Prime Mining Corp. (“Prime” or the “Company”)
(TSX:
PRYM) (OTCQX: PRMNF) (Frankfurt: 04V3) is
reporting expansion and generative drill results from its 2023
drill program at the Company’s Los Reyes Project (the “Project”),
located in Sinaloa State, Mexico.
Drilling at Las Primas has intercepted several
new high grade mineralized structures that appear to have many
similarities to Guadalupe East, located 500m to the northeast. This
discovery highlights the potential at Las Primas, which lies
entirely outside of the previously reported 2023 Mineral Resource
Estimate (“MRE”). Early mineralization modeling suggests a vertical
extent of over 300m and 450m along strike.
Drill hole 23GE-147 at Guadalupe East
contains one of the highest grade intercepts ever recorded at the
Project, with 45.3 gpt Au and 2,723 gpt Ag over 4.75m
estimated true width (80.6 gpt AuEq). 23GE-147 expands the
very-high grade mineralization along several antithetic structures
within the 2023 resource pit and returned substantially higher
grades than previously estimated in many instances.
Drill Highlights -
GenerativeLas Primas AreaThe Company is
reporting five core holes at Las Primas. Highlights are listed
below:
- 15.63 grams per tonne (“gpt”)
gold-equivalent (“AuEq”) (11.60 gpt Au and 311.1 gpt Ag) over 4.5
metres (“m”) estimated true wide (“etw”) in hole 23LP-18,
including:
- 27.52 gpt AuEq (20.39 gpt Au and 550.8
gpt Ag) over 2.5 m etw, and including,
- 56.28 gpt AuEq (41.90 gpt Au and
1,111.0 gpt Ag) over 1.1 m etw;
- 1.91 gpt AuEq (1.29 gpt Au and 47.7 gpt
Ag) over 10.20 m etw in 23LP-20, including
- 6.43 gpt AuEq (2.2 gpt Au and 327 gpt
Ag) over 1.3 m etw;
- 1.89 gpt AuEq (0.73 gpt Au and 89.61
gpt Ag) over 2.6 m etw in hole 23LP-17, including:
- 5.61 gpt AuEq (1.97 gpt Au and 281 gpt
Ag) over 1.0 m etw.
Drill Highlights -
ExpansionGuadalupe ZoneGuadalupe
East AreaThe Company is reporting one core hole at
Guadalupe East. Highlights are listed below:
- 17.95 gpt AuEq (9.69 gpt Au and 638.55
gpt Ag) over 31.25 m etw in hole 23GE-147, including;
- 52.67 gpt AuEq (29.41 gpt Au and
1,797.3 gpt Ag) over 6.45 m etw, and including,
- 80.57 gpt AuEq (45.34 gpt Au and
2,722.6 gpt Ag) over 3.90 m etw.
Prime Mining Corp. Chief Executive Officer
Daniel Kunz commented, “The incredibly high-grade intercepts at
Guadalupe East are exciting from a resource expansion perspective.
23GE-147 lies almost entirely within the 2023 economic Resource
pit. The upper intercepts returned higher grades than what was
predicted in the MRE block model while the lower intercepts are in
what was previously estimated to be waste in the model. This
material has the potential to substantively increase economic
ounces in this part of Guadalupe East in our next Resource
update.”
Scott Smith, Executive Vice President of
Exploration added, “We believe the currently defined veins at Las
Primas may intersect at depth in a similar manner to that seen in
the high-grade ‘flower’ structure in the Laija area of Guadalupe
East. If confirmed, these structural intersections have the
potential to host similarly large volumes of high-grade gold-silver
mineralization. The results reported today represent a very
exciting area of generative growth at Las Primas, and we look
forward to developing our knowledge of this area in 2024.”
Figure 1: Drilling update
INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
The drilling described in this news release is
the result of Prime’s success-based exploration program.
The Guadalupe Zone hosts approximately one-half
of the Indicated gold-equivalent ounces reported in the MRE. Z-T,
Central and Guadalupe are the three main zones hosting the
gold-silver MRE at the Los Reyes Project. 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.
As noted earlier, Las Primas appears to have
multiple points of similarity to Guadalupe East, including:
- Surface mapping and drill
intercepts to date show a network of quartz veins similar to the
Laija area of Guadalupe East, with antithetic, steeply NE-dipping
veins emanating from steeply SW-dipping veins.
