MONTREAL, Jan. 28, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (TSX: AYA)
("Aya" or the "Corporation") is pleased to report high-grade silver
results from the 2021 drill exploration program at the Zgounder
Silver Mine in the Kingdom of Morocco.
Key Highlights (all intersections are in core
lengths)
Extension of the mineralisation between the 2,125 and 2,130
levels with T28-21-2125-405 and T28-21-2125-411:
o At the 2,125 meters ("m") level,
T28-21-2125-405 intercepted 4,579 grams per tonne
("g/t") silver ("Ag") over 3.6m
including
o
12,532 g/t Ag over 1.2m
o At the 2,130m level,
T28-21-2125-411 intercepted 1,225 g/t Ag over
4.8m including
o 3,280
g/t Ag over 1.2m
o Near-surface continuity below current mine
galleries with T28-21-1988-275, which intercepted
1,564 g/t Ag over 3.6m
including
o
4,040 g/t Ag over 1.2m
o Expansion of eastern strike with
ZG-21-60, which intercepted 3,551 g/t Ag over
1.5m including
o
1,214 g/t Ag over 4.0m
Five holes were drilled at depth to the granite contact. All
five holes were mineralized, with ZG-21-62 intersecting
663 g/t Ag over 8.5m
including
o
3,060 g/t Ag over 1.0m
o
1,274 g/t Ag over 1.0m
This is in addition to 1,670 g/t Ag over 3.0m including 9,005 g/t Ag over 0.5m and 1,041 g/t Ag over 2.0m including 3,186 g/t Ag over
0.5m
o Validation of the vertical continuity by
ZG-SF-21-97 which generated 2,405 g/t Ag over
2m including
o
279 g/t Ag over 6.5m
"Today's drill results from the 2021 diamond drill program
further extend near-mine mineralisation on strike and down dip, in
addition to confirming robust grades and thicknesses within the
existing mineral resources. Notably, all of the drill holes
completed to the granite contact hit significant high-grade
intercepts, which will grow our resource further. The upcoming
maiden reserve estimate, combined with the launch of the 2022 drill
exploration program, are significant milestones towards our
Zgounder Mine expansion," said Benoit La
Salle, President & CEO.
Included in this release are results for 56 diamond drill holes
("DDH"), which include 11 DDH from surface and 45 underground holes
including 24 electric percussion holes. For a full summary of
today's results from the 2021 drill program, refer to Appendix 1
for surface results and Appendix 2 for underground results.
Table 1 – Significant Intercepts from Drilling at Zgounder
(core lengths)
Hole
No.
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Length1
(m)
|
Ag2
(g/t)
|
Surface
|
ZG-21-60
|
19.50
|
25.50
|
6.00
|
136
|
70.50
|
72.00
|
1.50
|
3,551
|
157.50
|
161.50
|
4.00
|
1,214
|
ZG-21-62
|
151.50
|
154.50
|
3.00
|
1,670
|
|
Including
|
0.50
|
9,005
|
159.00
|
161.00
|
2.00
|
1,041
|
|
Including
|
0.50
|
3,186
|
308.50
|
310.00
|
1.50
|
84
|
356.00
|
358.50
|
2.50
|
365
|
361.00
|
362.50
|
1.50
|
87
|
365.00
|
368.50
|
3.50
|
107
|
374.50
|
383.00
|
8.50
|
663
|
|
Including
|
1.00
|
3,060
|
|
Including
|
1.00
|
1,274
|
387.50
|
391.50
|
4.00
|
378
|
Underground
|
ZG-SF-21-86
|
2.00
|
3.00
|
1.00
|
680
|
13.50
|
14.50
|
1.00
|
839
|
20.00
|
21.00
|
1.00
|
76
|
42.00
|
45.50
|
3.50
|
1,171
|
74.00
|
75.50
|
1.50
