Sonoro Announces Closing of $3,000,000 Private Placement and Commencement of 10,000 Meter Drilling Program
Sonoro Gold Corp. (TSXV: SGO | OTCQB: SMOFF | FRA: 23SP) (“Sonoro” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of 16,666,667 units (the “Units”) at $0.18 per unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $3,000,000 (the “Offering”). Each Unit consists of one Sonoro Common Share and one Share Purchase Warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Sonoro Common Share for a period of two years from the closing date at an exercise price of $0.30 per share.
All securities issued and issuable in connection with the Offering will be subject to a 4-month plus one day hold period ending April 21, 2022. The Offering has received conditional acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange but remains subject to receipt of final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.
In connection with the Offering, the Company entered into finder’s fee agreements with iA Capital Markets, PI Financial Corp., Haywood Securities Inc., IBK Capital Corp. and GloRes Securities Inc. (collectively, the “Finders” and each, a “Finder”) pursuant to which the Company paid to each Finder:
- at the election of the Finder, either a cash finder’s fee or Units equal to a maximum 7% of the gross proceeds raised from subscribers introduced to the Company by the Finder, and
- non-transferable finder’s warrants (the “Finder’s Warrants”) equal in number to 7% of the gross proceeds raised from subscribers introduced to the Company by the Finder. Each Finder’s Warrant entitles the Finder to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.30 for a period of two years following the closing of the Offering.
In total, the Company paid $47,420.30 in Finder’s fees and 263,447 in non-transferable Finder’s Warrants.
Directors and Officers of the Company participated in the Offering by subscribing for 3,011,461 Units, constituting a related party transaction pursuant to TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”). The Company relied on Section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the formal valuation requirement and Section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the minority shareholder approval requirement of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction did not exceed 25% of the Company’s market capitalization.
The net proceeds from the Offering will be used primarily to fund a 10,000-meter drilling campaign now underway at the Company’s Cerro Caliche Gold Project in Sonora, Mexico and will also be used for concession maintenance and general working capital.
As announced on October 25, 2021, the drilling program will focus on expanding the project’s oxide gold mineralization included in the updated Resource Estimate announced September 15, 2021, as well as the potential higher-grade targets recently identified by a surface sampling program. Previously announced sample assay results returned grades between 2.5 and 14.3 grams of gold per tonne and revealed multiple oxide gold mineralized “windows” with strong stockwork quartz veining and broad zones of gold and silver mineralization. Drilling will also focus on extending mineralization in the southeast region of the concession that was excluded from the updated resource estimate due to lack of required drilling density.
Sonoro’s President and CEO, Kenneth MacLeod, stated, “We are excited to have commenced the next phase of drilling and anticipate another successful program. The wealth of technical data amassed to date suggests the potential to increase the resource within the project’s known mineralized structures as well as the potential for higher grade and extended mineralized structures identified through scout drilling and surface sampling.”
Sonoro’s Chairman of the Board, John Darch, added, “I believe participation by Sonoro’s directors and officers for over 18% of the current financing is a clear demonstration of our confidence in the success of the Cerro Caliche Project. I am also very pleased we have resumed drilling and are assessing the potential for higher-grade near-surface gold and silver mineralization. Increasing the size and grade of the resource could potentially extend the life of the proposed Heap Leach Mining Operation (HLMO) thereby materially improving the economics for the conceptual 15,000 tonnes per day HLMO.”
About Sonoro Gold Corp.
Sonoro Gold Corp. is a publicly listed exploration and development Company holding the near-development-stage Cerro Caliche project and the exploration-stage San Marcial project in Sonora State, Mexico. The Company has highly experienced operational and management teams with proven track records for the discovery and development of natural resource deposits.
On behalf of the Board of SONORO GOLD CORP. | |
Per: | “Kenneth MacLeod” |
Kenneth MacLeod | |
President & CEO |
For further information, please contact:
Sonoro Gold Corp. – Tel: (604) 632-1764
Email: info@sonorogold.com
- Published in Mining, News Home, Sonoro Gold
Sonoro Gold Announces $3.6 Million Private Placement
Sonoro Gold Corp. (TSXV: SGO | OTCQB: SMOFF | FRA: 23SP) (“Sonoro” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it will undertake a non-brokered private placement offering (the “Offering”) consisting of up to 20,000,000 units (the “Units”) at a price of C$0.18 per Unit, for gross proceeds of up to C$3,600,000. Each Unit will be composed of one Sonoro common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional Sonoro Common share for a period of two years from the closing at an exercise price of $0.30 per share.
The Company intends to pay finder’s fees, as permitted under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, in respect of Units placed with the assistance of registered securities dealers. All securities issued and issuable in connection with the Offering will be subject to a 4-month hold period in Canada from the closing date. The Offering is subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance.
The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to fund a 10,000-meter drilling campaign, commencing this month, at the Company’s Cerro Caliche Gold Project in Sonora, Mexico. Details on the drilling program were announced on October 25, 2021 and the construction of access roads and drill pads has been initiated. Proceeds from the Offering will also be used for concession maintenance and general working capital.
Sonoro’s Chairman of the Board, John Darch, stated, “The drilling program will proceed alongside the proposed development of a Heap Leach Mining Operation (HLMO) as outlined in the recently-completed Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”). The objective of the drilling campaign is to expand the project’s oxide gold mineralization and target higher-grade, near-surface mineralization identified during a recent surface sampling program. Increasing the size and grade of the resource could potentially improve the economics of the project and extend operations.”
About Sonoro Gold Corp.
Sonoro Gold Corp. is a publicly listed exploration and development Company holding the near-development-stage Cerro Caliche project and the exploration-stage San Marcial project in Sonora State, Mexico. The Company has highly experienced operational and management teams with proven track records for the discovery and development of natural resource deposits.
