Sonoro Plans Expanded Drilling Program at Cerro Caliche
SONORO PLANS EXPANDED DRILLING PROGRAM AT CERRO CALICHE
VANCOUVER, Canada, February 26, 2020, Sonoro Metals Corp., (TSXV: SMO | OTCQB: SMOFF | FRA: 23SP),
(“Sonoro” or the “Company”), announces the completion of a comprehensive technical assessment on the 17
zones of gold mineralization identified to date at its Cerro Caliche project in Sonora, Mexico. The purpose of
the assessment was to evaluate the potential for a material increase in the current 201,000 oz AuEq resource
as well as the potential to delineate further resources throughout the mineralized zones. A program combining
reverse circulation and core drilling for up to 50,000 meters of drilling will be carried out in several phases.
The next phase, Phase III, targeting approximately 10,000 meters of drilling, will commence in March 2020.
In Phases I and II of the drilling program, a total of 96 holes totaling 10,328 meters were drilled and assayed
for an average drill hole length of 107.6 meters, all inclined. The combination of historic and current exploration
drilling totals 23,679 meters in 212 drill holes, in addition to more than 6,000 surface samples. Drilling to date
has outlined shallow, bulk tonnage gold mineralized zones with grades similar to operating heap leach mines
in the region.
In addition to the continuation of reverse circulation drilling, core drilling will also be employed during Phase
III to more accurately determine the dimensions of the gold-mineralized geologic structure. These mineralized
structures are common within the shallow gold-silver resource partially defined by the recent reverse
circulation drilling. Furthermore, core drilling will be employed to explore the potential for higher-grade gold
mineralization in the vein zones that structural analysis asserts may be present at greater depths within the
veins. In general, mineralization models indicate that deeper parts of low sulfidation epithermal deposits are
more likely to contain higher-grade precious metals.
Silver/gold ratios vary with physical elevation within the mineralized vein zones. These silver/gold ratios can
be used to determine the vertical position of specific mineralization within the structure. An example of this is
found in drill hole SCR-044 in the El Colorado zone, where the mineralized intercept at the lowest elevation
contains 12.2 m of 11.3 g/t AuEq and a silver/gold ratio of 0.4. This contrasts with drill hole SCR-057 in Veta de
Oro, where an intercept located at a 150-meter higher elevation recorded 6 m of 132.6 g/t Ag and 2.5 g/t Au,
resulting in a silver/gold ratio of 54. Other metal ratios, mineralogy, and physical characteristics relating to
elevation are being investigated to select higher-grade targets throughout Cerro Caliche’s large database.
“We are particularly encouraged by the fact that the initial 201,000-ounce gold resource is situated within a
surface area comprising under 10% of the total property area,” said Kenneth MacLeod, President and CEO of
Sonoro. “Also, only 30% of Cerro Caliche’s known regions of potential gold mineralization have been drilled.
Essentially all of the 17 zones of gold mineralization so far identified at Cerro Caliche remain open to expansion
along strike and new zones of gold mineralization are currently being discovered in previously unexplored
regions of the property.”
The proposed drilling program has been designed to optimize the current data from each of the zones of gold
mineralization. This ensures that the placement and angulation of the new holes will likely contribute to a
potential increase in the size of the resource and develop a greater understanding of the geological structure
within the shallow zones and to depth. Drill holes will be placed at a maximum spacing of 100 meters to enable
proper classification of the results. Sequencing of drilling for each individual zone is currently being finalized.
For more details on the proposed drilling program, click here.
The drilling proposals for each mineralized sector are as follows:
Central Zone: Japoneses – Curvos, Abejas – Chinos and Altos – Chinos NW Zones
The Japoneses-Cuervos zone hosts over 90% of the inferred 201,000 oz AuEq resource stated in the previously
published NI 43-101 technical report dated July 26, 2019. Intercepts with grades up to 37.44 m of 0.95 g/t AuEq
and 9.15 m of 1.26 g/t AuEq were encountered. Drilling at the Japoneses-Cuervos zone accomplished the
Company’s objectives of identifying an area of gold mineralization to support a proposed Heap Leach Pilot
Operation, while simultaneously confirming the potential for discovery of additional gold mineralization within
the zone.
A total of 88 additional reverse circulation holes totaling 9,880 meters are proposed for infill drilling at the
Japoneses-Cuervos zone, with the goal of augmenting the current size of the gold resource as well as upgrading
this resource to the indicated category.
An additional 42 reverse circulation holes totaling 10,770 meters and eight core holes totaling 3,100 meters
are also proposed to investigate the expansion of the zone. Mineralization at the Japoneses-Cuervos zone
remains open to extension in all directions and to depth including the potential to intercept the adjacent zones
of Abejas, Chinos Altos, and Chinos NW and create an expanded open pit profile.
