approximately 7,000m and provide the first tests of each of the high priority targets within the highly prospective gold-copper epithermal / porphyry district. A second phase will then build upon these results, and also include resource expansion drilling at the most advanced PEA-level project within the region, La Paila”. Candelaria expects to drill between 14,000 and 15,000 m during 2022.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Commander Resources Ltd. provided an update on drilling (above, on the exploration bullets) of the Pedro project which is being explored by partner Southern Empire Resources Corp. in Durango. Southern Empire is earning a 100% interest for $700 K staged over four payments in three years and 100 K shares, with work expenditures of $1.5 M. Commander is to retain a 2% NSR royalty with no buy-back clause.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
No Relevant News.
On the image below: Quartz veining in deformed intrusive rocks in the Sonoran desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 33rd week of the year (August 16th to August 22nd, 2021), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, four companies posted exploration advances on their properties, four posted on mining/quarterly reports, two on mining issues, four on financing or shares and five more on project development or resource definition and one more on a property acquisition. ON MEXICO ISSUES, No relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Aloro Mining informed on continuation of drilling at Los Venados. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold announced one more drilling campaign at Amalia. In Sinaloa, Vizsla Silver updated on exploration at Panuco. In Nayarit, Xali Gold submitted drilling applications for El Dorado. ON MINING, Americas Gold and Silver, Prime Mining, First Majestic Silver, and Impact Silver presented second quarter 2021 reports. Mexus Gold shipped its first activated carbon. Gold Resource halted activities due to increase in COVID cases among its workforce. ON FINANCING, Candelaria Mining will not complete the proposed private placement. Galore Resources is to extend the expiry date of some warrants. Kootenay Silver is to spin-out its Canadian assets into another company. Magna Gold closed the previously announced private placement for C$10 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Sierra Metals announced a 10,000 tpd PEA for its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua. Fabled Silver Gold released more results from drilling at Santa Maria. Excellon Resources released high grade Ag-Pb-Zn drilling results from Platosa. GoGold Resources informed on results of drilling at the Casados deposit at Los Ricos project. Sonoro Gold reported results of metallurgical tests at Cerro Caliche. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Starcore International Mines acquired the Tecouitla claims in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, No relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
No relevant news.
ON EXPLORATION
Xali Gold Corp. informed exploration permit applications have been submitted for El Dorado project in Nayarit. The plus 2,000 m program envisaged will test potential lateral extensions to high-grade zones to better define plunging mineralization shoots, and collection of a bulk sample from El Hundido mine.
Radius Gold Inc. announced that the phase five drilling campaign has commenced at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Pan American Silver Corp., the project operator plans to deploy a second rig to test El Cuervo target.
Aloro Mining Corp. informed that Alamos Gold Inc. is to resume the reconnaissance drill program on the Los Venados claims in Sonora. Alamos has already exceeded its first year exploration commitment; the current program is focused on outcropping low sulfidation epithermal mineralization.
Vizsla Silver Corp. provided an update on its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Due to the current rise in Covid cases in Sinaloa, Vizsla will keep the current pause in activities at the property until the end of the month, and then gradually increase activities through September. Resource drilling is being done at Napoleon (950 x 350 m area) and Tajitos (550 m x 300 m area), exploration drilling is testing the Napoleon, Cinco Señores, Cordon de Oro and Animas Corridors. Preliminary metallurgical testing is being done on Napoleon vein material, and geotechnical and hydrogeological studies are being conducted. Drilling programmed for the remainder of 2021 comprises 35,000 m.
ON MINING
Americas Gold and Silver Corp. reported second quarter 2021 consolidated financial and operational results. For Mexico, the company reported that it “signed an agreement with the Mexican Ministries of Economy, Interior and Labour along with union representatives committing to a re‐opening at the Cosalá Operations. The agreement contemplates immediate right to possession of the property with joint inspections coordinated by the Ministry of Labor, so that the mine and mill can re‐start operations in a safe and sustainable manner”. (Note from writer. – The mine was paralyzed by a dispute between two unions over a year ago, with strong political connotations).
Prime Mining Corp. reported its operational and financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021, end in April 2021. During April the company completed a private placement for gross proceeds of CAN$28.75 M. Also in the period, drilling at Los Reyes in Sinaloa intersected up to 20.1 m @ 3.25 gpt Au, 389 gpt Ag, 3.8 m @ 3.69 gpt Au, 305 gpt Ag, 4.5 m @ 8.95 gpt Au, 74 gpt Ag; 18.7 m @ 1.96 gpt Au, 63 gpt Ag; 39.0 m @ 0.7 gpt Au, 29 gpt Ag. Cash at the end of the period stood at Can$32 M.
First Majestic Silver Corp. announced the consolidated financial results for the second quarter 2021. During the period the company processed 826.2 K tonnes, to produce 3.27 M Oz Ag, or 6.43 Oz AgEq at $13.89 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $19.42 per Oz AgEq. In Mexico, the production came from San Dimas, in Durango, La Encantada, in Coahuila, and Santa Elena, in Sonora.
Mexus Gold US. confirmed the first shipment of activated carbon from its Santa Elena mining operation in Sonora (Not to mistake with First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora).
Gold Resource Corp. informed that as result of a steep climb in COVID-19 infections, the company is reducing its activities at the Don David mine in Oaxaca. The measure is to last for at least ten days. “The operations will continue with those employees and contractors who have agreed to stay in the camp for periods longer than the usual rotation to create a bubble”.
Impact Silver Corp. announced its financial and operational results for the second quarter 2021. The cash balance at the end of the quarter was $22.4 M. The mill processed 37.8 K tonnes @ 147 gpt Ag to produce 150.3 K Oz Ag. Some results of its ongoing 10,000 m drilling campaign include 9.8 m @ 211 gpt Ag and 13.85 m @ 186 gpt Ag.
ON FINANCING
Candelaria Mining Corp. informed that the company will not be proceeding with the proposed brokered private placement previously announced (Pinos, Zacatecas, Guerrero).
Galore Resources Inc. proposed to extend the expiry date of 5.6 M share purchase warrants from September 2021 to September 2024 (Dos Santos, Zacatecas).
Kootenay Silver Inc. board approved a spin-out of 80% of its Canadian exploration assets. Once the arrangement becomes effective, Kootenay shareholders will own shares in two public companies, one focusing in Mexico and the other in Canada (Columba, Chihuahua).
Magna Gold Corp. closed the previously announced private placement of C$10 M convertible debentures (San Francisco, Sonora).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Sierra Metals Inc. announced a 10 K tonnes per day positive preliminary economic assessment (PEA) to include iron ore production at its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua. The report envisages an updated after-tax net present value (NPV) of US$361 M at an 8% discount rate, an IRR of 27.9%, net after-tax cash flow of US$650 M with a life of mine (LOM) copper grade of 0.72% and iron ore at 13.5%, an operating cost of US$25.62/tonne and US$1.50 per Lb CuEq, to produce 55 M Lb Cu in 14 years. Current indicated resources stand at 19.4 M tonnes @ 0.77% Cu, 15.1 gpt Ag, 0.21 gpt Au, 13.8% Fe, containing 149.1 K tonnes Cu, 9.4 M Oz Ag, 127.8 K Oz Au, and inferred resources at 21.4 M tonnes @ 0.78% Cu, 14.2 gpt Ag, 0.21 gpt Au, containing 167.1 K tonnes Cu, 9.8 M Oz Ag, 145.6 K Oz Au.
Fabled Silver Gold Corp. announced more results from surface drilling at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 0.85 m @ 0.98 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag; 0.80 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 63 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 20.10 m @ 0.18 gpt Au, 35 gpt Ag, 1.1% Pb, 0.7% Zn, 0.09% Cu (including 5.90 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 97 gpt Ag, 3.3% Pb, 1.5% Zn, 0.25% Cu).
Excellon Resources Inc. released results from underground drilling at Platosa, in Durango. Some of the highlighted core length intervals: 3.0 m @ 227 gpt Ag, 2.3% Pb, 2.0% Zn, 0.1 gpt Au; 1.3 m @ 360 gpt Ag, 10.1% Pb, 10.2% Zn; 1.3 m @ 692 gpt Ag, 9.3% Pb, 6.3% Zn; 1.2 m @ 544 gpt Ag, 5.9% Pb, 3.9% Zn; 1.6 m @ 1,647 gpt Ag, 12.3% Pb, 11.6% Zn, 0.1gpt Au; 5.2 m @ 1,051 gpt Ag, 12.1% Pb, 13.1% Zn, 0.2 gpt Au (including 2.3 m @ 1,985 gpt Ag, 22.8% Pb, 17.2% Zn); 2.5 m @ 784 gpt Ag, 7.7% Pb, 13.9% Zn, 0.3 gpt Au; 3.1 m @ 581 gpt Ag, 5.7% Pb, 11.4% Zn, 0.1 gpt Au; 1.4 m @ 1,050 gpt Ag, 3.4 % Pb, 2.0% Zn; 3.1 m @ 289 gpt Ag, 2.2% Pb, 3.7% Zn. “Drilling from underground continues to define and expand known mineralization ahead of production at the 623, NE-1 and NE-1S Mantos. Most significantly, drilling into the 623 and NE-1 Mantos continues to improve understanding and confidence, and extend mineralization in these areas”.
GoGold Resources Inc. informed on results from seven drill holes at the Casados deposit at the Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intervals: 19.0 m @ 0.54 gpt Au, 131 gpt Ag (including 1.3 m @ 5.16 gpt Au, 1,319 gpt Ag); 9.5 m @ 0.50 gpt Au, 233 gpt Ag; 41.6 m @ 1.25 gpt Au, 218 gpt Ag (including 8.9 m @ 4.71 gpt Au, 698 gpt Ag); 19.2 m @ 0.53 gpt Au, 185 gpt Ag (including 8.5 m @ 1.14 gpt Au, 594 gpt Ag); 8.2 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 82 gpt Ag. “The Casados Veins strike nearly E-W, dips 45o to the north and is hosted in andesitic tuffs and is exposed on surface for about 400 metres along strike…… A zone of silicification up to 50 metres wide envelopes the vein and this resistant outcrop forms a steep ridge along the strike of the vein, particularly on the north or hanging wall side”.
Sonoro Gold Corp. reported results from metallurgical tests on mineralized material from Cerro Caliche in Sonora. The column metallurgical test returned an average of 74% recovery of gold for the 80% minus 12.5 mm feed material. The 4.7 tonnes sample was obtained from ten PQ (8.5 cm diameter) holes totaling 428 lineal meters. Little to no sulfur and organic carbon were observed on the testing. “There were no obvious variations in gold recovery related to ore zone or material type (vein breccia vs. stock work)”.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Starcore International Mines Ltd. informed on the acquisition of the 3,088 hectares Tecoutila claims from Minera Tecouitla, S.A. de C.V.. Previous exploration in the property reported nine veins with lengths of up to 2.1 Km, widths of 0.5 to 1.1 m and grades of up to 10.30 gpt Au, 241 gpt Ag.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
No relevant news.
On the image below: Workings and vein trace on a project in northern Sonora. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 21st week of the year (May 24th to May 30th, 2021), at least 33 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, seven companies posted exploration advances on their properties, three presented mining related news, seven posted on financing (C$6M, $60 M, C$5 M, C$10 M, $2.6 M, $C$11.5 M) and one on share distribution, six more on project development or resource definition and two posted on corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, CanCham complained on the lack of clear policies and opacity on the rule of law that are affecting Canadian investments in Mexico. The push from the Mexican government to create an institution to manage the lithium industry from the optics of sovereignty sees opposition from the mining industry, and reality. Camimex released a list of mining investments to be realized in the next few years, amounting to several billion dollars. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Ridgestone Mining applied for drilling permits at Rebeico. Tocvan Ventures released results from drilling at Pilar. In Chihuahua, Kootenay Silver released high-grade results from drilling at Columba. In Durango, Mithril Resources, updated on drilling at Copalquin. In Sinaloa, Riverside Resources released surface sample results; Vizsla Silver informed on geophysical results supported by drilling, and more surveys to come; Brigadier Gold discovered bulk tonnage copper mineralization in trenching of soil anomalies. ON MINING, Impact Silver and Telson Mining presented Q1 2021 results. Magna Gold informed it has exceeded 3 M man-hours of work without lost-time incidents. ON FINANCING, Silver Bull Resources is to distribute 34.2 M shares of Arras Minerals among its shareholders. Six companies informed on financing rounds: Silver Viper Minerals (C$6 M), Vizsla Silver ($60 M), Reyna Silver (C$5 M), Sable Resources (C$10M, Defiance Silver (C$11.5 M) and Mammoth Resources ($2.58 M). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Prime Mining released drilling results from Los Reyes. GR Silver Mining reported near surface drill results from Plomosas. GoGold Resources released drilling results from the Casados deposit at Los Ricos North. Discovery Silver released results from 12 drill holes targeting high-grade vein trends at Cordero. Sailfish Royalty filed a technical report with a new resource estimate for Gavilanes. Discovery Silver updated on exploration at Cordero, with 75,000 m of drilling completed on 178 holes, and four drills continuing the phase 2 program. Golden Tag announced the discovery of a shallow zone of epithermal mineralization at San Diego. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Mexus Gold informed Fresnillo PLC is reviewing its Santa Elena mine. Riverside Resources announced BHP is funding a third year of generative work in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC informed on their policies and programs to aid in education on a wide range of communities. Minera San Xavier informed Cerro San Pedro in San Luis Potosi has been declared as “Cyanide Free Site” by the International Cyanide Management Institute.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
CanCham (Cámara de Comercio de Canadá en México) pointed out that the lack of clear policies and the opacity on rule of law is affecting Canadian investments, which show an 18% decrement in the last year, holding the investment of thousands of millions (Mexican number notation) of dollars in the energy, mining, pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors. These remarks were expressed by Enrique Zorrilla, Cancham’s president, in the meeting between the Commerce ministers of Mexico, Canada and the United States.
Mexico is preparing its strategy to develop the lithium market. The federal government intends to become a lithium producer by controlling several deposits, Bolivia’s advice and a commerce treatise to facilitate establishing an electric battery factory. The current government senate fraction is preparing a proposal to create the Instituto Nacional del Litio. (Lithium National Institute) and to declare lithium as Nation’s exclusive property (Note. – This federal initiative push misses the point that so far there is not a single lithium mine in Mexico, that its lithium in brines potential is limited at best, and that the economics of lithium extraction from clays -like in the Bacanora Lithium’s deposit in Sonora- is not yet clear).
Fernando Alanís, president of Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) informed that lithium deposits in Mexico have a very low grade, and lack the technology for its extraction, reason for which the country is far from becoming a world power in lithium production. Lithium presents in three kind of deposits: hard rock (pegmatites), brines (from salt lakes) and clays. Rock and brine lithium extraction accounts for 100% of the world production, whereas the extraction of lithium from clays is very energy intensive and expensive, not having a single producing mine in the entire planet.
Camimex released a table with the Mexican Mining Developments programmed for the next few years, same that reach US$7,820 Million in investment (Mexican number notation, equivalent to US$7.8 billion).
ON EXPLORATION
Mithril Resources Ltd. provided an update on drilling at its Copalquin project in Durango. The current program main focus is to extend the Refugio ore shoot down dip (presently 600 m along strike, 200 m down dip, 5 m in width), maiden drilling at Los Pinos target, extend three holes and deep exploration drilling at La Soledad and extend near-surface intercepts at El Cometa.
Ridgestone Mining Inc. commenced permitting for drill programs at Guadalupe y Calvo, Chihuahua, and Rebeico, Sonora.
Riverside Resources Inc. reported surface sample results from its La Silla project in Sinaloa. The highlighted samples from the El Ciruelo and El Roble targets returned 6.1 gpt Au, 80 gpt Ag; 5.6 gpt Au, 81 gpt Ag; 4.4 gpt Au, 35 gpt Ag; 3.5 gpt Au, 26 gpt Ag; 3.3 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag; 2.6 gpt Au, 41 gpt Ag, on quartz veining, gossanous breccia and strongly oxidized andesite. El Ciruelo target extends for at least 1 km with a 1-5 m wide chalcedonic vein zone. El Roble vein extends for at least 300 m, reaching up to 2 m in width, with mineralization occurring also in the host rock.
Vizsla Silver Corp. provided an update on the recently completed geophysical survey completed at Panuco, in Sinaloa. A fixed loop electromagnetics (FLEM, or EM) was trialed and detected massive sulfide mineralization on the Napoleon and Josephine veins, proved with three massive sulfide intercepts in the latter. The Josephine vein has no known surface expression and runs parallel to the west of the main Napoleon trend. Mineralization at Tajitos is not related to massive sulfides and was not detected with EM. Vizsla is planning a property wide airborne EM-magnetic survey at Panuco.
Kootenay Silver Inc. announced high-grade results from the 5,000 m core drill program currently underway at Columba, Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intervals in the Hanging-Wall, F, and Footwall veins comprise 1.55 m @ 189 gpt Ag, 0.1%Pb, 0.2% Zn; 1.0 m @ 104 gpt Ag, 0.1% Zn; 2.44 m @ 217 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 2.94 m @ 321 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.6% Zn (including 1.94 m @ 428 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.7% Zn); 8.0 m @ 130 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.2% Zn (including 2.9 m @ 265 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.5% Zn); 1.95 m @ 104 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 9.0 m @ 354 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn (including 2.63 m @ 809 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.4% Zn); 30.0 m @ 86 gpt Ag (including 2.37 m @ 425 gpt Ag, 0.2% Zn).
Brigadier Gold Ltd. announced the discovery of bulk tonnage type copper mineralization at its Picachos project in Sinaloa. Fifty meters on trenching of historic copper anomalies has returned XRF copper values ranging from 0.05 to 1.34% Cu and 20 to 284 ppm Ag. Brigadier has also completed mapping and sampling of the historic La Gloria mine, where a drill hole intercepted 1.0 m @ 6.26 gpt Au.
Tocvan Ventures Corp. released results for the first three holes of its phase-II drill program at Pilar, in Sonora. The drill program consists of 2,900 m of reverse circulation drilling in 17 holes, of which 14 are pending results. Highlighted down-hole intercepts comprise 29 m @ 0.71 gpt Au (including 6.1 m @ 1.9 gpt Au); 24.4 m @ 0.56 gpt Au (including 9.2 m @ 1.3 gpt Au, 14 gpt Ag); 6.1 m @ 0.48 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag; 4.6 m @ 0.50 gpt Au, 11 gpt Ag.
