VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Millrock Resources Inc. (TSX-V: MRO, OTCQB: MLRKF) (“Millrock” or the “Company”) reports that Felix Gold (ASX: FXG, “Felix Gold” or “Felix”) has disclosed results from the first nine holes they have drilled on the Treasure Creek gold project this year. Treasure Creek lies just north of the City of Fairbanks, Alaska. Since commencement of drilling in May 2022, Felix has already drilled more than 100 reverse circulation drill holes and drilling continues more. Assay results are being released in batches as they become available from the laboratory.
A highlight intersection of 89.9 meters grading 1.20 grams per tonne gold starting from 32.0 meters downhole has been reported by Felix Gold from Hole 22TCRC008. All nine holes reported so far are from the NW Array prospect, and intersected gold mineralization. The full results published by Felix Gold can be seen in their two most recent press releases available on their website. Note that Millrock has not independently verified the results reported by Felix Gold.
Millrock President & CEO Gregory Beischer commented: “This is a great start to the drilling program that Felix Gold has undertaken. Millrock owns 9,957,157 shares of Felix Gold or about 5.8% of the company. Additionally, Millrock is to be granted a net smelter return royalty on the project that ranges from 1.0% to 2.0%. We hope that these first drill intersections are indications of a new gold deposit discovery that significantly increases Millrock’s share price and market capitalization. More and more discoveries of gold are being made in Fairbanks and the district should soon be recognized as a globally-significant gold mining camp.”
The Treasure Creek gold project is situated 20 kilometers north and west of Kinross’ Fort Knox gold mine, and 10 kilometers west of Freegold Ventures Ltd new discovery at Golden Summit. Alluvial gold deposits in gravels of Treasure Creek point to a bedrock source on the Felix Gold claims where large, strong soil geochemical anomalies are known from historical work and a major soil sampling program done in 2021.
Qualified Person The scientific and technical information disclosed within this document has been prepared, reviewed, and approved by Gregory A. Beischer, President, CEO, and a director of Millrock Resources. Mr. Beischer is a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101.
About Millrock Resources Inc. Millrock Resources Inc. is a premier project generator to the mining industry. Millrock identifies, packages, and operates large-scale projects for joint venture, thereby exposing its shareholders to the benefits of mineral discovery without the usual financial risk taken on by most exploration companies. The company is recognized as the premier generative explorer in Alaska, holds royalty interests in British Columbia, Canada, and Sonora State, Mexico, is a significant shareholder of junior explorer ArcWest Exploration Inc., and owns a large shareholding in each of Resolution Minerals Limited and Felix Gold Limited. Funding for drilling at Millrock’s exploration projects is primarily provided by its joint venture partners. Business partners of Millrock have included some of the leading names in the mining industry: EMX Royalty, Coeur Explorations, Centerra Gold, First Quantum, Teck, Kinross, Vale, Inmet, and Altius, as well as junior explorers Resolution, Riverside, PolarX, Felix Gold and Tocvan.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD “Gregory Beischer” Gregory Beischer, President & CEO
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Melanee Henderson, Investor Relations Toll-Free: 877-217-8978 | Local: 604-638-3164 Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
Some statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including without limitation the intention to perform further exploration including drilling on the Treasure Creek project. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements.
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – July 20, 2022) – EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (FSE: 6E9) (the “Company” or “EMX”) is pleased to announce the execution of an exploration and option agreement for two projects in Norway with Minco Silver Corporation (TSX: MSV) (“Minco”). The agreement provides EMX with cash payments and work commitments during a one-year option period, and upon exercise of an option on either project, EMX will receive equity stakes in Minco, additional work commitments, advance royalty payments, milestone payments and a 2.5% NSR royalty.
The two projects optioned to Minco are the Sagvoll and Sulitjelma polymetallic projects in Norway (See Figure 1). The Sagvoll project hosts both volcanogenic massive sulfide (“VMS”) styles of mineralization and magmatic sulfide nickel-copper mineralization, and the Sulitjelma project is past producer of VMS polymetallic mineralization. The combination of base, battery and precious metals make this an especially compelling portfolio of projects.
Minco is a well-capitalized, Canadian publicly traded company that will work closely with EMX to advance the projects through the option period.
Commercial Terms Overview. All terms in Canadian Dollars. Pursuant to the agreement, Minco can acquire a 100% interest in either of the projects by a) making a $60,000 cash payment to EMX upon execution, and b) spending a minimum of $100,000 on each of the projects during a 12 month option period. Upon exercise of an option on either project, Minco will:
pay EMX $35,000 in cash, and issue to EMX a 2.5% NSR royalty interest in each project retained1,
issue to EMX the amount of shares equal to 2% of the issued and outstanding shares of Minco,
upon the 6th month anniversary of exercise of an option for each retained project, issue additional shares equal to 0.5% of the issued and outstanding shares of Minco and expend an additional $200,000 per project,
by the third anniversary of the execution of the agreements, expend an additional $700,000 per project retained,
beginning on the third anniversary of the execution of the agreements, make annual advance royalty payments to EMX, which will start at $25,000 per project per year and increase by 15% each year thereafter (but capped at an annual payment of $75,000 per project)2,
by the fifth anniversary of the execution of the agreement, expend a cumulative total of $4 million on the projects.
EMX will also receive milestone payments of $250,000 on each retained project upon completion of a preliminary economic assessment (or “PEA”) and upon completion of a positive feasibility study (“PFS”). These milestone payments can be made in cash or in shares of Minco. Minco can also purchase 0.5% of any NSR royalty for $1 million by the sixth anniversary of the agreements.
Overviews of the projects. The Sagvoll and Sulitjelma polymetallic projects in Norway are located in the early Paleozoic VMS belt in Norway, which saw numerous districts and mines in operation from the 1600’s through the 1990’s.
Sagvoll Project, Caledonian VMS Belt, Southern Norway: The Sagvoll project in southern Norway consists of both VMS and magmatic nickel-copper sulfide mineralization developed along the Caledonian orogenic trend. This metallogenic region represents a tectonically displaced continuation of the Cambrian-Ordovician VMS belts in northeastern North America, which includes the Buchans and Bathurst VMS camps in eastern Canada, and also the Avoca VMS district in Ireland. As such, this represents one of the more prolific VMS belts in the world in terms of total production from its various mining districts, albeit now tectonically displaced and occurring along opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
At Sagvoll, mineralization and historic mining areas are positioned along a 13 kilometer trend. Although multiple historic mines are present in the area, only limited historical drilling has taken place, most of which were drilled over 100 years ago. Many prospects and mining areas remain untested. The most recent work conducted in the district took place in 2006, when Xstrata PLC (“Xstrata”) flew airborne geophysical surveys and identified five prioritized nickel-copper targets and 11 VMS targets for further exploration and drill testing3. However, the follow-up exploration work was never completed.
EMX has identified several “walk-up” style drill targets based upon the historical and more recent Xstrata data, and will work closely with Minco to systematically explore the area.
Sulitjelma District, Central Norway: The Sulitjelma VMS district was discovered in 1858 and was mined continuously from 1891-1991. Sulitjelma was one of the last operating base metal mines in Norway. VMS style mineralization occurs along a trend that extends for over 20 kilometers and is developed along multiple stratigraphic horizons and structurally repeated sections. Metamorphism and deformation have caused thickening and repetition of mineralized horizons in the area. The district produced over 25 million tonnes, averaging 1.84% copper, 0.86% zinc, 10 grams per tonne silver and 0.25 grams per tonne gold4. Significant historical resources were left unmined at the time of closure in the early 1990’s.
The district has seen very little work since the mines closed. Recent (2014) airborne geophysical surveys highlighted multiple conductive anomalies along the main trend of mineralization that have not yet been drill tested, and EMX geologists have found outcropping expressions of VMS style mineralization, also along trend, that have not been developed or drill tested.
Nearby Mines and Deposits. The nearby mines and deposits discussed in this news release provide context for EMX’s projects, which occur in similar geologic settings, but this is not necessarily indicative that the Company’s projects host similar tonnages or grades of mineralization.
Dr. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release.
About EMX. EMX is a precious, base and battery metals royalty company. EMX’s investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company’s common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol EMX, and also trade on the Frankfurt exchange under the symbol “6E9”. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information.
For further information contact:
David M. Cole President and Chief Executive Officer Phone: (303) 973-8585 Dave@emxroyalty.com
Scott Close Director of Investor Relations Phone: (303) 973-8585 SClose@emxroyalty.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain “forward looking statements” that reflect the Company’s current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserve and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as “estimate,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will”, “believe”, “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company’s future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company’s MD&A for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2021 (the “MD&A”), and the most recently filed Revised Annual Information Form (the “AIF”) for the year ended December 31, 2021, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC’s EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.
1 By the sixth anniversary of the agreement, Minco can purchase 0.5% of EMX’s NSR royalty by paying EMX $1 million, thereby reducing the royalty to 2.0%. 2 If Minco retains all three projects, Minco will only be responsible for paying two of the advance royalty payments. 3 Internal Xstrata PLC internal report by Beaudoin for A/S Sulfidmalm Project 206, “Report of field work in the Skjarkerdalen area, central Norway: Summer 2006”. On file at Geological Survey of Norway (NGU). 4 Historical production data from the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU) Ore Database, Deposit Area 1841-024, updated Dec 18, 2017.