- High-grade silver, including
multiple kilogram grades, which to-date have been unique to
GE.
- Geochemical and Short-wave Infrared
(SWIR) mineralogical analyses from Las Primas show similar
pathfinder geochemistry and alteration mineralogy to Guadalupe
East, with highly elevated silver to gold ratios, anomalous base
metal concentrations, and pervasive adularia alteration observed in
both target areas.
As noted above, the mineralization appears
continuous along a strike length of 450m, measured from drill hole
23LP-13 (previously released) to 23LP-19.
Geologic modelling and interpretation continue
at Las Primas, and the exploration team will use today’s results to
set priorities and drill targets for 2024 drilling.
Prime is targeting a material resource expansion
at Los Reyes through a combination of new generative area
discoveries and growth, such as those being reported today, in
addition to ongoing expansion along strike and down dip within
previously reported mineral resource areas.
Drill Hole Highlights
1
Hole ID |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) |
ETW (m)2 |
Au (gpt) |
Ag (gpt) |
AuEq3 |
Au Cut-off4 |
Area / Structure |
23LP-16 |
148.40 |
149.40 |
1.00 |
0.70 |
0.67 |
88.80 |
1.82 |
0.2 |
Las Primas |
23LP-17 |
167.75 |
169.10 |
1.35 |
0.95 |
1.15 |
165.00 |
3.29 |
1.0 |
Las Primas |
23LP-17 |
346.40 |
350.10 |
3.70 |
2.60 |
0.73 |
89.61 |
1.89 |
0.2 |
Las Primas |
including |
349.10 |
350.10 |
1.00 |
0.70 |
1.97 |
281.00 |
5.61 |
1.0 |
Las Primas |
23LP-18 |
224.40 |
230.75 |
6.35 |
4.50 |
11.60 |
311.07 |
15.63 |
0.2 |
Las Primas |
including |
224.40 |
227.95 |
3.55 |
2.50 |
20.39 |
550.77 |
27.52 |
0.2 |
Las Primas |
including |
225.50 |
227.00 |
1.50 |
1.05 |
41.90 |
1111.00 |
56.28 |
0.2 |
Las Primas |
23LP-19 |
343.00 |
343.80 |
0.80 |
0.55 |
2.88 |
347.00 |
7.37 |
1.0 |
Las Primas |
23LP-20 |
333.00 |
334.60 |
1.60 |
1.15 |
1.73 |
215.44 |
4.52 |
1.0 |
Las Primas |
23LP-20 |
426.30 |
438.10 |
11.80 |
10.20 |
1.29 |
47.71 |
1.91 |
0.2 |
Las Primas |
including |
428.00 |
430.40 |
2.40 |
2.10 |
3.67 |
3.34 |
3.71 |
1.0 |
Las Primas |
including |
428.00 |
429.05 |
1.05 |
0.90 |
6.76 |
6.10 |
6.84 |
1.0 |
Las Primas |
& including |
436.65 |
438.10 |
1.45 |
1.25 |
2.20 |
327.00 |
6.43 |
1.0 |
Las Primas |
23GE-147 |
18.00 |
18.65 |
0.65 |
0.50 |
0.29 |
16.40 |
0.50 |
0.2 |
Guadalupe East |
23GE-147 |
60.20 |
60.90 |
0.70 |
0.30 |
0.61 |
25.30 |
0.94 |
0.2 |
Estaca |
23GE-147 |
68.75 |
74.35 |
5.60 |
2.35 |
0.93 |
29.66 |
1.31 |
0.2 |
Estaca |
23GE-147 |
77.95 |
79.25 |
1.30 |
1.05 |
0.34 |
1.20 |
0.36 |
0.2 |
Estaca HW Splay |
23GE-147 |
80.70 |
81.40 |
0.70 |
0.55 |
2.59 |
56.30 |
3.32 |
1.0 |
Estaca HW Splay |
23GE-147 |
82.90 |
84.20 |
1.30 |
1.05 |
0.25 |
10.50 |
0.39 |
0.2 |
Estaca HW Splay |
23GE-147 |
84.90 |
107.40 |
22.50 |
18.45 |
5.48 |
94.16 |
6.70 |
0.2 |
Estaca HW Splay |
23GE-147 |
108.40 |
125.20 |
16.80 |
13.75 |
5.26 |
95.42 |
6.49 |
0.2 |
Estaca HW Splay |
23GE-147 |
126.70 |
140.05 |
13.35 |
10.95 |
5.82 |
110.62 |
7.25 |
0.2 |
Estaca HW Splay |
23GE-147 |
142.15 |
144.70 |
2.55 |
2.10 |
0.24 |
8.21 |
0.35 |
0.2 |
Estaca HW Splay |
23GE-147 |
148.00 |
149.15 |
1.15 |
0.95 |
0.74 |
11.80 |
0.89 |
0.2 |
Estaca HW Splay |
23GE-147 |
155.35 |
193.50 |
38.15 |
31.25 |
9.69 |
638.55 |
17.95 |
0.2 |
Estaca HW Splay |
23GE-147 |
198.00 |
213.50 |
15.50 |
12.70 |
0.81 |
52.08 |
1.48 |
0.2 |
Estaca HW Splay |
23GE-147 |
216.55 |
218.90 |
2.35 |
1.95 |
1.85 |
43.75 |
2.42 |
0.2 |
Estaca HW Splay |
23GE-147 |
253.20 |
255.45 |
2.25 |
1.85 |
4.50 |
174.54 |
6.76 |
0.2 |
Estaca HW Splay |
23GE-147 |
274.45 |
275.30 |
0.85 |