ON MINING
Impact Silver Corp. presented its financial and operating results of Q1 2021. During the period 36.4 K tonnes were processed @ 162 gpt Ag to produce 156.9 K Oz Ag. “continued exploration on the north and south extensions of the Veta Negra Mine, trenching on the bulk tonnage gold target at Manto America in the central part of the district and exploration on the northwest (Pachuqueno) extensions of the Guadalupe Mine”.
Magna Gold Corp. has exceeded 3 M man-hours of work without lost-time incidents within all its operations, including contractors and suppliers. The last lost-time incident was in 2018, and the mine has not had a fatal accident in its 11 years history.
Telson Mining Corp. presented its first quarter 2021 financial and operating results. At Campo Morado in Guerrero, 174.4 K tonnes were processed to produce 11,013 tonnes Zn (74% Zn recovery), 1,908 tonnes Pb at cash cost $0.70 per Lb Zn and AISC of $0.90 per Lb Zn. During the period gross revenue was $21.2 M (Q1 2020: $19.0 M) and mine operating profit $5.25 M (Q1 2020: $0.26 M loss).
ON FINANCING
Silver Bull Resources Inc. announced its intent to distribute 34.2 M shares of Arras Minerals Corp. to Silver Bull shareholders. Silver Bull transferred mineral properties in Kazakhstan and received 36 M shares of Arras in return, making Arras an approximately 88%-owned subsidiary of Silver Bull (Sierra Mojada, Coahuila).
Silver Viper Minerals Corp. intends to undertake a non-brokered private placement financing to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$6 M (La Virginia, Sonora).
Vizsla Silver Corp. entered into an agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp.on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters to buy units of the company for gross proceeds of $60 M (Panuco, Sinaloa).
Reyna Silver Corp. entered into an agreement with Eight Capital and Red Cloud Securities Inc. in connection with a private placement intended to raise up to C$5 M (Guigui and Batopilas, Chihuahua).
Sable Resources Ltd. entered into an agreement with Sprott Capital Partners LP and Eight Capital in connection with a bought deal private placement financing to raise up to C$10 M (Vinata, Chihuahua).
Mammoth Resources Corp. Announced a non-brokered private placement financing aiming to raise up to $2 M, same that by the next day had been increased to $2.58 M (Tenoriba, Chihuahua).
Defiance Silver Corp. has increased the size of its previously announced private placement with Red Cloud Securities Inc. for gross proceeds of up to C$11.5 M (Bolañitos and Pinguico, Guanajuato).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Prime Mining Corp. released additional results from its ongoing 15,000 m drill program at Los Reyes, Sinaloa. The Highlighted true width intercepts are from the Guadalupe East, Zapote South and the Estaca vein: 11.6 m @ 8.12 gpt Au, 725 gpt Ag; 5.6 m @ 11.95 gpt Au, 1,221 gpt Ag; 2.1 m @ 21.63 gpt Au, 1,960 gpt Ag; 2.0 m @ 11.17 gpt Au, 909 gpt Ag; 2.4 m @ 2.00 gpt Au, 121 gpt Ag; 1.4 m @ 10.50 gpt Au, 300 gpt Ag; 3.9 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 37 gpt Ag; 0.6 m @ 93.80 gpt Au, 829 gpt Ag.
GR Silver Mining Ltd. reported near surface drill results from the Plomosas mine area in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intervals comprise 11.9 m @ 84 gpt Ag, 2.3% Pb, 2.7% Zn, 0.1% Cu; 16.7 m @ 7 gpt Ag, 0.22 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 10.8 m @ 3 gpt Ag, 0.20 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 4.2 m @ 10 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.1%Pb, 0.6% Zn, 0.1% Cu; 2.1 m @ 350 gpt Ag, 1.0% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 1.9 m @ 348 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 1.3 m @ 26 gpt Ag, 0.19 gpt Au, 3.3% Pb, 3.3% Zn; 1.0 m @ 128 gpt Ag, 1.00 gpt Au, 9.0% Pb, 9.7% Zn, 0.2% Cu; 2.6 m @ 45 gpt Ag, 0.60 gpt Au, 3.0% Pb, 0.9% Zn; 4.7 m @ 187 gpt Ag, 0.18 gpt Au, 2.2% Pb, 1.2% Zn, 0.1% Cu; 2.0 m @ 277 gpt Ag, 0.22 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 1.9 m @ 283 gpt Ag, 0.82 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 1.0% Zn, 0.1% Cu.
GoGold Resources Inc. released results of nine holes on the Casados deposit at the Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intersects comprise 29.9 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 70 gpt Ag; 15.5 m @ 0.27 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag; 34.4 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag; 5.3 m @ 0.65 gpt Au, 305 gpt Ag; 9.2 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 109 gpt Ag (including 1.9 m @ 0.61 gpt Au, 442 gpt Ag); 60.5 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag; 2.1 m @ 0.57 gpt Au, 322 gpt Ag; 54.1 m @ 0.37 gpt Au, 92 gpt Ag; 28.5 m @ 0.43 gpt Au, 100 gpt Ag (including 1.8 m @ 2.09 gpt Au, 418 gpt Ag); 14.0 m @ 0.46 gpt Au, 134 gpt Ag (including 5.3 m @ 1.04 gpt Au, 304 gpt Ag); 2.6 m @ 2.93 gpt Au, 610 gpt Ag.
Discovery Silver Corp. released results from 12 diamond drill holes testing the Josefina and Todos Santos high-grade vein trends at the Cordero project in Chihuahua. Highlighted intercepts on the Josefina vein trend comprise 41.5 m @ 97 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 2.5% Zn (including 4.1 m @ 520 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 3.0% Pb, 9.8% Zn and 3.3 m @ 182 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 3.4% Pb, 7.1% Zn); 13.1 m @ 112 gpt Ag, 0.13 gpt Au, 1.3% Pb, 2.2% Zn; 36.4 m @ 66 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 87.4 m @ 38 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 3.6 m @ 343 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 1.7% Pb, 2.7% Zn; 19.3 m @ 40 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 1.4% Zn); 22.4 m @ 156 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 1.7% Pb, 2.3% Zn (including 3.7 m @ 299 gpt Ag, 0.16 gpt Au, 3.9% Pb, 5.7% Zn). The Josefina vein trend includes two subparallel veins that run for 1.5 km, and has been tested to 370 m depth and remains open. The Todos Santos vein trend consists of two closely spaced veins, extends for at least 1.5 km along strike and 400 m of depth in old workings and drill holes. Highlighted intercepts comprise 62.0 m @ 19 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 21.4 m @ 46 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 1.9 m @ 113 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 2.4% Pb, 3.2% Zn; 3.7 m @ 96 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 1.8% Pb, 3.0% Zn; 2.1 m @ 160 gpt Ag, 0.27 gpt Au, 3.3% Pb, 3.6% Zn.
Sailfish Royalty Corp. filed a NI-43-101 technical report and estimate of mineral resources for the Gavilanes project in Durango.
Discovery Silver Corp. updated on its Cordero project in Chihuahua and informed that by the end of the first quarter 2021 had cash and cash equivalents for $94.7 M. At Cordero 75,000 m of drilling were completed in 178 holes in phase 1 drilling, providing information to be used in the bulk-tonnage preliminary economic assessment (PEA) underway. Phase 2 drilling continues with four rigs, focused on reserve definition, resource expansion and high-grade vein delineation. Bulk tonnage targeted drilling has returned up to 128.2 m @ 65 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 1.2% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 131.6 m @ 48 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.1% Zn (including 37.1 m @ 119 gpt Ag, 0.22 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 1.2% Zn); 110.0 m @ 37 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 85.6 m @ 53 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 1.4% Pb, 1.7% Zn. Drilling on high-grade veins has returned up to 4.1 m @ 520 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 3.0% Pb, 9.8% Zn in the Josefina vein; 4.0 m @ 377 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au, 7.1% Pb, 3.4% Zn in the Todos Santos vein and 4.4 m @ 246 gpt Ag, 0.39 gpt Au, 6.5% Pb, 0.4% Zn on the Parcionera vein.
Golden Tag Resources Ltd. discovered a new zone of epithermal mineralization at the San Diego project in Durango. The new drill hole intercepted 10.0 m @ 0.55 gpt Au, 628 gpt Ag, 1.1% Pb, 3.6% Zn, 0.12% Cu, in a zone where previous drilling had returned 2.0 m @ 0.33 gpt Au, 161 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.2% Zn, 0.04% Cu; 3.75 m @ 0.32 gpt Au, 125 gpt Ag, 1.5% Pb, 4.0% Zn, 0.12% Cu. “The hole intersected a series of epithermal breccias and quartz-carbonate veins within the Central Diorite intrusion from 73.0 to 92.70 m which are characterized by cavity filling banded quartz and carbonate veins with fluorite and associated sulfides comprised primarily of pyrite, sphalerite, galena, boulangerite, and arsenopyrite”.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Mexus Gold US. informed personnel from Fresnillo PLC is reviewing its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. The geologists are checking the potential for a disseminated deposit, as well as the quartz vein currently worked by Mexus.
Riverside Resources Inc. announced BHP and Riverside “have agreed on moving forward with a third year of generative funding for copper exploration in Sonora. The new budget is US$1.3 M for generative exploration work.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC informed on their policies and programs to aid on education in a widespread communities.
Minera San Xavier has been declared as “Cyanide Free Site” by the International Cyanide Management Institute. Cerro San Pedro is the first mine in the world that has realized the dismantling process of the 110 m high heap that covers 102 hectares (1 square kilometer).
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group. On the image below: Quartz-tourmaline breccia from a project in Sinaloa. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 19th week of the year (May 10th to May 16th, 2021), at least 38 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, nine companies posted exploration advances on their properties, nine presented mining related news, two posted on financing or share options, eight more on project development or resource definition and three posted on corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Camimex reported investment of US$88 M on social development by mining companies. SEGOB has been involved in the resolution of six mining conflicts. The commodity prices have made mining companies values swing in the Mexican Exchange. ON EXPLORATION, in Baja California, Comet Resources received the environmental permit for drilling at Santa Teresa. In Sonora, Tocvan Ventures informed on exploration at Pilar; Tarachi Gold reported visible gold in RC drilling chips at Tarachi. In Chihuahua, Kootenay Silver released drilling results from Columba; Mammoth Resources is drill targeting using 3D modelling of geophysics at Tenoriba. In Sinaloa, Brigadier Gold informed on exploration at Picachos; Vizsla Silver released drilling results on the Napoleon trend of the Panuco project. In Nayarit, Sierra Madre Gold and Silver has begun drilling at Tepic. ON MINING, Fortuna Silver, Endeavour Silver, Torex Resources, Santacruz Silver , Pan American Silver, Avino Silver, SilverCrest Metals, Starcore International and GoGold Resources released Q1 2021 production results. ON FINANCING, Capitan Mining has 8 M shares bought by Mr. Michael Gentile; Magna Gold had a non-brokered private placement of CA$10 M secured convertible debentures. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Ridgestone announced a new mineral resource estimate for Guadalupe y Calvo. Discovery Silver is planning a PEA for its Cordero property. GR Silver Mining reported drilling results from Plomosas. Impact Silver is targeting using 3D modelling of geophysical surveys at Capire. Grupo Mexico unveiled plans to invest several billion dollars on projects in Mexico. Orla Mining updated on construction of the Camino Rojo Oxide project. Excellon Resources presented an updated mineral resource estimate for Platosa. Gatos Silver released results from infill and extension drilling. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Telson Mining is changing name to Altaley Mining Corp.. Coeur Mining is to acquire 17.8% of Victoria Gold. Barksdale Resources is gaining 100% of the Sunnyside project in Arizona. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Endeavour Silver and Hecla Mining released their sustainability 2020 report. Pan American Silver, Equinox Gold and Torex Gold presented plans to reduce their carbon footprint. Newmont Peñasquito and Peña Colorada informed on their actions to support community development.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) informed that the companies part of the organization invested on social development $1,756 M pesos (approximately US$88 M at current exchange rates). Those funds are in addition to the $3,496 M pesos (US$197 M) provided to the Mining Fund (previously intended for bettering mining communities, now siphoned to the black hole the federal government is). The Centro Social para la Filantropía (CEMEFI) granted the Empresa Socialmente Responsable Award to 29 companies affiliated to Camimex.
SEGOB (Secretaría de Gobernación) has been part of the resolution of six mining conflicts in Sinaloa, Baja California, Guerrero, Zacatecas and Queretaro, informed Olga Sánchez Cordero, head of the secretariat. The pending case is the one that involves Americas Gold and Silver’s San Rafael mine in Sinaloa, which was paralyzed by a Union dispute over a year ago.
Several business leaders expressed their optimism on future silver prices, which can be very good for Mexico, as the number one producer of the metal.
Grupo Mexico, the biggest mining conglomerate in Mexico saw its shares rise 8.7% in one day, translating to a 67,885 M pesos gain in value. This as a result of the strong increase in the copper price in 2021.
Mining companies in the BMV have had a mixed results 2021. Grupo Mexico has seen its shares increase 30.5%, Minera Autlán 22.3% and Minera Frisco 6.9%, while Industrias Peñoles and Fresnillo have had reductions of 15.3% and 20.05% respectively.
ON EXPLORATION
Comet Resources Ltd. Informed the drilling permit for its Santa Teresa project in Baja California has been received. The program consists of 2,000 m of diamond drilling to test extensions of zones of known gold mineralization along strike and at depth, as well of other identified zones of interest.
Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. Has begun drilling at its 2,600 hectare Tepic project in Nayarit. The company intends to drill 21 reverse circulation (RC) holes, as poor recoveries plagued previous diamond drill campaigns by previous operators.
Colibri Resources Corp. informed of exploration progress by its partner Tocvan Ventures Corp. on the Pilar project in Sonora. Tocvan is in year two of a five-year option agreement to earn an initial 51% ownership of the Pilar Project. To date, eleven RC drill holes have been completed for a total of 1,811 m, focusing on extensions of the Main zone. Samples for the first five holes have been sent for assaying, and the rest will be sent soon.
Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. updated on exploration activities at the Tepic property in Nayarit. “Work for the last 6 months has focused on geologic mapping and reconnaissance sampling with approximately 50% of the project covered at a 1:5000 scale level of detail or better. This has resulted in the recognition of more than 10 kilometres of hydrothermally altered and mineralized structures..”. Reconnaissance sampling has returned up to 648 gpt Ag, and 7.43 gpt Au. A 2,700 m trenching has been initiated to explore the multiple structures present in the area.
Brigadier Gold Ltd. informed on exploration work at its Picachos project in Sinaloa. The recent drilling intercepted up to 7 m @ 7.45 gpt Au, 51 gpt Ag in the San Agustín vein; 0.8 m @ 12.62 gpt Au, 78 gpt Ag, 4.5% Cu in the San Antonio vein and 1 m @ 10.65 gpt Au with 8 m @ 2.29 gpt Au, with assays still pending for 518 m of drilling. A trench across the El Placer trend returned 65 m 0.5 gpt Au, and a porphyry copper target was localized, with strong sericitic alteration and values of molybdenum above 240 ppm in almost all the 350 m trench, peaking at 2,200 ppm (0.22%) Mo over 6 m.
Tarachi Gold Corp. reported visible gold in chips from the recently finished reverse circulation (RC) program at its Tarachi property in Sonora. The visible gold was observed in a 10 m interval of one drill hole cuttings, approximately on a 10 m interval. The RC drill holes were sunk south of La Dura mine on the Jabali concession.
Kootenay Silver Inc. released drill results for the first four holes of 2021 at its Copalito project in Sinaloa. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 5.75 m @ 0.049 gpt Au, 75 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb+Zn (including (1.0 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 303 gpt Ag, 0.6% Pb+Zn); 8.61 m @ 0.456 gpt Au, 12 gpt Ag, 0.4% Pb+Zn (including 2 m @ 1.10 gpt Au, 13 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb+Zn); 21 m @ 0.187 gpt Au, 178 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb+Zn (including 1.18 m @ 0.575 gpt Au, 1,965 gpt Ag, 6.3% Pb+Zn.
Vizsla Silver Corp. released results from 23 holes at the Napoleon prospect in the Panuco project in Sinaloa. The released holes extend mineralization by 230 m along strike and 65 m to depth. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 3.45 m @ 1,275 gpt Ag, 25.97 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 3.0% Zn (including 0.66 m @ 5,410 gpt Ag, 88.2 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 1.9% Zn); 10.30 m @ 356 gpt Ag, 3.13 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 4.22 m @ 392 gpt Ag, 3.89 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 1.27 m @ 6.47 gpt Au, 158 gpt Ag, 0.5% Pb, 2.2% Zn; 4.22 m @ 3.89 gpt Au, 392 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 1.09 m @ 2.09 gpt Au, 85 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 6.15 m @ 5.14 gpt Au, 87 gpt Ag, 0.4% Pb, 1.4% Zn; 3.93 m @ 1.93 gpt Au, 41 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 3.1% Zn; 1.61 m @ 2.16 gpt Au, 354 gpt Ag, 0.4% Pb, 2.35% Zn.
Mammoth Resources Corp. informed on drill targeting activities at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. A 3D modelling exercise was conducted including its infill induced polarization/magnetometric (IP/Mag) geophysical survey recently completed. Four target areas were identified as TA-1, TA-2, TA-3 and TA-4, each showing some of the next attributes: silicified volcanic breccia rocks, High IP-resistivity features, artisanal mine workings, previous ore-grade intercepts in drilling and good geochemistry in rock and soil samples.
ON MINING
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. reported first quarter 2021 financial results. At the San José mine, in Oaxaca, 259.8 K tonnes were milled at an average rate of 3,040 tonnes per day (tpd), grading 217 gpt Ag, 1.36 gpt Au, recovering 91% Ag, 91% Au, to produce 1.6 M Oz Ag, 10,301 Oz Au at a production cash cost of $8.40 per Oz AgEq and an AISC of $13.40 per Oz AgEq. To note, realized silver and gold prices were $26.17 and $1,783 per ounce in Q1 2021, against $16.09 and $1,571 respectively in Q1 2020.
Endeavour Silver Corp. presented financial results for the first quarter 2021. During the period 1.4 M Oz Ag, 10,894 Oz Au were produced at cash cost of $7.86 per Oz Ag and an AISC of $19.94 per Oz Ag, generating a cash flow of $5.2 M. Cash at the end of the period was $86 M, with a working capital of $113.1 M and a debt of $8.7 M.
Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported financial and operational results for the first quarter 2021. During the period 129,509 Oz Au were produced at its El Limon Guajes mine in Guerrero, at total cash cost of $580 per Oz Au, and an AISC of $854 per Oz Au. The adjusted EBITDA was $144.9 M, with $9.3 M of free cash flow. The company is now debt free, after repaying $40 M. By the end of the period Torex had cash of $167.3 M including $172.0 M in cash and $4.7 M of lease obligations.
Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reported production on Q1 2021 of 707 K Oz AgEq from its Zimapan and Rosario mines, in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi respectively. At Zimapan, 156.4 K tonnes were milled @ 85 gpt Ag, 0.63% Pb, 1.99% Zn, 0.31% Cu (182 gpt Ag), recovering 69% Ag to produce 294.1 K Oz Ag, 892 tonnes Pb, 2,067 tonnes Zn, 354 tonnes Cu. At Rosario 19.8 K tonnes were processed @ 61 gpt Ag, 0.19 gpt Au, 0.34% Pb, 1.51% Zn (72 gpt AgEq), recovering 80.3% Zn to produce 31.3 K Oz Ag, 59.4 Oz Au, 78 tonnes lead, 73 tonnes Zn.
Pan American Silver Corp. presented results for Q1 2021, including figures from its Mexican operations. Of a total 4.6 M Oz Ag, 137.6 K Oz Au produced in the period, 1.06 M Oz Ag, 0.5 K Oz Au were produced at La Colorada (Zacatecas) and 0.63 M Oz Ag, 37 K Oz Au at Dolores (Chihuahua). Cash cost per Oz Ag at La Colorada was $15.62 and AISC $42.44, whereas at Dolores cash cost per Oz Au was $718 with no AISC reported.
Avino Silver Gold Mines Ltd. released consolidated financial results for the first quarter of 2021. During the period 164 K tonnes were milled to produce 266.7 K Oz Ag, 1,531 Oz Au, 1.8 M Lb Cu (684 K Oz AgEq). “During Q1 2021, no production mining activities took place due to the work stoppage at the Avino Mine. Transitional efforts are underway to restart production and mining operations”. By the end of the period tha company had $27 M in cash and a working capital of $31.2 M.
SilverCrest Metals Inc. reported unaudited financial results of Q1 2021. During the period the company released results form a feasibility study (FS) for Las Chispas project in Sonora, with an estimated initial capital cost of $137.7 M. By the end of March the construction advance was 14.3%, with an aggregate cost of $27.7 M. Also, 33,382 m were completed of in-fill and expansion drilling and 2.0 Km of underground decline and development including in-vein drifting. SilverCrest also completed 18,237 m of drilling at Picacho (Sonora), where it has drilled 24,059 m since its acquisition in 2020. At the end of the period the company had $226 M in cash and cash equivalents.
Starcore International Mines Ltd. announced production results for the fourth quarter, ended April 30, 2021, at its San Martin mine in Queretaro. During the period 54.4 K tonnes were milled @ 1.52 gpt Au, 24.6 gpt Ag, recovering 87.3% and 57.5% Ag, to recover 2,603 Oz AuEq.
GoGold Resources Inc. released its financial results for the first quarter 2021. The company stacked 417.5 K tonnes to sell 541.6 K Oz AgEq at cash cost $12.81 and AISC $16.27 at its Parral tailing property in Chihuahua.
ON FINANCING
Capitan Mining Inc. had 8 M shares bought by Mr. Michael Gentile, same that coupled with 1.16 M previously held shares amount to 17.02% of Capitan Mining issued shares. Mr. Gentile filed an early warning report. (Capitan, Durango).
Magna Gold Corp. announced a non-brokered private placement of CAS$10 M secured convertible debentures with Delbrook Capital Advisors Inc.. The debentures mature in 24 month’s from issuance and bear interest at a rate of 6.5% per year. “The principal amount of the Debentures is convertible, at the election of Delbrook, into common shares of the Company at a conversion price of CAD$1.25 per common share, representing a 35.5% premium to the 10-day VWAP”. Magna plans exploration activities at its Margarita project (Chihuahua), Mercedes (Sonora), San Judas (Sonora), Veta Tierra (Sonora) and Los Muertos (Sonora).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Ridgestone Mining Inc. announced a mineral resource estimate for its Guadalupe y Calvo project in Chihuahua. The estimate was done on two main structures, the Rosario and Nankin veins, combining pit constrained and underground resources. Indicated resources contain 216.8 K Oz Au, 10.4 M Oz Ag and inferred resources amount to 335.6 K Oz Au, 9.3 M Oz Ag, as displayed on the table below.
Discovery Silver Corp. is planning a preliminary economic study (PEA) scheduled to be completed in 4Q 2021 on its Cordero property in Chihuahua. The company recently finished a 75,000 m drilling campaign on which a new resource estimate is to be based and delivered in the 3Q 2021. Phase two of drilling has four rigs operating on Cordero, aiming to upgrade inferred resources to the indicated category, resource expansion of bulk-tonnage mineralization and testing the high-grade vein systems that cut through the deposit. Other teams are working in the metallurgy, mining strategies, geotechnical issues, hydrogeology, environment and all the needed studies to prepare the PEA, which preliminarily aims to an initial 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes per day (tpd) of mill throughput and expansion to 20,000 to 40,000 tpd.
GR Silver Mining Ltd. Reported near surface drill results of narrow high-grade mineralization at its Plomosas property in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width intervals comprise 4.0 m @ 80 gpt Ag, 0.19 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 8.5 m @ 46 gpt Ag, 0.16 gpt Au, 1.3% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 0.5 m @ 13.05 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 14.8 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 1.6% Zn; 1.7 m @ 8 gpt Ag, 9.67 gpt Au; 9.0 m @ 141 gpt Ag, 0.31 gpt Au, 0.7% Zn, 0.7% Cu; 0.9 m @ 1,000 gpt Ag; 6.3 m @ 80 gpt Ag, 0.01 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 13.0% Zn; 5.0 m @ 234 gpt Ag, 0.01 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 1.3 m @ 530 gpt Ag, 0.01 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 2.5 m @ 173 gpt Ag, 0.01 gpt Au, 2.3% Pb, 1.9% Zn; 8.7 m @ 57 gpt Ag, 0.01 gpt Au, 4.1% Pb, 1.9% Zn; 9.1 m @ 5 gpt Ag, 1.53 gpt Au, 1.2% Pb, 1.4% Zn.
Impact Silver Corp. has received a report by a contractor with the analysis and interpretation of the geophysical surveys performed in the property since the 1990’s on the Capire area (Guerrero) of the Royal mines of Zacualpan (Estado de Mexico). “Condor utilized leading edge Inversion processing to produce 3D models of the IP and Magnetometer surveys and combined with the EM surveys has outlined a series of massive sulphide and vein hosted target areas”.
Grupo Mexico unveiled plans for the next few years, which include an investment of US$3,100 M (Mexican number notation) for refining metals in Sonora and electric infrastructure for El Arco in Baja California, and a US$2,300 M investment for expansion of smelter capacity in Sonora. Those projects are part of the US$9,000 M that Grupo Mexico plans to invest from 2021 to 2027.
Orla Mining Ltd. updated on the construction of the Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas. Construction is 22% complete, with $15.3 M spent in the quarter, $64.3 M total to date of an estimated total capital expenditure of $134 M. Of 826 workers currently on the project, 15% are from local communities, 30% from Zacatecas State and 55% from other States. “… activities now focused on earth moving, concrete pouring, and structural and mechanical installations in the areas of the crushing circuit, MerrillCrowe plant, heap leachPR and process pond, camp, and administration offices”.
Excellon Resources Inc. provided an update on the mineral resource estimate for its Platosa mine in Durango. The new resource includes information from 187 exploration drill holes from surface and underground locations, or 21,400 m. Indicated resources now stand at 317 K tonnes @ 485 gpt Ag, 5.3% Pb, 5.5% Zn, containing 4.95 M Oz Ag, 36.8 M Lb Pb, 38.8 M Lb Zn and inferred resources at 42 K tonnes @ 749 gpt Ag, 4.3% Pb, 5.4% Zn, containing 1 M Oz Ag, 4 K tonnes Pb, 4 K tonnes Zn. At the Evolución project in Zacatecas, indicated resources stand at 6.4 M tonnes @ 64 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 1.2% Pb, 1.3% Zn, containing 13.1 M Oz Ag, 19 K Oz Au, 140.7 M Lb Pb, 161.5 M Lb Zn, and inferred resources at 15 M tonnes @ 39 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.2% Zn, containing 18.5 M Oz Ag, 49 K Oz Au, 247.5 K tonnes Pb, 377.7 K tonnes Zn.
Gatos Silver Inc. released results from infill and extension drilling at its Los Gatos project in Chihuahua, and the commencement of drilling at the Esther zone. The drilling continues to identify mineralization beyond both ends of the deposit. Below the drill results table:
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Telson Mining Corp. announced the restructuring of its board of directors and a corporate name change. Telson’s Board of Directors now consists of seven members as follows: David Rhodes, Natascha Kiernan, Tom Kelly, Mark Bailey, Roberto Guzman Garcia, Ruben Alvidrez Ortega and Ralph Shearing. Telson intends to change its corporate name to Altaley Mining Corp. to complement the board restructuring. Telson also reported the execution of a Financial Advisory Services Agreement with Endeavour Financial Ltd., to provide Telson with general corporate financial advice with respect to its strategic direction and corporate development (Tahuehueto, Durango).
Coeur Mining Inc. entered into an agreement to acquire 11.07 M shares (17.8%) of Victoria Gold Corp. from Orion COVI Ltd. on a transaction expected to close on May 11 subject to closing conditions.
Barksdale Resources Corp. entered into an agreement with Regal Resources to consolidate a 100% interest in the Sunnyside project in Arizona (also owns San Javier, Sonora).
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Endeavour Silver released its 2020 sustainability report, which informs on safety and health, training, community, environment and economic value activities during the period.
Pan American Silver, Equinox Gold and Torex Gold presented plans to reduce their carbon footprint.
Hecla Mining released its 2020 sustainability report the steps the company take to reduce its environmental footprint. Health, safety, green energies, greenhouse emission reduction, reclamation work, human rights and diversity are some of the subjects covered.
Newmont Peñasquito informed on the work realized to better the water resources at El Verge, Zacatecas.
Peña Colorada is granting professional internships to 12 students from five universities.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the image below: Old open cut in Sinaloa, with Ricardo Ramonett as scale. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 17th week of the year (April 26th to May 2nd, 2021), at least 34 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, six companies posted exploration advances on their properties, six presented mining related news, four posted on financing or share options (including $11.5 M, and $28.7 M), seven more on project development or resource definition and five posted on corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news were published. ON EXPLORATION, In Baja California, Comet Resources informed on mapping and sampling advances at Santa Teresa. In Sonora, Silver Spruce released results from due diligence work at El Diamante; Tarachi Gold updated on work at the Tarachi project; Riverside reported drilling results from Cecilia. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold released results from drilling at Amalia. In Zacatecas, Defiance Silver provided drilling results from San Acacio. ON MINING, Gold Resource, Mag Silver, Alamos Gold, Fresnillo PLC, Coeur Mining and Agnico Eagle released Q1 2021 production results. To note, Fresnillo produced over 12 M Oz Ag and 216 K Oz Au during the period. ON FINANCING, Telson Mining restructured US$3 M in debt. Tarachi granted options to directors, officers and consultants, GR Silver and Prime Mining completed their previously announced placements for $11.5 M and $28.7 M respectively. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Argonaut Gold released high-grade drilling results from below the pit plan at La Colorada. Telson Mining informed of accelerated construction at Tahuehueto. Sonora Gold released results from 25 RC holes at Cerro Caliche. Southern Silver reported extension of mineralization discovered by recent drilling. Ridgestone Mining is to prepare a new resource estimate on Guadalupe y Calvo. Fabled Silver reported drill results from Santa Maria. Golden Tag is reinterpreting geology at San Diego. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Santacruz Silver Mining completed the acquisition of the Zimapan mine. Telson Mining closed the Campo Morado variable purchase price royalty. Fortuna Silver entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Roxgold shares (Africa oriented). Silver Spruce signed the definitive agreement on the Diamante properties in Sonora. Empress Royalty has funded an initial $2 M on the silver stream agreement with Tahuehueto. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Peñoles donated tree saplings in Coahuila.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
No Relevant News.
ON EXPLORATION
Silver Spruce Resources Inc. released surface rock sample results from El Diamante concessions in Sonora. The assays range from 0.127 gpt Au to 1.195 gpt Au, with up to 837 gpt Ag, 1.2% Pb, 6.9% Zn for the five samples collected as part of the due diligence work in the properties under a LOI. “The Property exhibits geological features of epithermal low to intermediate sulphidation Ag-Au (Pb-Zn), high sulphidation Au-Cu, and potential transition to porphyry style Au-Cu”.
Tarachi Gold Corp. informed past drilling at La Dura mine area at the Tarachi project in Sonora returned high-grade intercepts like 20.75 m @ at 5.05 gpt Au and 20.1 m @ 4.54 gpt Au. High grade intercepts seem to be related to sulfide rich zones by the side of breccia pipes.
Riverside Resources Inc. and Carlyle Commodities Corp. released further drill results from the Cecilia project in Sonora. Highlighted down hole intercepts comprise 5.65 m @ 0.39 gpt Au; 2.0 m @ 0.78 gpt Au; 1.5 m @ 0.60 gpt Au; 2.3 m @ 0.19 gpt Au; 3.15 m @ 0.31 gpt Au and true width intercepts (tw) of 3.3 m @ 3.70 gpt Au (including 1.3 m @ 8.82 gpt Au); 3.05 m @ 0.67 gpt Au, 1.5 m @ 1.18 gpt Au.
Radius Gold Inc. reported final results for phase 4 drilling at the Amalia project in SW Chihuahua. A total of 10,558 m in 31 holes have been completed, with 4,385 m in 10 holes in this phase. Highlighted true width intervals comprise: 14.5 m @ 6.8 gpt Au, 321 gpt Ag; 3.9 m @ 18.34 gpt Au, 813 gpt Ag; 6.5 m @ 0.59 gpt Au, 151 gpt Ag; 13.25 m @ 0.9 gpt Au, 116 gpt Ag. The next targets comprise El Cuervo and California areas, with the first being 3 to 7 m wide and 1.5 km long, while the latter vein is up to 4 m in width, outcropping discontinuously for 3 km.
Comet Resources Ltd. informed field mapping and sampling has been completed at its Santa Teresa project in Baja California. Assay results from re-sampling of historical core are awaited and the environmental permit for drilling has been filed.
Defiance Silver Corp. provided results from drilling the Veta Grande vein system at San Acacio in Zacatecas. Highlighted intervals comprise 3.64 m @ 0.2 gpt Au, 191 gpt Ag (including 0.92 m @ 0.74 gpt Au, 705 gpt Ag, 0.34% Pb, 0.70% Zn); 18.55 m @ 0.39 gpt Au, 99 gpt Ag (including 1.57 m @ 2.27 gpt Au, 1,090 gpt Ag, 0.72% Pb, 2.33% Zn); 8.35 m @ 0.07 gpt Au, 97 gpt Ag; 23.50 m @ 0.47 gpt Au, 52 gpt Ag, 0.93% Pb, 1.36% Zn (including 4.73 m @ 1.31 gpt Au, 144 gpt Ag, 2.8% Pb, 3.60% Zn); 5.87 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 125 gpt Ag, 0.22% Pb, 0.61% Zn; 2.65 m @ 0.05 gpt Au, 307 gpt Ag, 0.27% Zn; 8.22 m @ 0.32 gpt Au, 262 gpt Ag, 0.36% Pb, 1.26% Zn.
ON MINING
Gold Resource Corp. presented its Q1 2021 production report. During the period 6,097 Oz Au, 307.6 K Oz Ag (10,750 Oz AuEq) at cash cost of $408 per Oz at the Don David mine in Oaxaca.
MAG Silver Corp. reported first quarter 2021 production from the Juanicipio project (56% / 44% joint venture with Fresnillo Plc) in Zacatecas. During the period 36.4 K tonnes of development material were processed to produce 462.3 K Oz Ag, 697 Oz Au, of which 203.4 K Oz Ag, 307 Oz Au were attributable to MAG Silver.
Alamos Gold Inc. released its first quarter 2021 production report, with figures from its Mexican operations. At Mulatos, in Sonora, 910.9 K tonnes were mined, 2.46 M tonnes of waste moved, stacking 1.83 M tonnes of ore @ 0.93 gpt Au containing 54,723 Oz Au. During the period 35,600 Oz Au were produced at cash cost $915 per Oz Au and mine-site AISC of $1,039 per Oz Au. The nearby La Yaqui Grande project is being developed with independent heap leach and crushing circuits, with commercial production expected in Q3 2022. Production is expected to reach 123 K Oz Au per year at an AISC of $578 per Oz Au.
Fresnillo PLC. released its first quarter 2021 production report, which amounted to 12.63 M Oz Ag (including silver stream), 228,193 Oz Au, 15,340 tonnes Pb, 25,881 tonnes Zn.
Coeur Mining Inc. reported first quarter 2021 financial results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Palmarejo, in Chihuahua, 484.4 K tonnes were milled @ 1.87 gpt Au, 127 gpt Ag, recovering 95.7% Au, 81.3% Ag to produce 28,605 Oz Au, 1.6 M Oz Ag. A total of 16,525 m were drilled in the period, in which $3 M were spent in exploration.
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. disclosed Q1 2021 results, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Pinos Altos, in Chihuahua, 493 K tonnes were processed at a rate of 5,478 tonnes per day and a grade of 1.91 gpt Au, to produce 29,175 Oz Au at cash cost $838 per Oz. At La India, in Sonora, 1.64 M tonnes were processes at a rate of 18.244 tpd and a grade of 0.43 gpt Au, to produce 17,033 Oz Au at cash cost $936. At Santa Gertrudis, exploration in the period included 8,970 m in 22 holes. Additional drilling and metallurgical testing are planned to continue
ON FINANCING
Telson Mining Corp. has restructured debt owed to Estrategias Corporativas en Finanzas, S.A.P.I de C.V.. The MXP $64.7 M debt has been converted to USD$3.1 M at 10% interest on a 36 month term and 12 month grace period. “In consideration of the loan restructuring of this debt, the Company has agreed to issue to Escorfin, 500,000 bonus shares and 1,500,000 bonus warrants” (Tahuehueto, Durango).
Tarachi Gold Corp. granted 1.2 M options to directors, officers and consultants (Tarachi, Sonora).
GR Silver Mining Ltd. completed its previously announced bought deal private placement for gross proceeds of $11.53 M, which was oversubscribed (Plomosas, Sinaloa).
