Sinaloa

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the First Week of April, 2024

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Chalcedonic quartz in a hot spring system

By Miguel A Heredia

During the 14th week of the year (April 1st to April 7th, 2024), at least 26 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, with nine announcing financing rounds, eight disclosing deals and corporate issues, five reporting resources and development of their projects, two communicating production results, one commenting on Mexican issues, and one informing on exploration results.  ON MEXICO ISSUES, Silver Tiger reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of April, 2024. ON EXPLORATION, In Chihuahua, Kootenay announced that drilling is underway for its Q1/Q2 diamond drilling campaign at its Columba project. ON MINING, Alamos announced that it plans to release its Q1, 2024 financial results on Wednesday 24, 2024 (Mulatos mine, Sonora). Guanajuato Silver reported consolidated production results for Q1, 2024 from their Mexican mining operations. ON FINANCING, Alamos and Argonaut closed their previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds to Argonaut of CAD $50M. GR Silver has successfully closed a settlement agreement with Mako, receiving a total payment of USD $960K. Prismo has completed its debt settlement with certain creditors of the company by issuing an aggregate of 2,833,690 common shares at a price of $0.17 per common share (Palos Verdes project, Sinaloa). Silver Viper announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $4M (La Virginia project, Sonora). Sonoro Gold closed the final tranche of its over-subscribed non-brokered private placement for additional gross proceeds of CAD $616,079 (Cerro Caliche project, Sonora). Orion has entered into a block trade agreement, selling 62,400,000 CHESS depository interests (CDIs) over the common shares of Capstone Copper Corp. at a price of A $9.50 per CDI, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately A$ 592,800,000. Silver Storm closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1.47M, the same that later on was increased to up to $3M (La Parrilla mine, Durango).  ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Discovery Silver filed its NI 43-101 technical report & Feasibility Study on its Cordero Silver Project, Chihuahua. Tocvan and JV Colibri restarted drilling at Pilar project, Sonora. Silver Tiger provided an update on its Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) mineral resource drilling program at its El Tigre Project in Sonora. First Majestic reported 2023 Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resource Estimate. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Almaden confirmed delisting from NYSE American Stock Exchange and listing on OTCBQ marketplace (Ixtaca project, Puebla). Alamos announced that it will hold its annual general and special meeting of shareholders on Thursday May 23, 2024 (Mulatos mine, Sonora). Equinox reported that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders on Thursday, May 9, 2024 (Los Filos mine, Guerrero). Infinitum Copper announced the details of a proposed consolidation of its common shares (Adelita project, Sonora).  Luca Mining announced the appointment of its Vice President Finance (Campo Morado mine, Guerrero). Pantera Silver announced that it closed the amended agreement with respect to its right to acquire 100% ownership of the Nuevo Taxco property in Guerrero. Sierra Metals notified its intention to list on the Lima Stock Exchange (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua). Vizsla announced that it has granted 318,000 restricted share units to an officer of the company (Panuco project, Sinaloa). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUE

  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the first week of April, 2024. Details are shown in the table below:

ON EXPLORATION

  • Kootenay Silver Inc. announced that drilling is underway for its Q1/Q2 diamond drilling campaign at its Columba project, Chihuahua. The proposed program includes 15-17 drillholes for a combined 5,000m and is designed to expand upon previous intercepts along the highly prospective D-Vein target. The current drilling program is designed to extend the D-Vein in preparation of a follow up program of likely 15,000 meters, aimed to delineate a maiden resource expected in late 2024 which is dependent on additional drilling beyond the 5000-meter program and the financing it requires. The first assay results are expected in 4 to 6 weeks time.

ON MINING

  • Alamos Gold Inc., announced that it plans to release its Q1, 2024 financial results on Wednesday 24, 2024 (Mulatos mine, Sonora).
  • Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. reported consolidated production results for Q1, 2024 from their Mexican mining operations (El Cubo, Valenciana and san Ignacio mine in Guanajuato; Horcon mine in Jalisco; and Topia mine in Durango). The company mined 167,287 tonnes and milled 165,079 tonnes to produce 428,279 Oz Ag, 5,384 Oz Au, 879,242 Lb Pb, and 922,297 Lb Zn (987,312 Oz AgEq).