Plan View of the Guayabales Project Highlighting the Olympus Target
Figure 2
Plan View of the Olympus Central Target Outlining the BMZ Area and the Zone of Multiple, High-Grade, CBM Veins
Figure 3
Photos of High-Grade CBM Veins Reported Herein
TORONTO, July 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Collective Mining Ltd. (TSXV: CNL) (OTCQX: CNLMF) (“Collective” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the discovery of a potentially significant broad mineralized zone as well as additional high-grade gold and silver assay results from channel samples taken at the Olympus target (“Olympus”) at the Company’s 100% owned Guayabales project in Caldas, Colombia. A noteworthy discovery drill hole from the northern area of Olympus was announced by the Company in March 2022, with OLC-3 yielding 302 metres @ 1.11 g/t AuEq from near surface. Olympus is one of the eight porphyry-related targets situated within a three-by-four-kilometre cluster area generated by the Company through grassroots exploration at the Guayabales project. As part of its fully funded 20,000+ metre drill program for 2022, there are currently three diamond drill rigs operating at the Apollo target, which is located approximately 800 metres south-southeast of Olympus. Furthermore, additional rigs have been secured to begin the Phase II program at Olympus with the first hole anticipated to commence drilling from underground in August 2022.
Highlights (See Tables 1-2 and Figures 1-3)
Continuous channel sampling, where possible, were taken by the Company along a historical crosscut covering a 182.45 metre horizontal width and hosting multiple mineralized veins, veinlets and structures within intensely altered porphyry and country rocks. This sampling has outlined a broad mineralized zone (“BMZ”) with assay results as follows:
Sampling from the eastern half of the crosscut was in oxidized material, which the Company believes may be underrepresenting the actual grade because previously announced chip channel sample assay results within vein material at slightly lower elevations directly below this area of the crosscut yielded materially higher grades. (See press releases dated May 12, 2022 and June 1, 2022)
Table 1: Crosscut Channel Sampling Assay Results
Crosscut Sampling
From (m)
To (m)
Width (m)
Au (g/t)
Ag (g/t)
AuEq (g/t)*
0.00
182.45
182.45
0.89
23
1.15
Incl.
7.70
13.20
5.50
2.62
56
3.23
113.70
120.00
6.30
2.73
29
2.98
130.15
132.15
2.00
1.83
196
4.34
162.15
167.05
4.90
2.44
58
3.10
177.40
182.45
5.05
8.03
69
8.55
*AuEq (g/t) is calculated as follows: (Au (g/t) x 0.95) + (Ag g/t x 0.014 x 0.95), Ag – $21/oz and Au US$1,500/oz and recovery rates of 95% for Au, Ag. Recovery rate assumptions are speculative as no metallurgical work has been completed to date. Channel samples are taken continuously along the walls of the underground crosscuts. Approximately 8% of the total horizontal length could not be sampled due to timber support. Assay results are uncapped, and no cut-off grade has been applied.
Assay results of chip channel samples taken from veins located within historical, shallow underground working faces at Olympus, directly west of the BMZ zone, continue to confirm the presence of multiple, high-grade carbonate base metal (“CBM”) sheeted vein systemswith results as follows:
Table 2: Chip Channel Sample Assay Results from Olympus
Channel Sample
Au (g/t)
Ag (g/t)
AuEq (g/t)*
True Width (metres)
1
118.79
2,359
144.23
0.25
2
24.62
160
25.52
3.00
3
3.31
182
5.57
1.40
4
33.23
328
35.93
0.50
5
23.61
466
28.63
0.90
6
9.71
66
10.10
1.30
7
9.15
46
9.31
1.00
8
3.17
90
4.20
1.55
9
6.53
69
7.12
1.00
10
4.02
145
5.76
1.70
* AuEq (g/t) is calculated as follows: (Au (g/t) x 0.95) + (Ag g/t x 0.014 x 0.95), Ag – $21/oz and Au US$1,500/oz and recovery rates of 95% for Au, Ag. Recovery rate assumptions are speculative as no metallurgical work has been completed to date. Channel samples are taken across the working faces of historical and current artisanal mining drifts. Assay results are uncapped, and no cut-off grade has been applied. Assay results for base metals are still pending for all channel samples listed above.
The high-grade CBM veins outlined above are located directly west of the BMZ and collectively both areas outline a target zone measuring greater than 300 metres of width which remains open in all directions. Historical workings along veins to the northwest and southeast of the crosscut indicate a potential strike length to the systems of at least 500 metres which is open for expansion.
Drilling, underground sampling and surface mapping to date have expanded Olympus to a target area measuring more than 1,400 metres by 900 metres, which hosts over 50 artisanal mines with over 25 veins mapped from available exposures. The results outlined in this press release cover only the southwest portion of this target area. Previous drilling in the northern portion of the target area returned broad intercepts of up to 301.9 metres @ 1.11 g/t gold equivalent (see press release dated March 15, 2022). The Company believes that the probability is high that additional veins and BMZ zones will be discovered as exploration ramps up. To date only small portions of the target area have been drill tested or sampled and the Olympus target remains open to the east, west, northwest, south and at depth.
A phase II underground drill program will commence in August 2022 and is expected to ramp up in scale for the balance of the year as new drill chambers are constructed and additional rigs are added.
“The presence of both broad mineralized zones and high grade CBM veins at Olympus is exciting and highlights the potential for a combination of both bulk and selective mining scenarios in the future. To date we have only covered with drilling and sampling a few small windows within this large mineralized system. We look forward to drilling the southwest portion of the system beginning in August as the highest-grade samples found to date are from within this area,” commented Ari Sussman, Executive Chairman.
“On another front, we are now drilling with three rigs at the Apollo target and continue to intercept potentially significant lengths of mineralized breccia with overprinting CBM veins. We will provide further details in the coming weeks once new holes are completed and logged. Assay results from holes APC-1W and APC-2 at Apollo are expected shortly and will be announced once results have been received, compiled are interpreted by the Company.”
Collective Mining is an exploration and development company focused on identifying and exploring prospective mineral projects in South America. Founded by the team that developed and sold Continental Gold Inc. to Zijin Mining for approximately $2 billion in enterprise value, the mission of the Company is to repeat its past success in Colombia by making significant new mineral discoveries and advance the projects to production. Management, insiders and close family and friends own nearly 45% of the outstanding shares of the Company and as a result, are fully aligned with shareholders. The Company currently holds an option to earn up to a 100% interest in two projects located in Colombia. As a result of an aggressive exploration program on both the Guayabales and San Antonio projects, a total of eight major targets have been identified. The Company is fortuitous to have made significant grassroot discoveries at both projects with near-surface discovery holes at the Guayabales project yielding 302 metres at 1.1 g/t AuEq at the Olympus target, 163 metres at 1.3 g/t AuEq at the Donut target and 87.8 metres at 2.49 g/t AuEg at the Apollo target. At the San Antonio project, the Company intersected, from surface, 710 metres at 0.53 AuEq. (See press releases dated October 27th, 2021, November 15, 2021, March 15, 2022 and June 22, 2022 for AuEq calculations.)
Qualified Person (QP) and NI43-101 Disclosure
David J Reading is the designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”) and has reviewed and verified that the technical information contained herein is accurate and approves of the written disclosure of same. Mr. Reading has an MSc in Economic Geology and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and of the Society of Economic Geology (SEG).
Technical Information
Rock and core samples have been prepared and analyzed at SGS laboratory facilities in Medellin, Colombia and Lima, Peru. Blanks, duplicates, and certified reference standards are inserted into the sample stream to monitor laboratory performance. Crush rejects and pulps are kept and stored in a secured storage facility for future assay verification. No capping has been applied to sample composites. The Company utilizes a rigorous, industry-standard QA/QC program.
Contact Information
Collective Mining Ltd. Steve Gold, Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations Tel. (416) 648-4065
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about the drill programs, including timing of results, and Collective’s future and intentions. Wherever possible, words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict” or “potential” or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.
Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties, and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Collective cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and Collective assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 13, 2022 / Metallic Minerals (TSXV:MMG | US OTCQB:MMNGF) (“Metallic Minerals“, or the “Company“) announces the commencement of field activities at the Company’s 100% owned, 166 square kilometer Keno Silver project, located in the historic Keno Hill silver district of Canada’s Yukon Territory. In July 2022, Hecla Mining Company (“Hecla”), the largest silver producer in the United States and third largest in the world1, announced the acquisition of neighboring Alexco Resource Corp.(“Alexco”), which holds the western portion of the district and mining and milling operations. Metallic Minerals owns the second largest land position in the prolific district covering the east, and parts of central and western Keno Hill, including eight high-grade, shallow past-producing deposits.
The 2022 exploration program is expected to consist of at least 3,000 meters of diamond core drilling, focused on resource definition drilling at multiple advanced-stage targets including Formo and Caribou deposits in the West Keno and Central Keno areas and the recently discovered Fox target area in East Keno, as well as step out drilling at several new discoveries. Detailed geophysical and soil surveys will also be conducted to aid in refinement and prioritization of reconnaissance drill targets in several untested target areas. Additionally, for the first time, the district will be flown for a LIDAR survey, which will provide greater precision in survey and topographic control while aiding in lineament detection in the search for new Keno-style high-grade silver discoveries.
Metallic Minerals President, Scott Petsel, commented: “We are excited to be initiating our 2022 field campaign at the Keno Silver project, particularly in the wake of the recently announced acquisition of our neighbors at Alexco by Hecla. This is a re-energizing catalyst for the Keno Hill silver district and highlights the quality of the existing reserves and resources and the exploration potential in one of the world’s highest grade silver producing regions that has produced over 200 million ounces of ultra-high-grade silver. We have enjoyed a close and productive working relationship with the team at Alexco and are excited to see the mining operation reach its full potential.”
Metallic Minerals Corp., Tuesday, July 12, 2022, Press release picture
“Metallic Minerals is on the cusp of transforming our own story in the Keno silver district as this year’s drill program is focused on advancing existing mineral inventories to formal NI 43-101 resources at our most advanced targets. In addition, we expect to announce commencement of field activity at our La Plata silver-gold-copper project in Colorado shortly, as well as updates with regard to planned activities on our Klondike alluvial gold royalty portfolio.”
Private Placement
Metallic has completed and closed its second non-brokered private placement financing for total proceeds raised of $4,649,820. Proceeds from the two private placements will be used toward eligible Canadian exploration expenses, within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and for general working capital.
