Anomalies At Guayabales Prospect At The El Provenir Project 

VANCOUVER – Angel Gold Corp. reported an update of progress on Angel’s geophysical survey programs targeting various prospects at the El Porvenir project in the Segovia mining district of Antioquia, Colombia. “The geophysical information processed to date is continuing to support and enhance the potential of our Iguanacito prospect. We believe that the chargeability responses reflect bodies of sulfide-silica breccia that has the potential to contain silver-gold mineralization –and further support our belief that the area has the potential to host a style of mineralization previously unexplored and thus undiscovered in the Segovia district: that of breccia-hosted silver-gold mineralization associated with wide zones of intense silica-sericite alteration that are intrusive related.” says Stella Frias, President and CEO of Angel Gold Corp. “The chargeability geophysical anomaly identified below the silver/gold mineralization identified at Iguanacito is exciting as it significantly increases the target’s size and depth potential as currently defined in surface sampling and trenching. In addition other geophysical anomalies from surveys in progress along strike and at other targets have been identified and could be indicative of sulfide hosted mineralization,” added James Stephenson P.Geo, Vice-President of Exploration.

High-grade structurally-hosted mineral deposits typically consist of multiple ore bodies, many of such bodies occurring blind (in the sub-surface), sometimes with only minor mineralization actually exposed at the surface. Examples of such deposits include the Coeur d’Alene District deposits of Idaho where most ore shoots occur blind at depth, yet a substantial mining operation has been continued over many decades.

Newmont Invests in Continental’s High-Grade Gold Project

DENVER, CO – Newmont Mining Corporation reported an agreement to invest approximately US$109 million for 19.9 percent ownership of Continental Gold Inc., supporting near-term development of the high grade Buriticá gold project in Colombia. The investment also covers three other exploration assets in this prospective gold district.

The Buriticá deposit consists of two major vein systems that remain open along strike and at depth. Continental has declared proven and probable reserves of 3.7 million ounces of gold averaging more than eight grams per tonne. The project is permitted and construction of the underground mine and process plant is expected to begin in the second half of 2017 with commercial production targeted for early 2020.

“We’re investing in a world class asset and exploration prospects, in alignment with our goal to create long-term value for shareholders,” said Gary Goldberg, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re impressed with the quality of the deposit, the caliber of the management team, the community’s support for the project, and the prospects for future growth. Our team is looking forward to joining forces with Continental to make the most of these opportunities.”

Newmont has agreed to purchase 37.38 million common shares of Continental in a non-brokered private placement at a price of C$4.00 per share. Closing of this purchase remains subject to receipt of approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange, which is expected by May 18. Terms of the investment agreement include Newmont’s right to participate in future equity issuance to maintain its ownership stake; the two companies establishing joint technical and sustainability committees and a strategic exploration alliance; and Newmont holding a seat on Continental’s Board of Directors.

Newmont invests in profitable growth through projects, exploration and transactions that improve its margins, reserves and resources. Newmont recently built two new mines – Merian in Suriname and Long Canyon in Nevada – in two new gold districts on or ahead of schedule and more than 20 percent below budget, and is advancing profitable expansions at Carlin in North America, Tanami in Australia, and Ahafo in Ghana. Newmont has added 123 million ounces to its reserve base by the drill bit over the last 15 years, and recently invested in an option to explore a highly prospective gold district in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

Timmins Gold Receives Environmental Approval for Ana Paula

VANCOUVER, BC – Timmins Gold Corp. has received authorization of the Environmental Impact Assessment (MIA) for its high-grade, high-margin Ana Paula Project located in Guerrero, Mexico. The regulator (SEMARNAT) has outlined the environmental protection programs required during construction of the project which are normal and in-line with expectations.

Timmins CEO, Greg McCunn, said, "This is a major de-risking step in the advancement of our Ana Paula Project. Receiving the approval of the MIA from SEMARNAT adds to our confidence in executing the project in accordance with our timeline. We expect to publish our Pre-Feasibility Study for the project later this quarter which will substantially improve upon our confidence in the mineral resource, the metallurgy and the project economics."

Following the acceptance of the MIA, the Company anticipates beginning a series of applications for the Change of Land Use (ETJ) Permits which are the final permits required for the construction of the mine. The Company expects to complete the permitting and feasibility study work over the next 12 months in advance of construction starting in Q2 2018.

