Fuerte Metals Hits 6.4 g/t AuEq over 1.9m and 6.2 g/t AuEq over 2.6 m at Its Cristina Project, Chihuahua, Mexico
Fuerte Metals Hits 6.4 g/t AuEq over 1.9m and
6.2 g/t AuEq over 2.6 m at Its Cristina Project,
Chihuahua, Mexico
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2025) - Fuerte Metals Corporation (TSXV:
FMT) (OTCQB: FUEMF) ("
Fuerte
" or the "
Company
") is pleased to report results from the most recent
ten holes of a diamond drilling program at its wholly-owned Cristina precious metals project in
southwestern Chihuahua State, Mexico.
Fuerte has now reported forty holes totalling 10,314 metres of drilling as part of an approximately 21,000
metre drill program. The Cristina project consists of multiple outcropping quartz veins that are frequently
greater than 10 metres in width and extend for at least a five-kilometre strike length. Four parallel
mineralized vein zones have been mapped and sampled to date, with most of the existing mineral
resource estimate at Cristina contained within only one of the vein zones, the Guadalupe vein. These
latest holes include two from the Mexico Libre vein, with the remainder from the Guadalupe vein (Figure
1)
Drilling Highlights
Highlights of the holes reported here, from the Mexico Libre and Guadlupe vein systems, include:
6.4 g/t AuEq over 1.9 m
estimated true width (ETW) (1.1 g/t Au, 239 g/t Ag, 2.77% Zn, 0.85% Pb
and 0.11% Cu) in hole
ACD-24-253
in the Guadalupe vein system
This 1.9 m wide intercept occurs within a broader mineralized zone measuring 1.8 g/t AuEq
over 27.0 m ETW (0.5 g/t Au, 60 g/t Ag, 0.67% Zn, 0.21 % Pb, 0.03% Cu)
6.2 g/t AuEq over 2.6 m
estimated true width (ETW) (1.4 g/t Au, 233 g/t Ag, 2.32% Zn, 0.58% Pb
and 0.10% Cu) in hole
ACD-24-260
in the Guadalupe vein system
This 2.6 m wide intercept occurs within a broader mineralized zone measuring 2.5 g/t AuEq
over 22.5 m ETW (0.75 g/t Au, 70 g/t Ag, 1.12 % Zn, 0.36 % Pb, 0.03% Cu)
Tim Warman, Fuerte's CEO, commented: "These most recent holes were successful in helping to define
the geometry of several high-grade zones within the Guadalupe and Mexico Libre vein systems, and
refine the geological model ahead of the resource estimate planned for later this year. Several holes
also expanded the area of lower-grade, near-surface mineralization in the Guadalupe vein, which could
add to the existing open-pit resource above the higher-grade underground zones."
Geology and Context of Results
Holes ACD24-251 and -252 (Figure 2) tested for the eastern edge shallow extension of the
existing high-grade body at Mexico Libre. The results suggest the high-grade body has been
faulted down and will be tested with additional drilling (Figure 2). Previous intercepts from this high-
grade zone include
8.1 g/t AuEq over 0.8 m
ETW (2.7 g/t Au, 39 g/t Ag, 7.66% Zn, 1.58 % Pb,
0.15% Cu) in hole
ACD24-249
and
14.3 g/t AuEq over 3.0 m
ETW (8.6 g/t Au, 91 g/t Ag, 6.16%
Zn, 1.41 % Pb, 0.40% Cu) in hole
ACD24-250
.
Holes ACD25-254, -255, -256 and -257 (Figure 3) expanded shallow open-pit grade and width on
the western end of the Guadalupe vein. The broad, lower-grade mineralisation is just beneath and
further west of the existing open-pit resource shell, with potential to expand the open-pit portion of
the resource in this area. Cross section A-A' (Figure 4) shows the intercepts in holes ACD25-254
and -256. A similar intercept is seen in Cross section B-B' with hole ACD25-258 (Figure 5)
Holes ACD25-253 and -260 both encountered high-grade mineralisation expanding the central
high-grade zone of the Guadalupe vein an additional 50 metres to the east and confirming
continuity in grade over a 50 metre vertical extent as seen on section C-C' (Figure 6) and the
Guadalupe long section (Figure 7).
ACD25-253
intercepted
6.4
g/t AuEq over 1.9 m
ETW (1.1
g/t Au, 239 g/t Ag, 2.77% Zn, 0.85% Pb and 0.11% Cu) while
ACD25-260
intercepted
6.2 g/t
AuEq over 2.6 m
ETW (1.4 g/t Au, 233 g/t Ag, 2.32% Zn, 0.58% Pb and 0.10% Cu).
