
High Grade Mineralization Expected to Contribute to Resource Growth While Providing Underground and Open Pit Optionality
Prime Mining Corp. (TSX: PRYM) (OTCQX: PRMNF) (Frankfurt: 04V3) is reporting generative drilling results from the Company’s Los Reyes Project, located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. These results are from 2024 drilling at the Fresnillo and Mariposa targets and are not included in the Company’s October 15, 2024, Mineral Resource Estimate.
Generative Drilling Highlights: Fresnillo – A Prime Original Discovery
The Company is reporting 14 core holes, two that intersected only Fresnillo structures, four that intersected both Noche Buena and Fresnillo structures, and eight that intersected Mariposa structures. Fresnillo is located between the Z-T and Central Trends with the following highlights in today’s results:
Prime Mining Corp. Chief Executive Officer Scott Hicks commented, “Fresnillo is an exciting early stage generative target at Los Reyes. Today, we are sharing results that demonstrate a significant extension of approximately 120 metres up-dip of high grade, near-surface mineralization with both underground and open pit optionality and with further potential to continue expanding mineralization.”
Scott Smith, Executive Vice President of Exploration, added, “Holes 24NB-69, -70, -71, and -75, and 24FRE-29 resulted in the extension of high-grade mineralization near-surface and roughly 120 metres up-dip from the stopes generated in the 2024 MRE for the Fresnillo target area. As these drillholes help to ‘fill in’ more sparsely drilled areas, their addition is likely to drive an increase to reportable Inferred ounces in future estimates for the Fresnillo area. Mineralization remains open along strike to the northwest of 24NB-69 and 24FRE-29 and will be tested by in-progress hole 25FRE-30.”
Figure 1: Generative drilling update
Generative Drill Hole Highlights1
Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) |
Interval (m) | ETW (m)2 | Au (g/t) |
Ag (g/t) | AuEq (g/t)3 |
Au Cut-off4 |
24FRE-28 | 144.3 | 145.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.48 | 0.6 | 1.49 | 1.0 |
24FRE-28 | 343.7 | 348.3 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 0.73 | 4.2 | 0.78 | 0.2 |
Including | 346.8 | 348.3 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.60 | 6.1 | 1.68 | 1.0 |
24FRE-29 | 96.2 | 97.4 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.14 | 8.1 | 1.24 | 0.2 |
24FRE-29 | 184.1 | 190.9 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 1.17 | 21.6 | 1.45 | 0.2 |
Including | 184.1 | 186.0 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.76 | 38.7 | 2.26 | 1.0 |
& including | 188.3 | 189.7 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.93 | 29.4 | 2.31 | 1.0 |
24NB-69 | 92.1 | 102.5 | 10.5 | 9.8 | 1.08 | 29.7 | 1.46 | 0.2 |
Including | 94.2 | 95.6 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 5.35 | 109.0 | 6.76 | 1.0 |
24NB-69 | 138.9 | 147.2 | 8.3 | 7.8 | 0.49 | 15.8 | 0.69 | 0.2 |
Including | 143.1 | 144.0 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.55 | 37.3 | 2.03 | 1.0 |
24NB-70 | 96.1 | 105.0 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 0.89 | 18.5 | 1.13 | 0.2 |
Including | 98.6 | 99.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 6.32 | 135.0 | 8.07 | 1.0 |
24NB-70 | 129.0 | 130.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.19 | 2.2 | 1.22 | 1.0 |
24NB-70 | 167.4 | 168.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.07 | 1.8 | 2.09 | 1.0 |
24NB-70 | 212.7 | 214.0 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.04 | 34.6 | 1.49 | 1.0 |
24NB-71 | 100.2 | 101.5 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.12 | 2.4 | 1.15 | 0.2 |
24NB-71 | 109.1 | 115.7 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 2.52 | 23.6 | 2.83 | 0.2 |
Including | 111.3 | 114.2 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 5.38 | 47.0 | 5.99 | 1.0 |
24NB-71 | 494.3 | 495.4 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 5.47 | 46.5 | 6.07 | 0.2 |
24NB-75 | 154.9 | 164.8 | 9.9 | 9.6 | 1.82 | 13.1 | 1.99 | 1.0 |
Including | 164.0 | 164.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 18.40 | 125.0 | 20.02 | 0.2 |
24NB-75 | 231.3 | 232.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.56 | 30.2 | 1.95 | 0.2 |
24NB-75 | 332.5 | 333.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 5.03 | 81.6 | 6.09 | 0.2 |
Notes:
INTERPRETATION
Fresnillo:
Fresnillo, located between the Z-T and Central Trends, was first drilled as part of Prime’s 2022 drill program. It is a highly prospective earlier stage target which had no historical drilling or known workings. Fresnillo was defined by Prime’s mapping and geochemical sampling programs. Prime drilling to-date has intercepted several thick mineralized structures.
