Aya Gold & Silver: Zgounder Exploration Confirms High-Grade Silver Extension of Eastern Zone
PRESS RELEASE
Aya Gold & Silver: Zgounder Exploration Confirms High-Grade Silver
Extension of Eastern Zone
Key Highlights
• ZG-20-13 intersected 1,273 grams per tonne (“g/t”) Ag over 5.5m, including 3,914 g/t Ag over
1.5m
• ZG-20-36 intersected 1,587 g/t Ag over 3m
• ZG-SF-20-01T intersected 845 g/t Ag over 11.5m
• T28-20-2100-5 intersected 975 g/t Ag over 16.8m
• T28-20-2100-19 intersected 1,317 g/t Ag over 4.8m
• Surface results confirm a 90m extension to the east up to hole ZG-20-36
• Underground results extend the mineralisation at depth to the east
• Exploration and definition drilling to continue in 2021
Montreal, Quebec, January 25, 2021 - Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (TSX: AYA) (“Aya” or the “Corporation”)
is pleased to announce additional high-grade diamond drill hole (“DDH”) results from its 2020 drill
program at the Zgounder Silver Mine in the Kingdom of Morocco. The drill results confirm high-grade
Ag mineralisation at depth with an in tercept of 5.5m at 1,273 g/t Ag. In addition, hole ZG -20-36
intercepted 1,587 g/t Ag over 3m, confirming a new high-grade extension to the east . The T28 drill
results demonstrate high-grade silver continuity along strike and at depth.
“Today’s results validate our drill exploration program by expanding the mineralisation to the east by
90 meters. The western extension, a second focus area, is currently being tested under our 2021 drill
exploration program. Three-quarters of the assay results from the 2020 drill exploration program have
now been received with resu lts supporting the potential for growth of additional silver resources ,”
said Benoit La Salle, President & CEO.
2020 Drilling Results
This release includes drill results for 26 DDH, w hich comprise eight DDH from surface and 18 holes
at depth. These are in addition to the 16 assay results released in December 2020. The original 15,000-
meter program was expanded twice, finishing the year with 19,030 meters drilled.
The 2020 exploration program at Zgounder was designed to expand high-grade silver mineralisation
along strike and at depth with the aim of increasing mineral resources. To date, results extend the
surface mineralisation by 90 meters to the east up to hole ZG-20-36 (see Table 1 and Figures 1 & 2)
with additional geological host rock observed up to hole ZG-20-41 (a pending drill assay).
For a comprehensive summary of the latest results from the 2020 drill program, please refer to
Appendix 1 of this press release for surface results and Appendix 2 for underground results.
Table 1 – Significant Intercepts from Surface and Underground Drilling at Zgounder
Hole No. From
(m)
To
(m)
Length1
(m)
Ag2
(g/t)
Surface
ZG-20-13 219.00 224.50 5.50 1,273
including 1.50 3,914
ZG-20-23 53.50 56.60 3.10 1,010
including 0.60 3,280
ZG-20-36 9.00 12.00 3.00 1,587
ZG-20-27 145.50 161.00 15.50 461
Underground
ZG-SF-20-01T 0.00 11.50 11.50 845
including 0.50 1,461
including 0.50 6,420
including 0.50 5,994
including 0.50 1,357
ZG-SF-20-07 75.50 80.50 5.00 317
including 1.00 1,179
84.50 94.00 9.50 307
including 1.00 1,046
T28-20-2100-5 0.00 16.80 16.80 975
including 1.20 9,000
including 1.20 1,298
including 1.20 1,792
20.40 25.20 4.80 1,944
T28-20-2100-5bis 0.00 14.40 14.40 851
including 1.20 1,687
including 1.20 6,217
T28-20-2100-10 8.40 10.80 2.40 846
including 1.20 1,612
T28-20-2100-19 9.60 14.40 4.80 1,317
including 1.20 4,470
T28-20-2100-24 2.40 6.00 3.60 537
including 1.20 1,212
1 Holes were drilled at various angles; true widths are not known at this time.
2 All assay results are above the cut-off grade of 75 g/t Ag.
As shown in Figure 1, the mineralisation remains open at depth and extends at surface to the east up
to hole ZG-20-36. The mineralisation observed between holes ZG-20-36 and ZG-20-41 (a pending drill
assay) shows sequences of sheared sediments, which typically host Zgounder silver mineralisation.
