Promontorio Silver Resource

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

  • Over 65,000 metres of drilling has delineated a resource estimate of 42.115 million tonnes containing 140.79 million ounces of silver equivalent in the Measured & Indicated categories grading 104 g/t silver equivalent and 14.57 million tonnes containing 39.78 million ounces of silver equivalent in the Inferred category grading 84.9 g/t silver equivalent (see table 2)
  • A new 43-101 Resource Estimate for Promontorio including the La Negra deposit was filed November 2023, see above (Visit La Negra project page for its resource details). See table 2 for the combined resource.
  • The Promontorio Silver Resource is part of the Promontorio Mineral Belt which includes the La Negra high grade silver project, located 7 kilometres north (of the Promontorio Silver Resource)
  • Advanced metallurgical test work has allowed for the inclusion of gold in the mineral resources, which has a significant impact on the silver equivalent grades and relative ounces
  • Drilling returned a series of high-grade silver results from the NE zone, adjacent to the discovery area
  • The Promontorio Silver Resource remains open for expansion in three directions and to depth
  • Pan American Silver optioned the Promontorio Mineral Belt from 2016 to June 2019, and invested US$3.6 million in expenditures on advancing the project

View the full Promontorio-La Negra Resource Estimate 43-101 Report

OVERVIEW

The Promontorio Silver Resource is situated on Promontorio Mineral Belt Property that includes the La Negra silver discovery; located in the state of Sonora, Mexico. The Promontorio Silver Resource currently hosts a resource estimate of 42.115 million tonnes containing 140.79 million ounces of silver equivalent in the Measured & Indicated categories grading 104 g/t silver equivalent and 14.57 million tonnes containing 39.78 million ounces of silver equivalent in the Inferred category grading 84.9 g/t silver equivalent (see Table 1). Pan American Silver optioned the Promontorio Mineral Belt from 2016 to June 2019, and invested US$3.6 million in expenditures on advancing the project.

Promontorio-La Negra Combined Resource Estimate

Table 1: 2023 Total Promontorio-La Negra Project Mineral Resource Estimate

In Situ Tonnage, Grades and Metal Content

Pit

Class

Tonnage (kt)

AgEq
(g/t)

Ag
(g/t)

Au
(g/t)

Pb (%)

Zn (%)

AgEq Metal (kOz)

AG Metal (kOz)

Au Metal (kOz)

Pb (klb)

Zn (klb)

Promontorio

Measured

12,451

111.7

37.0

0.456

0.53

0.61

44,718

14,823

183

146,033

166,620

Indicated

29,664

100.7

33.5

0.412

0.47

0.55

96,072

31,950

393

306,716

360,996

Meas+Ind

42,115

104.0

34.5

0.425

0.49

0.57

140,790

46,773

575

452,748

527,616

Inferred

14,575

84.9

27.9

0.348

0.42

0.45

39,782

13,069

163

136,241

143,632

La Negra

Indicated

5,285

129.3

126.3

0.067

21,966

21,454

11

0

0

Inferred

1,257

114.8

112.2

0.060

4,639

4,536

2

0

0

Total

Measured

12,451

111.7

37.0

0.456

0.53

0.61

44,718

14,823

183

146,033

166,620

Indicated

34,949

105.0

47.5

0.360

0.40

0.47

118,038

53,404

404

306,716

360,996

Meas+Ind

47,400

106.8

44.8

0.385

0.43

0.50

162,755

68,227

587

452,748

527,616

Inferred

15,832

87.3

34.6

0.325

0.81

0.89

44,421

17,606

165

282,274

310,251

PROMONTORIO MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE

The mineral resource estimates (“MRE”) have been prepared by Sue Bird, M Sc., P.Eng., Geological and Mining Engineer of by Moose Mountain Technical Services ("MMTS") in accordance with NI 43-101 standards (May 9, 2016), CIM Definition Standards (May 19, 2014) with guidance from CIM Best Practice Guidelines (November 29, 2019).

