VANCOUVER, BC, April 8,
2025 /CNW/ - Luca Mining Corp. ("Luca" or
the "Company") (TSXV: LUCA) (OTCQX: LUCMF) (Frankfurt: Z68) is
pleased to announce analytical results from six (6) of the first
seven (7) underground diamond drill holes of an ongoing 5,000 metre
("m") phase 1 exploration drill program at the Camp Morado
Polymetallic VMS mine in Guerrero State, Mexico and, in addition, having reached a
milestone of over 1,000,000 hours worked without a Lost-Time
Incident (LTI).
- First drilling at Campo Morado since
2014 delivers encouraging results, including 5.6m @ 2.3 g/t Au, 150 g/t Ag and 3.71% Zn in a
new mineralized zone within the G9 Deposit.
- 14 underground drillholes completed to date as
part of a 5,000m Phase 1 program
targeting near-mine resource expansion.
- Untapped mineral potential identified in
underexplored zones – results to inform updated mineral resource
and mine plans.
- Surface drilling now underway to test district-wide
targets including Reforma and El
Rey – first exploration there since 2010.
- One million hours worked LTI-free at
Campo Morado over a period of 15
months – a major safety milestone demonstrating strong operational
discipline.
The Campo Morado Project hosts several polymetallic massive
sulphide deposits containing zinc, copper, silver, gold and lead
mineralization within a highly prospective land package totaling
over 121 square kilometres within the Sierra Madre mineralized belt
and this year's underground exploration campaign is the first
substantive exploration the project and mine has seen since
2014.
Drillhole CMUG-25-01 targeted a previously untested zone,
approximately 25m below the active
mine workings of Area 9 of the G9 Deposit and intersected a
mineralised zone that returned 5.6 m
of 2.3 g/t gold, 150 g/t sliver, 0.56% copper, 0.74% lead and 3.71%
zinc. Drillholes CMUG-25-06 and CMUG-25-07 intersected another
mineralised zone that returned 6.3 m
of 0.19 g/t gold, 7 g/t sliver, 0.80% copper, 0.01% lead and 5.10%
zinc and 11.9 m of 0.13 g/t gold, 8
g/t sliver, 0.77% copper, 0.07% lead and 4.78% zinc, respectively
(See Table 1). These results highlight the existence of
mineralization yet to be captured in the Campo Morado mine plan – continued drilling
efforts will target additional similar, near-mine areas. Figure 1
presents the location of the drillholes, and Table 2 provides drill
collar details.
Paul D. Gray, Luca VP
Exploration, commented, "Luca has been able to execute an efficient
underground drilling program at Campo
Morado that represents the first stage the Company's plan to
realize the untapped mineral potential of the Campo Morado Mine and
District. The Campo Morado
deposit hosts additional mineral potential beyond the extent of its
known resources. In conjunction with the ongoing underground
drill program, Luca has now initiated a surface drilling campaign
focused on the larger Campo Morado
District – these efforts will include a comprehensive assessment of
the Reforma and El Rey deposits;
neither of which has seen any exploration since 2010. With 38
priority targets defined on the Campo
Morado project (See Figure 2) - Luca looks forward to
testing these targets across the Campo Morado VMS Camp."
Table 1: Highlighted Diamond Drill Assay Results from Drillholes
CMUG-25-01, CMUG-25-02, CMUG-25-03, CMUG-25-05, CMUG-25-06 and
CMUG-25-07.
