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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of June, 2020

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186

By Jorge Cirett

During the 26th week of the year (June 22nd to June 28th, 2020), at least 30 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. Notably, 6 of those were exploration updates and 6 more related to financing. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Mining and  Automotive industries are to operate even if there is a resurgence of Coronavirus cases. The Mining Fund Technical Committee approved US$11.6 M for 98 projects in 11 States. Canadian Mining companies are under pressure to pay disputed taxes. AMLO rejected the idea of nationalizing the lithium industry…. but declares the conditions on which those conditions are granted have to be reviewed (Keep in mind what’s been happening in the electricity industry).  ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Ridgestone completed a maiden drill program on its Rebeico project; Tarachi Gold acquired the Tarachi property in Sonora; Aztec Minerals identified multiple chargeability anomalies at its Cervantes project; Tocvan Ventures released strong results of its soil program on the Pilar project. Vizsla Resources released high grade drilling results from its Panuco project. GoGold Resources released results from three more drill holes at its Los Ricos South project.  ON MINING, VanGold Mining plans to clearing the shaft at the Pinguico property to provide access for sampling and eventually infill extraction. ON FINANCING, Southern Silver is eyeing a private placement to raise up to C$7 M. Aura Minerals authorized a dividend’s policy. First Mexican Gold granted 2.5 M options to directors, officers and consultants. Orex Minerals raised $989 K on the closing of the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement. Apollo Gold aims to raise up to $5 M. McEwen Mining refinanced its $50 M senior secured term loan facility.   ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GR Silver Mining released drill results from historic holes at its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Magna Gold filed a technical report on its San Francisco mine, in Sonora. SilverCrest Metals updated on the development of the Las Chispas project under the Coronavirus emergency. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Argonaut Gold and Alio Gold announced that COFECE, the last bureaucratic hurdle, has cleared the transaction on its merger. Riverside Resources disclosed additional funding from BHP on its generative copper exploration program in Sonora. Southern Silver Exploration signed an agreement to acquire Electrum Global Holdings’s 60% share on the Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Candente Gold mobilized a team for the due diligence on the El Dorado project and the SDA mill in Nayarit. Hochschild optioned the Los Cuarenta property in Sonora from Riverside Resources. Apollo Gold Corp. entered into a LOI to option the “Jalisco Group of properties” from First Majestic. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Peñasquito donated medical supplies to the IMSS Hospital Número 12 in Concepción del Oro, Zacatecas. Esperanza Silver repaired the water supply system in San Agustín Tetlama, Morelos.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mining and the Automotive industries to operate, even if there is a resurgence (hypothetical) of Coronavirus cases. Graciela Márquez, Economy Secretary, explained these industries are essential, and are to continue activities under any color of the health lights system.
  • The Mining Fund Technical Committee approved the funding of 98 projects for US$11.6 M ($260.9 M pesos) for pavement laying, sidewalk construction and water supply nets. The funds are to be distributed as follows: Sonora US$6.12 M, Zacatecas US$2.47 M, Durango US$1.08 M, Coahuila US$0.93 M, Chihuahua US$0.71 M, San Luis Potosí US$0.21 M, Aguascalientes US$90 K, Jalisco US$54 K, Michoacán US$45 K, Oaxaca US$32 K and Hidalgo US$14 K.
  • Canadian Mining companies are under pressure to pay disputed taxes to the Mexican government, according to University academics on the matter.
  • The president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, rejected the idea of nationalizing the lithium exploitation in the country. His comment comes regarding the ideas expressed by Victor Manuel Toledo, Environment Secretary and staunch opponent of mining. According to the president, there is already a legal framework for contracts and concessions by the government for the exploitation of mineral resources. However, he also stressed that the conditions on which those concessions are granted have to be reviewed.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Ridgestone Mining Inc. completed the maiden drill program at its Rebeico project in Sonora. Under the program 1,674 m were drilled in ten holes. Most of the holes tested the geometry of gold-copper mineralization on the New Year Zone. Core samples are being submitted to the lab.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp. released drilling results from two holes on the Napoleon vein corridor at the Panuco project in Sinaloa. Highlighted core-length intercepts comprise: 8.2 m @ 739 gpt Ag, 11.06 gpt Au; 2.0 m @ 1,527 gpt Ag, 24.9 gpt Au on one hole; 2.5 m @ 454 gpt Ag, 9.20 gpt Au; 5.1 m @ 309 gpt Ag, 8.00 gpt Au, 2.22% Pb, 4.75 % Zn; 1.8 m @ 186 gpt Ag, 15.63 gpt Au, 1.12% Pb, 7.73% Zn in the second hole. True widths are estimated at between 46-66% of down hole lengths.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. informed on the results from three diamond drill holes at the Los Ricos South project. The holes drilled at the San Juan, Rascadero and East veins returned core length intervals of 27 m @ 0.09 gpt Au, 28 gpt Ag (including 4.0 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 89 gpt Ag); 39.0 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 117 gpt Ag (including 11.0 m @ 1.40 gpt Au, 319 gpt Ag); 3.2 m @ 0.15 gpt Au, 25 gpt Ag.
  • Tarachi Gold Corp. commenced fieldwork at its Tarachi project in Sonora. Tarachi’s geological crews have begun a two-week field program of geological mapping and rock sampling of known mineral occurrences to verify historical work programs. Historical work includes drill intercepts of 5.0 m @ 34.5 gtp Au, 3.0 m @ 24.3 gpt Au; 1.32 m @ 110 gpt Au. The 2,560 ha project includes the San Javier, Pretoria, Chivitas, Jabali, Juliana, Texana and Tarachi concessions.
  • Aztec Minerals Corp. identified multiple chargeability anomalies on a 3-dimensional IP-Resisitivity survey completed last year at its Cervantes property in Sonora. Each of the 6 porphyry prospects along the corridor exhibit strong porphyry alteration and Au (Cu) mineralization, while none of the Jacobo, Purisima West, Purisima East and Estrella targets have ever been drill-tested .
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. released results from the soil sampling survey undertaken at its Pilar property in Sonora. The results include values of up to 8 gpt Au and 317 gpt Ag, and collectively have highlighted the East Zone as a new focus area..

ON MINING

  • VanGold Mining Corp. plans to begin clearing the El Pinguico shaft at its El Pinguico project in Guanajuato. The mucking of the shaft will allow the company to sample the lower part of the old workings infill, which on surface averaged 1.75 gpt Au, 183 gpt Ag. It will also allow the inspection of underground drifts for extracting the mineralized material, and check on past producing high-grade stopes.

ON FINANCING

  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. plans a fully marketed private placement aiming to gross proceeds for a minimum of C$7 M. The company entered into a definitive agreement with Electrum Global Holdings L.P. to acquire Electrum’s 60% ownership interest in Southern Silver Holdings Ltd. for current and future cash and share payments totaling US$15.0 M (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango).
  • Aura Minerals Inc. announced its board of directors approved a dividend policy (Aranzazu, Zacatecas).
  • First Mexican Gold Corp. granted 2.5 M options to directors, officers and consultants (Hilda, Sonora).
  • Orex Minerals Inc. closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement, for gross proceeds of $989 K (Sandra-previously Sandra Escobar-, Durango).
  • Apollo Gold Corp. is conducting a non-brokered placement aiming to raise up to $5 M in gross proceeds (Eztzatlan, Jalisco).
  • Mc Ewen Mining Inc. announced the refinancing of its $50 M senior secured term loan facility. “As part of the refinancing, Sprott Private Resource Lending II (Collector), LP has replaced Royal Capital Management Corp. as a lender and the administrative agent for the Term Loan; and Evanachan Limited, a corporation wholly-owned by Rob McEwen, remains a lender….. the maturity date of the Term Loan has been extended by two years to August 31, 2023” (El Gallo, Sinaloa).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. Released drill results from historic holes at its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. These high-grade silver intercepts are outside the previously mined Pb-Zn-Ag-Au ore of the Plomosas mine area. Some of the highlighted true width (tw) intercepts comprise: 14.6 m @ 46 gpt Ag, 1.0 gpt Au, 1.7% Pb, 2.2% Zn; 5.4 m @ 326 gpt Ag, 1.9 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 1.2% Zn (including 1.9 m @ 900 gpt Ag, 1.9 gpt Au, 1.9% Pb, 3.2% Zn); 2.1 m @ 349 gpt Ag, 0.4 gpt Au, 2.3% Pb, 1.3% Zn); 2.7 m @ 1,469 gpt Ag, 0.5 gpt Au, 2.2% Pb, 3.2% Zn; 17.4 m @ 4 gpt Ag, 3.6 gpt Au; 2.2 m @ 398 gpt Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.7% Zn; 32.8 m @ 32 gpt Ag, 0.9 gpt Au; 9.8 m @ 28 gpt Ag, 0.7 gpt Au, 4.2% Pb, 0.9% Zn; 13 m @ 13 gpt Ag, 2.8 gpt Au, 0.5% Pb, 1.4% Zn; 11.7 m @ 8 gpt Ag, 1.7 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 0.7% Zn.
  • Magna Gold Corp. filed an independent technical report for the San Francisco Gold project in Sonora.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. continues activities at its Las Chispas project in Sonora. A fully confined camp for 160 persons has been built at the site. All personnel is tested for COVID-19, and transported to the project once the negative results are received. Currently eight rigs are operating on the H2 program focusing on the high-grade resource expansion at the veins Babicanora (SE, NE, deep), Babi Sur (SE to depth), Babi Vista (all directions), Babicanora Norte (SE, NW, deep), Las Chispas (SE to depth), Giovanni (SE to depth), William Tell (all directions), and Varela (all directions). “Underground development has resumed, with a target of 500 metres per month by Q3, 2020, under confined camp conditions. The first ventilation raise in the Babicanora area has been completed. “. The feasibility study is progressing.

 

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Argonaut Gold Inc. and Alio Gold Inc. announced the receipt of the clearance decision from the Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (COFECE) with respect to the pending merger between Argonaut Gold and Alio Gold. This approval “was the final government agency approval required before completing the merger, which is anticipated to occur between June 29, 2020 and July 3, 2020” (El Castillo, Durango; Ana Paula, Guerrero).
  • Riverside Resources Inc. announced the continuation of the exploration agreement with BHP Exploration Chile SpA for the funding of generative copper exploration in the copper producing belt of Sonora. “BHP will be providing Riverside with US$720,000 to commence the first half of the second year of the Program to continue to grow the portfolio of copper projects which is an increase of US$220,000 from the initial plan ”.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. entered into a definitive agreement with Electrum Global Holdings L.P. to acquire Electrum’s 60% ownership interest in Southern Silver Holdings Ltd. for current and future cash and share payments totaling US$15.0 M to gain 100% interest in the Cerro Las Minitas project, in Durango. Payments include US$5M in cash and US$2 M in shares by September 2020 (less credit for deposit of C$1.35 M paid in June 2020), US$2 M in cash and US$2 M in shares six months from closing and US$2 M in cash and US$2 M in shares one year from closing Cerro Las Minitas, Durango).
  • Candente Gold Corp. mobilized a team for the due diligence process on its acquisition process from Magellan Acquisition Corp. of the San Dieguito de Arriba processing plant and the El Dorado project in Nayarit. The Eldorado epithermal vein trend has been traced for 3.5 km along strike, hosting multiple mineralized zones, including distinct high-grade veins and lower grade bulk tonnage stockwork zones extending over tens of meters in width in both the hanging wall and footwall of the vein system.
  • Riverside Resources Inc. entered into a definitive option agreement with Minera Hochschild de Mexico S.A. de C.V. for Riverside’s Los Cuarentas project in Sonora. Hochschild is to pay Riverside US$90 K on the signing of the agreement and invest US$8 M over four years in the property to earn 51%, upon which it can elect to earn an additional 24% by spending a further $3 M and producing a feasibility study. Upon completing the second phase earn-in, Riverside will have the option to sell its interest for US$20 M, while retaining a 1% NSR.
  • Apollo Gold Corp. entered into a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with First Majestic Silver Corp. for a three-year earn-in option to acquire First Majestic’s “Jalisco Group of Properties”. Under the terms of the agreement Apollo will pay $250 K and issue 4.29 M shares and 1.5 M warrants on closing of the definitive agreement. A further $200 K and 1 M shares a year from closing and $300 K and 1 M shares two years from the closing date. Apollo commits to spend at least $1.25 M on the properties within 36 months of closing. The properties comprise 5,240 ha of mining concessions which include the Etzatlan, Ampora, La Calabaza, Piedra and Bola mines.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Peñasquito donated medical supplies in the fight against Coronavirus to the IMSS Rural Hospital number 12 in Concepción del Oro, Zacatecas.
  • Esperanza Silver de Mexico repaired the water supply equipment supplying the 2,500 inhabitants of San Agustín de Tetlama community in Morelos.

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: Epithermal quartz-graphite vein, Hermosillo District, Sonora, Sonora. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

186

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of May, 2020

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134 - copia

By Jorge Cirett

During the 22nd week of the year (May 24th to May 31st, 2020), at least 36 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Francisco Quiroga, subsecretary of mining had a very active week by reviewing personally the health protocols put in place by mining companies in several states, as well as being present on the installation of regional mining committees in a handful of states, before the full re-start of mining operations allowed by the government. BNamericas presented a list of 24 mining projects going ahead in Mexico from 2020 to 2026, with a capital investment of US$7,450 M. Mining companies scrambled on the restart of operations permitted by the government with the inclusion of the industry in the category of essential activities that can operate during the Coronavirus emergency. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Ridgestone Mining resumed activities at its Rebeico project. In Chihuahua, Kootenay Silver released results from drilling at its Columba project; Mammoth Resources announced Centerra is returning for exploration work at its Tenoriba project. In Nayarit, Candente Gold is to rehabilitate underground workings to advance its El Dorado project. In Zacatecas, Defiance Silver delineated several targets at the San Acacio property. ON MINING, Sierra Metals, Impact Silver, Mexus Gold, Fortuna Silver, Gold Resource, Endeavour Silver and Aura Minerals announced the recommencement of activities, following the government easing of restrictions on mining. Impact Silver and Discovery Metals reported first quarter 2020 results. GR Silver Mining is postponing the filing of first quarter 2020 results, under the blanket relief granted by the regulatory authorities in Canada. ON FINANCING, in a pretty busy week, 16 companies made announcements related to their financing.  Canasil Resources granted 1.75 M options. Orex Minerals intends to raise up $2 M. Silver Tiger Metals is now trading on the OTCQB quotation system in the US. Vangold Mining accelerated a warrant bonus program in connection with its 2019 private placement. Equinox Gold saw warrants exercised for $145 M. Southern Silver Exploration extended the expiry date of some warrants for two years. Ridgestone Mining is now listed in the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Aztec Mining engaged a Swiss investor relations firm for European exposure. Vizsla Resources is pursuing a financing round for C$4 M. DynaResources closed a financing agreement for $3.9 M. Minaurum Gold closed its private placement grossing $5 M. Telson closed the second tranche of its private placement for $196.6 K. Golden Tag Announced a non-brokered private placement for up to $1.12 M. Solaris Resources raised C$20 M. Mammoth Resources announced a private placement for up to $131 K. Consolidated Zn intends to raise up to $1.73 M.   ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexican Gold Mining is working on the PEA for its Las Minas project in Veracruz. Golden Minerals filed the PEA on Rodeo, Durango. Bacanora Lithium updated on activities to further advance its Sonora Lithium project. Discovery Metals has completed 15,000 m of its 30,000 m phase 1 drill program at its Cordero project in Chihuahua. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Mithril completed the acquisition of Sun Minerals, obtaining thus the Copalquin project in Durango. Candente Gold amended the memorandum of understanding to acquire the El Dorado property and the SDA mill in Nayarit. Sonora Metals published and filed a new version of the Cerro Caliche development report, as requested by the British Columbia Securities Commission. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Minera Peña Colorada, Grupo Mexico, Fresnillo PLC, Minera Real Bonanza and the mining industry in Sonora  informed on donations and work realized to aid communities, mainly on subjects related to the Coronavirus emergency, like medical supplies and equipment, comprising also a large array of investments and measures that benefit the mining communities.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Francisco Quiroga, subsecretary of Mining, personally verified the application of safety protocols to re-start operations in mines. Quiroga visited Agnico Eagle’s Pinos Altos, Grupo Mexico’s Santa Barbara and Frisco’s Concheño mines in Chihuahua. He will also review protocols in Durango, Zacatecas and Coahuila.
  • The fourth virtual personnel hiring session was held by La Cantera Desarrollos Mineros in Zacatecas.
  • The silver price has seen its strongest monthly growth in almost seven years. Prices have reached up to $17.69 per ounce.
  • The Regional Committee for the Development of Mining Zones was constituted in Durango.
  • Mining Companies are to re-start operations on June 1, 2020. Dozens of mining companies prepare to re-commence mining and processing activities, reviewing its health and work protocols.
  • The Regional Committee for the Development of Mining Zones was installed in Zacatecas. The governor Alejandro Tello, the Camimex president, Fernando Alanís and the Mining subsecretary Francisco Quiroga were in the event that also saw the presence of representatives of Fresnillo PLC, Industrias Peñoles, Minera Frsico, Capstone Gold, Excellon Resources, Newmont, Aura Minerals, Arian Silver, Grupo Mexico, Impulsora Minera Santacruz, First Majestic, Grupo Minera Candelaria, Minera Camino Rojo, and Minas de San Nicolás.
  • The subsecretary of Mining Francisco Quiroga reviewed the sanitary procedures of Minera El Roble.
  • Peñasquito restarted operations in Zacatecas, after the review of the health protocol by Francisco Quiroga, subsecretary of mining.
  • Bnamericas presented a list of mining projects going forward in 2020-2026 with a capital investment of US$7,450 M, notwithstanding the pandemic induced stoppages. A total of 24 projects would increase the annual production by 1.5 M Oz Au, 33 M Oz Ag and 247 K tonnes Cu to 2026.Bnamericas table, Mining Projects 2020-2026