24NB-69, -70, -71, and -75, and 24FRE-29 resulted in the near-surface, roughly 120m up-dip extension of high-grade mineralization from stopes generated in the 2024 MRE for the Fresnillo target area. Further, these drillholes were completed in a sparsely drilled area which did not meet data spacing criteria for open pit or underground Inferred Resources in the 2024 MRE. Their addition is therefore likely to drive an increase in reportable Inferred ounces in future estimates for the Fresnillo area. Mineralization remains open along strike to the northwest of 24NB-69 and 24FRE-29 and will be tested by planned hole 25FRE-30.
Mariposa:
Prime is also releasing eight holes from the Mariposa target. These holes were drilled from the hanging wall on the west side of the main Z-T structure into the target area with the intention of gaining a greater understanding of the structural setting. Existing access at Mariposa limited the drill pad locations but results have confirmed the continuation of the Z-T structure at Mariposa. Prime intends to extend access and continue expansion drilling in the Mariposa area in 2025.
Figure 2: Fresnillo drilling update
Figure 3: Fresnillo long section with drill holes highlighted (A-A’)
* intercepts noted in long section below are along multiple structures*
Figure 4: Fresnillo cross section B-B’
Outlook
Prime will continue to evaluate drilling plans using its success-based approach into 2025. This evaluation will also include prioritization of targets based on probability of resource development and generative area discovery potential.
Prime has completed approximately 1,500 metres of drilling year to date. Drilling is currently suspended, with six drill rigs currently on site at Los Reyes and drillers on standby. The exploration team is utilizing this opportunity to advance interpretation of geological data and soil samples in support of target identification. Exploration in 2025 will be focused on:
Links to Figures:
Links to Tables:
About the Los Reyes Gold and Silver Project
Los Reyes is a high-grade, low-sulphidation epithermal gold-silver project located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. Since acquiring Los Reyes in 2019, Prime has spent more than $62 million on direct exploration activities and has completed over 220,000 metres of drilling. On October 15, 2024, Prime announced an updated multi-million-ounce high-grade open pit and underground resource based on exploration drilling up to July 17, 2024.
October 15, 2024 Resource Statement1
(based on a $1950/oz gold price, $25.24/oz silver price, economic-constrained estimate)
Mining Method and Process |
Class | Tonnage (kt) |
Gold Grade (g/t) |
Gold Contained (koz) |
Silver Grade (g/t) |
Silver Contained (koz) |
Gold Equiv. (g/t) |
Gold Equiv. (koz) |
Silver Equiv. (g/t) |
Silver Equiv. (koz) |
Open Pit – Mill | Indicated | 24,657 | 1.13 | 899 | 35.7 | 28,261 | 1.60 | 1,265 | 123.3 | 97,723 |
Inferred | 7,211 | 0.89 | 207 | 42.8 | 9,916 | 1.45 | 335 | 111.8 | 25,911 | |
Underground | Indicated | 4,132 | 3.02 | 402 | 152.4 | 20,243 | 5.00 | 664 | 386.1 | 51,290 |
Inferred | 4,055 | 2.10 | 273 | 78.6 | 10,247 | 3.12 | 406 | 240.7 | 31,380 | |
Total Mill | Indicated | 28,789 | 1.41 | 1,301 | 52.4 | 48,504 | 2.08 | 1,928 | 161.0 | 149,012 |
Inferred | 11,266 | 1.33 | 480 | 55.7 | 20,163 | 2.05 | 741 | 158.2 | 57,291 | |
Open Pit – Heap Leach | Indicated | 20,254 | 0.29 | 190 | 8.4 | 5,492 | 0.40 | 261 | 31.0 | 20,201 |
Inferred | 5,944 | 0.30 | 58 | 7.3 | 1,398 | 0.40 | 76 | 30.6 | 5,856 | |
Total | Indicated | 49,042 | 0.95 | 1,491 | 34.2 | 53,995 | 1.39 | 2,190 | 107.3 | 169,213 |
Inferred | 17,210 | 0.97 | 538 | 39.0 | 21,561 | 1.48 | 817 | 114.1 | 63,147 |
Exploration drilling suggests that the three known main deposit areas (Guadalupe, Central and Z-T) are larger than previously reported. Potential also exists for new discoveries where mineralized trends have been identified outside of the currently defined resource areas. 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.
