SilverCrest Metals Inc. (“SilverCrest” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the remaining results from its 2021 infill and expansion drill program at its Las Chispas Project (“Las Chispas” or the “Project”) located in Sonora, Mexico. Additional drilling in the Babicanora Area for the Babi Vista Vein (“Babi Vista”), Babi Vista Footwall Zone (“Babi Vista FWZ”), Babicanora Norte Hanging Wall Vein (“Babi Norte HW”), El Muerto Zone (“El Muerto”), and El Muerto Hanging Wall Vein are being reported in this release (see Tables below and attached Figures).
Highlights:
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1 NI 43-101 Technical Report & Feasibility Study on the Las Chispas Project dated January 4, 2021. Refer to the Company’s News Release dated February 2, 2021 – SilverCrest Announces Positive Feasibility Study Results and Technical Report Filing for the Las Chispas Project. |
2 AgEq is based on the 2021 Feasibility Study Mineral Resource and Reserve gold to silver ratio of 86.9:1 calculated using US$1,410/oz Au and US$16.60/oz Ag, with average metallurgical recoveries of 96% Au and 94% Ag. |
N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, and CEO, remarked, “Our 2021 drilling program was designed, and successfully completed, to de-risk and target resource conversion ahead of production. This year’s drilling also resulted in the discovery and expansion of high-grade veins and zones as referred to in this release. With the 2021 infill program completed and mine construction at its peak, drilling will be scaled back at Las Chispas through H1, 2022. We remain focused on execution of mine construction which is currently on time and budget with planned completion in Q2, 2022. Since our first discovery hole at Las Chispas in 2016, we have systematically advanced the project at an aggressive pace towards production. This approach has positioned SilverCrest to commence high-grade precious metal production at Las Chispas within only seven years from discovery which has required extensive exploration, permitting, completion of multiple economic studies, pre-construction underground development, and navigating pandemic challenges.”
Infill drilling has shown that high-grade footprints (>150 gpt AgEq) for the infilled veins are similar to previous Inferred Resource footprints as presented in the 2021 Feasibility Study. The combined footprint for Babi Vista, Babi Vista Splay, Babi Norte HW veins and El Muerto Zone can now be traced for an estimated 2.5 kilometres of strike length. Infill drilling results also show the average grades are in range and similar to the uncapped assay results used for the block model estimates included in the Feasibility Study for all of the veins. Note that grades discussed in this release are based on a cutoff grade of 150 gpt AgEq, using weighted average grades and presented on an uncapped, undiluted basis which differs from the Inferred Resources which are presented on a capped and undiluted basis. A more detailed summary of the results from the 2021 drilling are presented below:
Drill intercept highlights from the infill program that are reported in this release are tabulated below. All grades are reported as uncapped and undiluted. Note that the same drill hole number may be shown for different veins based on the same hole intercepting multiple veins.
Babi Vista |
|||||||
Hole ID |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Drilled |
Approx. |
Au gpt |
Ag gpt |
AgEq gpt |
Intercept |
True |
||||||
(m) |
Thickness |
||||||
(m) |
|||||||
BV21-347 |
407.57 |
408.17 |
0.60 |
0.48 |
6.19 |
413.0 |
951 |
BV21-350 |
312.30 |
314.70 |
2.40 |
1.92 |
5.40 |
523.4 |
993 |
Includes |
312.30 |
312.90 |
0.60 |
0.48 |
17.45 |
1,460.0 |
2,976 |
BV21-354 |
464.10 |
464.66 |
0.56 |
0.45 |
5.70 |
561.0 |
1,056 |
BV21-357 |
344.90 |
347.40 |
2.50 |
2.00 |
5.76 |
365.6 |
867 |
Includes |
346.80 |
347.40 |
0.60 |
0.48 |
22.20 |
1,360.0 |
3,289 |
BV21-369 |
337.55 |
338.25 |
0.70 |
0.56 |
47.60 |
5,010.0 |
9,146 |
BV21-372 |
270.85 |
271.45 |
0.60 |
0.48 |
3.35 |
598.0 |
889 |
BV21-375 |
282.88 |
285.04 |
2.16 |
1.73 |
2.49 |
200.4 |
417 |
BV21-378 |
225.45 |
226.59 |
1.14 |
0.91 |
0.17 |
464.0 |
479 |
BV21-379 |
343.50 |
344.06 |
0.56 |
0.45 |
63.20 |
4,990.0 |
10,482 |
BV21-383 |
237.50 |
238.55 |
1.05 |
0.84 |
2.29 |
368.0 |
567 |
BV21-388 |
331.60 |
332.35 |
0.75 |
0.60 |
7.62 |
1,175.0 |
1,837 |
BV21-389 |
406.51 |
407.18 |
0.67 |
0.54 |
72.60 |
3,190.0 |
9,499 |
UBV21-39 |
191.65 |
192.63 |
0.98 |
0.78 |
4.28 |
325.0 |
697 |
UBV21-40 |
205.94 |
206.85 |
0.91 |
0.73 |
16.40 |
914.0 |
2,339 |
UBV21-41 |
227.81 |
229.48 |
1.67 |
1.34 |
4.02 |
299.8 |
650 |
Includes |
227.81 |
228.41 |
0.60 |
0.48 |
8.76 |
673.0 |
1,434 |
Weighted Average |
1.15 |
0.92 |
10.82 |
863.3 |
1,804 |
Babi Vista Footwall Zone |
|||||||
Hole ID |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Drilled |
Approx. |
Au gpt |
Ag gpt |
AgEq gpt |
Intercept |
True |
||||||
(m) |
Thickness |
||||||
(m) |
|||||||
BV21-365 |
54.10 |
54.62 |
0.52 |
0.42 |
25.30 |
3,500.0 |
5,699 |
BV21-384 |
327.33 |
327.83 |
0.50 |
0.40 |
1.61 |
85.0 |
225 |
BV21-389 |
330.57 |
331.33 |
0.76 |
0.61 |
3.42 |
252.0 |
549 |
BAN21-363 |
313.75 |
314.30 |
0.55 |
0.44 |
1.94 |
236.0 |
405 |
BAN21-355 |
228.35 |
229.95 |
1.60 |
1.28 |
4.94 |
399.9 |
829 |
BAN21-357 |
226.55 |
227.05 |
0.50 |
0.40 |
1.48 |
236.0 |
365 |
BAN21-366 |
265.00 |
265.50 |
0.50 |
0.40 |
124.00 |
6,930.0 |
17,706 |
BAN21-355 |
264.00 |
264.50 |
0.50 |
0.40 |
2.29 |
492.0 |
691 |
BAN21-357 |
272.50 |
273.05 |
0.55 |
0.44 |
1.67 |
190.0 |
335 |
BAN21-367 |
241.90 |
242.40 |
0.50 |
0.40 |
2.52 |
184.0 |
403 |
Weighted Average |
0.65 |
0.52 |
14.13 |
1,057.0 |
2,285 |
Babicanora Norte HW |
|||||||
Hole ID |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Drilled |
Approx. |
Au gpt |
Ag gpt |
AgEq gpt |
Intercept |
True |
||||||
(m) |
Thickness |
||||||
(m) |
|||||||
BAN21-355 |
414.90 |
415.40 |
0.50 |
0.40 |
16.25 |
1,960.0 |
3,372 |
BAN21-367 |
395.09 |
395.65 |
0.56 |
0.45 |
13.75 |
1,090.0 |
2,285 |
BV21-342 |
472.43 |
473.14 |
0.71 |
0.57 |
10.40 |
925.0 |
1,829 |
BV21-391 |
265.38 |
266.10 |
0.72 |
0.58 |
1.91 |
159.0 |
325 |
Weighted Average |
0.62 |
0.50 |
9.87 |
948.0 |
1,806 |
El Muerto |
|||||||
Hole ID |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Drilled |