|
Hole
ID
|
From
|
To
|
Interval*
|
Au
g/t
|
Ag
g/t
|
Cu %
|
Pb %
|
Zn %
|
|
CMUG-25-01
|
25.7
|
36.9
|
11.2
|
0.27
|
10.38
|
0.21
|
0.16
|
2.35
|
|
75.1
|
80.7
|
5.6
|
2.30
|
149.86
|
0.56
|
0.74
|
3.71
|
|
85.8
|
96.9
|
11.1
|
0.24
|
23.21
|
0.92
|
0.03
|
0.98
|
|
Including
|
90.7
|
96.3
|
5.5
|
0.28
|
28.07
|
1.43
|
0.03
|
1.26
|
|
CMUG-25-02
|
2.7
|
8.7
|
6.0
|
1.04
|
30.10
|
0.23
|
0.19
|
0.93
|
|
Including
|
3.3
|
6.5
|
3.2
|
1.26
|
37.90
|
0.30
|
0.32
|
0.90
|
|
CMUG-25-03
|
36.3
|
39.5
|
3.2
|
0.10
|
6.30
|
0.39
|
0.02
|
2.12
|
|
75.4
|
77.7
|
2.2
|
0.09
|
6.23
|
0.76
|
0.03
|
1.87
|
|
79.1
|
82.4
|
3.3
|
0.27
|
9.19
|
0.83
|
0.02
|
1.81
|
|
CMUG-25-05
|
79.5
|
83.2
|
3.8
|
0.18
|
15.36
|
0.31
|
0.09
|
1.84
|
|
CMUG-25-06
|
17.8
|
20.1
|
2.3
|
0.27
|
21.32
|
0.68
|
0.07
|
2.16
|
|
48.0
|
51.2
|
3.2
|
0.65
|
31.79
|
0.85
|
0.03
|
0.12
|
|
90.0
|
112.5
|
22.5
|
0.20
|
7.55
|
0.55
|
0.03
|
2.95
|
|
including
|
91.3
|
97.6
|
6.3
|
0.19
|
7.12
|
0.80
|
0.01
|
5.10
|
|
that
includes
|
92.8
|
95.5
|
2.7
|
0.10
|
10.70
|
1.46
|
0.01
|
8.58
|
|
and
including
|
98.2
|
101.1
|
2.9
|
0.10
|
7.62
|
1.00
|
0.09
|
5.79
|
|
that
includes
|
99.6
|
101.1
|
1.4
|
0.12
|
13.50
|
1.91
|
0.17
|
11.02
|
|
CMUG-25-07
|
12.9
|
19.3
|
6.4
|
0.67
|
32.55
|
0.72
|
0.08
|
2.96
|
|
21.2
|
30.3
|
9.1
|
0.49
|
19.69
|
0.70
|
0.12
|
2.97
|
|
42.0
|
46.6
|
4.6
|
0.59
|
50.44
|
1.21
|
0.21
|
1.05
|
|
54.6
|
55.9
|
1.3
|
0.59
|
32.94
|
0.92
|
0.36
|
0.57
|
|
72.6
|
74.4
|
1.8
|
0.44
|
25.95
|
0.98
|
0.01
|
0.03
|
|
87.6
|
99.5
|
11.9
|
0.13
|
7.61
|
0.77
|
0.07
|
4.78
|
|
including
|
88.8
|
90.8
|
2.0
|
0.12
|
13.87
|
1.57
|
0.07
|
12.02
|
|
and
including
|
97.1
|
99.5
|
2.3
|
0.05
|
8.28
|
1.77
|
0.03
|
5.74
|
|
101.0
|
111.3
|
10.3
|
0.16
|
6.78
|
0.87
|
0.11
|
2.18
|
|
*True widths are
estimated to be >90% of drilled intervals.
|
The first seven (7) drillholes of the 2025 program targeted an
under drilled area within the Area 9 Zone – an area of active mine
development; CMUG-25-01 through CMUG-25-05 were drilled generally
west from a single drill station within Area 9 Zone of the G9
Deposit, and Drillholes CMUG-25-06 and CMUG-25-07 were drilled
generally east from a single drill station in Area 9. These two
drill stations are located approximately 340m from each other and the drillholes were
focused on testing an area interpreted to contain extensions to
previously defined VMS mineralization. This high-priority area,
which can be quickly integrated into the Campo Morado mine
plan, proved to host appreciable widths of mineralization above
mine-cutoff grades.
To date, 14 underground diamond drillholes have been completed
for over 2,000 m as part of the
current exploration campaign which has a primary objective to
define mineable resources in close proximity to existing mine
workings as well as within zones interpreted to host extensions of
the mineralization as defined from the extensive historic drilling
database this property offers. It is anticipated that these
drillholes will inform a planned updated Mineral Resource at
Campo Morado and will combine to
add mineralized economic material into the near-term and
medium-term Campo Morado Mine
Plan.