ON EXPLORATION

  • Kootenay Silver Inc. released results from four more drill holes at its Columba project in Chihuahua. Highlighted core length intervals comprise: 1.06 m @ 259 gpt Ag; 7.0 m @ 124 gpt Ag (including 3.6 m @ 197 gpt Ag); 2.8 m @ 762 gpt Ag (including, 1.0 m @ 2,010 gpt Ag); 10.2 m @ 68 gpt Ag (including 0.65 m @ 368 gpt Ag); 4.4 m @ 209 gpt Ag (including 1.4 m @ 484 gpt Ag); 38 m @ 50 gpt Ag (including 0.45 m @ 486 gpt Ag); 6.0 m @ 317 gpt Ag (including 2.0 m @ 865 gpt Ag); 36 m @ 72 gpt Ag (including 1.1 m @ 769 gpt Ag and 4.36 m @ 317 gpt Ag). Drill results show continuity and high grades along nearly 600 meters of strike on the F Vein at depths from 15 to 200 meters.
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc. has resumed activities at its Rebeico project in Sonora. “Core samples from the first three drill holes at the New Year Zone, which encountered abundant sulphides, have been sent to ALS Chemex in Hermosillo for assaying”.
  • Mammoth Resources Corp. announced the return of Centerra Gold Inc. personnel to Mammoth’s Tenoriba project in Chihuahua.
  • Candente Gold Corp. is planning underground work on the El Dorado project in Las Minitas, Nayarit. Rehabilitation of underground workings is to aid in the construction of a 3-D model of unmined blocks and vein structure, to guide potential mining/extraction operations. Drill data from the 2010-2011 campaign would be also incorporated.
  • Defiance Silver Corp. announced the delineation of multiple targets at is San Acacio project in Zacatecas, which include a 1.3 Km by 300 m corridor where a hanging wall mineralizing event has been identified, deep targets along the Veta Grande strike to the SE, and the El Mirador part of the multi-km long La Veta Morada fault. Re-logging and sampling of historical drill holes is to continue, with a 5,000 m drilling program planned on existing targets. Defiance is preparing additional drill permit applications that will test some of the targets that lie outside of the current drill permit.

ON MINING

  • Sierra Metals Inc. informed the Mexican government issued a communication stating “that the effective date for Mining to be deemed an essential service was June 1, 2020. The Company is currently recalling employees from the Bolivar Mine (Chihuahua) to begin a COVID-19 screening process, including a quarantine period, allowing the Company to be ready to commence mining activities on June 1, 2020. The Cusi Mine (Chihuahua), as previously discussed in the May 13, 2020 press release, remains in care and maintenance”.
  • Aura Minerals Inc. announced that the Company filed its interim financial statements for the first quarter of 2020 (Aranzazu, Zacatecas).
  • Impact Silver Corp. announced its financial and operational results for the first quarter of 2020. Silver production was 179 K Oz Ag, with mill feeds from the Guadalupe, San Ramon, Cuchara and Veta Negra mines. At the end of the period the company cash and working capital stood at $3.9 M and $3.4 M respectively. Mining is to resume on June 1st, 2020, following government directions (Zacualpan, Estado de Mexico).
  • Mexus Gold US. Resumed full operational production after the Coronavirus emergency slowdown at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to be mistaken with First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora).
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. resumed production activities at its San José mine in Oaxaca.
  • Gold Resource Corp. received written government approval to restart its Oaxaca Mining Unit in Oaxaca. “After reviewing Gold Resource Corporation’s safety protocol documentation, the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMMS) approved in writing the restart of the Company’s OMU operations on May 25, 2020”.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. has restarted operations at its three underground mines in Mexico. “The Company filed its mine operating and health plans with, and received approvals from, the Secretariat of Health in Mexico to recommence mining operations”. Guanaceví in Durango, Bolanitos in Durango and El Compa in Zacatecas are ramping up activities to achieve normal operations.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. announced its operating and financial results for the first quarter 2020. By the end of the period Discovery had cash and cash equivalents of $20 M (Cordero, Chihuahua).
  • Minera Capela (Industrias Peñoles) reported a rock-fall that resulted in two deaths and three more casualties in Tehuixtla, Teloloapan, Guerrero.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. Informed that due to international logistics and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company is relying on the blanket relief granted by the securities regulatory authorities in Canada to postpone the filing of its Q1 2020 reports. (Plomosas, Sinaloa).
  • Aura Minerals Inc. expects it will be able to gradually and safely resume activities at Aranzazu, Zacatecas, over the next few weeks.

ON FINANCING

  • Canasil Resources Inc. granted 1.75 M incentive stock options to directors, officers, consultants and employees. David Terry has agreed to act as an advisor to Canasil’s board of directors (La Esperanza, Zacatecas).
  • Orex Minerals Inc. intends to undertake a private placement financing to raise gross proceeds of up to $2 M. “Orex intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to maintain its 40% share of the Sandra-Escobar Project in good standing and fund its 40% share of the upcoming work program, and for general corporate and working capital purposes”.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc. (formerly Oceanus Resources) announced it is now trading on the OTCQB, a US interdealer quotation system. Silver Tiger’s common shares also trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under its trading symbol SLVR (El Tigre, Sonora).
  • VanGold Mining Corp. adopted a warrant acceleration bonus program for its outstanding share purchase warrants granted in connection with the company’s 2019 private placement financing (El Pinguico, Zacatecas).
  • Equinox Gold Corp. reports that from April 1 to May 25, 2020, warrants s held by various security holders have been exercised for net proceeds of approximately $145 M. “As at May 26, 2020, the Company’s cash balance is more than $480 million” (Los Filos, Guerrero).
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. announced that the TSX Venture Exchange has approved the extension of the expiry date of certain of the company’s outstanding common share purchase warrants for an additional two years, with the expiration date now from June 2022 to September 2022 (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango).
  • Ridgestone Mining Inc. common shares are now listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, broadening the corporation’s shareholders base in Europe (Rebeico, Sonora).
  • Aztec Minerals Corp. has engaged “Commodity-TV and Rohstoff-TV for an initial three month period to assist with Aztec’s investor relations activities. Pursuant to an agreement dated May 20, 2020, Aztec will pay C&R-TV €9000 plus expenses. C&R-TV is based in Switzerland and will introduce Aztec to its European investor network” (Cerro Cervantes, Sonora).
  • Vizsla Resources Corp. entered into an agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. for a bought deal purchase of shares for C$4 M in gross profits (Panuco, Sinaloa).
  • DynaResources Inc. closed a financing agreement with Golden Post Rail, LLC. and with certain individual shareholders of DynaUSA. Golden Post acquired a convertible promissory note of $2.5 M, bearing interest at 10% and maturing two years from the execution date. The other purchaser acquired convertible security notes in the amount of $1.4 M, bearing interest at 10% and maturing two years from the date of issuance (San Jose de Gracia, Sinaloa).
  • Minaurum Gold Inc. closed its previously announced brokered private placement offering, for aggregate gross proceeds of $5 M (Alamos Silver, Sonora).
  • Telson Mining Corp. closed a second and final tranche of the non-brokered private placement announced on December 27, 2019, for gross proceeds of $196.6 K (Tahuehueto, Durango).
  • Golden Tag Resources Ltd. Announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $1.12 M. “Subsequent to closing of the Financing, the Company will have cash balances of approximately $2.1 million, and no debt” (San Diego, Durango).
  • Solaris Resources Inc. completed a non-brokered private placement financing raising gross proceeds of C$20 M (La Verde, Michoacan).
  • Mammoth Resources Corp. announced a non brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $131 K (Tenoriba, Chihuahua).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. announced that the fully underwritten pro-rata non-renounceable entitlements offer to raise $1.73 M on the basis on 1 new share for every 3 shares held at the record date has closed (Plomosas, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mexican Gold Mining Corp. announced the company will resume activities at Las Minas, Veracruz, in July of 2020, with the goal of having all the necessary inputs for a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) study completed by the end of the year. A 3,000 m drilling program has been designed to expand and upgrade the current resource at El Dorado and continue exploration at the Cinco Señores and Changarro areas. A comprehensive metallurgical study is to be elaborated, as well as an airborne LIDAR on 50 square Km to map the ground surface to 10 Cm resolution.
  • Golden Minerals Co. announced the filing on SEDAR of a preliminary Economic assessment (PEA) for its Rodeo property in Durango.
  • Bacanora Lithium PLC. updated on activities at its Sonora Lithium project in Sonora. The pilot plant in Hermosillo is to remain closed until authorities lift the Coronavirus pandemic restrictions. Completion of the flow sheet engineering will provide an engineering, procurement and construction style engineering proposal to produce downstream battery grade lithium products, is now scheduled for end of Q4, 2020. from Sonora.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. informed that to date the company has completed 17,500 m (48 holes) of its planned 30,000 to 35,000 phase 1 drill program, demonstrating near-surface higher-grade potential over a strike length of 1,250 m, intercepting multiple sulfide veins with grades over 1 kilogram silver per tonne at its Cordero project, Chihuahua.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Mithril Resources Ltd. has completed the acquisition of Sun Minerals Pty Ltd., which holds and exclusive option to acquire the high-grade Copalquin project in Durango. The company issued 673.85 M ordinary shares for the acquisition of all the issued capital of Sun Minerals. Mithril also issued 10 M ordinary shares and paid US$200 K to Compañía Minera Copalquin, S.A. de C.V., and issued 225 M performance rights.
  • Candente Gold Corp. informed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) the company signed with Magellan Acquisition Corp. giving Candente the right to earn up to a 100% interest in both the SDA plant and the El Dorado property, in Nayarit, has been amended such that a payment of US$5 K is being paid upon signing the revised MOU and the payment of shares upon completion of due diligence and a definitive agreement to earn 10% interest has been increased from 4 M shares to 5 M shares, all other terms remain the same. The MOU is subject to TSX Venture approval as well as due diligence and execution of a definitive agreement.
  • Sonoro Metals Corp. has published a revised version of its Cerro Caliche project development report dated May 22, 2020. As a result of a review by the British Columbia Securities Commission, Sonoro withdrew an April 28, 2020 version of this project development report as it contained certain technical disclosures that did not comply with National Instrument 43-101 standards of disclosure for mineral projects. The revised report is not a technical report as defined by NI 43-101 and has been updated to address those disclosure issues and is now available on the Cerro Caliche project page of the Company’s website.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minera Peña Colorada donated 1000 sets of groceries to aid the most needed families in Cuatitlán de García Barragán, Jalisco.
  • Grupo Mexico donated 23 respiratory ventilators to the State of Sonora, to be distributed mainly in the capital hospitals.
  • Fresnillo PLC donated personal medical protection equipment in Caborca, Sonora.
  • Minera Real Bonanza supports the fight against the Covid-19 menace through the Hacienda Santa Ana museum in Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosi.
  • Grupo Mexico Foundation and Fechac delivered health protection kits to hospitals in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.
  • Fresnillo PLC donated a respiratory ventilator to health authorities in Durango.
  • Fresnillo PLC donated medical protection equipment to a hospital in Fresnillo, Zacatecas.
  • The mining industry in Sonora has contributed with sanitizing kits, grocery kits, medical protection sets, hospital equipment, office equipment and public spaces sanitizing. These have benefited 125,813 people with an investment of $64.6 M pesos during April and May 2020, in communities like Cananea, Caborca, La Colorada, Nacozari, Cumpas, Fronteras, Magdalena, San Javier and Esqueda.

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: White, granular quartz-graphite vein, Hermosillo District, Sonora. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

134 - copia

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fifth Week of April, 2020

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265

By Jorge Cirett

During the 18th week of the year (April 27th to May 3rd, 2020), at least 34 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, INEGI presented production of metals and minerals for February. Camimex continues seeking the lifting of the mining halt during the current Coronavirus emergency. The Silver Institute informed Mexico continues to hold the premier position in silver production. Canada, unlike Mexico, permitted mines to operate under the Covid-19 emergency. ON EXPLORATION, in Baja California, One World Lithium is planning to begin drilling in June 2020. In Sonora, Colibri released drilling results at Evelyn, and completed a drone survey at El Mezquite; Sonoro updated on exploration at Cerro Caliche. In Durango, Canasil outlined plans for a drill program at Nora. In Jalisco, GoGold released results from eight holes at Los Ricos South.  ON MINING, Sierra Metals and Equinox Gold reported on the extension of the suspension on mining in Mexico. Agnico Eagle, Capstone, Fresnillo PLC, Excellon Resources, Consolidated Zinc and Alamos Gold released first quarter 2020 results. ON FINANCING, Mag silver completed a non-brokered private placement for C$60 M. SilverCrest Metals closed the private placement for C$27 M. Discovery Metals granted 4.83 M shares. Mexus Gold converted $242.5 K of debt into shares. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Torex gold updated mineral resources at its El Limon Guajes mine in Guerrero. Agnico Eagle updated on the exploration status of the Santa Gertrudis project in Sonora. Evrim announced an update on the Ermitaño mineral resources in Sonora. Consolidated Zinc updated the mineral resources estimate at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. Minera Alamos reported results from drilling at its Santana project in Sonora. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Telson Mining, Santacruz Silver, Kootenay Silver and Canuc Resources announced that they are to abide by the Canadian Securities Administration extension granted for their annual filings. Xtierra informed on the deal with Minera Portree for control of the Bilbao deposit in Zacatecas, as well of an NSR on claims in the area of Capstone’s Cozamin mine. GR Silver completed the second option payment on the San Marcial project in Sinaloa. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. The AIMMGM and Mujeres WIM de Mexico, from Sinaloa donated food for doctors and health workers. Minera Mexico donated 500 food packages in Santa Barbara, Chihuahua. Minera Cuzcatan created a fund for community emergencies. Fresnillo is building a prefabricated hospital in Fresnillo, Zacatecas. Fresnillo PLC is sanitizing public spaces in Caborca, Sonora.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • According to INEGI (Mexican Statistics Bureau), during January of 2020 the gold production was: Sonora 3,115 Kg, Guerrero 1,592 kg, Chihuahua 1,554 kg, Zacatecas 1,157 Kg and Durango 976 Kg. For the same period silver production was: Chihuahua 102,205 Kg, Durango 74,909 Kg and Zacatecas 203,251 Kg. Lead production was: Zacatecas 13,184 tonnes, Chihuahua 3,289 tonnes and Durango 1,904 tonnes. For zinc production was: Zacatecas 29,931 tonnes, Chihuahua 9,030 tonnes and Durango 8,364 tonnes. On iron production was: Coahuila 338,198 tonnes, Colima 201,016 tonnes, Michoacan 198,023 tonnes, Chihuahua 37,664 tonnes and Durango 8,767 tonnes.
  • CAMIMEX and the PRI senate members had a virtual conference on which they shared their viewpoints on how the COVID-19 emergency is to affect the mining industry and what can be done to ameliorate the damage.
  • The Silver Institute informed that Mexico maintains its position as the major silver producer in the World. In 2019 Mexico produced 190.3 M Oz, Perú 135.4 M Oz and China 110.7 M Oz.
  • In striking difference with Mexico, Canada permitted mines to operate under the Covid-19 virus emergency. Miners in Mexico set their hopes for reactivation on the petition by USA and Canadian authorities to the Mexican government for a stepped reactivation of productive chains.
  • INEGI (Statistics Bureau) presented metal production figures for February 2020:INEGI Feb 202021

