TORONTO, May 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Discovery Silver Corp. (TSX-V: DSV, OTCQX: DSVSF) (“Discovery” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide a project update and to announce the project study team for its Preliminary Economic Study (“PEA” or “the Study”) on the Company’s flagship Cordero project (“Cordero” or “the Project”) located in Chihuahua State, Mexico. The PEA will be led by Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. (“Ausenco”) and is scheduled for completion in 4Q 2021 and will be based on an updated resource estimate scheduled for completion in 3Q 2021.
Taj Singh, President & CEO, states: “The objective of our PEA is to establish Cordero as one of the largest producing and longest mine life primary silver mines in the world with costs in the bottom half of the industry cost curve. The Study will be supported by a comprehensive drilling and metallurgical dataset and will be undertaken by an industry-leading project team led by Ausenco with input from specialists across all key mining disciplines. While the Study work progresses we will continue to remain focused on adding value through drilling with our recently commenced Phase 2 drill program.”
PROJECT UPDATE
Phase 1 drilling: The Company’s Phase 1 drill program concluded at the end of April. The data from the 75,000 m of drilling completed in this program will be used to support the resource update which the PEA will be based on.
Phase 2 drilling: The four drill rigs currently operating on site will continue uninterrupted with Phase 2 drilling which will be focused on three key areas: (1) upgrading inferred resources to indicated for inclusion in a prefeasibility study; (2) resource expansion of bulk-tonnage mineralization; and (3) testing of the width, grade and continuity of the extensive high-grade vein systems that transect the deposit.
Resource update: An updated resource estimate is scheduled for completion in 3Q 2021. The resource estimate will be based on an updated geological model of the deposit that includes the relogging of 110,000 m of historic drilling plus 75,000 m of drilling from the Phase 1 drill program. The resource model will use estimation domains based on structure and lithology. Previous resource estimates did not incorporate these constraints.
Metallurgical testwork: A comprehensive metallurgical testwork program with samples based on both lithology and mining phases is ongoing with results expected in 3Q 2021. The testwork is being conducted by Blue Coast Research Ltd. (“Blue Coast”) with oversight from Libertas Metallurgy Ltd. (“Libertas”) and Ausenco. The current program will expand on previous metallurgical testwork programs conducted by ALS Ltd. in 2013 and METCON Research Inc. in 2011.
Mining: The Company has already been working with AGP Mining Consultants Inc. (“AGP Mining”) to complete preliminary pit optimization work to assist with drill targeting. Preliminary mine scheduling work has also been completed to evaluate the impact on project economics of different mining rates, mill throughput rates and cut-off grade and stockpiling strategies. The objective of this work is to optimize the Net Present Value (“NPV”) and capital efficiency (ratio of initial capital expenditure to NPV).
Geotechnical / Hydrology / Hydrogeology: Knight Piésold and Co. (USA) (“Knight Piésold”) completed a site visit to Cordero in March 2021. The site visit included a review of drill core to assess pit wall stability, an evaluation of potential tailings and waste storage locations and a preliminary review of the hydrogeological regime at Cordero. Dedicated geotechnical drilling for the open pit is expected to commence this month and will be used to generate pit slope assumptions for the PEA.
ESG: An environmental baseline study managed by CIMA Consultores (“CIMA”) commenced in 1Q 2021 and will be ongoing throughout the year. A desktop social baseline assessment has already been completed by Vinfidem Consultoria (“Vinfidem”) with follow up field work expected to commence later this quarter. Key findings from both sets of work will be included in the PEA. The ESG work will be complemented by the Company’s inaugural ESG report scheduled for publication in 3Q 2021. The report will outline the Company’s ESG approach as it relates to strategy, planning and risk management and will be developed in conjunction with Stratos Inc. (“Stratos”).
PEA PROJECT TEAM
The PEA project team will be led by Ausenco, an industry leader in cost-effective process design and construction. Ausenco is a global company providing innovative, value-add consulting studies, project delivery, asset operations and maintenance solutions in the minerals and metals industry with recent and relevant study, project construction (“EPC”) and construction management (“EPCM”) experience on projects within the Americas. Ausenco has significant experience in Mexico including recently leading the Feasibility Study (& future EPC) for SilverCrest Metals Inc.’s Las Chispas project. Ausenco also has recent experience with process plants of similar size and/or recovery flowsheet to what is expected at Cordero including Trilogy Metals Inc.’s Arctic project in Alaska (Feasibility Study), Hudbay Minerals Inc.’s Constancia mine in Peru (EPCM), Minsur S.A.’s Mina Justa mine in Peru (Feasibility Study & EPCM), Mantos Copper S.A.’s Mantoverde project in Chile (EPC), Artemis Gold Inc.’s Blackwater project (EPC) in Canada and Argonaut Gold Inc.’s Magino project (EPC) in Canada.
| Area of Responsibility | PEA Qualified Person | Third Party Input/Review |
| Principal Author | Ausenco | – |
| Resource Estimate | Red Dot 3D | RockRidge Consulting |
| Metallurgy | Ausenco | Libertas / Blue Coast |
| Processing | Ausenco | – |
| Mining | AGP Mining | – |
| Geotech/Hydrology | Knight Piésold | – |
| Environment | Ausenco | CIMA |
| Social | Ausenco | Vinfidem |
PEA OUTLINE
Study objective: The overarching objective is to deliver a technically robust study supported by a comprehensive dataset and vetted by top-tier independent consultants with third party peer review. The Company’s target for the Study is to outline one of the largest producing primary silver operations in the industry with manageable upfront development capex and operating costs in the bottom half of the industry cost curve.
Process plant: The Study will incorporate staged expansions of the processing facility to reduce the upfront capex and payback period. Production trade-off studies are ongoing however based on preliminary results the initial mill throughput rate is expected to be in the 10,000 – 20,000 tonnes per day (“tpd”) range and the expanded mill throughput is expected to be in the 20,000 – 40,000 tpd range.
Mine plan: The mine schedule will incorporate an elevated cut-off grade early in the mine life and the effective use of stockpiling to accelerate the payback period and maximize the NPV at the set mill throughput rates. A trade-off study comparing the use of contractor mining versus owner-operated mining is ongoing.
QP CONSULTANT / THIRD PARTY LIST
Ausenco – www.ausenco.com
AGP Mining – www.agpmining.com
Blue Coast – www.bluecoastresearch.ca
CIMA – www.cimasc.com.mx
Knight Piésold – www.knightpiesold.com
Libertas – LinkedIn profile
Red Dot 3D – LinkedIn profile
RockRidge Consulting – www.rockridgeconsult.com
Vinfidem – www.vinfidem.com.mx
About Discovery Silver
Discovery’s flagship project is its 100%-owned Cordero project, one of the few silver projects globally that offers margin, size and scaleability. Cordero is located close to infrastructure in a prolific mining belt in Chihuahua State, Mexico, and is supported by an industry leading balance sheet with over C$90 million available for aggressive exploration, resource expansion and future development. Discovery was a recipient of the 2020 TSX Venture 50 award and the 2021 OTCQX Best 50 award.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
Taj Singh, M.Eng, P.Eng, CPA,
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
For further information contact:
Forbes Gemmell, CFA
VP Corporate Development & Investor Relations
Phone: 416-613-9410
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.discoverysilver.com
Qualified Person
Gernot Wober, P.Geo, VP Exploration, Discovery Silver Corp., is the Company’s designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and has reviewed and validated that the information contained in this news release is accurate.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release is not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements within this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although Discovery 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 described in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: fluctuations in market prices, including metal prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. Discovery does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable laws.
