Sierra Madre Provides Update ON LA Guitarra Progress
SIERRA MADRE PROVIDES UPDATE ON LA GUITARRA PROGRESS
Vancouver, British Columbia – February 8, 2024 – Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. (TSXV: SM,
OTCQX: SMDRF) (“Sierra Madre” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide an in-depth update of
its activities at the 100% owned past -producing La Guitarra Silver-Gold Mine Complex in Estado
de Mexico, Mexico, 130 km southwest of Mexico City.
Mine Restart Study
The Company has retained TechSer Mining Consultants Ltd., of Vancouver, B.C., to complete the
Mine Restart Study (“MRS”). This work will include an estimation of underground mine material
for the Guitarr a, Coloso and Nazareno mines and the Los Angeles bulk tonnage deposit .
Additional evaluations will include a n operating cost estimate covering the mine and recovery
plant, based on reagent and consumable usage, energy, and diesel consumption, from the 2013
to 2018 operating period which will be updated for current pricing. Labour, staff and management
costs will be based on the current wage structure and union labour contracts that have recently
been signed. As part of the study, a capital cost estimate will be prepared to cover restart needs
and will evaluate a potential throughput expansion within 24 months of commercial production.
This data is to be supported by contractor bids and vendor prices. The above data will then be
used in an economic evaluation to determine project viability. The MRS is expected to be
completed in Q2 of this year.
Mine and Infrastructure
Work has been ongoing to determine necessary steps for the potential re-start of production. In
accordance with recommendations made by officials with the Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional,
SEDENA, improvements to the underground powder magazines have been completed.
On January 29, 2024, SEDENA approved Guitarra’s 2024 explosives permit. This explosives permit
must be renewed every year and was a milestone event for any potential resum ption of
operation. All other operating permits are current and in good standing.
Compressed 6-inch air lines have been installed from the stationary compressors near the main
San Rafael portal to the La Cruz portal, a distance of over one kilometre with a 240 metre gain in
elevation. Compressors and electrical substations have been serviced and are operational.
Minimizing initial development costs is one of the key factors being used to develop the near-
term plan for advancement of the Project. As areas are identified and scheduled in the
development plan, the existing haulage ways, access drives and ramps are being inspected for
safety and rock stability, cleaned and readied.
Figure 1: Underground Powder Magazine
Processing Plant
All circuits in the processing plant are undergoing maintenance and rehabilitation work which
would be required for the resumption of operations. In the grinding circuit, the three ball mills
are being relined, all parts of the central drive shaft mechanisms overhauled, and the motors
cleaned and tested. A fourth ball mill with limited capacity will not be rebuilt at this time.
Figure 2: La Guitarra Ball Mills
Overall, the crushing circuit was found to be in good shape with no costly equipment replacement
or major repair items identified. Normal maintenance and overhaul work is ongoing. The fine ore
storage bin has had the interior divider s and portions of the walls replate d with heavy steel.
Conveyor belts and a ssociated motors have been serviced and wear and tear items have been
replaced where needed.
The flotation circuit is in good shape. Some piping is being replaced and the pumps are being
overhauled and serviced. The Wemco flotation cells are in very good shape, needing only some
replating work, along with normal maintenance. No repair work requiring a significant outlay of
capital has been identified. The Denver cell circuit will not be needed at this time.
The company’s plant operations and maintenance team have advanced the preparation work for
a potential plant restart within budget expectations.
The MRS will study an initial production level of 350 tonnes per day. Additional evaluation will
be completed on potentially increasing the grinding circuit’s capacity to greater than 500 tonnes
per day. As part of the MRS, an assessment was made of the throughput capacity of each circuit
in order to determine where bottlenecks might exist in potentially expanding processing
throughput using the current plant equipment . Below is a flow diagram showing the overall
arrangement of plant equipment and throughput capacity
Currently, the identified capacities and expansion choke points in the four circuits making up the
processing plant are:
• Crushing - 640 tonnes per day, second cone crusher needed for expanded capacity
• Grinding - 516 tonnes per day, a new ball mill will be needed for additional throughput
• Flotation - 620 tonnes per day plus an additional 580 tonnes per day, conditioner tank
needs replumbing, flotation tanks have a total joint 1,200 tonnes per day capaci ty with
some physical re-arrangement.
• Concentrate Filtration and Drying - 620 tonnes per day , assuming the historical ore
processed to concentrate produced mass reduction of 95%, filters are the limiting factor.
These capacities and the needed equipment to increase plant throughput will be used in the long-
term economic analysis portion of the MRS.
Qualified Person
Mr. Gregory Smith, P . Geo, Director of Sierra Madre, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101,
and has reviewed and approved the technical data and information contained in this news
release. Mr. Smith has verified the technical and scientific data disclosed herein.
About Sierra Madre
Sierra Madre Gold & Silver (TSXV:SM),(OTCQX:SMDRF) is a precious metals development and
exploration company, focused on evaluating the potential of restarting the La Guitarra Mine in
the Temascaltepec mining district, Mexico, and the exploration and development of its Tepic
and La Tigra properties in Nayarit, Mexico. The La Guitarra Mine is a permitted, past-producing
underground mine which includes a 500 t/d processing facility that operated until mid-2018.
The +2,600 ha Tepic Project hosts low-sulphidation epithermal gold and silver mineralization
with an existing historic resource.
Sierra Madre´s management has played key roles for managing exploration and development of
more than 22Moz gold and 600Moz silver in combined reserves and resources. Sierra Madre´s
team of professionals has collectively raised over $1B for mining companies.
On behalf of the board of directors of Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd.,
"Alexander Langer"
Alexander Langer
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
1-604-765-1604
Contact:
Cautionary Note
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in
the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this news release.
This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. The forward-looking statements herein
are made as of the date of this press release only, and the Company does not assume any
obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future
events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Often, but not always,
forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is
expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends",
"targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such
words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may",
"could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking
information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the
completion of the Transaction on the terms set out in the definitive agreement (or at all) and the
ability of the Company to obtain requisite corporate and regulatory approvals for the
Transaction, including but not limited to the approval of the Exchange, Mexican antitrust
approval and other governmental approvals as currently anticipated.
In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has
applied several material assumptions, including that the Company will be able to receive all
required regulatory approvals by the timelines currently anticipated (or at all); and that the
Company will be able to complete the Transaction on the terms of the definitive agreement.
Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks
and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict,
that may cause the Company´s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions
about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including, but not limited to, the
risk that the Company is not able to complete Transaction on the terms set out in the definitive
agreement (or at all) and the risk that the Company is unable to obtain requisite corporate and
regulatory approvals, including but not limited to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, the
Mexican antitrust approval and governmental approval as currently anticipated.
Such forward-looking information represents management´s best judgment based on
information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual
future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance
on forward-looking statements or information.
SOURCE: Sierra Madre Gold and Silver