Toronto – March 29, 2023: AbraSilver Resource Corp. (TSX.V: ABRA; OTCQX: ABBRF) (“AbraSilver” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce assay results from its latest diamond drill holes from the ongoing Phase III program on the Company’s wholly-owned Diablillos property in Salta Province, Argentina (“Diablillos” or the “Project”).
High-grade, shallow silver oxide mineralization continues to be intersected at the JAC zone, as well as high-grade silver associated with copper in the underlying oxide/sulphide transition zone. Key takeaways from the latest drill results include:
The latest assay result highlights are summarized in Table 1 below.
Table 1 – Diablillos Drill Result Highlights in JAC Zone
(Intercepts greater than 2,000 gram-metres AgEq shown in bold text):
| Drill Hole | From (m) |
To (m) |
Type | Interval (m) |
Ag< g/t |
Au g/t |
Cu % |
AgEq1 g/t |
|||||||||
| DDH-23-007 | 115.0 | 119.0 | Oxides | 4.0 | 2,320.0 | - | - | 2,320.0 | |||||||||
| DDH-23-007 | 125.0 | 140.0 | Oxides | 15.0 | 62.0 | 0.36 | - | 91.5 | |||||||||
| DDH-23-007 | Includes | 136.0 | 137.0 | Oxides | 1.0 | 157.4 | 1.38 | - | 270.4 | ||||||||
| DDH-23-007 | 150.0 | 152.5 | Oxides | 2.5 | 91.0 | - | - | 91.0 | |||||||||
| DDH-23-009 | 79.0 | 103.0 | Oxides | 24.0 | 63.8 | - | - | 63.8 | |||||||||
| DDH-23-009 | 109.0 | 110.0 | Oxides | 1.0 | 89.8 | - | - | 89.8 | |||||||||
| DDH-23-009 | 161.0 | 169.5 | Oxides | 8.5 | 479.2 | 0.15 | - | 491.5 | |||||||||
| DDH-23-009 | 169.5 | 174.0 | Transition | 4.5 | 518.8 | 0.16 | 0.31 | 531.9 | |||||||||
| DDH-23-009 | 174.0 | 181.5 | Sulphides | 7.5 | 21.4 | - | 0.95 | 21.4 | |||||||||
| DDH-23-010 | 80.5 | 102.5 | Oxides | 22.0 | 66.1 | - | - | 66.1 | |||||||||
| DDH-23-010 | 109.0 | 121.0 | Oxides | 12.0 | 169.3 | 0.15 | - | 181.6 | |||||||||
| DDH-23-010 | 124.0 | 129.0 | Oxides | 5.0 | 60.7 | 0.13 | - | 71.3 | |||||||||
| DDH-23-010 | 132.0 | 177.5 | Oxides | 45.5 | 233.4 | - | - | 233.4 | |||||||||
| DDH-23-010 | 177.5 | 179.0 | Transition | 1.5 | 484.9 | 0.28 | 1.70 | 507.8 | |||||||||
| DDH-23-010 | 179.0 | 182.0 | Oxides | 3.0 | 326.4 | - | - | 326.4 | |||||||||
Note: All results in this news release are rounded. Assays are uncut and undiluted. Widths are drilled widths, not true widths. True widths are estimated to be approximately 80% of the interval widths.
1 AgEq based on 81.9(Ag):1(Au) calculated using long-term prices of US$25.00/oz Ag and US$1,750/oz Au, and 73.5% process recovery for Ag, and 86.0% proces s recovery for Au as demonstrated in the Company’s Preliminary Economic Assessment in respect of Diablillos dated January 13, 2022, using formula: AgEq g/t = Ag g/t + Au g/t x (Gold Price/Silver Price) x (Gold Recovery/Silver Recovery). No value is ascribed to copper grades in the AgEq calculations.
John Miniotis, President and CEO, commented, “Once again, our latest drill results continue to establish the continuity of high-grade mineralization in the new JAC zone at Diablillos. Importantly, our Phase III drill program at JAC remains on track to be completed in less than three months from now, after which a maiden Mineral Resource estimate will be completed for JAC. A Pre-Feasibility Study on the entire Diabllilos project is planned to be completed in Q4/2023.
Dave O’Connor, Chief Geologist, commented, “Our drill program continues to expand the shallow oxide mineralization at JAC in practically all directions. Mineralization at JAC extends for at least 700 metres along strike and we have confirmed the presence of multiple mineralized structures in oxides, as well as multiple underlying sulphide feeder structures. As a fully intact high-sulphidation epithermal deposit, and as shown by numerous drill intercepts, the Diablillos project has potential for high-grade sulphides in discrete zones over a two kilometre length in the underlying feeder system.”
Exploration Update
Drilling activity at Diablillos remains focused on the recently discovered JAC zone which is located several hundred metres southwest of the conceptual open pit that constrains the current Mineral Resource estimate (“MRE”) on the main Oculto deposit (M&I MRE containing 1.3 Moz gold and 109 Moz silver – Table 2).
To date, the Company has completed approximately 15,500 metres of drilling in 74 holes, as part of the 22,000-metre Phase III program that is primarily targeting the JAC zone. Drilling results to date, combined with interpretation of magnetics, suggest that the JAC zone remains open in multiple directions.
Additional exploration targets have been identified to the southwest of the Oculto MRE based on the recently completed detailed ground magnetic survey. Some of these targets are expected to be drilled following the systematic drilling of the JAC zone.