QA/QC Protocols and Sampling Procedures
Drill core at the Los Reyes project is drilled in predominately HQ size (63.5 millimetres “mm”), reducing to NQ (47.6 mm) when required. Drill core samples are generally 1.50 m long along the core axis with allowance for shorter or longer intervals if required to suit geological constraints. After logging intervals are identified to be sampled, the core is cut and one half is submitted for assay. RC drilling returns rock chips and fines from a 133.35 mm diameter tricone bit. The returns are homogenized and split into 2 halves, with one half submitted for analysis and the other half stored.
Sample QA/QC measures include unmarked certified reference materials, blanks, and field duplicates as well as preparation duplicates are inserted into the sample sequence and make up approximately 8% of the samples submitted to the laboratory for each drill hole.
Samples are picked up from the Project by the laboratory personnel and transported to their facilities in Durango or Hermosillo Mexico, for sample preparation. Sample analysis is carried out by Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs, with fire assay, including over limits fire assay re-analysis, completed at their respective Hermosillo, Mexico laboratories and multi-element analysis completed in North Vancouver, Canada. Drill core sample preparation includes fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250-gram split to at least 85% passing 75 microns.
Gold in diamond drill core is analyzed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy of a 30 g sample (code FA430 or Au-AA23). Multi-element chemistry is analyzed by 4-Acid digestion of a 0.25-gram sample split (code MA300 or ME-ICP61) with detection by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer for a full suite of elements.
Gold assay techniques FA430 and Au-AA23 have an upper detection limit of 10 ppm. Any sample that produces an over-limit gold value via the initial assay technique is sent for gravimetric finish via method FA-530 or Au-GRA21. Silver analyses by MA300 and ME-ICP61 have an upper limit of 200 ppm and 100 ppm, respectively. Samples with over-limit silver values are re-analyzed by fire assay with gravimetric finish FA530 or Au-GRA21.
Both Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs are ISO/IEC accredited assay laboratories.
Qualified Person
Scott Smith, P.Geo., Executive Vice President of Exploration, is a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content in this news release.
About Prime Mining
Prime is managed by an ideal mix of successful mining executives, strong capital markets personnel and experienced local operators all focused on unlocking the full potential of the Project. The Company has a well-planned capital structure with a strong management team and insider ownership. Prime is targeting a material resource expansion at Los Reyes through a combination of new generative area discoveries and growth, while also building on technical de-risking activities to support eventual project development.
Emerita Resources Corp. (TSX – V: EMO) (OTCQB: EMOTF) (FSE: LLJ... READ MORE
GLOBEX MINING ENTERPRISES INC. (TSX:GMX) (FRA:G1MN) (OTCQX:GL... READ MORE
The Tanbreez Project possesses high grade TREO, including 103ppm ... READ MORE
Starr Peak Mining Ltd. (TSX-V: STE) (OTCQX: STRPF) is pleased to... READ MORE
Collaboration could fast-track the formation of one of the world&... READ MORE