ON EXPLORATION

  • Sonoro Metals Corp. released the “Cerro Caliche Development Report” that summarizes the results of work to advance the understanding of the mineralized system of the project located in Sonora. “The report also assesses regional and property geology, the mapped zonation of the Cerro Caliche low-sulfidation epithermal system, and related potential for significantly higher grades at depth. It also includes two grade x thickness modeling tools, namely – longitudinal 3D sections and Isopachs, all based on drilling to date”.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. released results of its maiden campaign at its Evelyin project in Sonora. Significant drill hole intersections comprise 21.90 m @ 0.14 gpt Au (including 5.05 m @ 0.37 gpt Au); 27.00 m @ 0.10 gpt Au; 10.50 m @ 0.11 gpt Au. Further geologic mapping and rockchip sampling is to follow once the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. recently completed a high definition topographical drone survey over its El Mezquite project in Sonora.
  • One World Lithium Inc. is planning the next phase of drilling at its Salar del Diablo project in Baja California for early June 2020, following completion of the recently announced financing.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released the assays for eight diamond drill holes at the Los Ricos South project in Jalisco. Three holes were drilled at the San Juan area and the rest at the Main Area. Core length significant intersections comprise: 20.1 m @ 0.33 gpt Au, 100 gpt Ag (including 6.0 m @ 0.97 gpt Au, 257 gpt Ag); 23.2 m @ 0.68 gpt Au, 113 gpt Ag; 26.6 m @ 0.29 gpt Au, 47 gpt Ag (including 4.7 m @ 1.24 gpt Au, 129 gpt Ag); 22.3 m @ 1.01 gpt Au, 52 gpt Ag (including 10.0 m @ 1.79 gpt Au, 64 gpt Ag); 4.2 m @ 2.87 gpt Au, 344 gpt Ag; 15.4 m @ 0.79 gpt Au, 91 gpt Ag.
  • Canasil Resources Inc. outlined plans for an initial core drill program on the Candy vein at the Nora project in Durango. Rock samples in the vein have returned 1.0 m @ 3.72 gpt Au, 605 gpt Ag, 0.97%Cu, 1.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 1.4 m @ 0.89 gpt Au, 392 gpt Ag, 0.06% Cu, 0.2% Pb; 1.0 m @ 2.98 gpt Au, 540 gpt Ag, 0.85% Cu, 4.0% Pb, 3.5% Zn; 0.6 m @ 2.28 gpt Au, 316 gpt Ag, 0.57% Cu, 2.4% Pb, 0.2% Zn; 0.8 m @ 3.03 gpt Au, 585 gpt Ag, 2.8% Cu, 5.2% Pb, 1.8% Zn; 0.6 m @ 6.55 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag, 0.06% Cu, 0.3% Pb; 0.4 m @ 12.55 gpt Au, 12 gpt Ag, 1.02% Cu, 2.7% Pb, 0.7% Zn. Dump samples have returned up to 2.89 gpt Au, 193 gpt Ag, 2.64% Cu, 8.0% Pb, 9.8% Zn.

ON MINING

  • Sierra Metals Inc. reported that the Mexican Federal Government extended the suspension of all non-essential activities to contain the advance of COVID-19 virus. The suspension will now continue until May 30, 2020, but the suspension will not apply to the municipalities that present a low or null transmission of the virus, as of May 18, 2020. This raises the possibility that the Bolivar mine in Chihuahua may be able to resume operations, due to its remote location.
  • Equinox Gold Corp. announced the temporary suspension of mining activities at its Los Filos mine in Guerrero has been extended until May 30, 2020, with the potential to an earlier start-up by May 18, 2020. The solution from the leach pads has continued to be processed at a slower pace.
  • Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. informed the suspension related to the COVID-19 virus emergency is to cost $6.6 M in Mexico. During the first quarter 2020, 480 K tonnes were processed at Pinos Altos, Chihuahua, at a daily rate of 5,275 tonnes per day (tpd) of material grading 2.36 gpt Au to produce 33,310 Oz Au at production cash cost of $1,077 per Oz Au and total cash cost of $747 per Oz Au. The drilling budget for the year is $7.8 M on a total of 42,000 meters. Current proven and mineral reserves are 957 K Oz Au, 24 M Oz Ag; indicated and measured resources of 1.1 M Oz Au, 26 M Oz Ag; inferred mineral resources stand at 435 K Oz Au. At La India, in Sonora, 1.53 M tonnes were processed at a 16,857 tpd rate, grading 0.74 gpt Au to produce 22,926 Oz Au at total cash cost per Oz Au of $778. Residual leaching continues through the Coronavirus shutdown at La India.
  • Capstone Mining Corp. presented production and financial results for Q1 2020, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Cozamin, in Zacatecas, 8.7 M pounds of copper were produced at cash cost $0.95 per pound of copper. As part of the expansion project, an 818 m raise bore was completed, improving ventilation on the deepest part of the mine. “The final key component of this expansion, the Calicanto one-way ramp, continues as scheduled and on budget to be completed in December 2020”.
  • Fresnillo PLC. presented its first quarter 2020 production report. During the first quarter 130,000 meters of drilling were completed on operating mines, in addition 38,000 meters “were drilled at the Fresnillo, San Julián and Guanajuato districts in Mexico, and two projects outside Mexico (Peru and Chile). Interesting results were obtained in the Fresnillo district that merit follow up…”.Fresnillo Production Table, Q1 20201
  • Excellon Resources Inc. announced first quarter 2020 production results from the Platosa mine in Durango. During the period 19,899 tonnes were mined, with 19,042 tonnes processed, grading 542 gpt Ag, 5.44% Pb, 6.78% Zn, recovering 89.3% Ag, 82.8% Pb, 74.9% Zn, to produce 296,281 Oz Ag, 1.89 M Lb Pb, 2.13 M Lb Zn, or 523,742 Oz AgEq.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. disclosed first quarter 2020 operations report at its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. During the quarter 9,987 tonnes were mined, 10,321 tonnes were processed @ 16.6% Zn, 8.4% Pb, 46 gpt Ag. Regional exploration has outlined several zones of interest to the northwest of the mine, returning several high-grade gold-copper samples.
  • Alamos Gold Inc. presented first quarter 2020 results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Mulatos, Sonora, 1.92 M tonnes of ore were mined, 2.34 M tonnes of waste moved, 22,342 tpd crushed, with 2.03 M tonnes staked on the heap @ 1.25 gpt Au, containing 81,933 Oz Au, and producing 42,600 Oz Au on an average recovery rate of 52%. Alamos is finalizing project design and plans to finalize the La Yaqui Grande project economics and announce a construction decision in the second quarter of 2020. Exploration is moving beyond the main Mulatos area into earlier stage project within the 28,972 ha land package, with $1.8 M invested during the period.

ON FINANCING

  • Mag Silver Corp. arranged a non-brokered private placement with Mr. Eric Sprott for gross proceeds of C$60 M (Juanicipio, Zacatecas).
  • Telson Mining Corp. is seeking a 30 day extension from the TSX Venture Exchange to close its non-brokered private placement offering for up to C$3 M of gross proceeds.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. closed the private placement with SSR Mining Inc. for C$26.98 M, strengthening SilverCrest’s financial position to a cash balance of C$234 M in its treasury. (Las Chispas, Sonora).
  • Discovery Metals Corp. granted 4.83 M options to acquire common shares of the company at $0.47 per share (Cordero, Chihuahua).
  • Mexus Gold US. Informed $242,500 of debt incurred by the company was converted to shares already held in reserve.
  • Mag Silver Corp. completed the previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of C$60 M. “A finders’ fee is payable in connection with the Offering to a group of financial advisors led by Clarus Securities Inc.” (Juanicipio, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Discovery Metals Corp. announced that during the last quarter of 2019 a second rig was added to the drilling campaign at Cordero, Chihuahua, and that a non-brokered private placement for $19.0 M was completed. By the end of the period the company had $23.95 M in cash and cash equivalents.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. updated mineral reserves and resources at its El Limón Guajes Complex in Guerrero. Open pit proven and probable reserves stand at 24.82 M tonnes @ 2.92 gpt Au containing 2.33 M Oz Au and underground reserves of 0.66 Mt @ 6.94 gpt Au containing 0.15 M Oz Au. Open pit measured and indicated resources stand at 35.78 Mt @ 2,77 gpt Au containing 3.19 M Oz while underground M&M resources hold 1.17 Mt @ 7.04 gpt Au containing 0.26 M Oz Au. Total reserves and M&M resources contain 5.93 M Oz Au, and total inferred resources another 0.45 M Oz Au.
  • Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. updated on the exploration of its 44,145 ha Santa Gertrudis project in Sonora. As of the end of 2019 the project holds open-pit oxide indicated mineral resources of 5.1 M tonnes @ 0.64 gpt Au containing 104 K Oz Au and inferred mineral resources of 19.1 M tonnes @ 1.17 gpt Au containing 717 K Oz Au. Underground sulfide inferred resources stand at 3.1 M tonnes @ 4.58 gpt Au, containing 451 K Oz Au. Selected true width intervals of drilling at La Amelia deposit comprise 6.0 m @ 3.7 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag; 13 m @ 3.3 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag (including 5.5 m @ 5.3 gpt Au, 17 gpt Ag); 10 m @ 5.3 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag (including 4.5 m @ 10.3 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag); 10 m @ 3.2 gpt Au, 34 gpt Ag; 4 m @ 3.5 gpt Au, 5 gpt Ag; 4.5 m @ 5.1 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag.
  • Evrim Resources Corp. announced an update to the gold-silver resource on the Ermitaño project in Sonora. Property owner First Majestic Silver Corp. released the following figures: An indicated resource of 2.1 M tonnes @ 4.59 gpt Au, 70 gpt Ag containing 311 K Oz Au, 4.73 M Oz Ag; an inferred resource of 3.73 M tonnes @ 3.08 gpt Au, 58 gpt Ag containing 370 K Oz Au, 6.98 M Oz Ag. Evrim holds a 2% NSR on the Ermitaño project.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. updated the mineral resource estimate for its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua. Indicated mineral resources stand at 165 K tonnes @ 13.9% Zn, 6.3% Pb, 35.7 gpt Ag, containing 23 K tonnes Zn, 10 K tonnes Pb, 189 K Oz Ag. Inferred resources hold 799 K tonnes @ 13.0% Zn, 3.0% Pb, 17.5 gpt Ag, containing 104 K tonnes Zn, 24 K tonnes Pb, 450 K Oz Ag.
  • Minera Alamos Inc. reported additional results from its phase II drill program at its Santana project in Sonora. Significant intervals comprise 17.7 m @ 0.58 gpt Au; 53.2 m @ 0.75 gpt Au; 68.7 m @ 0.50 gpt Au; 101.0 m @ 0.37 gpt Au; 73.7 m @ 0.36 gpt Au; 143.7 m @ 0.50 gpt Au; 9.7 m @ 0.29 gpt Au; 25.3 m @ 0.31 gpt Au; 247.9 m @ 0.60 gpt Au. This campaign has extended the deposit by 50-100 m to the south-southwest.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Telson Mining Corp. informed that the Canadian Securities Administration granted blanket relief for all reporting issuers, providing up to a 45-day extension on periodic filings, and that Telson will abide by it (Campo Morado, Guerrero).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. will be postponing the filing of its annual consolidated financial statements, and abide by the 45-day extension granted by the Canadian Securities Administration (Veta Grande, Zacatecas).
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. expects to file the Annual filings before the extension deadline required by the Canadian Securities Administrators (Columba, Chihuahua).
  • Xtierra Resources Inc. reported results for the year 2019. The company holds the rights to the Bilbao project, and acquired last year a 1.5% royalty on the project by paying C$51 K in cash and C$49 K in shares. Xtierra entered into an agreement to acquire 88% of Minera Portree by the payment of C$56 K and 2 M shares. Among the assets of Minera Portree is the right to a 2% NSR on six mining concessions adjacent to Capstone’s Cozamin mine in Zacatecas. Five of those concessions were acquired by Capstone in 2017 and 2019. An extension agreement was signed with Buchan Resources Ltd. to defer repayment of principal and accrued interest of its $800 K debt, in consideration of which 13 M shares were issued to Buchan (Bilbao, Zacatecas).
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. announced the completion of the second option payment on the San Marcial project in Sinaloa, which included the issuance of 750 K common shares to the optionor.
  • Canuc Resources Corp. announced the postponement of the filing of the annual consolidated financial statements, according with the Canadian Securities Administration blanket extension (San Javier, Sonora).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • The Asociación de Ingenieros Mineros, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de Mexico (AIMMGM) in coordination with Mujeres WIM de México, both from the Sinaloa District, donated food for doctors and health care workers at the Riviera Hotel, where they are hosted.
  • Minera México donated 500 food packages in Santa Barbara, Chihuahua.
  • Minera Cuzcatan (Fortuna Silver) created a Fund for community emergencies. Said Fund is to be used to cover the need for medications, groceries and funerary expenses, in coordination with local municipality authorities and adherence to health dispositions.
  • Fresnillo PLC is hurriedly building a hospital for Covid-19 patient care. The pre-fabricated building is to be installed by the side of the local IMSS clinic in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, and is to have a capacity for 38 patients.
  • Fresnillo PLC in coordination with the Caborca Municipality is sanitizing public spaces. These include 40 areas, like open plazas, parks, supermarkets, bus stations, clinics, hospitals, Red Cross facilities, firefighters station banks and local national guard facilities, all of which will be sanitized constantly.

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: Milky quartz float with oxidized sulfide in an orogenic gold system in Oaxaca. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

265

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of April, 2020

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188

By Jorge Cirett

During the 16th week of the year (April 13th to April 19th, 2020), at least 25 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, the lost fluorite production by Minera Las Cuevas might translate into a health risk. Almaden Minerals makes public answers to claims by an NGO. Camimex asks the federal government to be blanketed under the “essential figure that would permit mines to operate under the Coronavirus emergency; the organization also stressed the health and sanitary benefits of a range of mined elements. First Majestic asked for silver mining to be considered an “essential” industry. ON EXPLORATION, in Zacatecas, Alien Metals informed on an induced polarization survey results at its Donovan 2 project. In Jalisco, GoGold Resources released drilling results for 10 more holes at the Los Ricos project.  ON MINING, First Majestic, Torex Gold, Fortuna Silver, Avino Silver, Sierra Metals and McEwen Mining released first quarter 2020 results. ON FINANCING, SilverCrest conducted a non-brokered private placement, raising C$101 M. Vizsla Resources is to commence trading at the OTCQB Venture Market. Oroco is to amend the term of 1.8 M warrants by three months. Impact Silver is raise up to C$2 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GR Silver released results from historical drill holes at its Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Golden Minerals released a PEA on its Rodeo project, Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Dyna Resource updated on the results of the favorable ruling upon completion of the legal battle over the shares of the company and its San Jose de Gracia project in Sinaloa. Telson Mining entered into a letter agreement with Trafigura, regarding  the renegotiation on the service of its debt. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Grupo Mexico, Fresnillo PLC and Newmont Goldcorp provided notes on how the companies are aiding the communities and the local governments to address the Coronavirus emergency. Minera Autlan is helping to clear a road blocking landslide in Hidalgo.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Las Cuevas mine halt in operations in San Luis Potosi, a medical risk. Camimex released a bulletin highlighting the importance to keep the mine operating, as it produces fluorite, used in the elaboration of breath inhalators.
  • Minera Gorrión explains against unfounded bribe accusation. The Almaden Minerals subsidiary sustains the claim has been made by a non-governmental organization which aspires to change the mining law. The company dropped the mining concessions on the Ejido de Tecoltemic several years ago, whose land is located at least seven kilometers away upstream of the proposed pit limit for the Ixtaca project in Puebla.
  • Camimex informed of the sanitary and health benefits of several mined elements. On its pledge to obtain the “essential” industry categorization under the Coronavirus to release the mines for operation, stressed on a bulletin the known health and sanitary benefits of copper, silver, zinc and fluorite.
  • First Majestic asked the Mexican government to consider silver mining as an essential business during the Coronavirus outbreak. The major silver producers in Mexico are Fresnillo PLC, Newmont Goldcorp (Peñasquito), Grupo Mexico, Pan American Silver, Peñoles and First Majestic.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Alien Metals Ltd. informed a recently completed induced polarization survey at its Donovan 2 project in Zacatecas. The survey was carried out in February, consisting in 9.45 line kilometers over 11 lines, producing several targets. Float samples in the area undercover have returned results in the 1.0% to 3.3% Cu range, highlighting the Cu-Au potential of the project, which is less than 10 km from Teck’s San Nicolas deposit.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. released the results for ten diamond drill holes at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Four holes were drilled in the San Juan area, and six in the Main area. Highlighted core length intervals comprise: 33.5 m @ 0.32 gpt Au, 52 gpt Ag (including 4.9 m @ 1.58 gpt Au, 211 gpt Ag); 13.6 m @ 0.25 gpt Au, 74 gpt Ag; 22.1 m @ 0.31 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag; 5.6 m @ 1.41 gpt Au, 181 gpt Ag; 27.6 m @ 0.31 gpt Au, 63 gpt Ag; 25.7 m @ 0.48 gpt Au, 56.5 gpt Au; 10.6 m @ 1.42 gpt Au, 264 gpt Ag; 31.8 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 36 gpt Ag; 33.0 m @ 1.2 gpt Au, 193 gpt Ag.

