Sonoro Successfully Completes Phase One Drill Program at Cerro Caliche
SONORO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES PHASE ONE DRILL PROGRAM AT CERRO CALICHE
VANCOUVER, Canada, January 1 6, 2019, Sonoro Metals Corp., (TSXV: SMO | OTCQB: SMOFF | FRA: 23SP),
(“Sonoro” and the “Company”), is pleased to report the third and final set of assay results from phase one of
the 10,000-metre drilling program at Sonoro’s 100% owned Cerro Caliche gold project in Sonora, Mexico.
A total of 45 reverse circulation holes totaling 4,604 meters were drilled during the program confirming a
cluster of eight northwest trending gold-dominant structures surrounded by parallel shee ted veinlets and
stockwork veinlets. Highlights from the final 14 holes include 12.2 meters of 11.3 grams per tonne AuEq, 4.6
meters of 4.69 grams per tonne AuEq and 12.2 meters of 0.95 grams per tonne AuEq.
Together with the earlier drilling results announced in Sonoro’s news releases dated November 9, 2018 and
December 5, 2018, the combined results from the phase one drilling program confirm shallow, low grade, bulk
tonnage gold mineralized zones in supergene oxidized sedimentary and igneous rock units. Subject to
metallurgical confirmation, the gold mineralized zones appear amenable to heap leach extraction of precious
metals with deep oxidation. The average gold grade of intervals reported is observed to be similar to other
gold heap leaching mining operations in the region.
Sonoro has also received and analyzed the databases from Corex Gold Corp. and other operators that carried
out historical drilling programs at Cerro Caliche since 2007. These operators completed an aggregate of 116
drill holes totaling 12,442 meters of drilling , in addition to over 4,000 surface samples. The combination of
historic and current exploration programs totals over 17,000 meters of drilling in 161 drill holes and over 6,000
surface samples.
“Sonoro’s phase one drill program has succe ssfully corroborated the sampling and drill results generated by
the prior operators , thereby considerably enhancing our confidence in the significant potential of Cerro
Caliche,” said Kenneth MacLeod, President and CEO of Sonoro. “We will continue to utilize the newly expanded
database to increase the zones of gold mineralization within the current t arget area and to drill additional
highly prospective mineralized zones identified through our ongoing exploration program.”
The mineralized zones are named after historic mine workings situated within each zone, from east to west, as
follows; Las Abejas, Chinos NW, Japoneses, Los Cuervos, El Quince, Cabeza Blanca, Guadalupe, and El Colorado.
Results from 19 drill holes in the Cabeza Blanca /El Colorado/Guadalupe zones outline a linear central vein
structure with sheeted to stockwork associated mineralization. Results also confirm lateral continuity of over
500 meters for both the Cabeza Blanca zone and its parallel companion, the Guadalupe zone. Furthermore, a
high-grade interval of 6.09 meters of 21.5 g Au per tonne was cut near an intersection between the Guadalupe
and El Colorado zones.
The 19 holes completed in the Japoneses and Cuervos zones indicate one continuous structure extending
approximately 1.2 kilometers. A multiple -vein mineralized zone, Japoneses -Cuervos is the largest area of
mineralization on the Cerro Caliche property to be investigated to date. Detailed cross sections have been
constructed to aid in structural interpretation. H ost rocks cut by the gold mineralization include quartzite of
Jurassic age and early Tertiary biotite granodiorite porphyry and minor rhyolite.
The Abejas zone is the most northeasterly gold mineralized structure at Cerro Caliche. A total of 5 holes have
been drilled at Abejas, confirming host rocks like those identified in the Japoneses -Cuervos zone. Short, air
track drill holes are planned for the nearby Chinos NW zone to confirm suspected shallow gold mineralization.
Four historic drill holes in the zone’s southern extension identified stockwork gold mineralization.
Distances between each mineralized zone range from 120 to 400 meters with widths of each mineralized zone
reaching up to 60 meters and lengths of approximately 800 meters.