The forty holes completed to date since 2024 have successfully defined a series of continuous higher-
grade zones extending over several hundred vertical metres within the main Guadalupe vein, and now
within the Los Ingleses and Mexico Libre vein systems. These higher-grade zones remain open along
strike and at depth.
The Cristina deposit is an epithermal to mesothermal vein system where the mineralisation is
predominantly gold and silver, with lesser base metal values. At least four known parallel vein zones
trend east-west to northeast-southwest and are hosted in an andesitic volcanic sequence which forms
part of the Lower Volcanic Sequence of the Sierra Madre Occidental range. The andesites and related
flows and breccias are cut locally by dacitic intrusions, and the entire sequence is in turn cut by andesitic
and hornblende-plagioclase porphyry following fault trends. In some areas the veins are covered by post-
mineral rhyolite of the Upper Volcanic Sequence.
Figure 1- Known vein systems and existing drill holes at the Cristina Project
. Resource pit in
Figures 1 through 8 is based on the National Instrument 43-101 compliant report titled "Technical Report
on the Mineral Resource for the Cristina Project" prepared for TCP1 Corporation and Atacama Copper
Corporation by Independent Mining Consultants Inc., with an effective date of January 1, 2023, and issue
date of December 1, 2023.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7505/244729_4cfbad43f4444879_001full.jpg
Figure 2 - Location of drill holes and cross-sections from the current release, Mexico Libre vein
system.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7505/244729_4cfbad43f4444879_002full.jpg
Figure 3 - Location map of the Guadalupe vein system, with current and historical drill holes,
as well as cross section locations for this release.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7505/244729_4cfbad43f4444879_003full.jpg
Figure 4 - Cross-section A-A' through the Guadlupe vein system showing broad, shallow
intercepts directly beneath the existing open-pit resource shell at the western part of the
system.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7505/244729_4cfbad43f4444879_004full.jpg
Figure 5 - Cross-section B-B' through the Guadalupe vein system with a broad, shallow
intercept in hole ACD25-258, directly beneath the existing open-pit resource shell.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7505/244729_4cfbad43f4444879_005full.jpg
Figure 6 - Cross-section C-C' through the Guadalupe vein system showing the near-surface
high-grade vein intercepts in holes ACD25-253 and -260.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7505/244729_4cfbad43f4444879_006full.jpg
Figure 7 - Long-section through the Guadalupe vein system showing the multiple, coherent
high-grade zones.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7505/244729_4cfbad43f4444879_007full.jpg
Table 1: Detailed Drill Results
Drill Hole
From
(m)
To
(m)
Drill
length
(m)
Est.
True
width
(m)
Au
g/t
Ag
g/t
Zn
%
Pb
%
Cu
%
AuEq
g/t
Vein
System
ACD24-251
57.0
66.0
9.0
8.0
0.2
3.9
0.19
0.03
0.01
0.3
Mexico Libre
ACD24-252
89.0
93.8
4.8
4.2
0.1
4.1
0.42
0.17
0.01
0.5
Mexico Libre
ACD24-253
171.0
204.9
33.9
27.0
0.5
60.2
0.67
0.21
0.03
1.8
Guadalupe
incl.
191.5
193.9
2.4
1.9
1.1
238.6
2.77
0.85
0.11
6.4
Guadalupe
ACD25-254
136.7
180.8
44.1
39.0
0.3
18.1
0.20
0.09
0.04
0.8
Guadalupe
ACD25-255
146.5
195.8
49.3
45.0
0.2
8.0
0.20
0.05
0.01
0.5
Guadalupe
ACD25-256
165.7
196.8
31.1
28.0
0.3
15.3
0.20
0.10
0.07
0.8
Guadalupe
ACD25-257
145.0
157.0
12.0
10.0
0.2
11.5
0.33
0.11
0.01
0.6
Guadalupe
ACD25-258
213.0
250.0
37.0
26.0
0.4
29.5
0.21
0.14
0.06
1.0
Guadalupe
ACD25-259
321.9
327.4
5.5
3.8
0.9
32.1
0.52
0.27
0.06
1.8
Guadalupe
ACD25-260
219
251.3
32.3
22.5
0.8
70.2
1.12
0.36
0.03
2.5
Guadalupe
incl.