Commissioning Of Topia Processing Plant Completed 

VANCOUVER, BC – Great PantherSilver Ltd. has successfully completed the commissioning phase of the refurbished processing plant at its Topia Mine in Durango, Mexico.  The plant, including the new handling facilities for dry stack tailings, is now operating at planned capacity. The Company is continuing to deposit dry tailings at the existing Phase I Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) while it works on a resolution for an outstanding permitting condition.  The Mexican Environmental Authority (SEMARNAT) has denied the request for the Change in Use of Soils permit required for the Phase II TSF, until this condition is met.  The Company believes it can resolve this over the next few weeks and transition to the new TSF without interruption, but cannot provide complete assurance.  Discussions to date with the authorities and other interests have been positive and are continuing.  

"We are pleased with the operation of the plant and progress to date on the permitting front," stated Robert Archer, President & CEO.  "We have had extensive discussions with all stakeholders regarding the permitting requirements and we are optimistic this will be favorably resolved in the coming weeks.  We still expect to be able to process all of the ore stockpiled during the shutdown through the balance of 2017.  Furthermore, the higher ore grades of the stockpiled ore put us in good position to meet our 2017 production guidance."

Run of mine ore is now being processed along with the stockpiled ore.  Due to the improved grade control at the mines, the silver grade of ore milled year-to-date, through the commissioning phase, has increased by approximately 18% over 2016 levels.  

Santander Mine Production In Peru

VANCOUVER, BC – Trevali Mining Corporation reported preliminary first quarter production results at the Santander Mine in Peru. "During Q1 we saw continued strong throughput at the Santander Zinc Mine in Peru," stated Dr. Mark Cruise, Trevali’s President and CEO. "As previously stated during the first half of this year at Santander will see operations continue to process ore primarily from the more zinc-rich Magistral Central and South Deposits and then mining will sequence back into the more lead-and-silver-rich Magistral North Deposit and Oyon Zone into the second half of the year, boosting Pb and Ag metal production for the remainder of the year and going forward."

For Q1-2017, Santander delivered consistent operational performance as mining continues to sequence through the more zinc-dominant Magistral Central and South zones. The Santander team continues to advance Magistral North ramp development in order to access the higher-grade Zn-Pb and Ag mineralization in the Magistral North and Oyon Zones, both of which remain open for expansion and which will result in increased Pb-Ag production in the latter half of 2017 and going forward.

Preliminary quarterly production of 12.6 million payable pounds of zinc, 1.9 million payable pounds of lead and 128,577 payable ounces of silver. Recoveries averaged 88% for zinc, 79% for lead and 63% for silver. Santander mill throughput for Q1-2017 was 200,249 tonnes, approximately 10% above the nameplate design of 2,000-tonnes-per-day (730,000 tonnes per year).

The Santander exploration team also commenced the Phase I, approximately 13,000-meter, 2017 exploration program in early April. The aim of the program is to aggressively probe the depth and lateral extents of the Magistral polymetallic system that remains open for expansion in addition to converting additional inferred tonnages into higher confidence categories to support longer- range mine planning. Conventional and directional surface drilling will initially test the high priority Santander Pipe target, which remains open for expansion at depth, for future mine planning purposes. It is anticipated that underground exploration will commence in June when dedicated exploration footwall drives are completed and will initially test the depth extents of Magistral North-Central and transitioning to Central-South as the program progresses. Contingent on success, Phase II drilling will continue to define and expand the mineralized systems.

High Grade Drilling Results At The Araguaia Project

LONDON, UK – Horizonte Minerals Plc, reported results of the 30 hole pre-excavation drilling program on its 100%-owned Araguaia nickel project in Brazil. Horizonte CEO Jeremy Martin said, "I am pleased to report the completion of the diamond drill program over the trial excavation site, the aim of this work was to define an area with near surface transition and saprolite mineralization that would be representative of the first five to eight years mine life. The drill results demonstrate this and additionally confirm the high grade nature of the nickel mineralization that has been drill defined across the project. The next stage is the trial excavation program over this area, which is now underway. The trial excavation program targets the removal of approximately 20,000 tonnes of ore down to a depth of around 14 meters utilizing two 35 tonne excavators and four 35 tonne trucks. We look forward to providing updates on this work stream, and the rest of the FS as we work to develop Araguaia as the next major ferronickel operation."

