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Diablillos

 

Diablillos is a 7,919 ha (79 km2) property located in the Argentine Puna region, which is the southern extension of the Altiplano of southern Peru, Bolivia, and northern Chile. It is a high plateau, separating the Cordillera Oriental to the east from the Andean Cordillera (Cordillera Occidental) to the west. 

There are currently multiple known mineralized zones on the Diablillos property, with the Oculto zone being the most advanced-stage, and the new high-grade JAC zone being the focus of the current drill campaign.  Diablillos is a high-sulphidation epithermal silver-gold deposit derived from remnant hot springs activity following Tertiary-age local magmatic and volcanic activity with strong supergene overprinting.

Ownership 100% AbraSilver
Remaining payment of US$7M due to EMX Royalties by July 31, 2025
Geology High-sulphidation epithermal silver-gold deposit
Location Salta Province, Argentina
Approx. 160 km southwest of city of Salta, along border between Provinces of Salta and Catamarca
Elevation Between 4,100 to 4,650 MASL
Nearby Projects in Salta Lindero (Fortuna Silver)
Taca Taca (First Quantum)
El Quevar (Golden Minerals)
Drilling to Date +120,000m with expenditures of +US$50 million
Stage Pre-Feasibility Study expected to be completed in H2/2023.
 

Visualization of October 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate at Oculto Deposit

Projects - Diablillos - Mineral Resource Estimate

October 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate

Oculto Mineral Resource Estimate – As of October 31, 2022

Zone Category Tonnes
(000 t)
Ag
(g/t)
Au
(g/t)
AgEq
(g/t)
Contained Ag
(k oz Ag)
Contained
Au
(k oz Au)

AgEq
(k oz AgEq)

Oxides Measured 18,092 101 0.85 171 58,655 496 99,280
Indicated 30,226 49 0.71 107 47,502 688 103,852
Measured &
Indicated
48,318 68 0.76 130 106,157 1,184 203,132
Inferred 2,090 31 0.50 72 2,085 33 4,788
Transition Zone Measured 1,244 50 1.21 149 1,979 49 5,992
Indicated 1,752 22 1.13 115 1,235 64 6,477
Measured &
Indicated
2,996 33 1.17 129 3,214 113 12,469
Inferred 127 7 0.80 73 29 3 275
Total Measured 19,336 98 0.88 170 60,634 544 105,190
Indicated 31,978 47 0.73 107 48,737 752 110,329
Measured &
Indicated
51,314 66 0.79 131 109,370 1,297 215,520
Inferred 2,216 30 0.51 72 2,114 37 5,144

Notes for October 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate: 

  1. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability.
  2. The Mineral Resource is reported inside a conceptual Whittle open pit shell derived using US $25.00/oz Ag price, US $1750/oz Au price, 73.5% process recovery for Ag, and 86% process recovery for Au. The constraining open pit optimization parameters used were $3.00/t mining cost, $24.45/t processing cost, $2.90/t G&A cost, and average 54-degree open pit slopes. 
  3. The formula for calculating AgEq is as follows:   Silver Eq Oz = Silver Oz + Gold Oz x (Gold Price/Silver Price) x (Gold Recovery/Silver Recovery)
  4. The Mineral Resource Estimate has been categorized in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards (CIM, 2014).
  5. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Minor discrepancies may occur due to rounding to appropriate significant figures.
  6. The Mineral Resource was estimated by Mr. Peralta, B.Sc., FAusIMM CP(Geo), an independent Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101.
  7. The mineralisation estimated in the Mineral Resource is sub-horizontal with sub-vertical feeders and a reasonable prospect for eventual economic extraction by open pit methods.
  8. A cut off grade of 35 gt AgEq was used for the Mineral Resource
  9. The Mineral Resource models used Ordinary Kriging grade estimation within a three-dimensional block model and mineralized zones defined by wireframed solids, which are a combination of lithology and alteration domains. Constrained by a Whittle open pit shell. The 1m composite grades were capped where appropriate.
  10. All tonnages reported are dry metric tonnes and ounces of contained gold and silver are troy ounces.
  11. In-situ bulk density were assigned to each model domain, according to sample averages of each lithology domain, separated by alteration zones and subset by oxidation.
  12. Mining recovery and dilution factors have not been applied to the Mineral Resource estimates.
  13. Mr. Peralta is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues that could materially affect the potential development of the Mineral Resource.
  14. Totals may not agree due to rounding.

