MAG Silver Reports 2020 Juanicipio Drill Results
MAG Silver Corp. has reported progress from its 2020 drilling program at the Juanicipio Project, which is a 56%/44% joint venture with Fresnillo plc. The program included 110 holes totaling 39,700 meters, focusing on infilling and expanding high-grade silver resources. Highlights from the drilling include the confirmation of continuous mineralization in the Valdecañas Bonanza and Deep Zones, with results indicating significant silver and gold grades. The mill construction is on schedule for commissioning in Q4 2021, supporting a promising outlook for future production.
- Successful completion of 110 holes totaling 39,700 meters in the 2020 drilling program.
- Confirmation and expansion of high-grade silver resources in the Valdecañas Bonanza Zone.
- Mill construction is on schedule for commissioning in Q4 2021.
- Positive feedback from drill results showing consistent high grades and continuity.
- Delayed assay results for 17 underground holes remain pending.
110 Holes (39,700 meters)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MAG Silver Corp. (TSX / NYSE American: MAG) (“MAG” or “MAG Silver”) is pleased to report results from 2020 drilling on the Juanicipio Project (
According to Fresnillo, the project operator, mine development and mill construction continue to advance on budget and on schedule to commence mill commissioning in Q4 2021.
Selected highlights of the 2020 drilling program are presented below in Table 1. Figure 1 shows the significant increase in drillhole intercept density and growth of the Valdecañas Vein, especially the Deep Zone, since the 2017 PEA (see Press Release dated November 7, 2017, and in contrast with drill results and Figures in Press Release dated February 14th, 2017). Figure 2 shows the growth of the Anticipada vein since the end of 2016.
A complete set of tables by vein of the 2019 drilling results are available here along with a new 3D video displaying the entire Valdecañas Vein system, available here.
The 2020 drilling program successfully:
- Confirms, and allows modeling with greater detail and confidence of the high-grade silver resource within the upper parts of the Valdecañas Bonanza Zone where the first several years of mining will occur;
- Confirms, expands, and allows improved modeling of the continuous wide mineralization of the Valdecañas Deep Zone; and,
- Confirms, expands, and allows improved modeling of the ever-growing Anticipada Vein.
“As we begin ramping up into full scale production it is a rare luxury to be firming up and extending the deep mineralization that has high potential to add tonnes, grade and years to our mine life”, said George Paspalas, MAG Silver’s President and CEO. “We are delighted to continue seeing the consistent high grades, thicknesses and continuity at depth that we have come to expect from the Valdecañas Vein System, but we are equally pleased that the detailed definition drilling is helping to get the entire operation off on the right foot through better understanding of the top of the vein. Added to the knowledge and benefits we’re getting from processing development material at the Fresnillo mill, we look forward to a successful plant start up this fall.”
Table 1: 2020 Drilling Highlights1
| Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Length (m) | TW2 (m) | Silver (g/t)3 | Gold (g/t) | Lead (%) | Zinc (%) | Copper (%) |
Valdecañas Vein “Deep Zone” | |||||||||
| D5-3-3 | 817.90 | 855.75 | 37.85 | 21.0 | 357 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.2 |
| incl. | 838.90 | 849.90 | 11.00 | 6.1 | 1023 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.3 |
| incl. | 840.90 | 841.90 | 1.00 | 0.6 | 7920 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 3.6 | 0.4 |
| incl. | 848.90 | 849.90 | 1.00 | 0.6 | 2160 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| D1-6-1 | 989.25 | 1010.60 | 21.35 | 18.1 | 198 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 10.0 | 0.4 |
Valdecañas Vein “Bonanza Zone” | |||||||||
| MIW-1 | 83.70 | 87.65 | 3.95 | 3.1 | 3584 | 5.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| MIC-6 | 70.80 | 79.40 | 8.60 | 5.2 | 1356 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
Skarn Zone | |||||||||
| D7-7 | 1192.45 | 1471.35 | 278.90 | N/E4 | 31 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.1 |
Anticipada Vein | |||||||||
| D5-3-1 | 819.50 | 830.80 | 11.30 | 10.3 | 112 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 6.2 | 0.1 |
| D5-3-3 | 809.10 | 811.35 | 2.25 | 2.0 | 691 | 0.4 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 0.1 |
| D6-7 | 916.25 | 927.25 | 11.00 | 7.6 | 101 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 0.2 |
| incl. | 924.25 | 925.25 | 1.00 | 0.7 | 196 | 10.5 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 0.5 |
Venadas Vein | |||||||||