The Project has good regional infrastructure including a network of Federal highways and roads, with access to low tariff hydro-electric power. The Carajas Mining District, situated approximately 200km northwest of Araguaia, is host to a number of major iron and copper mines operated by mining major Vale SA.

Cascabel Copper-Gold JV Project Update

OTTAWA, ON – Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. reported project update for the Cascabel copper-gold porphyry joint venture exploration project in northern Ecuador. The project is located within the gold-rich northern section of the Andean Copper belt. The project area hosts mineralization of Eocene age, the same age as numerous Tier 1 deposits along the Andean Copper Belt in Chile and Peru to the south. The project base is located at Rocafuerte, in northwestern Ecuador just west of the City of Ibarra, approximately 3 hour drive north of Quito and close to water, power supply and Pacific Ports.

Fifteen individual targets have been defined at Cascabel. SolGold has successfully drill tested three of the fifteen targets, being Alpala Central, Alpala Northwest, and Hematite Hill. Drill testing of a fourth target, at Alpala Southeast is currently under way (Hole 24). Current drilling focuses on defining the geometry of the growing Alpala deposit, which is open in virtually all directions. Over 34,000m of drilling has been completed to date, and the arrival of Rigs will see drill testing expanding to Alpala East, Alpala West, Trivino and Aguinaga by mid-year. The drilling program expands towards eight drilling rigs by year end, which will also see drill testing of the Tandayama-America prospect.

Hole 23 (CSD-17-023) at Alpala Northeast was abandoned at 159.0m depth after drilling contractors experienced technical difficulties downhole, and was redrilled as Hole 23R (CSD-16-023R) which continues drilling near vertical at a current depth of 579.1m testing approximately 125m below and in between Holes 12 and 16. To date, Hole 23R has intersected hydrothermal breccia and strong phyllic alteration, with the presence of clasts of mineralized porphyry within the breccia. Hole 23R is being drilled sub-vertical to intersect deep untested pockets of mineralization up to 1800m below surface and has a planned hole depth of approximately 2000m. 

Hole 24 (CSD-17-024) continues drilling at Alpala Southeast, at a current depth of 868.7m testing approximately 570m to southeast of Hole 23R. Hole 24 confirms the extension of the known mineralized corridor at Alpala to approximately 1300m from Hole 13 in the northwest. Drill core from Hole 24 below 738.9m shows strong chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization with significant magnetite, and low pyrite content, indicating probable proximity to the predicted copper and gold rich core of the greater Alpala Porphyry System.

Hole 24 lies approximately 100m north of Malte Creek, where chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization was noted in surface geological mapping. The Alpala Southeast prospect area is characterized by coincident Molybdenum and Copper/Zinc soil geochemical highs, as well as intense and advanced argillic alteration identified from soil auger chip spectral analysis. High dickite and pyrophyllite clay content, mark high temperatures of formation typical of that surrounding a porphyry core. Surface indications are being confirmed by drilling. Hole 24 has a planned hole depth of at least 2000m. Selected examples of mineralization encountered in Hole 24.

Hole 25 (CSD-17-025), at Hematite Hill, is intersecting multi-directional stockwork veining with chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization from 772.2m depth to the current depth of 847.0m. Hole 25 has a planned hole depth of at least 2000m. Selected examples of mineralization encountered in Hole 25.

Upgrade and expansion of site facilities are well underway at Cascabel as the project continues to expand towards 7 rigs by October and 10 rigs next year. The geology team have yet to define the extents of the Alpala porphyry system, and the deposit remains open in most directions, continuing to grow with each new drill hole. An aggressive drill program, producing approximately 90,000m of diamond drill core per annum from early 2018 is planned to delineate the system limits along the greater Alpala trend prior to a maiden resource statement, and to test the other multiple targets within the concession. An increasing understanding of the deposit is now leading to much larger step-outs in drilling as Solgold directs its program towards the copper and gold at a predicted large and rich heart of the Alpala system.