Table 2: Underground Drill Collar Details for Released
Results
|
UTM
WGS84
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hole_ID
|
Easting
|
Northing
|
Elevation
|
Azimuth
|
Dip
|
Depth
|
|
CMUG-25-001
|
379067
|
2011287
|
1047
|
316
|
-25
|
141.5
|
|
CMUG-25-002
|
379067
|
2011287
|
1048
|
318
|
15
|
102.1
|
|
CMUG-25-003
|
379066
|
2011285
|
1048
|
268
|
-21
|
141.0
|
|
CMUG-25-005
|
379066
|
2011285
|
1047
|
301
|
12
|
120.0
|
|
CMUG-25-006
|
378913
|
2011360
|
1019
|
133
|
-7
|
112.5
|
|
CMUG-25-007
|
378913
|
2011359
|
1019
|
143
|
-19
|
120.0
|
About 2025 Campo Morado Surface Exploration Program
Luca's inaugural surface drill program is now underway and will
be run in parallel with the on-going underground exploration
program at Campo Morado. A Phase 1 program is planned to
consist of 2,500m of diamond drilling
focused on definition and expansion of the Reforma and El Rey Deposits (located
approximately one kilometer north and east of the main Campo Morado
Mine. These deposits host mineral resources (See Tables 3 and 4 and the Campo Morado
Technical Report) which have not been assessed in any way in over
14 years.
Thirty-eight (38) priority targets have been identified (based
on assessment of the substantive historic geologic database of
Campo Morado) and ranked based on
co-incident geological, geochemical and geophysical
interpretations). Several of these targets, including Reforma and El Rey, have seen historic
exploration including diamond drilling; however, the majority are
undrilled. Considering the fertile geologic settling of the large
Campo Morado concessions, each of
these targets has the potential to host VMS mineralization and Luca
intends to prioritize and systematically explore the larger
Campo Morado concession package in
the coming months.
Of particular interest with respect to Reforma and El Rey is the elevated precious
metal content that has been defined. Economics have shifted
since Reforma and El Rey were
first explored in the 1990s and Luca believes the potential
precious metal endowment of these, and other related zones can add
to the mineral resources of the greater property package.
Table 3: Reforma Zone Mineral Resource Estimate*
|
Threshold
ZnEq (%)
|
ZnEq (%)
|
Tonnes
|
Au (g/t)
|
Ag
(g/t)
|
Cu (%)
|
Pb (%)
|
Zn (%)
|
|
Measured
|
|
3.0
|
6.65
|
2,163,000
|
1.86
|
106
|
0.80
|
0.72
|
2.26
|
|
4.0
|
7.48
|
1,711,000
|
2.17
|
123
|
0.82
|
0.84
|
2.61
|
|
5.5
|
8.93
|
1,115,000
|
2.77
|
155
|
0.86
|
1.06
|
3.19
|
|
7.0
|
10.34
|
740,000
|
3.30
|
187
|
0.92
|
1.29
|
3.68
|
|
Indicated
|
|
3.0
|
6.29
|
5,290,000
|
1.59
|
110
|
0.83
|
0.70
|
1.94
|
|
4.0
|
7.03
|
4,196,000
|
1.83
|
124
|
0.89
|
0.81
|
2.20
|
|
5.5
|
8.16
|
2,807,000
|
2.23
|
149
|
0.97
|
0.99
|
2.55
|
|
7.0
|
9.44
|
1,700,000
|
2.65
|
182
|
1.06
|
1.21
|
2.89
|
|
Measured + Indicated
|
|
3.0
|
6.39
|
7,453,000
|
1.67
|
108
|
0.82
|
0.71
|
2.03
|
|
4.0
|
7.16
|
5,907,000
|
1.93
|
124
|
0.87
|
0.82
|
2.32
|
|
5.5
|
8.38
|
3,922,000
|
2.38
|
150
|
0.94
|
1.01
|
2.73
|
|
7.0
|
9.71
|
2,440,000
|
2.85
|
184
|
1.02
|
1.23
|
3.13
|
|
Inferred
|
|
3.0
|
5.71
|
448,000
|
1.49
|
95
|
0.97
|
0.63
|
1.30
|
|
4.0
|
6.71
|
311,000
|
1.87
|
111
|
1.18
|
0.76
|
1.37
|
|
5.5
|
7.65
|
213,000
|
2.27
|
131
|
1.33
|
0.88
|
1.45
|
|
7.0
|
9.16
|
101,000
|
2.78
|
168
|
1.54
|
1.14
|
1.67
|
|
*Source 2018 Campo Morado Technical Report dated
March 30, 2018
|
Table 4: El Rey Zone Mineral Resource Estimate*
|
Threshold
ZnEq (%)
|
ZnEq (%)
|
Tonnes
|
Au (g/t)
|
Ag