October 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate

The October 2022 Mineral Resource estimate was completed by Luis Rodrigo Peralta, B.Sc., FAusIMM CP(Geo), Independent Consultant, in accordance with Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (“CIM”) Definition Standards incorporated, by reference, and in compliance with National Instrument NI 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”), and has been reviewed internally by AbraSilver.  The October 2022 Mineral Resource estimate is the result of 104,888 metres of drilling in 457 drill holes. The Mineral Resource is based only on the Oculto deposit within the broader Diablillos property and is reported inside a Whittle open pit shell with a cutoff grade of 35g/t silver equivalent, based on the economic parameters outlined in the Supporting Technical Disclosure section below.  

Gold and silver grades were estimated into the block model using Reverse Circulation Drill holes (RC), Diamond Drill holes (DDH) including the recent drilling between 2019 to July 30th, 2022. It was estimated applying industry-standard estimation methodology: Ordinary Kriging (OK) and bias was reviewed using an Inverse Distance squared estimate (ID2) for comparison. Drill hole intervals have been composited to a length of 1 m, which is the average sampling length for core sampling. Grade capping has been applied to composited grade intervals on a case-by-case basis within each estimation domain. The estimation domains were defined using a combination of lithology domains, alteration domains, and oxide / sulphides state, defining a set of 18 domains for gold and silver.

Mineral Resource Estimate Sensitivity

A table showing sensitivities to the cut-off grade for the October 2022 Mineral Resource in the Measured and Indicated category is provided below.

Cut Off
(AgEq)
Tonnage Oxides
(000 t)
Silver Grade
(g/t)
Gold Grade
(g/t)
Silver Equivalent Grade
(g/t)
10 105,215 38 0.44 75
20 75,228 50 0.58 98
30 57,492 61 0.72 120
35 51,314 66 0.79 131
40 46,206 71 0.85 141
50 38,212 81 0.96 160
60 32,254 91 1.07 179
 

Supporting Technical Disclosure

  • Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
  • The Mineral Resource incorporates geological and structural constraints and is constrained by an optimized Whittle open pit containing a total of 51.3 Mt of M&I Mineral Resource and 234.0 Mt of waste.
  • Individual metals are reported at 100% of in-situ grades.
  • Sensitivity cut-offs reported are a subset of the in-pit Mineral Resource.
  • The effective date of the Mineral Resource is October 31, 2022, and is based on drilling through July 30th, 2022.
  • There are no known legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the Mineral Resource.
  • Key Assumptions are outlined below (all figures are in US dollars unless otherwise noted):
    • Commodity prices:
      • Note: Commodity price assumptions were guided by the NI 43-101 requirement for the Mineral Resource to have ‘reasonable prospects’ of eventual economic extraction.
    • Metallurgical recoveries: metallurgy recoveries were assumed as 73.5% for silver and 86% for gold, as demonstrated in the Company’s Preliminary Economic assessment  in respect of the Diablillos property dated January 13, 2022.
    • Operating cost assumptions: Mining costs of $3.00/t; processing costs of $24.45/t; and G&A costs of $2.90/t.
    • Open pit slopes: Open pit shell slope angles have been re-designed, based on recent geotechnical drilling and modelling. Six geotechnical sectors have been defined. The average inter-ramp angle assumed for open pit shell generation was 54 degrees.
  • The formula for calculating AgEq is as follows:   Silver Eq Oz = Silver Oz + Gold Oz x (Gold Price/Silver Price) x (Gold Recovery/Silver Recovery)
  • A full Technical Report in respect of the October 2022 Mineral Resource will be prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and will be filed on SEDAR

Qualified Persons and Technical Information

The site visit, review of various geological aspects including sampling, drill core, logging, assay laboratory, independent check sample and October 2022 Mineral Resource estimate were done by Mr. Luis Rodrigo Peralta, B.Sc., FAusIMM CP (Geo). Mr. Peralta is an independent Qualified Person (“QP”) as defined by the NI 43-101.

