SilverCrest Metals Inc. is pleased to release additional underground channel sample results from its ongoing Phase II Exploration Program for the Las Chispas Property located in Sonora, Mexico. In addition to the current drill program, the Company continues to systematically sample rehabilitated underground historic workings of the Las Chispas Vein (see attached Figures) to define readily accessible high grade areas. The Company is currently exploring nine of the 19 known epithermal veins on the Property with efforts focused on delivering a maiden resource estimate in Q1 2018.
The most significant underground channel sample result for this release on the Las Chispas 400 to 550 levels measures 35 metres along strike with an average composited true thickness of 5.0 metres grading 4.9 grams per tonne (“gpt”) gold and 632 gpt silver or 998 gpt silver equivalent (“AgEq”, based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au) and 100% metallurgical recovery). This sample is from the Las Chispas Vein located at the base of a historic pillar that is approximately 120 metres long, 25 metres high and 3.5 metres wide (see attached Figures). Also noteworthy is 20 metres along strike with an average composited true thickness of 3 metres grading 4.0 gpt gold and 551 gpt silver, or 853 gpt AgEq in the same pillar. The following table summarizes the most significant channel sample results (uncut, undiluted) for this release in the Las Chispas Vein only:
Summary of Composites
Level** &
Composite No. |
Strike Length | Ave. True
Thickness (m) |
Au
(gpt) |
Ag
(gpt) |
AgEq*
(gpt) |
|
From (m) | To
(m) |
|||||
400-1 | 0.0 | 20.0 | 2.9 | 5.8 | 1,024 | 1,461 |
500-1 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 286 | 450 |
500-2 | 0.0 | 20.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 551 | 853 |
550-1 | 0.0 | 40.0 | 5.0 | 1.8 | 246 | 379 |
550-2 | 0.0 | 35.5 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 632 | 998 |
Select Channel Samples Included in Above Composites
Level** No. | Sample No. | Ave. True
Thickness (m) |
Au
(gpt) |
Ag
(gpt) |
AgEq* (gpt) |
400 | 596106-596118 | 3.0 | 9.13 | 1,828 | 2,513 |
Includes | 596117 | 0.3 | 33.30 | 8,340 | 10,837 |
400 | 596120-596133 | 3.0 | 3.74 | 488 | 769 |
Includes | 596131 | 1.1 | 15.80 | 1,860 | 3,045 |
500 | 595787-595789 & 595922 | 2.6 | 9.27 | 1,242 | 1,937 |
Includes | 595922 | 1.0 | 20.60 | 2,082 | 4,365 |
500 | 595963-595966 | 2.5 | 5.99 | 872 | 1,321 |
Includes | 595964 | 0.6 | 15.90 | 2,390 | 3,583 |
550 | 595471, 595472, 595474, 595504-595509 | 6.4 | 6.28 | 857 | 1,328 |
Includes | 595509 | 0.8 | 31.70 | 4,390 | 6,768 |
550 | 595585-595587, 595542, 595544 | 3.8 | 8.05 | 847 | 1,451 |
Includes | 595587 | 0.7 | 6.26 | 551 | 1,021 |
Includes | 595542 | 0.8 | 28.00 | 2,930 | 5,030 |
550 | 585975, 595536-595540 | 4.5 | 12.08 | 1,610 | 2,516 |
Includes | 595540 | 0.5 | 36.90 | 4,790 | 7,558 |
550 | 585988-585992 | 3.0 | 3.74 | 502 | 783 |
Includes | 585990 | 0.8 | 5.60 | 776 | 1,196 |
550 | 585979-585987 | 6.5 | 4.36 | 604 | 930 |
Includes | 585985 | 0.8 | 11.45 | 1,435 | 2,294 |
Note: all numbers are rounded. |
*AgEq based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au) and 100% metallurgical recovery. |
**Level number is based on historical mine level in feet from surface collar of historic shaft. |
All assays were completed by ALS Chemex in Hermosillo, Mexico, and North Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Six hundred and thirty two underground channel samples have been collected and analyzed, every two to four metres, covering an estimated 165 metres of underground workings in the Bonanza Grade Area within the Las Chispas Vein. Of these samples, 218 are above a cutoff of 150 gpt AgEq. The weighted average grade and un-composited widths above the cutoff is 4.43 gpt gold, 644 gpt silver or 977 gpt AgEq at 0.7 metres. All samples were collected in exposed areas including the back (roof) and floor of open drifts, unmined faces, internal shafts, raises, winzes and pillars using diamond saws for representative samples.
Historic workings have been open for over 80 years with minor backfill and no ground support. Several prominent historic pillars remain intact in the Las Chispas Mine and measure up to 120 metres long by 25 metres high with an average width of 3.5 metres (see attached Figures). With further detailed underground sampling, the Company will be assessing the optimal way to incorporate these pillars into the upcoming resource estimate and a potential bulk sample for offsite processing to test mineability, metallurgical constraints and possible revenue generation starting in 2018.
Geologically, the Bonanza Grade Area within the Las Chispas Vein includes epithermal quartz veining, stockwork and breccias with visible areas of coarse argentite (silver sulphide), native silver and visible free gold representing bonanza grades. Public historical production records in the mined areas graded an estimated 15 gpt gold and 1,700 gpt silver or 2,825 gpt AgEq*.
SilverCrest’s revised Phase II Exploration Program is anticipated to be approximately 29,000 metres, of which 25,000 metres has been drilled to-date. Combined with the Company’s Phase I Exploration Program of 6,500 metres in 2016, the Company has drilled a total estimated 35,000 metres in 141 holes covering a cumulative vein strike length of approximately 2.5 kilometres out of 12 kilometres defined to date. All of the holes drilled to date have intercepted epithermal quartz veining, stockwork veinlets, and/or breccia. For the remainder of SilverCrest’s Phase II Exploration Program, the Company plans to:
All ongoing work will be analyzed upon completion of Phase II for a maiden resource estimation in Q1 2018.
The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, and President and CEO for SilverCrest, who has reviewed and approved its contents.
ABOUT SilverCrest Metals Inc.
SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions and targeting production in Mexico’s historic precious metal districts. The Company’s current focus is on the high-grade, historic Las Chispas mining district in Sonora, Mexico. SilverCrest is the first company to successfully drill-test the historic Las Chispas Project resulting in numerous discoveries. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production.
First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (OTC: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0) is plea... READ MORE
Kuya Targeting Commencement of Production at Bethania in H1 2024 ... READ MORE
Silvercorp Metals Inc. (TSX: SVM) (NYSE American: SVM) reports pr... READ MORE
Excellent follow-up drill results from high-grade discovery holes... READ MORE
Solaris Resources Inc. (TSX: SLS) (NYSE: SLSR) is pleased to repo... READ MORE