On behalf of the Board of SONORO GOLD CORP.
Per: | “Kenneth MacLeod” |
Kenneth MacLeod | |
President & CEO |
For further information, please contact:
Sonoro Gold Corp. – Tel: (604) 632-1764
Email: info@sonorogold.com
- Published in Mining, News Home, Sonoro Gold
Sonoro Reports Surface Sampling Exposed Multiple Vein Windows Over 750 Meter Extension to Buena Suerte and El Colorado Zones
Sonoro Gold Corp. (TSXV: SGO | OTCQB: SMOFF | FRA: 23SP) (“Sonoro” or the “Company”) is pleased to report additional assay results from the ongoing surface sampling program at the Company’s Cerro Caliche gold project in Sonora State, Mexico. 275 new samples were assayed, bringing the total for the current sampling program to 1,567 samples over four mineralized corridors as described in the Company’s news release dated July 20, 2021.
The new results further confirmed material extensions of up to 750 meters over two southern linear structural corridors at the Buena Suerte and El Colorado zones. The sampling results also revealed oxide gold mineralized “windows” among the two southern structural corridors. The windows were accessed via recently built road cuts and drill site excavations and future sampling will investigate potential continuation and extensions.
Surface rock samples were collected from several well-defined vein and gold mineralized structures by channel sampling perpendicular across measured veins and wall rocks with sample lengths ranging from 0.4 to 2.0 meters. Assay results from 17 samples returned grades between 2.5 and 14.3 grams of gold per tonne (“g/t Au”). The image below illustrates five high-priority window targets for the upcoming drilling program as each demonstrated strong stockwork quartz veining and outlined broad zones of gold and silver mineralization.
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image or link below:
Analysis of approximately 284 surface samples collected during the current program from the El Colorado/La Ventana and Buena Suerte/San Quintin corridors confirm the southern extensions of the vein trends with numerous parallel sheeted veins and quartz veinlet stockwork. All samples were given equal weighting.
Sample highlights from the El Colorado/La Ventana Corridor:
- Window A, approximately 100 meters by 130 meters along strike, with 39 samples averaging 0.36 g/t Au and 0.6 grams of silver (“g/t Ag”), including one sample grading 8.6 g/t Au.
- Window B, approximately 300 meters by 280 meters along strike, with 39 samples averaging 0.63 g/t Au and 4.8 g/t Ag, including one sample grading 4.9 g/t Au over 1 meter and another sample grading 3.7 g/t Au over 1.2 meters.
- Window C, approximately 300 meters by 50 meters oriented northeast perpendicular to the northwest-oriented regional vein trends, with 51 samples averaging 0.76 g/t Au and 1.9 g/t Ag.
Sample highlights from the Buena Suerte/San Quintin Corridor:
- Window D, a teardrop shaped area at the Buena Suerte vein zone extension, covering 350 meters in length by a width ranging from 40-80 meters, with 61 samples averaging 0.65 g/t Au and 18.5 g/t Ag.
- Window E, approximately 220 meters by 100 meters along strike, with 94 samples averaging 0.28 g/t Au and 1.3 g/t Ag, including one sample grading 2.7 g/t Au.
Outside of the targeted windows, sample assays from a vein considered to be the Hanging Wall of the Cabeza Blanca vein (located between windows B and D), returned 1.2 meters averaging 10.8 g/t Au. This vein is hosted in the rhyolitic intrusive rock and is mostly soil covered. Almost one kilometer to the east of window D, sample assays from a one-meter vein located near the Cuervos vein returned 7.5 g/t Au.
Rock types hosting veining in the southern corridor are mainly a rhyolite sub-volcanic unit and a meta quartzite-shale unit with lesser biotite granodiorite. Alteration is predominantly silicification associated with quartz veinlets and sericite with gold-silver mineralization cutting these rock types.
The remaining samples were collected from more widespread areas to the northeast and east of the southern extensions (outside of the above map area). Samples results from this region are generally encouraging and the eastern La Española corridor is another priority target for the Company. Mapping and sampling are currently underway at La Española to quantify the size of the exposed vein. Four prior drill holes intersected the vein including previously announced scout hole SCR-068 which was drilled in 2019 and which intercepted 6.179 g/t AuEq over 3.05 meters and 1.327 g/t AuEq over 9.14 meters.
Stockpiled vein material at the La Española mine surface is noteworthy for its distinct multiple bands with greenish quartz, while dikes of rhyolitic composition are common within the ridge that hosts the vein, which cuts both the rhyolitic unit and quartzite.
Mel Herdrick, Sonoro’s VP of Exploration noted, “With this latest round of mapping-sampling information, new priority drill targets have been identified, increasing management’s confidence the next drilling campaign may extend gold mineralization to the south.”
Kenneth MacLeod, Sonoro’s President and CEO added, “With the continuing success of the surface sampling program in areas that had not been previously explored, we are confident that mineralization at Cerro Caliche will continue to expand with the reverse circulation drill program scheduled to restart in the fall.”
John Darch Sonoro’s Chairman commented, “These newly identified oxide gold mineralized windows are essential to our fall drilling campaign to expand mineralization at Cerro Caliche. The presence of strong stockwork quartz veining and broad zones of gold and silver mineralization in all five windows confirm that these will be our high-priority targets. We are particularly encouraged with the number of high-grade samples results as we continue to investigate the potential for near-surface higher-grade mineralization. Confirmation of high-grade mineralization could potentially improve the economics of our proposed open-pit Heap Leach Mining Operation in the initial years of mining.”
