Projects

Yoquivo

  • Snapshot
  • Project Details
  • Resources & Geology
  • Maps & Drill Results
  • Technical Reports
  • Photos

Snapshot

Location
Chihuahua State, Mexico

Land Area
1,975 hectares

Property Description
Gold-silver property near Ocampo mining district

Metals
Gold and silver

Ownership
Option to purchase 7 concessions

Project Stage
Exploration

Current Activities & Work
Completed initial Mineral Resource estimate and Technical Report (Q1 2023)

Permitting
Drill permit received Q1 2019

Overview

Yoquivo is an exploration stage gold-silver project located in northwest Chihuahua State, Mexico. The Yoquivo District is a past producing, bonanza grade epithermal vein gold and silver district located 35 kilometers southeast of the Ocampo Mining District. Our claims cover an underexplored epithermal precious metals district that shows similar mineralization to the adjacent Ocampo mining district, and Golden Minerals, through systematic exploration, hopes to identify significant high-grade mineralization. During 2022, we completed payments required under Yoquivo’s two option agreements and now hold 100% ownership of the Yoquivo concessions subject to royalty interests between 2% and 3% net smelter return payable on production to third parties and capped at $2.8 million in the aggregate.

Since 2020, exploration and delineation drilling of 16,565 meters in 70 holes has advanced Yoquivo to this stage.

In March 2023, we announced completion of an initial Mineral Resource estimate and Technical Report for Yoquivo. See "Resources & Geology" tab for details.

The Company plans to continue drilling with the goal of expanding the resource as funding allows.

 

Exploration Activity

We completed a phase 3 drill program in July 2022 that totaled approximately 5,700 meters in 24 drill holes. This program was designed to further delineate the previously encountered vein-hosted mineralized intervals.  In Q4 2002, the company began a fourth round of drilling of around 3,000 meters. We plan to complete a maiden gold-silver resource estimate for release in Q1 2023. Highlights from phase 3 drilling included:

  • 2.2m @ 10.21 g/t Au and 138.8 g/t Ag
  • 0.4m @ 30.80 g/t Au and 5260.0 g/t Ag
  • 4.2m @ 0.16 g/t Au and 229.2 g/t Ag
  • 80.1m @ 0.89 g/t Au and 64.5 g/t Ag
  • 1.7m @ 0.13 g/t Au, 354.6 g/t Ag

We conducted a phase 2 drill program in Q4 2021. The program included 3,949 meters comprised of 21 holes exploring the Pertenencia, Esperanza and Dolar vein systems. Drill holes were designed to follow up on the high-grade zones intersected by our 2020 drill program and to explore additional veins to identify new high-grade zones. We reported results from the first five holes of the program on January 27, 2022 and another nine holes on February 16, 2022.

Summary assay results from the 2021 drill program include:

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Target
YQ_021_001 239.5 241.2 1.7 0.09 66.8 Pertenencia Vein
 including 239.5 239.9 0.4 0.19 138.0 Pertenencia Vein
YQ_021_001 243.1 243.6 0.5 0.27 329.0 Pertenencia Vein
YQ_021_002 165.0 167.4 2.4 0.51 706.0 Pertenencia Vein
YQ_021_002 204.7 213.1 8.5 0.16 90.9 Pertenencia Vein
 including 204.7 207.0 2.4 0.18 115.7 Pertenencia Vein
 including 209.5 209.9 0.4 0.67 309.0 Pertenencia Vein
YQ_021_003 57.5 58.7 1.2 0.05 25.9 Pertenencia Vein
YQ_021_004 100.2 101.7 1.5 4.02 1473.2 Pertenencia Vein
YQ_021_004 124.4 126.0 1.6 0.33 109.8 Pertenencia Vein
 including 125.8 126.0 0.3 0.92 313.0 Pertenencia Vein
YQ_021_004 131.5 135.0 3.5 0.49 158.0 Pertenencia Vein
 including 131.5 131.8 0.3 1.67 578.0 Pertenencia Vein
YQ_021_004 139.1 141.4 2.4 1.03 266.6 Pertenencia Vein
 including 139.7 140.1 0.4 5.15 1320.0 Pertenencia Vein
YQ_021_004 194.5 198.0 3.5 0.04 179.2 Pertenencia Vein
 including 196.9 197.4 0.5 0.11 904.0 Pertenencia Vein
YQ_021_005 159.0 159.6 0.6 0.40 221.0 Pertenencia Vein
YQ_021_006 64.8 70.9 6.2 17.19 2403.5 Pertenencia Vein
  including 64.8 66.7 2.0 50.40 6989.6 Pertenencia Vein
  including 65.2 65.5 0.4 188.50 21447.0 Pertenencia Vein
YQ_021_007 74.3 75.0 0.7 3.40 12.6 Pertenencia Vein
YQ_021_008 118.1 119.6 1.5 1.80 2.6 Dolar Vein
YQ_021_009 163.6 164.7 1.1 0.18 20.4 Dolar Vein
YQ_021_010 122.8 124.0 1.2 0.85 6.7 Esperanza Vein
YQ_021_011 42.6 42.9 0.3 1.20 155.0 Dolar Vein
YQ_021_012 54.0 54.5 0.5 0.74 105.0 Dolar Vein
YQ_021_012 58.7 59.2 0.6 0.52 130.0 Dolar Vein
YQ_021_012 92.7 95.1 2.4 3.90 328.0 Dolar Dos Vein
  including 93.1 94.1 1.0 9.23 763.0 Dolar Dos Vein
YQ_021_013 182.5 183.7 1.2 0.69 19.1 Dolar Vein
YQ_021_014 137.4 138.3 1.0 0.24 75.7 Esperanza HW Vein