0.70 |
1.29 |
8.80 |
1.40 |
1.0 |
Estaca HW Splay |
23GE-147 |
289.60 |
291.05 |
1.45 |
1.20 |
0.27 |
35.50 |
0.73 |
0.2 |
Estaca HW Splay |
Table Notes:
- 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, as well as accompanying notes on composite
grades.
- Estimated True Widths (ETW) are estimated based on drill hole
geology or comparisons with other on-section drill holes.
- 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).
Figure 2: Las Primas and Guadalupe East
drilling update
Figure 3: Las Primas and Guadalupe
Drilling update with grade shells
Figure 4: Guadalupe East Area cross
section A-A’
Drilling is resuming at the Los Reyes Project following the
holiday break, and the six drill rigs at site have a near term
focus as follows:
- three rigs at Tahonitas, in the Z-T Zone;
- two rigs at Las Primas; and,
- one rig at Guadalupe East.
Once all of Prime’s 2023 drill results are
received, the Company will finalize and communicate its 2024
exploration strategy in accordance with 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$1,700 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
Cautionary Notes to U.S. Investors
Concerning Resource EstimatesThis news release has been
prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws
in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of the U.S.
securities laws. In particular, and without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, the terms “mineral reserve”, “proven mineral
reserve”, “probable mineral reserve”, “inferred mineral resources,”
“indicated mineral resources,” “measured mineral resources” and
“mineral resources” used or referenced in this presentation are
Canadian mineral disclosure terms as defined in accordance with
National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects (“NI 43-101”) under the guidelines set out in the 2014
Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards
for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, Definitions and
Guidelines, May 2014 (the “CIM Standards”). The CIM Standards
differ from the mineral property disclosure requirements of the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in Regulation
S-K Subpart 1300 (the “SEC Modernization Rules”) under the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). As a
foreign private issuer that is eligible to file reports with the
SEC pursuant to the multijurisdictional disclosure system, the
Company is not required to provide disclosure on its mineral
properties under the SEC Modernization Rules and will continue to
provide disclosure under NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards.
Accordingly, the Company’s disclosure of mineralization and other
technical information may differ significantly from the information
that would be disclosed had the Company prepared the information
under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules.
Forward Looking InformationThis
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
athttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d8ce07a5-e73e-488d-8b6b-f760ea01bbde
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/acd13091-5fec-466d-9d93-47c5c898ba53
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5a890e9d-631b-4034-845d-8a7f6c9ca35f
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e92fe74-93d1-441b-bcdc-75de7723e6a7
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65e17b11-b64f-4958-9852-24f5bd628f5e
Prime Mining (TSX:PRYM)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2024 to Dec 2024
Prime Mining (TSX:PRYM)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2023 to Dec 2024