(g/t)
|
Cu (%)
|
Pb (%)8
|
Zn (%)
|
|
Measured
|
|
3.0
|
5.99
|
615,000
|
1.53
|
83
|
0.52
|
0.66
|
2.70
|
|
4.0
|
6.9
|
453,000
|
1.87
|
97
|
0.51
|
0.80
|
3.20
|
|
5.5
|
7.96
|
304,000
|
2.25
|
119
|
0.51
|
0.96
|
3.72
|
|
7.0
|
8.87
|
203,000
|
2.66
|
139
|
0.51
|
1.11
|
4.11
|
|
Indicated
|
|
3.0
|
5.42
|
1,162,000
|
1.29
|
70
|
0.48
|
0.68
|
2.48
|
|
4.0
|
6.12
|
853,000
|
1.50
|
78
|
0.49
|
0.78
|
2.89
|
|
5.5
|
7.15
|
491,000
|
1.82
|
94
|
0.51
|
0.95
|
3.42
|
|
7.0
|
8.46
|
206,000
|
2.39
|
117
|
0.55
|
1.17
|
3.94
|
|
Measured + Indicated
|
|
3.0
|
5.62
|
1,777,000
|
1.37
|
74
|
0.49
|
0.67
|
2.56
|
|
4.0
|
6.39
|
1,306,000
|
1.63
|
85
|
0.50
|
0.79
|
3.00
|
|
5.5
|
7.46
|
795,000
|
1.98
|
103
|
0.51
|
0.95
|
3.53
|
|
7.0
|
8.66
|
409,000
|
2.52
|
128
|
0.53
|
1.14
|
4.02
|
|
Inferred
|
|
3.0
|
5.14
|
211,000
|
1.25
|
63
|
0.41
|
0.70
|
2.44
|
|
4.0
|
5.71
|
154,000
|
1.39
|
68
|
0.44
|
0.77
|
2.77
|
|
5.5
|
7.11
|
64,000
|
1.87
|
88
|
0.47
|
0.96
|
3.51
|
|
7.0
|
8.05
|
31,000
|
2.50
|
110
|
0.54
|
1.03
|
3.67
|
|
*Source 2018 Campo Morado Technical Report dated
March 30, 2018
|
About 2025 Campo Morado Underground Exploration
Program
The current Campo Morado drill
campaign represents the first meaningful exploration program
carried out on the property since 2014 and is designed to target
the addition of mineral resources to the near- and medium-term mine
plan at Campo Morado.
The Company plans up to 5,000 metres of underground diamond
drilling from approximately 25 holes during this first phase of
exploration activities. This program's primary target is the
definition of additional mineral resources from under-drilled zones
proximal to existing underground production areas, as well as the
identification of mineralization within previously untested areas
with high potential for the discovery of new mineral resources.
Previous exploration at Campo
Morado has combined to produce an extensive set of
high-quality, proprietary geological data, including over 600,000
metres of underground and surface drilling, property-wide
geologic/structural mapping, approximately 30,000 geochemical soil
samples, and a variety of airborne and ground-based geophysical
surveys (including gravity, electromagnetics and induced
polarization). Analyses of these geophysical survey data sets,
particularly gravity, resulted directly in the discovery and
definition of mineralized zones on the property and will continue
to guide all exploration initiatives. This large geophysical data
set is currently being compiled, cleaned and reinterpreted by Luca
in an effort to prioritize the greater than 38 exploration targets
identified to date across the property.
1,000,000 Hours LTI Free at Campo
Morado
The Campo Morado Team has achieved an exceptional safety
milestone with over one million hours without a lost-time injury
("LTI") at its Campo Morado mine,
in Guerrero State, Mexico. This
achievement underscores the Company's unwavering commitment to
safety and operational excellence.
Dan Barnholden, CEO, commented,
"I am extremely proud of this achievement. Surpassing one million
hours without a LTI is a testament to the dedication,
professionalism and teamwork of our operations team. Their
commitment to high safety standards, clear communication and
collaboration has made this possible. As always, safety remains our
number one priority, and we are determined to continue building on
this outstanding track record as Campo Morado continues to
produce over the coming years."