|
128
|
ZG-SF-21-89
|
12.00
|
14.00
|
2.00
|
838
|
36.00
|
37.50
|
1.50
|
76
|
110.00
|
114.50
|
4.50
|
229
|
117.00
|
120.00
|
3.00
|
334
|
196.50
|
198.00
|
1.50
|
144
|
217.50
|
219.50
|
2.00
|
923
|
287.50
|
288.50
|
1.00
|
2,295
|
ZG-SF-21-91
|
73.00
|
74.00
|
1.00
|
2,493
|
81.50
|
82.50
|
1.00
|
148
|
ZG-SF-21-95
|
10.50
|
11.50
|
1.00
|
504
|
77.00
|
79.00
|
2.00
|
1,332
|
ZG-SF-21-97
|
33.00
|
35.00
|
2.00
|
2,405
|
46.50
|
53.00
|
6.50
|
279
|
ZG-SF-21-103
|
11.50
|
13.50
|
2.00
|
1,478
|
39.00
|
40.50
|
1.50
|
200
|
ZG-SF-21-109
|
4.50
|
9.00
|
4.50
|
214
|
15.00
|
19.00
|
4.00
|
1,466
|
|
Including
|
0.50
|
5,001
|
|
including
|
1.00
|
1,664
|
T28-21-2125-405
|
20.40
|
24.00
|
3.60
|
4,579
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
12,532
|
T28-21-2125-411
|
0.00
|
4.80
|
4.80
|
1,225
|
|
Including
|
1.20
|
3,280
|
19.20
|
20.40
|
1.20
|
208
|
T28-21-2125-424bis
|
1.20
|
2.40
|
1.20
|
94
|
6.00
|
9.60
|
3.60
|
1,156
|
|
Including
|
1.20
|
2,971
|
T28-21-1988-275
|
3.60
|
7.20
|
3.60
|
1,564
|
|
Including
|
1.20
|
4,040
|
18.00
|
19.20
|
1.20
|
315
|
1 Holes were drilled at various
angles; true widths are not known at this time.
|
2 All
assay results are above the cut-off grade of 75 g/t
Ag.
|
Filing of NI 43-101 Report
The Corporation has also filed on SEDAR an independent technical
report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 for
the Zgounder Silver Mine. There are no differences between the
technical report and the information disclosed in the December 14, 2021 news release. In addition to
SEDAR, the report can be found on the Corporation's website
(www.ayagoldsilver.com).
Quality Assurance
For core drilling, all individual samples represent
approximately one meter in length of core, which is
halved (1.2m length for T28
percussion samples). Half of the core is kept on site for
reference, and its counterpart is sent for preparation and assaying
to African Laboratory for Mining and Environment in Marrakech,
Morocco. All samples are analysed
for silver, copper, iron, lead, and zinc using Aqua regia and
finished by atomic absorption spectroscopy ("AAS"). Samples grading
above 200 g/t Ag are reanalysed using fire assaying.
Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph.D. P. Geo,
Geological Consultant, is Aya Gold
& Silver's Qualified Person and has reviewed this press release
for accuracy and compliance with National Instrument 43-101.
About Aya Gold & Silver
Inc.
Aya Gold & Silver Inc. is a
rapidly growing, Canada-based
silver producer with operations in the Kingdom of Morocco.
The only TSX-listed pure silver mining company, Aya operates the
high-grade Zgounder Silver Mine and is exploring its properties
along the prospective South-Atlas Fault, several of which have
hosted past-producing mines and historical resources. Aya's
Moroccan mining assets are complemented by its Tijirit Gold Project
in Mauritania, which is being
advanced to feasibility.
Aya's management team has been focused on maximising shareholder
value by anchoring sustainability at the heart of its operations,
governance, and financial growth plans.