Figure 1: Location of Reported DDH Results from Surface and Underground at Zgounder
Figure 2: Location of Reported DDH Results from Surface and Underground at Zgounder East
2021 Exploration Program
The 2021 exploration drill program commenced on January 1 with four DDH drill rigs at surface and
one DDH underground rig following the 2020 DDH results. As part of the 2021 program, a total of 12
drill holes will initially be drilled to test the western extension of the Zgounder Silver Mine (see Figure
1).
The Corporation will be announcing a detailed drill exploration plan for 2021 in the coming weeks.
Quality Assurance
For core drilling, all individual samples represent approximately one meter in length of core, which
was halved. Half of the core is kept on site for reference, and its counterpart is sent for preparation
and assaying to African Laboratory for Mining and Environment (“Afrilab”) in Marrakech, Morocco. All
samples are analysed for silver, copper, iron, lead, and zinc using Aqua regia and finished by atomic
absorption spectroscopy (“ AAS”). Samples grading above 200 g /t Ag a re reanalysed using fire
assaying.
Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph.D. P. Geo, Geological Consultant, is Aya Gold & Silver's Qualified Person and
has reviewed this press release for accuracy and compliance with National Instrument 43-101.
About Aya Gold & Silver Inc.
Aya Gold & Silver Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian company focused on the operation, exploration,
acquisition and development of silver and gold deposits. Aya is currently operating mining and milling
facilities at its Zgounder Silver Mine, an 85%-15% joint venture between its subsidiary, ZMSM, and the
Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (“ONHYM”) of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Its mining portfolio also includes the Boumadine polymetallic deposit located in the Anti -Atlas
Mountains of Eastern Morocco which is also a joint venture with ONHYM wherein Aya retains an 85%
ownership. Additionally, the Corporation’s portfolio includes the Amizmiz and Azegour pro perties,
both being 100% owned, with gold, tungsten, molybdenum and copper occurrences covering over
100 square kilometres in a historical mining district of Morocco.
For additional information, please visit Aya’s website at www.ayagoldsilver.com.
Or contact:
Benoit La Salle, FCPA FCA
President & CEO
Alex Ball
VP, Corporate Development & IR
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities
legislation. All information contained herein tha t is not clearly historical in nature may constitute
forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use
of forward-looking terminology such as “ confirm”, “extend”, “validate”, “designed”, “aim”, “typically”,
“will”, “expected”, “reasonable”, “established”, “has”, “demonstrate”, “potential”, “expect” or variations
of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would" or
"might". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the
Corporation to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward -looking
information, including but not limited to: (i) volatile stock price; (ii) the general global markets and
economic conditions; (iii) the possibility of write-downs and impairments; (iv) the risk associated with
exploration, development and operations of mi neral deposits including the accuracy of the current
mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates of the Corporation (including, but not limited to, ore
tonnage and ore grade estimates) and mine plans for the Corporation’s mining operations (including,
but not limited to, throughput and recoveries being affected by metallurgical characteristics); (v) the
risk associated with establishing title to mineral properties and assets including permitting,
development, operations and production from the Corporatio n’s operations being consistent with
expectations and projections; (vi) fluctuations in commodity prices and other risks and factors
described or referred to in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the MD&A of the Corporation and
which is available at www.sedar.com, all of which should be reviewed in conjunction with the
information found in this news release.
Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results
to diffe r materially from those contained in the forward -looking information, there may be other
factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance
that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events
could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward -looking information. Such forward -
looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the
Corporation's business, o perations and exploration plans and may not be appropriate for other
purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward -looking information.