The second private placement consisted of the issuance of 1,471,000 units at a price of $0.42 per unit for aggregate proceeds of $617,820. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half purchase warrant where each whole warrant is exercisable into a common share for 30 months at a price of $0.50. A total of 846,000 units were sold on a flow-through basis with the common share comprising the units being issued as a flow-through common share.
The common shares comprising the units are subject to a hold period of four months and one day from their date of issuance under applicable Canadian securities law. The flow-through shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws.
An officer of the company participated in the private placement for a total of 25,000 units. The participation by the insider in the private placement is considered to be a related party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101. The transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the securities being issued, nor the consideration being paid exceeds 25% of the Company’s market capitalization.
About the Keno Silver Project
Keno Hill is one of the world’s highest-grade silver districts, with nearly 300 million ounces (“Moz”) of silver in past production and current M&I resources1,2 and featuring excellent existing infrastructure, including grid power, road access and nearby community services. In July 2022, Hecla announced the acquisition of Alexco Resource Corp, which holds the western portion of the district and mining and milling operations. Metallic Minerals’ Keno Silver project is adjacent and contiguous, covering the east, and parts of the central and western Keno silver district and includes eight high-grade, shallow past-producing mines. Prior to the Company’s consolidation of the land package, very little modern exploration had been completed in these parts of the district due to fragmented, private land ownership. Metallic Minerals has advanced three targets in the district from discovery to expansion drilling with several additional targets at drill-ready status along the known historically productive trends. In addition, recent exploration has defined and expanded 12 new priority multi-kilometer-scale early-stage targets for reconnaissance drilling in the under-explored parts of the district where highly elevated silver, lead and zinc in soils and high-grade rock samples have been identified.
Metallic Minerals Corp., Tuesday, July 12, 2022, Press release picture
2022 Drilling at Fox Target at East Keno
About Metallic Minerals
Metallic Minerals Corp. is an exploration and development stage company, focused on silver, gold and copper in the high-grade Keno Hill and La Plata mining districts of North America. Our objective is to create shareholder value through a systematic, entrepreneurial approach to making exploration discoveries, growing resources and advancing projects toward development. Metallic Minerals has consolidated the second-largest land position in the historic Keno Hill silver district of Canada’s Yukon Territory, directly adjacent to Alexco Resource Corp’s operations, with more than 300 million ounces of high-grade silver in past production and current M&I resources. Hecla Mining Company, the largest primary silver producer in the USA and fourth largest in the world, announced the acquisition of Alexco in July 2022. Metallic recently announced the inaugural NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate for its La Plata silver-gold-copper project in southwestern Colorado. The Company also continues to add new production royalty leases on its holdings in the Klondike gold district in the Yukon. All three districts have seen significant mineral production and have existing infrastructure, including power and road access. Metallic Minerals is led by a team with a track record of discovery and exploration success on several major precious and base metal deposits, as well as having large-scale development, permitting and project financing expertise.
About the Metallic Group of Companies
The Metallic Group is a collaboration of leading precious and base metals exploration and development companies, with a portfolio of large, brownfields assets in established mining districts adjacent to some of the industry’s highest-grade producers of silver and gold, platinum and palladium, and copper. Member companies include Metallic Minerals in the Yukon’s high-grade Keno Hill silver district and La Plata silver-gold-copper district of Colorado, Granite Creek Copper in the Yukon’s Minto copper district, and Stillwater Critical Minerals in the Stillwater PGE-nickel-copper district of Montana and Kluane district in the Yukon. The founders and team members of the Metallic Group include highly successful explorationists formerly with some of the industry’s leading explorer/developers and major producers. With this expertise, the companies are undertaking a systematic approach to exploration and development using new models and technologies to facilitate discoveries in these proven, but under-explored, mining districts. Members of the Metallic Group have been recognized as recipients of awards for excellence in environmental stewardship demonstrating commitment to responsible resource development and appropriate ESG practices. The Metallic Group is headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and its member companies are listed on the Toronto Venture, US OTCQB and Frankfurt stock exchanges.
Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements”. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Metallic Minerals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Group Ten and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedar.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – July 13, 2022) – EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (FSE: 6E9) (the “Company” or “EMX”) is pleased to announce the achievement of commercial production for oxide gold mineralization at its flagship Gediktepe royalty property in western Turkey. EMX holds a 10% net smelter return (“NSR”) royalty on oxide gold production at Gediktepe, and operator Polimetal Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (“Polimetal”), a private Turkish company, has informed EMX that it has produced over 10,000 ounces of gold equivalent[1] ounces, the trigger for commencement of production royalty payments to EMX. In addition to the oxide gold royalty, EMX also owns a 2% NSR royalty on production from an underlying polymetallic copper, zinc, lead and gold deposit that is slated for future development.
The Gediktepe royalty was acquired by EMX as part of its purchase of a portfolio of royalties from SSR Mining Inc. (“SSR”) in 2021 (see EMX News Release dated July 29, 2021). On a go forward basis, Polimetal has informed EMX that it expects to produce between 35,000 and 45,000 ounces of gold per year from Gediktepe (with additional contributions from silver production) while mining the oxide gold cap over the next 3-4 years. The Gediktepe royalty is the subject of a NI 43-101 technical report authored by Dama Engineering with an effective date of February 1, 2022. This technical report has been filed on SEDAR under the Company’s profile and contains historical mining reserve and mineral resource estimates.
In addition to the royalty production payments, EMX is slated to receive cash payments of US$4,000,000 upon the first anniversary of commercial production for oxide gold mineralization, US$3,000,000 on the date that commercial production commences from the underlying sulfide deposit, and US$3,000,00 upon the first anniversary of the commencement of commercial production from the sulfide deposit.
Gediktepe VMS Deposit: The Gediktepe volcanogenic massive sulfide (“VMS”) deposit is a polymetallic system with precious metal, copper, and zinc rich domains. The upper portion of the deposit is oxidized, forming a precious metal-enriched gossanous cap that will be mined first, followed by production from the underlying polymetallic sulfide deposit.
Gediktepe was discovered in 2012 by a joint venture between Alacer Gold Corporation (which merged with SSR in 2020) and Lidya Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (“Lidya”), a private Turkish company. Alacer Gold Corp later converted its 50% joint venture interest at Gediktepe into the royalty interests now owned by EMX. Polimetal is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lidya and serves as the operator for the Gediktepe project.
More information on the Gediktepe royalty asset can be found at www.EMXroyalty.com.
Dr. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release.
About EMX. EMX is a precious, base and battery metals royalty company. EMX’s investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company’s common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol EMX, and also trade on the Frankfurt exchange under the symbol “6E9”. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information.
For further information contact:
David M. Cole President and Chief Executive Officer Phone: (303) 973-8585 Dave@emxroyalty.com
Scott Close Director of Investor Relations Phone: (303) 973-8585 SClose@emxroyalty.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain “forward looking statements” that reflect the Company’s current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserve and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as “estimate,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will”, “believe”, “potential”, “go forward” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company’s future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company’s MD&A for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 (the “MD&A”) and the most recently filed Annual Information Form (the “AIF”) for the year ended December 31, 2021, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC’s EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.
[1] Gold equivalent ounces as referred to in the definition of “Oxide Commercial Production” in the 2019 Gediktepe share purchase agreement between Alacer Gold Madencilik A.S. and Lidya Madencilik.
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – June 30, 2022) – EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (FSE: 6E9) (the “Company” or “EMX”) is pleased to report that all proposed resolutions were approved at the Company’s Annual General Meeting of shareholders held on June 30, 2022, in Vancouver, British Columbia (the “Meeting“). The number of directors was set at 6 and all director nominees, as listed in the Management Information Circular dated May 19, 2022 (the “Information Circular”), were elected as directors of the Company at the Meeting to serve for a one-year term and hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders. According to the proxy votes received from shareholders, the results were as follows:
Director
Votes FOR
Votes WITHHELD
Brian E. Bayley
96.68%
3.32%
David M. Cole
99.25%
0.75%
Sunny Lowe
98.98%
1.02%
Henrik Lundin
99.31%
0.69%
Larry M. Okada
96.45%
3.55%
Michael D. Winn
99.26%
0.74%
Shareholders voted 99.11% in favour of setting the number of directors at six, 99.29% in favour of appointing Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Accountants as auditors, and 92.09% in favour of approving and ratifying the Company’s Stock Option Plan.
Voting results for all resolutions noted above are reported in the Report on Voting Results as filed under the Company’s SEDAR profile on June 30, 2022.
About EMX. EMX is a precious, base and battery metals royalty company. EMX’s investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company’s common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “EMX”, and also trade on the Frankfurt exchange under the symbol “6E9”. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information.https://embed.fireplace.yahoo.com/embed?ctrl=Monalixa&m_id=monalixa&m_mode=document&site=sports&os=android&pageContext=%257B%2522ctopid%2522%253A%25221542500%253B1577000%2522%252C%2522hashtag%2522%253A%25221542500%253B1577000%2522%252C%2522wiki_topics%2522%253A%2522Annual_general_meeting%253BCompany%253BVancouver%253BNYSE_American%253BTSX_Venture_Exchange%253BChartered_accountant%2522%252C%2522lmsid%2522%253A%2522a0V0W00000HOPDcUAP%2522%252C%2522revsp%2522%253A%2522newsfile_64%2522%252C%2522lpstaid%2522%253A%2522f7514462-52d7-3a71-aedf-024feb72969f%2522%252C%2522pageContentType%2522%253A%2522story%2522%257D
Maurice: Before we deep dive into company specifics, Mr. Sussman, please introduce us to Collective Mining and the exciting opportunity the company presents to shareholders.
Ari Sussman: Collective Mining was born as a result of the COVID lockdowns, so just some background, my previous company was named Continental Gold, which was responsible for discovering and constructing the largest and most modern gold mine in Colombia, which was sold one week before the global lockdowns to a large Chinese mining company named Zijin Mining in March 2020, for a total sum of approximately $2 billion.
Within a month, my core team and I were bored at home like we all were, and said, “Let’s get back to the drawing board.”