| MIC-9 | 93.70 | 94.60 | 0.90 | 0.9 | 580 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Valentina Vein | |||||||||
| MIE-1 | 68.95 | 71.35 | 2.40 | 1.9 | 607 | 9.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1 Featuring only select intercepts from 2020. Complete tables of results are located here
2 Estimated true widths were estimated from cross sections and core angles
3 grams per tonne
4Not determined
2020 Drilling Program
The 2020 drilling program was designed with two principal goals: 1) to improve geological and geostatistical confidence in the uppermost part of the high-grade Bonanza Zone where test mining has already begun, and 2) to infill and expand the currently defined “Inferred Resource” (See Press Release dated November 7th, 2017) part of the Deep Zone where potential exists to extend the mine life and/or increase the production rate. Many of the holes directed at the Valdecañas vein coincidentally also cut one or more of the hangingwall Anticipada and Pre-Anticipada veins and also footwall veins. Fourteen of these cut the Anticipada vein with some outstanding intercepts. Owing to drillhole geometries, the Pre-Anticipada Vein was not intercepted on its east side where it appears to improve in grade and thickness. In addition to the above, 17 holes intercepted the NE-trending Venadas Vein Family (Table 1). Three exploration holes were drilled during 2020: two directed at the long-suspected North Vein and one a deep test of the Juanicipio Vein.
The surface-based drilling program was very successful in part because using directional drilling technology reduced the total meters drilled, greatly reduced holes lost in bad ground, and most importantly increased accuracy for hitting deep targets. Underground drilling from strategic drill stations allowed for rapid and accurate drilling of 77 tightly spaced holes (20 - 30m centers) ranging from 80 to 340m long.
The 2020 drill program was fully executed on time and within budget. MAG is pleased that the COVID-19 mitigation protocols implemented by Fresnillo effectively prevented significant impacts to the health of project personnel and development activities. The only significant effect for the drill program was delayed assay results including 17 underground holes that remain pending.
Valdecañas Vein
Bonanza Zone Definition Drilling: The first major priority of the 2020 program was an underground definition drilling program targeting the uppermost part of the very high-grade Bonanza Zone (Table 1, Figure 1 and tables located here) where mining will occur for the next several years. The top of this zone was known to be irregular, and its upper limits not well defined, so tightly spaced drilling was undertaken from underground drill stations between 50 and 200m from the vein. All intercepts show the high silver and gold grades with very low base metals typical of the top of the Valdecañas Vein. Hole MIC-6 is an outstanding example which cut 5.2m true width grading 3.3 grams per tonne “g/t” g/t Gold and 1356 g/t (43.4 ounces per ton “oz/t”) Silver and
Deep Zone Infill and Expansion Drilling: The second major focus of 2020 was continued infill and expansion drilling of the Deep Zone (Table 1, Figure 1 and tables located here) with 21 holes (14 infill and 7 expansion) drilled from surface. Most used state of the art directional drilling technology to allow multiple vein intercepts from a single “mother” hole and more importantly, high precision targeting as targets are deep. All but one infill hole cut significant grade with width (Figure 1). An outstanding example is: Hole D1-6-1, with 18.1m grading 3.9 g/t Gold, 198 g/t (6.3 oz/t) Silver,
Two of the surface holes (D7-1 and D7-7) were drilled very deep on the Valdecañas Vein and cut 187m and 279m respectively of zinc mineralized skarn surrounding the vein. These are by far the greatest mineralized skarn thicknesses drilled to date in the district and provide additional definition of the ore-fluid upwelling zone that appears to have fed the entire Valdecañas Vein System.
Anticipada / Pre-Anticipada
Fourteen Valdecañas-directed holes coincidentally cut and nicely infill the parallel hangingwall Anticipada Vein (Table 1, Figure 2, and tables located here). Hole D5-3-1 is one of the widest holes through Anticipada to date and cut 10.3 m true width grading 0.6g/t Gold, 112 g/t (3.6 oz/t) Silver,
Venadas “North-East Trending” Vein Family
The total drilling program resulted in 22 total intercepts (not including the 19 underground holes with pending assays) on the northeast-trending “Venadas Vein Family”. Most of the intercepts show significant silver and gold grades with very low base metals indicating a very high level of exposure analogous to the top of the Bonanza Zone of Valdecañas. The best intercept was from the Valentina Vein, with the highlight being MIE-2 which cut 2.4m true thickness grading 9.8 g/t Gold and 607 g/t (19.5 opt) Silver.