As previously announced, drilling activities on the concession have been paused since April 2021 to provide the exploration team sufficient time to ensure all data and assistance was available for the completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) anticipated to be completed in the Fall. The Company has engaged Micon International Ltd. to prepare an updated resource estimation for inclusion in the PEA being prepared by D.E.N.M. Engineering Ltd.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (“QA/QC”) Measures and Analytical Procedures
Samples are collected as continuous chip samples by hand into plastic bags, GPS positions and rock descriptions noted, the bags are numbered using Bureau Veritas (BV) bar code number books, then sealed and taken to secure storage in Cucurpe village near the project.
Company personnel transport those bagged samples directly to the BV preparation laboratory in Hermosillo, Sonora. At the preparation laboratory samples are logged into the BV system using bar code labels, opened, then reduced in size through crushing, splitting and pulverization. Thirty grams of each pulverized sample is split apart in that laboratory and undergoes a fire assay for gold content by reducing the fire assay to a concentrated button of material that is dissolved in acids, and from the solution the gold content is determined by atomic absorption. About 200 grams of each sample are sent by BV to their Vancouver, Canada laboratory where samples are individually dissolved in aqua regia for multi-element ICP analysis, including silver. Quality control standards were inserted in the sample lineup by the BV Vancouver, laboratory.
No QA/QC issues were noted with the results received from the laboratory.
Geologic Description
Cerro Caliche is located 45 kilometers east southeast of Magdalena de Kino in the Cucurpe-Sonora Mega-district of Sonora, Mexico. Multiple historic small underground gambusino gold mines were developed in the concession including Cabeza Blanca, Los Cuervos, Japoneses, Las Abejas, Boluditos, El Colorado, Veta de Oro and Espanola. Mineralization types of the Cucurpe-Sonora Mega-district include variants of epithermal low sulfidation veins and related mineralized dikes and associated volcanic domes. Local altered and mineralized felsic dikes cut the mineralized meta-sedimentary rock units and may be associated with mineralization both in the dikes and meta-sedimentary rocks.
Qualified Person Statement
Stephen Kenwood, P.Geo., a Director of Sonoro, is a Qualified Person within the context of National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and has read and approved this news release. Readers are cautioned that the presence of mineralization on historic mines adjacent to or on Cerro Caliche is not necessarily indicative of economic gold mineralization in the concessions held by the Company.
About Sonoro Gold Corp.
Sonoro Gold Corp. is a publicly listed exploration and development company holding the near development stage Cerro Caliche project and the exploration stage San Marcial properties in Sonora State, Mexico. The Company has highly experienced operational and management teams with proven track records for the discovery and development of natural resource deposits.
On behalf of the Board of Sonoro Gold Corp.
Per: “Kenneth MacLeod”
Kenneth MacLeod
President & CEO
For further information, please contact:
Sonoro Gold Corp. – Tel: (604) 632-1764
Email: info@sonorogold.com
- Published in Mining, News Home, Sonoro Gold
Sonoro Gold Reports Surface Sampling Materially Extends Oxide Gold Mineralized Zones & Announces Priority Targets for Fall 2021 Drill Campaign
Sonoro Gold Corp. (TSXV: SGO | OTCQB: SMOFF | FRA: 23SP) (“Sonoro” or the “Company”) is pleased to report assay results from surface sampling recently completed at the Company’s Cerro Caliche gold project, located in Sonora State, Mexico. The results confirm material extensions of several of the project’s oxide gold mineralized zones and demonstrate linear structural corridors of anomalous gold, silver, and base metal mineralization.
This ongoing surface sampling program will be part of the foundation for the upcoming drilling program designed to materially expand and categorize the project’s oxide gold mineralization.
The following maps shows the locations of the surface samples and mineralized corridors referenced in this news release.
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image or link below
Highlights:
- Collected 1,292 soil and surface rock samples from several well-defined vein and gold mineralized, structural corridors.
- Surface sampling methods consist of continuous chip sampling perpendicular across measured veins and wall rocks.
- Confirmed 600-meter southern extension of the El Colorado – La Ventana Corridor; assay results returned 23.7 meters averaging 1.7 grams of gold per tonne (“g/t Au”), including 5.5 meters averaging 6.0 g/t Au; 8.0 meters averaging 0.6 g/t Au.
- Confirmed 750-meter southern extension of the Buena Suerte – San Quintin Corridor; assay results returned 52.6 meters averaging 0.2 g/t Au including 2.6 meters averaging 2.2 g/t Au; 8.0 meters averaging 0.8 g/t Au; 1.0 meters averaging 9.4 g/t Au.
- High silver content identified at La Magdalena from the northeastern La Magdelena – La Española corridor; assay results returned 1 meter averaging 1,230 g/t Ag with 6.6 g/t Au.
The following map shows four southern vein and gold mineralized corridors with selected assays and target zone for the upcoming drilling campaign.
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image or link below
The following map shows two gold bearing northeastern corridors with high silver contents, a common character of Low Sulfidation mineralization at higher levels in the boiling zones.
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image or link below
Sampling will continue to focus on near surface mineralized structures which outcrop from thick soil and alluvium and is associated with detailed geological mapping completed in preparation of the upcoming drilling program, scheduled to commence in the fall of 2021. To date, the Company has drilled and assayed results from over 34,500 meters of drilling, including a 24,221-meter Phase III drill program completed in the spring of 2021. When combined with historical data, total exploration at Cerro Caliche totals over 47,500 meters, 433 drill holes and 9,365 surface samples.
Drilling activities on the concession have been paused since May 2021 pending financing and to provide the exploration team sufficient time to ensure all data and assistance was available for the completion of two independent NI 43-101 technical reports, scheduled to be filed by mid-August 2021. As previously announced, the Company engaged Micon International Ltd. to prepare an updated Technical Report and D.E.N.M. Engineering Ltd. to prepare a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).