Approx. |
Au gpt |
Ag gpt |
AgEq gpt |
Intercept |
True |
||||||
(m) |
Thickness |
||||||
(m) |
|||||||
EM20-49 |
249.70 |
251.90 |
2.20 |
1.76 |
2.65 |
210.2 |
441 |
EM20-52 |
250.90 |
251.70 |
0.80 |
0.64 |
4.12 |
279.0 |
637 |
EM20-61 |
247.55 |
252.80 |
5.25 |
4.20 |
3.90 |
220.1 |
559 |
Includes |
247.55 |
249.40 |
1.85 |
1.48 |
8.08 |
410.6 |
1,113 |
EM20-63 |
233.80 |
237.40 |
3.60 |
2.88 |
5.31 |
528.2 |
990 |
Includes |
233.80 |
235.30 |
1.50 |
1.20 |
8.41 |
771.0 |
1,502 |
EM20-67 |
255.65 |
259.15 |
3.50 |
2.80 |
3.55 |
236.0 |
545 |
EM20-69A |
311.70 |
312.30 |
0.60 |
0.48 |
1.07 |
92.6 |
186 |
EM21-72 |
232.55 |
233.85 |
1.30 |
1.04 |
2.03 |
216.8 |
393 |
EM21-73 |
267.25 |
268.40 |
1.15 |
0.92 |
0.57 |
137.4 |
187 |
EM21-74 |
367.13 |
367.95 |
0.82 |
0.66 |
5.44 |
208.0 |
681 |
EM21-78 |
314.22 |
314.88 |
0.66 |
0.53 |
1.26 |
117.0 |
226 |
EM21-82 |
323.58 |
325.25 |
1.67 |
1.34 |
1.12 |
98.9 |
196 |
EM21-90 |
146.67 |
147.97 |
1.30 |
1.04 |
1.99 |
26.2 |
199 |
EM21-93 |
131.93 |
132.50 |
0.57 |
0.46 |
4.57 |
155.0 |
552 |
EM21-94 |
234.66 |
237.80 |
3.14 |
2.51 |
2.78 |
231.1 |
472 |
Includes |
236.89 |
237.80 |
0.91 |
0.73 |
5.93 |
523.0 |
1,038 |
EM21-97 |
246.60 |
257.04 |
10.44 |
8.35 |
1.46 |
83.2 |
210 |
Includes |
255.18 |
256.22 |
1.04 |
0.83 |
4.52 |
341.5 |
735 |
EM21-100 |
220.00 |
220.55 |
0.55 |
0.44 |
4.38 |
156.0 |
537 |
EM21-104 |
239.86 |
242.15 |
2.29 |
1.83 |
1.39 |
91.9 |
213 |
EM21-111 |
318.29 |
319.52 |
1.23 |
0.98 |
1.88 |
172.3 |
336 |
EM21-118 |
239.20 |
242.90 |
3.70 |
2.96 |
2.60 |
283.4 |
509 |
EM21-120 |
248.40 |
250.50 |
2.10 |
1.68 |
2.21 |
267.3 |
460 |
EM21-123A |
268.00 |
271.36 |
3.36 |
2.69 |
1.60 |
111.2 |
250 |
EM21-125 |
218.35 |
219.40 |
1.05 |
0.84 |
7.39 |
497.0 |
1,139 |
EM21-126 |
213.00 |
214.70 |
1.70 |
1.36 |
6.82 |
130.3 |
723 |
EM21-130 |
236.25 |
238.20 |
1.95 |
1.56 |
5.14 |
534.5 |
981 |
EM21-132 |
229.00 |
231.00 |
2.00 |
1.60 |
1.22 |
126.0 |
232 |
EM21-133 |
348.60 |
349.86 |
1.26 |
1.01 |
1.19 |
82.4 |
186 |
EM21-135 |
231.13 |
232.04 |
0.91 |
0.73 |
7.78 |
607.0 |
1,283 |
Weighted Average |
2.19 |
1.75 |
2.86 |
209.5 |
458 |
El Muerto Hanging Wall |
|||||||
Hole ID |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Drilled |
Approx. |
Au gpt |
Ag gpt |
AgEq gpt |
Intercept |
True |
||||||
(m) |
Thickness |
||||||
(m) |
|||||||
EM20-51 |
283.50 |
284.58 |
1.08 |
0.86 |
2.81 |
195.0 |
439 |
EM21-90 |
102.23 |
103.39 |
1.16 |
0.93 |
6.59 |
516.1 |
1,088 |
Includes |
102.80 |
103.39 |
0.59 |
0.47 |
12.10 |
919.0 |
1,970 |
EM21-93 |
85.46 |
86.70 |
1.24 |
0.99 |
5.49 |
198.0 |
675 |
EM21-129 |
321.60 |
323.65 |
2.05 |
1.64 |
7.93 |
546.6 |
1,236 |
EM21-134 |
265.60 |
266.20 |
0.60 |
0.48 |
4.57 |
344.0 |
741 |
Weighted Average |
1.23 |
0.98 |
5.95 |
388.5 |
906 |
Notes: |
All numbers are rounded. |
Cut-off grade (COG)of 150 gpt AgEq is applied with a minimum drilled width of 0.5 metres. |
The 150 gpt AgEq COG is an exploration threshold and is consistent with the 2021 Feasibility Study. Grades have not yet been subjected to grade capping, dilution and other modifying factors that will be required for estimation of mineral resources and reserves. |