ON MINING

  • First Majestic Silver Corp. announced total production for the first quarter 2020 reached 3.2 M Oz Ag, 32,202 Oz Au, or 6.2 M Oz Ag Eq.First Majestic Q1 2020 production1
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. released gold production for the first quarter 2020. The company processed 12,460 tpd (tonnes per day), average mining rates were 1,110 tpd for underground and 19,080 tpd for open pit mining, to produce 108,530 Oz Au at its El Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Ltd. reported results for the first quarter 2020, including figures from its Mexican operations in Mexico. At the San José mine in Oaxaca 246.8 K tonnes were processed at a rate of 2,837 tpd @ 216 gpt Ag, 1.33 gpt Au, recovering 91.7% Ag, 91.3% Au, to produce 1.57 M Oz Ag, 9,630 Oz Au.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. released production results for the first quarter 2020. At the Avino mine in Durango, 164.1 K tonnes were processed at a grade of 57 gpt Ag, 0.40 gpt Au, 0.57% Cu, recovering 89% Ag, 73% Au, 86% Cu, to produce 266.7 K Oz Ag, 1,531 Oz Au, 1.8 M Lb Cu, or 683.9 K Oz AgEq.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. announced first quarter 2020 production, including figures for its operations in Mexico. At Bolivar, in Chihuahua, 377.6 K tonnes were processed at 4,315 tpd grading 0.89% Cu, 21.1 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au; recovering 85.91% Cu, 82.01% Ag, 63.89% Au, to produce 6.4 M Lb Cu, 210 K Oz Ag, 2,191 Oz Au, or 9.15 M Lb Cu. At Cusi, also in Chihuahua, 77.9 K tonnes were processed at 890 tpd rate, grading 120.88 gpt Ag, 0.18 gpt Au, 0.33% Pb; recovering 80.21% Ag, 46.53% Au, 84.17% Pb, to produce 243 K Oz Ag, 212 Oz Au, 471 K Oz Pb.
  • McEwen Mining Inc. presented production results for Q1 2020, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At El Gallo, in Sinaloa, produced 2,737 Oz AuEq from residual leaching of the heap leach pad.

ON FINANCING

  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. is conducting a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of C$75 M, with provisions to increase the offering to C$100 M. Later on the week SilverCrest announced the over-subscribed completion of the placement  for C$101 M in gross profits. The Company is to use the net proceeds on the continued exploration and development of the Las Chispas project, Sonora.
  • Vizsla Resources Corp. announced its shares are to commence trading on the OTCQB Venture Market in the United States (Panuco, Sinaloa).
  • Oroco Resource Corp. intends to apply to the TSX Venture for approval to amend the term of 1.8 M outstanding share purchase warrants by extending the period by three months (Santo Tomás, Sinaloa).
  • Impact Silver Corp. entered into an agreement with a syndicate of investors led by Palisades Goldcorp Ltd., to raise up to $2 M in gross proceeds, with no finders fee on this transaction (Zacualpan District, Estado de Mexico).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. Released drill results from historical holes at the San Juan area of the Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true width interval results comprise: 3.0 m @ 1,419 gpt Ag, 15.50 gpt Au, 0.2% Zn; 5.4 m @ 104 gpt Ag, .09 gpt Au, 0.9% Zn, 0.3% Pb; 20.0 m @ 74 gpt Ag, 0.08 gpt Au, 3.3% Zn, 1.3% Pb; 6.1 m @ 152 gpt Ag, 1.33 gpt Au; 2.5 m @ 207 gpt Ag, 1.2% Zn, 0.7% Pb. The drill results were generated on campaigns by Grupo Mexico (1982-2000) and First Majestic Silver (2016-2018), previous project operators.
  • Golden Minerals Co. released results from a PEA (Preliminary Economic Assessment) on its Rodeo open pit project in Durango. The study points to a2.25 years life of mine (LOM) with average 3.31 gpt Au, 9.6 gpt Ag to produce 34 K Oz Au, 89 K Oz Ag at cash cost $798 per Oz AuEq and AISC $843 per Oz AuEq.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • DynaResource Inc. and its subsidiary DynaResource de México S.A. de C.V. announced that on February 20, 2020 “a México City court issued its Final Judgment, effectively foreclosing on all shares of DynaMéxico formerly held by Goldgroup Resources Inc., and awarding those shares to DynaMéxico. DynaResource stated that the ruling means Goldgroup resources retains no shares and shareholders rights in DynaMéxico, and owes to DynaMéxico US$48.3 M in damages, and that DynaMéxico owns 100% of the San José de Gracia project in Sinaloa.
  • Telson Mining Corp. entered into a letter agreement with Trafigura Mexico S. A. de C.V., acknowledging the default in debt obligations by Telson, and setting guidelines for debt repayment. Among the terms, stands out that Telson might sell some assets to fulfill its debt obligations (Campo Morado, Guerrero).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Grupo Mexico delivered 13 ventilators to the Sonora government. The equipment is intended for use in the Coronavirus emergency in the Cananea zone. The equipment was installed at the Hospital General de Cananea.
  • Fresnillo PLC donated personal protection material and sanitary products to the Hospital Comunitario (Hospital Comunitario) in Guadalupe y Calvo, Chihuahua. Among the material delivered were 50 Tyvek protection suits , 40 liters of disinfectant gel, 1,000 glove sets, 50 protective glasses and 200 N-95 masks.
  • Newmont Goldcorp (Peñasquito) created a global fund of US$20 M to aid on the Coronavirus crisis. The aim is to help local vulnerable groups, governments and employees during the hard times induced by the Coronavirus. Some of the actions that have commenced to unfold include the delivery of 500 protection suits for those in the front lines of patient care, 3,000 cleaning sets, and 500 Coronavirus detection tests.
  • Minera Autlán is helping on clearing a landslide. The phenomenon affected the Hueyapa-Tlanchinol road in Hidalgo, resulting in food shortages in nearby communities.

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: Hematite-goethite stained quartz vein in an orogenic gold system, Oaxaca. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

188

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of April, 2020

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By Jorge Cirett

Amidst the Coronavirus widespread suspension of activities, including mining and exploration, decreed by the Mexican government, a record number of press releases was issued. During the 14th week of the year (March 30th to April 5th, 2020), at least 57 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, of which 20 were on how companies were dealing with the situation. ON MEXICO ISSUES, a national decree by the federal government suspended all non-essential activities, which include mining and exploration, until the end of April. The DGM (Mining Regulator) is to manage everything through electronic channels during the Coronavirus contingency (in practical terms, do not expect anything done during this period of time). Previous to the federal government decree, the Sonoran government ordered the stoppage of all work on the mines on the State. Mexico is well poised for a substantial growth in lead and zinc production in 2020 (although the work suspension on mines might prevent it).  ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Silver Viper released more drilling results on El Rubi zone of its La Virgina project. Tocvan Ventures commenced geophysical and soil survey programs at its Pilar project. In Chihuahua, Discovery Metals and Kootenay Silver announced the suspension of activities at its Cordero and Columba projects respectively. In Sinaloa, Kootenay Silver announced the suspension of activities at El Copalito. Advance Gold released drilling information on its Tabaqueña project.  ON MINING, Mag Silver, Excellon Resources and Odyssey Marine Exploration presented 2019 results. First Majestic plans to invest $46 M in capital expenditures at its Santa Elena project. GoGold completed the commissioning of a SART palnt at its Parral tailings facilities. Equinox plans to produce 170 K – 190 K Oz Au during 2020 at Los Filos, Guerrero, and invest a total of $75 M. ON FINANCING, Orla Mining closed a bought deal for C$75 M. Mithrill is to conduct a rights issue for share holders in Australia and New Zealand to raise $2.45 M. Southern Silver announced the exercise of 2015 and 2016 warrants and options, raising $1.25 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, First Majestic updated the mineral resource estimate on seven of its Mexican properties. Sierra Metals updated the mineral resource estimate on Bolivar, Chihuahua. Prime Mining produced a new resource estimate for its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Mag Silver has to obtain funding, or see its 44% JV participation in the Juanicipio project (Zacatecas) dwindle. Great Panther filed two technical reports on the Guanajuato mine complex. Bacanora Lithium granted a contract to GRES on the Sonora Lithium project. Golden Minerals presented a new PEA for its Velardeña properties. GR Silver Mining released underground channel results from the Plomosas project in in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, GR Silver completed the acquisition of the Plomosas project in Sinaloa. Argonaut Gold and Alio Gold are merging. Orex Minerals and Pan American Silver are forming a JV on the Sandra project in Durango. Riverside is going ahead with the Peñoles project (Durango) spin-off. Mithrill Resources informed on the acquisition of Sun Minerals. Southern Silver entered into an agreement with Monarch Minerals to purchase a mineral concession adjacent to Cerro Las Minas project in Durango. Oroco Resources amended disclosures on the Santo Tomas project technical report. Odyssey Marine Exploration continues with the arbitration process for its offshore phosphate project in Baja California Sur. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Newmont GoldCorp Peñasquito donated 500 COVID-19 tests and delivered thousands of cleansing packages in the communities near the Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas..

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Mining halted in Mexico. A national decree by the Mexican federal government suspended all non-essential activities for 30 days on the wake of the fight on the propagation of the coronavirus. Mining is not considered essential thus all operations are due to shut down.
  • Mexico is well positioned for increased lead and zinc production, BNamericas. Supported by expected continued work at Newmont’s Peñasquito mine, Southern Copper’s San Martin mine and Peñoles operations, the lead and zinc Mexican production is poised to grow in 2020. Lead production could increase 27.8% to 194.9 K tonnes, with the expected production of 90.7 K tonnes at Peñasquito. Zinc production could increase 27% to 633.2 K tonnes, with its expected production of 192.8 K tonnes. Both zinc and lead face extremely low prices, with zinc at US$0.85/Lb and lead close to US$0.75/Lb.
  • To reduce coronavirus contagion risks, the Dirección General de Minas (DGM) initiated a protocol to process requests and information only through electronic media, for the time that the contingency lasts (in practical terms, the already slow pace of proceedings at the DGM is coming to halt for the time being).
  • The Mining Fund served its purpose at Jiapaz, Zacatecas, where solar panels were installed to power the water system on La Martinica de Guadalupe neighborhood.
  • The Sonora government issued orders to stop all non-essential activities, including mining, as a mean to reduce the propagation speed of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
  • Mining companies that presented press releases on Coronavirus related suspension of activities: Argonaut Gold, Sierra Metals, Pan American Silver, Premier Gold Mines, Equinox Gold, GoGold Resources, Gold Resource, Excellon Resources, Endeavour Silver, Azucar Minerals, Avino Silver & Gold Mines, Agnico Eagle Mines, Almaden Minerals, Alamos Gold, Fortuna Silver, Mithrill Resources, Vizsla Resources, Torex Gold, Great Panther, and Golden Minerals.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp. released drilling results at its La Virginia project in Sonora. The Rubi zone strike length increased by 100 m, to a total of 400 m, where a total of 6,103 m in 20 holes have been collared; a further 852 m in four holes were drilled at the Macho Libre target. The results for the last nine holes are still pending. Highlighted true width intervals comprise: 1.42 m @ 156 gpt Ag, 1.79 gpt Au; 2.84 m @ 249 gpt Ag, 1.55 gpt Au (including 0.36 m @ 1,584 gpt Ag, 5.56 gpt Au); 17.04 m @ 28 gpt Ag, 0.69 gpt Au; 1.07 m @ 52 gpt Ag, 1.27 gpt Au; 1.07 m @ 124 gpt Ag, 3.32 gpt Au; 4.26 m @ 38 gpt Ag, 0.64 gpt Au; 6.04 m @ 74 gpt Ag, 0.99 gpt Au (including 1.78 m @ 187 gpt Ag, 2.48 gpt Au. The company recently completed a 4,800-hectare; 718 line-km helicopter borne magnetic-radiometric geophysical survey centered on El Rubi zone.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. announced the temporarily suspension of all exploration activities at its Mexican operations due to the COVID-19 risks. “Discovery has already completed 48 holes totaling 17,500 metres of its planned 30,000 – 35,000 metre Phase 1 drill program. The Company will provide ongoing exploration updates for the 34 drill holes not previously press released once results have been received and validated”. Discovery had a cash balance of CAD$24 M by the end of 2019 (Cordero, Chihuahua).
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. announced the commencement of the 2020 field program at the Pilar project in Sonora. The focus is to expand the known areas of mineralization, gain a better understanding of structural controls, identify mineralization targets and define drill targets. A multiple-task (?) geophysical survey is underway concurrently with a close-spaced soil sampling program. These surveys will be followed up with structural refining, XRF survey across the property and reviewing historical drill holes.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. temporarily suspended the current drill programs at its Columba (Chihuahua) and Copalito (Sinaloa) projects, to reduce the propagation risks of the Coronavirus.
  • Advance Gold Corp. released information on drilling at its Tabasqueña project in Zacatecas. One hole was abandoned because of challenging drilling conditions; a second hole intercepted a black slate with small sulphide lenses 0.3 cm to 1 cm in thickness, this unit explains the chargeability anomaly detected by the geophysical survey. The best intercept was 1.25 m @ 2.79% Pb; the third hole also intersected the sulphide bearing black slate unit, assays pending. Teck’ San Nicolas VMS project is 11 kilometers East of Tabasqueña.

ON MINING

  • First Majestic Silver Corp. plans to invest US$46.3 M in capital expenditures at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. Exploration, the installation of an autogenous mill, exploration and development of the Ermitaño West, mine access preparation and prefeasibility studies are among the use of the funds involved.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. reported the completion of commissioning of the SART plant at its Parral Tailings facility in Chihuahua. “The main economic drivers are the recovery of a high-grade saleable copper sulfide product, the re-generation of cyanide, which is the largest single operating cost at Parral, and improve the leaching efficiency of the heap”. GoGold reduced the need to purchase cyanide by $200 K in March.
  • Excellon Resources Inc. reports 2019 annual and Q4 financial results. At Platosa, in Durango, 19.8 K tonnes @ 435 gpt Ag, 4.84% Pb, 6.39% Zn were processed, recovering 91.7% Ag, 80.2% Pb, 76.5% Zn to produce 259.2 K Oz Ag, 1.69 M Lb Pb, 2.06 M Lb Zn during the quarter. For the full year 75.2 K tonnes @ 409 gpt Ag, 4.75% Pb, 6.82% Zn were processed , recovering 89.9% Ag, 79.2% Pb. 77.7% Zn to produce 1.05 M Oz Ag, 6.1 M Lb Pb, 8.4 M Lb Zn, or 1.93 M Oz AgEq.
  • Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. reported results for the full year 2019.
  • Equinox Gold Corp. provided production guidance for 2020, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At the Los Filos mine in Guerrero, production is set to range between 170 K to 190 K Oz Au, at an AISC of $1,000 to $1,050 per Oz Au, sustaining capital of $24 M and Non-sustaining capital of $51 M. “The Company is advancing an expansion of the Los Filos mine complex including enlarging the Los Filos open pit, developing a second underground mine (Bermejal), adding a new open pit (Guadalupe) and constructing a new carbon in leach (“CIL”) plant to process higher-grade ore…….. Equinox Gold has budgeted a total capital spend of $75 million at Los Filos during 2020. Non-sustaining capital of $51 million relates primarily to the expansion project and includes $20 million for pre-stripping of the Guadalupe open pit and $23 million allocated to Bermejal underground development”.

ON FINANCING

  • Newmont Corp. has announced expiration and final results of the tender offers for its 3.5% senior notes due 2022 and Goldcorp’s 3.7% notes due 2023. (Peñasquito, Zacatecas).
  • Mithrill Resources Ltd. will be conducting a pro-rata non-renounceable rights issue to allow shareholders, of ordinary shares with a registered address in Australia or New Zealand, to apply for one share for every ordinary share held, to raise $2.45 M (Copalquin, Durango).
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. informed recent warrant and option exercised during the current fiscal period. Warrants and options issued in 2015 and 2016 were exercised for $1.25 M in gross profits (Cerro La Mina, Durango).
  • Orla Mining Ltd. closed its previously announced bought deal financing with a syndicate of underwriters led by Stifel GMP and including Desjardins Capital Markets, Paradigm Capital and Cormark Securities Inc. for aggregate gross proceeds of C$75 M.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • First Majestic Silver Corp. updated mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates for the San Dimas (Durango), Santa Elena (Sonora) and La Encantada (Coahuila) producing mines, as well as from its San Martín (Jalisco), La Parrilla (Durango), Del Toro (Zacatecas) and La Guitarra (Estado de Mexico) properties.