These reports are expected to expand the resource size and upgrade the classification of Cerro Caliche’s identified mineralization and confirm if it is sufficient to support the Company’s proposed HLMO with an initial operating capacity of up to 15,000 tons per day (tpd).
Exploration at Cerro Caliche has identified a broadly mineralized low-sulphidation epithermal vein structure and the presence of multiple northwest trending gold mineralized zones along trend and near surface. As discussed in the Company’s revised Cerro Caliche Project Development Report (“PDR”) and announced in a related news release date May 26, 2021, the current exploration program was designed to test an exploration target of between 75,000,000 to 100,000,000 tonnes with grades potentially between 0.3 g/t to 0.5 g/t AuEq. This is in addition to the estimated inferred resource of 11.5 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.495 g/t gold and 4.3 g/t as stated in the initial NI 43-101 Technical Report1 filed in July 2019.
The reader is cautioned that the potential tonnages and grades in the PDR are conceptual in nature, as at the time of the report’s issue there had been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it was uncertain if further drilling would result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource.
With a limited amount of the property’s mapped gold mineralized zones having been drilled and assayed to date, the upcoming drilling program will strategically target a 750-meter zone along the southern extensions of the El Colorado – La Ventana and Buena Suerte – San Quintin corridors where extensive surface samplings and geological mapping suggests the potential for material expansion of the oxide gold mineralization.
Mel Herdrick, Sonoro’s VP of Exploration noted, “The sampling and mapping program is producing important new data that, when added to Sonoro’s database, significantly assists our ability to locate drill targets and prioritize our drilling, which is anticipated to resume this fall. Previous drilling intercepted gold mineralization in most holes, demonstrating a very good success rate, which I expect will continue in the mineralized zone corridors. I also expect that ongoing sampling at the higher ridge zones to the northeast will show a continuation of gold mineralization that has been previously defined, and as it does, it should lead to additions of mineralized material, especially at El Bellotoso, and El Desprecio, as well as La Española.”
Kenneth MacLeod, Sonoro’s President and CEO added, “The sampling data cited in this news release, together with the additional sampling awaiting assaying, will be instrumental in supplementing recommendations for future exploration to be outlined in the upcoming PEA, anticipated to be released in August. Sonoro is scheduling the next phase of drilling to commence this fall.”
John Darch Sonoro’s Chairman commented, “This sampling program and the highly encouraging results are one of the key components of management’s strategy to develop the conceptual heap leach mining operation and, if successful, to use the cash flow to fund our on-going drilling program and continue expanding already known gold resources and the proposed mine’s rate of production. Our efforts to date have tested barely 20% of the known mineralized zones and I look forward to reporting to our shareholders additional results from this program as well as our upcoming drilling program.”
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (“QA/QC”) Measures and Analytical Procedures
Samples are collected as continuous chip samples by hand into plastic bags, GPS positions and rock descriptions noted, the bags are numbered using ALS-Chemex bar code number books, then sealed and taken to secure storage in Cucurpe village near the project.
Company personnel transport those bagged samples directly to the preparation laboratory of ALS- Chemex in Hermosillo, Sonora. At the preparation laboratory samples are logged into ALS-Chemex system using bar code labels, opened, then reduced in size through crushing, splitting and pulverization. About 200 grams of each sample are sent by ALS-Chemex to their Vancouver, Canada laboratory where samples are individually dissolved in aqua regia for multi-element ICP analysis, including silver. Thirty grams of each pulverized sample is split apart in that laboratory and undergoes a “Fire Assay” for gold content by reducing the fire assay to a concentrated button of material that is dissolved in acids and from the solution, the gold content is determined by atomic absorption. Quality control standards were inserted by the ALS-Chemex, Vancouver, B.C. laboratory.
No QA/QC issues were noted with the results received from the laboratory.
Geologic Description
Cerro Caliche is located 45 kilometers east southeast of Magdalena de Kino in the Cucurpe-Sonora Mega-district of Sonora, Mexico. Multiple historic small underground gold mines were developed in the concession including Cabeza Blanca, Los Cuervos, Japoneses, Las Abejas, Boluditos, El Colorado, Veta de Oro and Espanola. Mineralization types of the Cucurpe-Sonora Mega-district include variants of epithermal low sulfidation veins and related mineralized dikes and associated volcanic domes. Local altered and mineralized felsic dikes cut the mineralized meta-sedimentary rock units and may be associated with mineralization both in the dikes and meta-sedimentary rocks.
Qualified Person Statement
Stephen Kenwood, P.Geo., a Director of Sonoro, is a Qualified Person within the context of National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and has read and approved this news release. Readers are cautioned that the presence of mineralization on historic mines adjacent to or on Cerro Caliche is not necessarily indicative of economic gold mineralization in the concessions held by the Company.
About Sonoro Gold Corp.
Sonoro Gold Corp. is a publicly listed exploration and development company holding the near development stage Cerro Caliche project and the exploration stage San Marcial properties in Sonora State, Mexico. The Company has highly experienced operational and management teams with proven track records for the discovery and development of natural resource deposits.
On behalf of the Board of Sonoro Gold Corp.
Per: “Kenneth MacLeod”
Kenneth MacLeod
President & CEO
For further information, please contact:
Sonoro Gold Corp. – Tel: (604) 632-1764
Email: info@sonorogold.com
- Published in Mining, News Home, Sonoro Gold
Sonoro Gold Completes Phase 3 Drill Program and Moves Towards an Updated N1 43-101 Technical Report and New PEA for Cerro Caliche
Sonoro Gold Corp. (TSXV: SGO | OTCQB: SMOFF | FRA: 23SP) (“Sonoro” or the “Company”) is pleased to report assay results from the final nine RC drill holes, completing Phase Three of its drilling program at the Cerro Caliche gold project, located in Sonora State, Mexico. As noted in news releases, dated April 5, 2021, and April 26, 2021, the Company extended drilling activities to investigate the potential merging of the Japoneses and Buena Suerte zones into a single body of shallow, oxide gold mineralization. Recent results indicate a coalescence of the two zones over a minimum length of 400 meters which may prove to have significant and positive economic implications for the Company’s proposed Heap Leach Mining Operation (HLMO).