And that is how Collective Mining was born.
Just some background on Collective, the name Collective Mining represents our business model. It’s a collective mining model, meaning, yes, we’re going to build, we hope to make a big discovery, and we’re hopefully going to build a mine and, or, sell the company and then reward our shareholders for being involved. But it’s also going to reward the local stakeholders involved in this project. We want to ensure that people living in the area of influence of the project, benefit, learn and grow with us. As we advance, they advance.
Maurice: Well, quite the pedigree of success here. Let’s find out more. Mr. Sussman, take us to the mining-friendly department of Caldas and Colombia, and please acquaint us with the region, potential mineral endowment, and the mining jurisdiction.
Ari Sussman: Let’s start with Colombia and then work our way inwards.
Colombia is a mining jurisdiction, for a country in South America that has the infrastructure in place, and there is no more prospective mining environment to be in. This is the Andes Mountain chain continuation, which starts in Chile and works its way northward, and goes right through Colombia. In theory, all of the large-scale types of discoveries will be made in Colombia that countries like Peru and Chile currently enjoy.
With that said, I don’t want readers to think that Colombia is an early stage country for mining because, it is in terms of discoveries in commodities that we care about (copper, gold, silver, et cetera), but it’s quite mature in the mining of coal.
Colombia is one of the world’s top largest coal producers and most of those mines have been in production for 50 years or more. So as a result, it’s a mature destination for companies to go and make discoveries in.
What I mean by mature destination, is there’s a very strong mining code in place. Royalty rates have been stable for decades on end. There is a mining association, well established in place that represents the mining industry and will lobby the government on behalf of the industry. These are things that we expect to see in countries like the United States where I am, or Canada, but this is also in Colombia. From that perspective, it’s stable and it’s great.
Zooming in a little bit, we are in the department, which you mentioned, named Caldas. I don’t think most people have heard of Caldas. Colombia refers to states as departments, by comparison. But if any of your listeners are coffee experts or coffee aficionados, they will have heard of Caldas because it’s reputed to have the best coffee beans in the world. I, for one, am not the foremost coffee expert. I enjoy the coffee, Maurice, I do, but I don’t have a real comparison, but this is what it’s known for.
What makes Caldas so special, are two things. One is the coffee, and it’s got a large, big industrialized business in Caldas. This entire department is made up of more mom-and-pop-style coffee farms, very specialized and high end and each coffee farm competes with its neighbor to produce a better bean and that leads to excellent quality.
But secondly, there is a mine which is currently operating in Caldas, which happens to be next door to our main property, named Marmato. Why I’m mentioning this now is, that Marmato has helped to create a very mining-friendly environment in Caldas. The reason for that is that Marmato has been producing gold and silver continuously for more than 500 years, believe it or not, and is still producing today. Virtually every person that lives in the department of Caldas has or had, mining in their blood in one way, shape, or form. As a result, there’s a very strong comfort level with mining in this state and it’s an excellent place to be.
Maurice: Collective Mining currently has two projects with district-scale potential. It has identified 11 highly prospective targets in the Cauca belt. Let’s get acquainted with your flagship Guayabales project. Briefly walk us through the genetic and expiration model and share with us what has your team excited.
Ari Sussman: We are operating in the Cauca Belt. This is a well-known metal belt of Colombia, which runs along the Andes mountain chain. Just to understand how prospective it is. First off, let me back up. Colombia was not a mining destination due to security concerns in the 1980s and 90s, as everyone knows. Those were the horrible times for Colombia that have now resulted in many shows, like Narcos, et cetera, being made as a result of what happened in those times. But, the country turned around with the election of the former president Álvero Uribe in 2002. Now we’ve had 20 years of Colombia being open and prospective.
The Middle Cauca belt prospectivity. There has been somewhere in the neighborhood of three million meters of diamond drilling done since 2002, in this belt. That has resulted in the discovery of more than 100 million ounces of gold. Let me caveat that by saying that a lot of that gold is never going to come out of the ground. It’s not all economic gold, but if you look at the prospectivity, for example, in my former company, Continental Gold, we discovered and drilled off 11 million ounces of high-grade gold at around 8 grams per ton and that deposit was open to grow further.
It would be when we got taken out by Zijin, just starting to pour gold from finishing construction. AngloGold alone has drilled off more than 40 million ounces of gold over a series of projects, for an approximately 20-year period. Then there are many others. So prospectivity is remarkable and being in the Cauca belt is fantastic.
Zooming in, I mentioned this project named Marmato, which we do not own, that is in another company. Marmato is an approximate 8 million ounce resource with less than 8 million ounces of reserves, that is pushing toward production, as we speak. What we recognized that one of the best places to find a mine, is next to a mine?
Marmato is a porphyry-related vein system. I want readers to think of Chile because Chile is the world’s largest copper producer and the bulk of that copper production comes from porphyry deposits.
Porphyries are intrusions in the earth where individual fingers of porphyry rock come up, the pulse pushes them up and then you get these complexes, they are typically about, let’s say, up to four miles by four miles in circumference within which, you will have fingers of porphyries which can be very large, in the billions of tonnes. Then you have breccia’s related to the porphyry and you have vein systems related to the porphyries. A key feature of the porphyries, breccia related to porphyries, and vein systems related to porphyries, is the dimensions of these deposits can get very large.
I mentioned billions of tonnes for porphyries, vein systems, my former project Buriticá at Continental Gold contained 11 million ounces. It has been drilled off over about 2 kilometers, or call it almost 1.5 miles vertically. That is enormous, and whatever you end up having in vertical, you end up having in lateral dimensions about mile-long vein systems along with huge vertical dimensions.
Breccia’s, porphyry-related breccias are also huge. I’m sure readers are familiar with Filo Mining in Argentina, which has been a huge success. They have a porphyry deposit, but what is driving their value is a porphyry-related breccia which sits in the middle of their porphyry and that’s where those unbelievable grades we’ve seen of copper-gold and silver are coming out of this breccia.
Why is that relevant to Collective Mining? We recognize that Marmato is on the fringe of one of those four by four-mile circumference areas that have porphyry intrusion centers and they are our neighbor. We have come in with complete grassroots exploration, and I want to highlight that there are very few companies today doing grassroots exploration. Most companies are retreading old projects with new interpretations that have had lots of drilling and lots of work done. This is true grassroots exploration.
Collective Mining has generated 11 targets on two projects. Our flagship is called Guayabales. That is the one that is contiguous to the historic and current large resource the aforementioned Marmoto. And then we have another one calledSan Antonio. Although it’s a second project, it’s only about a mile away as the crow flies from the edge Guayabales to the concession edge of San Antonio. So, it’s part of the same geological complex. And what we have identified in those 11 targets are either porphyry targets for drilling, porphyry-related breccia targets, or porphyry-related vein systems for drilling. I mentioned grassroots, so we’ve brought all of those targets except for two of them up to the drill, ready status as we speak.
Our flagship Guayabales Project has generated eight targets. I’m going to say something that I don’t say lightly, but this is the best exploration project that I have ever seen or been involved with (period).
And I said that when my technical team identified it, and I iterate it much stronger today because I’m able to back that up with initial drilling success. Today at Guayabales, we have drilled or are currently drilling five of those eight targets.
Our Olympus Target may be on the cusp of a significant discovery, which is a vein system over-printing breccia, porphyry-related. And as a result, we’ve drilled big bulk intercepts, including the discovery hole of 302 meters at 1.1 grams per ton, gold equivalent, starting just below surface. We will find out it’s open-pitable as we do more work in the future and prove that up.
We think that Olympus has the earmarks of a multimillion-ounce gold and silver system. Looks similar to Marmato next door and similar to my previous project, Buriticá, which I previously mentioned, we drilled off 11 million total ounces.
The second target with assays is called Donut. Donut is a porphyry-related breccia. I don’t think this one is going to be huge. It doesn’t have the potential of Olympus, but it’s still significant. It starts right at surface and we have amazing intercepts in it, including up to 163 meters at 1.3 grams per ton, gold equivalent, beginning right at surface.
Why do I say modest? I don’t think this one has multimillion-ounce potential. But if it does turn into a mine, with further work, I think it’ll be a satellite operation that can feed a much larger complex for processing and it’ll be nice to have because it will add incremental ounces onto the total deposit.
The third target that we drilled was called the Box. I say ‘was’ because that one didn’t work for us. We drilled it, we published results, it doesn’t have large-scale potential like we’re looking for and therefore, we’ve concluded that Box is out.
Our fourth target, the Apollo, we are currently drilling and to say we’re over the moon on it is an understatement.
Now, I’m going to put a big caveat out there for readers. We do not have assay results for it yet. We are expecting the initial first assay results for the first drill into it in the next two to four weeks. That is a caveat. I want everyone to know that at the end of the day, the only truth in mining is the assay results. We can like what we see visually, but we need to prove it with the assay results.
With that said, we’re pretty good at identifying rocks and what we see at Apollo, visually, is a porphyry-related breccia. It has an abundance of chalcopyrite and pyrite in the breccia matrix. For those that don’t know what chalcopyrite is, that is a mineral that contains copper in it, so there’s going to be a copper component to this one.
And then we expect there to be gold related to both the chalcopyrite and the pyrite, as well as silver. But, what makes us excited about it is, that the breccia that is mineralized and then over-printing the breccia is a porphyry-related vein system.
How do we know this? We see the pathfinder minerals of porphyry-related veins.
It’s important to note, that porphyry-related veins are known for being gold and silver-rich, which they typically are, but they also have byproducts of lead-zinc and to some extent, copper. So, what we see in the minerals that bring lead-zinc into the matrix are sphalerite for zinc and galena for lead.
These are very easy to identify, sphalerite is typically a brownish color and galena is a grayish color, and you get blobs of them. Why we know it’s over-printed is, instead of being veins that are typically narrow anywhere in the world, when they get into the breccia, the metal blows out from the veins and fills up the matrix of the breccia.
