Sonoro Metals Initiates Metallurgical Testing at Ce Rro Caliche
SONORO METALS INITIATES METALLURGICAL TESTING AT CE RRO CALICHE
VANCOUVER, Canada, June 3, 2019 – Sonoro Metals Cor p., (TSXV: SMO | OTCQB: SMOFF | FRA: 23SP),
(“Sonoro” and the “Company”), provides an update to studies underway regarding its proposed Test Heap
leach Pilot Operation at Cerro Caliche, Sonora Stat e, Mexico, in accordance with its Fiscal Advisory Ser-
vices Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Singapore-based InProved Pte. Ltd.
“We are proud of the high degree of skill and leadership demonstrated by our Hermosillo, Mexico-based
technical team under the direction of VP Exploration, Mel Herdrick and Operations Manager, Jorge Diaz,”
said Kenneth MacLeod, President and CEO of Sonoro. “The launching of metallurgical testing and prelim-
inary pilot-plant design in conjunction with the ongoing drilling program, will ensure that all the elements
needed to create a successful project are being managed simultaneously.”
In connection with the first work phase of its proposed Heap Leach Pilot Operation (HLPO) at Cerro Cali-
che, Sonoro reports that the results from its phase 1 and 2 drilling campaigns combined with drilling by
other companies, have enabled the Company to outlin e sufficient oxidized, shallow, gold mineralization
in the Japoneses-Cuervos zone, to sustain a pilot size operation, making it the planned mineralized mate-
rial source for the HLPO.
Sonoro has engaged Geo Digital Imaging de Méxicoan (GDI), an independent engineering firm to develop
the preliminary studies required to generate quality data for the development of the NI 43-101 compliant
pre-feasibility study to assess the viability of the development of a heap leach plant at Cerro Caliche.
GDI is a Hermosillo-based independent mining engine ering firm with a team of experts with extensive
backgrounds in mine project development, with services that range from the development of project GIS
(geo-info-system) to resource modeling, ore charact erization, metallurgical testing and mine design.
Among others, GDI’s clients include Agnico Eagle, Argonaut Gold, Fresnillo PLC, Alio Gold and Alamos Gold.
GDI has teamed up with Sonoro’s geological staff to develop the first block model of the zone. The model
has been developed based on Sonoro’s best practice compliant database that includes up to date drilling
results and Sonoro’s geologic interpretation. Modeling was done with the latest software and engineering
techniques and is also best practice compliant.
Accordingly, GDI has been engaged to conduct initia l ore characterization and metallurgical tests, wit h
preliminary characterization studies, bottle roll a nd leach column tests underway. Gold mineralization
characterization studies are led by a specialist at the University of Sonora. The metallurgical tests are being
conducted under the supervision of metallurgist Sandra Orona, who is an expert in metallurgical processes
and quality control, with several years of experience working for SGS Mineral Services in Canada and Mex-
ico. The tests are being conducted at a dedicated facility that has been set up for this purpose in Magda-
lena, Sonora State. These tests are expected to take approximately 8 weeks to complete.
For metallurgical column testing, Sonoro’s geological team selected samples representative of the vein s
and veinlet mineralization zones at the Japoneses-Cuervos zone, which were collected and prepared for
the test by Sonoro’s geologic team in accordance wi th best practices in the industry. The first testi ng
stage started with 12 columns. These preliminary metallurgical tests are being conducted under Canadian
National Instrument protocols, but are not NI 43-101 compliant, due to the technical personnel’s lack of
registration as QP status persons. These experienced technical consultants are very familiar with the Na-
tional Instrument protocols, due to their recent and continuing enga gements for several Canadian and
Mexican mining companies operating in the area.