The following map shows the location of the nine RC drill holes as well as the merging of the northern extents of the Japoneses and Buena Suerte zones.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/809af3db-65f4-4881-92a1-be91dc3086ab
Two independent NI 43-101 technical reports, scheduled to be filed in July 2021, will provide valuable information as to whether the identified mineralization is sufficient to support a proposed HLMO with an initial operating capacity of up to 15,000 tons per day (tpd). As previously announced, the Company engaged D.E.N.M. Engineering Ltd. to prepare a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and Micon International Ltd. to prepare a mineral resource estimate. The mineral resource estimate will include all prior and current exploration data up to April 2021. To date, the Company has drilled and assayed results from over 34,500 meters of drilling, including over 25,000 meters of new drilling since September 2020. When combined with historical data, total exploration at Cerro Caliche totals over 47,500 meters, 433 drill holes and 9,365 surface samples.
Drilling activities on the concession are currently paused to provide the exploration team time to ensure all data and assistance is available to the independent consultants, and to implement any recommendations set forth in the anticipated technical reports. Subject to the terms of project financing, drilling is scheduled to resume by the end of the third quarter of 2021 to continue expanding mineralization and investigating potential high-grade targets.
Potential Coalescence of Japoneses and Buena Suerte Gold Zones
The final nine drill holes were completed along the narrowing gap between the northwest extension of the Japoneses zone, known as the Buena Vista fault vein zone, and the east flank of the Buena Suerte zone. Four of the drill holes cut the east side of Buena Suerte with drill hole SCR-264 intercepting 15.24 meters averaging 0.764 grams of gold per tonne (“g/t Au”), including 1.52 meters averaging 2.402 g/t Au. Drill hole SCR-261 encountered continuous mineralization from surface but intercepted an artisanal mine working at 19.81 meters. The rig was moved 6 meters and the hole was re-drilled as SCR-261B, which intercepted a total of 35 meters of gold mineralization, including 1.5 meters averaging 1.23 g/t Au.
In the northern extent, roughly at the center of the 150-meter gap separating Japoneses and Buena Suerte, drill hole SCR-262 cut multiple intervals of gold mineralization totaling 52 meters from surface including 1.53 meters averaging 2.171 g/t Au. While this area was previously considered to be outside of the mineralized gold zones, drilling results confirm the material presence of gold mineralization and further support the development of a single pit to mine gold mineralization from both the Japoneses and Buena Suerte zones.
These final drilling results mark the conclusion of a highly successful and intense drilling program. As noted above, management expects two independent 43-101 compliant reports to update the resource size and classification and determine whether it is sufficient to support the Company’s proposed HLMO with a conceptual operation of up to 15,000 tpd.
Mel Herdrick, Sonoro’s VP of Exploration noted, “I am pleased that these latest drill holes show the area between the two gold bearing zones, which was previously considered barren, does in fact carry gold mineralization. It is a very encouraging ending for what has been a very effective drill program. There remains much more potential in the areas we plan to drill later this year and next and I expect that this drilling will continue to define and materially expand and categorize the project’s oxide gold mineralization.”
Kenneth MacLeod, Sonoro’s President and CEO added, “We have reached a watershed juncture in the development of Sonoro, as we are now making the transition from an exploration company to our aspirational goal of becoming a gold producer in early 2022. We are grateful for the support of our shareholders over the past three years as we strive to make Cerro Caliche the next mining success story in Mexico.”
John Darch Sonoro’s Chairman commented, “These final drill results reinforce the potential for the Japoneses-Buena Vista and Buena Suerte zones to be assessed as a single pit with all of the attendant cost savings that a single pit may make possible. They also mark the conclusion of an exceptional year, where Sonoro has been transformed from an exploration junior to a development stage company with a goal of achieving production early next year. Our strategy of exploring and developing Cerro Caliche’s extensive shallow oxide gold mineralization while advancing towards becoming a gold producer is advancing as we had hoped. We anticipate this will be confirmed with the filing of the Micon International’s 43-101 technical report on an updated resource estimate, as well as with the filling of the anticipated PEA regarding the proposed project’s economics.”
Assay Results
Drill collar locations, azimuths and dips for the drill holes included are provided in the table below.
All reported intervals in this news report are 45-degree inclined drill holes cutting an assumed 60–90-degree dipping vein zone toward the drill hole, thus the intercept is considered to be approximately 20 degrees or less from having a perpendicular intersection. The true widths of reported drill widths are anticipated to be about 75 percent or more of intercept widths reported.
The above table illustrates the exploration history of the Cerro Caliche concession. Sonoro commenced drilling in October 2018 and completed the first two phases by June 2019 for a total of 96 drill holes totaling 10,328 meters. The Company initiated Phase 3 drilling in August 2020 and completed the program in April 2021. During Phase three, Sonoro completed 170 RC drill holes (18,206.57 meters) and 48 diamond drill core holes including 11 metallurgical PQ drill holes (6,014.9 meters) for a Phase 3 total of 24,221.47 meters of drilling. Total Sonoro drilling amounts to 34,549.63 meters in 314 drill holes. The earlier Corex and Paget drilling of 104 drill holes over 10,762.67 meters, brings the drilling database to a total of 45,312.3 meters over 418 drill holes. Additionally, the data from earlier drilling by Cambior totaling 2,244.85 meters over 15 holes is appended to the Sonoro database.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (“QA/QC”) Measures and Analytical Procedures
Drill samples are collected with an airstream cyclone and passed into a splitter that divides each sample into quarters. The quartered samples are then bagged and sealed with identification. The sample group has blanks, standards and duplicates inserted into the sample stream.
