Prime Mining Corp. (“Prime” or the “Company”)
(TSX:
PRYM) (OTCQX: PRMNF) (Frankfurt: 04V3) is
reporting expansion drill results from its ongoing 60,000 metre
(“m”) 2023 drill program at the Company’s Los Reyes Project (the
“Project”), located in Sinaloa State, Mexico.
The exploration results reported in this release
are from Central, one of three main zones hosting the gold-silver
mineral resource estimate (“MRE”) at Los Reyes Project. Today’s
results, along with previous holes in the area, extend the
high-grade gold-equivalent shell approximately 250 m southeast
along strike from the Noche Buena pit bottom, as well as
intersecting new steeply dipping mineralization between the Noche
Buena and San Miguel East pit areas. As with results previously
reported from the Z-T and Guadalupe Areas, drilling at Central is
intended to identify gold-silver mineralization for potential
resource expansion beyond the Company’s current MRE. The 2023
Technical Report outlining the MRE can be found on the Company’s
website at https://primeminingcorp.ca/ and on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca, under the Company’s Issuer Profile.
Prime Mining Corp. Chief Executive Officer
Daniel Kunz commented, “Together with prior results, post-resource
drilling at Central supports the potential for an expanded, high
grade, low strip ratio, open pit. These results also suggest a
potential merger of Central’s currently outlined San Miguel East
and Noche Buena pits.”
Expansion Target Highlights
Central Area - Noche Buena:The
Company is reporting 10 core holes at the Noche Buena target.
Highlights include:
- 4.49 grams per tonne (“gpt”)
gold-equivalent (“AuEq”) (1.48 gpt Au and 232.6 gpt Ag) over 5.0
metres (“m”) estimated true width (“etw”) in hole 23NB-51,
including:
- 8.00 gpt AuEq (2.7 gpt Au and 409.4 gpt
Ag) over 2.6 m etw;
- and 3.51 gpt AuEq (3.36 gpt Au and 11.9
gpt Ag) over 1.2 m etw.
- 3.81 gpt AuEq (1.62 gpt Au and 169.2
gpt Ag) over 2.6 m etw in hole 23NB-53, including:
- 8.21 gpt AuEq (2.77 gpt Au and 420.0
gpt Ag) over 1.0 m etw;
- 1.23 gpt AuEq (0.45 gpt Au and 60.0 gpt
Ag) over 8.4 m etw in hole 23NB-52, including:
- 3.25 gpt AuEq (1.25 gpt Au and 154.7
gpt Ag) over 1.6 m etw.
Central Area – San Miguel
East:The Company is reporting 3 core holes at the San
Miguel East target. Highlights include:
- 1.33 gpt AuEq (0.55 gpt Au and 60.1
gpt Ag) over 4.4 m etw in hole 23SME-37, including:
- 2.65 gpt AuEq (2.03 gpt Au and 48.2
gpt Ag) over 0.7 m etw;
- 2.23 gpt AuEq (0.99 gpt Au and 95.9
gpt Ag) over 1.4 m etw in hole 23SME-34.
Figure 1: Expansion drilling
update
INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
The drilling described in this news release is
the result of Prime’s success-based exploration program.
Drill holes 23NB-55, -56, and -58 expand on
mineralization from the previously released holes targeting the
southern extension of Noche Buena, while 23NB-55 fills in a gap of
approximately 180 m between 23NB-38 and -47 which, together with
23NB-56, support expansion of the >1gpt AuEq grade shell at
Noche Buena south. 23NB-55, along with previous holes in the area,
extends the >1gpt AuEQ grade shell approximately 250m along
strike from the Noche Buena pit bottom to the southeast.
Drill holes 23NB-49 through -54 and 23NB-57 fill
in a gap of approximately 220 m along strike between the previously
separated >0.2 gpt AuEq mineralization at Noche Buena and San
Miguel East, also generating new >1gpt AuEq grade shell volumes
in several areas. These drill holes also resulted in the
identification of two new mineralized structures in the hanging
wall of Noche Buena. While the grades and thicknesses of intercepts
vary along these structures, they are near-surface relative to the
main Noche Buena area and may support the merger of the Noche Buena
and San Miguel East pits.
