Minera Alamos Continues to Expand Mineralization at Santana Gold Project, Sonora, Mexico

2020-06-10 / @newsfile

 

Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 10, 2020) - Minera Alamos Inc. (TSXV: MAI) (the "Company" or "Minera Alamos") is pleased to report additional drill results from its Phase 2 drill program at the Santana gold project in Sonora, Mexico. Phase 2 was completed over the past year and was initiated as a follow-up to the Company's first drill program at Santana during the 2018/19 period. These new holes were designed primarily to test the northern limits of the Nicho main zone and to continue to evaluate the potential for further extensions of the known mineralization to the south and southwest. The successful results from the program, which are highlighted in Table 1 below, further expands mineralization to the southwest and confirms the depth potential previously identified in hole S20-134 (see news release of April 30, 2020).

The Company has also finalized initial plans for the Phase 3 drill program which will commence shortly following the resumption of post-covid mining activities in Mexico. Current plans call for an additional 20-25 holes at Nicho totaling approximately 4000m as well as the Company's first drill holes at the Zata and Gold Ridge targets in addition to the recently identified Bufita target. Drill testing on the new targets will include initial "scout" drill holes designed to understand the 3D geometry of the outcropping geology and associated geochemical anomalies, followed by more extensive definition drilling as warranted. In addition, the Company has further holes planned for the Divisadero target to gain a better understanding of the geometry, limits and the internal characteristics of this gold bearing intrusive centre. In total, the Phase 3 drill plans amount to approximately 6,000-7,500 m of drilling to be conducted over the second half of the year. The program could be expanded depending on the success of the initial holes on the new targets.

Drilling Highlights:

  • Hole S20-141 - 202.7m of 0.51 g/t Au (drilled vertically from surface and ending in mineralization)
  • Completion of Hole S20-141 (depth in excess of 200m) approximately 100m southwest of previously drilled S20-134 (247.9m of 0.60 g/t Au) confirms the presence of open mineralization at vertical depths previously untested prior to this phase of drilling; deeper drilling now planned
  • Hole S20-139 extends the known area of Nicho mineralization a further 100m to the southwest of any previous drilling and increasing the SW-NE strike of known mineralization to approximately 500m

"The Phase 2 drill program at Santana has been extremely successful in demonstrating that the initial Nicho Main Zone breccia pipe has significant potential for expansion. We have now extended the lateral extents of the mineralized zone by almost 150m from what was identified previously and to overall vertical depths beyond 200m. The mineralization appears to remain open in multiple directions as well as at depth. The drilling planned for Phase 3 will focus on continuing to define the system's margins as the Company finalizes its pit optimization studies," stated Darren Koningen, CEO. "We are also excited to commence the drill testing of numerous new targets that have been identified within the Santana project boundaries over the last 18 months. During that period, our geological team has been able to put together a much more complete understanding and appreciation for the larger mineralizing events responsible for the emplacement of this cluster of gold-bearing breccia pipes. Should even a few of these new targets exhibit the potential we have now seen at Nicho it will be a transformative event for the Santana project and its future growth potential."

Phase 3 Drilling Plans - 6,000 - 7,500m - (See Figures 3-6):

  • Further drilling at Nicho totaling approximately 20-25 holes
  • Initial drilling of 15-20 holes (total) at new targets including: Zata, Gold Ridge and the newly identified Bufita (further follow-up to be planned after review of initial data)
  • Follow-up drilling of 3-4 holes at Divisadero

Table 1 - Drilling Results Summary Table


Mineralized Interval 1,2Composite Interval 3
Drill HoleFrom
(m)
To
(m)
Width
(m)
Gold
(g/t)
Width
(m)
Gold
(g/t)
Area
S20-13520.0125.6105.60.3156.50.52Divisadero
S20-13615.366.250.90.3424.00.65Nicho
S20-13772.0160.090.00.4037.20.89Nicho
S20-1380.043.343.30.6124.31.05Nicho
S20-13978.8121.342.50.3619.90.66Nicho
S20-14022.084.562.50.3122.30.74Nicho
S20-14140.0202.7202.70.51109.50.89Nicho
S20-14234.4222.6188.20.2875.30.60Nicho

 

Notes:

  1. Grades/widths of mineralized intervals represent complete "from" "to" drill depths as shown.
  2. All holes were drilled at 45-90 degree inclinations. The true widths of the mineralized zones in these areas are currently unknown.
  3. Grade/width of composite intervals is a total of all mineralized intervals that have gold grades equal to or in excess of "typical" open-pit mining heap leach cut-off grades of 0.15 g/t gold.
  4. Hole ended in mineralization

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Figure 1 - Drill Location Plan

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Hole S20-135D was drilled at the Divisadero area (not shown) and was planned to provide further geological information regarding the contact zones (structure, dip, etc.) between the porphyritic intrusive body, the andesites to the west and the quartz monzonites to the east. The drill hole encountered continuous mineralization in the intrusive zone between the two contacts averaging 0.31 g/t gold from 20.0m to 125.60m. The Company is preparing an access road at Divisadero which will allow for further investigation of the potential of the Divisadero zone and its real extension at depth and to the north. This work will be part of the Phase 3 exploration program.

Holes S20-136D to S20-138D were collared within the Nicho zone mineralization and intended to better delineate the northern limits of the deposit and the continuity in this area to the east and west. All three holes returned zones of mineralization with hole S20-137D showing good continuity from 70.0m to 160.0m (90.0m of 0.40 g/t gold). This intersection will be followed up in the coming drill program.

