Prime Mining Corp. (“Prime” or the “Company”) (
TSV:
PRYM) (
OTCQX: PRMNF) (
Frankfurt:
O4V3) is pleased to announce the filing of a technical
report for the updated mineral resource estimate (“MRE”), reported
on October 15, 2024, for its Los Reyes gold-silver project (“Los
Reyes” or the “Project”) located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. The
report, dated November 27, 2024, is titled “The Los Reyes Project,
México Technical Report” (the “
2024 Technical
Report”) and reflects drilling up to July 17, 2024.
The 2024 Technical Report was prepared under the
supervision of Mr. John Sims, CPG. Mr. Sims is President of Sims
Resources LLC and is an “Independent Qualified Person” in
accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). The
2024 Technical Report supersedes the previous technical report on
the Project dated effective May 2, 2023.
The 2024 Technical Report 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.
Key Details of the MRE (see Table 1 for summary
and see Figure 1 for map):
Open-Pit Milled Indicated and Inferred
Resources have grown to 1.27 million Indicated ounces
gold-equivalent1 (“AuEq”) (24.7 million tonnes at 1.60 g/t AuEq)
and 335,000 Inferred ounces AuEq (7.2 million tonnes at 1.45 g/t
AuEq), respectively.
New Underground Milled Indicated and Inferred
Resources of 664,000 Indicated ounces AuEq (4.1 million
tonnes at 5.00 g/t AuEq) and 406,000 Inferred ounces AuEq (4.1
million tonnes at 3.12 g/t AuEq), respectively.
Open Pit Heap Leach Indicated and Inferred
Resources have grown to 261,000 Indicated ounces AuEq
(20.3 million tonnes at 0.40 g/t AuEq) and 76,000 Inferred ounces
AuEq (5.9 million tonnes at 0.40 g/t AuEq), respectively.
Resource Highlights:
- Indicated Resources
increased 49% to 2.2 million AuEq and Inferred Resources increased
11% to 0.8 million AuEq ozs compared to the May 2023
MRE.
- Substantial resource growth from higher-grade open pit and
underground zones, validating the Company’s strategy of targeting a
high-recovery, high-margin milling operation.
- Milled Indicated Resources have grown 48% to 1.93 million AuEq
ozs at 2.08 g/t AuEq.
- Milled Inferred Resources have grown
19% to 0.74 million AuEq ozs at 2.05 g/t AuEq.
- Technical de-risking included in the
updated MRE includes both higher gold recoveries based on extensive
metallurgical test work and geotechnical parameter updates.
- The 2024 MRE includes an additional
86,650 metres drilled by Prime since the cutoff of the May 2023
MRE. In total, the 2024 MRE is based on 240,172 metres of drilling,
of which Prime has drilled 191,451 metres. Prime’s discovery cost
is just over $US 20 per resource ounce added since
acquisition.
- Considerable upside potential:
mineralization at Los Reyes remains open along strike and at depth,
with the ongoing drill program targeting high-grade mineralization
along both the northwest and southeast extensions of the Z-T Trend,
the southeast extension of the Guadalupe and Central Trends, as
well as emerging Generative Areas (see Figure 2).
Table 1 – 2024 Resource
Estimate($1950/oz gold price, $25.24/oz silver price,
economic-constrained estimate)2
Underground Sensitivity3The
Project is also amenable to a more substantial underground mining
approach. In the following sensitivity table (Table 2), Los Reyes
is assumed to be mined by underground methods, backfilled, and then
economically-constrained residual open pits4 are estimated at a
0.17 g/t Au only cutoff.
Table 2 – Sensitivity: Underground Mining
Prioritized Scenario($1950/oz gold price, $25.24/oz silver
price, economic-constrained estimate)2
Figure 1 –Resource Areas and MRE
Drilling
Figure 2 – Current Resource Areas and
High-Priority Exploration Target Locations
Notes
- Gold and silver
equivalencies are calculated as in-situ contained precious metals,
applying the assumed ratio of gold to silver prices using the
following formula: AuEq grade (g/t) = Gold grade (g/t) + (Silver
grade (g/t) x $25.24 / $1950). Silver equivalencies are calculated
using the inverse of this ratio. Relative recoveries are not
considered in the in-situ contained grade estimate but are stated
below and utilized in the resource shell economic pit and Mineable
Shape Optimizer constraints. All dollar values are in US dollars
unless otherwise stated.