Drill Hole Highlights – Noche
Buena1
Hole ID |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) |
ETW (m)2 |
Au (gpt) |
Ag (gpt) |
AuEq3 |
Au Cut-off4 |
Area |
23NB-50 |
114.00 |
120.75 |
6.75 |
6.75 |
0.53 |
5.24 |
0.60 |
0.2 |
NB HW4 |
23NB-50 |
188.30 |
189.85 |
1.55 |
1.54 |
1.41 |
51.51 |
2.08 |
0.2 |
NB HW2 |
23NB-50 |
324.70 |
331.70 |
7.00 |
6.97 |
0.40 |
10.73 |
0.54 |
0.2 |
Noche Buena Main |
23NB-51 |
303.60 |
308.65 |
5.05 |
4.97 |
1.48 |
232.58 |
4.49 |
0.2 |
Noche Buena Main |
including |
303.60 |
306.20 |
2.60 |
2.56 |
2.70 |
409.44 |
8.00 |
1.0 |
Noche Buena Main |
23NB-51 |
348.80 |
350.05 |
1.25 |
1.23 |
3.36 |
11.90 |
3.51 |
1.0 |
Noche Buena Main |
23NB-52 |
258.00 |
266.70 |
8.70 |
8.40 |
0.45 |
60.01 |
1.23 |
0.2 |
Noche Buena Main |
including |
258.85 |
260.45 |
1.60 |
1.55 |
1.25 |
154.70 |
3.25 |
1.0 |
Noche Buena Main |
23NB-53 |
332.75 |
335.40 |
2.65 |
2.56 |
1.62 |
169.23 |
3.81 |
0.2 |
Noche Buena Main |
including |
332.75 |
333.75 |
1.00 |
0.97 |
2.77 |
420.00 |
8.21 |
1.0 |
Noche Buena Main |
23NB-53 |
340.60 |
344.00 |
3.40 |
3.28 |
0.27 |
81.49 |
1.32 |
0.2 |
Noche Buena Main |
23NB-53 |
378.65 |
386.40 |
7.75 |
7.49 |
0.42 |
64.87 |
1.26 |
0.2 |
Noche Buena Main |
23NB-54 |
212.60 |
222.50 |
9.90 |
9.75 |
0.41 |
12.83 |
0.58 |
0.2 |
NB HW2 |
23NB-55 |
257.35 |
261.25 |
3.90 |
3.66 |
0.93 |
33.63 |
1.37 |
0.2 |
Noche Buena Main |
including |
257.35 |
258.25 |
0.90 |
0.85 |
2.99 |
102.30 |
4.31 |
1.0 |
Noche Buena Main |
23NB-56 |
257.30 |
273.00 |
15.70 |
15.15 |
0.44 |
17.40 |
0.67 |
0.2 |
Noche Buena Main |
23NB-57 |
206.85 |
211.85 |
5.00 |
4.90 |
0.65 |
11.57 |
0.80 |
0.2 |
NB HW2 |
23SME-34 |
146.80 |
148.20 |
1.40 |
1.40 |
0.99 |
95.90 |
2.23 |
0.2 |
San Miguel Limb |
23SME-34 |
215.55 |
221.75 |
6.20 |
5.85 |
0.79 |
4.29 |
0.85 |
0.2 |
San Miguel Limb |
23SME-37 |
245.45 |
251.70 |
6.25 |
4.40 |
0.55 |
60.07 |
1.33 |
0.2 |
SME/Noche Buena |
including |
250.75 |
251.70 |
0.95 |
0.65 |
2.03 |
48.20 |
2.65 |
0.2 |
SME/Noche Buena |
Table Notes:1) A complete table of assay results from all
deposits and all secondary zones intersected utilizing a 0.20 gpt
Au cut-off is on the Company's website. 2) Estimated
True Widths (ETW) are estimated based on drill hole geology or
comparisons with other on-section drill holes.3) Au
Equivalent (AuEq) is calculated as Au gpt + (Ag gpt x ($22/$1700))
where $22 and $1700 are the price of one ounce of Ag and Au
respectively (in US dollars).4) Composite assay grades
presented in summary tables are calculated using a Au grade minimum
average of 0.20 gpt or 1.0 gpt as indicated in “Au Cut-off” column
of Summary Tables. Maximum internal waste included in any reported
composite interval is 3.00 m. The 1.00 gpt Au cut-off is used to
define higher-grade “cores” within the lower-grade halo.
