Endeavour Silver To Expand Exploration, Expand Resources And Increase Mine Lives

 

VANCOUVER, BC - Endeavour Silver Corporations exploration drilling programs in Mexico enjoyed continued success in 2013, highlighted by the discovery of two areas of high-grade, silver-gold vein mineralization at the Bolanitos and El Cubo mines respectively in Guanajuato State, and the extension of a thick, high-grade, silver-gold vein discovery within the Terronera vein on the San Sebastian property in Jalisco State.

This year, Endeavour's focus will be on brownfields exploration around the three operating mines to replace reserves, expand resources and increase mine lives in the light of the current low precious metal prices. The Company will also continue exploring the Terronera discovery at the San Sebastian property. Other green-fields exploration programs have been deferred until metal prices improve.

Luis Castro, Endeavour's Vice President of Exploration, commented, "Last year, our talented exploration team once again delivered several exciting new silver-gold vein discoveries, notwithstanding a significant budget cut due to falling metal prices. We spent US$13.2 million on exploration excluding capitalized property costs and drilled 61,987 meters (m) or 203,369 feet (ft) in 178 drill holes testing 13 exploration targets near our three operating mines plus four other exploration properties in 2013.

"This year, we plan to spend US$10.7 million on exploration, including 54,000 m of drilling in about 120 holes to test multiple brownfields exploration targets in addition to the underground mine exploration infill drilling programs and excluding capitalized property costs. In December 2013, we completed environmental studies and filed an application to permit the development of a new mine on the San Sebastian property. In 2014 we plan to conduct further exploration, engineering and economic studies of this prospective new find."