Prime Mining Corp. completed its previously announced bought deal private placement, for gross proceeds of $28.75 M (Los Reyes, Sinaloa).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Argonaut Gold Inc. announced the discovery of high grade gold veins below the El Crestón open pit at its La Colorada mine in Sonora. Selected true width (TW) drill results comprise 16.3 m @ 3.88 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag (including 5.8 m @ 9.28 gpt Au, 24 gpt Ag); 29.3 m @ 3.71 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag; 16.5 m @ 44.59 gpt Au, 275 gpt Ag (including 2.4 m @ 283.10 gpt Au, 858 gpt Ag; 14.8 m @ 1.45 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag; 17.0 m @ 3.92 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag; 10.8 m @ 4.86 gpt Au, 188 gpt Ag (including 2.8 m @ 18.39 gpt Au, 686 gpt Ag); 16.1 m @ 5.45 gpt Au, 111 gpt Ag (including 2.8 m @ 31.09 gpt Au, 515 gpt Ag); 48.6 m @ 0.77 gpt Au 22 gpt Ag; 9.9 m @ 98.85 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag (including 2.5 m @ 383.00 gpt Au, 113 gpt Ag); 4.8 m @ 18.39 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag (including 1.2 m @ 60.20 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag); 40.2 m @ 5.22 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag. “The high-grade zones are deep extensions of the gold rich veins now being mined within the El Crestón open pit and display good lateral continuity along strike”.
Telson Mining Corp. informed construction work was accelerated at the Tahuehueto project in Durango, where a 1,000 tpd mining operation is being developed. Construction and commissioning is estimated at US$15.4 M, of which C$10.1 M were raised in March and in mid-April a silver stream agreement was signed with Empress that will provide US$5 M in two tranches. “The final US $12 million Accendo Banco loan facility is in the late stages of documentation and expected to close in the coming weeks along with the restructuring of Telson outstanding loans with Trafigura and Nyrstar“.
Sonoro Gold Corp. reported assay results from 25 RC holes drilled at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. Highlighted drill-length intervals comprise 16.77 m @ 1.84 gpt Au (including 4.57 m @ 5.63 gpt Au); 7.62 m @ 2.42 gpt Au (including 1.52 m @ 10.6 gpt Au); 12.19 m @ 1.07 gpt Au, 25.91 m 0.58 gpt Au. El Colorado zone was expanded in three directions, the Cabeza Blanca vein zone was extended ant drilling at Buena Vista-Japoneses suggest potential coalescence with the Buena Suerte zone.
Southern Silver Exploration Corp. reported further drilling results that extend mineralization at its Cerro Las Minas project in Durango. At Mina La Bocona area, polymetallic sulfide true width intercepts comprise 7.5 m @ 262 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 7.0% Pb, 1.7% Zn (559 gpt AgEq); 4.0 m @ 161 gpt Ag, 0.2 gpt Au, 8.8% Pb, 2.4% Zn (293 gpt AgEq); 2.4 m @ 335 gpt Ag, 0.2 gpt Au, 0.3% Cu, 5.3% Pb, 2.4% Zn (638 gpt AgEq).
Ridgestone Mining Inc. engaged an independent consultant to prepare a NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate for the Guadalupe y Calvo project in Chihuahua.
Fabled Silver Gold Corp. reported drill results on the North Vein Structure at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua. Highlighting intercepts of 26.90 m @ 0.047 gpt Au, 29 gpt Ag, 0.17% Zn (including 1.20 m @ 0.041 gpt Au, 108 gpt Ag, 0.27% Zn and 4.40 m @ 0.062 gpt Au, 83 gpt Ag and 2.20 m @ 0.017 gpt Au, 118 gpt Ag).
Golden Tag Resources Ltd. initiated a geologic interpretation of the San Diego deposit in Durango. The lithology, alteration, structure and assay datasets will be reviewed and incorporated on a 3 D platform. The focus of the program is to evaluate the recently identified potential for near surface skarn mineralization.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. completed the previously announced acquisition of the Zimapan mine assets from Grupo Peñoles, with the transaction facilitated by Trafigura with a US$17.6 M loan facility.
Telson Mining Corp. closed the purchase of the Nyrstar Campo Morado variable purchase price royalty by issuing 14.6 M shares to Nyrstar.
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. and Roxgold Inc. entered into a definitive agreement for Fortuna to acquire all Roxgold shares. “Upon completion of the Transaction, existing Fortuna and Roxgold shareholders will own approximately 64.3% and 35.7% of the pro forma company, respectively……. Roxgold owns and operates the high-grade Yaramoko Gold Mine located on the Houndé greenstone belt in Burkina Faso and is also advancing the development and exploration of the Séguéla Gold Project located in Côte d’Ivoire”.
Silver Spruce Resources Inc. signed the definitive agreement with Colibri Resources on the Diamante 1 and Diamante 2 concessions in Sonora. Silver Spruce can acquire up to 50% interest on the 1,057 hectares spanning both projects. The deal involves a third Mexican private company.
Empress Royalty Corp. has funded the initial payment of $2 M of the $5 M silver stream agreement on the Tahuehueto project, Durango, owned by Telson Mining Corp.. The Stream is part of a US$25M full financing solution being provided to Telson by Empress and its partners, Accendo Banco and Endeavour Financial.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Peñoles donated 5,000 tree saplings to San Pedro de Las Colonias, Coahuila.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the image below: A breccia outcrop from a project in Sinaloa. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 13th week of the year (March 29th to April 4th, 2021), at least 38 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, five companies posted exploration advances on their properties, three presented mining related news, six posted on financing or share options (including C$2.2 M, C$2 M, C$10.8 M and C$82.5 M), ten more on project development or resource definition and three posted on corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, listed mining companies in Mexico paid US$1.29 B in taxes during 2020. Americas Silver and the Mexican government are in talks to solve the company’s union issues after the president of Mexico threatened with concession cancellation. Fortuna Silver denied environmental damage by its mining unit in Oaxaca. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Heliostar Metals released drilling results from La Lola. In Sinaloa, Vizsla Silver released drilling results from Panuco; Brigadier Gold continues drilling at Picachos. In Durango, Silver Wolf released grab sample results from its Ana Maria project; Commander Resources reported results from a soil survey at the Pedro project. ON MINING, McEwen Mining negotiated the end of an illegal blockade at El Gallo in Sinaloa. Prime Mining reported financial results for its Q3, 2021. Mag Silver released financial results for 2020. ON FINANCING, Colibri Resource, Sonoro Gold, Telson Mining and Equinox Gold released news on financing (C$2.2 M, C$2 M; $10.8 M and C$82.5 M respectively. Torex Gold announced the early repayment of $40 M. Reyna Silver is to issue $699.3 K in shares to consultors and advisors. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Fortuna Silver released results from step out drilling at its San José mine in Oaxaca. Argonaut Gold released consolidated mineral resources estimates of more than 11.5 M Oz Au, 174.9 M Oz Ag on its properties. SilverCrest Metals updated on construction and exploration activities. Southern Silver reported high-grade drill intercepts at Cerro Las Minitas, Durango. Torex Gold presented a resource estimate of 5 M Oz Au for Los Filos in Guerrero. Ridgestone Mining updated on work at Guadalupe y Calvo (Chihuahua) and Rebeico (Sonora). Minera Alamos selected mining contractor for its Santana project in Sonora. GoGold Resources released results from drilling at Los Ricos North in Jalisco. First Majestic updated mineral resources for its mines and projects, for 340 M Oz Ag, 3.2 M Oz Au. Fabled Silver informed on drilling at Santa Maria, Chihuahua. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, GR Silver Mining completed the acquisition of Marlin Gold Mining and its land holdings in Sinaloa. Silver Bull informed it has won a definitive decision on a lawsuit related to an illegal blockade at its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. Argonaut Gold announced the cancellation of the agreement to sell the Ana Paula project in Guerrero. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fresnillo PLC informed on cultural activities aimed at helping local communities and improving the environment.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
Listed mining companies in Mexico paid US$1.13 B ($1,1293 M in Mexican notation) in taxes on profits, or 9.2% on total earnings, in 2020. This amount is 44.6% higher year on year, influenced by the raise in precious metals. All companies in mining paid US$9.9 B (US$9,888 million in Mexican notation) in 2020 and provided work to 9,600 suppliers.
Americas Gold and Silver director and high-level government executives met to try to find a solution to the union conflict affecting the company at its Cosalá operations in Sinaloa. Last week the president of Mexico threatened with legal action to invalidate the company’s mining concession (there is no legal basis to revoke the concession).
Minera Cuzcatlán (Fortuna Silver) informed there is no environmental damage produced by a spill of tailings during a storm in 2018 at its San José mine in Oaxaca.
ON EXPLORATION
Heliostar Metals Ltd. released results from the first two holes ever drilled at the 6,360 hectare La Lola project in Sonora. The company is testing the main La Barra quartz-calcite-fluorite vein, which is up to 40 meters in width and runs for 5 kilometers and shows textures typical of shallow low sulfidation epithermal systems. A massive to crystalline quartz-calcite-fluorite subparallel vein to La Barra vein returned a core length interval of 2.5 m @ 0.01 gpt Au, 92 gpt Ag.
Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd. released results from surface grab samples from its 2,549 ha Ana Maria project in Durango. Initial work includes ASTER image analysis followed by a drone Lidar and hyperspectral data acquisition and analysis. Results from the 22 grab samples include up to 0.96 gpt Au, 12 gpt Ag, 3,770 ppm Cu, 1,440 ppm Pb, 278 ppm Zn, 50% Fe, 4.5% Ba, 2,450 ppm W. CRD mineralization is the target in a sedimentary package affected by an intrusive igneous stock.
Commander Resources Ltd. reported results from a soil survey program at its 1,750 ha Pedro project in Durango. The epithermal gold target is 4 km long by 1 km in width, as defined by gold and arsenic in soils, rocks and IP geophysics. “Outcrop exposure comprises prominent hematite-stained silica-rich ridges of angular chalcedony fragments and silicified sedimentary rocks within an angular course breccia. The mineralization extends beneath post-mineral volcanic rocks, colluvium … and alluvium”.
Vizsla Silver Corp. released results from 16 holes on the Tajitos zone of the Panuco project in Sinaloa. These holes expand the length of Tajitos to over 525 m, while nine other completed holes are awaiting results. Highlighted true width intervals comprise 2.5 m @ 1,586 gpt Ag, 7.72 gpt Au; 4.48 m 351 gpt Ag, 4.52 gpt Au; 7.94 m @ 387 gpt Ag, 2.25 gpt Au (including 1.44 m @ 1,365 gpt Ag, 8.35 gpt Au).
Brigadier Gold Ltd. continues drilling at its Picachos property in Sinaloa. To date 4,538 m of the planned 5,000 m on phase-1 diamond drilling program has been completed in 43 holes that mainly targeted the more than 7 km long Colcomeca vein system. “Several stages of mineralization are apparent from inspection of the drill core: (i) pervasive silicification with disseminated sulfide that is oxidized to hematite, (ii) crustiform quartz veining with sulfides, and (iii) cockade breccias in the central part of the structure. These breccias consist of angular rock fragments that are altered to a soft black mica on fragment margins”.
ON MINING
McEwen Mining Inc. informed activities at El Gallo project in Sinaloa have been restored after the illegal blockade. A new 10-year agreement was reached providing additional support to the communities and greater long-term certainty for El Gallo operation.
Prime Mining Corp. reported its operating and financial results for third quarter of fiscal year 2021, ended on January 2021. In January Prime paid Vista Gold Corp. US$1.1 M in accordance with terms on the Los Reyes project (Sinaloa) agreement; a final payment of $1 M is due in July 2021. Before the end of the quarter 1,053 m of drilling were completed in 5 holes. Two more drill rigs have been mobilized to the project for expansion of known in-pit resources along strike and dip, and infill drill areas to increase measured and indicated resources and target other structures for resource expansion and discovery.
Mag Silver Corp. released its audited consolidated financial results for 2020. Processing at the nearby Fresnillo mine plant of mineralized material from development headings began in August, with 71,859 tonnes milled @ 328 gpt Ag, producing 616.3 K Oz Ag, 1,029 Oz Au, 163 tonnes Pb, 224 tonnes Zn, netting $11.46 M as gross profit. Construction of the 4,000 tpd Juanicipio plant continues and the underground development now exceeds 35 km. The plant is now expected to commence commissioning in Q4-2021 and to reach 90-95% capacity in 2022. By the end of the period the company had cash and cash equivalents of $94 M.
ON FINANCING
Colibri Resource Corp. is to conduct a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to CAD$2.2 M. (Evelyn, Sonora).
Sonoro Gold Corp. will undertake a non-brokered private placement offering to raise up to C$2 M (Cerro Caliche, Sonora).
Telson Mining Corp. closed the non-brokered private placement announced in February, for aggregate gross proceeds of $10.08 M (Tahuehueto, Durango).
Equinox Gold Corp. announced that in response to a request from Solaris Resources Inc. the company has agreed to sell 10 M shares of Solaris for gross proceeds of C$82.5 M (Los Filos, Guerrero).
Torex Gold Resources Inc. announced the early repayment of the $40 M of debt in relation to the 2019 Debt Facility and is now debt free other than approximately $5 M of finance leases. Torex has signed a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement in connection with a two-year senior secured $150 M revolving debt facility (Limón Guajes, Guerrero).
Reyna Silver Corp. will make an application to the TSX Venture Exchange for issuing $699.3 K in common shares as compensation to technical consultors and advisors advancing the portfolio properties of Reyna Silver (Guigui, Chihuahua).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Fortuna Silver Mines Ltd. released results from step-out drilling at the San Jose mine in Oaxaca. The 4,670 m program in 22 holes established continuity of high-grade mineralization in the upper levels of the La Trinidad footwall structures. Highlighted true width intercepts comprise 4.1 m @ 699 gpt Ag, 3.57 gpt Au; 5.4 m @ 1,931 gpt Ag, 6.76 gpt Au; 9.5 m @ 306 gpt Ag, 1.38 gpt Au; 3.4 m @ 760 gpt Ag, 3.24 gpt Au; 8.4 m @ 967 gpt Ag, 4.25 gpt Au; 1.4 m @ 809 gpt Ag, 2.78 gpt Au; 14.9 m @ 473 gpt Ag, 1.25 gpt Au. “The Brownfields exploration program budget for 2021 at the San Jose Mine is US$10.9 million, which includes 33,800 meters of diamond drilling and 1,770 meters of underground development for drilling access, platforms, and services”.
Argonaut Gold Inc. released a new mineral resource estimate to the end of 2020, including figures for its projects in Mexico. The table below includes figures for El Castillo and San Agustin in Durango, La Colorada in Sonora, Ana Paula in Guerrero and San Antonio in Baja California Sur.
SilverCrest Metals Inc. released financial results for 2020 and updated on construction and exploration activities. At Las Chispas, in Sonora, 173,000 m of in-fill and expansion drilling and 6.1 km of underground development and in-vein drifting were completed in 2020. At the end of the year SilverCrest entered into a $76.5 M construction contract for a 1,250 tonnes per day process plant at Las Chispas. In February 2021 a feasibility study (FS) was completed, at an estimated cost of $137.7 M; also in February the company completed a bought deal offering for gross proceeds of $138.1 M. The Picacho property, 40 km from Las Chispas, was acquired in mid 2020, and 5,800 m were drilled before the end of the period. For 2021, 356,000 m of drilling are planned, mostly at Las Chispas; currently there are six core rigs at Las Chispas and three at Picacho, with 22,000 m and 10,000 m already drilled during 2021 respectively. At the end of 2020 the company held $135.1 M as cash and cash equivalents.
Southern Silver Exploration Corp. reported high-grade Cu-Au-Ag intercepts at its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. At Mina La Bocona target, highlighted true-width intervals comprise: 6.3 m @ 134 gpt Ag, 0.5 gpt Au, 2.3% Cu (including 1.1 m @ 567 gpt Ag, 2.3 gpt Au, 11.2% Cu in the Bocona Chimney, and 3.8 m @ 217 gpt Ag, 0.3 gpt Au, 3.3% Pb, 0.7% Zn in the Muralla Chimney.
Torex gold Resources Inc. reported that in 2020 total reserves for El Limón Guajes complex in Guerrero declined 15% due to depletion. The table below shows total reserves and resources to the end of 2020.
Ridgestone Mining Inc. provided an update on activities at its Rebeico and Guadalupe y Calvo projects. At Guadalupe y Calvo in Chihuahua, Ridgestone is working to review all the historical data in the project, which includes over 78,000 m of drilling since the early 2000’s. “The Company anticipates a phased exploration drill program which will serve to confirm the continuity within the historical resource area, in addition to targeting a significant expansion of known mineralization”. At Rebeico, in Sonora, “The Company is currently recompiling and reinterpreting the results from prior exploration campaigns and anticipates providing an update in the near-term”.
Minera Alamos Inc. selected TRIGUSA as mining contractor for its Santa mine in Sonora. “Trigusa’s mining experience includes open pit mining, crushing, tailings dam construction and heap leach pads and ponds at projects in multiple states including Sonora”. The major construction activities related to the gold recovery (carbon) plant are now complete and the initial heap leach pad area has also been completed.
GoGold Resources Inc. released the results from 7 drill holes from El Orito area at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 25.9 m @ 9 gpt Ag, 0.25%Pb, 0.85% Zn; 20.0 m @ 10 gpt Ag, 0.27% Pb, 1.08% Zn; 28.2 m @ 45 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 0.58% Pb, 1.26% Zn; 11.4 m @ 27 gpt Ag, 0.24% Cu, 2.04% Pb, 5.20% Zn; 48.6 m @ 35 gpt Ag, 0.19% Cu, 1.24% Pb, 2.36% Zn (including 6.4 m @ 139 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, 0.82% Cu, 3.76% Pb, 6.70% Zn); 31.4 m @ 44 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 0.13% Cu, 0.89% Pb, 0.86% Zn; 31.4 m @ 35 gpt Ag, 0.20 gpt Au, 0.14% Cu, 0.36% Pb, 0.28% Zn. “The El Orito deposit is unique in the Los Ricos district as it is the deeper part of the system where silver and base metals are present, while the other targets in the system to date have shown only silver and gold”.
First Majestic Silver Corp. filed updated technical reports for its three operating mines: San Dimas in Sinaloa, Santa Elena in Sonora and La Encantada in Coahuila. Below is a table that also includes the resources for San Martín in Jalisco, La Parrilla in Durango, Del Toro in Zacatecas and La Guitarra in Estado de Mexico.
Fabled Silver Gold Corp. informed on the currently ongoing 8,000 m drilling program at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua. “We are heading into areas never explored before, with new ideas to test our structure-on-structure theory over the Property. Hole SM20-07 intercepted two broad zones of northwest trending, never seen before, semi-massive marcasite, (pyrite) in hornfels, and to the east 225 meters, we tried to cross the major C1 regional north – south fault in the center of the Property.”
