Silvercorp Reports Results of its 2017-2018 Exploration Tunneling and Drilling Programs at the TLP and LME Mines, Ying Mining District, China

2018-06-18 / @nasdaq

 

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Silvercorp Metals Inc. ("Silvercorp” or the “Company”) (TSX:SVM) (NYSE American:SVM) is pleased to report results of its exploration programs from July 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018 at the TLP and LME mines, Ying Mining District, Henan Province, China. Results over the same period for the SGX mine in the Ying Mining District were reported on June 8, 2018.

During the nine month period, the Company completed 27,687 meters (“m”) of underground diamond drilling with 6 underground rigs from current production levels and 9,832m of exploration tunneling between elevation Levels 500m and 1,070m. Results of underground drilling continuously extended the major mineralized vein structures along strike and downdip and exploration tunneling exposed high grade mineralization zones within major production vein structures.

Highlights of selected mineralization zones exposed in exploration drift tunnels:

  • Drift Tunnel PD820-T16E-795-3SYM exposed mineralization of 40m long and 0.87m wide (true width) grading 941 grams per tonne (“g/t”) silver (“Ag”), 4.85% lead (“Pb”) and 0.64% zinc (“Zn”) within vein structure T16E on the 795m level at the TLP mine;
     
  • Drift Tunnel PD820-T11-650-4SYM exposed mineralization of 55m long and 0.74m wide (true width) grading 518g/t Ag, 4.76% Pb and 0.35% Zn within vein structure T11 on the 650m level at the TLP mine; and
     
  • Drift Tunnel PD900-LM5E1-500-51NSYM exposed mineralization of 55m long and 0.61m wide (true width) grading 913g/t Ag, 1.60% Pb and 0.59% Zn within vein structure LM5E1 on the 500m level at the LME mine.

The exploration tunneling, comprising drifting, crosscutting and raising, was driven along and across major mineralized vein structures to upgrade drill defined mineral resources and test for new parallel and splay structures.

The tunneling programs from July 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018 at TLP and LME mines are briefly summarized in the following table:

Major Target VeinsTarget
Levels
(m)
Total
Tunneling
(m)
Channel
Samples
Collected
Drift
Tunneling
Included
(m)
Total Mineralization* Exposed by Drift Tunneling
Length
(m)
Average
True
Width
(m)
Ag
(g/t)
Pb (%)Zn (%)
TLP Mine         
T1, T2, T3, T5, T11,
T14, T16, T21, T22,
T27E, T33W2
510-10707,9572,7755,0311,7130.772983.610.39
LME Mine         
LM2, LM3, LM5,
LM5E
500-9151,8758811,3512890.635131.410.48
*Mineralization is defined by silver equivalent value (AgEq) greater than or equal to 120 g/t at TLP and 125 g/t at LME. (Formulae used for AgEq calculation: TLP=34.1401*Pb%+Ag g/t; LME=34.0436*Pb%+Ag g/t)
 

Highlights of selected intersections of drill holes:

  • Hole ZKGA2202 intersected a 0.59m interval from 24.43m to 25.02m, 0.56m true width, of vein T14W grading 1022g/t Ag, 1.70% Pb and 0.95% Zn at the 821m elevation at the TLP mine;
     
  • Hole ZKT2543 intersected a 0.41m interval from 217.91m to 218.32m, 0.41m true width, of vein T39 grading 402g/t Ag, 1.81% Pb and 0.39% Zn at the 749m elevation, and a 1.16m interval from 361.64m to 362.80m, 1.10m true width, of vein T16 at the 691m elevation at the TLP mine; and
     
  • Hole ZKG0405 intersected a 0.68m interval from 343.32m to 344.00m, 0.60m true width, of vein LM3 grading 484g/t Ag, 6.38% Pb and 3.20% Zn at the 708m elevation at the LME mine.

The underground drilling program is mainly conducted from the current production levels to delineate the downdip and along-strike extensions of known mineralized vein structures in the production area and test for new veins in the previous less-explored areas.