For additional information, please visit Aya's website at
www.ayagoldsilver.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements that constitute
forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable
securities laws ("forward-looking statements"), which reflects
management's expectations regarding Aya's future growth and
business prospects (including the timing and development of new
deposits and the success of exploration activities) and other
opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "confirm",
"continuity", "potential", "continue", "expand", "potential",
"plans", "expects", "believe", "intend", and similar expressions or
statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could",
"would", "might", "will", or are "likely" to be taken, occur or be
achieved, have been used to identify such forward-looking
information. Specific forward-looking statements in this press
release include, but are not limited to, statements and information
with respect to the exploration and development potential of
Zgounder, the conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources into
Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources and future opportunities
for enhancing development at Zgounder. Although the forward-looking
information contained in this press release reflect management's
current beliefs based upon information currently available to
management and based upon what management believes to be reasonable
assumptions, Aya cannot be certain that actual results will be
consistent with such forward-looking information. Such
forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions, opinions and
analysis made by management in light of its experience, current
conditions, and its expectations of future developments that
management believe to be reasonable and relevant but that may prove
to be incorrect. These assumptions include, among other things, the
ability to obtain any requisite governmental approvals, the
presence of artisanal miners, obtaining regulatory permits for on
site work, importing goods and machinery and employment permits,
the accuracy of Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource Estimates
(including, but not limited to, ore tonnage and ore grade
estimates), the price of silver, the price of gold, exchange rates,
fuel and energy costs, future economic conditions, anticipated
future estimates of free cash flow, and courses of action. Aya
cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such
forward-looking statements.
The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking
statements include, among others: the inherent risks involved in
exploration and development of mineral properties, including
government approvals and permitting, changes in economic
conditions, changes in the worldwide price of silver gold and other
key inputs, changes in mine plans (including, but not limited to,
throughput and recoveries being affected by metallurgical
characteristics) and other factors, such as project execution
delays, many of which are beyond the control of Aya, as well as
other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in
Aya's 2020 Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2021, and in other filings of Aya with
securities and regulatory authorities which are available on SEDAR
at www.sedar.com. Aya does not undertake any obligation to update
forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these
plans, estimates, projections, beliefs, and opinions change.
Nothing in this document should be construed as either an offer to
sell or a solicitation to buy or sell Aya securities. All
references to Aya include its subsidiaries unless the context
requires otherwise.
Appendix 1 – Mineral Intercepts from Surface Drilling at
Zgounder (core lengths)
Hole
No.
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Length1
(m)
|
Ag2
(g/t)
|
ZG-21-60
|
19.50
|
25.50
|
6.00
|
136
|
70.50
|
72.00
|
1.50
|
3,551
|
157.50
|
161.50
|
4.00
|
1,214
|
ZG-21-62
|
151.50
|
154.50
|
3.00
|
1,670
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
9,005
|
159.00
|
161.00
|
2.00
|
1,041
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
3,186
|
308.50
|
310.00
|
1.50
|
84
|
356.00
|
358.50
|
2.50
|
365
|
361.00
|
362.50
|
1.50
|
87
|
365.00
|
368.50
|
3.50
|
107
|
374.50
|
383.00
|
8.50
|
663
|
|
including
|
1.00
|
3,060
|
|
including
|
1.00
|
1,274
|
387.50
|
391.50
|
4.00
|
378
|
ZG-21-63
|
40.00
|
41.00
|
1.00
|
562
|
ZG-21-66
|
9.00
|
10.50
|
1.50
|
108
|
16.50
|
19.50
|
3.00
|
170
|
ZG-21-67
|
6.00
|
7.50
|
1.50
|
76
|
34.50
|
36.00
|
1.50
|
116
|
43.50
|
45.00
|
1.50
|
516
|
ZG-21-68
|
20.50
|
22.00
|
1.50
|
85
|
29.50
|
33.00
|
3.50
|
180
|
141.00
|
144.00
|
3.00
|
162
|
254.00
|
257.00
|
3.00
|
235
|
324.50
|
328.00
|
3.50
|
817
|
ZG-21-70
|
3.00
|
6.00
|
3.00
|
80
|
24.00
|
27.00
|
3.00
|
48
|
ZG-21-73
|
1.00
|
2.50
|
1.50
|
166
|
ZG-21-74
|
1.50
|
3.00
|
1.50
|
936
|
37.50
|
39.00
|
1.50
|
88
|
59.50
|
62.50
|
3.00
|
82
|
351.00
|
352.50
|
1.50
|
100
|
403.50
|
409.50
|
6.00
|
142
|
441.50
|
442.00
|
0.50
|
361
|
446.00
|
448.00
|
2.00
|
965
|
501.00
|
508.50
|
7.50
|
91
|
513.00
|
513.50
|
0.50
|
80
|
518.00
|
525.50
|
7.50
|
87
|
ZG-21-76
|
82.00
|
83.00
|
1.00
|
440
|
86.00
|
87.50
|
1.50
|
216
|
108.00
|
109.00
|
1.00
|
168
|
ZG-21-79
|
12.00
|
16.50
|
4.50
|
156
|
1 Holes were drilled at various
angles, true widths are not known at this time.