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
GR Silver Mining Ltd. completed the acquisition of Marlin Gold Mining Ltd., which owns La Trinidad mine in Sinaloa and 12 concessions totaling 107,392 ha adjacent to GR Silver’s existing portfolio of properties. The properties come with a database that includes 700 stream sediment samples, 500 rock samples and over 9,000 soil samples. A total of 40,500 m of diamond, RC and sonic drilling were completed by previous operators. GR Silver will pay CDN$50 K to Mako, and “Oro Gold will grant Mako a 1% net smelter return (“NSR”) royalty on the concessions owned by Oro Gold. GR Silver Mining and/or Oro Gold will be granted the right to purchase the NSR at any time upon making a one-time payment of US$2,000,000. Mako shall be responsible for and shall pay all costs related to the Closure Plan Activities at La Trinidad….”.
Silver Bull Resources Inc. announced “it has won a definitive and conclusive decision in its favor in a lawsuit filed by a local mining co-operative called Minera Norteños in relation to the Sierra Mojada project” (Coahuila). “Despite the fact that the Company has at all times proceeded in accordance with the law, the Sierra Mojada project remains under an illegal blockade manned by a small group of radical members from within Minera Norteños. We believe their actions do not represent the view of the vast majority of the Minera Norteños members and wider local community, and we are working with authorities to resolve the situation in a safe, fair, and timely manner. We remain committed to good faith dialogue with selected members from Minera Norteños to find a solution….”
Argonaut Gold Inc. informed that the previously announced definitive agreement to sell its Ana Paula project in Guerrero expired in March 31, 2021. “The acquiring company did not fulfill its obligations in relation to financing and receipt of certain regulatory and other approvals”.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Fresnillo PLC informed on cultural activities aimed at helping local communities and improving the 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 image below: Boiling texture in a quartz vein from a project in Sonora. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 7th week of the year (February 15th to February 21st, 2021), there were at least 42 press releases by companies working in Mexico. To note, nine companies posted exploration advances on their properties (with GoGold’s Casados discovery deemed the most significant), six presenting quarterly results, two informing on power cuts, six posting on financing or share options, nine on project development and two on corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the Mexican mining sector is dealing with several (government induced) challenges and great opportunities. The Nuevo Leon State government intends to push its mining sector. Camimex points out the goal of the energy bill should be to promote the reduction of the electricity cost. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tarachi Gold released drilling results from the San Javier concession; Tocvan Ventures initiated the next exploration campaign at Pilar. In Chihuahua, Radius Gold released drilling results from the Amalia project; Silver Spruce is to carry a LidDar survey at Pino de Plata; Mammoth Resources released observations by independent consultants on its Tenoriba property. In Sinaloa, Prismo Metals presented drilling results on Palos Verdes; Vizsla Silver informed seven rigs are now churning at Panuco; Brigadier Gold released drilling results from its Picachos project. In Jalisco, Stroud Resources informed on the approval of its drilling permit for Santo Domingo, Hostotipaquillo. ON MINING, Starcore International, Pan American Silver, Golden Minerals, Hecla Mining, Newmont, and First Majestic released quarterly and full year 2020 reports. Excellon and Gatos Silver informed on work affected by the power cuts in the north of the country. ON FINANCING, SGold79 Mines and Vizsla Silver granted options to directors, officers and employees; Consolidated Zinc, Orogen Royalties, Van Gold Mining and Brigadier Gold informed on their financing rounds. Heliostar Metals qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Avino Silver will drill 12,000 m on the Avino property. Sonoro Gold released results from 24 holes at Cerro Caliche. VanGold released positive results from the PEA on El Cubo and El Pinguico in Zacatecas. McEwen Mining filed the FS on the Fenix project. GoGold Resources made a discovery at Los Ricos North. Coeur Mining released the 2020 resource estimate for Palmarejo. Capitan Mining released drilling results from the Peñoles project. Golden Tag released results from drilling at San Diego, Velardeña. GR Silver Mining reported drilling results from Plomosas. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Azure Minerals is divesting its Mexican portfolio. Premier Gold shareholders had to vote in February 19 on the arrangement with Equinox Gold. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Minera Media Luna is to make a large investment during the next three years at the Media Luna project in Guerrero, with a significant impact in the communities of the area.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
The Mexican Mining Sector is dealing with several challenges and great opportunities, according to mining companies executives. The outright denial to grant mining concessions, the lack of a medium term regulatory view, security issues, the blockage by SEMARNAT of several projects, the lack of clarity and rules and lagging paperwork have to be weighed against the great mineral potential of the country, and its qualified workforce.
The Nuevo Leon State government seeks to foster the mining activity on the southern part of the state. Nuevo Leon has significant deposits of barite, clays, limestone, dolostone, gypsum, phosphorite and talc, among other minerals.
Camimex (Cámara Minera de México) pointed out that the goal of an energy bill should be to promote the reduction of the electricity cost, not to favor any given company. With the introduction of the auto supply figure a few years ago mining companies saw the electricity cost go down from US$0.12-$0.13 Kw/hr to US$0.065 Kw/hr, while those that rely on the government supplied electricity pay US$0.08 and $0.09 Kw/hr. Miners in Perú and Chile pay US$0.06 Kw/hr and those in USA and Canada US$0.04 Kw/hr and US$0.02 Kw/hr respectively.
Newmont’s Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas produced 520 K ounces of gold and 934 K gold equivalent ounces in 2020. Production for 2021 is estimated at 660 K ounces of gold and 1.12 M gold equivalent ounces.
ON EXPLORATION
Radius Gold Inc. reported results from its phase four drilling program operated by Pan American Silver Corp. at its Amalia project in Chihuahua. Highlighted true width results comprise 6.5 m @ 0.59 gpt Au, 151 gpt Ag; 0.60 m @ 1.48 gpt Au, 475 gpt Ag; 5.0 m @ 1.73 gpt Au, 70 gpt Ag; 5.5 m @ 0.93 gpt Au, 99 gpt Ag. The high-grade San Pedro ore shoot has been defined for 410 meters down-dip.
Tarachi Gold Corp. released assay results from the first nine diamond holes completed on the San Javier concession, at its Tarachi project in Sonora. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 3.0 m @ 1.58 gpt Au, 1.0 m @ 1.80 gpt Au, 1.0 m @ 6.08 gpt Au, 14.4 m @ 0.21 gpt Au; 9.0 m @ 0.61 gpt Au; 4.0 m @ 0.86 gpt Au, 2.6 m @ 1.52 gpt Au, 2.0 m @ 11.90 gpt Au (including 1.0 m @ 21.10 gpt Au); 12.0 m @ 0.63 gpt Au; 5.6 m @ 5.39 gpt Au; 1.0 m @ 15.70 gpt Au; 17.0 m @ 0.62 gpt Au; 10.6 m @ 1.6 gpt Au. “the gold mineralization is situated along open brittle structures containing over 20 percent sulphides, mainly pyrite with minor quartz veining/veinlets”.
Prismo Metals Inc. presented results from its initial five-hole 573 m diamond drilling program at its Palos Verdes project in Sinaloa. The program was designed to test for mineralization continuity to depth and along strike to previous reconnaissance drilling. Highlighted true width results comprise 3.2 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 69 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 2.5 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 17 gpt Ag, 0.09% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 1.3 m @ 0.73 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag, 0.19% Cu, 0.6% Pb, 3.9% Zn; 0.9 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag, 0.06% Cu, nil Pb, 1.4% Zn.
Silver Spruce Resources Inc. has contracted Eagle Mapping Ltd. to carry out a LiDar survey on the Pino de Plata property in Chihuahua. The survey is to produce an orthorectified color aerial photography and an accurate digital elevation model (DEM).
Vizsla Silver Corp. announced the arrival of two drill rigs to its Panuco property in Sinaloa. With these, a total of seven rigs is now operating in Panuco. The company completed over 28,000 m of drilling last year and plans to complete more than 40,000 m in the first half of 2021.
Brigadier Gold Ltd. provided results from its diamond drill and underground sampling programs at Picachos, Sinaloa. Drill core length highlighted true width (TW) intervals comprise 30 m @ 1.27 gpt Au, 212 gpt Ag; 3.5 m @ 1.07 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag, 0.39% Cu, 0.15% Zn; 6.4 m @ 0.15% Zn; 10.8 m @ 0.22% Zn; 1.6 m @ 5.08 gpt Au, 35 gpt Ag, 1.90% Cu, 0.22% Zn; 183.5 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 2 gpt Ag, 0.19% Pb, 0.37% Zn (including 0.9 m @ 10.65 gpt Au and 1.0 m @ 6.26 gpt Au, 0.54% Pb, 0.28% Zn). Highlighted trench TW intervals comprise 0.4 m @ 49.60 gpt Au, 31 gpt Ag, 0.34% Pb, 0.37% Zn; 0.8 m @ 9.70 gpt Au, 0.52% Pb, 0.32% Zn; 2.6 m @ 2.32 gpt Au, 0.14% Zn; 1.0 m @ 20.14 gpt Au, 36 gpt Ag, 0.14% Cu, 0.74% Pb, 2.51% Zn; 2.0 m @ 11.55 gpt Au, 0.12% Cu, 0.23% Pb, 0.47% Zn; 0.7 m @ 7.95 gpt Au, 43 gpt Ag, 3.26% Cu, 0.22% Pb; 0.5 m @ 109.14 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag; 4.5 m @ 2.56 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag, 0.19% Cu, 0.64% Pb, 0.86% Zn; 1.2 m @ 23.45 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag, 0.19% Pb, 0.12% Zn “Of the 28 holes drilled to date, fourteen (1704 metres) were drilled to test the San Agustín Vein, 10 holes (1029 metres) tested surface exploration targets defined by trenching, 2 holes (168 metres) tested under the historic San Antonio Mine and one hole tested under the historic La Gloria Mine”. A second drill rig is being added for the commencement of the phase two drilling campaign.
Stroud Resources Ltd. informed the drill permit application has been approved for its Santo Domingo property in Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco. The first phase consists of 12 drill holes, and a second phase comprises 38 holes to expand the mineral resources. “Stroud’s exploration of the two main mineralized zones has drilled through many of the workings. These zones; La Rayas and Guadalupe, are a series of banded to breccia style epithermal quartz carbonate vein systems represented with miargyrite, galena, sphalerite, argentite and native silver and gold. La Rayas is 30 to 35 metres wide and Guadalupe is 15 to 30 metres wide. Both are parallel structures with greater than a 700-metre strike length and about 300 metre depth”.
Mammoth Resources Corp. released observations by independent consultants on its Tenoriba property in Chihuahua. According to them the mineralization in the area is of epithermal high sulfidation type and occurring near the angular unconformity between the Lower and Upper Volcanic Groups. A thorough 2-year exploration program was recommended to evaluate the main prospect areas and to address areas that have to date seen little or no work.
Tocvan Ventures Corp. announced the start of the next phase of exploration at El Pilar in Sonora. The planned work is to include mapping and sampling of key target areas across the project. The property is interpreted as a structurally controlled low-sulfidation epithermal system in andesitic and rhyolitic volcanic rocks.
ON MINING
Excellon Resources Inc. informed it is looking for alternative energy sources for its Platosa mine in Durango. The energy utilised by the company is generated with natural gas, and it has seen its price multiplied up to a hundred times due to the intense cold wave in Texas. The price increase is expected to be a short-term event.
Starcore International Mines Ltd. announced production results for the third quarter ended January 31, 2021. At its San Martin mine in Queretaro, 57.3 K tonnes were milled @ 1.66 gpt Au, 22.9 gpt Ag, recovering 88.8% and 57.1% respectively to produce 3,063 Oz AuEq. A 6,000 m drill program has been implemented on the northwestern and eastern parts of the mine, matched with a development program of approximately 1,200 meters to cover both zones under exploration.
Mexus Gold US. continues mining at its Santa Elena project in Sonora. After a slowdown due to a Covid outbreak, operations are now gaining pace.
Pan American Silver Corp. reported audited financial results for 2020 and the Q4 of the same year, including some figures from its Mexican operations. At La Colorada, in Zacatecas, 1.19 M Oz Ag, 800 Oz Au were produced in Q4 and 5.02 M Oz Ag, 3,500 Oz Au during the year. At Dolores, in Chihuahua, 0.76 M Oz Ag, 30,500 Oz Au were produced in Q4 and 5.02 M Oz Ag, 98,000 Oz Au during the year. Cash cost and AISC per Ag Oz for the year stood at $6.99 and $10.80 for La Colorada and ($2.48) and $6.17 for Dolores.
Golden Minerals Co. released financial results for 2020. During the year the Rodeo open pit in Durango was started, with ore to be processed at the Velardeña oxide mill and an expected production between 12 K and 14 K Oz Au for 2021. In Yoquivo, Chihuahua, several new veins were discovered. The lease of the Velardeña mill to Hecla was terminated in November 2020, gathering $5.6 M in revenue. The Santa María property was farmed out for $4 M, whilst the Velardeña mine and sulfide mill might restart late in 2021. Cash and cash equivalents of $9.7 M by the end of the period.
Hecla Mining Co. presented 2020 results, including some figures from its Mexican operations. At San Sebastian, in Durango, 1.0 M Oz Ag, 7,223 Oz Au were produced in the year (0.2 M Oz Ag, 1,159 Oz Au in Q4), with the mill operating at 474 tpd when in production. Also in San Sebastian, El Tigre and El Bronco veins that were discovered under thick soil cover in 2020, can be up to 8.5 m in width and extend for more than 1.6 km. The best true width intercepts are 2.90 m @ 1,384 gpt Ag, 6.84 gpt Au for El Bronco vein and 1.07 m @ 504 gpt Ag, 2.80 gpt Au for El Tigre vein.
Newmont Corp. announced Q4 and full year 2020 results, including figures from its Peñasquito operations in Zacatecas. During the quarter 201 K Oz Au and 246 K Oz AuEq were sold at an AISC of $746 and $795 per Oz respectively. For the year, 512 K Oz Au were produced and 934 K Oz AuEq at an AISC of $806 and $828 per Oz respectively. For 2021 production from Peñasquito is expected to reach 660 K Oz Au and 1,120 K Oz AuEq.
First Majestic Silver Corp. released its financial results for the fourth quarter and year 2020. For the year, 2.21 M tonnes were processed to produce 11.6 M Oz Ag, 20.38 M Oz AgEq at a cash cost of $5.09 per Oz Ag and an AISC of $13.92 per Oz AgE.
Gatos Silver Inc. reported electricity from Mexico’s national power grid supplying its Cerro Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua has been restricted, due to recent severe winter storms in Texas. The project facilities have power generators capable of sustaining the mine and field camp operations, but not the processing plant; underground mining will continue at a reduced rate and a planned shutdown for the processing plant will be completed during this temporary power restriction.
ON FINANCING
SGold79 Mines Ltd. granted 500 K common shares to Mr. Paul Carrelo, the newly appointed independent director (Higo Blanco, Oaxaca).
Consolidated Zinc Ltd. informed there are firm commitments to raise A$2.55 M in gross proceeds. The funds are required to relieve short term cashflow pressure due to operational issues at third-party processing facilities since November 2020. (Plomosas, Chihuahua).
Orogen Royalties Inc. cancelled the previously announced private placement (royalties in Ermitaño, Sonora).
VanGold Mining Corp. has further expanded its non-brokered private placement financing for gross proceeds of $16.95 M (El Cubo, Guanajuato).
Heliostar Metals Ltd. announced it has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market, upgrading from the OTCQB Venture Market (La Lola, Sonora).
Vizsla Silver Corp. granted 2.14 M options to directors, officers, employees and consultants (Panuco, Sinaloa).
Brigadier Gold Ltd. announced a non-brokered private placement financing to raise up to $1 M.
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Avino Silver and Gold Mines Ltd. has a 12,000 meters drilling program for its 1,104 hectares Avino property in Durango. Of these, 2,000 meters are planned on El Trompo vein, 3,000 meters on the Santiago vein, 2,500 meters on the Avino ET area and 4,500 meters on the Avino West area. Other areas that area to see investment include a dry stack tailings and improvements on circuit 4. Capital expenditures are expected to be between $6 to $8 M.
Vangold Mining Corp. announced positive results from the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for the combined El Cubo and El Pinguico project in Guanajuato. There are 718.6 K tonnes @ 160 gpt Ag, 1.90 gpt Au containing 7.2 M Oz AgEq as indicated resources and 1.45 M tonnes @ 214 gpt Ag, 2.78 gpt Au containing 20.4 M Oz AgEq as inferred resources. “On an after-tax basis, the Combined Project generates a Base Case NPV (5%) of $32.9 M and an IRR of 105%, excluding El Cubo acquisition costs. Using commodity prices of $22.41/oz Ag and $1756/oz Au, which are +15% above the Base Case (yet still lower than current spot prices), the after-tax NPV(5%) is $79.0 M and the IRR is 344%”.
Sonoro Gold Corp. released assay results from 24 holes at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. Some of the highlighted core length intervals comprise 6.10 m @ 0.73 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag; 7.62 m @ 3.09 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag; 4.57 m @ 0.75 gpt Au, 1 gpt Ag; 6.10 m @ 0.78 gpt Au, 1 gpt Ag; 3.04 m @ 1.15 gpt Au, 1 gpt Ag; 3.05 m @ 2.32 gpt Au 2 gpt Ag. The Buena Suerte zone strike length is now 900 m long, and continuous mineralization has been confirmed along 2 kilometers of the El Rincón-Veta de Oro-Abejas vein and stockwork. A new zone, Bellotoso, has been identified, with a 2 kilometers strike length.
McEwen Mining Inc. filed the feasibility study (FS) on the Fenix project, Sinaloa. The report envisions a 9.5-year mine life with after-tax IRR of 28% using $1,500/Oz gold and $17/Oz silver. Average annual production is projected at 26 K Oz Au in Phase 1 and 4.5 M Oz AgEq in Phase 2.
GoGold Resources Inc. released results of nine diamond drill holes from the Casados deposit in the Los Ricos North project. Limited historical mining averaged 1.5 m in width at the Casados vein, but the present drilling intercepted mineralized widths over 20 m, and a second vein, also greater than 20 m in width. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 6.4 m @ 0.19 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag; 6.9 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 44 gpt Ag; 56.5 m @ 0.37 gpt Au, 144 gpt Ag; 22.5 m @ 0.32 gpt Au, 97 gpt Ag (including 4.9 m @ 1.05 gpt Au, 307 gpt Ag); 27.5 m @ 0.48 gpt Au, 214 gpt Ag (including 1.3 m @ 4.67 gpt Au, 2,390 gpt Ag); 59.9 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 84 gpt Ag; 20.3 m @ 0.51 gpt Au, 143 gpt Ag; 22.5 m @ 0.29 gpt Au, 84 gpt Ag; 53.3 m @ 0.40 gpt Au, 99 gpt Ag; 21.4 m @ 0.63 gpt Au, 136 gpt Ag; 21.3 m @ 0.34 gpt Au, 104 gpt Ag; 19.3 m @ 0.42 gpt Au, 135 gpt Ag.
