Jun 28 2017
Magellan Gold Corporation, today commented on promising high-grade gold and silver assays obtained from prospects within trucking distance of the SDA Mill. The prospects were evaluated for their potential to supply high-grade ore to the mill. In March 2017, the Company entered into an option agreement to purchase the SDA Mill.
"We recently conducted initial sampling on ten prospects, three of which returned high-grade gold and silver assays", said CEO Pierce Carson. "We intend to follow up on these as well as a number of other attractive opportunities of which we are aware. The mill lies within the rich Sierra Madre Occidental mineralized belt, which historically has yielded millions of ounces of precious metals and offers multiple high-grade gold and silver epithermal vein targets.
"Our program to evaluate and acquire promising sources of new ore will be an on-going effort in line with our corporate objectives of first, to develop lucrative high-grade ore for processing through the mill in place of toll ore, and second, to expand production above the current capacity of 200 tons per day. "
In April 2017, Company geologists visited and sampled ten prospects and collected 117 rock chip samples across epithermal veins. Results from all prospects returned anomalous gold and silver values. Highest individual values (not necessarily representative) ranged to 170.0 g/mt gold and 733.0 g/mt silver. Three prospects with encouraging results warrant follow-up.
The assay results from five adit samples from one of the prospects show an open-ended, 70+ meter long high-grade ore shoot. The ore shoot averages grades of 14.10 g/mt gold and 6.98 oz/mt silver over an average width of 0.82 meters. The vein is exposed for 200+ meters along strike. The 70+ meter long high grade portion is open along strike and at depth. This prospect will receive high priority for follow up.
In addition to the ten prospects the Company has sampled, a number of others have been identified for evalution. One of these is a high-grade silver vein exposed in shallow workings and has been professionally sampled. The vein averages 1,200 g/mt silver (38.6 oz/mt) over a minable width. It has been estimated that approximately 2,000 tonnes are "in sight" but strike and depth extent are unknown.
In March 2017, Magellan acquired a 150-day option to purchase the SDA Mill from Rose Petroleum plc (Aim; ROSE) for consideration of $1.0 million in cash and $500,000 in restricted common stock of Magellan. The SDA Mill consists of an operational flotation plant, and a precious metals leach circuit and associated assets. The mill's normal operation is based on sales of flotation concentrates to smelters, and payment for precious metals content. Historically the mill has operated for ten years, processing its own ore and also engaged in toll milling for third party ore producers.
Management believes acquisition of the SDA Mill and transformation of Magellan into a production company would substantially enhance shareholder value. Consumation of the mill purchase is subject to a number of conditions, among others the Company completing a financing, and there can be no assurance that the purchase will be completed.