Think of it like this, when you’ve tried to complete a puzzle, there’s a lot of porosity or space between the individual pieces of the puzzle when they’re put together. Metal fluids will come into a breccia structure that looks similar to that, and it will fill up those spaces. Because it’s porous, the metal will spread out into those spaces. What’s happened with the veins is they’ve come into the breccia and there’s been room for the metal to spread. These have spread out into the breccia matrix, which suggests that we may have two overlapping systems.
Why I think this is significant, with the caveat that we don’t have assays, is, in my experience, that big deposits in the world are very rarely found when there’s only one style of mineralization dumping metal into the system. You typically need to see two or more styles. And here we have two very distinct styles.
So, stay tuned on Apollo, quite excited for the results. Then the first hole will be out soon. And, I should add that we are drilling thick visual intercepts at Apollo. This is not one or two meters we’re drilling intercepts of the three holes that are completed so far, visually, between 85 meters and over 200 meters. We’re hoping for long, big intercepts, and with some luck, with the assay, if mother nature is generous to us, we’ll have some decent grade in that breccia.
Maurice: Well, speaking of visually, that was a good analogy there. Can you conclude by taking us north for a victory lap and talk to us about the Victory Targets? What are you exploring there?
Ari Sussman: The Victory is the Northern complex of targets located in copper-gold country. We have identified a series of intrusions that are outcropping at surface, particularly at the Victory East Target. That is the one that excites us the most in the victory complex.
Victory has a Victory East, a Victory West, and something called Trap, which is in the middle. Trap is called Trap because it’s trapped porphyry-related veins within a structurally controlled corridor. Victory West, I won’t spend any time on it. It’s a blind target that has interesting geophysics, there may be a porphyry below.
Regarding Victory East, we have identified multiple porphyry intrusion centers that are outcropping and continue to collect and see a significant amount of rocks that are very enriched with magnetite, which in this kind of porphyry setting will contain gold or should contain gold and some silver, as well as chalcopyrite, which is that copper mineral that I mentioned before.
Noteworthy of mention, chalcopyrite is typically about 34% copper. Therefore, when logging a core in a drill hole, indicating there’s 2% chalcopyrite, assuming your logging’s correct, you can multiply by 0.34 and that should give you an approximation of what your copper content is.
We see a mineral that will contain copper and an element that will contain gold and a little bit of silver, over a very large area. We’re working diligently to have Victory East drill-ready for Q4 of this year. I think we have another four hard months of work ahead of us. It’s very big and the dimensions of the area, we’re in the plus mile range in every direction. Our team is trying to figure out where the end of the system is, to be frank, before we zero in and decide where we’re going to drill. That’s what we’re doing right now.
Maurice: To summarize this, early days. But Collective Mining may be on the cusp of at least two potential tier-one deposits before us.
Ari Sussman: Look, mining is a very difficult business. The professionals that are smarter than me, estimate you have about a one in 1,000 chance of making a discovery that ever becomes a mine. Making a discovery is very rare in a grassroots exploration program, and a huge compliment to the geological acumen of our technical team.
We are optimistic that we have two major discoveries under our belt already at Olympus and Apollo, subject to a lot more work. And they’re going to require a lot of proving up. But we’re seeing all the right indications of two big systems and Victory is indicating an enormous, grassroots discovered outcropping porphyry complex that we’re looking forward to seeing if that offers the kind of potential that Apollo and Olympus have already shown us from initial drilling,
Maurice: Leaving the Guayabales, let’s visit Collective Mining’s secondary project, the San Antonio, which has over 4,300 meters of drilling completed along with a significant discovery. Sir, please introduce us to the San Antonio, along with the genetic and exploration model.
Ari Sussman: OurSan AntonioProject is about a mile as the crow flies from the edge of its concession to Guayabales. It’s a peripheral part of this same complex of porphyry intrusions. We got into San Antonio in mid-2020. We did a lot of surface work. We did some additional geophysics and were able to generate three targets.
The northern target is called Pound, the middle target is called COP, and the southern target is called Dollar. We got busy drilling it, it was an easy one to drill. It came with water permits in place, it was ready to go. So, we put a bunch of holes into the Dollar Target and two holes into Pound. We have not drilled COP as we speak.
This was in late 2020 into early 2021, and those that follow the mining space know that there’s been a significant problem with assay delays plaguing the industry, resulting from COVID.
I think that was probably the peak of the problem at that point. To date, we have built 4,300 meters of core and had no assays and we were frustrated and shut down the program and said, “Well, we can’t drill more until we wait and get assays.” It took months and lo and behold, we got assays. I would say the results, we got a mixed bag. The mixed bag is as follows: Dollar, we drilled the most beautiful looking porphyry core you could imagine.
I urge any geologists to look at the photos of Dollar core. It is remarkable. However, we’re in the very upper portions of a porphyry system where the metal content is leached, indicating that it needs to be drilled deeper, and that is something we plan to do in 2023 to see if we find the portion that contains the metal.
The surprise for us is known as the Pound Target. At the time that we drilled Pound, I can honestly say that the two holes that we put in were more of a Hail Mary attempt. We had done very little work on Pound.
We had found a porphyry-related breccia with a very small footprint, at the time it surfaced, and said, “Let’s put two holes into it and see what happens.”
And the discovery you alluded to is as follows. We drilled two long holes, both slightly more than 700 meters in length, and both hit. They hit about a .5 gram gold equivalent in each. That’s not a grade that I think you’re going to build a mine on in the future, it’s too low. But anytime you drill a system that has two intervals with more than 700 meters of mineralization, and I should add, that both of those holes ended in mineralization, then there’s a big system somewhere there.
Subsequently went in and conducted some surface work. We have outlined a zone that’s over a mile to the north-south by about a half a mile east-west, and open in each direction. And that is worth going back and drilling one or two or three more holes.
The San Antonio is our secondary project, and it doesn’t offer the near-surface, exciting grades visually and with assays, that we’re seeing at Guayabales, but it offers big scale. So our plan is, let’s poke a few more holes into both of these targets. If we get lucky, we’re going to be talking again about it in great deal. If we don’t, I think the business plan would be to bring in a joint venture partner, which would be a major who’s excited about drilling deeper porphyry-style targets. Who’s willing to fund long drill holes and let someone spend that money and to earn a majority interest in the project and Collective Mining shareholders will get carried along for the ride and the potential upside.
Maurice: Before we leave the project sites, a multi-layered question. What is the next unanswered question for Collective Mining? When can we expect a response? What determines success? And what can we expect as far as news flow?
Ari Sussman: Anyone that invests in us wants the excitement of a drill hole. That is why you would invest in us. You are going to see a steady flow of drilling assay results beginning later this month, which would be the first hole from Apollo.
Then we will have a series roughly every month between now and year-end coming out of Apollo. Additionally, our phase two drill program at Olympus. We are going to be drilling from underground to test the high-grade center of the Olympus area. Olympus is characterized by having approximately a hundred artisanal miners that are mining very high-grade veins.
We’ve reported assay results close to 500-gram gold, and well over 1 kilo silver from these veins in channel samples. We want to drill that area because we know there’s a large vein system there. We don’t know how large, but we’re going to prove it out with drilling.
We also think that it could be a bulk tonnage target. The first results from that will start to flow in August or September. So, if you invest in us today, you’re going to see heavy news flow and particularly heavy beginning in August, and it will continue through the balance of the year.
Maurice: Leaving the project site, let’s discuss some important topics germane to your projects. Do you own your projects 100%?
Ari Sussman: So we have an option to earn 100% undivided interest in both projects by making a series of option payments over a number of years. The payments will culminate in 2031. No private royalties are underlying the property. There are no streams, et cetera. We will be clean and clear for 100% pathway to production. Colombia as a jurisdiction, as far as if you were to build a mine, is favorable from a tax perspective. If you’re in the gold business, the royalty rate is 3.2%. That’s below the Latin American average, which is in the +5 something percent range, as we speak. And taxes are in the low 30% which is kind of common for any country. We are in a good jurisdiction, favorable potential economics based on success and constructing a mine and we are excited to be there, 100% ownership is the only way to go on these things.
Maurice: Are you fully permitted?
Ari Sussman: Currently, Collective Mining is permitted for exploration. We are not permitted to build a mine. That is something that you will do once you complete a feasibility study and then follow the procedures in Colombia. Keep in mind, that I have permitted in Colombia, it’s an excellent jurisdiction to permit. We permitted a gold mine, as I mentioned, and it’s not an overbearing process in terms of timeline. It’s very detailed in terms of the workload. It is first class in terms of the government’s ability to assess permits and evaluate them, but they give you a reasonable timeline. You can permit a project in under one year to construct a mine in Colombia. You compare that to the United States where I think the average now is about 10 years. So much more favorable, but it’s a lot of work. But, as far as exploration goes, yes, we are permitted to explore for several years.
Maurice: Is the ultimate goal to build a mine or arbitrage?
Ari Sussman: Having been through this, you need to plan to build a mine. Because, what we can’t control, any of us, is the cycle itself. We all know commodities are cyclical. And so there are periods in the cycle where M&A is very active. Then there are periods where it’s slow. You must build your company as if you’re going to build a mine. But you keep the option open to be taken out. And if someone wants to acquire the cycle’s right, you do that.
That is how we’re going to proceed. If I have a choice in the matter, and I can determine my future, I don’t know if I’d want to build a mine again. I enjoyed the experience, but at its peak, we had about 5,000 people working at our former project Buriticá, between employees and contractors at the peak of construction. It’s a lot to manage, so we are willing to do it again? Yes. Would we want to do it again? I think ideally we would like to sell before we commence construction,
Maurice: We’ve discussed the good, let’s address the bad. What can go wrong and what are your action plans to mitigate that wrong?