Coeur Mining Inc. reported its 2020 mineral reserves and resources, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Palmarejo in Chihuahua, 68,850 m were drilled in 180 holes across 11 targets. Highlighted results include 6.9 m @ 4.3 gpt Au, 151 gpt Ag; 5.2 m @ 6.4 gpt Au, 179 gpt Ag at the La Patria zone; 3.4 m @ 2.8 gpt Au, 525 gpt Ag at the Bavisa zone and 6.8 m @ 9.7 gpt Au, 640 gpt Ag; 11.2 m @ 6.1 gpt Au, 430 gpt Ag; 6.0 m @ 9.1 gpt Au, 568 gpt Ag on the Hidalgo zone.
Capitan Mining Inc. reported results from the last two holes of its 2020 drill campaign at Peñoles, in Durango. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 64 m @ 0.50 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag (including 13.7 m @ 0.93 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag); 21.3 m @ 0.25 gpt Au; 15.2 m @ 0.25 gpt Au; 42.7 m @ 0.17 gpt Au, 35.1 m @ 0.31 gpt Au; 35.1 m @ 0.21 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag. The Hanging Wall zone has been confirmed and delineated for over 600 m.
Golden Tag Resources Ltd. released results from its ongoing 4,500 m drilling program at the San Diego property in Durango. The infill sampling of historic holes highlighted core intercept results comprising 9.36 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 51 gpt Ag, 0.26% Pb, 0.23% Zn; 50.52 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 25 gpt Ag, 0.24% Pb, 0.29% Zn; 175.30 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag, 0.64% Pb, 0.55% Zn (including 48.41 m @ 0.12 gpt Au, 34 gpt Ag, 0.69% Pb, 0.80% Zn and 27.30 m @ 0.16 gpt Au, 58 gpt Ag, 1.30% Pb, 0.76% Zn) in one hole; 50.05 m @ 0.04 gpt Au, 0.43% Pb, 0.41% Zn; 9.90 m @ 0.06 gpt Au, 19 gpt Ag, 0.51% Pb, 0.37% Zn; 298 m @ 0.03 gpt Au, 30 gpt Ag, 0.67% Pb, 0.70% Zn.
GR Silver Mining Ltd. reported results from the current drilling program in the San Juan area of its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 2.5 m @ 2,195 gpt Ag, 1.12 gpt Au, 0.3% Cu; 8.8 m @ 87 gpt Ag, 0.31 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.9% Zn; 1.1 m @ 244 gpt Ag, 0.53 gpt Au, 1.0% Pb, 2.1% Zn, 0.4% Cu; 22 m @ 70 gpt Ag, 0.15 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 15.0 m @ 42 gpt Ag, 0.10 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 3.4 m @ 578 gpt Ag, 0.20 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.3% Zn; 8.7 m @ 0.4% Zn; 18.3 m @ 2 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 0.7% Zn. These drilling results continue to define high-grade epithermal mineralization in the San Juan area and towards the nearby San Francisco vein.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Azure Minerals Ltd. announced it is looking to divest its Mexican properties portfolio. The company “has commenced a strategic review of its precious metals and base metals projects in Mexico, including the 100%-owned Alacrán silver-gold-copper and Oposura zinc-lead-silver projects”.
Premier Gold Mines Ltd. reminded its shareholders of the meeting that was to be held on February 19th to vote on the arrangement between Premier Gold and Equinox Gold Corp. regarding the acquisition of the company (Mercedes, Sonora).
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Minera Media Luna announced an investment of 12 billion pesos (12 thousand million pesos, or US$600 M) in the next three years at its Media Luna project in Guerrero. Currently, at its Limon-Guajes mine 70% of the 900 employees and 1,300 contractors are from the state. It was also stated that about 40% of its workforce is composed by women.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the image below: Quartz vein on the old Mazatlán-Durango road, geologist Guillermo Contreras for scale. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the second week of the year (February 08th to February 14th, 2021), at least 28 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 11 news published by the media, with nine disclosing deals and corporate issues, six announcing financial rounds, six reporting on resources and development of their mine operations, six commenting on Mexican issues, five informing on exploration results, five discussing social issues, and two communicating production and financial results. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) criteria are a key factor in Accendo Banco’s investments in Mexico’s mining sector, according to its CEO, Javier Reyes. Mining in Mexico registered a 19.5% rebound during October, 2020, according to the Monthly Indicator of Industrial Activity by Federal Entity (IMAIEF) released by the Institute National Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Tatiana Clouthier, head of the Secretariat of Economy declared that mining in Mexico must become a sustainable activity that prioritizes three issues: economic, human and nature. The energy policies that the federal government is following are already affecting the development of projects for the self-supply of energy by the mining sector. Experts detailed the main challenges that the Mexican mining sector will face in 2021, the year in which the industry is expected to play a leading role in the economic reactivation after confinements. Almost a year of delay accumulates the USD $60M of Chinese investment to construct the industrial park at Guadalupe, Zacatecas. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Canuc commenced a drill program at its San Javier project, Carlyle and Riverside initiated a phase one drilling program at its Cecilia project, Tocvan and Colibri reported drill results from its El Pilar project, and Minaurum released results from its phase II drilling program conducted at its Alamo Silver project. ON MINING, Equinox provided 2021 guidance and outlined growth and investment plan (Los Filos mine, Guerrero). GoGold reported Q4, 2020 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, Bacanora announced that 106,995,885 New Ordinary Shares were admitted to trading on London Stock Exchange market (Sonora Lithium project, Sonora). Silver Tiger announced that it entered into a CAD $20M bought deal financing (El Tigre, Sonora). Comet raised $1M in strategic investor placement (Santa Teresa project, Baja California). Orogen announced a private placement for gross proceeds of $2.7M (Ermitaño property, Sonora). Prospero Silver announced a consolidation of its common shares (Pachuca SE property, Hidalgo). SilverCrest entered into a bought deal financing agreement for aggregate gross proceeds of USD $120M (Las Chispas project, Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Bacanora commenced initial site activities at its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. Excellon provided an update on ongoing exploration at its Platosa mine in Durango. GR Silver released underground and surface drilling results from its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Newmont reported 2020 mineral reserves and resources for its Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas. Orla filed updated FS on its Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas. Southern Silver released drill results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Carlyle announced that it has now met its first-year exploration commitments of its option agreement with Riverside Resources to acquire 100% of the Cecilia Gold-Silver project. Fabled granted an aggregate of 350K stock options to certain consultants, to acquire one common share of Fabled at an exercise price of $0.22 per common share until September 1, 2021 (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua). Fortuna announced management changes (San Jose mine, Oaxaca). Gold Resource announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Arista mine, Oaxaca). Gold79announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors and granted him with 500K common shares at a price of $0.10 per share and expire on February 12, 2031 (Taviche project, Oaxaca). Orogen announced that its current President and Chief Executive Officer has been appointed to the Board of Directors (Ermitaño project, Sonora). Premier announced that two independent adviser firms have recommended that holders of Premier´s common shares and options approve the proposed acquisition of Equinox (Mercedes mine, Sonora). Tarachi Gold signed a purchase agreement with Manto Resources to acquire the Magistral del Oro mill and tailings project in Durango. Vizsla announced it will change its name to Vizsla Silver Corp (Panuco project, Sinaloa). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Coanzamex (GoGold) supported the Municipal Shelter of Parral, Chihuahua with blankets. Fresnillo plc organized literary caravan and delivered books to children from rural communities. Peñoles signed an alliance with the UNAM Foundation so that medical fellows serve the communities near its operating units in Durango, State of Mexico, Guerrero and Zacatecas. Peñoles encourages the presence of women in the areas of science, innovation and technological development. Santa Elena Mine (First Majestic) in connection with the Sonora A.C. Mining Cluster are carrying out a support program for merchants in the Banámichi and Río Sonora region.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) criteria are a key factor in Accendo Banco’s investments in Mexico’s mining sector, according to its CEO, Javier Reyes. Investment deals recently advanced by the bank include a proposed USD $12M loan to finance construction of Telson Mining’s Tahuehueto gold mine in Durango. Candelaria Mining also signed a USD $9M loan agreement with Accendo in June 2020 for the construction of its Pinos gold project in Zacatecas. Lastly, Accendo signed a strategic alliance with Vancouver-based Empress Royalty in August last year. The agreement aims to acquire royalties, cash flows and other investments in Mexico’s mining sector.
Mining in Mexico, registered a 19.5% rebound during October, 2020 according to the Monthly Indicator of Industrial Activity by Federal Entity (IMAIEF), released by the Institute National Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
Tatiana Clouthier, head of the Secretariat of Economy declared that mining in Mexico must become a sustainable activity that prioritizes three issues: economic, human and nature. On the other hand, Clouthier highlighted the work that mining companies of all levels have done to accelerate the economic reactivation of the country. “The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that is generated through mining is about 3.2% and we are pleased to see that these numbers can continue to move in favor of the economy and Mexican families,” she said. “In the Ministry of Economy we have already invited large, medium and small companies and associations that are linked to this issue to be able to find solutions, to be able, within the framework of the law, to activate what we have to activate for this task it can be managed better and it can yield better results in favor of our country”, she assured.
The energy policies that the federal government is following are already affecting the development of projects for the self-supply of energy by the mining sector. According to data from the Mexico Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX), electricity for this industry is 33% and up to 350% more expensive compared to other countries, which increases its production costs. That is why the mining companies have decided to invest and develop electricity generation projects, which range from combined cycle plants to solar or wind farms. Despite this, many of these plans have been affected by current policies on energy and the action of regulatory bodies, such as the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), which reduced the granting of permits to a minimum. President of CAMIMEX assured in recent days that half of the energy consumed by the mining industry is under the self-supply model.
Experts detailed the main challenges that the Mexican mining sector will face in 2021, the year in which the industry is expected to play a leading role in the economic reactivation after confinements. The main problems for the sector are the current health complications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of directly or indirectly legislative proposals with potential negative impacts on the mining sector such as the direct initiatives to try to raise taxes at the state of federal level or indirect initiatives as the elimination of the outsourcing or initiatives of the electricity industry. Deputies of Mexico received in January a proposal from a legislator of the ruling party Morena aimed at reviewing the fees paid for mining concessions. It proposed replacing per hectare fees with potentially much higher charges linked to production. Another problem is the “profound ignorance” of the importance of the mining industry.
Almost a year of delay accumulates the USD $60M of Chinese investment to construct the industrial park at Guadalupe, Zacatecas. This delay has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
ON EXPLORATION
Canuc Resources Corporation, commenced a drill program at its San Javier project. The program will be focused on testing geophysical anomalies and mineralized breccia and stockwork zones as reported previously.
Carlyle Commodities Corp. and Riverside Resources Inc., initiated a six drill holes, phase one program at its Cecilia project designed to test down to roughly 250m in depth over the Cerro Magallanes rhyolitic dome. The drill program will commence to test the San Jose structure where sampling returned values up to 48.3 g/t Au over 0.75m at surface.
Tocvan Ventures Corp. and Colibri Resource Corporation reported drill results from its phase one drilling program performed at its El Pilar project in Sonora, which consisted of nine RC holes for a total of 1,505m. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole JES-20-32 with 1.6 g/t Au over 94.6m, including 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag over 9.2m; hole JES-20-33 with 1.1 g/t Au over 41.2m, including 6 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag over 3.1m; and hole JES-20-36 with 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag over 24.4m, including 6.3 g/t Au and 192 g/t Ag over 9.2m, including 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag over 1.5m.
Minaurum Gold Inc., released results from its phase II drilling program conducted at its Alamo Silver project. “Drilling at the Europa-Guadalupe target outlined a prospective south-west (“SW”) plunging silver shoot along with the potential for additional high-grade mineralization to the north and south of the area drilled. At the Promontorio target, drilling returned high-grade mineralization in excess of 100m below historical workings, indicating the potential for two SW-plunging silver shoots”. At Europa-Guadalupe Zone, Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole AL20-054 with 342 g/t Ag, 0.76% Cu, and 1% Zn over 3.85m, including 1,185 g/t Ag, 2.19% Cu, and 1.2% Zn over 0.8m; and hole AL20-050 with 196 g/t Ag, 0.26% Cu, 0.35% Pb, and 1.1% Zn over 3.25m, including 784 g/t Ag, 1.05% Cu, and 2.5% Zn over 0.55m. At Promontorio Zone, hole AL20-064 intersected 528 g/t Ag, 0.8 g/t Au, 0.83% Cu, 2.4% Pb, and 1.5% Zn over 3.7m, including 1,203 g/t Ag, 2.45 g/t Au, 1.4% Cu, 5.1% Pb, and 2.8% Zn over 1.05m; and hole AL20-069 with 161 g/t Ag, 0.5 g/t Au, 0.24% Cu, 2.15% Pb, and 5.9% Zn over 4m, including 327 g/t Ag, 0.9 g/t Au, 0.23% Cu, 2.5% Pb, and 6.6% Zn over 1m. At San Jose Zone, hole AL20-066 encountered 314 g/t Ag, 0.27% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 4.45m, and hole AL20-075 with 460 g/t Ag, 0.15% Cu, 0.5% Pb, and 0.85% Zn over 2.15m. At Travesia Zone, hole AL20-077 intersected 210 g/t Ag, 0.59% Cu, 1.3% Pb, and 1.3% Zn over 4.4m, including 355 g/t Ag, 0.7 g/t Au, 1.02% Cu, 4.6% Pb, and 3.2% Zn over 0.9m.
ON MINING
Equinox Gold Corp., provided 2021 guidance and outlined growth and investment plan. It expects to produce 170K-190K Oz Au from its Los Filos mine in Guerrero at cash and AISC of USD $1,125-1,200 and USD $1,330-1,390 respectively. The company has planned a total sustaining and non-sustaining capital spend of USD $133M for the year.
GoGold Resources Inc., reported Q4, 2020 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. The company produced 298.6KOz Ag, 3,632 Oz Au and 280K Lb Cu (614.15K Oz AgEq) at cash and AISC of USD $12.27 and USD $15.19 per Oz Ag sold. GoGold reported revenue of USD $14,078M, a net income of USD $4.23M, and a cash flow from operation of USD $5.86M.
ON FINANCING
Bacanora Lithium plc., announced that 106,995,885 New Ordinary Shares were admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange market (Sonora Lithium project, Sonora).
Silver Tiger Metals Inc., announced that it entered into a CAD $20M bought deal financing with Sprott Capital Partners LP. Net proceeds will be used to fund continued exploration at its El Tigre project in Sonora, as well as for general working capital and business development purposes.
Comet Resources Ltd., announced that it raised $1M in strategic investor placement. Part of the raised funds will be used to support exploration activities at its (Santa Teresa project in Baja California.
Orogen Royalties Inc., announced a private placement for gross proceeds of $2.7M (Ermitaño property, Sonora).
Prospero Silver Corp., announced a consolidation of its common shares on the basis of one new post-consolidation common share for every three pre-consolidation common shares effective as of February 11, 2021. There will be no name change or trading symbol change in conjunction with the consolidation (Pachuca SE property, Hidalgo).
SilverCrest Metals Inc., entered into a bought deal financing agreement for aggregate gross proceeds of USD $120M. Net proceeds of the offering will be used to expand resources and reserves at its Las Chispas project in Sonora through further drilling, to optimize the mine and processing plant design, to explore regional targets, and for general working capital purposes.
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Bacanora Lithium plc., commenced initial site activities at its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. Bacanora engaged a local specialist ecological service company to rescue and remove surface vegetation and topsoil in the area proposed for the construction of the processing plant. The company is also upgrading the main access road for providing access to heavy equipment to commence the bulk site earthworks later in the year.
Excellon Resources Inc., provided an update on ongoing exploration at its Platosa mine in Durango. The company is drilling regional targets such as Jaboncillo and the PDN areas, as well as drilling the Platosa extensions and Platosa Underground to support resource definition and expansion. At Jaboncillo zone, located 11 km north of Platosa mine, Excellon identified in a previous drilling campaign a 1.2km length gossans mineralization. The current drilling program is targeting the source of these gossans and the existence of massive sulphides. At PDN zone, located 2 km north of Platosa mine, it is testing a large 800m by 60m target generated with multiple sets of geophysical data, surface mapping and sampling. This target is interpreted as a deeper skarn related to the Rincon del Caido skarn discovered in 2012 where a previous drill intercept encountered 132 g/t Ag, 3.1% Pb, 1.7% Zn, and 0.075 g/t Au (278 g/t AgEq) over 55.5m. At the 10-20 target, the company has been conducting drilling surface to add mineralization over approximately 300m of strike with a vertical extent of 30-40m. This zone has potential to significantly increase the current 800m by 600m mineralized footprint of the Platosa mine. At Platosa mine, Excellon is conducting underground drilling to define mineralization ahead of mine development and add mineralized inventory in areas not adequately tested by surface drilling. This underground drilling program follows up on previous drilling of the Pierna and NE-1 mantos and depth extensions of the 623 and NE-1S mantos.
GR Silver Mining Ltd., released underground and surface drilling results from its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Significant mineralization was encountered in hole PLI-20-05 with 2.63 g/t Au, 39 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 4m, including 8.95 g/t Au, 136 g/t Ag,0.4% Cu, 0.6% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (1,101 g/t AgEq) over 1.0m, and other deeper intersection of 2.77 g/t Au, 25 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over 9.2m, including 19.95 g/t Au, 227 g/t Ag, 1% Cu, 1.3% Pb, and 4.7% Zn (2,507 g/t AgEq) over 0.20m; and hole PLI17-32 with 1.37 g/t Au, 68 g/t Ag, 0.1% Cu, 0.4% Pb, and 0.1% Zn (245 g/t AgEq) over 10.6m. “The underground drilling program is targeting high-grade Ag-Au epithermal mineralization and bulk tonnage-style polymetallic mineralization in the Plomosas Mine Area, with the objective to delineate high margin precious and base metals mineralization for planned resource estimation”.
