Southern Silver Starts Drilling on Cerro Las Minitas and Releases Encouraging Metallurgical Results
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jul 7, 2015) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (the "Company" or "Southern Silver") (TSX VENTURE:SSV)(FRANKFURT:SEG) has reported today that crews have mobilized and drilling is underway at the Cerro Las Minitas Property, Durango, Mexico.
Up to 10,000 metres of core drilling is planned as part of the $US 2 million, 2015 exploration program and will target both known zones of mineralization and new discoveries on the property. An initial five holes will test the Blind and El Sol mineralized zones to up to 600 metres depth. Success in this drilling could significantly expand the depth and strike projection of these mineralized zones. Further holes will test for new zones of mineralization in the Mina La Bocona and the North Skarn zones and will test other geophysical and geochemical targets outboard of the Central Intrusion.
Soil sampling in the area of the Cerro has extended sample coverage outboard of the known areas of mineralization and now covers several geophysical anomalies outlined in earlier surveys. Approximately 450 samples have been collected and submitted for analyses and include samples for several soils lines over previously identified Western and Eastern biogeochemical anomalies on the larger 137 square kilometre property; assays are pending. Further soil sampling and prospecting is proceeding over the Eastern anomalies and in several key areas along the 25 kilometre strike-length. New drill targets will be defined based on the results of this work.
The 2015 program follows earlier exploration work by the Company totaling 23,310 metres of diamond drilling in 75 core holes resulting in the identification of two new mineral deposits known as the Blind and El Sol zones, airborne magnetic geophysics over the entire property and gravity and IP geophysics in specific targeted areas.
Metallurgical Testing
Southern Silver also reported encouraging results of preliminary metallurgical testing from the Blind - El Sol Zone. Work was performed at Dawson Metallurgical Laboratories of Midvale, Utah.
Testing was done on a composite of 10 samples taken from the high-grade dump at the La Lupita shaft. The head analyses of the composite returned 225g/t Ag, 0.06g/t Au, 0.11% Cu, 6.6%Pb and 5.4% Zn.
Both a lead and zinc concentrates were produced via batch flotation with the following results:
- Approximately 82% of the silver, 86% of the lead and 12% of the zinc was recovered into the lead rougher concentrate assaying 2000ppm Ag, 61.5% Pb and 7.2% Zn. The concentrate was later upgrade to 2300ppm Ag and 71.1% Pb, and
- Subsequent zinc flotation recovered 79% of the zinc into a rougher concentrate at a grade of 39.5% Zn. Two-stage cleaning of the concentrate increased the grade to 49.7% Zn
These preliminary results are significant in that two separate, high-grade concentrates were produced from mined material from the Blind zone. Additional test-work is recommended utilizing different reagents in order to further upgrade the final concentrates. Samples charges of the composite have been retained and this work will be completed after the next phase of exploration on the property.
Figure 1 and Figure 2 are available at the following address: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1015934_Figures.pdf
El Sol Claim
The Company has elected to abandon its optional rights to purchase the El Sol mineral claim.
About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.
Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is a precious and base metal exploration and development company with a focus on mineral deposits in north-central Mexico and the southern USA. The Company engages in the acquisition, exploration and development either directly or through joint venture relationships in mineral properties in jurisdictions including the Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in Durango, Mexico and the Oro porphyry copper-gold project located in southern New Mexico, USA.
Robert Macdonald (P.Geo) is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the compilation and review of the technical content of this release.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Lawrence Page, Q.C., President & Director, Southern Silver Exploration Corp.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Southern Silver Exploration Corp. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.
Contact
Southern Silver Exploration Corp.
604.684.9384
info@mnxltd.com
www.southernsilverexploration.com