The drilling programs from July 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018 at TLP and LME mines are briefly summarized in the following table:

Major Target VeinsTarget
Elevation
(m)
Meters
Drilled
Holes
Completed
Samples
Collected
Holes
with
Assay
Received
Holes
Intercepted
Vein
Structures
Holes
Intercepted
Mineralization
T11, T14, T15, T16,
T16W, T17, T17W,
T22, T39
270-1,00019,2566196260*6024
LM1, LM2, LM3,
LM5, LM6, LM8,
IM18
0-9908,4312742327**2711
*Including 7 holes completed in the first half of 2017; 8 holes drilled in the first quarter of 2018 with assay pending
**Including 3 holes completed in the first half of 2017; 3 holes drilled in the first quarter of 2018 with assay pending
 

Tables 1 and 2 below list the assay results of some selected mineralized intersections in drill holes and mineralized zones exposed in drift tunnels in the exploration programs from July 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.

Table 1: Selected drilling results from the drilling programs at the TLP and LME mines

Hole IDFrom
(m)
To (m)Elevation
(m)
Sample
Length
(m)
True
Width
(m)
Ag (g/t)Pb
(%)
Zn
(%)
VeinRemarks
TLP MINE:          
ZKT06222.172.559550.380.251651.000.47T16branchTest
ZKT0622196.58197.829051.240.801300.860.21T11ETest
ZKGA1412120.00120.478390.470.424030.230.22T16WTest
ZKT102278.0778.399880.320.201,3685.580.76T16Stepout
ZKT1023148.48149.068980.580.581001.030.32T11ETest
ZKG042674.7375.066360.330.302540.970.09T17Test
ZKT2914167.37168.337730.960.951321.340.49T39WTest
ZKG0626242.32242.734290.410.38143.721.30T15WTest
 248.59249.094230.500.45328.380.83T11Stepout
ZKT2915203.89204.507130.610.5870   20.80   0.43T39Test
 248.08249.086861.000.95671.540.58T39ETest
ZKG0224212.42213.005120.580.43204.010.68T11Stepout
ZKT062351.6352.289540.650.591562.141.05T5ETest
ZKT082429.7230.079690.350.352103.890.12T5E2Test
ZKT2916570.50571.394120.890.791964.640.02T15WTest
ZKT2543217.91218.327490.410.414021.810.39T39Test
 361.64362.806911.161.101308.980.05T16Stepout
ZKG0225238.81239.234510.420.30424.360.59T11Stepout
ZKT2544306.48307.376480.890.811764.570.32T16WTest
ZKTA210137.5738.019180.440.41972.450.72T22E3Test
ZKG022873.7874.386320.600.48333.940.28T17Test
ZKG0229122.49122.995850.500.334087.170.69T17WTest
ZKG0427132.53133.515440.980.651150.410.03T17Stepout
ZKT3324213.69214.067160.370.331490.040.13T39Test
ZKG0230207.47207.895920.420.20312.440.08T17WTest
ZKG062830.3630.696340.330.253211.010.15T16WbranchTest
 111.51112.055810.540.411356.540.17T17Stepout
ZKGA220224.4325.028210.590.561,0221.700.95T14WTest
LME MINE          
ZKL5423296.00296.342260.340.24241.552.74LM6ETest
 497.66498.30390.640.441921.351.45LM5E2Test
ZKG0405343.32344.007080.680.604846.383.20LM3Test
ZKG1431328.63330.096351.460.54762.340.30LM1Test
 360.50361.016170.510.271,6556.322.66LM18Test
ZKL6803250.15250.564470.410.35521.640.61LM5Stepout
 274.20275.144280.940.791860.700.29LM5EStepout
ZKL7202218.32218.714940.390.332771.520.73LM5Stepout
 248.46248.954720.490.42991.030.12LM5EStepout
ZKL720348.9750.136141.161.881331.390.09LM6WTest
 250.79251.734430.940.73880.440.24LM5Stepout
 274.78275.404220.620.48691.490.30LM5EStepout
ZKL120173.0573.576370.520.524710.140.04LM2_2Test
 110.12110.506270.380.38172.222.68LM2branchTest
ZKL6804420.80421.182750.380.29805.761.82LM5E2Test
ZKL120288.3088.756120.450.446861.060.09LM2_2Test
 178.40178.805660.400.395112.940.69LM2Test
ZKL5951190.03193.846913.813.40693.850.18LM3Test
*Test: intersections in open areas without known mineralization for new resource delineation
**Stepout: intersections adjacent to existing resource blocks for resource expansion
 

