Discovery Silver Corp. (TSX: DSV, OTCQX: DSVSF)
(“Discovery” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce its financial
results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023 (“Q3 2023”),
and to provide a summary of key events for the quarter and
subsequent to quarter-end. All figures are stated in Canadian
dollars (“C$”) unless otherwise noted. Discovery’s flagship project
is the 100%-owned Cordero silver project (“Cordero” or the
“Project”) located in Chihuahua State, Mexico.
Tony Makuch, CEO, states: “We made significant
advances at Cordero during and subsequent to the third quarter of
2023. The submission of our Environmental Impact Statement
(“Manifesto de Impacto Ambiental” or “MIA”), the principal permit
required for the development of Cordero, represents a major
milestone for the Company. The submission encapsulates detailed
environmental and social baseline studies and is supported by
third-party reviews from specialist environmental and engineering
consultant firms. Meanwhile, our Feasibility Study (“FS”) continues
to progress well and remains on track for completion in Q1 2024. FS
drilling wrapped up during the quarter with results highlighting
the potential to extend the already long mine life at Cordero. We
also reported strong results from our FS metallurgical test program
demonstrating that higher silver recoveries of up to 7% into the
precious metals concentrate are achievable at significantly reduced
levels of reagent consumption. Concurrent to these positive
developments, we made several key appointments to our board and
management team which, in conjunction with our strong balance sheet
with a current cash balance of approximately $65 million, provides
us with an excellent platform to deliver our FS as well as advance
Cordero through the permitting process.”
HIGHLIGHTS FROM Q3 2023 & SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS:
- Reported results
from the FS metallurgical test program demonstrating higher silver
recoveries of up to 7% to the precious metals concentrate at
significantly lower reagent consumption.
- Addition of
several key appointments that strengthen the Company’s Board of
Directors, and also the permitting and technical teams.
- Formal
submission for evaluation of the MIA to Secretaría de Medio
Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (“SEMARNAT”), the federal government
agency responsible for evaluating MIA submissions.
- Completion of
the reserve expansion and definition component of our Feasibility
Study program consisting of an additional 35,000 m of drilling in
over 100 drill holes completed since the cut-off for the
Pre-Feasibility Study with results demonstrating the potential to
further grow reserves within and on the margins of the open
pit.
- Release of the
Company’s 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) report
highlighting the Company’s current practices and priorities going
forward.
- As of September
30, 2023, the Company had a cash and cash equivalents balance of
$60.0 million.
- Subsequent to
September 30, 2023, the Company received a refund for the
cumulative IVA return filed of approximately $8.0M, including
interest and inflationary adjustments.
SUMMARY OF Q3 2023
& SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:
Feasibility Study Metallurgical Test
Program:
The FS metallurgical test program was focused on
optimizing metallurgical performance for a run-of-mine composite
with process variables such as reagent dosage and type, grind size
and the testing of oxide-sulphide blends with oxides above 10%.
Highlights from this test work include:
- Increased silver
recoveries of up to 7% to the precious metals concentrate where
higher payabilities are received.
- Significant
reductions in reagent consumption while achieving improved
metallurgical performance than outlined in the Preliminary
Feasibility Study (“PFS”)
- Excellent
metallurgical performance achievable for oxide-sulphide blending of
up to 15% oxides (the PFS assumed a cap of up to 10% oxides).
- Primary grind
sensitivity confirmed a coarse grind size of 200 micron passing p80
is the optimal grind size (unchanged from the PFS).
For further details on the results from the FS
metallurgical test program noted above refer to our news release
dated October 26, 2023.
Key Appointments:
On August 24, 2023, the Company announced a
number of key appointments that significantly strengthen the
Company’s Board of Directors and management team. These
include:
-
Barry Olson (Independent Director) – more than 30
years mining experience with a track record of successfully
developing and managing multi-billion-dollar international mining
projects including Peñasquito, Mexico’s largest open pit mine.
-
Jonathan Gill (Advisor to the Board) – more than
50 years of global mining experience including senior mine
management roles with Inco Ltd. and advisory roles on major
international mining projects and currently a Director of Agnico
Eagle Mines Ltd.
-
Mike Neumann (Advisor to the Board) – a mining
engineer with over 40 years mining experience focused on mine
design, operations and environmental permitting including
permitting, start up and construction experience in Mexico.
-
José Jabalera (Director, Corporate Affairs Mexico)
– held senior positions over the last decade within both the
Mexican Federal Government and the State Government of Chihuahua
focused on establishing productive working relationships between
mining corporations, government and local communities.
-
Gord Leavoy (Vice President, Mineral Processing) –
more than 40 years’ experience with major mining companies such as
Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. and Goldcorp Inc. across all aspects of
mineral processing and tailings dam construction and
operation.
-
Bindu Satyajit (Corporate Secretary & Manager,
Administrative Services) – more than 15 years’ experience
in the mining industry focused on project management,
administration, internal reporting and corporate
communications.