Table 2: 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate for the Promontorio Deposit

Class

Cutoff

In situ Tonnage, Grade and Metal Content

AgEq
(g/t)

Tonnage (kt)

AgEq
(g/t)

Ag
(g/t)

Au
(g/t)

Pb
(%)

Zn
(%)

AgEq Metal (kOz)

AG Metal (kOz)

Au Metal (kOz)

Pb
(klb)

Zn
(klb)

Measured

15

13,538

104.3

34.5

0.428

0.49

0.57

45,419

15,012

186

147,440

168,631

20

13,011

107.9

35.7

0.441

0.51

0.59

45,122

14,934

184

146,864

167,803

25

12,451

111.7

37.0

0.456

0.53

0.61

44,718

14,823

183

146,033

166,620

30

11,903

115.6

38.4

0.470

0.55

0.63

44,233

14,691

180

144,854

164,797

40

10,793

123.9

41.3

0.500

0.59

0.68

42,984

14,324

174

141,339

160,851

50

9,710

132.7

44.4

0.532

0.64

0.73

41,423

13,848

166

136,790

155,200

Indicated

15

32,225

94.3

31.3

0.387

0.44

0.52

97,728

32,439

401

311,172

366,586

20

30,993

97.4

32.4

0.399

0.45

0.53

97,033

32,235

398

309,525

364,187

25

29,664

100.7

33.5

0.412

0.47

0.55

96,072

31,950

393

306,716

360,996

30

28,179

104.6

34.8

0.426

0.49

0.57

94,756

31,564

386

302,544

355,970

40

24,961

113.6

37.9

0.461

0.53

0.62

91,133

30,447

370

291,656

342,834

50

21,907

123.1

41.3

0.497

0.58

0.68

86,721

29,089

350

278,188

326,002

Measured + Indicated

15

45,763

97.3

32.3

0.399

0.45

0.53

143,147

47,451

587

458,612

535,217

20

44,004

100.5

33.3

0.411

0.47

0.55

142,155

47,169

582

456,389

531,990

25

42,115

104.0

34.5

0.425

0.49

0.57

140,790

46,773

575

452,748

527,616

30

40,082

107.9

35.9

0.439

0.51

0.59

138,989

46,256

566

447,397

520,768

40

35,754

116.7

38.9

0.473

0.55

0.64

134,117

44,772

543

432,996

503,684

50

31,617

126.1

42.2

0.508

0.60

0.69

128,144

42,937

516

414,978

481,202

Inferred

15

16,637

76.8

25.1

0.319

0.38

0.40

41,072

13,415

171

139,011

147,447

20

15,433

81.4

26.7

0.335

0.41

0.43

40,401

13,238

166

137,797

145,622

25

14,575

84.9

27.9

0.348

0.42

0.45

39,782

13,069

163

136,241

143,632

30

13,671

88.7

29.2

0.362

0.44

0.47

38,980

12,830

159

133,819

141,052

40

11,778

97.3

32.1

0.395

0.49

0.51

36,847

12,152

150

127,493

133,206

50

9,980

106.8

35.3

0.432

0.54

0.56

34,256

11,327

139

119,031

123,652

Notes to the 2023 Promontorio Resource Table:

1.Resources are reported using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards and were estimated using the 2019 CIM Best Practices Guidelines, as required by NI43-101

2.The base case Mineral Resource has been confined by "reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction" shape using the following assumptions:

    • Metal prices of US$22/oz Silver, US$1800/oz Gold, US$0.95/lb Lead and US$1.25/lb Zinc. Metallurgical recovery of 74% Silver, 70% Gold, 81% Lead and 88% Zinc
    • Payable metal of 95% Silver, 99% Gold in dore 95% Au in Pb concentrate, 95% Lead and 85% Zinc. Lead payable assumes a concentrate grade of 65% Pb and a 3% unit deduction. Zinc payable assumes a concentrate grade of 52% Pb and an 8% unit deduction. Offsite costs (transport, smelter treatment and refining) of US$1.5/oz Silver and gold in the Pb concentrate, US$10 oz Gold, US$ 0.15/lb Lead and US$0.31/ lb Zinc. Lead offsite costs assume 100 $US/dmt transport, 100 $US/ dmt treatment. Zinc offsite costs assume 100 $US/dmt transport, 200 $US/ dmt treatment.
  • Processing, General, and Administrative (“G&A”) costs of US$ 12/ tonne milled. Mining cost of US$2.00 / tonne
  • 50 degree pit slopes with the 150% price case pit shell is used for the confining shape