Table 2: Selected mineralized zones exposed by drift tunneling at the TLP and LME mines

Tunnel IDTarget
Vein
Level
(m)
Length
(m)
True Width
(m)
Ag (g/t)    Pb (%)   Zn (%)
TLP MINE       
PD1070-T2-1070-4SYMT21070401.171511.970.10
PD930-T2W1-930-S1-ExtensionT2930421.023722.230.29
PD730-T2-610-31NYMT26101540.641303.910.17
PD800-T3-800-35SNYMT3800301.121812.340.14
PD800-T3-800-35NYMT3800300.531123.620.32
PD730-T3-665-21SYMT3665450.67144.630.16
PD1070-T5-1070-5NYMT51070350.721285.280.12
PD820-T11-650-4NYMT11650851.061995.360.66
PD820-T11-650-4SYMT11650550.745184.760.35
PD820-T14-755-2NYMT14755450.591053.000.23
PD820-T14-755-1NYMT14755650.963573.850.60
PD820-T14-755-2SYMT14755700.441734.280.24
PD840-T14E-840-15SYMT14E840450.751657.490.58
PD800-T14E-800-23SYMT14E800350.661603.510.27
PD960-T16E-960-8NSYMT16960980.503563.120.39
PD820-T16-795-3NYMT16795300.583921.650.68
PD820-T16-755-3NYMT16755500.936101.591.03
PD846-T16E-846-7SNYMT16E846350.501,0122.930.43
PD820-T16E-795-3SYMT16E795400.879414.850.64
PD820-T16-755-3NYMT16E755301.023724.430.67
PD960-T27E-990-14NYMT27E990380.60892.920.12
PD960-T27E-960-12NYMT27E960300.671174.840.27
PD960-T27E-960-12SYMT27E960450.62484.870.16
PD800-T31-800-A23SNYMT31800450.911292.850.24
PD960-T33W1-990-N1MWT33W990450.292441.200.11
PD960-T33W2-990-17SYMT33W2990721.094352.120.23
LME MINE       
PD900-LM5-615-58NYMLM5600241.542711.820.48
PD900-LM5-500-50SYMLM5500600.534231.160.58
PD900-LM5-750-66NYMLM5E750250.583630.510.19
PD900-LM5E1-500-51NSYMLM5E1500550.619131.600.59
PD838-LM6-845-50SYMLM6845350.442070.800.25
        

Quality Control

Drill cores are NQ size. Drill core samples, limited by apparent mineralization contact or shear/alteration contact, were split into halves by saw cutting. The half cores are stored in the Company's core shacks for future reference and checking, and the other half core samples are shipped in security sealed bags to the Chengde Huakan 514 Geology and Minerals Test and Research Institute in Chengde, Hebei Province, China, 226 km northeast of Beijing, and the Zhengzhou Nonferrous Exploration Institute Lab in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China. Both labs are ISO9000 certified analytical labs. For analysis the sample is dried and crushed to minus 1mm and then split to a 200-300g subsample which is further pulverized to minus 200 mesh. Two subsamples are prepared from the pulverized sample. One is digested with aqua regia for gold analysis with AAS, and the other is digested with two-acids for analysis of silver, lead, zinc and copper with AAS.