CERRO CALICHE PROJECT
Drill hole intervals with 0.15 g/t Au cutoff
Hole Target From To Interval Au Ag AuEq
(meters) ppm ppm ppm
SCR-031 Cabeza Blanca
28.96 35.05 6.09 0.464 3 0.508
and 51.82 54.86 3.04 0.288 1 0.3
and 73.15 77.72 4.57 0.548 0.5 0.555
SCR-032 Cabeza Blanca
22.86 27.43 4.57 2.304 15.3 2.522
and 32 36.58 4.58 0.511 0.9 0.524
SCR-033 Cabeza Blanca 4.57 16.76 12.19 0.824 8.5 0.945
includes 12.19 16.76 4.57 1.139 19.2 1.413
SCR-034 Cabeza Blanca 25.91 28.96 3.05 1.657 5 1.726
and 41.15 45.72 4.57 0.35 6.2 0.438
SCR-035 Cabeza Blanca 77.72 80.77 3.05 0.316 2 0.34
SCR-036 El Colorado
6.1 10.67 4.57 4.666 1.9 4.693
and 25.91 30.48 4.57 0.413 1 0.428
and 35.05 38.1 3.05 0.337 1 0.352
SCR-037 El Colorado
6.1 21.34 15.24 0.599 6.9 0.698
includes 9.14 15.24 6.1 1.035 7.5 1.142
and 102.11 106.68 4.57 0.317 1.5 0.338
SCR-038 El Quince 30.48 38.1 7.62 0.269 2.9 0.31
and 54.86 64.01 9.15 0.172 0.8 0.183
SCR-039 El Colorado
33.53 36.58 3.05 0.263 1 0.278
and 117.35 120.4 3.05 0.377 2 0.399
and 123.44 128.02 4.58 0.408 1 0.422
and 131.06 135.64 4.58 0.235 0.7 0.245
and 150.88 153.92 3.05 0.593 4 0.655
SCR-040 Cabeza Blanca 45.72 50.29 4.57 0.235 3.3 0.282
SCR-041 Cabeza Blanca
0 4.57 4.57 0.181 0.4 0.187
and 13.72 38.1 24.38 0.423 6.5 0.516
includes 21.34 24.38 3.04 1.539 6.1 1.626
SCR-042 Cabeza Blanca 4.57 7.62 3.05 2.197 1 2.199
and 64.01 67.06 3.05 1.185 4 1.241
SCR-043 San Quintin 44.2 47.24 3.04 0.585 14 0.784
SCR-044 El Colorado
13.72 16.76 3.04 0.575 4 0.636
and 24.38 28.96 4.58 0.511 4 0.569
and 48.77 60.96 12.19 11.218 5.9 11.302
includes 51.82 57.91 6.09 21.581 8.2 21.699
and 85.34 92.96 7.62 2.067 15.7 2.292
Geological mapping and sampling are continuing where newly recognized gold bearing targets are being
defined. Several additional mineralized structures adjacent to the current exploration zones will be
investigated as part of phase two of the drilling program
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (“QA/QC”) Measures and Analytical Procedures
Drill samples are collected with an airstream cyclone and passed into a splitter that divides each sample into
quarters. The quartered samples are then bagged and sealed with identification. The sample group has blanks,
standards and duplicates inserted into the sample stream. ALS -Chemex collects the samples and transports
them directly to the preparation laboratory in Hermosillo, Sonora.
At the laboratory, part of each sample is reduced through crushing, splitting and pulverization from which 500
grams is sent to the ALS -Chemex assay laboratory in Vancouver . 30 grams undergoes fire assay for gold
whereby the resulting concentrated button of material is dissolved, and the gold is determined by atomic
absorption. Another quantity of the sample is dissolved in four acids for an ICP multi-element analysis.
Geologic Description
Cerro Caliche is located 45 kilometers southeast of Magdalena de Kino in the Cucurpe-Sonora Mega-district of
Sonora, Mexico. Multiple histo ric underground mines have operated on the concession including Cabeza
Blanca, Los Cuervos, Japoneses, Las Abejas, Boluditos, El Colorado and Espanola . Mineralization types of the
Cucurpe-Sonora Mega-district include variants of epithermal low sulfidation, epithermal mineralized dikes and
associated volcanic rocks, and sub-adjacent mesothermal Carlin-type gold mineralization.
Local altered felsic dikes cut the mineralized meta -sedimentary rock units and may be associated with
mineralization in both the dikes and meta -sedimentary rocks. The Cucurpe -Sonora Mega -district has
historically been regarded as vein dominated, but recently, open pit mining operations have been developed
to process disseminated and stockwork style gold mineralization. Cerro Caliche is a sub-district of the Cucurpe-
Sonora Mega-district with many gambusino workings, exploration pits and drill holes on the concession.
Host rocks include Jurassic -Cretaceous metasedimentary rock types including argillite, shale, quartzite,
limestone, quartz pebble conglomerate and andesite. Intrusi ve rock consisting of medium coarse -grained
granodiorite is present in the western parts of the project near the historic Cabeza Blanca mine. It is apparent
that veining cuts the intrusive stock. The granodiorite also shows evidence of weak metamorphism, w ith
chloritic alteration and irregular lineation textures. Rhyolite occurs in irregular bodies distributed in higher
elevations in the northerly part of the concession, including the Rincon area, where it occurs as flows, sills,
dikes and rhyolite domes. P art of the rhyolite is mineralized and appears to be related to epithermal gold
mineralization throughout the property.
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 properties adjacent to or in proximity to Cerro Caliche is not necessarily indicative of
mineralization on Cerro Caliche.
About Sonoro Metals Corp.
Sonoro Metals Corp. is a publicly listed exploration and development company with a portfolio of 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]