Bureau Veritas (BV) collects the samples from the drill site and transports them directly to the preparation laboratory in Hermosillo, Sonora. At the preparation laboratory, a split part of each sample (about 500 grams) is reduced through crushing, splitting and pulverization. Thirty grams of each pulverized sample is split apart in the Hermosillo laboratory and undergoes a “Fire Assay” for gold content by reducing the fire assay to a concentrated button of material that is dissolved in acids and the gold content determined by atomic absorption. About another 200 grams of each sample are sent by BV to their Vancouver, Canada laboratory and dissolved in aqua regia for multi-element ICP analysis, including silver.
No QA/QC issues were noted with the results received from the laboratory.
Geologic Description
Cerro Caliche is located 45 kilometers east southeast of Magdalena de Kino in the Cucurpe-Sonora Mega-district of Sonora, Mexico. Multiple historic underground mines were developed in the concession including Cabeza Blanca, Los Cuervos, Japoneses, Las Abejas, Boluditos, El Colorado, Veta de Oro and Espanola. Mineralization types of the Cucurpe-Sonora Mega-district include variants of epithermal low sulfidation veins and related mineralized dikes and associated volcanic domes. Local altered and mineralized felsic dikes cut the mineralized meta-sedimentary rock units and may be associated with mineralization both in the dikes and meta-sedimentary rocks.
Qualified Person Statement
Stephen Kenwood, P.Geo., a Director of Sonoro, is a Qualified Person within the context of National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and has read and approved this news release. Readers are cautioned that the presence of mineralization on historic mines adjacent to or on Cerro Caliche is not necessarily indicative of economic gold mineralization in the concessions held by the Company.
About Sonoro Gold Corp.
Sonoro Gold Corp. is a publicly listed exploration and development company with a portfolio of exploration-stage precious metal properties in Sonora State, Mexico. The Company has highly experienced operational and management teams with proven track records for the discovery and development of natural resource deposits.
On behalf of the Board of Sonoro Gold Corp.
Per: “Kenneth MacLeod”
Kenneth MacLeod
President & CEO
For further information, please contact:
Sonoro Gold Corp. – Tel: (604) 632-1764
Email: info@sonorogold.com
Forward-Looking Statement Cautions: This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to, among other things, the Company’s plans for the exploration, development and operations at the above-described Cerro Caliche Concessions, located in the municipality of Cucurpe, Sonora, Mexico, including statements regarding the Company’s plans for additional exploration drilling, an anticipated update of the current resource estimate for Cerro Caliche to be included in a Micon International 43-101 technical report to be published in Q3 2021, a planned preliminary economic assessment (“PEA”) to be published in 2021 reporting on the viability of a proposed 20,000 tonne/day mining operation, and other material conditions set out above on which the Company’s development plans are dependent. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable based on current circumstances, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “projects”, “aims”, “potential”, “goal”, “objective”, “prospective” and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will”, “would”, “may”, “can”, “could” or “should” occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the possibility of unfavourable exploration and test results, unfavourable results of the contemplated PEA of the Cerro Caliche project, the lack of sufficient future financing to carry out exploration and development plans and unanticipated changes in the legal, regulatory and permitting requirements for the Company’s exploration programs. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law or the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. Readers are encouraged to review the Company’s complete public disclosure record on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cerro Caliche Project Drill Holes
- Published in Mining, News Home, Sonoro Gold
Sonoro Extends El Colorado Zone: Reports 14.6 g/t Gold Over 1.52 Meters Within a 16.77 Meter Intercept of 1.837 g/t Gold
Sonoro Gold Corp. (TSXV: SGO | OTCQB: SMOFF | FRA: 23SP) (“Sonoro” or the “Company”) is pleased to report assay results from an additional 25 RC drill holes completed at four of the 18 gold mineralized zones within the Cerro Caliche gold concession located in Sonora, Mexico. Recent drilling successfully tested on-strike and lateral extensions at El Colorado, Cabeza Blanca, Buena Vista and Boludito, as shown on the map below.
Highlights are as follows:
- SCR-234 in the southern extension of El Colorado intercepted 16.77 meters averaging 1.837 grams of gold per tonne (“g/t Au”); including 4.57 meters averaging 5.627 g/t Au; including 1.52 meters averaging 14.6 g/t Au.
- SCR-239 in the eastern extension of El Colorado intercepted 7.62 meters averaging 2.425 g/t Au; including 1.52 meters averaging 10.6 g/t Au.
- SCR-256 at Cabeza Blanca intercepted 12.19 meters averaging 1.067 g/t Au; including 4.57 meters averaging 2.10 g/t Au; including 1.52 meters averaging 3.701 g/t Au.
- SCR-247 at Buena Vista intercepted 25.91 meters averaging 0.578 g/t Au; including 3.05 meters averaging 1.784 g/t Au.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c473b79-d376-47bc-b267-2283c3363edb
El Colorado Zone Expanded in Three Directions
Eight additional drill holes were completed in the El Colorado gold mineralized zone, bringing the total drilled in the zone to 22 holes and further extending the dimensions of the zone to the north, south and east. Gold bearing veins in this zone depart from the uniform northwest-prominent trend of the district and exhibit numerous splays and abrupt directional changes in the vein trends. Mineralization at El Colorado remains open in all directions and to depth.
