MAG Silver Corp. (TSX / NYSE American: MAG) (“MAG”
or “MAG Silver”) is pleased to report results from Phase 1 drilling
on its Deer Trail Carbonate Replacement Deposit (CRD) Project in
central Utah, USA (the “Deer Trail Project” or the “Project”).
Phase 1 saw the completion of three holes (3,927 metres (“m”))
drilled from surface spaced along a 1.5 km long corridor (Figure
1). Phase 1 successfully fulfilled all three of its planned
objectives by:
|
1) |
Confirming the presence of a thick section of more favorable
carbonate host rocks (the predicted “Redwall Limestone” or
“Redwall”) below the Deer Trail Mine; |
|
2) |
Confirming and projecting two suspected mineralization feeder
structures to depth; and |
|
3) |
Intercepting high-grade mineralization related to those structures
in host rocks below what was historically known. |
Notably, all three holes bottomed within
multi-phase porphyritic granitoids affected by later
sericite-pyrite alteration with modest Copper and Silver
mineralization along their upper contacts (including 0.86m grading
1.7% Copper and 64 g/t Silver in hole DT20-01). The overall
features suggest that this mineralization was sourced from a later
intrusive phase.
The principal goal of Phase 1 drilling was to
locate the Redwall Limestone, a thick, clean limestone unit
hypothesized to be a more favorable host rock than the thinly
layered Callville Formation, which hosts the deepest historically
known mineralization in the mine area. The likely presence of the
Redwall was indicated by regional occurrences and all three holes
cut 215 m - 320 m of highly altered Redwall before bottoming in
granitoid intrusions. All three holes cut high-grade sulphide
mineralization in/near projected feeder structures within the
Callville before reaching the Redwall (Table 1, Figure
1). DT21-02 intercepted 0.50 m
(core length) of sulphides grading 426 grams per tonne (“g/t”)
(12.4 ounces per ton (“opt”) Silver, 6.5 g/t (0.2 opt) Gold, and
17.1% Lead plus Zinc within a 3.5 m breccia zone along the
Red Fissure Fault; principal feeder to the historic Deer Trail
Manto. DT21-03 cut 1.90 m (core length) of manto-style
(bedding parallel) sulphides grading 952 g/t Silver (27.8 opt),
38.2 g/t (1.1 opt) Gold, and 9.2% Lead plus Zinc close to
the Wet Fault, a principal feeder to the 3400 Area manto zone.
DT20-01 was designed simply to locate the Redwall at shallow depth,
but before reaching the Redwall, it cut a ~20 m (core length)
feeder zone in the Callville containing a 2.30 m (core length)
mineralized strand that reported 1.0 g/t Gold and 101 g/t
Silver.
Phase 2 drilling commenced on August 20,
2021. The first hole of Phase 2 is an offset of DT21-03 designed to
test the Wet fault 150 m deeper where it cuts through the
Redwall.
“We are very pleased to have our first holes in
this promising, district-scale play satisfy all three of our
initial objectives, including finding high-grade, silver and
gold-rich mineralization just above what should be excellent host
rocks,” said George Paspalas, MAG Silver’s President and CEO.
“These initial results validate our exploration model and the high
silver grades at depth seem to indicate very large-scale zoning,
which strongly reinforces our belief that the Deer Trail system is
extensive and well mineralized. We eagerly look forward to the
results of the ongoing Phase 2 drilling.” Sustainability
and ESG
Achieving excellence in Environmental, Social
and Governance (“ESG”) practices is a core component of MAG’s
business – it is not only the right thing to do, but also essential
to the future growth and profitability of the Company. MAG is
committed to maintaining best-in-class corporate governance
practices and having a positive environmental and social impact.
MAG’s commitment to ‘zero harm’ prioritizes the health, safety and
well-being of its people and the communities in which they live and
work. At the Deer Trail Project, MAG’s proactive safety programs
have resulted in zero lost-time injuries to date. MAG takes a
‘shared value’ approach to local development activities to promote
sustainable economic and social benefits. MAG has a robust
stakeholder engagement program which includes consultation with
local stakeholders, municipal and regional leaders, and government
agencies. MAG is committed to wise environmental stewardship and
fully complies with, and strives to exceed, all applicable laws and
regulations. Since acquiring the Deer Trail Project, MAG has
proactively remediated legacy environmental deficiencies and safety
hazards.