Visualization of Large-Scale JAC Zone

New High-Grade JAC Zone

The Company announced results from the first drill hole in the new Southwest zone, DDH 22-019,  on August 3, 2022.  That discovery hole intercepted 87 metres at 346 g/t Ag and 0.15 g/t Au in oxides from a downhole depth of only 89 metres.   Subsequently, the Company completed the highly-successful Phase III drill program, consisting of over 22,000-metres, which achieved all of its key objectives, namely:

  • Systematically grid drilling the silver-dominant mineralisation at the JAC zone in order to estimate Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources which can be incorporated into the planned overall Diablillos MRE update and PFS.
  • Delineate the margins of the JAC zone and conduct geotechnical drilling necessary for a conceptual open pit design.
  • Conduct reconnaissance drilling at other targets on the Diablillos land package, including the Fantasma, Alpaca and JAC North zones.

Highlights of selected high-grade drill results at JAC reported from the Phase III drill program are summarized in the Table below:

JAC Zone – Highlights of Phase III High-Grade Intercepts at JAC

Drill Hole From (m) To

 

(m)

Type Interval (m) Ag

 

(g/t)

Au (g/t) AgEq1 (g/t)
DDH-22-019 89.0 176.0 Oxides 87.0 346.0 0.15 356.5
DDH-22-044 121.0 179.0 Oxides 58.0 208.8 0.20 222.8
DDH-22-046 123.0 165.5 Oxides 42.5 400.5 0.11 408.2
DDH-22-052 139.5 164.5 Oxides 25.0 754.4 0.12 764.2
DDH-22-053 140.5 168.5 Oxides 28.0 266.4 0.64 318.8
DDH-22-056 110.0 167.5 Oxides 57.5 141.4 0.27 163.5
DDH-22-057 144.0 164.0 Oxides 20.0 498.6 0.10 506.8
DDH-22-060 114.0 154.0 Oxides 40.0 203.4 - 203.4
DDH-22-061 65.0 168.0 Oxides 103.0 138.7 - 138.7
DDH-22-062 119.0 170.0 Oxides 51.0 169.4 0.20 185.8
DDH-22-063 56.0 85.0 Oxides 33.0 143.4 - 143.4
DDH-22-063 135.0 169.0 Oxides 34.0 118.6 0.08 125.2
DDH-22-067 143.0 179.0 Oxides 36.0 463.3 0.71 521.5
DDH-22-067 179.0 206.0 Sulphides 27.0 745.0 1.54 871.1
DDH-22-075 151.0 167.0 Oxides 16.0 604.4 0.82 671.5
DDH-22-076 147.0 169.0 Oxides 22.0 476.8 0.20 493.2
DDH-22-076 169.0 177.5 Oxides 8.5 1,952.8 6.66 2,498.3
DDH-22-077 60.0 92.0 Oxides 32.0 121.9 - 121.9
DDH-22-078 58.0 99.0 Oxides 41.0 103.5 - 103.5
DDH-22-079 144.0 179.0 Oxides 35.0 199.2 0.36 228.7
DDH-22-080 50.0 102.0 Oxides 52.0 125.1 - 125.1
DDH-22-081 128.0 165.0 Oxides 37.0 179.3 - 179.3
DDH-22-082 154.5 181.0 Transition 26.5 311.4 0.43 346.6
DDH-22-083 159.0 184.0 Transition 25.0 773.8 0.28 796.7
DDH-22-086 158.0 167.0 Sulphides 9.0 342.3 - 342.3
DDH-23-002 148.0 165.0 Transition 17.0 288.6 0.14 300.1
DDH-23-003 155.8 161.5 Sulphides 5.8 502.2 - 502.2
DDH-23-004 136.0 150.0 Oxides 14.0 3,024.5 0.21 3,041.7
DDH-23-007 115.0 119.0 Oxides 4.0 2,320.0 - 2,320.0
DDH-23-009 161.0 169.5 Oxides 8.5 479.2 0.15 491.5
DDH-23-010 132.0 177.5 Oxides 45.5 233.4 - 233.4
DDH-23-014 127.0 173.5 Oxides 46.5 185.0 0.50 226.0
DDH-23-017 92.0 104.0 Oxides 12.0 876.1 - 876.1
DDH-23-021 161.5 193.5 Oxides 32.0 530.8 0.60 579.9
DDH-23-024 144.0 161.0 Oxides 17.0 828.9 - 828.9
DDH-23-025 100.0 179.0 Oxides 79.0 237.6 0.15 249.9
DDH-23-036 140.0 150.0 Oxides 10.0 520.0 0.04 523.3
DDH-23-039 105.0 124.0 Oxides 19.0 253.4 - 253.4
DDH-23-046 157.0 160.0 Oxides 3.0 2,070.0 0.27 2,092.1
DDH-23-061 134.0 153.5 Oxides 19.5 272.8 - 272.8
DDH-23-070 41.0 105.0 Oxides 64.0 148.1 - 148.1

Note: All results 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% process recovery for Au as demonstrated in the Company’s PEA 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).