Drilling Commences At The Chunibas Project

VANCOUVER, BC – San Marco Resources Inc. reported that diamond drilling has commenced at its 100% owned Chunibas gold/silver project, located approximately 160 kilometers east of Hermosillo, Sonora State, Mexico. The primary objectives of this drilling will be to confirm the presence of higher-grade mineralization within the discrete shear veins, as well as the presence of broad haloes of lower grade Au-Ag within adjacent, sericite – Fe carbonate altered wall rocks. Historical data has been incorporated with the Company’s recent exploration work, resulting in field evidence that the north-south trending shear/vein structures coalesce in various zones along strike. This has reinforced the geological model that wider zones of gold mineralization, flanking the high-grade shear structures, some of which continue to be mined by local gambosinos (miners), where grades appear to be in the 15 g/t gold range, exist. 

Mineralization is primarily oxidized at surface, however is expected to transition into sulfides within 50 meters of surface. All holes will be drilled perpendicular to the structures, angled at – 60 degrees and will test 3 targets over 1.5 kilometers of known strike. Recent exploration results have indicated the flanking intrusive wall rock is mineralized with low-grade gold. As a result, the drill program is designed to not only test the potential high-grade structures, but the possibility of a bulk-tonnage opportunity.

An initial 500 – 600 meters over 4 holes are scheduled, with the possibility that, pending assay results, the drill program may be expanded to continue throughout the summer months.

PEA Completed Update For The Avino Mine

VANCOUVER – Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. has completed an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) or retreating the  Avino mine tailings in Durango, Mexico, which includes the results from the Company’s recent 2016 Resource Estimate for the Avino property which included the San Gonzalo Mine, the main Avino Mine system, and the property’s oxide tailings.  Summaries of the current resources used for the PEA, a preliminary Life of Mine Plan (LOMP), operating costs, capital costs and project economics.  The PEA has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, and a compliant Technical Report is being completed.

David Wolfin, President and CEO said, “We are extremely pleased with the very attractive economics of the Oxide Tailings Resource PEA.  These positive results will enable us to plan the next steps, identify any additional studies and move forward in advancing the oxide tailings project.  We intend to follow the recommendations contained in the Technical Report, which will include the pre-feasibility phase, and we continue to review alternative approaches for the storage of existing tailings.”

The Oxide Tailings deposit comprises historic recovery plant residue material deposited during the earlier period of open pit mining of the Avino Vein, when there were  poor process plant recoveries for silver and gold. The oxide tailings are partially covered by younger unconsolidated sulphide tailings on the northwest side of the property. The PEA incorporated Base Case metal prices of $18.50/oz silver, and $1,250/oz gold. Highlights of the Base Case economic estimates for the Oxide Tailings Resource. The base case PEA provides a solid foundation for focused growth and demonstrates the value of the existing infrastructure, and outlines a low capital cost option with attractive returns. The PEA focuses on the Oxide Tailings Retreatment of the Avino mine as a stand alone project with an initial 7 year life of mine plan (LOMP).  The Sulphides will be considered during the pre-feasibility study stage, and evaluated as to their own economic viability.  This approach provides attractive economic returns using lower initial capital costs.

Solitario Exploration & Royalty To Acquire Zazu Metals

DENVER, CO – Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. and Zazu Metals Corporation have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement pursuant to which Solitario has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Zazu by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act.

Chris Herald, Chief Executive Officer of Solitario said “We are very pleased to announce this exciting opportunity that will create value for both Solitario and Zazu shareholders.  Since the sale of the Mt. Hamilton project in 2015, Solitario has remained extremely disciplined in its evaluation of growth initiatives while preserving a robust balance sheet and tight capital structure.  We are confident that we have both the technical and financial capabilities to significantly increase the value of Zazu’s Lik project by moving the asset through feasibility and permitting.  We look forward to working with Zazu’s world-class joint venture partner Teck to pursue a development path beneficial to all parties.”

Gil Atzmon, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zazu said, “This combination represents a unique opportunity to create a leading zinc development company with two high quality assets in the Americas.  Zazu shareholders will benefit from increased diversification and access to capital, while importantly maintaining a focus on high-grade resources.  We see significant potential in Solitario’s asset base and believe the combined company will be well positioned to take advantage of increased interest in zinc.”