Hole S20-139D drilled downhill of the Nicho Main Zone topographic ridge to test the deeper geological structures drilled in previous holes. The hole was located approximately 100m southwest of any previous drilling and returned 42.5m of 0.36 g/t gold. The encouraging results appear to show western continuity of mineralization beyond what was previously expected based on surface outcropping in the area. Additional step out holes to the west are planned.

Holes S20-140D to S20-142D were drilled to continue to delineate the southern boundaries of the Nicho Zone mineralization and as a follow-up drill hole S20-134D (reported previously) which encountered the deepest mineralization discovered to date at the deposit. All three holes encountered mineralization with Hole S20-141D encountering 202.7m of 0.51 g/t gold from surface and ending in mineralization. This hole is located approximately 100m southwest of drill hole S20-134D and continues to show the largely untested mineralization open at depth. The Company is currently reviewing the results from this part of the deposit and what implications it may have for continuity of deeper mineralization in other areas where previous drilling focused primarily on more shallow zones.

Table 2 - Drill Hole Information

Drill HoleEasting*1
(m)
Northing*1
(m)
Dip*3
(deg)
Azimuth
(deg)
Depth*2
(m)
Area
S20-1356748483139600-4570165Divisadero
S20-1366750583138948-45225122Nicho
S20-1376751383139025-80225168Nicho
S20-1386752373139064-52225344Nicho
S20-1396749503138832-6045186Nicho
S20-1406751693138845-45225149Nicho
S20-1416751823138869-90225204Nicho
S20-1426751943138839-70225228Nicho

 

Notes:

  1. Collar coordinates as listed (easting, northing) are UTM values (WGS84 datum)
  2. Depth as measured downhole.
  3. Dip as shown is planned orientation. Actual measured values post drilling are generally +/- 3 deg from planned

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Figure 2 - Mineralized Envelope Expansion from Phase 2 Drilling

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Section 1 - Typical section through the Nicho breccia pipe showing arrangement of geologic structures

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Note: Grade/width of composite intervals is a total of all mineralized intervals that have gold grades equal to or in excess of "typical" open-pit mining heap leach cut-off grades of 0.15 g/t gold.

Phase 3 Drill plans

The Company has finalized its next phase of drilling to include the initial testing of a number of newly identified targets on the Santana property (see Figure 3). The current priority target areas have been initially defined according to three regions - Nicho, Gold Ridge (includes Bufita) and Zata. Additional targets have also been identified and will be added to the drill testing program following the completion of supplementary ground follow-up activities. All of the targets appear to be "Nicho-like" in basic structure and have yielded similar surface sampling results as seen above and around the Nicho area. The Company looks forward to testing these new gold-bearing breccia pipes and zones and determining their significance to the currently under-construction Santana gold operation. For additional information on Zata and Gold Ridge targets please see the news releases dated October 1st, 2018 and September 5, 2019 respectively.

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Figure 3 - Regional Map Showing Target Areas for Phase 3 Drilling

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Planned Drilling Summary:

  • Region A - 20-25 holes at Nicho (totaling ~4,000m); Plus 5-6 scout holes in western Benjamin area (totaling ~1,000m)
  • Region B - 10-12 scout holes (totaling ~1500m)
  • Region C - 5-6 scout holes (totaling ~1000m)

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Figure 4 - Inset Map Region A - Nicho/Benjamin/Divisadero

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Figure 5 - Inset Map Region B - Bufita/Gold Ridge

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Figure 6 - Inset Map Region C - Zata

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Sample Preparation and QAQC

All diamond drill samples were collected by Minera Alamos personnel including the Company's exploration geologists. Drill core samples were cut in half and divided into typically 1-2m intervals. One half of the sample was bagged for analysis and the remaining half was logged by Minera Alamos personnel and stored for future reference. Blanks, duplicates, and standards were randomly inserted with the samples sent for analysis as part of the normal QA/QC procedures.

All samples were prepared and analyzed for gold using fire assaying with AA/gravimetric finish in addition to a standard 35-element ICP suite. All samples were sent for sample preparation at the ALS-Chemex facility in Hermosillo, Mexico.

Mr. Darren Koningen, P. Eng., Minera Alamos' CEO, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this press release under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Koningen has supervised the preparation of, and has approved the scientific and technical disclosures in, this news release.

For Further Information Please Contact:

Minera Alamos Inc.
Doug Ramshaw, President
Tel: 604-600-4423
Email: dramshaw@mineraalamos.com
Website: www.mineraalamos.com

Victoria Vargas de Szarzynski, VP Investor Relations
Tel: 289-242-3599
Email: vvargas@mineraalamos.com

About Minera Alamos Inc.

Minera Alamos is a gold development company poised to join the ranks of gold producers in 2021. The Company has a portfolio of high-quality Mexican assets, including the 100%-owned Santana open-pit, heap-leach development project in Sonora that is currently under construction, and which is expected to have its first gold production in late 2020 or early 2021. The La Fortuna open pit gold project in Durango (100%-owned) has an extremely robust and positive preliminary economic assessment (PEA) completed and is nearing the end of the permitting process. A construction decision on La Fortuna could be made in late 2020 or early 2021 and highlights the organic growth the existing projects can provide to the overall production profile. Minera Alamos is built around its operating team that together brought 3 mines into production over the last 12 years.

The Company's strategy is to develop low capex assets while expanding the project resources and pursue complementary strategic acquisitions.

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