Prime Mining Corp. (“Prime” or the “Company”) (TSX:
PRYM) (OTCQX: PRMNF) (Frankfurt: 04V3) is
reporting expansion drilling results from the Company’s Los Reyes
Project (the “Project”), located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. These
results are from 2023 drilling at the Z-T Area and are not included
in the Company’s May 2, 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate (“MRE”).
Expansion Drilling Highlights in the Z-T
Area
The Company is reporting 21 core holes at Tahonitas with the
following highlights:
- 3.59 grams per tonne (“gpt”)
gold-equivalent (“AuEq”) (3.54 gpt Au and 4.1 gpt Ag) over 6.6 m
estimated true width (“etw”) in hole 23TA-85, including:
- 6.21 gpt AuEq (6.17 gpt Au and 2.9 gpt
Ag) over 1.4 m etw, and including,
- 12.35 gpt AuEq (12.10 gpt Au and 19.1
gpt Ag) over 1.0 m etw.
- 2.09 gpt AuEq (1.26 gpt Au and 63.9 gpt
Ag) over 11.6 m etw in hole 23TA-90, including:
- 3.83 gpt AuEq (2.61 gpt Au and 94.5 gpt
Ag) over 2.2 m etw.
- 3.74 gpt AuEq (0.99 gpt Au and 212.5
gpt Ag) over 5.7 m etw in hole 23TA-100, including:
- 10.94 gpt AuEq (2.97 gpt Au and 616.0
gpt Ag) over 1.3 m etw.
- 2.33 gpt AuEq (0.83 gpt Au and 115.9
gpt Ag) over 7.1 m etw in hole 23TA-91, including:
- 8.14 gpt AuEq (2.85 gpt Au and 409.0
gpt Ag) over 0.9 m etw.
- 2.21 gpt AuEq (0.69 gpt Au and 117.8
gpt Ag) over 5.0 m etw in hole 23TA-94.
- 6.39 gpt AuEq (4.51 gpt Au and 145.3
gpt Ag) over 1.2 m etw in hole 23TA-99.
Prime Mining Corp. Chief Executive Officer Scott
Hicks commented, “Drilling at the Z-T Area has discovered a new
high-grade mineralized zone of over 350m, along strike to the
southeast of the Tahonitas resource pit and has also extended two
separate high-grade plunges in this area by an additional 70 to 80m
down-dip. Mineralization here now continues 300m
down-dip from the May 2023 resource pits. We are excited to see the
potential of this expansion target evolve.”
Scott Smith, Executive Vice President of
Exploration, added, “Today’s release reflects the potential for
continued discovery of high-grade mineralization at Tahonitas.
Additional access for drilling will enable us to further test the
high potential of Z-T's open strike to the southeast. Ongoing
drilling at Z-T aims to extend the high-grade shoots that remain
open at depth, as well as following up on the newly discovered
mineralization along strike.”
Figure 1: Expansion drilling
update
Tahonitas Drill Hole
Highlights1
Hole ID |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) |
ETW (m)2 |
Au (gpt) |
Ag (gpt) |
AuEq3 |
Au Cut-off4 |
23TA-85 |
384.10 |
391.30 |
7.2 |
6.6 |
3.54 |
4.1 |
3.59 |
0.2 |
including |
385.50 |
388.80 |
3.3 |
3.0 |
3.61 |
2.0 |
3.64 |
1.0 |
including |
385.50 |
387.00 |
1.5 |
1.4 |
6.17 |
2.9 |
6.21 |
1.0 |
& including |
390.25 |
391.30 |
1.1 |
1.0 |
12.10 |
19.1 |
12.35 |
1.0 |
23TA-90 |
334.50 |
346.50 |
12.0 |
11.6 |
1.26 |
63.9 |
2.09 |
0.2 |
including |
335.90 |
336.80 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
4.45 |
82.7 |
5.52 |
1.0 |
including |
337.65 |
339.90 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
2.61 |
94.5 |
3.83 |
1.0 |
including |
343.50 |
345.00 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.32 |
69.6 |
2.22 |
1.0 |
23TA-91 |
180.05 |
182.55 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
0.94 |
57.0 |
1.68 |
0.2 |
including |
181.30 |
182.55 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
1.21 |
113.9 |
2.68 |
1.0 |
23TA-91 |
190.55 |
197.75 |
7.2 |
7.1 |
0.83 |
115.9 |
2.33 |
0.2 |
including |
192.00 |
192.85 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
2.85 |
409.0 |
8.14 |
1.0 |
& including |
195.10 |
196.95 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
1.09 |
68.6 |
1.98 |
1.0 |
23TA-94 |
169.90 |
175.35 |
5.5 |
5.0 |
0.69 |
117.8 |
2.21 |
0.2 |
including |
169.90 |
170.80 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
1.56 |
303.0 |
5.48 |
1.0 |
23TA-99 |
333.00 |
334.20 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
4.51 |
145.3 |
6.39 |
0.2 |
23TA-100 |
253.35 |
259.90 |
6.6 |
5.7 |
0.99 |
212.5 |
3.74 |
0.2 |
including |
256.50 |
258.00 |
1.5 |
1.3 |
2.97 |
616.0 |
10.94 |
1.0 |
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 an 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.