Next Steps

All Phase III drill holes from the JAC zone will be incorporated into an updated MRE and will be included in a PFS on the full Diablillos project.

The next phase of drilling (Phase IV) will explore additional targets which will all be prioritized based on distance from the probable porphyry progenitor beneath Oculto and favourability of structural trends reflected in magnetic surveys, with special reference to any historical drill data. Current priority targets in the area west of Oculto include JAC North, Alpaca and Fantasma, with additional targets also being developed to the east and north of Oculto.

Positive Metallurgical Test Results for JAC Zone With Up To 93% Silver Recoveries & 91% Gold Recoveries

The Company reported positive preliminary metallurgical test results for the new JAC zone on June 01, 2023. The program was completed by independent metallurgical consultants, SGS Canada Inc., at their testing facilities in Lakefield, Ontario.  

Key Highlights Include:

  • Overall recoveries at the JAC and Fantasma deposits range between 86% - 93% for silver and 82% - 91% for gold.
  • A substantial percentage of the silver at JAC can be recovered by gravity separation which increases overall recoveries.
  • Current testwork confirms that the same process flowsheet can be used to process mineralization from the Oculto, JAC and Fantasma deposits. 
  • Milling tests have shown that 150 microns is the targeted grind size for the leaching of the mineralized material at a retention time of 36 hours.
  • Overall silver and gold recoveries could likely be increased further by grinding finer and with higher cyanide concentrations. Further metallurgical testwork and trade-off studies are now underway.

Favorable Recovery Rates vs. Prior Testwork

At the JAC and Fantasma deposits the silver minerals (chlorargyrite and iodargyrite) are easier to release by grinding, and are more sensitive to cyanide leaching as they occur in argillic alteration, whereas at Oculto they are mostly held more complexly in vuggy silica host rock.

Summary of Metallurgical Testwork Results for JAC and Fantasma Deposits

Target Silver
Recoveries
Silver
Head Grades
Gold Recoveries Gold
Head Grades
% g/t % g/t
JAC & FANTASMA 86 - 93 142 - 172 82 - 91 0.11 - 0.17

Testwork on JAC and Fantasma samples showed that gravity separation before cyanide leaching recovers approximately 9% of the silver and 17% of the gold which, when combined with the subsequent cyanide leaching recoveries, results in total overall recoveries of between 86% and 93% for silver and between 82% and 91% for gold.

The Table below shows gravity plus cyanide leach recoveries at the JAC and Fantasma deposits compared with the Oculto deposit recoveries announced in the PEA announced in January 2022.

Latest Metallurgical Testwork Results vs. Jan. 2022 PEA Study

Recoveries JAC & Fantasma (May 2023) Oculto PEA  Study (Jan.2022)1
Gold 82%-91% 86.0%
Silver 86%-93% 73.5%
Comments Gravity + Cyanidation Cyanidation Only

1Recovery rates for Oculto PEA reflect the life of mine average as per the report published on Jan. 13, 2022 titled “NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report – Diablillos Project”

A median of 89.5% recoveries for silver and 86.5% for gold at JAC and Fantasma compare favourably against the 73.5% silver recoveries and 86.0% gold recoveries used for the Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) at Oculto. The median silver recovery of 89.5% relative to 73.5% for Oculto is particularly relevant because the mineralization at the JAC and Fantasma deposits is predominantly silver.

Median Recoveries at the JAC & Fantasma Deposits Compared with the Oculto Deposit

Metallurgical Overview 

The metallurgical results confirm that the Diablillos project will have a conventional silver/gold processing plant flowsheet incorporating crushing, grinding, gravity concentration and intense cyanidation circuit, cyanide leaching with oxygen addition, counter current decantation (“CCD”) washing thickeners and Merrill-Crowe precious metal recovery from solution followed by on-site smelting to doré bars. A summary of the processing flow sheet for the Diablillos project is shown below.