242.3
246.3
4.0
2.6
1.4
233.3
2.32
0.58
0.10
6.2
Guadalupe
Gold equivalent formula: AuEq = Au + 0.014*Ag + 0.532*Zn + 0.379*Pb + 1.525*Cu (recoveries were assumed to be 100%). Metal Prices used:
$1700/oz Au, $23.61/oz Ag, $1.32/lb Zn, $0.94/lb Pb and $3.78/lb Cu.
The goal of targeting the higher-grade zones within the main Guadalupe Vein, as well as other high-
grade veins in the area, is to both increase the size and the grade of the resource and demonstrate the
underground resource potential at Cristina. The current, primarily open-pit mineral resource estimate
comprises:
Indicated resources of 17.5 Mt at 0.51 g/t gold, 33.8 g/t silver, 0.47% zinc, 0.19% lead and 0.04%
copper (1.33 g/t AuEq grade), for a contained 752,000 gold-equivalent ounces.
Inferred resources of 19.0 Mt at 0.51 g/t gold, 27.5 g/t silver, 0.50% zinc, 0.19% lead and 0.05%
copper (1.27 g/t AuEq grade), for a contained 777,000 gold-equivalent ounces.
Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control Procedures
Drill core at the Cristina project is predominately HQ size with a diameter of 63.5 mm. Drill core samples
are generally 1.50 m long along the core axis with allowance for shorter or longer intervals if required to
suit geological constraints. After logging intervals are identified to be sampled, the core is cut and one
half is submitted for assay. Sample QA/QC measures include unmarked certified reference materials,
blanks, and field duplicates are inserted into the sample sequence and make up approximately 5% of
the samples submitted to the laboratory for each drill hole. Samples are transported to lab facilities in
Durango or Hermosillo Mexico, for sample preparation. Sample analysis is carried out by ALS Labs,
with fire assay, including over limits fire assay re-analysis, and multi-element analysis completed in North
Vancouver, Canada. Drill core sample preparation includes fine crushing of the sample to at least 70%
passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250-gram split to at least
85% passing 75 microns. Gold in diamond drill core is analyzed by fire assay and atomic absorption
spectroscopy of a 30 g sample (Au-AA25). Multi-element chemistry is analyzed by 4-Acid digestion of a
0.25-gram sample split (ME-ICP61) with detection by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer
for a full suite of elements. Gold assay technique Au-AA25 has an upper detection limit of 100 ppm. Any
sample that produces an over-limit gold value via the initial assay technique is sent for gravimetric finish
via method Au-GRA21. Silver analyses by ME-ICP61 have an upper limit of 100 ppm. Samples with
over-limit silver values are first re-analyzed by ICP with a larger 0.4 g sample split, which has an upper
limit of 1,500 ppm. Silver assays above 1,500 ppm are re-analyzed by fire assay with gravimetric finish
Ag-GRA21. ALS Labs is an ISO/IEC accredited assay laboratory.
Qualified Person
Mr. Charlie Ronkos, MMSA is Fuerte's EVP Exploration and the Qualified Person who has approved the
technical information disclosed in this release.
Mr. Jacob W. Richey, P.E. of IMC is the Qualified Person responsible for the MRE. Details of the
Cristina MRE can be found in the Company's press release of October 30, 2023, and in the National
Instrument 43-101 compliant report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource for the Cristina
Project" prepared for TCP1 Corporation and Atacama Copper Corporation by Independent Mining
Consultants Inc., with an effective date of January 1, 2023, and issue date of December 1, 2023. This
report is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's
website.
About Fuerte Metals Corporation
Fuerte Metals is a well-funded resource company, adding value through the acquisition, exploration, and
development of copper and precious metals projects in the Americas. The company has a 21,000 m
drilling program at its Cristina precious metals project in Chihuahua Mexico, with the goal of significantly
expanding the existing mineral resource estimate with a focus on underground mining. In Chile, the
Placeton/Caballo Muerto project hosts several untested porphyry copper targets situated between the
large-scale Relincho and El Morro/La Fortuna copper-gold deposits of the Nueva Union joint venture
between Teck and Newmont Mining.
Additional Information
For more information, please contact:
Tim Warman
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Fuerte Metals Corporation
Email:
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements"
(collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities
legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and
are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any
statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans,
projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using
phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate",
"plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such
words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might"
or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-
looking statements.
In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the anticipated timing
of drilling and management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. Various assumptions or
factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in
forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently
available to the Company. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the
date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information,