Ari Sussman: Colombia. For good or bad, Colombia is very similar to investing in Peru. We all know Peru is one of the world’s largest producers of silver, gold, and copper. But not all projects work in Peru and the reason for that is Peru has a lot of population, similar to Colombia. virtually anywhere that you’re going to find a project that you want to explore and hopefully construct a mine on, you’re going to be dealing with populations, whether it’s villages, towns, or even larger. And what I mean by that, is why it’s like Peru is, that we see projects in Peru that succeed and then we see others that fail. The typical failure is based on having opposition from the locals that are in your area of influence on your projects. So, if you do that part well, you should succeed. If you don’t, you’re going to have problems. And that is critical.
Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG), is a big buzzword that all industries are talking about today. Having been in Colombia for more than a decade, this was critical for us more than 10 years ago when it wasn’t as popular a topic because we would not have succeeded if we didn’t have a good program.
What does a good program mean in ESG? Everyone throws it around like, “How do we do it?” But what does it mean?
It means many things. One, it’s education. People need to understand that mining can be beneficial for their communities and not a detriment.
Two, in Colombia you’re dealing in an agriculture-based economy, so it’s educating people that Colombia and mining are not competitors. They coexist well and are good for the economy because they’re cyclical but at different points in the cycle. So, it’s always nice to have one industry that’s strong while the other one has a low point in the cycle and struggling, to offset each other. That’s very good.
And three, make sure that you strengthen local businesses. I’ve seen this all over the world, a company comes and says, “Hey, we’re going to hire thousands of people locally and that’s great. And indirectly, we’re going to impact thousands more.” And of course, that’s great. But if the businesses that aren’t going to be solely focused on selling to the mine, don’t understand what mining is and how to strengthen their businesses to succeed in that environment, they’re going to fail.
Companies must be willing to spend money, help, and time. Helping small businesses evolve and mature so that they can continue to service the area for whatever goods and products they service, plus accommodate the mining company coming in there, because there’s a big change coming where there are areas of mining, in terms of the number of people. Populations grow due to the needs of a mine. Those are just some of the elements. ESG is the critical thing to focus on. If we don’t do this well, if our sustainability program isn’t strong, it doesn’t matter how many great drill holes or scales of deposit we find, we will get stopped.
Maurice: One of the virtues of Collective Mining is the pedigree of commercial success of building those relationships your team has a proven track record of, it may not make headwinds by saying that you’re permitted and you have the buy-in of the community, but it makes the difference of whether you can proceed or not. That’s one of the virtues, again, that Collective Mining brings to the table.
Switching gears, let’s discuss the people responsible for increasing shareholder value. Please introduce us to your board of directors, management team, and, technical teams, which bring along a vast amount of intellectual capital and have a track record of creating value.
Ari Sussman: Let’s start with the Board of Directors. We have one Colombian representative on our Board, an amazing woman named Maria Constanza. She brings something very strong to the table for us. Although she doesn’t work in the mining business today, she’s been very involved in mining over her career, including being the original president of the A&M, which is the Colombian mining agency that is the division of the government in charge of titling for the country from an exploration standpoint, as well as from an operating standpoint, not environmental permits, but a mining license.
So, we have a deep knowledge of both the private sector and the public sector with her and she’s been involved in numerous companies and has lots of experience.
We come out of Colombia, and on our board of directors is an individual named Ken Thomas. Ken, in the mine building business, is extremely well known, has been around a long time, won many awards over his long and illustrious career, including being one of the original engineers of Barrick Gold when it used to be known as American Barrick. He was around when Goldstrike, which is the largest mine in the Americas, in Nevada, was founded and evolved and grew. So, excellent experience.
We have another individual on our board named Paul Murphy. He’s also the chairman of Alamos Gold Inc. (AGI:TSX; AGI:NYSE), which I’m sure some of your readers are familiar with. But, importantly, he was the national mining leader of PricewaterhouseCooper for a quarter of a century. Paul’s experience in leading the audit committee team in financing projects, he’s an amazing person for that.
And lastly, we have a Swiss national named Ashwath Mehra who is a fantastic guy, and readers probably remember GT Gold, which Newmont purchased for $311 million about two years ago. Ashwath founded that company, brought it forward, and led the sale to Newmont. So, success breeds success, and we’re happy to have him involved on our management team.
We have a big management team. Allow me to begin with myself, I’m the executive chairman of the board of directors, meaning I’m involved in management. Omar Ossma is the president and CEO of the company. Omar is a Colombian, accomplished, and very smart lawyer trained and based in Colombia.
One of the things we wanted to do this time around is to make sure that the President and CEO must have boots on the ground on a full-time basis because the challenges that a company will face will be in the host country in which you operate.
We have an executive vice president named Ana Milena Vásquez, who is recognized as one of the top 100 most influential women in mining, by a prominent UK organization in 2020. And more importantly, she is a sustainability expert as well as government relations. So, ESG is synonymous with Ana and she’s a very powerful force representing our company.
Paul Begin is our chief financial officer. He was the chief financial officer for almost the entire evolution of Continental Gold, so been there, done that, and helped finance and build our former mine Buriticá.
Lastly, I’ll mention two names, two special advisors to the company from a technical perspective. David Reading, David is an internationally recognized economic geologist. Importantly, he was the founding partner of Mark Bristow for Randgold, which is now part of Barrick, to create the largest gold company. And David was instrumental in making multiple multimillion ounce discoveries in West Africa as the team leader of the exploration team of Randgold.
Then lastly, we have another special advisor named Richard Tosdal, better known as Dick. In our view, this is one of the world’s top porphyry experts. I mentioned to you that we have a porphyry complex. We always make sure we bring the best technical talent to the geology end of it to ensure we have the best chance of success and having Dick’s leadership is paramount. That oversees our Colombian team. We have a strong group of vice presidents.
Carlos Rios is our vice president of exploration. This is a geologist who thinks like a business person and has a resource modeling background, not just a pure explorationist. Rodolfo Higuera is our vice president of sustainability, he is responsible for ensuring that on the ground, where we operate, our relationship with all the area of influence communities is sound and solid, and they’re transparently educated on what we’re doing and able to speak. We want to remain in good standing with the communities, and this is key to the platform. Transparency is paramount for our success.
Maurice: Well, let’s get into some numbers. Mr. Sussman, please provide the capital structure for Collective Mining.
Ari Sussman: Collective Mining has approximately 47 million shares outstanding and slightly more than 50 million fully diluted. No warrants are outstanding from any financings. The difference between the outstanding and fully diluted is simply stock options to employees, which everyone will hold long-term.
We are well-financed, meaning we’re fully financed for the calendar year, 2022. And that’s financed for a 20,000 to 25,000-meter diamond drill program. We are going to spend $13.5 million this year, and then we will need money to advance the plans for 2023. That’s something we will look to do toward the end of the year, is to raise additional capital. And that will be done on the back of what we hope is going to be a significant success from drilling at Olympus and Apollo.
Maurice: And how much debt do you have?
Ari Sussman: We have no debt. So we’re very clean. There’s no intent to take on any debt for a very long time. The only time I would ever consider debt is if it’s part of a financing package to construct an actual mine.
Maurice: What percentage of ownership does management have and who are the major shareholders?
Ari Sussman: Management controls approximately 40% of the 47 million shares that are outstanding. We put our money where our mouth is. Management intends to do well as we have confidence that our share price will appreciate, not by drawing exorbitant salaries out of the company to maintain a lifestyle. In addition to that, we have very strong support from a group named PowerOne Capital, who was intimately involved with me at my predecessor company, as well as today.
They are long-term shareholders and they own about 25%. We don’t expect their stock to ever come out into the market and be sold. I can confidently say that the founding partner of PowerOne Capital group invested in Continental Gold previously, held his stock through our sale, to Zijin Mining, and participated in all financing rounds along the way. If you invest with us, you not only have our money where our mouth is, so to speak, because we’re very large shareholders of the company, but you will see management and strong supporters participate in subsequent financings that come as we evolve the business and advance.
Maurice: Well, that 40% ownership is very positive. That’s not common.
Ari Sussman: I would agree with you that 40% ownership is not common.
Maurice: I’m used to hearing about 10%.
Ari Sussman: Collective Mining is a tightly held stock. This is an ideal and more advantageous position for retail investors at this point, more than the institutions. Junior Mining companies, have to do a series of financings over the next number of years to get from today to a production decision. And so, the stock float will loosen up in time and that’s by design because we want to make sure we have a structure that works in the market today and can withstand downturns in the cyclical business we’re in, but will also benefit us in the future as we evolve and leave.
The whole point is to get the share price up as high as possible, and hopefully sold, based on the success of the company. And we don’t want to ever be in the position where we’re in a financing spiral where the market cap grows, but the share price doesn’t. Many mining companies seem to fit that bill, unfortunately, we don’t plan to subscribe to that business model.
Maurice: In closing, what keeps you up at night that we don’t know about?
Ari Sussman: Well, it keeps me up at night. It’s 100% making sure that we maintain the strong sustainability-based program and meaningful relationships with the local communities that we currently enjoy. It’s making sure that we apply our collective model properly so that it is collective for everyone. Everybody needs to jointly benefit together in our success, as well as take the risk with the project. If you want the upside, you have to be involved in the risk too.
Maurice: Last question. What did I forget to ask?
Ari Sussman: I just want to remind readers that Collective Mining expects strong news flow with lots of drilling activity. We are a discovery-based company with already significant results under our belt, and I hope everyone either tries to participate by buying shares, or at least watches us continue to put out news, and hopefully, we’ll end up convincing the naysayers in a short time with what we have in the ground.
Maurice: And for the record, I am a proud shareholder. Mr. Sussman, for someone who wants to learn more about Collective Mining, please share the website address.
Maurice: Mr. Sussman, it’s been a pleasure speaking with you today, wishing you and Collective Mining, the absolute best, sir.