At the La Coipita project, drilling is progressing with the hole currently at a down-hole depth of approximately 750 metres. The deep hole, with a planned depth of 1,300 metres, is targeting the anticipated higher-grade zone of the porphyry system intercepted in hole DDHC 22-002.
Figure 1 – Plan View of Announced Drill Holes in JAC Zone
Figures 2 displays a long-section of the latest drill results from the JAC target, located to the southwest of the main Oculto deposit at Diablillos.
Figure 2 – Long Section Through Newly Announced Drill Holes in JAC Zone
Collar Data
| Hole Number | UTM Coordinates | Elevation | Azimuth | Dip | Depth (m) | |
| DDH 23-007 | E719830 | N7198935 | 4,179 | 315 | -60 | 191 |
| DDH 23-009 | E719627 | N7196718 | 4,162 | 0 | -60 | 215 |
| DDH 23-010 | E719738 | N7198815 | 4,171 | 0 | -60 | 197 |
About Diablillos
The 80 km2 Diablillos property is located in the Argentine Puna region - the southern extension of the Altiplano of southern Peru, Bolivia, and northern Chile - and was acquired from SSR Mining Inc. by the Company in 2016. There are several known mineral zones on the Diablillos property, with the Oculto zone being the most advanced with over 120,000 metres drilled to date. Oculto is a high-sulphidation epithermal silver-gold deposit derived from remnant hot springs activity following Tertiarty-age local magmatic and volcanic activity. Comparatively nearby examples of high sulphidation epithermal deposits include: Yanacocha (Peru); El Indio (Chile); Lagunas Nortes/Alto Chicama (Peru) Veladero (Argentina); and Filo del Sol (Argentina).
The most recent Mineral Resource estimate for the Oculto Deposit is shown in Table 2:
Table 2 - Oculto Mineral Resource Estimate – As of October 31, 2022
| Category | Tonnage (000 t) |
Ag (g/t) |
Au (g/t) |
Contained Ag (000 oz Ag) |
Contained Au (000 oz Au) |
| Measured | 19,336 | 98 | 0.88 | 60,634 | 544 |
| Indicated | 31,978 | 47 | 0.73 | 48,737 | 752 |
| Measured & Indicated | 51,314 | 66 | 0.79 | 109,370 | 1,297 |
| Inferred | 2,216 | 30 | 0.51 | 2,114 | 37 |
Notes: Effective October 31, 2022. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability. The Mineral Resource estimate is N.I. 43-101 compliant and was prepared by Luis Rodrigo Peralta, B.Sc., FAusIMM CP(Geo), Independent Consultant. The mineralization estimated in the Mineral Resource is sub-horizontal with sub-vertical feeders and a reasonable prospect for eventual economic extraction by open pit methods. For additional information please see Technical Report on the Diablillos Project, Salta Province, Argentina, dated November 28, 2022, completed by Mining Plus, and available on www.SEDAR.com.
QA/QC and Core Sampling Protocols
AbraSilver applies industry standard exploration methodologies and techniques, and all drill core samples are collected under the supervision of the Company’s geologists in accordance with industry practices. Drill core is transported from the drill platform to the logging facility where drill data is compared and verified with the core in the trays. Thereafter, it is logged, photographed, and split by diamond saw prior to being sampled. Samples are then bagged, and quality control materials are inserted at regular intervals; these include blanks and certified reference materials as well as duplicate core samples which are collected in order to measure sample representivity. Groups of samples are then placed in large bags which are sealed with numbered tags in order to maintain a chain-of-custody during the transport of the samples from the project site to the laboratory.
All samples are received by the SGS offices in Salta who then dispatch the samples to the SGS preparation facility in San Juan. From there, the prepared samples are sent to the SGS laboratory in Lima, Peru where they are analyzed. All samples are analyzed using a multi-element technique consisting of a four acid digestion followed by ICP/AES detection, and gold is analyzed by 50g Fire Assay with an AAS finish. Silver results greater than 100g/t are reanalyzed using four acid digestion with an ore grade AAS finish.
Qualified Persons
David O’Connor P.Geo., Chief Geologist for AbraSilver, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and he has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.
About AbraSilver
AbraSilver is an advanced-stage exploration company focused on rapidly advancing its 100%-owned Diablillos silver-gold project in the mining-friendly Salta province of Argentina. The current Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimate for Diablillos consists of 51.3 Mt grading 66g/t Ag and 0.79g/t Au, containing approximately 109Moz silver and 1.3Moz gold, with significant further upside potential based on recent exploration drilling. The Company is led by an experienced management team and has long-term supportive shareholders including Mr. Eric Sprott. In addition, AbraSilver owns a portfolio of earlier-stage copper-gold projects including the La Coipita copper-gold project in the San Juan province of Argentina. AbraSilver is listed on the TSX-V under the symbol “ABRA” and in the U.S. under the symbol “ABBRF”.
For further information please visit the AbraSilver Resource website at www.abrasilver.com, our LinkedIn page at AbraSilver Resource Corp., and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/abrasilver
Alternatively please contact:
John Miniotis, President and CEO
[email protected]
Tel: +1 416-306-8334
Cautionary Statements
This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements that address future plans, activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur are forward-looking information. 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. When considering this forward-looking information, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in the Company’s disclosure documents filed with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The risk factors and other factors noted in the disclosure documents could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking information. 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.
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AbraSilver Resource Corp
220 Bay St, Suite 550
Toronto, ON M5J 2W4
[email protected]