Previously, we completed a first phase, 3,400-meter, 15-hole drill program in Q4 2020, exploring the principal veins at Yoquivo. The exploration program was designed to target the Pertenencia, San Francisco and Esperanza vein systems to better understand the nature and distribution of the gold-silver mineralization. Of substantial interest was the discovery of a new vein parallel to and east of the Pertenencia vein.  While the other principal veins have been partially mined from surface to the water table (up to 130 meters) in the case of San Francisco and Pertenencia, and over a much less extensive vertical interval in the case of El Dolar and Esperanza, the new vein is unmined from surface. Highlights included the following:

  • YQ_20_001  Pertenencia Vein
    • 1.3m grading 5.69 g/t Au and 223 g/t Ag (650g/t AgEq) within
    • 4.2m grading 2.34 g/t Au and 190 g/t Ag (365 g/t AgEq)
  • YQ_20_002 Pertenencia Vein
    • 0.6m grading 1.14 g/t Au and 423 g/t Ag (509 g/t AgEq) within
    • 1.9m grading 0.45 g/t Au and 150 g/t Ag (184 g/t AgEq)
  • YQ_20_006 Esperanza Vein
    • 1m grading 5.0 g/t Au and 118 g/t Ag (524 g/t AgEq) within
    • 3.6m grading 1.77 g/t Au and 49 g/t Ag (190 g/t AgEq)
  • YQ_20_007  Esperanza Vein
    • 0.4m grading 8.76 g/t Au and 60 g/t Ag (717 AgEq) within
    • 2.8m grading 1.2 g/t Au, 65 g/t Ag (155 g/t AgEq)
  • YQ_20_010    New Vein
    • 0.2m grading 15.4 g/t Au and 1150 g/t Ag (2305 g/t AgEq) within
    • 5.4m grading 1.9 g/t Au and 135 g/t Ag (278 g/t AgEq)
  • YQ_20_011   New Vein
    • 3.0m grading 4.2 g/t Au and 734 g/t Ag (1049 g/t AgEq) within
    • 12.3m grading 1.3 g/t Au and 225 g/t Ag (323 g/t AgEq)
  • YQ_20_012    New Vein
    • 0.3m grading 135.5 g/t Au and 7480 g/t Ag (17,643 g/t AgEq) within
    • 1.2m grading 34 g/t Au and 1895 g/t Ag (4445 g/t AgEq)

In October 2018, we announced high-grade assays from a recent surface sampling program at Yoquivo. 