Forward-looking information is given as of the date of this press release, and the Corporation does
not undertake to update such forward -looking information except in accordance with applicable
securities laws.
Appendix 1 – Mineral Intercepts from Surface Drilling from Zgounder
Hole No. From
(m)
To
(m)
Length1
(m)
Ag2
(g/t)
ZG-20-28 0.00 1.50 1.50 128
ZG-20-24 31.00 32.00 1.00 304
ZG-20-13
184.00 188.00 4.00 498
219.00 224.50 5.50 1,273
including 1.50 3,914
253.00 338.00 Awaiting assays
ZG-20-23
1.50 3.00 1.50 163
34.00 35.00 1.00 102
53.50 56.60 3.10 1,010
including 0.60 3,280
56.60 60.00 3.40 old workings
60.00 62.50 2.50 325
77.00 78.00 1.00 256
110.50 113.00 2.50 97
236.00 239.00 3.00 170
ZG-20-35
(East sector)
2.00 3.50 1.50 89
6.50 11.00 4.50 473
23.00 24.00 1.00 119
30.50 35.00 4.50 85
ZG-20-35bis
(East sector)
4.00 14.50 10.50 168
41.00 42.50 1.50 80
66.00 67.00 1.00 84
87.00 88.00 1.00 284
100.50 104.50 4.00 127
160.00 161.50 1.50 140
193.00 194.00 1.00 1,574
ZG-20-36
(East sector)
9.00 12.00 3.00 1,587
ZG-20-27
(East sector)
145.50 161.00 15.50 461
including 2.00 1,197
including 1.00 1,176
202.50 204.00 1.50 316
1 Holes were drilled at various angles, true widths are not known at this time.
2 All assay results are above the cut-off grade of 75 g/t Ag.
Appendix 2 - Mineral Intercepts from Underground Drilling at Zgounder
Hole No. From
(m)
To
(m)
Length1
(m)
Ag2
(g/t)
ZG-SF-20-01T 0.00 11.50 11.50 845
including 0.50 1,461
Including 0.50 6,420
including 0.50 5,994
including 0.50 1,357
ZG-SF-20-07 0.00 2.00 2.00 134
25.00 26.00 1.00 77
32.00 33.00 1.00 88
75.50 80.50 5.00 317
including 1.00 1,179
84.50 94.00 9.50 307
including 1.00 1,046
T28 Underground Drilling Program
T28-20-2100-5 0.00 16.80 16.80 975
including 1.20 9,000
including 1.20 1,298
including 1.20 1,792
20.40 25.20 4.80 1,944
T28-20-2100-5bis 0.00 14.40 14.40 851
including 1.20 1,687
including 1.20 6,217
T28-20-2100-9 24.00 27.60 3.60 191
T28-20-2100-10 8.40 10.80 2.40 846
including 1.20 1,612
14.40 15.60 1.20 644
T28-20-2100-18 15.60 18.00 2.40 195
T28-20-2100-18bis 10.80 12.00 1.20 2,480
13.20 14.40 1.20 76
18.00 21.60 3.60 228
T28-20-2100-19 9.60 14.40 4.80 1,317
including 1.20 4,470
T28-20-2100-19bis 10.80 12.00 1.20 208
T28-20-2100-21 0 3.60 3.60 315
8.40 13.20 4.80 425
T28-20-2100-21bis 0 15.60 15.60 135
T28-20-2100-24 2.40 6.00 3.60 537
including 1.20 1,212
7.20 8.40 1.20 95
T28-20-2100-24bis 2.40 3.60 1.20 109
T28-20-2100-25 15.60 16.80 1.20 115
T28-20-2100-25bis 16.80 19.20 2.40 311
T28-20-2100-26 15.60 16.80 1.20 76
T28-20-2100-26bis 14.40 18.00 3.60 93
1 Holes were drilled at various angles, true widths are not known at this time.
2 All assay results are above the cut-off grade of 75 g/t Ag.