Table 1: Phase 1 Drilling Highlights
Hole ID |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Core Length (m)1 |
Au (g/t)2 |
Ag (g/t)2 |
Pb(%) |
Zn (%) |
Cu (%) |
DT20-01 |
679.24 |
681.54 |
2.30 |
1.0 |
101 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
<0.1 |
and |
1147.42 |
1148.28 |
0.86 |
0.0 |
64 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
1.7 |
DT21-02 |
1161.23 |
1161.73 |
0.50 |
6.5 |
426 |
9.2 |
7.9 |
1.8 |
incl. |
1161.23 |
1161.40 |
0.17 |
13.3 |
831 |
15.7 |
13.7 |
3.3 |
DT21-03 |
261.51 |
264.07 |
2.56 |
1.5 |
147 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
<0.1 |
and |
443.20 |
445.10 |
1.90 |
38.2 |
952 |
5.03 |
4.2 |
0.3 |
incl. |
444.74 |
445.10 |
0.36 |
111.5 |
2340 |
>203 |
4.9 |
0.5 |
and |
514.45 |
515.49 |
1.04 |
3.0 |
22 |
0.8 |
1.4 |
<0.1 |
and |
746.70 |
747.12 |
0.42 |
5.2 |
270 |
4.2 |
8.1 |
1.0 |
and |
1043.98 |
1044.20 |
0.22 |
0.2 |
162 |
1.9 |
2.9 |
0.1 |
1 core length as cut; true thickness
indeterminate2 grams per tonne3 includes single >20% pending
overlimit
Phase 1 Results (in priority
order, Table 1, Figure 1):
1) |
|
Confirmed the presence of thick sections of favorable
Redwall Limestone carbonate host rocks in all three holes along a
1.5 km transect. Regionally the thick, clean
limestones of the Redwall Limestone and its stratigraphic
equivalents host significant replacement deposits (e.g. Leadville,
CO), so it is hypothesized to be a more favorable host for
laterally extensive mineralization than the thin, interbedded
shales-sandstones-limestones of the Callville Formation, which
hosts the historically deepest known mineralization in the Deer
Trail Mine. The Redwall does not crop out in the project area, nor
was it intercepted in prior drilling campaigns, but regional
geologic data indicated it should lie a few hundred metres below
the mine. As predicted, all three holes cut 215 m - 320 m of
strongly recrystallized and locally skarn-altered Redwall Limestone
beneath the Callville. Notably, in contrast to the known
mineralized upper portion of the Callville, which is characterized
by thin limestones interbedded with thicker sandstones and shales,
drilling shows the lower Callville contains an approximately 125 m
thick zone dominated by clean limestones only ~230 m below the
mine. These should also be viable hosts for large-scale
mineralization. The fact that the mineralization cut in DT21-02
lies in lowermost Callville limestone supports that inference. |
|
|
|
2) |
|
Traced the known feeder structures to depth towards
those more favorable host rocks. DT21-02 successfully cut
the “Red Fissure” fault (the main feeder structure for the
principal Deer Trail manto mineralization) approximately 740 m
below the mine. This is still within the lower Callville, but only
about 50 m above massive Redwall Limestone. DT21-03 cut
bedding-parallel, manto-style mineralization that appears to lie
very close to the projection of the Wet fault, a principal feeder
to manto mineralization in the lower “3400 Area” of the mine. The
traces of the Red Fissure and Wet faults were projected 740 m and
950 m respectively below mine exposures, which strongly suggests
these faults are continuous and fairly planar. Notably, a number of
additional potential feeder structures, marked by thin
mineralization, brecciation, very well developed “fugitive calcite”
and skarn alteration, were cut in all three holes. Several of these
intercepts (especially at 746 m and 1043 m depth in DT21-03 (Table
1)) may warrant follow-up drilling in Phase 2. |
|
|
|
3) |
|
Discovered mineralization related to those structures
and host rocks at depth. DT21-02 and 03 both cut
high-grade, multi-stage massive sulphide replacement mineralization
in Callville limestones above the Redwall Limestone. Notably, the
silver grades in both holes are comparable to those of the historic
Deer Trail massive sulfides, which suggests limited vertical zoning