Further details on each appointee can be found
in the news release dated August 24, 2023.
Submission of Environmental Impact
Assessment:
The MIA for Cordero was submitted to SEMARNAT
for evaluation during the quarter. The submission is supported by
comprehensive environmental and social baseline assessment work and
outlines detailed plans for the responsible and sustainable
development of the Cordero Project. The Project is expected to have
significant positive direct and indirect socioeconomic impacts
within Mexico at local, regional and national levels with an
expected peak local workforce of over 1,000 employees, over US$4
billion of expected goods and services purchased locally within
Mexico and direct tax revenues of approximately US$1.2 billion over
the 18-year mine life outlined in the PFS. The Company looks
forward to working with SEMARNAT through the permitting review
process to demonstrate its full compliance with Mexican regulatory
requirements alongside its overarching commitment to meet the
highest industry standards for environmental protection, health and
safety and social responsibility.
For further details on the MIA submission refer
to our news release dated August 31, 2023.
Feasibility Study Drilling:
The Company has drilled over 52,000 m (164
holes) as part of its FS drill program (since the data cut-off for
the PFS study). This includes approximately 35,000 m of reserve
definition and expansion drilling, 7,000 m of condemnation drilling
and 10,000 m of engineering drilling (hydrogeology and
geotechnical).
Reserve Expansion Drilling –
the reserve expansion and definition component of our Feasibility
Study drill program finished up in Q3 2023. Highlight intercepts
from the final holes drilled in this program include:
-
52 m averaging 105 g/t AgEq1 (51
g/t Ag, 0.19 g/t Au, 0.6% Pb and 0.9% Zn) from 102 m and 37
m averaging 171 g/t AgEq1 (79 g/t Ag, 0.09 g/t Au, 1.1% Pb
and 1.5% Zn) from 276 m in hole C22-722 in the southwest of the
South Corridor.
-
15 m averaging 479 g/t AgEq1 (278 g/t Ag, 0.08 g/t
Au, 3.1% Pb and 2.9% Zn) from 145 m in hole C22-713 also in the
southwest of the South Corridor.
-
39 m averaging 134 g/t AgEq1
(104 g/t Ag, 0.17 g/t Au, 0.5% Pb and 0.3% Zn) from 46 m in hole
C22-728 in the southwest of the North Corridor.
Overall, the results from our FS drill program
demonstrate the potential to expand reserves through the conversion
of waste to ore within the reserves pit and through the expansion
at depth of the reserves pit.
For further details on the drill results noted
above refer to our news release dated August 2, 2023. Supporting
Technical Disclosure for drill results can be found at the end of
this release.
2022 ESG Report
On July 2, 2023, the Company announced it had
released its 2022 ESG report, highlighting the Company’s current
practices and priorities going forward. Key highlights include:
- Receipt of the
Socially Responsible Enterprise (Empresa Socialmente Responsable)
(ESR) distinction from the Mexican Centre for Philanthropy (Centro
Mexicana para la Filantropía) (CEMEFI) and achieving a ranking in
the top 10% of approximately 1,000 participating small to medium
sized companies in Mexico.
- Receipt of the
Great Place to Work Certification (achieving an overall score of
84%), an internationally recognized certification program awarded
to companies that create an outstanding employee experience.
- The Company held
19 engagement sessions with local stakeholders in 2022 and made
significant community investments in health, education and
training.
The full 2022 ESG Report is available for
download in English and Spanish at:
www.discoverysilver.com/sustainability
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:
The following selected financial data is
summarized from the Company’s consolidated financial statements and
related notes thereto (the “Financial Statements”) for the quarter
ended September 30, 2023, and the Management’s Discussion and
Analysis (“MD&A”) for the quarter ended September 30, 2023.
A copy of the Financial Statements and MD&A
is available at www.discoverysilver.com or on SEDAR
at www.sedarplus.ca.