3.The resulting NSR = Ag*US$0.63/g*74% + Au*US$56.71/g*70% + 22.0462*(Pb*US$0.77/lb*81% + Zn*US$ 0.80/lb*88%)

4.The specific gravity of the resource averages 2.79 and is calculated from the Lead and Zinc content. Non-mineralized material is assigned an SG of 2.73

5. Numbers may not add due to rounding.


Additional metallurgical test work has allowed for the inclusion of gold in the mineral resources, which has a significant impact on the AgEq grades and relative ounces.The following material changes incorporated into the updated resource estimation contributed to the significant increase in the mineral resource:

  • The estimated Measured and Indicated gold resources contained within the mineralized diatreme system total 508,000 ounces with an additional 155,000 ounces Inferred.

Drilling data includes a total of 45,118 samples from 65,092 meters of drilling. Of the 45,118 samples in the database, 22,658 lie within the wireframes and were used in the resource estimation. Wireframes are three-dimensional closed solids constructed in Vulcan(tm) and based on a combination of logged geology and assay information. These wireframes limit the estimation.

Three-dimensional wireframes were constructed for the modeled domains using Leapfrog 3D(tm) modeling software as well as Vulcan(tm). SRK modeled both the Pit and NE zones independently, and corrected inconsistencies with the Leapfrog solids using Vulcan.

The average sample length for all samples is 1.44 metres. Samples were composited to 3 m lengths within the breccia, stockwork, and PC zones. For the estimation, SRK used Ordinary Kriging in the densely-drilled areas and Inverse Distance Weighting for the areas with more widely-spaced drilling. SRK applied appropriate block model validation techniques for a resource estimation at this stage of project development.

Pit optimization was conducted using Whittle(tm) software and evaluating the block model which was constructed in Vulcan(tm). The purpose of the pit-optimization exercise is to satisfy the conditions of "reasonable prospects for economic extraction" as defined in the CIM Guidelines using pit shells based on a very simple "break-even" cash flow model. These pits are not representative of detailed mine plans or even the "best" pit design for the Project. A cut-off for the mineral resource of 20 g/t and 45 g/t AgEq for open pit and underground potential was used respectively.

Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources are categorized as Measured being where at least 3 drill holes occur within a 25 metres ellipsoid, Indicated being where at least 3 drill holes occur within a 50 metres ellipsoid and Inferred being where at least 2 drill holes occur within a 75 metres ellipsoid. Blocks estimated using Inverse Distance Weighting in the widely-spaced drilling intermediate to the two primary zones are categorized as Inferred.


PROMONTORIO RESOURCE CALCULATION DETAILS

The following tables outline the calculation used by Sue Bird to determine the Promontorio resource estiamte.

Promontorio:

METAL

2013

2023

DIFFERENCE

Price (USD)

Recovery

Equivalency with Recovery

Equivalency

AGEQV FACTOR

Price

(USD)

Recovery

Equivalency with Recovery

AGEQV FACTOR

AG

31

74

0.738

0.997

0.997

22

74

0.523

AU

1650

70

37.134

53.049

53.049

50.35

1800

70

40.510

77.40

1.54

PB

0.96

81

17.143

21.164

21.164

23.24

0.95

81

16.965

32.41

1.39

ZN

0.89

88

17.267

19.621

19.621

23.41

1.25

88

24.251

46.33

1.98

Promontorio:

with recovery included:

