Prime Mining Corp. (TSX-V: PRYM) (OTCQX: PRMNF) (Frankfurt: O4V3) is pleased to report its operating and financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Unless otherwise stated, all amounts are presented in Canadian dollars. Prime is focused on the exploration and development of its wholly owned high-grade Los Reyes Gold-Silver Project in Sinaloa State, Mexico.
Prime released an updated mineral resource estimate (“MRE”1) for the Los Reyes Gold-Silver Project on May 2, 2023 that included Prime drilling results through December 2022. The MRE contains 1.47 million Indicated gold equivalent (“AuEq”2) ounces at a 1.68 grams per tonne average grade. This is 1.0 million ounces of gold at 1.16 gpt and 35 million ounces of silver at 40.4 gpt. The MRE also contains 0.73 million Inferred AuEq ounces at a 1.26 gpt average grade. This is 0.5 million ounces of gold at 0.85 gpt and 18.4 million ounces of silver at 31.5 gpt. The MRE areas remain open along strike and at depth.
Prime is executing an expanded drilling program during 2023 of up to 60,000 metres. Prime has already drilled over 20,000 m year-to-date. About one half of the planned 2023 drilling will occur down dip and along strike within the MRE areas and the other half at multiple new target areas such as Las Primas, Fresnillo, Zapote 300 and the Orito trend.
With a current cash balance of $45.5 million, Prime is funded for the increased exploration drilling program in 2023 and for its expected similar-sized drill program in 2024. Work will also continue in technical areas such as ongoing metallurgical test work and geotechnical assessments.
Corporate Highlights During the Quarter
On February 15th, the Company announced granting of incentive securities;
On April 11th, the Company announced the acceleration of the expiry date of warrants issued as part of the December 22, 2022 financing. A total of 14,025,410 warrants were exercised for gross proceeds of $28,050,820.
Appointment
Effective April 24, 2023, the Company also announces the appointment of Ms. Indi Gopinathan as Vice President of Capital Markets and Business Development. Her responsibilities include leading Investor Relations functions for the Company and supporting corporate and business development opportunity assessments, in addition to technical leadership in advancing our understanding of the Los Reyes Project.
Ms. Gopinathan started her career with the Falconbridge/Noranda group, before moving on to equity research, senior corporate roles, independent consulting and teaching. She was most recently Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications at IAMGOLD, responsible for corporate marketing strategy and communications. She joins Prime with a range of experience across the mining industry life cycle: through the exploration, project development and operating stages, and from the perspectives of engineering, logistics, information technology, finance and capital markets. Ms. Gopinathan currently serves on the board of Ascot Resources. Outside of industry, she is a dedicated volunteer, elected in 2022 to the Governing Council of the University of Toronto. Ms. Gopinathan holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Queen’s University. She is a designated P.Eng. and CPA, CMA (both Ontario).
Exploration Highlights During the Quarter
On January 11th, the Company announced multiple high-grade intercepts in the Z-T area including bonanza grade intervals, as well as additional drill hole results.
Highlight intercepts include:
On February 7th, the Company announced its 2023 drill program to focus on continued resource expansion and renewed focus on known early-stage exploration targets with a plan for 35,000 m drilling initially. During the quarter, the company subsequently increased the planned 2023 drill program up to 45,000 m.
On February 27th, the Company announced discovery holes in several new gold- and silver- bearing areas with results confirming high potential exploration targets to drive continued expansion beyond existing resource.
Highlight intercepts include:
Maintaining Health and Safety Protocols
The Company continues to successfully mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on operations. To-date Covid-19 has not had a material effect on the Company’s activities. Prime remains engaged with local stakeholders and is proactive in monitoring employees and contractors during this uncertain period. The Company continues to closely adhere to the directives of all levels of government and relevant health authorities in Mexico and Canada.
Changes to Mining Laws in Mexico
On April 29, 2023, the Mexican government approved a bill amending several laws relating to mining concessions and on May 8th published the approved laws in the Official Gazette. The Company is reviewing details on these amendments to determine the impact, if any, on the Company’s operations.
Community Engagement and Environmental Stewardship Strategy
We continued to gather environmental and community data in the quarter to help support our ESG programs, including completion of a materiality assessment, strategic plan and disclosure matrix. We strive to minimize the environmental impact of our activities and ensure that Los Reyes has a positive impact on our host communities.
The Company released its initial sustainability report during April 2023 which establishes a baseline and a new yardstick to measure our progress in meeting our commitments regarding sustainability and stewardship of the environment, relevant social issues and corporate governance.
Selected Financial Data
The following selected financial data is summarized from the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. A copy of the Financial Statements and MD&A is available at www.primeminingcorp.ca or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Three months ended March 31, 2023 |
Three months ended March 31, 2022 |
|
Loss and comprehensive loss | $5,995,467 | $8,038,370 |
Loss per share – basic and diluted | $0.05 | $0.07 |
March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |
Cash | $19,240,951 | $23,811,434 |
Total assets | $33,829,051 | $38,105,206 |
Total current liabilities | $1,140,878 | $1,209,140 |
Total liabilities | $2,013,629 | $2,092,161 |
Total shareholders’ equity | $31,815,422 | $36,013,045 |
Notes
Qualified Person
Scott Smith, P.Geo., Executive Vice President of Exploration, is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content in this news release.
Los Reyes Gold and Silver Project
Los Reyes is a rapidly evolving high-grade, low sulphidation epithermal gold-silver project located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. Historic operating results indicate that an estimated 1 million ounces of gold and 60 million ounces of silver were recovered from five separate operations at Los Reyes between 1770 and 1990. Prior to Prime’s acquisition, recent operators of Los Reyes had spent approximately US$20 million on exploration, engineering, and prefeasibility studies. The Project remains underexplored and holds potential for additional discovery and resource expansion.
Since acquiring Los Reyes in 2019, Prime has spent approximately US$30 million on direct exploration activities and has completed two phases of comprehensive drilling totaling over 110,000 m. Results to date suggest the three known main deposit areas, Guadalupe, Central and Z-T are much larger than previously reported. Potential exists for new discoveries outside of the current defined resource areas.
About Prime Mining
Prime Mining is an ideal mix of successful mining executives, strong capital markets personnel, and experienced local operators focused on unlocking the full potential of the high-grade Los Reyes Gold-Silver Project in Mexico. Prime Mining has a well-planned capital structure with significant team and insider ownership.
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