First Majestic Reserves and Resources 2019

  • Sierra Metals Inc. updated mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates for its Bolivar mine in Chihuahua. Mineral reserves decreased by 2.5 M tonnes on mining depletion from 2017, but measured, indicated and inferred resources have significantly grown.

Bolívar Reserves and Resources to 201911

  • Mag Silver Reported 2019 annual results. Development of the Juanicipio mine (Zacatecas) and processing plant continue, with the plant expected to commence commissioning in mid-2021. Underground development is ongoing, exceeding now 26 Km. Remaining pre-operative initial capital is estimated at $305 M, although this figure can be reduced by cash in hand of the operator of the JV (Fresnillo 56%, Mag 44%) and expected cash flow from mineralized material extracted and processed at the Fresnillo’s mine facilities commencing in mid-2020. “The Company needs to raise additional capital in the future in order to meet its full share of initial capital required to develop the Juanicipio Project. Mag does not generate operating cash flow at this time to fund such obligations, and accordingly, future liquidity will depend upon its ability to arrange debt or additional equity financings. The Company is currently evaluating several proposals. The inability of MAG to fund its 44% share of cash calls would result in dilution of its ownership interest in Minera Juanicipio in accordance with the shareholders’ agreement”. At the end of the year Mag had $71.86 M including cash and cash equivalents of $72.36 M AuEq.
  • Great Panther Mining Ltd. filed two technical reports regarding the Guanajuato mine complex. “The reports are titled “NI 43- 101 Mineral Resource Update Technical Report on the Guanajuato Mine Complex, San Ignacio Mine, Guanajuato State, Mexico”, dated March 17, 2020, and “NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Update Technical Report on the Guanajuato Mine Complex, Guanajuato Mine, Guanajuato State, Mexico”, dated March 27, 2020”.
  • SilverCrest Metals Inc. released protocols to minimize exposure to coronavirus, in order to decrease the risk to employees, contractors, families and communities near Las Chispas project in Sonora.
  • Evrim Resources Corp. updated the resource on the Ermitaño project in Sonora, of which it holds a 2% NSR. Property owner First Majestic Silver Corp. announced a 15% increase in grade and a 345% increase in contained AgEq ounces in the indicated resources compared to the previous estimate. The indicated resources are 2.1 M tonnes @ 4.59 gpt Au, 70 gpt Ag, containing 311 K Oz Au and 4.73 M Oz Ag; the inferred resources stand at 3.73 M tonnes @ 3.08 gpt Au, 58 gpt Ag, containing 370 K Oz Au, 6.98 M Oz Ag.
  • Bacanora Lithium. Announced the granting of a contract to GR Engineering Services for engineering, acquisition and construction services on the Sonora lithium project.
  • Prime Mining Corp. released a new resource estimate for its Los Reyes project (formerly Guadalupe de Los Reyes) in Sinaloa. The pit constrained resources range from 19.75 M tonnes @ 1.31 gpt AuEq measured and indicated resources (M&I) containing 833.1 K Oz AuEq and 7.1 M tonnes @ 1.14 gpt AuEq in inferred resources containing 261.1 K Oz AuEq at a 0.22 gpt AuEq cutoff; to 5.91 M tonnes @ 2.72 gpt AuEq M&I resources and 1.68 M tonnes @ 2.59 gpt AuEq containing 516.2 K Oz AuEq and 140.5 K Oz AuEq respectively, at a cutoff grade of 1.0 gpt AuEq. The pit strip ratio is calculated as 4.6 to 1 waste to ore in six separate pits.
  • Golden Minerals Co. announced positive results from the updated mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for its Velardeña properties in Durango. The PEA states a pre-tax net present value of $85.9 M at an 8% discount rate, an internal rate of return of 138.6%, pre-production capital cost of $10.27 M, post production and working capital $15.93 M and a life of mine of 10 years to produce 10.2 M Oz Ag, 119 K Oz Au. The resource estimate including sulfide and oxide ore comprises 1.35 M tonnes @ 307 gpt Ag, 4.92 gpt Au, 1.54% Pb, 1.78% Zn in measured and indicated resources, containing, 13.34 M Oz Ag, 214 K Oz Au, 45.8 M Lb Pb, 53 M Lb Zn; and 1.76 M tonnes @ 354 gpt Ag, 4.73 gpt Au, 1.72% Pb, 1.86% Zn, containing 20.1 M Oz Ag, 268 K Oz Au, 67.1 M Lb Pb, 72.3 M Lb Zn.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. released assay results from initial underground channel sampling from the San Juan workings at the Plomosas Silver project. San Juan is one of six priority areas with underground development not yet exploited by previous owners. Some of the highlighted composites comprise 2.1 m @ 0.30 gpt Au, 552 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 1.0% Zn (including 0.40 m @ 1.2 gpt Au, 3,003 gpt Ag, 2.9% Pb, 3.1% Zn); 5.0 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 816 gpt Ag, 0.9% Pb, 0.5 % Zn; 2.0 m @ 0.51 gpt Au, 1,145 gpt Ag, 0.9% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 2.8 m @ 0.42 gpt Au, 482 gpt Ag, 0.4% Pb, 0.4% Zn; 9.3 m @ 0.13 gpt Au, 346 gpt Ag, 0.7% Pb, 1.0% Zn; 3.0 m @ 0.11 gpt Au, 485 gpt Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.3% Zn.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. Has completed the acquisition of the Plomosas silver project in Sinaloa, from First Majestic Silver Corp. .GR Silver paid CDN$100 K, granted First Majestic a 2% NSR, of which half could be bought for US$1 M, and issued First Majestic 17.1 M shares of GR Silver. The project comes with six areas at the drilling/resource stage, with 563 drill holes totalling over 100,000 m of core drilling and the mining infrastructure of the Plomosas mine, that produced over 2.5 M tonnes of Pb-Zn-Ag ore.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc. and Alio Gold Inc. have entered into a definitive agreement for an at-market merger whereby Argonaut will acquire all of Alio shares. The transaction creates an intermediate producer with four operations rendering 235 K Oz AuEq per year from four mines and presence in Mexico, Canada and USA, and a pipeline that includes Ana Paula (Guerrero), Cerro del Gallo (Guanajuato) and Magino (Canada).
  • Orex Minerals Inc. entered into an agreement to form a JV with Pan American Silver Corp. to explore and develop the Sandra (formerly Sandra Escobar) project in Durango. Orex and Pan American will own a 40% and 60% interest in the JV.
  • Riverside Resources Inc. has received requisite shareholder approval for the spin-out of the Peñoles Project (Durango) to its shareholders. “Once the Arrangement becomes effective, Riverside shareholders will own shares in two public companies: Capitan, which will focus on the development of the Peñoles Project, and Riverside, which will continue to generate prospective mineral properties”.
  • Mithhrill Resources Ltd. Informed on the proposed acquisition of Sun Minerals Pty Ltd., which holds an option to earn up to 100% interest on the Copalquin project in Durango. Due diligence was completed, a formal share agreement for the acquisition of all issued share capital of Sun Minerals was executed and shareholder approval received. On view of recent market developments, Mithrill and Sun Minerals agreed that Mithrill is to raise a minimum of A$1.5 M.
  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. entered into an agreement with Monarch Minerals Inc. to purchase the El Sol mineral concession in Durango, near the Sothern Silver and Electrum Global Holdings L.P. Cerro Las Minas JV project. The purchase will not form a part of the Cerro Las Minitas JV. Acquisition cost is $US300 K payable in three equal installments on signature, 12 and 18 months, with the vendor retaining a 2% NSR that can be bought by Southern Silver at any time for US$1 M.
  • Oroco Resource Corp. wishes to clarify and amend its disclosures with respect to its Santo Tomas project in Sinaloa. “The BCSC reviewed the Company’s October, 2019 and March, 2020 corporate presentations (the “Presentations”) and its current technical report dated August 22, 2019 and titled “Technical Report Geology, Mineralization, and Exploration of the Santo Tomas Cu-(Mo-Au-Ag) Porphyry Deposit Sinaloa, Mexico” authored by D. A. Bridge, P. Geol.” (the “Report”). Both the current Presentation and the Report have been removed from the Company’s website pending revision. The disclosure issues in the Presentations and the Report with respect to National Instrument 43-101 (the “Instrument”) and Form 43-101F1 are summarized in the following discussion”.
  • Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. has launched a NAFTA arbitration process on its “Exploraciones Oceánicas” phosphate project off the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur. “The Arbitral Tribunal, consisting of three international arbitrators well-versed in international investment treaties, has been constituted and the parties are now in the process of finalizing the arbitration schedule and procedures with the Tribunal……..“We intend to continue to work diligently and in good faith with Mexico’s current administration to achieve an equitable resolution of this dispute and to help Mexico provide fertilizer to its farmers, but we are prepared to proceed with the full NAFTA arbitration process if necessary, and have recently received increased litigation funding specifically to support this case”. The Exploraciones Oceánicas project contains an estimated 588 M tonnes of phosphate, at a depth of 70-90 m, lying 25 to 40 km from the coast, with almost no overburden.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Newmont Goldcorp donates 500 COVID-19 tests in Zacatecas. The donation amounts to more than $2 M pesos.
  • Newmont Peñasquito delivered 3,000 cleansing packages, in the communities near the Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas, amidst the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus. The packages are to be delivered in and by local health institutions.

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: Hematite-goethite stained quartz vein in an orogenic gold system, Oaxaca. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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Capstone Intercepts 20m of 2.2% Cu Including 5m of 5.3% Cu: Exploration Program Pointing to Higher Grades and Wider Intercepts than in Current Reserve

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CS-Cozamin-Exploration-Update-Dec-2019

Vancouver, British Columbia – Capstone Mining Corp. (“Capstone”) (TSX: CS) announces additional high grade copper and silver results from 20 infill drill holes at its Cozamin Mine, further to the update of November 5, 2019. These, plus an additional 15 holes pending assays, bring the total drilled to date to 138 holes of a 200 hole program, aiming to more than double the current reserve base. Drill results to date continue to demonstrate greater widths and grades than current Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves estimates will be updated in late 2020.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fifth Week of October, 2019

/ Gambusino Prospector / Leave a comment

IMG_0970 - copia

By Jorge Cirett

During the 44th week of the year (October 28th to November 3rd, 2019), at least 33 press releases were forwarde by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The Morena party reassigned the Mining Fund, taking it away from its intended purpose of helping and developing mining communities. All big organizations related to mining in Mexico presented a petition to the president to rebuke the channelling of the Mining Fund away from its intended goal of helping mining communities. The governors of Sonora, Durango, Zacatecas and Guerrero sent a letter to the president of Mexico asking not to affect the communities by withdrawing the Mining Fund. On other matters, the AIMMGM informed mining companies expect to invest more than US$26 billion in six years. The illegal blockade on the Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas was lifted, with negotiations to continue shortly. The El Castillo mine access in Durango was illegally blocked for a few days, and then released, while negotiations proceed with community involved. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Magna Gold informed it has two projects in the state, Mercedes near Yecora and San Judas, near Trincheras. In Chihuahua, Wealth Minerals negotiated surface access to its Valsequillo project. In Durango, Gainey Capital halted drilling activities while discussions with the local indigenous groups proceed.  ON MINING, Gold Resource, Consolidated Zinc, McEwen Mining, Santacruz Silver, Premier Gold, Torex Gold, Americas Silver and sierra Metals released third quarter 2019 production results. Telson Mining is to re-commence mining at Campo Morado in Guerrero. ON FINANCING, Goldplay Exploration filed an amended and restated condensed interim consolidated financial statement. Oroco Resource informed the exercising of warrants for $720 K. Starcore Interantional has resumed trading on the OTC Pink market. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Pan American Silver released impressive results from 14,300 m of drilling at its La Colorada mine in Zacatecas. Mexican Gold Corp updated on its current drilling program at Las Minas, Veracruz. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Telson Mining is to re-start mining at Campo Morado, in Guerrero, under a notice of default and demand for payment by Nyrstar. Prime Mining signed a public relations contract with Brisco Capital Partners. Oceanus is using now a service for virtual tours on remote locations. Santacruz and Peñoles extended a lease agreement on the Zimapan mine in Hidalgo. Almaden Minerals was informed by SEMARNAT that the permitting process for its Ixtaca mine in Puebla is suspended until a judicial resolution is reached (the head of the institution is openly against open pit mining).  ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Alamos Gold reunited all the students under its scholarship program in three venues, Matarachi, Sahuaripa and Hermosillo.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Last week the Morena party majority reassigned the Mining Fund (Fondo para el Desarrollo Regional Sustentable de Estados y Municipios Mineros) to education spending.  The fund is gathered on a 7% (increased to 7.5% in gold and silver) royalties on extracted minerals implemented in 2014 to aid with the infrastructure, health, education and sustainability of mining communities.
  • The Asociación de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México (AIMMGM) informed that mining companies expect to invest more than US$26 billion in six years. If such investments come to be realized, 50 thousand direct jobs and 274 thousand indirect jobs could be generated, and mining companies would pay an additional 23,500 million in taxes. Just last year the industry paid 46,159 million pesos on income tax (Impuesto sobre la renta, ISR).
  • On October 26th, the Zacatecas governor Alejandro Tello informed that security forces are inviting the group that (illegally) blocks the entrance to the Peñasquito mine to leave the site. The governor also informed that a number of the blockers might be pursued judicially, some by the state and some by the federal government. He stated that he’s is been in contact with the sub secretary of the interior (Subsecretario de Gobernación), with whom also the company executives, communal farmers (ejidatarios) and the state government have been in dialogue rounds.
  • The Cámara Minera de México (CAMIMEX), the Grupo de Minería de la Cámara de Comercio de Canadá, the Asociación de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geológos de México, the organization in mining Mujeres WIM de México and the Colegio de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geólogos de México received with great worry de Senate decision to approve an unjust redistribution of the Mining Fund (Fondo Minero), braking the spirit on which the fund was created to benefit mining communities. The priority for the sector is that the resources reach the communities and municipalities where they were generated, contributing with independent actions by mining companies to the social welfare and community development in areas away from urban centers, aiding to reach greater life quality, development and wellbeing. Miners are appalled by the Congress decision, same that dismissed petitions by state governors, municipality presidents, from the industry and mining communities to guarantee the return of funds to these localities. A strong and respectful call is made to the authorities to reconsider the distribution methodology for the resources and operational rules of the fund, where it should be clearly established that these funds are to be funnelled exclusively to mining communities, municipalities and states. The mining industry refresh its compromise to continue to be an agent of change, a block that forwards sustainability practices and is and active player that contributes to a greater well-being for thousands of miner families and millions of Mexicans. We consider ourselves as the best federal government ally to achieve the more valuable social objectives sought by new government project. The Camara Minera de Mexico is the first camera of industries formed in the country, representing the interests of the mining-metallurgical industry in the country.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc. informed on an illegal blockade at its El Castillo mine in Durango. The Company has a legal and binding agreement in place with Atotonilco ejido that was signed and recognized by both the Atotonilco ejido and the Mexican government in 2012 and runs through 2022. The blockade lifting was announced on October 30, with an agreement with the ejido pending to be ratified on November 11.
  • Newmont Goldcorp confirmed that free access to its Peñasquito installations in  Zacatecas is complete as of last Sunday (Oct. 27). Access to the mine had been blocked by a small group of communal agriculture workers (ejidatarios) and truckdrivers. The company is to restart the social investment programmes in the next few days, and expects to initiate on November 19 the new program “Juntos Dejamos Legado”, which aims to support schools and sport activities in 25 nearby communities. The ending of the blockade was achieved with government executives having dialog with the blockers, with the presence of the national guard (Guardia Nacional) and the state police (Policía Estatal Preventiva), stressing that further negotiations were to proceed only without the blockade in place.
  • The governors of Sonora, Claudia Pavlovich; Zacatecas, Alejandro Tello; Durango, José Rosas, and Guerrero, Héctor Astudillo, sent a letter to the president of México asking not to affect the communities by withdrawing the mining fund.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Gainey Capital Corp. temporarily halted all drilling activities at its Las Margaritas property in Durango, following discussions with the local indigenous groups (Las Margaritas, Durango).
  • Magna Gold Corp. informed it has two projects in Sonora. The flagship 1,239 ha Mercedes project in Yecora, and the recently acquired San Judas project in Trincheras.
  • Wealth Minerals Ltd. successfully negotiated surface access rights to its Valsequillo property in Chihuahua. The company has an option to acquire 100% interest in the 2,840 ha property. Past artisanal mining activity concentrated on a number of epithermal, Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag veins, stockworks and silicified zones concentrated within two NW trending corridors. Rock sample results of up to 2.68 gpt Au, 629 gpt Ag, 9.5% Cu, 16.5% Pb, 6.4% Zn have been obtained.