Isolated Intercepts
In addition to the principal veins of the Valdecañas Vein System noted above, there were numerous isolated intercepts (see tables located here) that cannot be readily joined into a vein at this time. The geometries and apparent thicknesses of most of these intercepts are unknown and most are probably short splays from the identified veins while some may join up with continued drilling.
Other Targets
Three holes were drilled outside of the Valdecañas Vein System during 2020. One (101P) cut modest mineralization deep and to the west on the Juanicipio Vein, demonstrating continuity of mineralization in the structure. Two holes (P33 and P33-2) targeted the long-suspected North Vein some 400m to the north of the footwall of the Valdecañas Vein. These holes are very close to each other, and both cut around 2.5m of barren “high-level looking” quartz vein at a similar elevation to the irregular top-out of the Valdecañas vein. Deeper drilling to test this vein at elevations similar to the Bonanza Zone of the Valdecañas vein is planned for 2021.
Quality Assurance and Control: The samples (half core) are shipped directly in security-sealed bags to ALS-Chemex Laboratories preparation facility in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (Certification ISO 9001). Samples shipped also include intermittent standards and blanks. Pulp samples are subsequently shipped to ALS-Chemex Laboratories in North Vancouver, Canada for analysis. Two extra pulp samples are also prepared and are analyzed (in progress) by SGS Laboratories (Certification ISO 9001) and Inspectorate Laboratories (Certification ISO 9001) (or another recognized lab). The remaining half core is placed back into the core boxes and is stored on site with the rest of the drill hole core in a secured core storage facility. The bulk reject is subsequently sent to the Center for Investigation and Technical Development (“CIDT”) of Peñoles in Torreon, Coahuila State, Mexico for metallurgical testing where a fourth assay for each sample is analyzed and a calculated head grade is received on the basis of a concentrate balance. The CIDT also does a full microscopic, XRF and XRD mineralogical analysis.
Qualified Persons: Dr. Peter Megaw, Ph.D., C.P.G., and Lyle Hansen, M.Sc., P.Geo have acted as the qualified persons as defined in National Instrument 43-101 for this disclosure and supervised the preparation of the technical information in this release. Dr. Megaw has a Ph.D. in geology and more than 36 years of relevant experience focussed on silver and gold exploration in Mexico. He is a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG 10227) by the American Institute of Professional Geologists and an Arizona Registered Geologist (ARG 21613). Dr. Megaw is not independent as he is Chief Exploration Officer and a Shareholder of MAG. Dr. Megaw is satisfied that the results are verified based on an inspection of the core and underground exposures, a review of the sampling procedures, the credentials of the professionals completing the work and the visual nature of the silver and base metal sulphides within a district where he is familiar with the style and continuity of mineralization. Mr. Hansen is a registered Professional Geologist with Engineers and Geoscientists BC (149624) and has more than 11 years experience in epithermal veins. Mr. Hansen is not independent as he is Geotechnical Director of MAG.
About MAG Silver Corp. (www.magsilver.com )
MAG Silver Corp. (MAG: TSX / NYSE A) is a Canadian development and exploration company focused on becoming a top-tier primary silver mining company by exploring and advancing high-grade, district scale, silver-dominant projects in the Americas. Its principal focus and asset is the Juanicipio Project (
| For further information on behalf of MAG Silver Corp. | ||||
| Contact Michael J. Curlook, VP Investor Relations and Communications | ||||
| Phone: | (604) 630-1399 | Website: | www.magsilver.com | |
| Toll Free: | (866) 630-1399 | Email: | info@magsilver.com | |
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the NYSE American has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts are forward looking statements, including statements that address future mineral production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Although MAG believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in commodities prices, changes in mineral production performance, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions, political risk, currency risk and capital cost inflation. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, including that data is incomplete and considerable additional work will be required to complete further evaluation, including but not limited to drilling, engineering and socio-economic studies and investment. The reader is referred to the MAG’s filings with the SEC and Canadian securities regulators for disclosure regarding these and other risk factors. There is no certainty that any forward-looking statement will come to pass and investors should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements.
Please Note: Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures in MAG's annual and quarterly reports and other public filings, accessible through the Internet at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov LEI: 254900LGL904N7F3EL14
Figure 1 accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5eec32aa-d22f-4c8c-b3c4-f3afe42b97c8
Figure 2 accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b391c266-542f-4967-b3ce-4eaee1edf662
FAQ
What are the 2020 drilling results for MAG Silver Corp.?
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