GDI’s engineering team is led by Gildardo Vejar Rui z, a Hermosillo-based independent consultant and
mining engineer, with an extensive background in mine planning and development including supervising
the development of Alamos Gold’s Mulatos Mine and A lio Gold Corp.’s San Francisco Mine. The team
conducted preliminary level estimations of economic variables such as operating costs, pit slope alterna-
tives, including economic assessment of social, env ironmental and governmental economic impact on
costs. The purpose of the estimations is to develop a preliminary order of magnitude and footprint design
in order to focus the forthcoming NI 43-101 studies on the areas that would suit the development of the
HLPO. With this data and GDI’s block model, the team conducted sensitivity analysis for a range of costs
and metallurgical Au recoveries, generating several possible pit geometries with their associated stripping
ratios, ore and waste haul roads, waste and process sites, pad size requirements and associated infra-
structure location. This work has enabled GDI to ge nerate an order of magnitude footprint of the HLPO
and future NI 43-101 compliant work will be focused within the developed footprint.
Upon their completion, results from the metallurgical studies, if positive, will be incorporated in the sen-
sitivity analysis in order to define the characteristics of the HLPO preliminary design, which would be then
updated to a NI 43-101 level.
Since there are positive expectations that GDI’s block model will continue to expand with the advance in
exploration, Sonoro will continue updating its database as drill results are received and prior to NI 43-101
level work, the sensitivity analysis will be updated. It is expected that the preliminary work will be finalized
during September of this year and NI 43-101 studies will then commence.
The technical process is being supervised by Sonoro’s Operations Manager, Jorge Diaz, who is both a min-
ing engineer and metallurgical engineer from the University of Guanajuato, Mex., and MS in Mineral Eco-
nomics from Colorado School of Mines. He has carrie d out this role many times in the past, including
leading the development, construction and operation of the La Colorada Mine; the development of both
Alamos Gold’s Mulatos Mine and Morgain Mineral’s El Cairo/Castillo mine and also acting as advisor re-
garding the development of Pediment Gold’s (now Argonaut Gold’s) San Antonio project. His company,
Interminera, continues to act as advisor to Argonaut.
Stephen Kenwood, P. Geo., a director of Sonoro, is a Qualified Person within the context of National
Instrument 43-101 and has read and approved this news release. Readers are cautioned that the presence
of mineralization on historic mines adjacent to or on Cerro Caliche is not necessarily indicative of g old
mineralization in the concessions held by the company.
About Sonoro Metals Corp.
Sonoro Metals Corp. is a publicly listed exploration and development company with two exploration stage
precious metal properties in Sonora State, Mexico. The company has highly experienced operational and
management teams with proven track records for the discovery and development of natural resource
deposits.
On behalf of the Board of SONORO METALS CORP.
Per: “Kenneth MacLeod”
KENNETH MACLEOD
President & CEO
For further information, please contact:
Sonoro Metals Corp. - Corporate Communications:
Bill Campbell – Tel: (604) 565-5609
Email: [email protected]
Forward-Looking Statement Cautions: This press release contains certain "forward-lookin g statements" within the meaning of Canadian
securities legislation, relating to, among other th ings, the Company's plans for the drilling, metallurgical testing, and engineering studies
to be undertaken on the above-described Cerro Calic he Concessions, located in the municipality of Cucu rpe, Sonora, Mexico, and the
Company’s future exploration and development plans for those properties. Although the Company believes that such statements are
reasonable based on current circumstances, it can g ive no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking
statements are statements that are not historical f acts; they are generally, but not always, identifie d by the words "expects," "plans,"
"anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective ," "prospective," and similar
expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their
nature, refer to future events. The Company caution s that 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 un certainties, including the
possibility of unfavourable interim exploration and engineering results, the lack of sufficient future financing to carry out exploration
plans, and unanticipated changes in the legal, regu latory and permitting requirements for the Company’ s exploration programs. There
can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future event s could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, reader s should not place undue reliance on forward-lookin g statements. The Company
disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, except as required by law or t he policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. Readers ar e encouraged to review the
Company’s complete public disclosure record on SEDA R at www.sedar.com.
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