And as a reminder, I am a licensed representative to buy and sell precious metals through Miles Franklin Precious Metals Investments, where we have several options to expand your precious metals portfolio, from physical delivery of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and rhodium, to offshore depositories, and precious metals IRA’s. Give me a call at 855.505.1900 or you may email: Maurice@MilesFranklin.com. Finally, please subscribe to www.provenandprobable.com, where we provide: Mining Insights and Bullion Sales, subscription is free.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / Metallic Minerals (TSX.V:MMG)(OTCQB:MMNGF) (“Metallic Minerals“, or the “Company“) is pleased to report the final set of assay results from its 2021 drilling completed at the Company’s 100%-owned, 166-square-kilometer Keno Silver Project located within the historic, high-grade Keno Hill silver district in Canada’s Yukon Territory. These drill tests were targeted at extending high-grade silver-gold-lead-zinc mineralization at the Formo deposit in the West Keno target area, one of several advanced stage targets moving toward an initial NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate for the Keno Silver project.
Highlights
Drilling in 2021 and 2020 by Metallic Minerals at the Formo deposit intercepted both high-grade Keno-style Ag-Au-Pb-Zn veins and broader zones of potentially bulk mineable mineralization.
FOR21-05 returned three intervals at over 1,000 g/t silver equivalent (“Ag Eq”) from 92.7 m to 115.5 m for a total of 22.8 m grading 219.5 g/t Ag Eq including 0.5 m of 1,657.8 g/t Ag Eq with up to 17 g/t Au, 0.7 m of 1,408.8 g/t Ag Eq and 0.5 m of 1,649.9 g/t Ag Eq.
FOR21-06 intercepted multiple zones of mineralization with 4.6 m of 938.3 g/t Ag Eq including 3,229.9 g/t Ag Eq over 1.0 m within a broader zone of 11.4 m grading 413.7 g/t Ag Eq.
The Formo target area hosts multiple parallel vein structures and mineralized zones within a broader structural envelope that remains open to expansion and shows excellent opportunities for resource delineation. Results from 2021 drilling intercepted extremely high grades, including FOR21-05 returning three intervals over 1,000 g/t silver Ag Eq and FOR21-06 with 3,229.9 g/t Ag Eq over 1.0 m within an interval of 4.6 m of 938.3 g/t Ag Eq (see Table 1 below). Both zones were encountered at shallow depths of less than 150 m down hole and these intersections extend high-grade silver mineralization below the 2020 drilling and the historically productive Formo mine. Geophysical and geochemical surveys, enhanced by the 2021 fieldwork, demonstrate significant resource potential opportunities in the Formo target area.
The Formo vein structure lies at the intersection of a north-easterly extension of the Bermingham-Calumet and the Elsa vein system, which are hosts to the some of the largest historic producing mines and current resources and reserves in the Keno Hill silver district (see Figure 1). The Formo Target remains open for expansion along trend and down dip and has several untested surface targets.
Metallic Minerals President, Scott Petsel, stated, “These exciting results from this most recent follow-up drilling program at the Formo target area in the western Keno Hill District, combined with the exceptional 2020 drill results, demonstrate the potential to delineate significant, high-grade resources at the Keno Silver project. Our team has done remarkable work to build on our understanding of the geology and the important controls to mineralization in the highly productive Keno Hill silver district.”
“As we prepare to embark on our upcoming exploration campaign, we recognize the importance of moving toward the definition of an inaugural resource estimates at Keno Silver, with Formo and Caribou being the two most advanced in that regard. We are also very focused on and enthusiastic about conducting robust follow-up work on our recent discoveries of both high-grade silver veins and bulk mineable mineralization in the East Keno area. We expect to provide updates with respect to planned programs at both Keno Silver and the La Plata project in Colorado over the coming weeks and look forward to meeting with investors during the upcoming Prospectors and Developers Conference in Toronto in mid-June.”
Upcoming Events
PDAC 2022 – Metallic will join fellow Metallic Group members at PDAC in Toronto, May 13-15 (Booth IE2851).
Metallic Minerals Corp., Wednesday, May 25, 2022, Press release picture
West Keno Exploration Program and Formo Target
The Western Keno Hill district is host to the largest historic production and current resources in the prolific Keno Hill silver district. The Formo target is located at the intersection of a north-easterly structural zone extending from the Hector-Calumet mine, which was the largest producer in the district producing nearly 100 million ounces of silver and the Elsa structural trend, which was the second largest silver producer in the district (see Figure 2). The historic Formo mine produced silver at various times since the 1930s from high-grade vein structures that graded an average of over 5,000 g/t silver1. The majority of this historic production came from an open pit located alongside of the Silver Trail highway between the Elsa townsite and Keno City.
Metallic Minerals’ exploration efforts at the Formo target area have integrated recent drilling with surface and underground sampling into a 3D geologic model, along with multi-spectral studies and geophysical surveys covering the area (see Figure 3). In addition to the mineralization at the known Formo deposit, two new surface targets have been identified through surface soil and rock sampling along the same structural corridors that show potential to host high-grade and bulk tonnage Keno-style Ag-Au-Pb-Zn. The opportunity to significantly expand the known mineralization defined from underground sampling and surface drilling, as well as the potential to define new high-grade deposits along the main mineralized structural corridor, positions Formo as a top priority target for near-term resource definition at the Keno Silver project.
Table 1 – Significant Drill Results from 2020-2021 at the Formo Target Area
DDH Hole ID
From (m)
To (m)
Width (m)
Ag Eq (g/t)
Ag (g/t)
Au (g/t)
Pb (%)
Zn (%)
FOR21-05
92.7
115.5
22.8
219.5
69
0.4
0.30
2.07
94.6
95.1
0.5
1,657.8
25
17.0
0.01
0.44
98.8
108
9.2
430.5
164
0.1
0.69
4.85
102.4
103.1
0.7
1,408.8
361
0.0
2.17
20.09
107
107.5
0.5
1,649.9
421
0.1
1.53
24.20
FOR21-06
96
97
1.0
221.8
155
0.0
0.45
1.03
111.6
123
11.4
413.7
234
0.0
1.97
2.07
114.4
119
4.6
938.3
528
0.1
4.48
4.82
116
117
1.0
3,229.9
1,978
0.4
13.09
14.97
121.2
123
1.8
202.8
128
0.0
1.00
0.76
FOR-20-001
50.9
57
6.1
284.5
218
0.0
0.3
1.14
including
50.9
53.95
3.05
447.5
369
0.0
0.11
1.52
FOR-20-002
49.45
52.3
2.85
48
22
0.0
0.18
0.39
FOR-20-003
96
100.1
4.1
2,536.0
1,165
0.0
21.74
11.32
including
96
99
3.0
3,425.9
1,568
0.0
29.45
15.35
FOR-20-004
89.8
95.9
6.1
367.6
225
0.0
2.04
1.35
including
91.8
93.7
1.9
698.4
454
0.0
3.48
2.32
including
93.2
93.7
0.5
1,083.6
601
0.0
7.33
4.25
FOR-20-005
104.76
105.45
0.69
365.0
146
0.0
1.32
3.52
152.17
152.67
0.5
85.5
6
0.4
0.01
0.76
FOR-20-006
137.63
139.78
2.15
740.6
332
0.0
3.06
6.04
including
139.13
139.78
0.65
2,255.9
1,001
0.1
8.92
18.92
FOR-20-007
98.1
98.65
0.55
77
12
0.0
0.12
1.2
107.65
108.15
0.5
86.1
46
0.2
0.24
0.34
125.55
126.05
0.5
75.5
1
0.2
0
1.23
FOR-20-008
116.45
116.95
0.5
289.2
178
0.1
2.2
0.42
including
168.6
169.6
1.0
79.2
57
0.0
0.25
0.25
FOR-20-009
69.7
70.14
0.44
67.4
15
0.0
0.21
0.91
113.2
113.7
0.5
211.6
26
0.4
0.06
3
FOR-20-011
55.3
59.7
4.4
75.6
3
0.0
0.05
0.04
including
57.7
58.6
0.9
307.7
195
0.0
2.79
0.1
Silver equivalent (Ag Eq) values assume Ag $19/oz, Pb $1.05/lb, Zn $1.30/lb, Au $1,800/oz and 100% metallurgical recovery. Sample intervals are based on measured drill intersect lengths and are believed to be representative of true widths.
Figure 2 – West Keno Plan Map
Metallic Minerals Corp., Wednesday, May 25, 2022, Press release picture
Figure 3 – Formo Vein Long Section (Looking NW)
Metallic Minerals Corp., Wednesday, May 25, 2022, Press release picture
About Metallic Minerals
Metallic Minerals Corp. is a growth-stage exploration company, focused on high-grade silver and gold projects in underexplored, brownfields mining districts of North America. Our objective is to create shareholder value through a systematic, entrepreneurial approach to exploration in the Keno Hill silver district, La Plata silver-gold-copper district, and Klondike gold district through new discoveries and advancing resources to development. Metallic Minerals has consolidated the second-largest land position in the historic Keno Hill silver district of Canada’s Yukon Territory, directly adjacent to Alexco Resource Corp’s operations, with nearly 300 million ounces of high-grade silver in past production and current M&I resources. In addition, exploration at the recently acquired La Plata silver-gold-copper project in southwestern Colorado is targeting a silver and gold-enriched copper porphyry and adjacent high-grade silver and gold epithermal systems. The Company also continues to add new production royalty leases on its holdings in the Klondike gold district in the Yukon. All three districts have seen significant mineral production and have existing infrastructure, including power and road access. Metallic Minerals is led by a team with a track record of discovery and exploration success on several major precious and base metal deposits, as well as having large-scale development, permitting and project financing expertise.