ETW is an estimated 80% of drilled intercept width. |
AgEq is based on the 2021 Feasibility Study Mineral Resource and Reserve gold to silver ratio of 86.9:1 calculated using US$1,410/oz Au and US$16.60/oz Ag, with average metallurgical recoveries of 96% Au and 94% Ag. |
All assays were completed by ALS Chemex in Hermosillo, Mexico, and North Vancouver, BC, Canada.
The drill results also include holes: BV21-341, BV21-343 to BV21-346, BV21-348, BV21-349, BV21-351 to BV21-353, BV21-355, BV-21-356, BV21-358 to BV21-364, BV21-366 to BV21-368, BV21-370, BV21-371, BV-21-373, BV-21-374, BV21-376, BV21-377, BV21-380 to BV21-382, BV21-385 to BV21-387, BV21-390, BV21-392, BV21-393, and UBV21-42 to UBV21-44.
EM20-45 to EM20-48, EM20-50, EM20-53 to EM20-60, EM20-62, EM20-64 to EM20-66, EM20-68, EM20-70, EM21-71, EM21-75 to EM21-77, EM21-79 to EM21-81, EM21-83 to EM21-89, EM21-91, EM21-92, EM21-95, EM21-96, EM21-98, EM21-99, EM21-101 to EM21-103, EM21-105 to EM21-110, EM21-112 to EM21-117, EM21-119, EM21-121, EM21-122, EM21-124, EM21-127, EM21-128, and EM21-131.
BAN21-336 to BAN21-339, BAN21-341 to BAN21-346, BAN21-354, BAN21-356, BAN21-358 to BAN21-362, BAN21-364, and BAN21-365 which intersected veining but were below the Company’s cutoff grade of 150 gpt AgEq.
During the first ten months of 2021, SilverCrest incurred an estimated US$20.4 million for the Company’s drilling programs at Las Chispas (US$10.3 M) and Picacho (US$10.1 M). With Las Chispas Project construction in its peak period beginning in Q4, 2021 through Q1, 2022, drilling through the end of H1, 2022 will be limited to a maximum of four drill rigs at Las Chispas. This will allow the exploration team to focus on interpretation of 2021 results, plan for H2, 2022 drilling, and mapping and sampling on new veins in the more than 13 km of currently underworked vein strike length, with the objective of generating additional targets. In H1, 2022, underground drill rigs will be working on tighter spaced definition drilling at Babicanora Main, Babi Vista and Babicanora Norte veins in support of underground production planning, a required part of the mining cycle. The surface rig will be working on expansion drilling on the northwest extension of the Babi Vista Vein and further infilling of the El Muerto veins.
The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, and CEO for SilverCrest, who has reviewed and approved its contents.
ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC.
SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions and targeting production in Mexico’s historic precious metal districts. The Company’s top priority is on the high-grade, historic Las Chispas mining district in Sonora, Mexico, where it has completed a feasibility study on the Las Chispas Project and is proceeding with mine construction. Start-up of production at the Las Chispas Mine is targeted for mid-2022. SilverCrest is the first company to successfully drill-test the historic Las Chispas Property resulting in numerous high-grade precious metal discoveries. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production.