ON MINING

  • Telson Mining Corp. announced the recommence of mining operations at its Campo Morado mine in Guerrero. This is the result of improved relations with the local community and a better zinc price. The company anticipates initiating full mining activities and processing operations near the beginning of December 2019.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc. informed on an illegal blockade at its El Castillo mine in Durango. The Company has a legal and binding agreement in place with Atotonilco ejido that was signed and recognized by both the Atotonilco ejido and the Mexican government in 2012 and runs through 2022.
  • Gold Resource Corp. reported gold production for the third quarter of 2019, including figures from its Oaxaca Mining Unit. The Arista mine milled 163.3 K tonnes @ 1.76 gpt Au, 85 gpt Ag, 0.39% Cu, 1.9% Pb, 4.7% Zn; the Aguila open pit mine milled 3.6 K tonnes @ 1.49 gpt Au, 58 gpt Ag; the Mirador mine milled 11.7 K tonnes @ 0.76 gpt Au, 197 gpt Ag. In total, 178.6 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 2,007 tonnes per day, to produce 7,462 Oz Au, 473.8 K Oz Ag, 492 tonnes Cu, 2,459 tonnes Pb, 6,057 tonnes Zn. Total cash cost after by-product credits was $197 per AuEq ounce and total all-in sustaining cost was $520 per AuEq ounce for the period.
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. released its third quarter 2019 activities report. The acquisition of the Plomosas mine in Chihuahua was completed, getting the remaining 10% ownership in exchange for a 1% NSR royalty. During the quarter 7,511 tonnes were mined @ 13.5% Zn, 8.2% Pb, and 9,120 tonnes were processed @ 12.5% Zn, 7.9% Pb.
  • McEwen Mining Inc. presented its third quarter 2019 report, including activities at its El Gallo mine in Mexico. During the third quarter the mine produced 3,057 Oz AuEq from residual leaching, at cash cost $1,153 and $1,177 AISC per Oz AuEq. Work on the Fenix Project feasibility study and permitting is progressing.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. released results from 14,300 m of drilling during the third quarter 2019 on its La Colorada mine in Zacatecas (see Resources and Development section) .
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. reported its third quarter 2019 production. Consolidated production was 956.5 K Oz AgEq. At Zimapan, in Hidalgo, 82.2 K tonnes were processed @ 75 gpt Ag, 0.59% Pb, 2.28% Zn, 0.48% Cu to produce 151.5 K Oz Ag (75% recovery), 463 tonnes Pb, 1,492 tonnes Zn, 316 tonnes Cu. At Veta Grande, in Zacatecas, 44 K tonnes were processed @ 99 gpt Ag, 0.24 gpt Au, 1.45% Pb, 2.11% Zn to produce 62.4 K Oz Ag (45% recovery), 139 Oz Au, 370 tonnes Pb, 519 tonnes Zn. At Rosario, in San Luis Potosi, 22 K tonnes were processed @ 65 gpt Ag, 0.25 gpt Au, 0.40% Pb, 2.04% Zn to produce 43 K Oz Ag (93% recovery).
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. announced Q3 2019 production results, including 14,481 Oz Au and 37.5 K Oz Ag from its Mexican operations at Mercedes, in Sonora.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported third quarter 2019 results. At its El Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero, the company produced 138,145 Oz Au, mine production averaged 144,989 tonnes per day (tpd), mine ore production averaged 15,391 tpd @ 3.19 gpt Au, with a plant throughput of 12,380 tpd @ 4.11 gpt Au, recovering 89% Au at cash cost $561 and AISC of $675.
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. released third quarter 2019 production results, including figures from its Cosalá operations in Sinaloa. At the site 151.2 K tonnes were milled to produce 128.8 K Oz Ag, 10.1 M Lb Zn, 3.7 M Lb Pb (or 1 M Oz AgEq), at cash cost -$10.82 per Oz Ag, and an AISC of -$1.49 per Oz Ag after sub-product credits.
  • Sierra Metals Inc. reported its Q3-2019 financial results, not including figures from its operations in Mexico. The company had $29.0 M of cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period (Bolivar, Chihuahua).

ON FINANCING

  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd. filed an amended and restated condensed interim consolidated financial statement and management discussion and analysis for the six months ended June 30, 2019, adding the following disclosure “in Note 11 – Related Party Transactions; The Company issued 480,000 common shares valued at $60,000 as debt settlement with officers and a director of the Company and in Note 12 – Share Capital and Reserves; the Company issued 600,000 common shares valued at $75,000 as debt settlement including $60,000 to related parties” (San Marcial, Sinaloa).
  • Oroco Resource Corp. informed that warrant holders from a unit offering completed on April 2018 have fully exercised the purchase warrants providing the company $720 K (Santo Tomás, Sinaloa).
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. announced it has resumed trading on the OTC Pink markets in USA under the symbol “SHVLF” (San Martin, Queretaro).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Pan American Silver Corp. released results (impressive) from 14,300 m of drilling during the third quarter on the La Colorada skarn discovery in Zacatecas. Drill highlights comprise 250.9 m @ 40 gpt Ag, 0.08% Cu, 2.6% Pb, 3.4% Zn (including 78.9 m @ 60 gpt Ag, 0.09% Cu, 3.9% Pb, 4.8% Zn); 72.3 m @ 37 gpt Ag, 0.16% Cu, 3.8% Pb, 6.3% Zn and 56.6 m @ 39 gpt Ag, 0.10% Cu, 3.3% Pb, 6.6% Zn; 124.8 m @ 42 gpt Ag, 0.08% Cu, 2.4% Pb, 3.1% Zn; 252.9 m @ 67 gpt Ag, 0.19% Cu, 3.8% Pb, 6.6% Zn (including 27.3 m @ 108 gpt Ag, 0.20% Cu, 8.1% Pb, 13.7% Zn and 148.6 m @ 81 gpt Ag, 0.23% Cu, 4.4% Pb, 7.7% Zn); 132.5 m @ 56 gpt Ag, 0.19% Cu, 3.8% Pb, 6.3% Zn and 139.2 m @ 54 gpt Ag, 0.15% Cu, 1.8% Pb, 5.9% Zn; 379.0 m @ 54 gpt Ag, 0.50% Cu, 2.0% Pb, 3.7% Zn (including 66.7 m @ 154 gpt Ag, 2.07% Cu, 1.0% Pb, 1.6% Zn).
  • Mexican Gold Corp. updated on its current drill program at its Las Minas project in Veracruz. To date 655 m have been drilled on five holes, with three holes testing El Dorado zone, another 261 m hole tested an electromagnetic anomaly, while the hole currently being drilled is also testing a 350 m extension of the same anomaly.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Telson Mining Corp. informed that as a result of suspending operations at Campo Morado in August 2019 under force majeur conditions, Telson has been without cash flows resulting in non-payment under the loan agreement with Nyrstar Holdings Ltd. This has resulted in Nyrstar issuing a notice of default and demand for payment. Telson’s outstanding debt under this loan agreement including principal and interest is approximately US$6 M. Telson expects to be able to recommence outstanding payments to Nyrstar while exploring other financing alternatives.
  • Prime Mining Corp. entered into contractual agreements for marketing, advertising, shareholder engagement and social media communications with Brisco Capital Partners Corp. for a monthly retainer for a minimum of a CDN$10 K and a maximum of CDN$50 K (Guadalupe de Los Reyes, Sinaloa).
  • Oceanus Resources Corp. announced that is now live on VRIFY, a platform being used by companies to communicate with investors using virtual tours of remote mining assets, 3D models and interactive presentations (El Tigre, Sonora).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. and Peñoles, each by mean of a subsidiary, extended the Zimapan mine lease agreement from December 31,2019 to December 31, 2020. Santacruz must make monthly payments to Peñoles based on a 4% NSR, subject to a minimum US$45 K and a maximum of US$60 K per month. The extension provides more time for the negotiation of terms of a potential acquisition of the Zimapan mine in Hidalgo.
  • Almaden Minerals Ltd. was notified by SEMARNAT (Mexico’s environmental authority) that the permitting process for the Ixtaca project in Puebla has been suspended pending resolution of a mineral title lawsuit previously reported. “Under the Lawsuit, certain organisations have supported legal challenges against the Government of Mexico and the Mexican mineral title regime using the Company’s mineral claims as a basis for their challenges. The Lawsuit contends that the issuance of Almaden’s original mineral titles violated human rights and did not respect Mexico’s commitment to indigenous consultation under United Nations Instrument ILO 169…… o. In April, 2019, a Lower Court in Puebla State ruled that the Mexican mineral title system is unconstitutional and as a result these original mineral claims should be held exclusively for Almaden until such time as consultation can be completed. This Lower Court decision has now been appealed by the Mexican Congress, Senate, Secretary of Economy and Mining authorities, as well as Almaden as an affected party. The Lawsuit remains before the Courts”. SEMARNAT was informed on October 24 that the company completed the necessary steps to abandon its mineral claims in the area of the complaint in 2017.
  • Bacanora Lithium is using Veolia Water Technologies Division with its HPD evaporation and crystallisation technologies to validate Bacanora Lithium’s product purity requirements at the Sonor lithium project, while removing potassium and converting it into a sub-product. Veolia engineered and designed the production process that recovers lithium carbonate and sulphate of potash from clay deposits.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Minas de Oro Nacional (Alamos Gold) reunited in Matarachi, Sahuaripa and Hermosillo (Sonora) all the 185 students currently receiving scholarships to study in Matarachi, Sahuaripa, Arivechi, Chihuahua, Cuahutémoc and San Luis Rio Colorado. The ceremony in Hermosillo was held with company and state executives, including the state governor, the Mining Director, the director of DIF, the director of the Sonora Mining Cluster, the director of the Miners Association of Sonora and the SEC sub-secretary of Basic Education.

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: Gneiss hosted quartz veinlet from a project in Oaxaca. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of October, 2019

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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of October, 2019

By Jorge Cirett

During the 40th week of the year (September 30th to October 6th, 2019), at least 20 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Gold production declined 2.8% in 2018. On the illegal blockade at the Peñasquito mine in Zacatecas, the president of Mexico asked for both parties to solve their differences (not pronouncing himself on the illegality of the blockade). Frisco and Cemex suffered big losses at the Mexican stock exchange. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Magna Gold signed a LOI on the San Judas project in Sonora; Colibri Resource is to complete mapping and sampling on its Evelyn project. In Sinaloa, Kootenay Silver signed a surface access agreement on the Copalito project. In Zacatecas, Alien Metals is eyeing a drill program on its San Celso project.  ON MINING, Alien Metals presented financial results for the first semester 2019. Torex Gold produced 138,100 Oz Au at El Limon-Guajes mine in Guerrero during the Q3 2019. ON FINANCING, Southern Silver, Millrock Resources and Alien Metals granted 3.25 M, 1.88 M and 7 M incentive options respectively to officers, directors, employees and consultants. Fortuna Silver closed a bought deal financing for US$40 M. Azure Minerals raised $4 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GoGold resources released results for one more hole at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. Premier Gold released results on drilling at the Lupita extension on its Mercedes mine in Sonora. Goldplay disclosed channel surface sample results at its San Marcial property in Sinaloa. Silver Bull provided results from eleven more drill holes at the Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila (halted by an illegal blockade). ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Magna Gold signed a LOI on the San Judas project in Sonora. Silver Bull halted exploration at its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila, due to an illegal blockade by a mining cooperative demanding a royalty payment on a property that is not in production. Fortuna Silver terminated the option on Prospero Silver’s Pachuca SE project in Hidalgo. Millrock and Riverside entered into a definitive agreement on the La Union, Los Cuarentas, El Pima, El Valle, and Llano del Nogal projects in Sonora. Santacruz Silver approved the acquisition of the remaining 50% of PCG Mining S.A. de C.V., parent company of Carrizal Mining, S.A. de C.V.. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. No relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • Gold production in Mexico declined by 2.8% in July 2019. This is the 28th consecutive month of production contractions, the longest since 1981, according to INEGI (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía). In 2016 the production declined by 5.2%, in 2017 another 13.6% and a further 9.7% in 2018. Mineral products with annual increments include zinc at 10.7%, iron pellets with 2.9%, lead with 2.5%, sulphur with 1.6% and coal with 0.8%.
  • On Peñasquito’s illegal blockade, Mexico’s president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, asked both parties two solve their differences in the conflict that has now more than two weeks (he did not mention the blockade being illegal). Newmont Goldcorp has offered more than US$25 M in investments, amount that the blockaders reckon as lacking. The Peñasquito mine produced 272,000 Oz Au last year, and had re-started production in mid-June after a first illegal blockade by truckers wanting to get a contract and locals accusing the company of water availability issues.
  • To the 3rd of October Frisco and Cemex have suffered big losses in the Mexican stock exchange (S&P/BMV IPC), 13.76% and 6.24% respectively, under the current commercial instability between USA and the European Union. Frisco is one of the biggest mining companies in Mexico, with operations in Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Zacatecas and Aguascalientes (although Frisco is also known for its scant releases on reserves and resources). Cemex is the biggest Mexican cement producer, with operations internationally.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Magna Gold Corp. signed a LOI to explore the San Judas project in Sonora. The two mineral concessions cover 2806 ha underlain by a Precambrian basement composed of granite, gneiss, pegmatites and schist. “The entire sequence is affected by multiple deformations and the emplacement of intrusions such as leucocratic granites and andesitic dikes”. Gold mineralization is associated with quartz-breccia veins, quartz veins and “quartz stockworks emplaced along a series of parallel, foliated, low-angle shear zones within the igneous-metamorphic sequence”. Assays in an historical rock chip sample database have values of up to 230 gpt gold.
  • Colibri Resource Corp. contracted Auro Metallum Geology Consulting Services of Hermosillo, in Sonora, to complete a geological mapping study of its 506 ha Evelyn Gold Project near Caborca in Sonora. Recent sampling has returned up to 4.8 gpt Au from abundant quartz in sub-crop in a new zone identified by soil sampling.
  • Alien Metals Ltd. updated on the exploration of its San Celso and Los Campos projects in Zacatecas. At San Celso a next step of work will examine a drill program funded by a third party to test the strike extension of the main veins, and the depth extension below the existing workings.
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. signed a surface access agreement with the local ejido at the Copalito project in Sinaloa. Said agreement allows the company to mapping, sampling, geophysics, trenching and drilling. The 3,700 ha project covers a low sulfidation epithermal system with numerous veins, traced over up to 2 km of length, and 0.5 to 15 meters in width. Sampling has returned assays of up to 8.2 gpt Au, 532 gpt Ag, 17.4% Zn, 9.9% Pb and 5.1% Cu.

ON MINING

  • Alien Metals Ltd. presented its financial results for the first semester of 2019. As of the end of the period the company had total assets of US$1.2 M, of which US$0.4 M was cash, and current total liabilities for US$0.1 M (Donovan 2, Zacatecas).
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. announced gold production of 138,100 ounces of gold during Q3 2019, on track to meet it 2019 production guidance of 430,000 ounces. During the period plant throughput averaged 12,370 tonnes per day (tpd), underground mining 1,110 tpd, open pit mining 14,270 tpd (El Limon-Guajes, Guerrero).