despite being up to 740 m deeper in the system. DT21-02 appears to
have cut mineralization directly within the Red Fissure fault,
while DT21-03 appears to be manto-style mineralization fed from the
nearby Wet fault. Phase 2 drilling is targeting these mineralized
structures down dip within the clean carbonates of the
Redwall. |
High-Grade Sulphide
Intercepts
DT21-02 cut 0.50 m (core
length) of massive galena, sphalerite and pyrite, grading 426 g/t
Silver, 6.5 g/t Gold, 17.1% Lead plus Zinc in Callville Formation
limestones, approximately 50 m above the Redwall. The
mineralization occurs within a larger 3.5 m wide breccia zone that
lies along the projection of the Red Fissure (host to the principal
Deer Trail Manto mineralization). The sulphides are clearly
multi-phase, showing several stages of mineralization, disruption,
and remineralization. The Callville limestones around the
mineralization are strongly marbleized with local skarn and
skarnoid development. The underlying Redwall Limestone is even more
strongly marbleized, and skarn altered with alteration in all holes
increasing with depth.
DT21-03 cut 1.90 m (core
length) of bedding-parallel, manto-style galena, sphalerite and
pyrite mineralization grading 952 g/t Silver, 38.2 g/t Gold,
and 9.2% Lead plus Zinc in the Callville Formation. This intercept
is 125 m downdip from the 3400 Area, near the projection of the Wet
fault, one of the feeders to the 3400 Area mineralization. The
sulphides are clearly multi-phase, showing several stages of
mineralization, disruption and remineralization. The surrounding
limestone is strongly marbleized with local skarn and skarnoid
development.
Porphyry Related Mineralized
Intercepts
All three holes bottomed in pervasively
potassically-altered multi-phase granitoid porphyries. Limited
cross-cutting, texturally destructive sericite-pyrite alteration,
with associated copper mineralization, is localized along the
contact with the immediately overlying Redwall Limestone. The
Redwall displays weak to moderate skarn development within broad
zones (>100 m) of bleached white marble in all three holes.
Sulphides associated with this alteration consist of disseminated
pyrite and chalcopyrite in the contact zone and chalcopyrite
veinlets in the intrusion along and within a few meters of the
contact. The strongest mineralization was cut in DT20-01, which
reported 0.86 m (core length) grading 1.65% Copper and 64 g/t
Silver within skarn at the very top of the intrusion. The other two
holes reported strongly anomalous copper along their contacts with
the Redwall. Mineralization and alteration in all three holes
diminish rapidly below the limestone contact, which strongly
suggests hydrothermal fluids from an unknown source followed the
contact zone for some distance.
About Deer Trail
The silver-rich Deer Trail Carbonate
Replacement Deposit (CRD) Project in Piute County,
Utah encompasses the historic Deer Trail Mine and the
adjoining Alunite Ridge area (approximately 5,700 Ha). MAG has
consolidated these properties for the first time since the early
1980s, allowing us to apply an integrated district-scale
exploration approach based on the continuum of mineralization
styles from CRD through Skarn to Porphyry Copper-Molybdenum shown
by many related systems worldwide. This model suggests that the
high-grade silver, gold, lead, zinc and copper CRD sulphides of the
Deer Trail Mine are linked by continuous mineralization to a
Porphyry Copper-Molybdenum centre at some distance from the
mine. Initial work has focused on tracing the known
high-grade CRD mineralization of the historic mine to depth into
more favorable host rocks while surface work is tightening
localization of the probable porphyry intrusive source for the
system. The Deer Trail Project is headed by Dr. Lex Lambeck an
A.I.P.G. Certified Professional Geologist with over 15 years of
relevant experience in CRD exploration.