|
Net loss |
Q3 2023 |
|
Q3 2022 |
|
(a) Total |
|
$ |
(2,207,479 |
) |
$ |
(5,550,164 |
) |
(b) basic and diluted per share |
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
$ |
(0.02 |
) |
Net loss & total comprehensive loss |
|
$ |
(3,059,766 |
) |
$ |
(4,993,977 |
) |
Total weighted average shares outstanding |
|
|
395,720,230 |
|
|
349,402,721 |
|
|
|
September 30, 2023 |
|
|
December 31, 2022 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
59,931,068 |
|
$ |
46,220,938 |
|
Total assets |
$ |
150,770,808 |
|
$ |
91,583,326 |
|
Total current liabilities |
$ |
13,327,861 |
|
$ |
1,964,868 |
|
Working capital(2) |
$ |
59,402,439 |
|
$ |
53,081,932 |
|
Total Shareholders’ equity |
$ |
132,902,518 |
|
$ |
89,158,070 |
|
(2) Non-GAAP measure defined as current assets
less current liabilities from the Company’s consolidated financial
statements. |
|
About Discovery
Discovery’s flagship project is its 100%-owned
Cordero project, one of the world’s largest silver deposits. The
PFS completed in January 2023 demonstrates that Cordero has the
potential to be developed into a highly capital efficient mine that
offers the combination of margin, size and scaleability. Cordero is
located close to infrastructure in a prolific mining belt in
Chihuahua State, Mexico.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,Tony
Makuch, P.EngPresident, CEO & Director
For further information contact:
Forbes Gemmell, CFAVP Corporate
DevelopmentPhone: 416-613-9410Email:
forbes.gemmell@discoverysilver.comWebsite:
www.discoverysilver.com
1TECHNICAL NOTES &
REFERENCES:
Drill results: all drill
results in this news release are rounded. Assays are uncut and
undiluted. Widths are drilled widths, not true widths, as a full
interpretation of the actual orientation of mineralization is not
complete. As a guideline, intervals with disseminated
mineralization were chosen based on a 25 g/t AgEq cutoff with no
more than 10 m of dilution. AgEq calculations are used as the basis
for total metal content calculations given Ag is the dominant metal
constituent as a percentage of AgEq value in approximately 70% of
the Company’s mineralized intercepts. AgEq is calculated as Ag(g/t)
+ 18.39 x Au(g/t) + 30.81 x Pb(%) + 36.54 x Zn(%). This calculation
is based on metal prices of USD $22.00/oz Ag, $1,600/oz Au,
$1.00/lb Pb, $1.20/lb Zn and life-of-mine average recovery
assumptions from the 2023 Pre-Feasibility Study of 87% for Ag, 22%
for Au, 86% for Pb and 85% for Zn.
Sample analysis and QA/QC
ProgramThe true width of the veins is estimated to be
approximately 70% of the drilled width. Assays are uncut except
where indicated. All core assays are from HQ drill core unless
stated otherwise. Drill core is logged and sampled in a secure core
storage facility located at the project site 40km north of the city
of Parral. Core samples from the program are cut in half, using a
diamond cutting saw, and are sent to ALS Geochemistry-Mexico for
preparation in Chihuahua City, Mexico, and subsequently pulps are
sent to ALS Vancouver, Canada, which is an accredited mineral
analysis laboratory, for analysis. All samples are prepared using a
method whereby the entire sample is crushed to 70% passing -2mm, a
split of 250g is taken and pulverized to better than 85% passing 75
microns. Samples are analyzed for gold using standard Fire
Assay-AAS techniques (Au-AA24) from a 50g pulp. Over limits are
analyzed by fire assay and gravimetric finish. Samples are also
analyzed using thirty three-element inductively coupled plasma
method (“ME-ICP61”). Over limit sample values are re-assayed for:
(1) values of zinc > 1%; (2) values of lead > 1%; and (3)
values of silver > 100 g/t. Samples are re-assayed using the
ME-OG62 (high-grade material ICP-AES) analytical package. For
values of silver greater than 1,500 g/t, samples are re-assayed
using the Ag-CON01 analytical method, a standard 30 g fire assay
with gravimetric finish. Certified standards and blanks are
routinely inserted into all sample shipments to ensure integrity of
the assay process. Selected samples are chosen for duplicate assay
from the coarse reject and pulps of the original sample. No QAQC
issues were noted with the results reported herein.
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.
The most recent technical report for the Cordero
Project is the 2023 Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Company’s
Cordero project. The report was completed by Ausenco with support
from AGP, Knight Piésold and Hard Rock and is available on
Discovery’s website and on SEDAR under Discovery Silver Corp.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Neither TSX Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as
that term is defined in policies of the TSX 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. Statements regarding the results of
the pre-feasibility study and the anticipated capital and operating
costs, sustaining costs, net present value, internal rate of
return, payback period, process capacity, average annual metal
production, average process recoveries, concession renewal,
permitting of the Project, anticipated mining and processing
methods, proposed pre-feasibility study production schedule and
metal production profile, anticipated construction period,
anticipated mine life, expected recoveries and grades, anticipated
production rates, infrastructure, social and environmental impact
studies, availability of labour, tax rates and commodity prices
that would support development of the Project. Information
concerning mineral resource/reserve estimates and the economic
analysis thereof contained in the results of the pre-feasibility
study are also forward-looking statements in that they reflect a
prediction of the mineralization that would be encountered, and the
results of mining, if a mineral deposit were developed and mined.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical
facts which address events, results, outcomes or developments that
the Company expects to occur. Forward-looking statements are based
on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management
on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of
risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those described in forward-looking
statements include 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. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking
statements, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop
such forward-looking information, are described under the heading
"Risks Factors" in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated
March 30, 2023, which is available under the Company’s issuer
profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.
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