ON FINANCING

  • Southern Silver Exploration Corp. granted 3.25 M incentive stock options to directors, officers and consultants, exercisable at $0.27 per common share for a period of five years. The rolling incentive stock option plan was also approved, pursuant to which a maximum of 10% of the issued shares will be reserved for issuance under the plan. (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango).
  • Millrock Resources Inc. approved a grant of stock options to employees, officers, directors and advisers to the company, granting a total of 1.88 M stock options exercisable at $0.09 for five years. The company is also to settle debt owed for deferred cash compensation to certain officers, directors and employees by issuing 819 K Millrock shares (Batamote, Sonora).
  • Alien Metals Ltd. granted 7 M options to its technical director, Brill Brodie. All shares are exercisable from 1 October 2019, of which 3 M can be exercised at 0.22 pence, 3 M at 0.30 pence and 4 M at 0.45 pence (San Celso, Zacatecas).
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. closed the previously announced bought deal offering of senior subordinated unsecured convertible debentures for an aggregate principal amount of US$40 M. “The Debentures mature on October 31, 2024 and will bear interest at a rate of 4.65% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on the last business day of April and October in each year, commencing on April 30, 2020. The Debentures will be convertible at the holder’s option into common shares in the capital of the Company” at a conversion price of US$5.00 per share (San José, Oaxaca).
  • Azure Minerals Ltd. raised $4 M (before costs) through a placement to institutional and sophisticated investors “to relaunch an aggressive exploration push on the Alacrán silver and gold projects” in Sonora. Azure is to undertake drilling to increase mineral resources at the Loma Bonita Au-Ag deposit, today standing at 150 K Oz Au, 4.8 M Oz Ag in 5.4 M tonnes @ 0.9 gpt Au, 28 gpt Ag.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • GoGold Resources Inc. released results from one more hole completed on the San Juan area of its Los Ricos project in Jalisco. The hole returned 21.0 m @ 1.38 gpt Au, 146 gpt Ag (3.33 gpt AuEq), including 5.0 m @ 4.36 gpt Au, 436 gpt Ag (10.2 gpt AuEq). The San Juan area is located 400 m NW from the Los Ricos Main area.
  • Premier Gold Mines Inc. released results from its drilling program focused on delineating new mineral resources in the Lupita Extension at its Mercedes mine in Sonora. Highlighted results comprise 3.6 m @ 7.18 gpt Au, 54 gpt Ag; 1.8 m @ 24.24 gpt Au, 179 gpt Ag; 3.4 m @ 8.86 gpt Au, 67 gpt Ag; 3.1 m @ 13.65 gpt Au, 80 gpt Ag. The Neo target is 400 m north of San Martin is a possible extension of the Diluvio system, with one of three drill holes returning 3.1 m @ 13.65 gpt Au, 80 gpt Ag.
  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd. disclosed results from channel sampling on the Faisanes target of the San Marcial project in Sinaloa. The samples were cut by saw along the access road walls and road surface, returning 10 m @ 98 gpt Ag, 0.06 gpt Au) 0.6 m @ 587 gpt Ag, nil Au; 1.0 m @ 214 gpt Ag, nil Au; 1.1 m @ 42 gpt Ag, nil Au; 1.0 m @ 41 gpt Ag, 0.26 gpt Au.
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. provided results from eleven more drill holes from its Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila. Highlights from the holes comprise: 17.1 m of oxide mineralization @ 120 gpt Ag, 0.43% Cu (including 1.35 m @ 539 gpt Ag, 0.27% Cu and 2.25 m @ 198 gpt Ag, 1.66% Cu and 0.55 m @ 403 gpt Ag, 1.6% Cu); 5.2 m of sulfide mineralization @ 149 gpt Ag, 0.87% Cu, 4.67% Zn. Due to an illegal blockade by a cooperative of miners who hold a royalty on two claims, the drill program has been paused.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Magna Gold Corp. entered into a binding letter of intent (LOI) with the private owners of the two mining concessions forming the 2,806 ha San Judas project in Sonora. The deal involves payments of US$50 K on signature of the definitive agreement, US$50 K on the first year, US$100 K on the second year, US$150 K on the third year, US$300 K on the fourth year and US$1.,03 M on the fifth year, all figures plus VAT.
  • Silver Bull Resources Inc. halted all work on the Sierra Mojada project in Coahuila due to a blockade by a cooperative of local miners called Sociedad Cooperativa de Exploración Minera Mineros Norteños, S.C.L.. The company has an agreement with the said cooperative on two mineral concessions in the eastern part of the Sierra Mojada project, under which they have the right of a 2% production royalty. Since 2014 the cooperative filed a suit fighting for payment of the royalty, notwithstanding the lack of production from the property. The cooperative also demands payments of wages for individuals that have not worked for the company, neither received employment commitments from Silver Bull. The cooperative has now illegally blockaded access to the project in an attempt to force a settlement before the final ruling. “Silver Bull is working with authorities to resolve the situation in a safe, fair, and timely manner”.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. announced the termination of the Pachuca SE property option agreement signed previously with Prospero Silver Corp. (San José, Oaxaca).
  • Millrock Resources Inc. entered definitive agreements to sell the La Union, Los Cuarentas, El Pima, El Valle, and Llano del Nogal claim blocks to Riverside Resources Inc., as well a copy of its exploration database and exploration vehicles also to Riverside. Consideration paid to Millrock is $35 K cash and 150 K Riverside shares, and a 0.5% NSR on the El Pima, El Valle and Santa Rosalia (conditional on this one) claims. “Millrock has retained the El Batamote copper porphyry project and this will be the sole focus of Millrock’s exploration effort in Mexico going forward” (Batamote, Sonora).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. shareholders approved in its last annual general meeting held in October 1, 2019, the re-election of directors, the auditor of the company and the approval of the existing 10% rolling stock option plan. Also approved was the acquisition of the remaining 50% of the outstanding shares of PCG Mining S.A. de C.V. from a non-arm’s length party in consideration for the issue of 30 M common shares of the company. Upon completion of the transaction the company will own 100% of PCG, which is the parent holding company of Carrizal Mining, S.A. de C.V..

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

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

On the image below: Sheeted quartz veining in metamorphic rocks from an orogenic gold project in Oaxaca. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of September, 2019

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During the 38th week of the year (September 16th to September 22nd, 2019), at least 20 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Peñasquito in Zacatecas is again victim of an illegal blockade, operations are suspended by Newmont Goldcorp. ON EXPLORATION, in Zacatecas, Advance Gold is to carry a second phase geophysical survey on its Tabasquena project. in Jalisco, Silver Spruce announced the approval of the permits for drilling Cocula. In Hidalgo, Prospero Silver informed on drilling results from its Pachuca SE project. ON MINING, a renewed illegal blockade strikes Newmont Goldcorp’s Peñaquito mine, in Zacatecas. Starcore released first quarter 2019 results. Consolidated Zinc filed first semester 2019 results. Mexus Gold realized the first gold sale from it Santa Elena mine in Sonora. ON FINANCING, Newmont Goldcorp completed a senior notes offering for $690 M. San Marco Resources is consolidating its share base on a 3 to 1 basis. Defiance Silver is settling a debt by issuing shares. Sierra Metals amended the number of shares to re-purchase. VVC Exploration extends the closing of its private placement financing for up to CA$2.5 M. Galore Resources announced the extension of the current non-brokered private placement intended to raise $1.5 M. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Leagold commenced a large multi-year exploration program on eight linear kilometres of the southern portion of the Bermejal intrusive stock. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Azure Minerals won a dispute on the recovery of a significant amount of VAT. Silver Spruce is to continue the due diligence on the Cocula project in Jalisco. Magna Gold completed the acquisition of Las Marias and Las Cabañas properties, adjacent the former and 10 km SW the latter from its Mercedes project in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Alamos Gold received an award on community responsibility by three organizations for work on the Mulatos community, in Sonora.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • A new illegal blockade on Peñasquito, Zacatecas, forces Newmont Goldcorp to suspend operations. The blockade that was set on September 14, 2019, is backed by the Zacatecan senator José Narro, from the ruling party Morena.

ON EXPLORATION

  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. announced the approval of the Informe Preventivo on  the Cocula project in Jalisco, which is the environmental application required for drilling. The permit allows for 47 drill sites over the 750 m strike length of the known mineralised area.
  • Advance Gold Corp. informed that a second phase geophysical survey will be carried out at its Tabasquena project in Zacatecas. The first phase 3D induced polarisation survey identified a “a significant continuous chargeability anomaly, with an east-west width of approximately 250 metres and an apparent strike length of over 800 metres” directly below the Tabasquena vein, which saw previous production under the company Peñoles.
  • Prospero Silver Corp. posted results from holes drilled in 2019 on its Pachuca SE project, funded by partner Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. The 5,933 m diamond drilling in eight holes produced highlighted intervals of 0.78 m @ 0.02 gpt Au, 83 gpt Ag; 1.50 m @ 0.28 gpt Au, 46 gpt Ag; 0.40 m @ 0.49 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag; 0.35 m @ 1.69 gpt Au, 675 gpt Ag; 1.80 m @ 0.58 gpt Au, 144 gpt Ag. Prospero suggests this indicates a district wide preserved epithermal mineralized zone, with fluid inclusion and mineralogical data pointing to the top of the mineralised zone 200 m below the actual surface, and the paleo-water table 100 m above the top of the Varal ridge.

ON MINING

  • Newmont Goldcorp Corp. Informed “that the dialogue sponsored by the government of Mexico to resolve issues with a trucking contractor and the San Juan de Cedros community (one of Peñasquito’s 25 neighboring communities) has been suspended and that an illegal blockade has resumed”. The company has enhanced water availability to neighbouring communities through a number of projects over the years, and proposed several additional measures for the communities in general and for San Juan de Cedros in particular, on the most recent government sponsored talks with the protesters.
  • Starcore International Mines Ltd. filed the results for the first quarter, ended July 31, 2019. During the period the company milled 60.8 K tonnes @ 1.99 gpt Au, 31.7 gpt Ag, recovering 85.1% Au, 58.4% Ag, to produce 3,711 Oz AuEq at its San Martin mine in Queretaro. The mine operating cash cost was US$1,234 per AuEq Oz and the AISC US$1,452 per AuEq Oz.
  • Mexus Gold US. sold its first gold, produced at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake for First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora).
  • Consolidated Zinc Ltd. released its first semester 2019 interim report. During the period 27.1 K tonnes of ore @ 13.1% Zn, 4.1%Pb were mined from its Plomosas mine in Chihuahua, while extracting also 14 K tonnes of waste and driving 1,192 m of underground development. By the end of the period the company had total assets of US$4.3 M, total liabilities for US$5.2 M and total cash US$0.2 M, with US$2.1 M of debt.

ON FINANCING

  • Newmont Goldcorp Corp. closed a senior notes offering at 2.8% netting $690 M of gross proceeds. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of this offering for repayment of the outstanding 5.125% senior notes due October 1, 2019 (Peñasquito, Zacatecas).
  • San Marco Resources Inc. is consolidating its shares on a 3 to 1 basis. Once the consolidation process is complete, the company will have 22.6 M issued and outstanding shares (Chunibas, Sonora).
  • Defiance Silver Corp. intends to settle up to $150 K of debt issuing up to 535 K common shares. The issuance of the shares is subject to approval by the TSX, as some of the creditors are insiders of the company, and the settlement is considered a related party transaction (San Acacio, Zacatecas).
  • Sierra Metals Inc. announced an amendment to the number of shares the company can repurchase, from 1.5 M to 2.5 M shares, or approximately 1.54% of the issued and outstanding shares of the company (Bolivar, Chihuahua).
  • VVC Exploration Corp. announces the extended closing of its private placement financing under which expects to accrue up to CA$2.5 M. A finder’s fee not exceeding 7% of the aggregate amount raised is to be paid. In conjunction with the private placement, VVC also will be converting up to $200 K of its indebtedness to units of the company (Kaity, Chihuahua).
  • Galore Resources Inc. announced that the previously announced non-brokered private placement financing intended to raise up to $1.5 M has been extended under conditional acceptance by the TSX, as the company is continuing to collect subscriptions from investors. The company plans to submit documentation and announce a closing on a first tranche of the financing in the next few days, before following up on completing and closing on a second tranche in the next 30 days (El Alamo, Zacatecas).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Leagold Mining Corp. commenced a large multi-year exploration program on the southern portion of the Bermejal intrusive at its Los Filos mine complex in Mexico. Eight linear kilometres of favourable contacts between the intrusive and the hosting sedimentary rocks are to be explored, compared with the already explored four linear kilometres that have yielded past production and actual resources reaching 6 M Oz Au on the Bermejal intrusion. The first phase will include surface geochemistry, geophysics, mapping, trenching and up to 10,000 m of drilling in 48 holes. Known prospects of interest include El Carmen, where up to 14.5 m @ 8.1 gpt Au and 12.8 m @ 12.8 gpt Au.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Azure Minerals Ltd. announced a dispute over the recovery of IVA (Mexican equivalent to GST) has been finalised with the Mexican authorities, resulting in the payment of Mx$10.33 M or AU$767 K. This payment results from a court ruling over IVA paid in 2016, reimbursed with interests (Mesa de Plata, Sonora).
  • Silver Spruce Resources Inc. announced its intention to continue the due diligence to support a definitive purchase decision of the Cocula project in Jalisco, subject to its binding letter of agreement with ProDeMin S.A. de C.V.
  • Magna Gold Corp. announced that it has completed the acquisition of the Las Marias property and Las Cabañas mineral claim in Sonora. Las Marias property consists of seven mining concessions covering 646 ha adjacent to the Mercedes property, and Las Cabañas consists of two claims covering 248 ha approximately 10 km SW of the Mercedes property. The total purchase price for the new mineral concessions and other rights was $250 K and the issuance of 1 M common shares.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Alamos Gold Inc. was named the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Practice 2019 in the category of Connecting with the Community. The award was bestowed by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (Cemefi), the Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility in Mexico (AliaRSE), and Forum Empresa (Mulatos, Sonora).

 

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

On the image below: Strong iron oxides on a quartz vein from an orogenic gold project in Oaxaca. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

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The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of August, 2019

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By Jorge Cirett

During the 32nd week of the year (August 5th to August 11th, 2019), at least 36 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The president of Mexico announced in a political rally that no more mining concessions are to be granted during his term in office. ON EXPLORATION, In Chihuahua, Kootenay has mobilized a drill rig to its Columba property. In Coahuila, Discovery Metals released high-grade results from underground sampling at Minerva. In Zacatecas, Alien Metals carried out surface sampling at Los Campos, Donovan and San Celso projects; Advance Gold started an IP survey at Tabasqueña. ON MINING, Gold Resource, Premier Gold, Hecla Mining, Golden Minerals, First Majestic, Coeur Mining, Argonaut Gold, Pan American Silver, Avino Silver, Endeavour Silver, Alio Gold, Torex Gold, Fortuna Silver and GoGold reported second quarter production and/or financial results for the second quarter. Mexus Gold poured first gold at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora. ON FINANCING, Excellon Resources entered into an agreement with a sole bookrunner for gross proceeds of $10 M. Santacruz Silver granted options to its directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors. Oroco closed a first tranche for $900 K. Impact Silver completed the first series of a round of financing for $2.4 M in gross proceeds.   ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, US Antimony continues mining at Los Juarez, Queretaro. Hecla presented drill results from San Sebastian, Durango. Orla Mining filed the FS on Camino Rojo Oxide project. VVC Exploration approved the construction of a pilot plant on its Northern Mexico Copper project. Minera Alamos received the needed environmental approval for mine construction at Santana, Sonora. Goldplay Exploration compiled all the exploration information on a 6 km trend outside the known resource in San Marcial, Sinaloa ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Discovery Metals filed an early warning report in respect to its holdings in Levon Resources. Tamino Minerals is working to remove the stop sign to become current on the OTC. Minera Alamos reported the retirement from the Board of Directors of Mr. Chester Millar, (a long time player in the Mexican Mining scene). Mako Mining informed the near completion of production from La Trinidad mine in Sinaloa. Chesapeake Gold re-purchased a 1% NSR from Wheaton Precious Metals. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Argonaut Gold engaged in multiple community projects during the second quarter on its operations at San Agustin (Durango), El Castillo (Durango), La Colorada (Sonora) and La Paz (Baja California Sur).

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No more mining concessions in my term: AMLO. The president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, announced this Sunday (August 11th, 2019) in a political rally in Concepcion del Oro, Zacatecas, that under his term no more mining concessions are to be granted. “To give concessions of the mining regions to national and foreign companies was a policy forwarded since the time of (Carlos) Salinas de Gortari, and up to 80 million hectares were delivered for mining exploitation. To grasp it: let’s think in our territory. Mexico has 200 million hectares, and 80 million hectares, about 40 percent of the national territory. Never in History so much of our sovereign soil had been transferred”, he said. He also reiterated that current concessions are to continue, but no new ones are to be delivered. “We are not to cancel (the concessions), but we are not to continue delivering new concessions for mining exploitation. Because it was too much what was delivered. If we analyze it, we are going to conclude that it wasn’t delivered to produce, but to speculate financially ………. With what has been delivered they have to produce. That’s the main purpose and not speculation. What we ask the mining companies is, first, take care of the environment, that no territory is destroyed, not to act as it is done in other countries”. He asked for Mexican miners to be paid as in the United States, or Canada, and that the same environmental rules be applied, also making a call for the salaries of workers to be raised, with the same benefits. (Editor’s note.- All the president arguments can be easily refuted to show that granting mining concessions is, and has been, very helpful for the country and countless of Mexicans. But there is no valid argument to present to the president that on the one hand is calling for more investment, while in the other hand is closing the door to it.)