Quality Assurance and Control:
The samples (half core) are shipped directly in security-sealed
bags to ALS-Laboratories preparation facilities in Elko, Nevada, or
Tucson, Arizona, USA (Certification ISO/IEC 17025:2017). Samples
shipped also included intermittent QA/QC standards and blanks. Pulp
samples are subsequently shipped to ALS Global - Geochemistry
Analytical Lab in North Vancouver, Canada for analysis. The
remaining half core is placed back into the core boxes and is
retained on site in a secured core storage facility.
Qualified Persons: Dr. Peter
Megaw, Ph.D., C.P.G., and Lyle Hansen, M.Sc., P.Geo have acted as
the qualified persons as defined in National Instrument 43-101 for
this disclosure and supervised the preparation of the technical
information in this release. Dr. Megaw has a Ph.D. in geology and
more than 36 years of relevant experience focussed on silver and
gold exploration in Mexico. He is a Certified Professional
Geologist (CPG 10227) by the American Institute of Professional
Geologists and an Arizona Registered Geologist (ARG 21613). Dr.
Megaw is not independent as he is Chief Exploration Officer and a
Shareholder of MAG. Dr. Megaw is satisfied that the results are
verified based on an inspection of the core and underground
exposures, a review of the sampling procedures, the credentials of
the professionals completing the work and the visual nature of the
silver and base metal sulphides within a district where he is
familiar with the style and continuity of mineralization. Mr.
Hansen has a Masters in Geology from UBC and is a registered
Professional Geologist with Engineers and Geoscientists BC (149624)
and has more than 11 years experience in epithermal veins. Mr.
Hansen is not independent as he is Geotechnical Director of
MAG.
About MAG Silver Corp.
(www.magsilver.com)
MAG Silver Corp. (MAG: TSX / NYSE A) is a
Canadian development and exploration company focused on becoming a
top-tier primary silver mining company by exploring and advancing
high-grade, district scale, silver-dominant projects in the
Americas. Its principal focus and asset is the Juanicipio Project
(44%), being developed in a Joint Venture partnership with
Fresnillo Plc (56%), the Operator. Juanicipio is located in the
Fresnillo Silver Trend in Mexico, the world's premier silver mining
camp, and the Joint Venture is currently developing an underground
mine and constructing a 4,000 tonnes per day processing plant which
is expected to commence commissioning in Q4 2021. Underground mine
production of development material commenced in Q3 2020, and an
expanded exploration program is in place targeting multiple highly
prospective targets both at Juanicipio by the Joint Venture and by
MAG at the Deer Trail 100% earn-in project in Utah.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the NYSE
American has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the accuracy
or adequacy of this press release, which has been prepared by
management.
This release includes certain statements that
may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning
of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All
statements in this release, other than statements of historical
facts are forward looking statements, including statements that
address future mineral production, reserve potential,
exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or
developments. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always,
identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate",
"plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project",
"predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might",
"should", "believe" and similar expressions. These statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from
those anticipated in such forward-looking statements.
Although MAG believes the expectations expressed in such
forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions,
such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual
results or developments may differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, changes in
commodities prices, changes in mineral
production performance, exploitation and exploration
successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and
general economic, market or business conditions, political risk,
currency risk and capital cost inflation. In addition,
forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, including
that data is incomplete and considerable additional work will be
required to complete further evaluation, including but not limited
to drilling, engineering and socio-economic studies and
investment. The reader is referred to the Company’s filings
with the SEC and Canadian securities regulators for disclosure
regarding these and other risk factors. There is no certainty that
any forward-looking statement will come to pass and investors
should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking
statements.
Please Note: Investors are urged to consider
closely the disclosures in MAG's annual and
quarterly reports and other public filings, accessible through
the Internet at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov LEI:
254900LGL904N7F3EL14
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9fd2a5a6-4c0e-467f-a8f9-4ca3d2629ccd
For further information on behalf of MAG Silver Corp.
Contact Michael J. Curlook, VP Investor Relations and Communications
Phone: (604) 630-1399
Website: www.magsilver.com
Toll Free: (866) 630-1399
Email: info@magsilver.com
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