About the Metallic Group of Companies
The Metallic Group is a collaboration of leading precious and base metals exploration and development companies, with a portfolio of large, brownfields assets in established mining districts adjacent to some of the industry’s highest-grade producers of silver and gold, platinum and palladium, and copper. Member companies include Metallic Minerals in the Yukon’s high-grade Keno Hill silver district and La Plata silver-gold-copper district of Colorado, Granite Creek Copper in the Yukon’s Minto copper district, and Group Ten Metals in the Stillwater PGM-nickel-copper district of Montana and Kluane district in the Yukon. The founders and team members of the Metallic Group include highly successful explorationists formerly with some of the industry’s leading explorer/developers and major producers. With this expertise, the companies are undertaking a systematic approach to exploration and development using new models and technologies to facilitate discoveries in these proven, but under-explored, mining districts. Members of the Metallic Group have been recognized as recipients of awards for excellence in environmental stewardship demonstrating commitment to responsible resource development and appropriate ESG practices. The Metallic Group is headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and its member companies are listed on the Toronto Venture, US OTCQB and Frankfurt stock exchanges.
The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding exploration projects on Metallic Minerals’ mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Scott Petsel, P.Geo., President, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”).
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
All samples were assayed by 36 Element Aqua Regia Digestion ICP-MS methods at Bureau Veritas labs in Vancouver. with sample preparation in Whitehorse, Yukon and geochemical analysis in Vancouver, British Columbia. Samples with over limit silver and gold were re-analyzed using a 30-gram fire assay fusion with a gravimetric finish. Over-limit lead and zinc samples were analyzed by multi-acid digestion and atomic absorption spectrometry. All results have passed the QAQC screening by the lab and the company utilized a quality control and quality assurance protocol for the project, including blank, duplicate, and standard reference samples.
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements”. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Metallic Minerals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Metallic Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedar.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – May 17, 2022) – Riverside Resources Inc.(TSXV: RRI) (OTCQB: RVSDF) (FSE: 5YY) (“Riverside” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Exploration Earn-In Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Minera Hochschild Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (“Hochschild”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hochschild Mining PLC for Riverside’s 100% owned La Union Gold-Silver Project (the “Project”) in Sonora, Mexico. This new Agreement enables the Project to immediately move ahead with a robust exploration program and reflects the belief, by both parties, of the potential for rapid discovery of new gold-silver and base metal disseminated deposits on the 26 km2 Project.
Highlights of the Agreement are summarized below:
Phase I Earn-in Option: Hochschild can earn an undivided 51% by incurring US$8,000,000 in exploration expenditures over five (5) years.
Upon completion of Phase I obligations, Hochschild can elect to form a 51:49 joint venture.
Phase II Earn-in Option: Hochschild can elect to earn an additional 24% by incurring a further $3,000,000 in exploration expenditures and delivering a completed Feasibility Study (FS) over three (3) years.
Upon Hochschild completing the Phase II Earn-in, Riverside will have the option to sell its interest in the Project to Hochschild for US$20,000,000, while retaining a 1% Net Smelter Royalty (NSR).
Please see the Transaction Details section below for more information on the Agreement. The intention for the program is to initially conduct property wide sampling, improved mapping, and then geophysical work to rapidly refine drill targets. This would lead to expected drill testing in early 2023 and build upon the initial reconnaissance targeting work that Riverside has completed over the past two years. La Union is well described on Riverside’s website.
Riverside’s President and CEO, John-Mark Staude, stated: “We are delighted to partner again with Hochschild Mining as we have had a productive and positive relationship working together on several past projects. Riverside has invested in working up the project to an actionable stage and consolidated the tenures making this a highly prospective property that warrants the type of exploration spending that this agreement provides.”
For as long as Riverside is the Operator, Hochschild will reimburse Riverside the amount of the annual concession maintenance fees, property taxes, and any other payments required to maintain the Project. As Operator, Riverside will manage the exploration programs and be entitled to collect administration fees of 10% on contracts of less than US$100,000 and 5% on contracts of more than $100,000. Over the next six months, Riverside will also be reimbursed a total amount of $250,000 for its past expenditures on the Project.
Figure 1: Location Map of La Union and Surrounding Mines
La Union Project is located in western Sonora approximately 70 km southwest of the town of Caborca in the southern portion of the carbonate stratigraphic mountains of the Sierra El Viejo. The reactive limestone and dolomites formed a carbonate-hosted style of mineralization in the late PreCambrian stratigraphy. Large shear zones are present and potentially provide plumbing and a possible host for precious metals mineralization. La Union has seen small-scale production dating back to the 1950s by Peñoles and local families. The Project was largely unexplored until 2012, when Paget and Millrock Resources started exploration work. High-grade rock chip samples reported by Paget and Millrock attracted Riverside’s attention to La Union which was subsequently acquired by Riverside as part of a five-project portfolio acquisition (see press release June 26, 2019).
Riverside has since worked on expanding its current footprint at the La Union Project after evaluating the existing system of mineralization and its potential. Riverside sampling (see press release October 6, 2021) highlighted significant mineralization with up to 59.8 g/t gold (“Au”), 833 g/t silver (“Ag”), 5.8% lead (“Pb”) and 4.2% zinc (“Zn”).
After completing a claim consolidation in September 2021, Riverside conducted a follow up mapping and sampling program including 103 rock chip samples with the best sample returning 83.2 g/t (2.6 oz/t) Au and 4,816 g/t (150 oz/t) Ag (see press release January 5, 2022). The work further enhanced Riverside’s understanding of the structural and lithological controls by linking the small historical workings into a larger regional context. Although the Project is still in its initial stages, mineralization appears to be of manto-chimney and replacement type within Pre-Cambrian to Cambrian sedimentary rocks.
Following-up on the high-grade sample results, Riverside’s team returned and was able to further define the extent of surface mineralization. The highlights of this latest work defined high grade polymetallic samples up to 30% Zn, 83.2 g/t Au, 4,816 g/t Ag, and 10.3% Pb. Of the 103 samples assay values ranged from 83.3 g/t Au to non-detectable with about 30% of the samples returning significant gold, silver, lead and/or zinc values. Click here to see more detailed info at La Union project page.
Au – high: 83.2 g/t; low cut-off: 0.5 g/t
Ag – high: 4,816 g/t; low cut-off: 300 g/t
Pb – high: 10.3%; low cut-off: 0.1%
Zn – high: 30%*; low cut-off: 0.1%
*30% Zn is the upper detection limit in analysis method performed
Transaction Details:
Phase I Earn-In Option:
Hochschild will pay Riverside the sum of US$100,000 on signing the Agreement;
Hochschild will pay Riverside the sum of US$150,000 on the six-month anniversary of the Effective Date (November 5, 2022) for reimbursement of maintenance fees paid by Riverside through August 2022 in respect of the Concessions making for a total of $250,000;
Hochschild will reimburse Riverside for all periodic payments made pursuant to the underlying option agreements with respect to concessions comprising the Project;
Hochschild to incur expenditures as listed in the table below totaling at least US$8,000,000 of qualifying exploration expenditures before the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the executed Agreement.
Table 1: Phase I Earn-In Option (Qualifying Expenditures)
By May 5, 2023 1st anniversary of the Effective Date
Expenditure of US$700,000
By May 5, 2024
Expenditure of US$1,000,000
By May 5, 2025
Expenditure of US$1,000,000
By May 5, 2026
Expenditure of US$2,300,000
By May 5, 2027
Expenditure of US$3,000,000
Phase II Earn-In Option: In order to exercise the Phase II Earn-in Option, Hochschild shall pay for all Qualifying Expenditures incurred during the Phase 1 Earn-In periods and incur an additional US$3,000,000 plus costs necessary to prepare a Feasibility Study (FS) in accordance with CIM standards before the eighth anniversary of the Effective Date.
Table 2: Phase II Earn-In Option (Qualifying Expenditures)
May 2027 – May 2028
Expenditure of at least US$1,000,000
May 2028 – May 2029
Expenditure of at least US$1,000,000
May 2029 – May 2030
Expenditure of at least US$1,000,000
Feasibility Study (FS)
Undefined Expenditure Amount
The time within which the FS must be prepared can be extended for up to an additional 3 years subject to payment by Hochschild to Riverside of the following amounts:
Additional Period
Payment
1 year
US$50,000
2 years
US$250,000
3 years
US$500,000
Upon Hochschild’s completion of the Phase II Earn-In and Riverside’s acceptance, the parties can form a Joint Venture with Riverside having a 25% interest, and Hochschild having a 75% interest. Riverside will have the option to sell its interest in the Project to Hochschild for US$20,000,000, while retaining a 1% Net Smelter Royalty (NSR).
Hochschild can terminate the Agreement at any time on ninety (90) days’ notice to Riverside without any further obligation to incur exploration expenditure but will (a) remain subject to obligations accrued prior to termination (b) be required to reclaim disturbances caused by its activities and (c) pay federal annual concession maintenance fees and annual recording fees which fall due within sixty (60) days of the termination date.
Qualified Person & QA/QC: The scientific and technical data contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Freeman Smith, P.Geo, a non-independent qualified person to Riverside Resources, who is responsible for ensuring that the geologic information provided within this news release is accurate and who acts as a “qualified person” under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Riverside Resources Inc.: Riverside is a well-funded exploration company driven by value generation and discovery. The Company has over $4M in cash, no debt and less than 75M shares outstanding with a strong portfolio of gold-silver and copper assets and royalties in North America. Riverside has extensive experience and knowledge operating in Mexico and Canada and leverages its large database to generate a portfolio of prospective mineral properties. In addition to Riverside’s own exploration spending, the Company also strives to diversify risk by securing joint-venture and spin-out partnerships to advance multiple assets simultaneously and create more chances for discovery. Riverside has properties available for option, with information available on the Company’s website at www.rivres.com.
ON BEHALF OF RIVERSIDE RESOURCES INC.
“John-Mark Staude”
Dr. John-Mark Staude, President & CEO
For additional information contact:
John-Mark Staude President, CEO Riverside Resources Inc. info@rivres.com Phone: (778) 327-6671 Fax: (778) 327-6675 Web: www.rivres.com
Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking information. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology (e.g., “expect”,” estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”). Such information involves known and unknown risks — including the availability of funds, the results of financing and exploration activities, the interpretation of exploration results and other geological data, or unanticipated costs and expenses and other risks identified by Riverside in its public securities filings that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