Maintaining a safe and efficient work environment is a key
pillar of the Company's sustainability and operational strategy.
Luca continually invests in comprehensive safety training, rigorous
protocols and advanced monitoring systems to protect health and
well-being of the Company's workforce. This milestone reflects the
effectiveness of these initiatives, and the strong safety culture
embedded across the Company's operations.
Analytical Method and Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Measures
All drill core splits reported in this news release were
analysed by Bureau Veritas of Durango,
Mexico, utilizing the Multi-Acid digestion ICP-ES 35-element
MA300 analytical package with FA-430 30-gram Fire Assay with AAS
finish for gold on all samples. Au over-limits from FA-430 are
re-analyzed by FA530 30-gram Fire Assay with Gravimetric finish. Ag
over-limits from ICP MA300 analytical package are re-analyzed by
FA530 30-gram Fire Assay with Gravimetric finish. Similarly, Cu, Pb
and Zn over-limits from ICP MA300 analytical package are
re-analyzed by ICP Multi-Acid digestion MA370 package. All core
samples were split by core saw on-site at Luca's core processing
facilities at the Campo Morado Mine. Once split, half samples were
placed back in the core boxes with the other half of split samples
sealed in poly bags with one part of a three-part sample tag
inserted within. Samples were collected by Bureau Veritas at the
Campo Morado Mine site and transported to Bureau Veritas' Durango
Laboratory, where samples are prepared to a 250-gram pulp and
analyzed for Gold by Fire assay with pulps shipped to Bureau
Veritas's Analytical laboratory in Vancouver, B.C., for final ICP chemical
analysis. A robust system of standards, 1/4 core duplicates and
blanks was implemented in the 2025 exploration drilling program and
is monitored as chemical assay data become available.
Qualified Person
The technical information contained
in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr.
Paul D. Gray, P.Geo., Vice-President
Exploration at Luca Mining. Mr. Gray is a Qualified Person for the
Company as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
About Luca Mining Corp.
Luca Mining Corp. (TSX-V:
LUCA, OTCQX: LUCMF, Frankfurt: Z68) is a Canadian mining company
with two wholly owned mines located in the prolific Sierra Madre
mineralized belt in Mexico. These
mines produce gold, copper, zinc, silver, and lead and generate
strong cash flow. Both mines have considerable development and
resource upside as well as world-class exploration potential.
The Company's Campo Morado Mine hosts VMS-style, polymetallic
mineralization within a large land package comprising 121 sq km. It
is an underground operation, producing zinc, copper, gold, silver
and lead. The mine is located in Guerrero State.
The Tahuehueto Mine is a large property of over 75 sq km in
Durango State. The project hosts epithermal gold and silver
vein-style mineralization. Tahuehueto is a newly constructed
underground mining operation producing primarily gold and silver.
The Company has successfully commissioned its mill and is now in
commercial production.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
(signed) "Dan Barnholden"
Dan Barnholden, Chief
Executive Officer
For more information, please visit: www.lucamining.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not
historical facts are "forward-looking information" or
"forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking
Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
laws. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to,
estimated production guidelines for 2025 and other possible events,
conditions or performance that are based on assumptions about the
proposed exploration program and its anticipated results; the
timing and costs of future activities on the Company's properties,
such as production rates and increases and sustaining capital
expenditures; success of exploration, development, and metres to be
drilled in exploration on the Tahuehueto Mine site and the Campo
Morado Mine site. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can
be identified using words and phrases such as "plans"," expects",
"scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or
variations of such words and phrases. In preparing the
Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has
applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited
to, that the Company will be able to raise additional capital as
necessary; the current exploration, development, environmental and
other objectives concerning the Tahuehueto Mine can be achieved;
that consistent and sustainable mill feed at Campo Morado Mine will
be achieved; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals
and economic and political conditions. Forward-Looking Information
involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of
the Company to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
Forward-Looking Information. There can be no assurance that
Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as
required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to
release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information
contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances
after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/luca-reports-results-for-first-drill-holes-at-campo-morado-in-over-ten-years-and-celebrates-the-milestone-of-one-million-hours-without-lost-time-injury-at-campo-morado-operations-302422739.html
SOURCE Luca Mining Corp.