|
2 All
assay results are above the cut-off grade of 75 g/t
Ag.
|
Appendix 2 - Mineral Intercepts from Underground Drilling at
Zgounder (core lengths)
Hole
No.
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Length1
(m)
|
Ag2
(g/t)
|
ZG-SF-21-79
|
37.00
|
38.00
|
1.00
|
181
|
47.50
|
48.00
|
0.50
|
116
|
55.00
|
56.50
|
1.50
|
220
|
59.50
|
61.50
|
2.00
|
155
|
ZG-SF-21-80
|
16.50
|
18.00
|
1.50
|
120
|
46.00
|
47.50
|
1.50
|
281
|
168.50
|
172.50
|
4.00
|
591
|
ZG-SF-21-81
|
21.50
|
23.00
|
1.50
|
160
|
ZG-SF-21-82
|
50.00
|
52.50
|
2.50
|
388
|
ZG-SF-21-84
|
28.00
|
30.50
|
2.50
|
666
|
ZG-SF-21-86
|
2.00
|
3.00
|
1.00
|
680
|
13.50
|
14.50
|
1.00
|
839
|
20.00
|
21.00
|
1.00
|
76
|
42.00
|
45.50
|
3.50
|
1,171
|
74.00
|
75.50
|
1.50
|
128
|
ZG-SF-21-89
|
12.00
|
14.00
|
2.00
|
838
|
36.00
|
37.50
|
1.50
|
76
|
110.00
|
114.50
|
4.50
|
229
|
117.00
|
120.00
|
3.00
|
334
|
196.50
|
198.00
|
1.50
|
144
|
217.50
|
219.50
|
2.00
|
923
|
287.50
|
288.50
|
1.00
|
2,295
|
ZG-SF-21-91
|
73.00
|
74.00
|
1.00
|
2,493
|
81.50
|
82.50
|
1.00
|
148
|
ZG-SF-21-93
|
21.00
|
22.50
|
1.50
|
80
|
30.00
|
31.00
|
1.00
|
76
|
42.00
|
44.00
|
2.00
|
90
|
55.50
|
56.00
|
0.50
|
160
|
60.00
|
60.50
|
0.50
|
76
|
ZG-SF-21-94
|
20.50
|
21.00
|
0.50
|
484
|
28.00
|
30.00
|
2.00
|
105
|
47.50
|
50.50
|
3.00
|
929
|
ZG-SF-21-95
|
10.50
|
11.50
|
1.00
|
504
|
77.00
|
79.00
|
2.00
|
1,332
|
ZG-SF-21-96bis
|
36.00
|
45.00
|
9.00
|
411
|
48.00
|
54.00
|
6.00
|
159
|
ZG-SF-21-97
|
33.00
|
35.00
|
2.00
|
2,405
|
46.50
|
53.00
|
6.50
|
279
|
ZG-SF-21-99
|
54.00
|
55.50
|
1.50
|
80
|
70.50
|
73.50
|
3.00
|
332
|
79.50
|
85.50
|
6.00
|
160
|
ZG-SF-21-101
|
50.00
|
51.00
|
1.00
|
316
|
81.00
|
86.00
|
5.00
|
318
|
90.50
|
92.00
|
1.50
|
124
|
ZG-SF-21-102
|
42.00
|
42.50
|
0.50
|
152
|
68.00
|
69.00
|
1.00
|
376
|
ZG-SF-21-103
|
11.50
|
13.50
|
2.00
|
1,478
|
39.00
|
40.50
|
1.50
|
200
|
ZG-SF-21-104
|
61.00
|
62.50
|
1.50
|
80
|
ZG-SF-21-105
|
14.00
|
15.50
|
1.50
|
96
|
44.00
|
45.50
|
1.50
|
145
|
53.00
|
54.50
|
1.50
|
128
|
61.50
|
64.50
|
3.00
|
96
