Southern Empire Updates Groundwater Source Availability for the Oro Cruz Project
Southern Empire Updates Groundwater
Source Availability for the Oro Cruz Project
VANCOUVER, BC
,
April 7, 2022
/CNW/ - Southern Empire Resources Corp. (Southern Empire)
(TSXV: SMP) (OTCQB: SMPEF) (
Frankfurt
: 5RE) announces that a preliminary investigation to
determine the availability and source characteristics of groundwater needed to support future
exploration and development of its Oro Cruz Project in southeastern
California
demonstrates:
A groundwater production well (or wells) installed in the alluvial fans on the west side of the
Cargo Muchacho Mountains is likely to provide abundant groundwater to meet anticipated
demands. Continued field exploration and groundwater test wells will be needed to confirm the
volumes and flow rates of available groundwater.
Groundwater isotope characterization records completed previously and interpreted as part of
Southern Empire's investigation, demonstrate that alluvial groundwater recharge in the vicinity of
the Oro Cruz Project is from meteoric water and is not sourced from Colorado River waters,
implying that there should be no concerns of future Oro Cruz Project groundwater wells
impacting local Colorado River surface water accounting.
Dale Wallster
, CEO of Southern Empire, commented,
"
With water resources being of the utmost
significance in the southwestern
U.S.A.
today, this initial, independent assurance of
groundwater availability for our Oro Cruz Project, coupled with scientific findings that
indicate no adverse impact to the regionally critical Colorado River sourced waters, are
extremely positive
."
Del Fortner
, Southern Empire's environmental and permitting coordinator, commented,
"
The key to
a sustainable exploration and development plan is the availability of groundwater sufficient
for both exploration drilling and potential future mine operations. This water assessment
report points to a meteoric source for groundwater ensuring that the use of Colorado River
waters will not be an issue
."
The findings from the groundwater availability and characterization investigation support Southern
Empire's exploration plans for the Oro Cruz Project and follow on the heels of the United States
Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) publication of both a "Notice of
Intent" in the U.S. Federal Register and a press release related to permitting of proposed surface
exploration activities at Southern Empire's Oro Cruz Project. For more information, please see the
BLM's news release
of
March 4, 2022
.
Southern Empire contracted WestLand Resources, Inc. (WestLand) of
Tucson, Arizona
to complete
the independent, groundwater assessment technical report. WestLand is an engineering and
environmental consulting firm having a highly experienced staff of scientists, engineers, water
resource experts, regulatory specialists, archaeologists, GIS analysists and administrative staff
focused on helping their clients successfully achieve land use permitting and design needs.
The preliminary investigation consisted of a review of publicly available records and reports relating
to groundwater in the vicinity of the Oro Cruz Project. Records reviewed included public agency
reports, water well records, academic publications, and regulatory documentation submitted in
support of other local development projects.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been prepared, reviewed
and approved by
David Tupper
, P.Geo. (
British Columbia
), Southern Empire's VP Exploration and a
Qualified Person ("QP") within the context of Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument
43-101;
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects
(NI 43-101).
About Southern Empire Resources Corp.
Southern Empire is focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of metals and mineral
deposits in
North America
.
In northeastern Durango State, México, Southern Empire has an option to acquire a 100 percent
beneficial interest in the 1,750-hectare (4,324-acre) Pedro Gold Project where recent core drilling
has intersected orpiment and realgar mineralization within a silicified, brecciated limestone
conglomerate unit that typifies the gold-bearing HP Breccia Zone.
In the Cargo Muchacho mountains of
Imperial County, California
, Southern Empire owns 100 percent
of the historical gold-producing American Girl mine patented claims and holds options to acquire a
100 percent interest in the adjacent 2,160-hectare (5,338-acre) Oro Cruz property located
approximately 22.5 kilometres (14 miles) southeast of the operating Mesquite gold mine of Equinox
Gold Corp.
At Oro Cruz, extensive historical drilling and large-scale open-pit and underground mining of the
American Girl, Padre y Madre, Queen and Cross oxide gold deposits by the American Girl Mining
Joint Venture (AGMJV; ultimately owned by MK Gold Company and Hecla Mining Company)
occurred between 1987 and 1996. During that time, gold was recovered by either heap leaching of
lower-grade, or milling of higher-grade ores until AGMJV operations ceased in late 1996 because of
declining gold prices leaving the Oro Cruz property with many gold exploration targets in addition to
a historical inferred resource estimate, reported In 2011 by Lincoln Mining Corp., totalling 341,800
ounces gold based on 4,386,000 tonnes averaging 2.2 grams gold per tonne at a cut-off grade of
0.68 g/t Au (4,835,000 tons at 0.07 ounce gold per ton). Please refer to the Cautionary Notice
Regarding the Oro Cruz Project Historical Resource Estimate below.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Southern Empire Resources Corp.,
Dale Wallster
, CEO and Director
Cautionary Notice on Forward-Looking Information
Information provided in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on
assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current
estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance.
Southern Empire cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual
performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond its
respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to
Southern Empire's limited operating history, the need to comply with environmental and
governmental regulations, results of exploration programs on its projects and those risks and
uncertainties identified in its annual and interim financial statements and management discussion and
analysis. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the
estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking
information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Southern Empire undertakes
no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.
Cautionary Notice Regarding the Oro Cruz Project Historical Resource
Estimate
The historical resource estimate for the Oro Cruz Project is disclosed in a technical report dated
April 29, 2011
, prepared for Lincoln Mining Corp. by Tetra Tech, Inc. and filed on SEDAR and is
termed an inferred mineral resource, which is a category set out in NI 43-101. It was based on
historical reverse circulation and core drill hole sample, underground channel sample, and blasthole
sample assay results and calculated using ordinary kriging to estimate gold grades in 10-foot-by-10-
foot-by-five-foot blocks. Accordingly, Southern Empire considers this historical estimate reliable as
well as relevant as it represents key targets for future exploration work. However, a QP has not
done sufficient work to verify or classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource and
Southern Empire is not treating this historical estimate as current mineral resources.
Work Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Timing of Southern Empire's exploration programs are contingent on governmental regulations
regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the availability of exploration-related personnel, drill
contractors, equipment, lodging, et cetera. Southern Empire will adhere to COVID-19 directives
regarding safe working practices putting worker, community and national safety first and will
proceed with exploration and development work programs only if potential COVID-19 risks can be
effectively managed.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is
defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy
of this release.
SOURCE
Southern Empire Resources Corp.
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For further information:
For further information on Southern Empire please visit both
www.smp.gold and SEDAR or contact: Lubica Keighery, (778) 889-5476, [email protected]
CO: Southern Empire Resources Corp.
CNW 14:59e 07-APR-22