Western Zone: Cabeza Blanca – Guadalupe – El Colorado and Buena Suerte – El Quince Zones
Drilling to date in the Western Zone has identified gold mineralization extending over 1.2 kilometers, with a
width of up to 250 meters. Intercepts of 12.19 m of 11.3 g/t AuEq; 15.24 m of 1.05 g/t AuEq; 4.57 m of 4.69 g/t
AuEq; and 22.86 m of 0.77 g/t AuEq were encountered. This mineralization at the Western Zone remains open
to extension along strike to the north and south and to depth.
An additional 20 reverse circulation holes totaling 3,720 meters are proposed to augment the data from the
28 holes drilled to date in the Cabeza Blanca – Guadalupe – El Colorado portions of the Western Zone. The
program will incorporate infill and expansion drilling with a maximum spacing of 100 meters between holes to
enable the calculation of a potential initial inferred resource.
The Buena Suerte – El Quince zones, which are located between the Cabeza Blanca and Japoneses zones, will
be allocated 22 additional reverse circulation holes totaling 4,380 meters over a potential strike length of 1.5
kilometers. Four holes have been drilled to date at Buena Suerte and one hole has been drilled at El Quince.
All holes intercepted gold mineralization with an intercept of 10.67 m of 1.06 g/t AuEq encountered at Buena
Suerte.
North-Central Zone: Veta de Oro – Boludito Zones
An additional 19 reverse circulation holes totaling 4,350 meters and six core holes totaling 2,150 meters are
proposed for the North-Central zone, with a focus on the Veta de Oro gold mineralized area. Higher-grade gold
and silver intercepts from three reverse circulation holes drilled at Veta de Oro over a 200-meter strike length,
suggest the potential for a higher-grade mineral resource. Intercepts at Veta de Oro include 10.67 m of 2.728
g/t AuEq; 6.09 m of 4.35 g/t AuEq; 9.14 m of 2.094 g/t AuEq; and 3.05 m of 5.484 g/t AuEq.
The proposed drilling program will also investigate the potential for the Veta de Oro zone to connect with the
on-strike Abejas zone to the southeast as well as the potential for the for El Boludito zone to connect with the
on-strike Japoneses zone, also located to the southeast, projecting the strike length of the combined Cuervos-
Japoneses-Boludito zone to an estimated at 1.5 kilometers.
Northwest Zone: El Rincon – Gloria Zones
Located on-strike approximately 1.5-kilometers northwest of the Central Zone, the Gloria and El Rincon gold
mineralized areas within the Northwest Zone present an opportunity for defining a potential resource
measuring 500 meters by 250 meters. A total of nine holes have been drilled to date with intercepts at El Rincon
of 10.67 m of 0.74 g/t AuEq and 4.57 m of 1.29 g/t AuEq.
An additional 40 reverse circulation holes totaling 8,725 meters and five core holes totaling 1,900 meters at a
maximum 100 meters spacing between holes are proposed. The intension is to determine the gold
mineralization potential at El Rincon and Gloria as well as to investigate a potential connection along strike
with the Central Zone to the southeast.
Southeast Zone: La Española – Magdalena – Abel – Tres Naciones Zones
La Española is located approximately one kilometer southeast of the Central Zone. Recent mapping and
sampling by Sonoro have identified several high-probability gold targets to the north and east, at La Magdalena,
Abel and Tres Nacions. To date, four holes have been drilled at La Española, with intercepts of up to 9.14 m of
1.327 g/t AuEq.
An additional 12 reverse circulation holes totaling 2,380 meters and one core hole targeting a 350-meter depth
over a combined one-kilometer strike length are proposed for La Española and La Magdalena. To confirm the
potential of Abel and Tres Naciones, an aggregate of 14 reverse circulation holes totaling 3,250 meters and
seven core holes totaling 2,725 meters are proposed.
Ongoing mapping and sampling programs have identified additional high-probability target zones within both
the eastern and southeastern regions of the Cerro Caliche property. Following completion of th e sampling
program, Sonoro anticipates the inclusion of these targets in future drilling programs.
Southern Zone: San Quintin – La Ventana Zones
Located on-strike approximately 500 meters south of El Colorado, the gold mineralized zones at San Quintin
and La Ventana will be investigated with a proposed ten reverse circulation drill program totaling 2,200 meters.
Statement of Qualified Person
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 o n Cerro Caliche is not necessarily indicative of gold
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 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. - Tel: (604) 632-1764
Email: [email protected]
Forward-Looking Statement Cautions: This press release contains certain "forward- looking statements" within the meaning of
Canadian securities legislation, relating to, among other things, the Company's plans for the drilling of the above-described Cerro
Caliche Concessions, located in the municipality of Cucurpe, Sonora, Mexico, and the Company’s future exploration plans for those
properties. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable bas ed on current circumstances, it can give no
assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts;
they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates,"
"projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "w ill,"
"would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The
Company cautions 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 uncertainties, including the possibility
of unfavourable interim exploration results, the lack of sufficient future financing to carry out exploration plans, and unanticipated
changes in the legal, regulatory 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 events could differ materially from those antici pated
in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking 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 the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. Readers are encouraged to review the
Company’s complete public disclosure record on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
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