Newmont Corporation reported 2020 mineral reserves and resources for its Peñasquito and Noche Buena mines. Figures are shown in the tables below:
(Resources are reported exclusive of reserves)
Orla Mining Ltd., filed updated FS on its Camino Rojo Oxide project in Zacatecas. Highlights include a total ore to leach pad of 67.4M tonnes of 0.73 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag for a total of 1.59M Oz Au and 31.5M Oz Ag at metallurgical recoveries of 62% and 20% respectively to recover 980K Oz Au and 6.19M Oz Ag. The mine life of Camino Rojo has been estimated in 10.4 years with a throughput rate of 18,000 tonnes per day for an annual production of 94K Oz Au, at a cash and AISC cost of USD $490 and USD $543 per Oz Au respectively. The FS reported a Pre-Tax and NVP (5% discount rate) of USD $668M, Pre-Tax IRR of 82%, an After-Tax and NVP (5% discount rate) of USD $542M,and an After-Tax IRR of %62%, for a payback time of 1.5 years.
Southern Silver Exploration Corp., released drill results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. The company intersected bonanza grades at La Bocona Chimney in hole 20CLM-131 with 1,072 g/t Ag, 18.8% Pb, and 7.5% Zn (2,040 g/t AgEq or 51.7% ZnEq) over a true width (TW) of 8m, which includes subintervals of 3,180 g/t Ag, 58.8% Pb, and 2.3% Zn over a TW of 0.6m, and 2,340 g/t Ag, 35.9% Pb, and 1.6% Zn over a TW of 0.8m. Additional mineralized intervals intersected further down-hole include 121 g/t Ag, 2.5% Pb, and 2.5% Zn (311 g/t AgEq or 7.9% ZnEq) over a TW of 8.5m, including 413 g/t Ag, 8.7% Pb, and 9.3% Zn (1,103 g/t AgEq or 28% ZnEq) over a TW of 1.6m, including 59 g/t Ag, 0.6 g/t Au, an 3.7% Cu (489 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.5m. Additional assays results were also received from the Muralla and the South Skarn targets located 500m away of the Mina La Bocona. Significant drill intercepts were encountered in hole 20CLM-134 with 205 g/t Ag, 0.16 g/t Au, 4% Pb, and 0.9% Zn (377 g/t AgEq or 9.5% ZnEq) over a TW of 4.1m, including 575 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 9.9% Pb, and 2.2% Zn (972 g/t AgEq or 24.7% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.6m in the Muralla target; hole 20CLM-126 with 95 g/t Ag, 0.7% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (174 g/t AgEq or 4.4% ZnEq), including 398 g/t Ag, 0.16 g/t Au, 2.7% Pb, and 4% Zn (679 g/t AgEq or 17.2% ZnEq) over a TW of 0.7min the South Target Zone, and hole 20CLM-130 with 327 g/t Ag, 5.6% Pb, and 11.5% Zn (960 g/t AgEq or 24.4% ZnEq) over a TW of 1m in the South Target Zone.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Carlyle Commodities Corp., announced that it has now met its first-year exploration commitments of its Option Agreement with Riverside Resources to acquire 100% of the Cecilia Gold-Silver project, by having advanced at least CAD $750K for exploration expenditures.
Fabled Silver Gold Corp., granted an aggregate of 350K stock options to certain consultants, to acquire one common share of Fabled at an exercise price of $0.22 per common share until September 1, 2021 (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua).
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., announced the resignation of its Director and Chair of the Board, and the appointment of its replacement (San Jose mine, Oaxaca).
Gold Resource Corporation announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors (Arista mine, Oaxaca).
Gold79 Mines Ltd., announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors and granted him 500K common shares at a price of $0.10 per share and expires on February 12, 2031 (Taviche project, Oaxaca).
Orogen Royalties Inc., announced that its current President and Chief Executive Officer has been appointed to the Board of Directors (Ermitaño project, Sonora).
Premier Gold Mines Limited announced that two independent adviser firms have recommended that holders of Premier´s common shares and options approve the proposed acquisition of Equinox Gold Corp. (Mercedes mine, Sonora).
Tarachi Gold Corp., signed a purchase agreement with Manto Resources SA de CV to acquire the Magistral del Oro mill and tailings project in Durango. Magistral project consists of a 1,000 tons per day (TPD) Merrill-Crow tailings reprocessing plant and tailing disposal facility, and access to an estimated 1.3M tonnes of tailings with a historic average grade of between 2.06 g/t Au and 2.11 g/t Au. In order to acquire the property, Tarachi has to issue 4M of its common shares, grant Manto with a 15% net profits royalty on the estimated 1.3M tonnes of tailings material expected to be processed and reimburse Manto for USD $1,179,500 of cash outlays, and will satisfy certain obligations of Manto by paying a total of USD $1,111,000 plus any Mexican value add tax (IVA) and issuing 1,685,916 common shares within 90 days of closing. Manto will be entitled to the following staged bonus payments: an additional 4M common shares 60 days after the closing date, 4M common shares 180 days after the closing date, 4M of common shares 365 days after the closing date, USD $500K in cash following 6 months of commercial production at Magistral, USD $500K in cash following 12 months of commercial production at Magistral, upon the company earning USD $15M in revenue from Magistral, the company will pay Manto USD $1M. Finally, a finder´s fee of 1M common shares will be issued to Spirit Exploration Corp.
Vizsla Resources Corp., announced it will change its name to Vizsla Silver Corp. The name change is expected to be effective on February 9, 2021 (Panuco project, Sinaloa).
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Coanzamex (GoGold Resources Inc.) delivered blankets to the Parral Municipality Shelter. Major of Parral thanked the spirit of solidarity that has characterized the mining company that has operated in Parral, Chihuahua for several years.
Fresnillo plc organized literary caravan and delivered 10,000 books to children and adolescents from 23 communities in Caborca, Sonora. It should be mentioned that Fresnillo plc, in alliance with the IBBY México organization, encourages children’s reading through the “Picando Letras” program, which has been implemented for some time more than 8 years and, to date, approximately more than 2,500 infants and adolescents have participated in the various actions.
Industrias Peñoles SAB de CV signed an alliance with the UNAM Foundation so that medical fellows serve the communities near its operating units Durango, State of Mexico, Guerrero and Zacatecas. For more than 10 years, Peñoles has carried out Health Days to the communities near its operations, to provide free medical care to its neighbors. To give continuity to preventive health programs among the population with fewer resources, Peñoles ratified an agreement with the UNAM Foundation whereby eight social service providers of the University will provide medical care to the communities surrounding the Velardeña, Sabinas, Tizapa, and Capela mines.
Industrias Peñoles SAB de CV encourages the presence of women in the areas of science, innovation and technological development. Its General Director, Rafael Rebollar, points out that, fortunately, more women are joining the different mining processes, contributing their talent and skills. The Central Laboratory and the Center for Research and Technological Development (CIDT) of Peñoles stand out, with 35 women who carry out functions key to mining and metallurgical processes. Thus, Peñoles reiterates its commitment to society by integrating more women scientists in the industry, through programs that expand their knowledge and allow them to innovate in the processes, which contributes to strengthening the activity mining and make it more sustainable.
Santa Elena Mine (First Majestic) in connection with the Sonora A.C. Mining Cluster are carrying out a support program for local merchants in the Banámichi and Río Sonora region. Through a workshop, they seek to provide the necessary tools to promote the economic reactivation of businesses and overcome the barriers of the pandemic using new digital marketing tool to offer its products and services. This training was offered in virtual mode where the last session was completed in person, ending with the delivery of recognitions to the participants.
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 quartz hydrothermal breccia in a low sulphidation epithermal system in a prospect in Durango, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia., Mexico.
During the 1st week of the year (January 4th to January 10th, 2020), at least 27 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, four companies posted exploration advances on their properties, and six more posted news on resources and development. Sierra Metals Corp’s Cusi and Bolivar mines are up for grabs. ON MEXICO ISSUES, a reduction of mineral production is expected for 2020 due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Camimex pointed on the lack of clarity on the distribution of the mining royalties. At least six companies plan to start mining operations in this year. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Aztec Minerals updated its exploration status at Cervantes; Mojave Gold updated on exploration at its Sonora Gold project, where at least two structures tens of meters in width run for kilometers; Canuc Resources is using results from a magnetic survey for targeting. In Chihuahua, Mammoth Resources has received the permit for drilling at Tenoriba. ON MINING, Endeavour Silver, Aura Minerals and Torex Gold presented Q4 2020 production results. Mexus Gold US continues to stack ore at its Santa Elena mine. Sierra Metals presented a PEA that doubles the processing capacity at its Cusi mine. ON FINANCING, Ridgestone Mining increased its private placement to $2.32 M. SilverCrest Metals entered into a credit agreement for US$76.5 M. Fabled Silver and Silver Wolf Exploration granted stock options. Silver Dollar Resources made a clarification requested by the OTC Market. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GR Silver Mining reported good drilling results at the Plomosas mine, in the Plomosas project, Sinaloa. Sonoro Gold reported drilling results from Cerro Caliche, Sonora. Discovery Metals released drilling results from two vein trends at Cordero, Chihuahua. Prime Mining updated on exploration at Los Reyes, Sinaloa. Fabled Silver Gold informed on surface sampling at Santa María, Chihuahua. GoGold released results from drilling at El Favor, on its Los Ricos North project, Jalisco. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Argonaut Gold and AP Mining have amended the agreement for the previously announced sale of the Ana Paula project to AP Mining. Minaurum Gold entered into an option agreement with Fortuna Silver on the Taviche property in Oaxaca, agreement by which Fortuna can gain up to 80% interest on the project. Sierra Metals is evaluating the sale of its assets, a merger or business combination. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fresnillo, the Chihuahua Mining Cluster and Grupo Mexico informed on actions that benefit society.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
Camimex (Camara minera de México) sees the mining production to decrease in 2020 due to the pandemic. The decrease is expected to reach 10% for gold, 6 to 6.3% for silver and lead, 3% for copper and 25% for iron.
Camimex pointed on the lack of clarity on the distribution of the mining royalties. According to the previous rules the resources funded infrastructure on communities across mining regions. After de federal government changed the rules, it is not clear now how these resources are distributed. Mining companies paid US$196 M (3,990 million pesos) in royalties in 2019.
Companies aspiring to start new mines in 2021 include: Mag Silver (Juanicipio, Zacatecas), Orla Mining (Camino Rojo, Zacatecas), Minera Alamos (Santa, Sonora), Golden Minerals (Rodeo, Durango), VanGold Mining (Pinguico and El Cubo, Guanajuato), Sonora Gold (Cerro Caliche, Sonora) and Candelaria Mining (Pinos, Zacatecas).
ON EXPLORATION
Aztec Minerals Corp. informed that during 2020 formed a 65/35 joint venture with Kootenay Silver on the Cervantes project, Sonora. Also during the year an additional IP-resistivity survey was performed to define new targets; geological mapping, geochemical sampling and geophysical surveying have identified 11 targets in total, of which 7 are in preparation for drilling. Aztec intends to extend detailed geologic, structural, and alteration mapping and sampling at the Purisima West, Estrella, Jacobo, Brazil, and other targets at Cervantes, and plan and permit a phase 1 reverse circulation drilling program on the California and Purisima targets.
Mojave Gold Corp. updated on work done during December of 2020 at its Sonora Gold project in Sonora. A 261 sample stream sediment survey was carried out in the 6,000 hectares property, and detailed geological mapping and rock chip sampling was carried out on the Caracahui and Sonora Cooper areas, including underground mapping on the latter. The Sonora Cooper West/Las Llantas structure has been observed to be over 3 km in length, reaching widths of over 70 m. “In total, mineralized structures in the western part of the project area have been observed to extend more than 8.5 kilometers in cumulative length…. The Sonora Cooper mineralized area contains large structures often reaching over 70m in width, that were mapped in detail for over 500m along strike. Additionally, detailed underground mapping was completed over 605m length in the Sonora Cooper adit and over a 260m length of the Guadalupe adit. A total of 160 rock chip samples were collected from the underground workings”.
Mammoth Resources Corp. announced SEMARNAT (Mexican environmental agency) has approved the drill permit application on its Tenoriba property in Chihuahua. Mammoth is planning to start a drilling campaign before the end of the first quarter.
Canuc Resources Corp. received results from a drone supported magnetic survey at its San Javier project in Sonora. Three large magnetic high features (1,000 by 600 m, 800 by 600 m, 600 by 600m) were identified. “Detailed processing of the data suggests that there are stronger magnetic features within the larger target areas which may represent areas of higher-grade mineralization. Canuc is now carrying out detailed ground magnetic surveys on these targets and is scheduled to begin drilling in the next few weeks”.
ON MINING
Mexus Gold US. released an update of mining operations at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake for First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora). The company is stacking material from a shear zone grading 0.9 gpt to 1.2 gpt Au.
Sierra Metals Inc. filed a NI 43-101 independent technical report for a doubling of output at its Cusi mine in Chihuahua. The preliminary economic assessment (PEA) highlights include an after tax Net Present Value (NPV) of US$81 M at an 8% discount rate, at a long term silver price of US$20/Oz. The project envisages increasing the production from 1,200 tonnes per day (tpd) to 2,400 tpd @ 127.2 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 0.48% Zn, 0.34% Pb, with a 13 year mine life and recoverable 33.4 M Oz Ag.
Endeavour Silver Corp. reported the highest quarterly production in the last two years from its mines in Mexico. Total production in the quarter was 237.4 K tonnes mined at a rate of 2,580 tpd @ 169 gpt Ag, 1.90 gpt Au, recovering 86.8% Ag, 87% Au, to produce 1.12 M Oz Ag, 12,586 Oz Au.
Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported Q4 production for 2020. At its Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero, 12,560 tpd were processed, with 1,300 tpd mined from underground and 18,360 tpd mined from open pit with a waste to ore strip ratio of 6.2, to produce 130,640 Oz Au in the quarter. In the year, 11,370 tpd were processed to produce 430,480 Oz Au.
Aura Minerals Inc. released preliminary production reports for the fourth quarter of 2020. In the period the Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas produced 19,073 Oz AuEq, which added up to the 65,497 Oz AuEq for the full year. During December 89.1 K tonnes were processed, and the company intends to increase processing to 100 K tonnes per month during the second half of 2021.
ON FINANCING
SilverCrest Metals Inc. entered into a credit agreement with an affiliate of RK Mine Finance to provide a secured project financing facility for a total of US$120 M for funding the construction at Las Chispas, Sonora. Concurrently SilverCrest has entered into a fixed price engineering, procurement and construction contract with Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. with a lump sum turnkey price of US$76.5 M that is to include construction of a 1,250 tonne per day process plant at Las Chispas.
Fabled Silver Gold Corp. granted 200,000 stock options to a consultant of the company (Santa María, Chihuahua).
Silver Dollar Resources Inc. was requested by the OTC Markets Group Inc. to issue a statement about promotional activity concerning its common stock. OTC Markets questioned about “two promotional newsletter emails published by CrushTheStreet.com (“CTS”) and Wealth Research Group (“WRG”) discussing the emerging bull market for commodities, particularly silver, and citing the Company in both publications… The Company has been advised by OTC Markets that OTC Markets takes the position that aspects of the statements were overly promotional. The Company wishes to caution readers that these statements are speculative in nature” (La Joya, Durango).
Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd. granted incentive stock options for the purchase of 1 M shares to directors, officers, consultants, and employees of the Company (Ana María and Laberinto, Durango).
Ridgestone Mining Inc. increased the previously announced private placement from $1.9 M to $2.32 M, for additional gross proceeds of $420 K (Rebeico, Sonora).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
GR Silver Mining Ltd. reported good underground drilling results from the Plomosas mine area at its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. “The mineralization is represented by thick intercepts of Au-Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu mineralization hosted in a series of hydrothermal breccias”. The highlighted results comprise 83 m @ 2.52 gpt Au, 33 gpt Ag, 0.9% Pb, 2.9% Zn, 0.3% Cu (420 gpt AgEq), including 4.0 m @ 9.35 gpt Au, 38 gpt Ag, 0.4% Pb, 10.5% Zn, 0.3% Cu (1,319 gpt AgEq) and 11.0 m @ 9.41 gpt Au, 135 gpt Ag, 5.7% Pb, 9.8% Zn, 0.5% Cu (1,596 gpt AgEq).
Sonoro Gold Corp. reported favourable results from eight reverse circulation drill holes at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora. At the Buena Suerte target, highlighted intercepts comprise 3.0 m @ 1.48 gpt Au; 7.6 m @ 1.32 gpt Au, 12.2 m @ 0.86 gpt Au; 12.2 m @ 0.69 gpt Au; 27.44 m @ 1.17 gpt Au (including 3.0 m @ 4.70 gpt Au); 12.2 m @ 0.50 gpt Au. Highlighted intercepts from the Japoneses target include 22.9 m @ 0.57 gpt Au; 10.7 m @ 0.45 gpt Au; 13.7 m @ 0.60 gpt Au; 10.7 m @ 0.40 gpt Au, 12.2 m @ 0.36 gpt Au; 4.6 m @ 0.41 gpt Au; 27.44 m @ 1.17 gpt Au; 12.2 m @ 0.50 gpt Au.
Discovery Metals Corp. released results from 10 diamond drill holes targeting the Parcionera and Josefina vein trends at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Highlighted intercepts comprise 4.4 m @ 246 gpt Ag, 0.39 gpt Au, 6.5% Pb, 0.4% Zn (524 gpt AgEq); 0.5 m @ 665 gpt Ag, 0.58 gpt Au, 13.8% Pb, 13.7% Zn (1,765 gpt Ag) on the Parcionera vein trend and 3.3 m @ 196 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, 5.6% Pb, 4.9% Zn (612 gpt AgEq); 1.6 m @ 20 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 1.8% Zn at the Josefina vein trend.
Prime Mining Corp. provided a year-end update on its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. “The ongoing work includes field mapping, trench sampling, rock alteration analysis and interpretation and re-logging of historic diamond drill core…. Re-logging of several existing diamond drill core holes also identified that adularia, a crystalline mineral, containing high-grade gold and silver locally with visible gold, is associated with nearby altered rock types. The adularia appears to be vertically zoned”. The project is a district scale low sulfidation epithermal mineralizing system on which more than US$20 million have been spent over 25 years.
Fabled Silver Gold Corp. completed the sampling program to evaluate the IP geophysical anomalies on the Santa María property in Chihuahua. The sampling returned silver anomalous results over two geophysical anomalies. Eleven first priority anomalies have been delineated, generally in an east-west direction.