ON FINANCING

  • Alamos Gold Inc. and Argonaut Gold Inc. closed their previously announced non-brokered private placement pursuant to which Alamos subscribed for 174,825,175 common shares of Argonaut, representing approximately 13.8% of Argonaut’s total outstanding common shares after giving effect to the private placement. The acquired shares were acquired at a price of CAD $0.286 per share, for gross proceeds to Argonaut of CAD $50M.
  • GR Silver Mining Ltd. has successfully closed a settlement agreement with Mako Mining Corp., receiving a total payment of USD $960K. This amount was satisfied by cash payment of USD $500K and the issuance of 296,710 common shares of Mako at a deemed price of %2.1007 per share (USD $460K or CAD $623,300). The shares will be subject to a four-month regulatory hold period from the date of issuance.
  • Prismo Metals Inc. has completed its debt settlement with certain creditors of the company by issuing an aggregate of 2,833,690 common shares at a price of $0.17 per common share to the creditors in full and final settlement of accrued and outstanding indebtedness. The company has also completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for one subscription of 754,411 units of the company at a price of $0.17 per unit for total gross proceeds of CAD $128,250 (Palos Verdes project, Sinaloa).
  • Silver Viper Minerals Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $4M, at a price of $0.10 per unit. Each unit will consist of one common share of the corporation and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase an additional share at a price of $0.15 per share for a period of thirty-six months from its date of issue. The company intends to use the minimum net proceeds of $2M from the offering for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes which includes legal and financing fees as part of this offering, and the final USD $200K option payment on its La Virginia Project due in June 2024. Any additional net proceeds from the Offering will be used to continue surface exploration including mapping and sampling as well as a drill campaign at the La Virginia Project, Sonora.
  • Sonoro Gold Corp. closed the final tranche of its over-subscribed non-brokered private placement for additional gross proceeds of CAD $616,079. Gross proceeds will be used to fund the ongoing development of the Company’s Cerro Caliche gold project in Sonora project.
  • Orion Fund JV Limited, Orion Mine Finance Fund II LP and Orion Mine Finance have entered into a block trade agreement, selling 62,400,000 CHESS depository interests (CDIs) over the common shares of Capstone Copper Corp. at a price of A $9.50 per CDI, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately A$ 592,800,000. The Secondary Offering is expected to close on or about April 9, 2024 (Pacific Time). 
  • Silver Storm Mining Ltd. closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1.47M, the same that later on was increased to up to $3M at a price of 0.11 per unit. The company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to advance drilling at its La Parrilla mine, to perform technical studies for a potential restart in 2025, and to fund ongoing operations.

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Discovery Silver Corp., filed its NI 43-101 Technical Report & Feasibility Study dated February 16, 2024 on its Cordero Silver Project, Chihuahua.
  • Tocvan Ventures Corp. and JV Colibri Resource Corporation restarted drilling at Pilar project, Sonora. All past data has been reviewed in order to determine the most effective use of drill meters for the upcoming campaign. A plan to drill 7,000m has been designed, including 4,000m of infill drilling within known areas of mineralization and 3,000m of step-out and exploration drilling on drill areas with known mineralization and/or strong surface geochemistry suggesting highly prospective targets. “The outcome of the proposed drilling will go into the definition of a maiden resource estimate for the Pilar Main Zone, providing an important building block for the company”.
  • Silver Tiger Metals Inc., provided an update on its Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) mineral resource drilling program at its El Tigre Project in Sonora. Silver Tiger has completed 22,000m of the 25,000m drilling program with promising results, including the high grade Keel zone. The company aims to expand the Mineral Resource and enhance the classification of the Stockwork gold deposit, completing metallurgical testwork and geotechnical studies as it progresses from an exploration to a development project. The value-added PFS progress is on schedule for publication in H2-2024. The company also announced a new set of assay results from 40 drill holes. Drilling highlights are shown in the table below:
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. reported 2023 Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resource Estimate. Figures are shown in the tables below:

Mineral Resource Estimates are inclusive of the Mineral Reserve Estimates.