Sample highlights are shown below:

  • 6m assaying 5.9 grams per tonne (“g/t”) Au and 937 g/t Ag from the Pertenencia Vein
  • 4m assaying 2.3 g/t Au and 489 g/t Ag from the Central Breccia Zone
  • 2.9m assaying 2.3 g/t Au and 345 g/t Ag from the San Francisco Vein
  • 6m assaying 1.7 g/t Au and 399 g/t Ag from the Pertenencia Vein

Location, Access And Facilities

The Yoquivo district is located on the headwaters of the Mayo River in the northern part of the Sierra Madre Occidental, approximately 45 kilometers (“km”) west of San Juanito. The property is located 32km south of Agnico Eagle’s Pinos Altos Mine (2018 production est. 181,000 oz Au1) and 35km southeast of the Ocampo mining district (a gold producer sold to Minera Frisco for (US) $750M in 20122).

Pinos Altos est. 2018 production from Agnico Eagle Website
Aurico Gold to sell the Ocampo Mine to Minera Frisco for US$750M

Title And Ownership

We hold an option to purchase seven concessions totaling 1,975 hectares for payments totaling $0.75 million over four years and subject to a 2% NSR royalty on production capped at $2 million.

 

The Yoquivo property covers an erosional ‘window’ of andesites beneath Oligocene-aged rhyolites. Multiple silver-gold bearing epithermal veins have been mapped and sampled. The two most important veins are the San Francisco and Pertenencia veins, both of which have been mapped and sampled over a two-kilometer strike length. Numerous splays and parallel structures have also been identified and sampled.

 

Mineral Resource Estimate - Q1 2023

In March 2023, we announced completion of an initial Mineral Resource estimate and Technical Report for Yoquivo. The Mineral Resource estimate is reported in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (“CIM”) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves using the 2019 edition of the CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines.The estimate was prepared by the independent engineering firm Mine Technical Services (“MTS”), with an effective date of February 24, 2023.

Yoquivo Inferred Mineral Resource Statement

Vein Tonnes Ag g/t Au g/t AgEq g/t Ag (koz) Au (koz) AgEq (koz)
Pertenencia 244,000 630 2.9 850 4,930 23 6,690
Camila 285,000 330 2.0 490 3,070 18 4,470
Camila Hanging Wall 170,000 300 1.8 440 1,610 10 2,370
New 118,000 560 1.6 680 2,130 6 2,570
Esperanza 120,000 150 1.8 290 570 7 1,130
Total 937,000 410 2.1 570 12,300 64 17,230

Mineral Resource table notes:

  1. Mineral Resources have been classified using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards and have an effective date of February 24, 2023.
  2. The Qualified Person for the resource estimate is Edward J.C. Orbock III, RM SME, an Associate Principal Geologist with MTS. Reported Inferred Mineral Resource estimates include crown pillar portions, assumed to be fully recoverable, defined as:
    1. Pertenencia Vein 24,000 tonnes @ 1,680 g/t Ag, 6.2 g/t Au and 2,160 g/t AgEq for 1,310 koz Ag, 5 koz Au and 1,690 koz AgEq.
    2. New Vein 15,000 tonnes @ 420 g/t Ag, 2.2 g/t Au and 590 g/t AgEq for 210 koz Ag, 1 koz Au and 290 koz AgEq.
    3. Esperanza Vein 22,000 tonnes @ 130 g/t Ag, 1.8 g/t Au and 270 g/t AgEq for 90 koz Ag, 1 koz Au and 190 koz AgEq.
  3. Mineral Resources assume a traditional underground cut-and-fill mining method; a silver price of US $24/oz, a gold price of US $1,840/oz, a minimum mining width of 1 m; assumed silver and gold metallurgical recovery of 85%; an average mining cost of US $75/t mined; average processing and general and administrative cost of US $50/t processed; transportation and selling cost of US $0.95/oz Ag and US $15/oz Au; and a gold and silver royalty of 2%.
  4. Mineral Resources are reported in situ within a grade shell constructed from composites above a cut-off grade of 200 g/t silver equivalent (AgEq), where AgEq = Ag g/t + Au g/t * (1,840/24), where the price per ounce for gold and silver in U.S. dollars is $1,840 and $24 respectively.
  5. All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.

Yoquivo Drill Results

Yoquivo 2022 (Third) Drill Program, Complete Results, reported February 07, 2023

Yoquivo 2021 (Second) Drill Program – Complete Results, reported March 3, 2022

Yoquivo 2020 (First) Drill Program - Results Collars and Assays, reported January 27, 2021

Yoquivo Surface Samples - 2018

Historic Drill Data for Yoquivo Project; West Timmins Resources, 2007