Channel samples are collected along sample lines perpendicular to the mineralized vein structure in exploration tunnels. Spacing between sampling lines is typically 5m along strike. Both the mineralized vein and the altered wall rocks are cut with continuous chisel chipping. Sample length ranges from 0.2m to more than 1m, depending on the width of the mineralized vein and the mineralization type. Channel samples are prepared and assayed with AAS at Silvercorp’s mine laboratory (Ying Lab) located at the mill complex in Luoning County, Henan Province, China. The Ying lab is officially accredited by the Quality and Technology Monitoring Bureau of Henan Province and is qualified to provide analytical service. The channel samples are dried, crushed and pulverized. A 200g sample of minus 160 mesh is prepared for assay. A duplicate sample of minus 1mm is made and kept at the laboratory archives. Gold is analysed by fire assay with AAS finish, and silver, lead, zinc and copper are assayed by two-acid digestion with AAS finish.

A routine quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedure is adopted to monitor the analytical quality at each lab. Certified reference materials (CRMs), pulp duplicates and blanks are inserted into each lab batch of samples. QA/QC data at the lab are attached to the assay certificates for each batch of samples.

The Company maintains its own comprehensive QA/QC program to ensure best practices in sample preparation and analysis of the exploration samples. Project geologists regularly insert CRM, field duplicates and blanks to each batch of 30 core samples to monitor the sample preparation and analysis procedures at the labs. The analytical quality of the labs is further evaluated with external checks by sending about 3-5% of the pulp samples to higher level labs to check for lab bias.

Data from both the Company's and the labs' QA/QC programs are reviewed on a timely basis by project geologists.

Ruijin Jiang, P. Geo, reviewed the exploration data and prepared the scientific and technical information regarding exploration results contained herein. Guoliang Ma, P. Geo., Manager of Exploration and Resource of the Company, is the Qualified Person for Silvercorp under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and given consent to the technical information contained in this news release.

About Silvercorp

Silvercorp is a low-cost silver-producing Canadian mining company with multiple mines in China. The Company’s vision is to deliver shareholder value by focusing on the acquisition of under developed projects with resource potential and the ability to grow organically. For more information, please visit our website at www.silvercorp.ca.

For further information

Lorne Waldman
Senior Vice President
Silvercorp Metals Inc.

Phone: (604) 669-9397
Toll Free: 1(888) 224-1881
Email: investor@silvercorp.ca
Website: www.silvercorp.ca

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER - FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain of the statements and information in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects”, “is expected”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”, “projects”, “estimates”, “assumes”, “intends”, “strategies”, “targets”, “goals”, “forecasts”, “objectives”, “budgets”, “schedules”, “potential” or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the price of silver and other metals; the accuracy of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates at the Company’s material properties; the sufficiency of the Company’s capital to finance the Company’s operations; estimates of the Company’s revenues and capital expenditures; estimated production from the Company’s mines in the Ying Mining District; timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals; availability of funds from production to finance the Company’s operations; and access to and availability of funding for future construction, use of proceeds from any financing and development of the Company’s properties.

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, risks relating to: fluctuating commodity prices; calculation of resources, reserves and mineralization and precious and base metal recovery; interpretations and assumptions of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; exploration and development programs; feasibility and engineering reports; permits and licenses; title to properties; property interests; joint venture partners; acquisition of commercially mineable mineral rights; financing; recent market events and conditions; economic factors affecting the Company; timing, estimated amount, capital and operating expenditures and economic returns of future production; integration of future acquisitions into the Company’s existing operations; competition; operations and political conditions; regulatory environment in China and Canada; environmental risks; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; insurance; risks and hazards of mining operations; key personnel; conflicts of interest; dependence on management; internal control over financial reporting as per the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and bringing actions and enforcing judgments under U.S. securities laws.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those referred to in the Company’s Annual Information Form for the year ended March 31, 2017 under the heading “Risk Factors”. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

The Company’s forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management’s assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.

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