Almaden Announces Completion of Social Impact Assessment at Ixtaca Project
- 1 -
NEWS RELEASE
December 12, 2017
Trading Symbols: TSX: AMM; NYSE American: AAU
www.almadenminerals.com
ALMADEN ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AT IXTACA PROJECT
Almaden Minerals Ltd. (“Almaden” or “the Company”; TSX : AMM ; NYSE American: AAU) is pleased to
announce that in the Spring of 2017 it engaged an arms -length consultant to conduct a Social Impact
Assessment (“SIA”) of the Ixtaca Project . Almaden has now received a summary report of the SIA , which
provides objective insight into the degree to which community members understand the Ixtaca project, and
provides a valuable road map for further interactions with the communities who live local to the Ixtaca project
area in Puebla State, Mexico.
The SIA was completed by Ju an-Pablo Gudiño of GMI Consulting (“GMI”). GMI is a Mexico City -based group
which provides social and environmental consulting services to government and industry. In 2015 it was
recognized by Consulting Magazine as one of the 50 most important consulting companies in Mexico. Juan -
Pablo Gudiño is a lawyer with a Doctorate in Constitutional Law with a specialty in Human Rights, Environment,
and Economics, with twenty years experience in environmental, constitutional, human rights, and labour law. H e
has attended hearings and cases before the Inter -American Commission on Human Rights and trials before the
Inter-American Court of Human Rights. He has also r epresented the Mexican State and presented Mexico’s
position before the Inter -American Commission on Human Rights, headquartered in Washington, regarding
Megaprojects and Indigenous Consultation and Energy Reform, resulting in the acceptance of the country's
position. Juan-Pablo has participated in more than 30 consultation processes.
In Mexico, only the ener gy industry requires completion of a SIA (known in Mexico as a Trámite Evaluación de
Impacto Social, or “EVIS” ) as part of the permitting process. The purpose of these studies is to identify the
people in the area of influence of a project (“Focus Area”) , and assess the potential positive and negative
consequences of project development to assist in the development of mitigation measures and the formation of
social investment plans. To Almaden’s knowledge, this is the first time such a study has been completed in the
minerals industry in Mexico, and as such reflect s the Company’s commitment to best national and international
standards in Ixtaca project development.
The work to complete the SIA was carried out by an interdisciplinary group of nine anthropologists, ethnologists
and sociologists graduated from various universities, who lived in community homes within the Focus Area
during the study to allow for ethnographic immersion and an appreciation for the local customs and way of life.
The SIA sought voluntary participation from broad, diverse population groups, with specific attention to
approximately one thousand persons in the Focus Area , where it consulted with every adult. Key points
regarding the study include the following:
- GMI found that Almaden Minerals’ consultation process complies with the Equator Principles and
International Best Practices;
- All the fieldwork is backed up by audio, privacy notices, and photographs which demonstrate the
voluntary participation of the interviewees, and their consent to be included in the study;
- The SIA included the participation of men, women, the elderly, boys and girls;
- The SIA concluded that Almaden Minerals had consulted widely with the Focus Area communities, the
Ixtaca project was well understood , and that the SIA itself was successful in providing people with an
opportunity to clearly express their views on the impacts of Ixtaca project development.
- 2 -
Duane Poliquin, Chairman of Almaden, commented , “This highly credible study is a fundamental step towards
project development. We are pleased that our active community programs have accomplished the primary
objective of ensuring that the local communities understand our project. With the benefit of this report, we can
now t urn our minds to a social investment plan to accompany the mine, which accommodates the needs
identified in this process, and best ensures local people are in a position to benefit as much as possible from
Ixtaca project development.”
More information on Almaden’s community engagement programs is available on its website at
http://www.almadenminerals.com/index.html.
About Almaden
Almaden Minerals Ltd. owns 100% of the Tuligtic project in Puebla State, Mexico, subject to a 2.0% NSR royalty
held by Almadex Minerals Limited . Tuligtic covers the Ixtaca Gold -Silver Deposit, which was discovered by
Almaden in 2010.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
“Morgan Poliquin”
Morgan J. Poliquin, Ph.D., P.Eng.
President, CEO and Director
Almaden Minerals Ltd.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) nor the NYSE American have reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of
this news release w hich has been prepared by management. Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information pres ented
constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws.
Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, those with respect to potential expansion of mineralization, potential size of mineralized zone, and
size and timing of exploration and development programs, estimated project capital and other project costs and the timing of submission and receipt and
availability of regulatory approvals involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the act ual results, performance or
achievement of Almaden to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such f orward-looking
statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to international operations and joint ventures, the ac tual results of current exploration activities,
conclusions of economic evaluations, uncertainty in the estimation of mineral resources, changes in project parameters as pla ns continue to be refined,
environmental risks and hazards, increased infrastructur e and/or operating costs, labour and employment matters, and government regulation and permitting
requirements as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Almaden's Annual Information form a nd Almaden's latest Form 20 -F on
file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although Almaden has attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance
that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticip ated in such statements. Almaden
disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other
than as required pursuant to applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward -looking statements.
Contact Information:
Almaden Minerals Ltd.
Tel. 604.689.7644
Email: [email protected]
http://www.almadenminerals.com/