AgEq = Ag + (Pb)*(21.164/0.997)) + (Zn)*(19.621/0.997)) + (Au)*(53.049/0.997)

what was done in 2013:

2013:00:00

AgEq = Ag + (Pb)*(21.164)) + (Zn)*(19.621) + (Au)*(53.209)

2023:00:00

AgEq = Ag + (Pb)*(21.164)) + (Zn)*(19.621) + (Au)*(53.209)

Promontorio

Metal

NSP

Units

Recovery

Value ($/g)

Factor

Ag1

0.63

US$/g

74%

0.4662

1.00

Au2

56.71

US$/g

70%

39.6970

85.15

Pb3

0.77

US$/lb

81%

13.7502

29.49

Zn4

0.8

US$/lb

88%

15.5205

33.29

AgEqv=

AG + AU*85.15 + PB*29.49+ ZN*33.29

1. US$22/oz silver

2. US$1800/oz gold

3. US$0.96/lb lead

4. US$0.89/lb zinc

METALLURICAL TEST WORK

G&T Metallurgical Services Ltd, Kamloops, BC, Canada completed preliminary metallurgical programs on drill core composites from the Promontorio property for Kootenay in 2009, 2012 and 2013.

Several significant factors were noticed in SRK's review of the metallurgical process work conducted to date. The metallurgical program investigated a standard polymetallic sequential flotation flowsheet that includes:

  • Crushing;
  • Grinding;
  • Lead Flotation;
  • Zinc Flotation; and
  • Pyrite/Arsenopyrite Flotation

Three rounds of metallurgical testing have been conducted on the Promontorio deposit and two rounds of metallurgical testing have been conducted on the La Negra deposit.

At Promontorio, overall gold recovery is estimated at 70% and is based on 65% gold recovery into the pyrite flotation concentrate followed by 94% cyanidation gold extraction from the pyrite concentrate after pressure oxidation, plus an average 9% gold recovery into the lead flotation concentrate. Economic Analysis in later sections assumes Lead and Zinc concentrate grades of 65% and 52% respectively. These are industry standard values in the range of the locked cycle test results.

GEOLOGY & MINERALIZATION

The claims lie on the western margin of the Sierra Madre Occidental rhyolite volcanic province, and occur in a wide NNW-trending zone of late-Tertiary (Neogene) extension. The listric normal faults have dissected and tilted the Tertiary rhyolite sequence and exposed a wide range of older rock types as inliers.

Geologic units in the immediate vicinity of the Promontorio prospect include basement rocks of Late Triassic, Late Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary age overlain unconformably by Late Tertiary volcanics and conglomerates. The basement rocks underlie the northern part of the Promontorio area and the Late Tertiary cover units, the southern part. The Project lies very proximal to the transition between the basement and the cover units. It is entirely hosted in the basement rocks. The regional distribution of the basement and cover is suggestive of a general southerly tilting to the area where the older rocks are exposed to the north.

The mineralization at Promontorio is recognized as being hosted in a diatreme breccia complex measuring roughly 3.5 by 1.8 km in size. This is an important geologic concept, as diatreme complexes have exploration potential and are known to host deposits of precious and base metals. Mineralization is centered on multi-stage breccias and peripheral stockwork zones within the diatreme complex. Drilling has concentrated on two areas of the diatreme complex that make up the current mineral resources, referred to as the Pit and NE zones.

The Pit and NE resource zones are locally open along strike and at depth and represent potential areas for resource expansion. The Pit and NE zones are the only two areas of known mineralized breccia or stockwork to be extensively drilled. Distal from these areas, there are several other areas of mineralized breccia or stockwork with limited or no drilling or are being currently drill tested that have similar geochemical or geophysical characteristics as the known mineralization of the Pit and NE zones.

Mineralized breccias and surrounding stockworks are further delineated by broader alteration and geochemical zones showing geochemical signatures such as strong sodium depletion and sulfur enrichment which are volumetrically larger than the mineralization and coincident with it. These geochemical signatures are currently being applied to assist in the delineation of additional mineralization in some of the satellite exploration targets.

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