Simplified Process Flowsheet for the Diablillos Project

The Diablillos property hosts several zones of high-sulphidation epithermal alteration and mineralization with strong supergene overprinting. There are several known mineralized zones on the Diablillos property, with the Oculto zone hosting the principal silver-gold deposit. Oculto is strongly oxidized down to depths in the order of 300 m to 400 m from surface. The precious metal mineralization throughout the deposit occurs as extremely fine grains along fractures and in breccias or coating the inside of vugs and weathered cavities. The dimensions of the optimised Whittle open pit shell measure 1,350 metres in length, 750 metres in width and extends to a maximum depth of approximately 300 metres.

Gold and silver mineralization ascended along steeply dipping feeder structures and was deposited in siliceous breccia zones. Mineralizing fluids also migrated laterally along shallowly dipping favorable permeability horizons where it was deposited along with silicification. Gold is associated with a deeper permeability horizon and with shallow zones associated with the feeder structures, while there is a secondary enriched silver zone related to a weathered horizon. Both steeply dipping and shallowly dipping zones were taken into account in the new Mineral Resource estimate.

The October 2022 Mineral Resource has significantly expanded the high-grade Tesoro zone, which is the highest-grade area within the Oculto deposit.  A series of close-spaced drill holes has resulted in the Tesoro zone expanding to approximate dimensions of 600 metres in length by 350 metres in width, comprising estimated Measured Resource of 19.3Mt @ 98 g/t Ag and 0.88 g/t Au, containing 60.6Moz Ag and over 544koz Au.  

Over US$50 million has been spent on exploration at Diablillos totaling over 100,000 meters of drilling in over 450 holes.

Year Operator Description
1983 Secretaría de Minería de la Nación 1,409 rock chip samples (includes 190 outcrop and 271 slope debris samples from Diablillos Sur)
1984 - 1987 Shell C.A.R.S A Rock geochemical survey; three Winkie drill holes
1987 Ophir Partnership 37 rotary drill holes (approximately 30 m deep) in the Corderos, Pedernales, Laderas, and Jasperoide areas
1989 - 1991 BHP Geological mapping (1:1,000 to 1:7,500 scale); 380 rock chip samples; 1,200 m of bulldozer trenches; 55 air RC holes (6,833 m)
1993 Pacific Rim Mining Corporation Five diamond drill holes (1,001.8 m) in the Oculto Zone
1994 Pacific Rim Mining Corporation 148 km of chain and compass grid; geological mapping; 122 line-km of ground magnetic survey; 34 line-km of induced polarization (IP) survey; 213 hand auger samples; 2.5 km of trenching; 250+ rock chip samples; 12 diamond drill holes (2,013.9 m)
1996 - 1997 Barrick Gold Corp Geological mapping; surface sampling; RC drilling; CSAMT survey; mag survey; environmental impact study; metallurgical test work
2003 Pacific Rim Mining Corporation
(for Silver Standard)
20 diamond drill holes (3,046 m)
2005 Pacific Rim Mining Corporation
(for Silver Standard)
Five diamond drill holes each at Renacuajo and Alpaca
2007 Pacific Rim Mining Corporation
(for Silver Standard)
45 diamond drill holes (9,600 m) on Oculto; one hole (203 m) at Laderos; three holes (unknown length) at Pedernales; five holes (unknown length) at Los Corderos; four HQ-size diamond drill holes sampled for metallurgical tests
2008 Pacific Rim Mining Corporation
(for Silver Standard)
52 diamond drill holes (7,910 m), three of these for geotechnical studies; additional metallurgical studies
2009 Silver Standard Resources Mineral Resource estimate
2011 - 2012 Silver Standard Resources Internal Preliminary Economic Assessment, rock chip sampling, 1,679 m diamond drilling (19 holes)
2017 AbraSilver 28 drillholes and a total of 3,148.5m
2018 AbraSilver Preliminary Economic Asessment including Resource estimate
2019 AbraSilver Phase I Drilling Campaign with 2 diamond drill holes (844 m),
2020 - 2021 AbraSilver Phase II Drilling Campaign of 55 drillholes and a total of 15,143 m expanding Oculto to North, West and East and testing new targets
2022 - Present AbraSilver Current 22,000 m Phase III drill campaign underway, focused on defining the new high-grade JAC zone which was discovered by the Company in August 2022

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