Drill holes SCR-234 and SCR-239 both reported high grade vein intercepts. Located in the southern extension of the zone, SCR-234 reported 1.52 meters averaging 14.6 g/t Au within wider intervals of 4.57 meters averaging 5.627 g/t Au and 16.77 meters averaging 1.837 g/t Au. In the new southeastern extension of the zone and proximal to other prior high-grade intercepts, drill hole SCR-239 reported 1.52 meters averaging 10.6 g/t Au within a wider interval of 7.62 meters averaging 2.425 g/t Au. These vein intercepts may be a continuation of known veins such as the northwesterly-trending Guadalupe vein, the northerly-trending Cabeza Blanca vein, or the high-grade low angle Colorado vein identified in drill hole SCR-044 in 2018, the highest-grade drill hole completed at El Colorado. The Company plans to investigate these vein structures further in the next phase of drilling.
Veins from the El Colorado zone connect northward mainly with the Cabeza Blanca Vein zone and the Guadalupe vein. Drill hole SCR-246 located in the deep canyon between El Colorado and Cabeza Blanca shows several short connecting mineralized intervals where the Guadalupe and Cabeza Blanca veins intercept.
The image below illustrates a 300-meter cross section of selected drill holes at El Colorado.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bf717567-ac98-45fb-8baa-7894e91fd7de
Cabeza Blanca Vein Zone Extended
Six new drill holes completed in the Cabeza Blanca gold mineralized vein zone extend the zone 50 meters to the north providing a more detailed understanding of the zone. Cabeza Blanca remains open along strike to the north and may coalesce with the El Colorado structure to the south, suggesting a continuous strike length of over one kilometer.
At the northern extension of the zone, approximately 150 meters from the bottom of Laydame Canyon, drill hole SCR-245 intercepted 1.52 meters averaging 1.990 g/t Au within a 3.05 meter-wider intercept averaging 1.118 g/t Au. The remaining five drill holes are spaced upslope to the south over a distance of 235 meters to the top of Cabeza Blanca ridge.
Highlights are as follows:
- SCR-253 intercepted 12.19 meters averaging 0.792 g/t Au; including 1.52 meters averaging 2.159 g/t Au.
- SCR-256 intercepted 12.19 meters averaging 1.067 g/t Au; including 4.57 meters averaging 2.10 g/t Au.
Among the six-drill holes recently completed at Cabeza Blanca, SCR-256 is the furthest south and is located approximately 35 meters north of the previously announced SCR-096 which intercepted 16.76 meters averaging 0.841 g/t Au including 4.57 meters averaging 2.419 g/t Au.
The image below illustrates a 600-meter longitudinal section of selected drill holes at Cabeza Blanca.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c68e8c97-21ae-4219-9987-ed557a85ff3f
Drilling at Buena Vista-Japoneses Suggests Potential Coalescence with Buena Suerte Zone
Drilling at the western extension of the Buena Vista zone continues to narrow the gap between the Japoneses–Buena Vista and Buena Suerte zones. Each drill hole intercepted gold mineralization at or near surface.
Highlights are as follows:
- SCR-244 intercepted 24.38 meters averaging 0.401 g/t Au.
- SCR-247 intercepted 25.91 meters averaging 0.578 g/t Au; including 3.05 meters averaging 1.784 g/t Au.
- SCR-254 intercepted 4.57 meters averaging 0.894 g/t Au and 9.6 g/t Ag.
Results from nine additional drill holes completed between Buena Vista and Buena Suerte are being processed for assays with results expected within ten days. The Company anticipates these drilling results to further support the potential merging of the two zones into a single body of shallow, oxide gold mineralization. If confirmed, a single larger gold mineralized zone may prove to have significant and positive economic implications for the Company’s proposed Heap Leach Mining Operation (HLMO).
Boludito Zone Extended to the North
Seven new holes drilled at the Boludito zone further confirm the zone’s mineralization as an extension of the strategically important 1.3-kilometer long Cuervos-Japoneses-Boludito gold mineralized structure. All seven holes were drilled on the northern slope of Laydame Canyon situated to the south between the Boludito and Japoneses zones. The group of drill holes indicate a general continuation of mineralization at lower gold grades with slightly higher silver content than mineralization identified south of the canyon bottom.
Highlights are as follows:
- SCR-233 intercepted 4.57 meters averaging 0.721 g/t Au.
- SCR-235 intercepted 7.62 meters averaging 0.402 g/t Au.
- SCR-237 intercepted 10.67 meters averaging 0.629 g/t Au and 9.8 g/t Ag, including 1.52 meters averaging 2.09 g/t Au and 39.2 g/t Ag.
These drill holes represent an extension of the Boludito mineralized zone to the north of Laydame Canyon by approximately 150 meters.
Mel Herdrick, VP Exploration of Sonoro, stated, “These 25 drill holes have shown continuing expansion of gold mineralization in all four zones. The final nine drill holes assay reports arriving over the next week will show the character of the area between the Buena Suerte and Buena Vista-Japoneses zones. Surface rock in that area is strongly silicified with quartz veinlets all overprinting mylonite structures in quartzites with about one percent limonite from oxidation. I consider this intermediate area to be prospective for additional gold mineralization.”
Kenneth MacLeod, President and CEO of Sonoro, stated, “Upon the imminent receipt of the final assays for the current phase of the drill program, our database will contain over 47,500 meters of historic and recent data from 433 core and RC holes, of which 34,550 meters were drilled by Sonoro since 2018. The data will be processed by Micon International in the preparation of an updated NI 43-101 technical report and by D.E.N.M. Engineering in the preparation of a Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Cerro Caliche project. We anticipate a resumption of the drilling program in August 2021, following receipt of these reports.”