- Resource estimates
are based on economically constrained open pits and underground
stopes using the following optimization parameters (all dollar
values are in US dollars):
- $1,950/ounce gold
price and $25.24/ounce silver price.
- Mill recoveries of
95.6% and 81% for gold and silver, respectively.
- Heap leach
recoveries of 73% and 25% for gold and silver, respectively.
- Economically
constrained open pit estimates consider:
- pit slopes by area
ranging from 42-47 degrees overall slope angle
- 5% ore loss and 5%
dilution factor applied to the 5 x 5 x 5m open pit resource block
models
- Mining costs of
$2.00 per tonne of waste mined and $2.50 per tonne of ore
mined
- G&A cost of
$2.00 per tonne of material processed
- A 0.17 g/t gold
only cutoff was applied to ex-pit processed material (which is
above the heap-leaching net smelter return cutoff)
- Mineable Shape
Optimizer (“MSO”) estimation parameters applied to
the 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.5m MSO resource block models:
- Mechanized cut and
fill mining with a $60.00 per tonne cost
- Diluted to a
minimum 4m stope width with a 98% mining recovery
- G&A cost of
$4.00 per tonne of material processed
- Milling costs of
$16.81 per tonne and heap leaching costs of $5.53 per tonne
processed.
- 3% royalty costs
and 1% selling costs were also applied.
- Mineral resources
are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic
viability.
- This and any other sensitivities presented are in lieu of, and
not in addition to the 2024 MRE inventories.
- Where mentioned, “residual open pits” assumes that any
underground stopes are backfilled with zero grade material at
two-thirds of the original rock density. Economic-constrained open
pits are then estimated with this mined-out, backfilled material in
the open pit block selective mining unit model and assuming the
resource parameters above.
2024 Outlook
Given the results from Prime’s success-based
drilling program, the Company has expanded its fiscal 2024 program
to 50,000 metres from 40,000 metres. The drill program 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.
Five 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.
About the Los Reyes Gold and Silver
Project
Los Reyes is a high-grade, low-sulphidation
epithermal gold-silver project located in Sinaloa State, Mexico.
Since acquiring Los Reyes in 2019, Prime has spent more than $59
million on direct exploration activities and has completed over
210,000 metres of drilling. On October 15, 2024, Prime announced an
updated multi-million-ounce high-grade open pit constrained
resource based on exploration drilling up to July 17, 2024.
Drilling is ongoing 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.
QA/QC Protocols and Sampling Procedures
Drill core at the Los Reyes project is drilled
in predominately HQ size (63.5 millimetres “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
Prime’s MRE as of October 15, 2024 is classified
in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and
Petroleum (“CIM”) “CIM Definition Standards - For
Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves” adopted by the CIM Council
(as amended, the “CIM Definition Standards”) and
in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. Mineral resources
are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic
viability.
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.
Gold equivalent grades are calculated based on
an assumed gold price of US$1,950 per ounce and silver price of
$25.24 per ounce, based on the formula AuEq grade (gpt) = Au grade
+ (Ag grade x $25.24 / $1,950). Metallurgical recoveries are not
considered in the in-situ grade estimate but are estimated to be
95.6% and 81% for gold and silver, respectively, when processed in
a mill, and 73% and 25% respectively when heap-leached. Additional
details are available in the associated 2024 Technical Report.
Qualified Person
John Sims, CPG, is a Qualified Person for the
purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical
content in this news release pertaining to the MRE.
Scott Smith, P.Geo., Executive Vice President of
Exploration, is a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 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
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://www.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)
238-1659info@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 NI
43-101 under the guidelines set out in 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 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 and other future pandemics, 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 March 25, 2024, 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/6500bd11-b746-41c5-864a-217f892be1aa
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4001c4e5-a609-48b2-862b-8ca93b8d53cb
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1f8df55c-f49e-4bc5-b27a-0edeecd1fc80
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5dd341c8-cc70-4b81-8c79-20baa47455c6
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