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Almaden Minerals Ltd., confirmed delisting from NYSE American Stock Exchange and listing on OTCBQ Marketplace in the US under symbol “AAUAF” (Ixtaca project, Puebla).
  • Alamos Gold Inc., announced that it will hold its annual general and special meeting of shareholders on Thursday May 23, 2024 (Mulatos mine, Sonora).
  • Equinox Gold Corp., reported that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders on Thursday, May 9, 2024 (Los Filos mine, Guerrero).
  • Infinitum Copper Corp., announced the details of a proposed consolidation of its common shares. Infinitum Copper Corp. It proposed a 2:1 share consolidation, aiming to enhance future financing opportunities and streamline operations. The consolidation will reduce the total number of common shares from 74,563,040 to 37,281,520, with no fractional shares issued (Adelita project, Sonora).
  • Luca Mining Corp., announced the appointment of its Vice President Finance, starting April 1, 2024 (Campo Morado mine, Guerrero).
  • Pantera Silver Corp., announced that it closed the amended agreement with respect to its right to acquire 100% ownership of the Nuevo Taxco property in Guerrero. Under amended terms, Pantera will issue 1.5M common shares in lieu of making a $150K final cash payment. A final share payment of 2M common shares will be due October 30th, 2024. Under the amended terms, the vendor has the option to accept the 2M shares or $150K cash plus 500K common shares. In addition, under the amended terms, all work commitments in the first two years of the original agreement have been met and any short fall has been waived. The timeline for completing the final work commitment of $800K has been extended to be completed by October30th, 2025.
  • Sierra Metals Inc., notified its intention to list on the Lima Stock Exchange. The process is expected to take up to four months to complete (Bolivar mine, Chihuahua).
  • Vizsla Silver Corp., announced that it has granted 318,000 restricted share units (RSU) to an officer of the company. The RSUs will vest in three equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date (Panuco project, Sinaloa).

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 picture above, chalcedonic quartz in a hot spring system in a project in Queretaro, Mexico. Photo taken by Miguel A Heredia.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of March 2024

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By Jorge Cirett                                             

During the 13th week of the year (March 25th to March 31st, 2024), companies working in Mexico posted at least 21 press releases. Five companies released results for the last quarter/full-year 2023. Two companies announced financing rounds for a total of C$9.8 M, while one more filed a short form base shelf prospectus to raise up to C$40 M. Two companies released updated reserve and resource estimates for its operations. Three companies announced appointments to their boards, one is informing on a royalty spinout, one company announced the agreement to acquire another company with two operating mines in Mexico and one more announced the acquisition of a significant property in Sinaloa. A company with three precious metal mines in Mexico is commissioning a mint in Nevada. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, no relevant news. ON MINING, Prime Mining, Alamos Gold, Discovery Silver, Fortuna Silver, Gold Royalty Corp and Americas Gold and Silver presented results for Q4 and full year 2023. ON FINANCING, Americas Gold and Silver raised C$7.8 M, and Capitan Silver increased its offering to C$2 M. Kootenay Silver filed a short form base shelf prospectus to make offering for up to C$40 M in 25 months. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mag Silver and Torex Gold released new reserve and resource estimates for Juanicipio (in Zacatecas) and the Morelos Complex (in Guerrero) respectively. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Vizsla Silver is arranging the distribution of Vizsla Silver Royalties shares to its shareholders. Orex Minerals, GoGold Resources and Fresnillo plc announced resignations and appointments to their boards. Alamos Gold is acquiring Argonaut Gold. Vizsla Silver is acquiring the large La Garra-San Dimas project in Sinaloa. First Majestic Silver commissioned a mint in Nevada. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.

ON MEXICO ISSUES

  • No Relevant News.

ON EXPLORATION

  • No Relevant News.