ON EXPLORATION

  • Kootenay Silver Inc. has mobilized a drill rig to commence a 3,000 m core drill program at its Columba project in Chihuahua. “The first 12 holes of the drill program will be designed to test the F vein where underground development work extended to 200 meter depth and the historic mining occurred”.
  • Alien Metals Ltd. carried out some surface rock sampling at its Donovan, Los Campos and San Celso projects in Zacatecas, results pending.
  • Advance Gold Corp. started a 800 x 500 m 3D induced polarization (IP) geophysical survey on its Tabaqueña project, Zacatecas. The goal of the survey is to assess the depth potential below the near surface mineralized zone that was encountered in the andesites, with the graphitic phyllites below still open at depth.
  • Discovery Metals Corp. released assay results for 112 underground samples from its drill permitted Minerva Ag-Zn-Pb project in Coahuila. Highlighted results from the Minerva mine include 0.4 m @ 8,880 gpt Ag, 8.7% Zn, 43.2% Zn, 2.30% Cu, 0.3 m @ 1,200 gpt Ag, 24.8% Zn, 18.2% Pb, 0.15% Cu; 0.2 m @ 1,340 gpt Ag, 20.8% Zn, 19.6% Pb, 0.11% Cu; 0.9 m @ 517 gpt Ag, 5.7% Zn, 3.3% Pb, 0.07% Cu in veins, 0.3 m @ 1,485 gpt Ag, 8.6% Zn, 32.1% Pb, 0.10% Cu; 0.3 m @ 1,145 gpt Ag, 10.8% Zn, 34.8% Pb, 0.10% Cu; 0.5 m @ 220 gpt Ag, 34.6% Zn, 13.2% Pb, 0.05% Cu; 0.4 m @ 1,050 gpt Ag, 5.8% Zn, 26.4% Pb; 1.4 m @ 131 gpt Ag, 22.2% Zn, 2.7% Pb, 0.04% Cu in mantos. Underground samples from the Concordia area returned 0.7 m @ 848 gpt Ag, 2.7% Zn, 12.5% Pb, 0.24% Cu; 0.8 m @ 320 gpt Ag, nil Zn, 13% Pb, 0.06% Cu; 1.1 m @ 267 gpt Ag, 0.4% Zn, 6.3% Pb, 0.06% Cu in vein and limestone. At Tercia area, samples from a small working in diorite returned 0.5 m @ 226 gpt Ag, 0.2% Zn, 15.5% Pb; 0.5 m @ 181 gpt Ag, 0.2% Zn, 10.0% Pb; 1.3 m @ 124 gpt Ag, 3.2% Zn, 6.1% Pb in breccias (fault zones?).

ON MINING

  • Mexus Gold US. has poured gold at its Santa Elena mine in Sonora (not to mistake for First Majestic’s Santa Elena mine, also in Sonora). The company recovered gold from its first heap leach pad using its Merrill Crowe gold recovery system. Mexus continues to mine and crush ore for the 2nd lift on heap leach pad #1.
  • Gold Resource Corp. presented production results for the second quarter 2019. At the Oaxaca’s Mining Unit 7,881 Oz Au, 466.5 K Oz Ag, 482 tonnes Cu, 2,304 tonnes Pb, 6,054 tonnes Zn were produced. At the Arista mine 115.8 K tonnes were milled @ 1.87 gpt Au, 92 gpt Ag, 0.40% Cu, 1.96% Pb, 4.77% Zn. At the Aguila open pit mine 8,872 tonnes were milled @ 1.39 gpt Au, 43 gpt Ag. At the Mirador mine 6,737 tonnes were milled @ 1.10 gpt Au, 201 gpt Ag. The company had $7.93 M of cash and cash equivalents by the end of the period.
  • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. reported operating results for the second quarter 2019, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Mercedes, in Sonora, 167.6 K tonnes were milled @ 3.0 gpt Au, 27.2 gpt Ag, recovering 95.9% Au, 35.0% Ag to produce 15,532 Oz Au, 51,354 Oz Ag. Co-product cash cost was $1,053 per Oz Au, and the co-product all-in-sustaining cost was $1,254 per Oz Au. On by-product basis, cash cost was 1,044 per Oz Au and AISC $1,252 per OZ Au. A total of 11,281 m of drilling targeted the Diluvio, Marianas and Barrancas veins “to replace reserves support mine production, test extensions of the main mine trends and to test new geological targets.”
  • Hecla Mining Co. presented second quarter 2019 results, including figure from its operations in Mexico. At San Sebastian, Durango, 463.7 K Oz Ag, 3,547 Oz Au were produced at by-product cash cost $9.22 per Oz Ag and by-product AISC$15.50.
  • Golden Minerals Co. released financial results for the second quarter 2019. An important point on the report is the still to be completed $22 M sale of the Velardeña, Santa Maria and Rodeo properties, as well as the Velardeña mill, to Grupo Autlan. Golden had a net loss of $2.5 M , ending the period with $1.8 M in cash and cash equivalents.
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. announced financial results for the second quarter 2019. During the period 3.2 M Oz Ag, 6.4 M OZ AgEq were produced at cash cost $6.84 per Oz Ag, and AISC $ 14.76 per Oz Ag on a consolidated basis from its San Dimas (Durango), Santa Elena (Sonora), La Encantada (Coahuila), San Martin (Jalisco), La Parrilla (Durango), Del Toro (Zacatecas). At the end of the period the company had $94.5 M in cash and cash equivalents.First Majestic production table1
  • Coeur Mining Inc. reported second quarter 2019 financial results, including figures from its Mexican operations. At Palmarejo, in Chihuahua, 447.7 K tonnes were milled @ 2.18 gpt Au, 147 gpt Ag, recovering 87.7% Au, 81.8% Ag, to produce 28,246 Oz Au, 1.73 M Oz Ag at adjusted CAS $741 per Oz Au and adjusted CAS $9.17 per Oz Ag. Production started and is to be ramped up 400 tonnes per day (tpd) at La Nacion deposit.
  • Argonaut Gold Inc. announced its operating and financial results for the second qurter of 2019. At Cerro del Gallo in Guanajuato, Argonaut is advancing on the pre-feasibility study, whereas at San Antonio in Baja California participated in a public information meeting regarding the environmental impact assessment process, while advancing in environmental permitting. At El Castillo, Durango, 2.3 M tonnes of ore @ 0.39 gpt Au, 3.49 M tonnes of waste were moved at a rate of 64 K tonnes per day (tpd) to produce 14,361 Oz Au, 29,791 Oz Ag at cash cost $976 per gold equivalent ounce. At San Agustin (Durango), 1.96 M tonnes of ore @ 0.39 gpt Au, 1.41 M tonnes waste were moved at 37 K tpd to produce 12,684 Oz Au, 43,097 Oz Ag at cash cost $910 per gold equivalent ounce. At La Colorada (Sonora) 1.19 M tonnes of ore @ 0.46 gpt Au, 5.9 M tonnes of waste were moved at 78 K tpd to produce 11,723 Oz Au, 35,485 Oz Ag at cash cost $894 per gold equivalent ounce.
  • Pan American Silver Corp. reported unaudited results for the second quarter 2019, including figures from its Mexican operations. At La Colorada, in Zacatecas, 2.04 M Oz Ag, 1.1 K Oz Au were produced at cash cost $2.82 per Oz Ag and AISC $5.07 per Oz Ag. At Dolores, in Chihuahua, 1.23 M Oz Ag, 28.5 K Oz Au were produced at cash cost $6.87 per Oz Ag and AISC $22.30 per Oz Ag. “Drilling at the La Colorada mine has further defined the skarn mineralization, indicating a high concentration of base metal and silver mineralization over large widths”. By the end of the period the company had cash and shorth-term investments for $138.8 M, and working capital of $793.1 M.
  • Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. released consolidated financial results for the second quarter 2019. During the period 200.9 K tonnes were milled to produce 426.1 K Oz Ag, 1,609 Oz Au, 1.14 M Lb Cu, or 599.5 K Oz AgEq, with consolidated cash cost per AgEq ounce of $10.89, and AISC $13.10 per AgEq ounce. At the end of the quarter Avino held $3.4 M of cash, and a working capital of $8.7 M.
  • Endeavour Silver Corp. released its financial results for the second quarter 2019. Consolidated production from its Guanacevi (Durango), Bolañitos (Guanajuato), El Cubo (Guanajuato) and El Compas (Zacatecas) mines was 1.06 M Oz Ag, 9,558 Oz Au, or 1.8 M Oz AgEq at an all-in-sustaining cost of $20.90 per Oz Ag net of gold credits. During the period received the final tailings permit for its Terronera project in Jalisco, and reported positive drill results from Bolañitos and Guanacevi.
  • Alio Gold Inc. reported second quarter 2019 results, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At San Francisco, in Sonora, produced 10,230 Oz Au, 5,112 Oz Ag, with a by-product cost of $1,077 per Oz Au and an AISC of $1,079 per Oz Au. In January 2019 Alio stopped active mining in the San Francisco pit and focused on processing the low grade stockpile, which is to continue until the end of the year, after which only residual leaching is to go on.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. announced financial and operating results for the second quarter 2019. At El Limon-Guajes in Guerrero, 145.7 K tonnes per day (tpd) were moved, including 19,890 tpd of ore @ 2.91 gpt Au, with a recovery of 88% Au to produce 113,645 Oz Au at cash cost $605 and AISC $760. The Muckahi mining system is said to be on the way to demonstrate its efficacy by year end. Torex released a maiden underground mineral resource estimate for El Limon Deep of 797 K tonnes @ 5.52 gpt Au, containing 171 K Oz Au as an indicated mineral resource. The company had a cash balance of $131 M by the end of June.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. presented consolidated financial results for the second quarter 2019, including figures from its Mexican operations. At San Jose, Oaxaca, 271 K tonnes were milled at a rate of 3,045 tpd, grading 273 gpt Ag, 1.78 gpt Au, with a recovery of 91% Ag, 90% Au to produce 2.16 M Oz Ag, 13,204 Oz Au at cash cost $6.20 per Oz Ag and an AISC of $9.3 per Ag Oz. By the end of the period Fortuna held $77.2 M in cash and cash equivalents.
  • GoGold Resources Inc. reported second quarter results 2019. During the period GoGold produced 451 K Oz Ag from the Parral tailings. By the end of June the company had $9.0 M in cash and marketable securities and no debt.

ON FINANCING

  • Excellon Resources Inc. entered into an agreement with Cormark Securities Inc. as sole bookrunner and lead underwriter to buy units of the company for gross proceeds of approximately $10 M (Platosa, Durango).
  • Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. granted 8.5 M stock options options to its directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors (Veta Grande, Zacatecas; Rosario, San Luis Potosi).
  • Oroco Resource Corp. closed the first tranche of the previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $900 K (Santo Tomas, Sinaloa).
  • Impact Silver Corp. completed the first series of the third tranche of the non-brokered private placement previously announced and updated, receiving aggregate gross proceeds of $2.44 M. The company intends to complete a second series of the third tranche for gross proceeds of $554.2 K. Impact has paid $56 K to Infor Financial Inc. and $50 K to Canaccord Genuity Corp. as finders fee (Zacualpan, Estado de Mexico).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • United States Antimony Corp. continues mining in two open pits at Los Juarez mine in Queretaro. At the Puerto Blanco mill in Guanajuato maintenance and improvements are being made to support increased production. At the Puerto Blanco leach circuit the plastic liner and fire assay equipment have been purchased. At the Madero smelter in Coahuila, The caustic leach plant has been tested and is operational to produce gold, silver, and antimony.
  • Hecla Mining Co. added new mineralization by drilling on the Middle and El Toro veins, potentially adding oxide mine life to San Sebastian, in Durango. Near-surface mineralisation has been defined by drilling for over 1,200 m along strike and 160 m of depth. Recent intercepts include 2.40 m @ 874 gpt Ag, 11.5 gpt Au; 1.50 m @ 398 gpt Ag, 1.86 gpt Au; 3.41 m @ 236 gpt Ag, 3.42 gpt Au. “Preliminary engineering studies have begun to evaluate the potential of both open pit and underground mining options at El Toro and drilling in this area is planned to continue through the third quarter.”
  • Orla Mining Ltd. filed a technical report on its Camino Rojo project, Zacatecas. The company previously released the results of the feasibility study (FS) for the oxide part of the mineralized body, which envisages the movement of 44 M tonnes @ 0.73 gpt Au, 14.2 gpt Ag to leach pads, and a recovery of 64% Au, 17% Ag.
  • VVC Exploration Corp. board of directors approved the start of a pilot mine on the Gloria Zones of its Northern Mexico Copper Project (Samalayuca) in Chihuahua. The plan envisions open pit mining and heap leach extraction by electrowinning (SX-EW) starting at 2 K tonnes per day (tpd) of mineralized material, scalable to 4 K tpd.
  • Minera Alamos Inc. received the approval of the environmental impact statement (Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental, or MIA) by SEMARNAT, the regulatory federal environmental agency, rendering the company with the key approvals for the construction of  commercial scale mining facilities at its Santana project in Sonora.
  • Goldplay Exploration Ltd. compiled all the exploration information supporting that its San Marcial project in Sinaloa has a strong precious metal potential, beyond the already defined resource. Five known areas over a 6 km trend include: Nava, with trench sampling of up to 24 m @ 2.1 gpt Au; Chachalaca Micuines, where several rock chip samples returned 1m @ 1.0 – 5.0 gpt Au, and up to 0.9 m @ 13.3 gpt Au; Guacamayo, with a trench interval returning 24 m @ 219 gpt Ag, 0.25 gpt Au; Resource area, on which recent assays of drill holes identified new gold mineralisation outside the resource, with true width intervals (tw) of 1.0 m @ 2.5 gpt Au, 8.4 m @ 0.7 gpt Au, 12 m @ 0.2 gpt Au; Faisanes, where recently a drill hole interval of tw 0.9 m @ 204.6 gpt Au.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Discovery Metals Corp. filed an early warning report in respect of its holdings in Levon Resources Ltd., now beneficially owns or controls 117.1 M Levon Shares, representing all of the issued and outstanding Levon Shares. Discovery did not own or control, directly or indirectly, any shares in Levon prior to the Arrangement. (Puerto Rico, Coahuila; Cordero, Chihuahua).
  • Tamino Minerals Inc. informed that “The company is not planning to complete a REVERSE SPLIT at this moment and is not in the company’s plans to do this.” Furthermore stating that “no dilution is guaranted” as its latest DTCC Share Position Report shows that the company has 149.8 M common shares in the float. The company is also working on preparing financial statements in order to remove the stop sign to become current on the OTC Markets (El Volcan, Sonora).
  • Minera Alamos Inc. reported the retirement from the Board of Directors of Mr. Chester Millar. Mr Millar (born 1927) was involved in multiple heap leach mining projects in Mexico for several decades, and is included in the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame since 2008 (Note by editor.- our sincere thanks and respect to Chester Millar for his contributions to the mining industry in Mexico).
  • Mako Mining Corp. informed gold production from the Trinidad mine in Sinaloa is nearing completion. Mining operations ceased at the end of March, and most of the crushing plant has been moved to another project in Nicaragua. The company has been unsuccessful in receiving any proceeds from the claim due to the damages sustained at La Trinidad from Hurricane Willa in October 2018, and legal actions have commenced against the insurer provider and their reinsurers. “Discussions are underway with the mining contractor for La Trinidad and the Mexican government regarding significant payables still outstanding at our Mexican subsidiary that holds La Trinidad”. Mako believes that the company has properly structured its Mexican subsidiary in a way that these liabilities do not extend outside of Mexico, whereby any proceeds from the sale of the equipment, or success in the insurance litigation, will be for the benefit of Mako. Discussions are proceeding with the mining contractor with the goal of reaching a mutually acceptable settlement. Finally, all other assets held in Mexico are to be sold or liquidated on due course (Note of editor.- From the outside, and with no further information other than what’s on the press release, the remarks on the isolation of the parent company from any litigation while leaving the country with debts outstanding are the kind of practices that make foreign companies easy targets for interest groups on any country. In short, please do not do that).
  • Chesapeake Gold Corp. has exercised an option to re-purchase a one percent (1.0%) net smelter returns royalty (NSR) on its Metates Au-Ag-Zn project, Durango. The NSR was purchased from Wheaton Precious Metals Co., a subsidiary of Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. for US$9.0 M.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Argonaut Gold Inc. engaged in multiple community projects during the second quarter of 2019. Received the nationally awarded Environmental Socially Responsible Company recognition at the El Castillo Complex for the seventh consecutive year, and held an opening ceremony of a new plant nursery at San Agustin (also in Durango). At La Colorada (Sonora), San Juan del Rio (Durango) and San Antonio (Baja California Sur) hosted a Children’s Day celebration. At La Colorada (Sonora) assisted, in collaboration with the State of Sonora Secretariat of Education and Culture, with the rehabilitation of educational facilities and donated computers, as well as hosted a women’s community workshop in La Colorada. Finally, hosted a health and wellness community workshop in La Paz, Baja California Sur.

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 veinlets and quartz filed breccia in metamorphic rocks of a project in Oaxaca. Picture by Jorge Cirett

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