VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – July 27, 2017) – Candelaria Mining Corp. (“Candelaria” or the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE:CAND)(OTCQX:CDELF)(FRANKFURT:29LN) is pleased to provide the following update on the Company’s Caballo Blanco gold project located 65 kilometers northwest of the city of Veracruz, Mexico. The project is district scale consisting of fourteen contiguous mining claims and covering 19,815 hectares (198 sq. km), with easy access to infrastructure, labour and supplies.
Financing
Candelaria announced a strategic investment by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (“Agnico“) of C$9.7 million on June 6, 2017. The transaction closed on June 9, 2017 and Agnico currently owns 9.95% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares. Net proceeds of the investment were used for the final payment of US$2.5 million to Alio Gold Inc. (formerly known as Timmins Gold Corp.), closing the acquisition and securing 100% ownership of the Caballo Blanco gold project. Proceeds will also be used for infill and definition drilling to enhance the classification and extension of Caballo Blanco’s current mineral resource, exploration of highly prospective targets within the Caballo Blanco claim area, further technical and optimization studies, and for general working capital.
Environmental and Permitting
Since acquiring the project, Candelaria has prepared a new Environmental Impact Assessment (“MIA”) and worked closely with the communities and local, state and federal governments. The Company submitted the MIA to SERMARNAT (Mexican Environmental Authority) on July 14, 2017. The permitting process will now follow federally mandated guidelines and timelines necessary for approval.
Candelaria received an exploration permit for a 2,000 meter infill drill program at the La Paila zone, which covers the northern extent of the property and the project’s currently defined NI 43-101 gold and silver resources. For more details, see news release dated May 8, 2017.
Exploration permits for a 7,500 meter Phase I drilling program of new targets at the Highway, Las Cuevas and Las Banderas zones are being prepared and will be submitted in the near future, which will enable the Company to carry out its phase I drill program as described below.
Exploration
Candelaria has mobilized a drill rig and initiated drilling on a 2,000 meter program of infill drilling at La Paila zone. A total of seven (7) holes are planned in this area which will seek to confirm the resource model and provide tighter drill spacing in some areas of the resource.
Upon permitting success for its 7,500 meter Phase I drill program, the Company will mobilize rigs to commence exploration of the Highway, Las Cuevas, Bandera Norte and Bandera Sur targets. The Company identified these targets as high priority following a detailed sampling program based on results from extensive geochemical, IP resistivity and geophysical studies. The results of these studies show very similar characteristics and correlations to those of the La Paila resource. A map of priority targets can be viewed at the following link:
http://candelariamining.com/images/projects/Caballo/CAND-Caballo-Blanco-Targets-Map-26Jul17_L.jpg
Technical Studies
Numerous technical studies will be undertaken to advance the Caballo Blanco gold project. These include, but are not limited to, additional metallurgical test work, re-design of the conceptual pit, resource update, water supply studies and ore and waste rock characteristic studies.
Corporate Matters
Candelaria recently strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Curtis Turner to the position of Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Turner has significant experience in Mexico having previously held a senior management position at Argonaut Gold Inc., where he was a key member of the team that successfully completed four acquisitions totaling over $700 million and oversaw permitting processes and technical work.
Mr. Turner commented, “I am familiar with the mining, legal, social and environmental aspects of operating in Mexico and I’m excited by the opportunities that are ahead for Candelaria. I have been working with the Company for several months as an advisor prior to accepting the position of CEO and have been impressed by the quality of the Caballo Blanco project and numerous exploration targets on the property. A good core group of people exist in the Company to provide a solid foundation. In addition, the key elements and supports are in place to bring this project forward for permitting as well as advancement on the technical front. I look forward to working with the team as we continue to grow this company and provide benefits to the local communities in the region and the shareholders of Candelaria.”
Upcoming Catalysts for 2017
| 1) | Environmental Permitting | |
| 2) | Exploration results from the 2,000 meter infill drill program | |
| 3) | Exploration permits for the 7,500 meter Phase I drill program | |
| 4) | Initial exploration results from the 7,500 meter Phase I drill program of the new Highway, Las Cuevas, Bandera Norte and Bandera Sur zones. |
About Candelaria
Candelaria Mining is a Canadian-based gold development and exploration company with a portfolio of highly prospective projects in Mexico, one of the world’s best mining jurisdictions. Candelaria’s 100% owned Caballo Blanco Project hosts NI 43-101 Indicated Resources of 521,000 ounces of gold and 2,170,000 ounces of silver (31,220,000 tonnes grading 0.52 g/t gold and 2.16 g/t silver) and Inferred Resources of 95,000 ounces of gold and 590,000 ounces of silver (8,630,000 tonnes grading 0.34 g/t gold and 2.14 g/t silver). Potential exists to increase these estimated resources through continued drilling and exploration. For more information on resource estimates, please see the Company’s news release dated May 8, 2017.
Mr. Jim Cuttle, B.Sc, P.Geo. a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and approved the technical information in this news release.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Curtis Turner, Chief Executive Officer
Neither the 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 contains certain information that may constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, “forward-looking information”), including but not limited to the exploration potential at the Caballo Blanco Project, and future exploration and production plans of Candelaria. This forward-looking information entails various risks and uncertainties that are based on current expectations, and actual results may differ materially from those contained in such information. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the strength of the global economy; the price of gold; developmental, funding and liquidity risks; the degree to which mineral resource estimates are reflective of actual mineral resources; the degree to which factors which would make a mineral deposit commercially viable are present; the risks and hazards associated with mining operations; and the ability of Candelaria to fund its capital requirements and exploration and development activities. Risks and uncertainties about the Company’s business are more fully discussed in the Company’s disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and United States available at www.sedar.com. Readers are urged to read these materials. Candelaria assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such information unless required by law.
VP Corporate Development
778-991-5429
ebertsch@candelariamining.com