ON MINING

  • Prime Mining Corp. reported its operating and financial results for 2023. A federal judge has granted its applications for Federal protection (Amparos) to conduct its activities under the previous (1994) mining law. By the end of 2023 the company held $33.8 M in cash. Prime is to drill 40,000 m in 2024, focusing in resource development and discovery potential. Five drills are currently active at the site (Los Reyes, Sinaloa).
  • Alamos Gold Inc. filed its annual information form and 2023 annual report, including its audited financial statements for 2023, with the SEC on EDGAR as well as on SEDAR+ (Mulatos, Sonora).
  • Discovery Silver Corp. announced financial results for 2023, and updated on work at its Cordero project in Chihuahua since Q4 2023. The release highlighted the feasibility study (FS) results on Cordero, which include a 19-year mine life producing 33 M Oz AgEq in concentrate per year over the life of mine (LOM), at an AISC of US$13.50 per Oz AgEq over the LOM, with a reserve base of 302 M Oz Ag, 840 K Oz Au, 3.0 B Lb Pb, 5.2 B Lb Zn, not including 240 M tonnes of resources outside the feasibility pit. The company had cash and cash equivalents of $58.9 M by the end of 2023.
  • Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. filed its fiscal 2023 annual report on Form 40-F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (San José, Oaxaca).
  • Gold Royalty Corp. filed its operating and financial results for Q4 and full year 2023. During the year the company received $3.05 M in revenue, with an adjusted net earning loss of $3.9 M while receiving 2,703 Oz AuEq. For 2024 Gold Royalty, which owns 340 royalties, including five producing projects, expects to receive between 5 K and 5.6 K Oz AuEq, roughly US$10 to US$11.2 M (Royalty on Cozamin, Zacatecas).
  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. reported consolidated financial and operational results for 2023, including figures for its Mexican operations. At Cosalá, in Sinaloa, 1.1 M Oz Ag, 11.5 M Lb Pb and 34.1 M Lb Zn were produced at cash cost $8.47 per Oz Ag. “The Company is in the final stages of negotiation with a global metal trader to provide concentrate prepayment financing for the capital requirements at its 100%-owned El Cajón and Zone 120 silver-copper project (“EC120 Project”) at the Cosalá Operations.  The Company expects to close this financing in Q2-2024 with the goal to be producing higher-grade silver-copper concentrates by the end of 2024”.

ON FINANCING

  • Americas Gold and Silver Corp. closed its offering for total aggregate gross proceeds of C$7.8 M (Cosalá, Sinaloa).
  • Capitan Silver Corp. increased its non-brokered private placement from C$1.5 M to C$2 M (Cruz de Plata, Durango).
  • Kootenay Silver Inc. obtained receipt for a final short form base shelf prospectus with the securities regulators in each province and territory of Canada. The filing allows Kootenay to make offerings for up to a maximum of C$40 M during the 25-month period over which the base shelf prospectus is effective (Columba, Chihuahua).

ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Mag Silver Corp. filed on SEDAR the mineral resource and mineral reserves NI-43-101 compliant technical report for the Juanicipio mine in Zacatecas (44% MAG, 56% Fresnillo plc, mine operator). Juanicipio holds 17 M tonnes @1.86 gpt Au, 310 gpt Ag, 2.89% Pb, 5.32% Zn, containing 1.02 M Oz Au, 169.2 M Oz Ag, 492 K tonnes Pb, 904 K tonnes Zn in measured and indicated resources, and 14 M tonnes @ 1.06 gpt Au, 236 gpt Ag, 2.41% Pb, 6.12% Zn, containing 480 K Oz Au, 106.7 M Oz Ag, 339 K tonnes Pb, 860 K tonnes Zn in inferred resources. The Juanicipio plant achieved the designed 4,000 tpd throughput on September 2023.
  • Torex Gold Resources Inc. reported year-end 2023 mineral reserves and resources for the Morelos Complex in Guerrero. The complex includes the El Limón Guajes (ELG) mine open pits and underground, advanced development phase Media Luna deposit, pre-development phase EPO deposit and surface stockpiles. As can be seen on the table below, the total resources (measured and indicated resources plus inferred resources) add up to almost 10 M Oz AuEq. “Since releasing the March 2022 Technical Report, we have increased our Measured and Indicated resource 1 base by 1,979 koz AuEq (prior to mined depletion) over the last two years and strengthened the production profile by increasing our Proven and Probable reserves by 719 koz AuEq (prior to processed depletion) over the same period.”

ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES

  • Vizsla Silver Corp. announced an arrangement agreement with Vizsla Silver Royalties Corp. under which Vizsla Silver shareholders will vote on a special meeting where the distribution of common shares and warrants from Vizsla Royalties are to be arranged on a 1/3 basis. Vizsla Silver also entered into an equity distribution agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. in respect of an at-the-market equity program, which allows the company to issue up to C$50 M of Vizsla Silver shares from treasury to the public. “The ATM Program is intended to provide the Company with additional financing flexibility should it be required in the future. The volume and timing of distributions under the ATM Program, if any, will be determined in the Company’s sole discretion” (Panuco, Sinaloa).
  • Orex Minerals Inc. announced the resignation of David Gunning from the board, and the appointment of Adam Cegielski as independent chair of the company’s board of directors (Valenciana, Zacatecas).
  • GoGold Resources Inc. announced the re-election of members of the board on the annual and special meeting of shareholders held on March 26, 2024 (Los Ricos South, Jalisco).
  • Alamos Gold Inc. entered into a definitive agreement on which Alamos is to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Argonaut Gold Inc. By this agreement Alamos is acquiring the Magino mine, located adjacent to its Island Gold mine in Ontario. Concurrently, Argonaut’s assets in USA and Mexico will be spun out to its existing shareholders as a newly created junior gold producer (“SpinCo”), which will own the Florida Canyon mine in USA, and the El Castillo Complex in Durango, La Colorada in Sonora, and Cerro del Gallo in Guanajuato. “Upon SpinCo going public, Alamos has agreed to subscribe for a further US$10 million to obtain a 19.9% interest in SpinCo”.
  • Vizsla Silver Corp. entered into an agreement to acquire the past-producing La Garra-Metates district in Sinaloa. The 16,962 Ha land package is between the San Dimas and Vizsla’s Panuco district, and exhibits low sufidation epithermal vein systems that have returned high grades over kilometers of strike. Vizsla entered into a share purchase agreement in March 27, 2024, with Exploradora Minera La Hacienda SA de CV and Manuel de Jesus Hernandez Tovar, with a cash payment of non-binding LOI of US$100 K, 258 K shares on signing; US$150 K cash and 476.2 K shares at three months; US$275 K cash, 535.7 K shares at six months; US$225 K, 595.2 K shares at nine months; US$350 K cash, 714.3 K shares at 12 months; US$300 K cash, 833.3 K shares at 15 months; US$375 K cash, 962.4 K shares at 18 months and US$1.3 M in cash, 1.19 M shares at 24 months. Vizsla is to pay back taxes on the concessions and the sellers will retain a 1% royalty that can be bought back for US$750 K at any time. “The finder’s fees is 2% NSR of the project payable to an arm’s length Mexican Company”.
  • Fresnillo plc. announced that Ms Bárbara Garza Lagüera and Mr Juan Bordes intend to stand down from the board at the next annual general meeting in May of 2024. “The Board has, therefore, invited Mr Charlie Jacobs to continue on the Board as a Non-Independent NonExecutive Director” (Fresnillo, Zacatecas).
  • First Majestic Silver Corp. completed the commissioning and commencement of bullion sales from its minting facility, First Mint LLC., located in Nevada. “The inaugural production run of bullion bars will be commemorated and sold as collectibles, complete with certificates of authenticity and exclusive packaging. These limited edition “First Strike” products will include 1,000 one-kilogram bars, 2,500 ten-ounce bars, and 5,000 five-ounce bars” (San Dimas, Durango).

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • No Relevant News.

On the image below: Specularite-quartz matrix breccia in a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.