|
ZG-SF-21-106
|
25.50
|
28.00
|
2.50
|
611
|
ZG-SF-21-109
|
4.50
|
9.00
|
4.50
|
214
|
15.00
|
19.00
|
4.00
|
1,466
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
5,001
|
|
including
|
1.00
|
1,664
|
T28-21-2125-405
|
20.40
|
24.00
|
3.60
|
4,579
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
12,532
|
T28-21-2125-405bis
|
2.40
|
3.60
|
1.20
|
120
|
25.20
|
26.40
|
1.20
|
160
|
T28-21-2125-411
|
0.00
|
4.80
|
4.80
|
1,225
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
3,280
|
19.20
|
20.40
|
1.20
|
208
|
T28-21-2125-410
|
1.20
|
2.40
|
1.20
|
212
|
10.80
|
12.00
|
1.20
|
236
|
24.00
|
25.20
|
1.20
|
257
|
T28-21-2125-424bis
|
1.20
|
2.40
|
1.20
|
94
|
6.00
|
9.60
|
3.60
|
1,156
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
2,971
|
T28-21-2125-424
|
0.00
|
2.40
|
2.40
|
99
|
6.00
|
12.00
|
6.00
|
585
|
T28-21-2125-417
|
19.20
|
20.40
|
1.20
|
104
|
T28-21-2125-413
|
13.20
|
14.40
|
1.20
|
164
|
T28-21-2125-422bis
|
3.60
|
4.80
|
1.20
|
264
|
T28-21-2125-422
|
2.40
|
4.80
|
2.40
|
372
|
T28-21-2125-427
|
3.60
|
4.80
|
1.20
|
76
|
T28-21-2125-426
|
14.40
|
15.60
|
1.20
|
76
|
T28-21-2125-428
|
9.60
|
10.80
|
1.20
|
700
|
13.20
|
16.80
|
3.60
|
361
|
T28-21-2000-302
|
2.40
|
4.80
|
2.40
|
794
|
16.80
|
18.00
|
1.20
|
84
|
T28-21-21975-364bis
|
14.40
|
15.60
|
1.20
|
128
|
T28-21-1975-372bis
|
2.40
|
3.60
|
1.20
|
404
|
T28-21-1975-372
|
4.80
|
6.00
|
1.20
|
164
|
14.40
|
15.60
|
1.20
|
84
|
T28-21-1988-376
|
0.00
|
3.60
|
3.60
|
148
|
T28-21-1975-382bis
|
6.00
|
7.20
|
1.20
|
192
|
T28-21-1975-366
|
12.00
|
15.60
|
3.60
|
208
|
25.20
|
26.40
|
1.20
|
320
|
T28-21-2000-363
|
9.60
|
10.80
|
1.20
|
136
|
T28-21-1975-379bis
|
12.00
|
13.20
|
1.20
|
87
|
T28-21-1988-275
|
3.60
|
7.20
|
3.60
|
1,564
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
4,040
|
18.00
|
19.20
|
1.20
|
315
|
T28-21-1988-275bis
|
3.60
|
6.00
|
2.40
|
485
|
1 Holes were drilled at various
angles, true widths are not known at this time.
|
2 All
assay results are above the cut-off grade of 75 g/t
Ag.
|
SOURCE Aya Gold & Silver
Inc