Bonanza-Grade Silver Intersected At Cerro Las Minitas
VANCOUVER - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. has identified Bonanza-grade silver mineralization on a second target within the Mina La Bocona zone at the Cerro Las Minitas project, Durango Mexico. Drilling on the East side of the Cerro tested the down-dip projection of the La Bocona Chimney which was historically mined by artisanal miners to approximately 210 meters depth. Bonanza grade assays from drill hole 20CLM-131 returned: 15.1m down-hole (8.0m est. TT) averaging 1,072g/t Ag, 18.8% Pb and 7.5% Zn (2040g/t AgEq; 51.7% ZnEq) which includes subintervals of 1.1m down hole (0.6m est. TT) grading 3,180g/t Ag, 58.8% Pb and 2.3% Zn and 1.6m down hole interval (0.8m est. TT) grading 2,340g/t Ag, 35.9% Pb and 1.6% Zn; Additional mineralized intervals intersected further down-hole include: 16.1m down-hole (8.5m est. TT) averaging 121g/t Ag, 2.5% Pb and 2.5% Zn (311g/t AgEq; 7.9% ZnEq) which includes 3.0m down hole (1.6m est. TT) grading 413g/t Ag, 8.7% Pb and 9.3% Zn (1,103g/t AgEq; 28% Zn); and 1.0m down-hole (0.5m est. TT) averaging 59g/t Ag, 0.6g/t Au and 3.37% Cu (489g/t AgEq).
Drill hole 20CLM-131 is one of four holes which tested the extension of the La Bocona Chimney over an approximate area of 60m x 140m and between the 210-meter mining level and roughly 350 meters below surface. Mineralization is open to depth and partially open along strike.
Select intercepts from other holes which tested the Chimney include: 20.9m down-hole (9.0m est. TT) averaging 212g/t Ag, 0.64g/t Au, 3.7% Pb and 3.3% Zn (512g/t AgEq; 13.0% ZnEq) which includes 7.4m down-hole (3.2m est TT) grading 287g/t Ag, 1.64g/t Au, 4.6% Pb and 4.8% Zn (763g/t AgEq; 19.3% ZnEq) from Drill hole 20CLM-129; and 6.4m down-hole (4.3m est. TT) averaging 146g/t Ag, 0.19g/t Au, 2.9% Pb and 1.6% Zn (320g/t AgEq; 8.1% ZnEq) which includes 0.8m down-hole (0.5m est TT) grading 809g/t Ag, 0.4g/t Au, 17.1% Pb and 9.1% Zn (1,741g/t AgEq; 44.1% ZnEq) from drill hole 20CLM-128.
The mineralization identified in the La Bocona Chimney is the second, thick sulphide lens with Bonanza-grade silver identified in the Mina La Bocona target area and the third high-grade lens identified on the eastern side of the Cerro. It is located just 150 meters to the west-northwest of the Muralla Chimney and the previously reported drill holes 20CLM-125 (33.2m est TT averaging 435g/t AgEq and 15CLM-078 (several zones including 5.6m est TT averaging 528g/t AgEq and 3.6m averaging 1077g/t AgEq). Significantly, none of the mineralization identified on the east side of the Cerro either historically or as part of this current exploration program has yet been incorporated into the current Mineral Resource Estimate for the project.
Drilling has now resumed on the property with one drill targeting lateral and down-dip step-outs of drill hole 20CLM-131 at the La Bocona Chimney and a second targeting step-outs of drill hole 20CLM-125 at the Muralla Chimney. Drilling will continue to test and extend these two sulphide zones, the near surface oxide mineralization adjacent to the Muralla chimney and the South Skarn target as well as testing additional targets further to the to the northwest of the Bocona Chimney and the recently acquired El Sol claim.
Rob Macdonald, Vice President Exploration, said, "The identification of a third near-surface sulphide lens, with Bonanza- grades of silver, on the east side of the Cerro is significant as it not only demonstrates the continued exploration potential of these targets but also the clear potential to identify the critical mass of mineralization necessary to support a mining scenario. Drilling has now identified compelling sulphide and oxide intercepts within an 800 meters strike-length that require additional drilling. A further 400 meters remains to be tested on the east side of the Cerro and further drilling is warranted on the newly acquired El Sol Claim which will all be part of the continued 2021 drill campaign."