INTERPRETATION
The Tahonitas drill holes summarized in this
news release intersected high grades at meaningful widths,
continuing to build on the mineralized envelope discussed in the
Company’s September 12, 2023 and November 8, 2023 news releases. As
Tahonitas continues to demonstrate higher silver grades compared to
other zones within the Z-T area, these higher silver grades have
the potential to increase the overall AuEq grades and gold-silver
ounces in these areas.
In this release, 23TA-85 is located 85m down dip
of 23TA-71, extending the previously defined high grade shoot
approximately 300m down-dip from the current resource pit bottom at
a mid-intercept elevation of approximately 250m above sea level. An
additional high grade shoot to the southeast has been extended by
23TA-90 located 75m down dip of 23TA-79 and 240m down-dip from the
resource pit bottom at an elevation of approximately 260m above sea
level. This southeastern shoot now has a modelled dip length of
high-grade mineralization spanning 575m and remains open.
The shallow intersections, comprised of 23TA-89,
91 94 and 97, along with 100, extend Z-T mineralization to the
south-east well beyond the current pit, with the following
implications:
- Shallow early-stage intersections
that may support pit expansion to the SE near
surface.
- Demonstrates that the
Tahonitas structure continues to be mineralized for 350m
along strike from the south-east pit crest.
- The potential to discover
more high-grade plunges as we continue to drill at depth
within the new southeast strike extension.
High-grade plunging shoots are still open at
depth and along strike in multiple areas along the Z-T area as
Prime targets expansion drilling at Z-T in 2024.
Figure 2: Z-T Area drilling
update
Figure 3: Z-T
Area long section with drill holes
highlighted (A-A’)
Figure 4: Z-T Area (Tahonitas) cross
section B-B’
Prime is targeting 40,000 metres in its 2024 drill program and
will continue to evaluate drilling plans using its success-based
approach. This evaluation will also include prioritization of
targets based on probability of resource development and generative
area discovery potential.
Six drill rigs are currently active on site at Los Reyes, with
2024 exploration focused on:
- Extending the high-grade Z-T Area shoots that
remain open at depth, as well as along strike, both north and
south.
- Expanding the known high-grade mineralization at
Guadalupe East.
- Increasing the Central Area resource through
additions at Noche Buena and its connection to San Miguel
East.
- Generative target drilling of high-grade
intercepts at Las Primas, Mariposa, Fresnillo, Mina and
others to further develop the resource potential at Los Reyes.
Link 1– PDF
FiguresLink 2 – PDF Drill Hole
Tables
Note 1: 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 2 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.
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 an 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 CAD$48 million on direct exploration activities and
has completed over 168,000 metres of drilling. On May 2, 2023,
Prime announced an updated multi-million-ounce high-grade open pit
constrained resource (see 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.
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.
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.
For further information, please visit
https://primeminingcorp.ca/ or direct enquiries to:
Scott HicksCEO &
Director
Indi GopinathanVP Capital
Markets & Business Development
Prime Mining Corp.710 – 1030 West Georgia
St.Vancouver, BC V6E 2Y3 Canada+1(604)
428-6128info@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
at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67c723e9-932b-4d1c-b911-75a3fef87b71
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1912e4e-e7e7-4401-8eee-3b3b4d371f1e
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