VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – May 6, 2016) – Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSX VENTURE:SSV)(FRANKFURT:SEG1)(SSE:SSVCL) (“Southern”) reported today that it has filed a technical report (“Report”) prepared in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Instrument 43-101. The Report may be found under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com and on Southern’s website www.southernsilverexploration.com.
The Report, dated May 5, 2016, entitled “NI 43-101 Technical Report, Mineral Resource Estimate for Cerro Las Minitas Project, Durango State, Mexico ” was prepared by Garth D. Kirkham, P.Geo., following the guidelines of NI 43-101 and NI 43-101F.
The resource estimate provides initial grade and tonnage estimates for three mineral deposits on the property at the Blind, El Sol and Santo Nino zones which have been the focus of much of Southern’s exploration activities on the property since 2011, but does not include mineralization from the newly discovered Mina La Bocona zone. Further drilling on the Mina La Bocona target is planned for the 2016 exploration program in order to properly delineate this target.
Table 1: Base-case Mineral Resource Estimate utilizing a 150g/t AgEq cut-off value is as follows:
| Indicated | |||||||||||||
| Zone | Tonnes | Ag | Au | Pb | Zn | Cu | AgEq | Ag | Au | Pb | Zn | Cu | AgEq (Oz) |
| (Kt) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (g/t) | (ozs*1000) | (ozs*1000) | (Mlbs) | (Mlbs) | (Mlbs) | (000’s) | |
| Blind Zone | 2,641 | 99 | 0.07 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 0.10 | 303 | 8,442 | 5.7 | 139.4 | 123.3 | 5.6 | 25,720 |
| El Sol Zone | 1,083 | 69 | 0.02 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 0.09 | 311 | 2,392 | 0.6 | 49.8 | 83.6 | 2.0 | 10,812 |
| Total | 3,724 | 90 | 0.05 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 0.09 | 305 | 10,834 | 6.3 | 189.2 | 206.9 | 8 | 36,532 |
| Inferred | |||||||||||||
| Zone | Tonnes | Ag | Au | Pb | Zn | Cu | AgEq | Ag | Au | Pb | Zn | Cu | AgEq (Oz) |
| (Kt) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (g/t) | (ozs*1000) | (ozs*1000) | (Mlbs) | (Mlbs) | (Mlbs) | (000’s) | |
| Blind Zone | 2,863 | 91 | 0.28 | 1.6 | 3.9 | 0.21 | 364 | 8,370 | 25.9 | 98.0 | 249.0 | 13.1 | 33,498 |
| El Sol Zone | 2,909 | 71 | 0.09 | 1.9 | 4.1 | 0.11 | 339 | 6,594 | 8.6 | 121.8 | 264.4 | 7.2 | 31,719 |
| Santo Nino Zone | 839 | 95 | 0.03 | 0.9 | 6.1 | 0.47 | 446 | 2,568 | 0.8 | 17.5 | 113.0 | 8.6 | 12,036 |
| Total | 6,611 | 82 | 0.17 | 1.6 | 4.3 | 0.20 | 363 | 17,533 | 35.4 | 237.3 | 626.4 | 29.0 | 77,252 |
The 150g/t AgEq cut-off value was calculated using average long-term prices of $15/oz silver, $1,100/oz gold, $2.75/lb Copper, $0.90/lb lead and $0.90/lb zinc and metal recoveries of 82% silver, 86% lead and 80% zinc. All prices are stated in $USD1.
Resource Highlights
Three separate deposits comprising sets of sub-parallel, northwest-trending and steeply dipping zones were modelled using mineralized intercepts and geological information from Southern’s exploration work on the property from 2011 to 2015. These modelled deposits extend over a 1 kilometer strike-length and up to 600 metres depth. Mineralization is open along strike and at depth in all three deposits.