Figure 2: Noche Buena Area drilling
update
Figure 3: Noche Buena and San Miguel East
Drilling update with grade shells
*Note: drill traces in blue are newly released.
Figure 4: Noche Buena Area cross section
B-B’
As of this week, the number of active drills at Los Reyes has
been reduced from six to three as the team prepares for the holiday
break. These rigs are focusing on Guadalupe East and the Z-T Area,
concluding work for 2023 on December 15. The six rigs will remain
on the property and are anticipated to ramp-up again in
January.
Over the year, drilling has been focused on:
- extending the high-grade Z-T Area
shoots that remain open at depth, as well as along strike north and
south;
- expanding the two other MRE
resource areas, including the eastern extensions of the Guadalupe
System; and,
- exploring the new generative
targets, which include Las Primas, Mariposa and a return to Mina
21
Prime has completed over 58,000 m of its planned
60,000 m 2023 drill program and will continue to evaluate its
drilling plans using its success-based approach.
Link 1– PDF Figures
Link 2 – PDF Drill Hole
Tables
Note: Gold equivalent grades
are calculated based on an assumed gold price of $US 1700 per ounce
and silver price of $22 per ounce, based on the formula AuEq grade
(gpt) = Au grade + Ag grade x ($22 / $1,700). Metallurgical
recoveries are not considered in the in-situ grade estimate but are
estimated to be 93% and 83% for gold and silver, respectively, when
processed in a mill, and 72% and 25% respectively when
heap-leached.
QA/QC Protocols and Sampling Procedures
Drill core at the Los Reyes project is drilled
in predominately HQ size (63.5 millimetre “mm”), reducing to NQ
(47.6 mm) when required. Drill core samples are generally 1.50 m
long along the core axis with allowance for shorter or longer
intervals if required to suit geological constraints. After logging
intervals are identified to be sampled, the core is cut, and one
half is submitted for assay. RC drilling returns rock chips and
fines from a 133.35 mm diameter tricone bit. The returns are
homogenized and split into two halves, with one half submitted for
analysis and the other half stored.
Sample QA/QC measures include unmarked certified
reference materials, blanks, and field duplicates as well as
preparation duplicates are inserted into the sample sequence and
make up approximately 8% of the samples submitted to the laboratory
for each drill hole.
Samples are picked up from the Project by the
laboratory personnel and transported to their facilities in Durango
or Hermosillo Mexico, for sample preparation. Sample analysis is
carried out by Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs, with fire assay,
including over limits fire assay re-analysis, completed at their
respective Hermosillo, Mexico laboratories and multi-element
analysis completed in North Vancouver, Canada. Drill core sample
preparation includes fine crushing of the sample to at least 70%
passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter,
and pulverizing a 250-gram split to at least 85% passing 75
microns.
Gold in diamond drill core is analyzed by fire
assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy of a 30 g sample (code
FA430 or Au-AA23). Multi-element chemistry is analyzed by 4-Acid
digestion of a 0.25-gram sample split (code MA300 or ME-ICP61) with
detection by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer for a
full suite of elements.
Gold assay techniques FA430 and Au-AA23 have an
upper detection limit of 10 ppm. Any sample that produces an
over-limit gold value via the initial assay technique is sent for
gravimetric finish via method FA-530 or Au-GRA21. Silver analyses
by MA300 and ME-ICP61 have an upper limit of 200 ppm and 100 ppm,
respectively. Samples with over-limit silver values are re-analyzed
by fire assay with gravimetric finish FA530 or Au-GRA21.
Both Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs are ISO/IEC
accredited assay laboratories.
Qualified Person
Scott Smith, P.Geo., Executive Vice President of
Exploration, is a qualified person for the purposes of National
Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical
content in this news release.
Additional Notes
Metres is represented by “m”; “etw” is
Estimated True Width and is based on drill hole geometry or
comparisons with other on-section drill holes; “Au” refers to gold,
and “Ag” refers to silver; “gpt” is grams per metric tonne; some
figures may not sum due to rounding; Composite assay grades
presented in summary tables are calculated using a Au grade minimum
average of 0.20 gpt or 1.0 gpt as indicated in “Au Cut-off” column
of Summary Tables. Maximum internal waste included in any reported
composite interval is 3.00 m. The 1.00 gpt Au cut-off is used to
define higher-grade “cores” within the lower-grade halo.