John Darch, Chairman of Sonoro, added, “These drilling results continue to affirm the potential of Cerro Caliche to host a major deposit amenable to support the proposed 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes per day Heap Leach Mining Operation (HLMO). Investors’ recognition of this potential was evident when our recent financing was over-subscribed despite being increased twice. Of Cerro Caliche’s 18 zones, this drilling focused on four different gold zones – all demonstrating significant increases in size with more high-grade gold intercepts reported in every zone. As these zones expand, many are evidencing coalescence into larger mineralized structures which would be optimal cost-wise if these multiple gold zones merge into a single major open pit mining operation. With the conclusion of the current drilling program, the development of the Cerro Caliche HLMO should accelerate as we approach critical milestones, including Cerro Caliche’s NI 43-101 resource update, its preliminary economic assessment and securing project finance for the construction and commissioning of the mine.”
Assay Results
Drill collar locations, azimuths and dips for the drill holes included are provided in the table below.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (“QA/QC”) Measures and Analytical Procedures
Drill samples are collected with an airstream cyclone and passed into a splitter that divides each sample into quarters. The quartered samples are then bagged and sealed with identification. The sample group has blanks, standards and duplicates inserted into the sample stream.
Bureau Veritas (BV) collects from the drill site the samples and transports them directly to the preparation laboratory in Hermosillo, Sonora. At the preparation laboratory, a split part of each sample (about 500 grams) is reduced through crushing, splitting and pulverization. Thirty grams of each pulverized sample is split apart in the Hermosillo laboratory and undergoes a “Fire Assay” for gold content by reducing the fire assay to a concentrated button of material that is dissolved in acids and the gold content determined by atomic absorption. About another 200 grams of each sample are sent by BV to their Vancouver, Canada laboratory and dissolved there in aqua regia for multi-element ICP analysis, including silver. No QA/QC issues were noted with the results received from the laboratory.
Geologic Description
Cerro Caliche is located 45 kilometers east southeast of Magdalena de Kino in the Cucurpe-Sonora Mega-district of Sonora, Mexico. Multiple historic underground mines were developed in the concession including Cabeza Blanca, Los Cuervos, Japoneses, Las Abejas, Boluditos, El Colorado, Veta de Oro and Espanola. Mineralization types of the Cucurpe-Sonora Mega-district include variants of epithermal low sulfidation veins and related mineralized dikes and associated volcanic domes. Local altered and mineralized felsic dikes cut the mineralized meta-sedimentary rock units and may be associated with mineralization both in the dikes and meta-sedimentary rocks.
Qualified Person Statement
Stephen Kenwood, P.Geo., a Director of Sonoro, is a Qualified Person within the context of National Instrument 43-101 and has read and approved this news release. Readers are cautioned that the presence of mineralization on historic mines adjacent to or on Cerro Caliche is not necessarily indicative of economic gold mineralization in the concessions held by the Company.
Private Placement
On April 20, 2021, the company announced the closing of its oversubscribed non-brokered private placement of 17,283,586 units at $0.18 per unit, for total gross proceeds of $3,111,045. Each Unit consists of one Sonoro Common Share and one Share Purchase Warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Sonoro Common share for a period of two years from the closing date at an exercise price of $0.30 per share.
In connection with the Offering, the Company entered into finder’s fee agreements with Haywood Securities Inc. (“Haywood”), Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. (“Echelon”), Couloir Capital Securities Ltd. (“Couloir”), Canaccord Genuity Corp. (“Canaccord”) and National Securities Corp. (“National Securities”).
The Company would like to take this opportunity to clarify that it paid a total of $26,406 in Finder’s Fees, not $80,110, as incorrectly announced in the Company’s new release dated April 20, 2021. The Company also paid $9,722 in Finder’s units and 167,922 in non-transferable Finder’s Warrants.
The net proceeds from the Offering will be used principally to fund ongoing development plans at Cerro Caliche, including completion of metallurgical testing, preparation of a NI 43-101 resource update, a Preliminary Economic Assessment, in addition to property maintenance payments, and secondarily for corporate and general administrative expenses.
The Offering has received conditional acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange but remains subject to receipt of final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.
About Sonoro Gold Corp.
Sonoro Gold Corp. is a publicly listed exploration and development company with a portfolio of exploration-stage precious metal properties in Sonora State, Mexico. The Company has highly experienced operational and management teams with proven track records for the discovery and development of natural resource deposits.
On behalf of the Board of Sonoro Gold Corp.
Per: “Kenneth MacLeod”
Kenneth MacLeod
President & CEO
For further information, please contact:
Sonoro Gold Corp. – Tel: (604) 632-1764
Email: info@sonorogold.com
Forward-Looking Statement Cautions: This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to, among other things, the Company’s plans for the exploration, development and operations at the above-described Cerro Caliche Concessions, located in the municipality of Cucurpe, Sonora, Mexico, including statements regarding the Company’s plans for additional exploration drilling, an anticipated update of the current resource estimate for Cerro Caliche to be included in a Micon International 43-101 technical report, and an independent PEA, both to be published in Q3 2021, the expectation that the planned PEA will support the Company’s mine development plans, anticipated coalescing of multiple mineralized zones, the results of pending assays, and other material conditions set out above on which the Company’s development plans are dependent. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable based on current circumstances, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “projects”, “aims”, “potential”, “goal”, “objective”, “prospective” and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will”, “would”, “may”, “can”, “could” or “should” occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the possibility of unfavourable exploration and test results, unfavourable results of the contemplated PEA of the Cerro Caliche project, the lack of sufficient future financing to carry out exploration and development plans and unanticipated changes in the legal, regulatory and permitting requirements for the Company’s exploration programs. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law or the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. Readers are encouraged to review the Company’s complete public disclosure record on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Figure 1
Recent Drilling Successfully Tested On-Strike and Lateral Extensions at El Colorado, Cabeza Blanca, Buena Vista and BoluditoFigure 2
El Colorado Interpretive Cross Section A-A’Figure 3
- Published in Mining, News Home, Sonoro Gold
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