Significantly, the current resource does not include any drill results from the east side of the Central Intrusion in the area of the Mina La Bocona target which to date remains un-modelled. Drilling at Mina La Bocona in 2015 returned thick high-grade zones of mineralization including a 3.9m est. true thickness of 13.5g/t Au, 37g/t Ag, 2.2% Pb and 1.7% Zn (1093g/t AgEq) and an 8.2m est. true thickness of 0.5g/t Au, 150g/t Ag, 3.7% Pb and 0.7% Zn (325g/t AgEq) in drill hole 15CLM-078 (see NR-10-15, October 01, 2015).
Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Inferred Resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be classified as Mineral Reserves. There is no assurance that any part of the Inferred Resource will be converted to Measured or Indicated Mineral Resources or ultimately converted to a Mineral Reserve.
2016 Exploration Program
The 2016 Exploration program on the property continues with a drill program focused on defining extensions of high-grade silver-polymetallic mineralization at both the Blind – El Sol zones as well as delineation of the Mina La Bocona zone. Initial drilling at the Blind-El Sol zones has targeted down-dip and lateral offsets, to the southeast, of high-grade mineralization intersected in drill holes 15CLM-25 (12.8m est. true thickness averaging 113g/t Ag, 0.5g/t Au, 0.4% Cu, 0.9% Pb and 3.6% Zn) and 15CLM-81 (8.7m est. true thickness averaging 136g/t Ag, 0.5% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 4.5% Zn). One hole is completed and a second hole has started. Assays are pending.
Exploration on the Cerro Las Minitas property, is funded by Electrum Global Holdings L.P. (“Electrum”), which is financing a broad range of exploration activities to earn a 60% interest in the project through a US$5.0M option earn-in on the property, with Southern Silver acting as operator.
About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.
Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is a precious metal exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world class mineral deposits in north-central Mexico and the southern USA with specific emphasis on the Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico’s Faja de Plata which hosts multiple world class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, San Martin, Naica and Pitarilla. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts in developing the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, high-grade, silver-lead-zinc mine. The Company engages in the acquisition, exploration and development either directly or through joint venture relationships, in mineral properties in major jurisdictions. Our property portfolio also includes the Oro porphyry copper-gold project located in southern New Mexico, USA.
Robert Macdonald, MSc., P.Geo., is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and he is responsible for the supervision of the exploration on the Cerro Las Minitas Project and for the preparation and review of the technical results in this disclosure. Garth Kirkham, P.Geo., and Principal of Kirkham Geosciences Limited is the Independent Qualified Person responsible for the preparation and disclosure of the Mineral Resource Estimate.
- The 2016 Cerro Las Minitas Resource Estimate was prepared following CIM definitions for classification of Mineral Resources. Resources are constrained using mainly geological constraints and approximate 10g/t AgEq grade shells. The block models are comprised of an array of blocks measuring 10m x 2m x 10m, with grades for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn and AgEq values interpolated using ID2 weighting. Blocks are classified as Inferred if they fell within 100m of a drill hole intercept. Blocks within 50 m of the nearest intercept, and estimated by at least two drill holes were classified as Indicated.The models identified at a 150g/t AgEq cut-off, an indicated resource of 3,724,000 tonnes averaging 90g/t Ag, 0.05g/t Au, 2.3% Pb, 2.5% Zn and 0.09% Cu and a cumulative inferred resource of 6,611,000 tonnes averaging 82g/t Ag, 0.17g/t Au, 1.6% Pb, 4.3% Zn and 0.2% Cu. Mineral Resources are estimated using an average long-term price of $15/oz silver, $1,100/oz gold, $2.75/lb Cu, $0.90/lb lead and $0.90/lb zinc and metal recoveries of 82% silver, 86% lead and 80% zinc. All prices are stated in $USD. Mineral Resources are conceptual in nature and as such do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The current Resource Estimate was prepared by Garth Kirkham, P.Geo. of Kirkham Geosciences Ltd. who is the Independent Qualified Person responsible for presentation and review of the Mineral Resource Estimate.
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.
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