About the Los Reyes Gold and Silver
Project
Los Reyes is a rapidly evolving high-grade, low
sulphidation epithermal gold-silver project located in Sinaloa
State, Mexico. Since acquiring Los Reyes in 2019, Prime has spent
approximately US$32 million on direct exploration activities and
has completed over 158,000 m of drilling. On May 2, 2023, Prime
announced an updated multi-million-ounce high-grade open pit
constrained resource (see below, and refer to Note 1 and the May 2,
2023 press release for more details).
May 2, 2023 Resource
Statement
Drilling is on-going and suggests that the three
known main deposit areas (Guadalupe, Central and Z-T) are larger
than previously reported. Potential also exists for new discoveries
where mineralized trends have been identified outside of the
currently defined resource areas.
Historic operating results indicate that an
estimated 1 million ounces of gold and 60 million ounces of silver
were recovered from five separate operations at Los Reyes between
1770 and 1990. Prior to Prime’s acquisition, recent operators of
Los Reyes had spent approximately US$20 million on exploration,
engineering, and prefeasibility studies.
About Prime Mining
Prime is managed by an ideal mix of successful
mining executives, strong capital markets personnel and experienced
local operators all focused on unlocking the full potential of the
Los Reyes Project. The Company has a well-planned capital structure
with a strong management team and insider ownership. Prime is
targeting a material resource expansion at Los Reyes through a
combination of new generative area discoveries and growth, while
also building on technical de-risking activities to support
eventual project development.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Daniel KunzChief Executive
Officer
For further information, please contact:
Daniel KunzChief Executive
Officer and DirectorPrime Mining Corp.1307 S. Colorado Ave.Boise,
Idaho 83706Telephone: +1 (208) 926-6379 officeemail:
daniel@primeminingcorp.ca
Scott HicksExecutive Vice
PresidentPrime Mining Corp.710 – 1030 West Georgia StreetVancouver,
BC, V6E 2Y3Telephone: +1 (604) 428-6128 officeemail:
scott.hicks@primeminingcorp.ca
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains certain
“forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation as may be
amended from time to time, including, without limitation,
statements regarding the perceived merit of the Company’s
properties, including additional exploration potential of Los
Reyes, potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, the potential
size of the mineralized zone, metallurgical recoveries, and the
Company’s exploration and development plans in Mexico.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical
facts which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that
the Company expects to occur. Forward-looking statements are based
on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management
on the date the statements are made, and they involve several risks
and uncertainties. Certain material assumptions regarding such
forward-looking statements were made, including without limitation,
assumptions regarding the price of gold, silver and copper; the
accuracy of mineral resource estimations; that there will be no
material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties;
that all required approvals will be obtained, including concession
renewals and permitting; that political and legal developments will
be consistent with current expectations; that currency and exchange
rates will be consistent with current levels; and that there will
be no significant disruptions affecting the Company or its
properties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such
statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant known
and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks
include, but are not limited to: risks related to uncertainties
inherent in the preparation of mineral resource estimates,
including but not limited to changes to the cost assumptions,
variations in quantity of mineralized material, grade or recovery
rates, changes to geotechnical or hydrogeological considerations,
failure of plant, equipment or processes, changes to availability
of power or the power rates, ability to maintain social license,
changes to interest or tax rates, changes in project parameters,
delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of
local communities, environmental risks, title risks, including
concession renewal, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations,
risks relating to COVID-19, delays in or failure to receive access
agreements or amended permits, risks inherent in the estimation of
mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the
Company’s objectives and strategies, including costs and expenses,
as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most
recently filed management's discussion and analysis, as well as its
annual information form dated August 21, 2023, available on
www.sedarplus.ca. Except as required by the securities disclosure
laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company
undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements
if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors,
should change.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available
at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b0f16286-c7ec-48d1-8f02-05db8b67644b
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb9e362c-dbbd-4446-97a5-9e4efafad621
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/49291db5-4a63-46f6-94d4-400efa8c168b
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/90fc0bc5-f838-4311-b71b-7b30df7cab6c
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