GoGold Resources Inc. released drilling results from El Favor deposit at its Los Ricos North property in Jalisco. Highlighted core length results comprise 30.2 m @ 0.18 gpt Au, 63 gpt Ag (1.03 gpt AuEq), including 8.6 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 146 gpt Ag (2.23 gpt AuEq); 5.6 m @ 0.55 gpt Au, 287 gpt Ag (4.37 gpt Au), including 1.7 m @ 1.7 gpt Au, 834 gpt Ag (12.83 gpt AuEq); 70.5 m @ 0.15 gpt Au, 50 gpt Ag (0.82 gpt AuEq), including 9.7 m @ 0.55 gpt Au, 199 gpt Ag (3.20 gpt AuEq); 15.3 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 151 gpt Ag (2.31 gpt AuEq); 12.8 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 126 gpt Ag (1.99 gpt AuEq), including 3.3 m @ 0.89 gpt Au, 302 gpt Ag (4.91 gpt AuEq); 41.1 m @ 0.24 gpt Au, 76 gpt Ag (1.24 gpt AuEq); 21.0 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 74 gpt Ag (1.10 gpt AuEq); 27.0 m @ 0.97 gpt Au, 113 gpt Ag (2.47 gpt AuEq); 11.0 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 160 gpt Ag (2.40 gpt AuEq); 52.1 m @ 0.69 gpt Au, 254 gpt Ag (4.08 gpt AuEq); 11.6 m @ 0.43 gpt Au, 148 gpt Ag; 32.5 m @ 0.32 gpt Au, 63 gpt Ag (1.15 gpt AuEq).
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Argonaut Gold Inc. and AP Mining “have amended the agreement for the previously announced sale of the Ana Paula project to AP Mining (see press release dated September 11, 2020) to allow more time to meet the regulatory and government approvals required for closing. In connection with the amendment, AP Mining has agreed to pay an additional US$1.0 million at 15 months from the closing date and to reimburse all of Argonaut’s costs incurred associated with the Ana Paula project incurred between January 1, 2021 and the closing of the transaction. Closing continues to be subject to financing and receipt of all necessary approvals, which is expected in the first quarter of 2021” (Ana Paula, Guerrero).
Minaurum Gold Inc. entered into an option agreement with Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. pursuant to which Fortuna can earn up to an 80% interest in Minaurum’s Taviche silver project in Oaxaca. Fortuna can earn an initial 60% by making cash payments totalling $450 K and incurring in US$4 M in work expenditures over three years. Fortuna can earn an additional 20% interest “by funding Minaurum ‘s acquisition by way of option exercise of the remaining 20% interest”. The cash installments to make comprise US$75 K upon signing, US$100 K on the first anniversary, US$125 K on the second anniversary and US$150 K on the third anniversary. Drilling by previous operators of the project returned up to 34.12 m @ 262 gpt Ag and 8.35 m @ 2.05 gpt Au.
Sierra Metals Inc. announced that “its Board of Directors, supported by its management team and with the full support of Arias Resource Capital Fund L.P., Arias Resource Capital Fund II L.P. (the Company’s two largest shareholders) and Arias Resource Capital Fund II (Mexico) L.P., has commenced a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives focused on maximizing shareholder value. These alternatives could include, among other things, the sale of part or all of the Company, a sale of some of the assets of the Company, a merger or other business combination with another party, or other strategic transactions” (Cusi and Bolivar mines, Chihuahua).
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Minera Fresnillo donated computing equipment in Caborca, Sonora.
The Chihuahua Mining Cluster president, Pablo Mendez Alvídrez stated that the industry will aid with the acquisition of the Covid-19 vaccine, once it is on sale by pharmacies, for its distribution on mining communities.
The Grupo Mexico Foundation delivered a significant amount of protective equipment for health care personnel
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the image below: Quartz veining from a project in San Luis Potosí. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
During the 46th week of the year (November 9th to November 15th, 2020), at least 23 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, five companies posted exploration advances on their projects and six more posted on project development. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Canadian mining investment increased during the COVID pandemic; a webinar about lithium in Mexico was held; the illegal blockade on Equinox’s Los Filos mine in Guerrero ended and the Discoveries Conference was held in Guadalajara, the first in-person gathering of the mining community since the pandemic began. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Colibri released trench results from Evelyn; Tarachi Gold is mobilizing a portable diamond drill to the San Javier concession on its Tarachi property. In Sinaloa, Vizsla released assays from drilling at Panuco; Kootenay released drill results from Copalito. In Zacatecas, Advance Gold completed an IP survey. ON MINING, Sierra Metals, Equinox and Americas Gold and Silver released third quarter 2020 results. Americas Gold and Silver updated on the Cosalá Complex situation in Sinaloa. ON FINANCING, Silver Bull and Candente Gold raised US$150 K and $200 K respectively. Aura Minerals made some clarifications on its latest public offering. Reyna Silver is now trading in USA and Germany. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexican Gold released high grade drill results from its resource expansion program at Las Minas, Veracruz. Endeavour Silver released high-grade intercepts on Guanaceví, Durango. Discovery Metals released interesting results from drilling at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. GoGold informed on additional drill results from Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Southern Silver Exploration informed on drill results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango, some of which are high-grade. SilverCrest Metals updated on development activities at its Las Chispas project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Magna Gold optioned the Margarita project from Sable Resources (a property brought to Sable’s attention by Gambusino Prospector). VanGold Mining amended its option agreement to re-purchase three of four underlying royalties at its El Pinguico project in Guanajuato. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Fresnillo PLC promotes the creation of micro and small businesses in the Caborca region in Sonora.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
The COVID-19 pandemic saw investments by Canadian miners increase in Mexico, from US$30 M to US$160 – US$170 M a month during last September, according to Douglas Coleman, CEO of Mexico Mining Center. The increase in precious metal prices brought also an average increase of 30% on the valuation of companies in the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (BMV) during the first 10 months of the current year.
The illegal blockade by the Carrizalillo community on Equinox’s Los Filos mine in Guerrero has been lifted, according to Jorge Zuriel de los Santos, head of the Fiscalía General del Estado de Guerrero (State Prosecutor).
The webinar “The truth about lithium in Mexico” was held on November 11, 2020, sponsored by Mundo Minero, the Colegio de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México (CIMMGM) and the Asociación de Ingenieros Mineros, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México (AIMMGM).
ON EXPLORATION
Colibri Resource Corp. released assay results from the trenching program at its Evelyn project in Sonora. Highlighted results include 0.40 m @ 4.01 gpt Au on a quartz vein with oxidized pyrite, sericite and iron carbonate; 1.5 m @ 2.44 gpt Au in an andesite with quartz veining with oxidized pyrite and iron carbonate; Colibri has been granted a permit to complete up to 2.2 Km of trenching, and has collected 77 rock samples so far in these 1.5 m to 2.5 m deep trenches.
Vizsla Resources Corp. provided assay results from drilling on the Papayo and San Carlos prospects at its Panuco project in Sinaloa. “Drilling has continued to expand the known extents of mineralization at Papayo” with highlighted true width (TW) results comprising: 0.74 m @ 7.96 gpt Au, 1,515 gpt Ag, 0.50% Pb, 1.21% Zn; 1.29 m @ 0.61 gpt Au, 125 gpt Ag; 0.78 m @ 2.66 gpt Au, 474 gpt Ag, 1.04% Pb, 2.80% Zn; 0.95 m @ 21.60 gpt Au, 216 gpt Ag, 1.91% Pb, 6.02% Zn; 1.49 m @ 1.0 gpt Au, 207 gpt Ag, 0.56% Pb, 1.32% Zn; 1.37 m @ 1.31 gpt Au, 168 gpt Ag; 5.61 m @ 1.05 gpt Au, 89 gpt Ag, 0.74% Pb, 1.9% Zn. “The San Carlos structure is wide lower grade bulk tonnage target with an average width of 11.5m and a range from 3.35m to 22.8m” with highlighted TW intercepts comprising 15.62 m @ 0.91 gpt Au, 110 gpt Ag (including 4.78 m @ 2.19 gpt Au, 230 gpt Ag); 19.20 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 53 gpt Ag; 17.18 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag (including 4.59 m @ 0.97 gpt Au, 147 gpt Ag); 22.76 m @ 0.26 gpt Au, 43 gpt Ag.
Advance Gold Corp. completed an induced polarization (IP) survey on its Tabasqueña project in Zacatecas. The new IP survey highlights two wide and closely spaced high chargeability anomalies, with the strongest being on the western part of the new grid. “For both targets, the associated chargeability anomaly is deeply seated (> 250 to 300m) while their origin is linked to two distinct wide mineralized systems. The western anomaly appears to remain open laterally to the north and south within the property limits”.
Tarachi Gold Corp. is mobilizing a man portable diamond drill rig to commence drill testing the high-grade gold bearing structures on the San Javier concession, part of its Tarachi project in Sonora. The drill program will focus on a NW trending shear structure where previous drill holes intercepted 5.0 m @ 34.5 gpt Au and 3.0 m @ 24.3 gpt Au. Mineralization is hosted in andesitic volcanic rocks, flanked by an intrusive rock, and the shear zone at San Javier remains open along strike and to depth, with the possibility of an extension under cover.
Kootenay Silver Inc. released results from the last seven holes on its 4,153 m drilling program at Copalito, in Sinaloa. Highlighted intercepts comprise 9.05 m @ 2.09 gpt au, 124 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb+Zn (including 2.25 m @ 6.65 gpt Au, 335 gpt Ag, 2.6% Pb+Zn, including 0.51 m @ 16.95 gpt Au, 369 gpt Ag, 3.74% Pb+Zn); 27.4 m @ 60 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb+Zn; 10 m @ 128 gpt Ag, 0.65 gpt Au, 1.13% Pb+Zn (including 2.25 m @ 484 gpt Ag, 2.18 gpt Au, 2.86% Pb+Zn).
ON MINING
Sierra Metals Inc. Released consolidated third quarter results for 2020, with some figures from its Mexican operations. The Bolivar Mine in Chihuahua processed 410.5 K tonnes in the quarter, a record representing a 24% increase over Q3 2019, at 4,691 tpd, and in track to reach the targeted 5,000 tpd during Q4 2020. The Cusi mine, also in Chihuahua, produced a record 304 K Oz Ag, with an ore throughput of 1,074 tpd.
Equinox gold Corp. reported its third quarter 2020 financial and operating results, without detailing figures from its Mexican operations. At Los Filos, the Guadalupe open pit and Bermejal underground proceeded for July and August, but were suspended by an illegal blockade by the community on September 3rd. “Optimization study for new carbon-in-leach plant, heap leach expansion, updated mine planning and a Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource update targeted for completion in early 2021”.
Americas Gold and Silver Corp. reported financial and operational results for the third quarter 2020, including an update on its Mexican operations. At Cosalá, in Sinaloa “In August 2020, the Company announced that the illegal blockade had been resolved to permit some Company personnel the opportunity to re‐enter the mine operations. This access has not been maintained. With the re‐opening of Mexican government offices in August, the Company’s employees were expected to vote in September 2020 for new union representation and did so on September 17. In advance of the vote, a number of irregularities came to light, which indicated that there could not be a fully democratic vote with freedom of association. As a result, the Company does not believe there are conditions currently present to invest the required capital to re‐start the Cosalá Operations. The Company continues to work with all legitimate stakeholders and remains hopeful that a resolution, consistent with the rule of law and featuring an election free from threats and intimidation, can be achieved so that operations can re‐commence in the near term”. The company also finalized the option agreement with Hochschild to acquire 100% of the San Felipe project in Sonora.
ON FINANCING
Aura Minerals Corp. made some clarifications regarding the secondary public offering of Brazilian depositary receipts issued by Itaú Unibanco S.A. as depositary. “The total gross proceeds of the Secondary Offering to the Selling Shareholders are R$87,300,000.00, of which an aggregate of R$19,400,000 is in respect of the Shares offered, severally, by the ARC Funds and R$67,900,000 is in respect of the Shares offered by Ruffer. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Secondary Offering” (Aranzazú, Zacatecas).
Silver Bull Resources Inc. completed the second and final tranche of the previously announced private placement, for gross proceeds of US$150 K, and aggregate gross proceeds of US$1.7 M (Sierra Mojada, Coahuila).
Reyna Silver Corp. announced its common shares have been approved for listing on the OTCQB Market Exchange in the United States and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany.
Candente Gold Corp. advised that the previously announced non-brokered private placement has been fully subscribed, for gross profits of $200K (El Oro, Estado de Mexico).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Mexican Gold Mining Corp. released further assay results from the 2020 drilling program at its Las Minas project in Veracruz. Most of the 52 holes drilled so far have been targeting potential extensions to the El dorado resource, which remains open in several directions. Highlighted true width (TW) intercepts comprise 4.6 m @ 1.41 gpt Au, 0.55% Cu; 15.3 m @ 1.21 gpt Au, 1.1% Cu; 3.2 m @ 3.74 gpt Au, 3.76% Cu; 8.5 m @ 4.86 gpt Au, 1.17% Cu; 17 m @ 1.2 gpt Au, 0.85% Cu; 11.6 m @ 1.56 gpt Au, 1.03% Cu; 11.6 m @ 4.38 gpt Au, 1.84% Cu; 28.5 m @ 2.8 gpt Au, 1.12% Cu; 8.0 m @ 1.9 gpt Au, 0.36% Cu; 7.4 m @ 3.46 gpt Au, 5.08% Cu; 5.3 m @ 0.4 gpt Au, 0.83% Cu.
Endeavour Silver Corp. continues to intersect high-grade mineralization in the Santa Cruz vein on the El Curso property of the Guanaceví mine in Durango. Highlighted TW intersections on eleven holes comprise 3.2 m @ 2,307 gpt Ag, 3.15 gpt Au (2,559 gpt AgEq); 3.1 m @ 1,409 gpt Ag, 3.13 gpt Au (1,659 gpt AgEq) and 11.5 m @ 381 gpt Ag, 0.5 gpt Au.
Discovery Metals Corp. released results from seven diamond drill holes targeting bulk-tonnage mineralization in the South Corridor at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. Some of the highlighted results comprise 71.2 m @ 18 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 139.1 m @ 47 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 1.6% Zn (138 gpt AgEq); 26.6 m @ 56 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 19.4 m @ 41 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.2% Zn; 29.6 m @ 52 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 0.8% Zn; 92.1 m @ 27 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 32.4 m@ 72 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.1% Zn; 38.4 m @ 36 gpt Ag, 0.04 gpt Au, 0.6% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 33.9 m @ 30 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 62.2 m @ 38 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 57.1 m @ 18 gpt Ag, 0.01 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 1.0% Zn. Assays from 27 holes are pending and four rigs are operating at the site.
GoGold Resources Inc. released additional drill results from the La Trini deposit at its Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intercepts comprise 25.9 m @ 0.34 gpt Au, 52 gpt Ag (including 4.7 m @ 0.81 gpt Au, 124 gpt Ag); 2.4 m @ 0.05 gpt Au, 300 gpt Ag; 18.7 m @ 0.58 gpt Au 46 gpt Ag; 18.2 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 48 gpt Ag; 15.2 m @ 0.71 gpt Au, 71 gpt Ag (including 2.0 m @ 3.55 gpt Au, 284 gpt Ag and 1.3 m @ 4.20 gpt Au, 733 gpt Ag).
Southern Silver Exploration Corp. reported initial assay results from the recently started 10,000 m core drilling program at Cerro Las Minitas, Durango. Highlighted true width results from holes in the South Skarn target comprise 4.0 m @ 109 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 0.02% Cu, 1.8% Pb, 2.1% Zn (including 0.9 m @ 412 gpt Ag, 0.14 gpt Au, 0.06% Cu, 7.8% Pb, 9.2% Zn); 0.8 m @ 132 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 0.02% Cu, 2.8% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 1.1 m @ 54 gpt Ag, 2.83 gpt Au, 0.01% Cu, 3.6% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 3.2 m @ 99 gpt Ag, 0.27 gpt Au, 0.01% Cu, 0.7% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 6.7 m @ 625 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 0.03% Cu, 11.8% Pb, 7.5% Zn; 1.2 m @ 112 gpt Ag, 0.07 gpt Au, 2.2% Pb, 2.1% Zn.
SilverCrest Metals Inc. provided an update on activities for 2020. During the first nine months of the year the company has drilled 146,000 m of in-fill and expansion drilling at Las Chispas project in Sonora. Furthermore, 4.1 km of underground decline and lateral drifting, stockpiling an accumulated 47 K tonnes @ 1,130 gpt AgEq (7.21 gpt Au, 590 gpt Ag). “Las Chispas site activities continued with the building of the administration and warehouse facilities, phase 1 of the temporary quarantined COVID-19 camp, communication system, and water pumping stations”. Since inception of the project, 461,000 m have been drilled in 1,712 holes. As October 31, 2020, SilverCrest has cash and cash equivalents of $184 M (US$138.2 M).
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
Magna Gold Corp. entered into a definitive option acquisition agreement with Sable Resources Ltd. To acquire Sable’s option to acquire 100% interest in the 125.6 ha Margarita silver property in Chihuahua; the property lies 15 Km northwest on strike with the recently commissioned Sunshine Silver Corp’s Los Gatos mine. Magna is to acquire the option by paying CAD$1.5 M cash, plus additional CAD$800 K VAT and CAD$3.5 M in common shares of Magna. The purchaser will exercise the option to acquire the property by payment of CAD$500 K in cash, plus $368 K in VAT to the titleholders of the concessions and CAD$1.8 M in Magna shares. Sable drilled 35 holes for a total of 5,245 m, with intercepts like: 4.25 m @ 430 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 12.4 m @ 446 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 14.05 m @ 306 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 1.9% Zn; 11.3 m @ 229 gpt Ag, 1.0% Pb, 0.3% Zn; 33.3 m @ 283 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.8% Zn (including 9.9 m @ 579 gpt Ag, 0.8% Pb, 1.7% Zn); 20.6 m @ 83 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn (including 5.1 m @ 198 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn); 48.65 m @ 102 gpt Ag, 0.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 37.35 m @ 117 gpt Ag, 0.17 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 0.7% Zn (including 5.5 m @ 400 gpt Ag, 1.07 gpt Au, 1.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn).
VanGold Mining Corp. amended its option agreement to re-purchase three of the four underlying royalties on its Pinguico project, Guanajuato. Under the new terms the option is exercisable by making payments to EMBSA (Exploraciones Mineras del Bajío, S.A. de C.V.) of $200 K cash and 3.75 M shares before November 20, 2020; $325 K in cash before February 22, 2021; $525 K in cash before February 22, 2022 and $625 K in cash before February 22, 2023. After these payments are made, the only NSR on the property will cover the above ground and below ground stockpiles.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Fresnillo PLC promotes the creation of micro and small businesses by means of its “Emprende en Línea” (Online Entrepreneurship) program, to develop administrative and managerial capabilities to consolidate businesses. For more than two decades Minera Penmont has contributed to the growth of the Caborca region through the implementation of social programs.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the image below: Base metal veinlet in core from Cerro San Pedro, San Luis Potosí. Picture by Jorge Cirett.
