More specifically, the first phase of the exploration program focused on the Southern end of the Property (the "Las Cristinas Area") and on the following priorities:
Completion of the mapping and systematic sampling on surface and underground of the copper oxide ore on the Las Cristinas Area in order to better delineate the Company’s one kilometer long initial exploration target. The sampling program consisted of over 300 samples ranging from 3 kg to 5 kg per sample.
Completion of detailed topography of the Las Cristinas Area to support the mapping and sampling activities, the preparation of environmental permitting.
Preparation of a 3,000 meter drilling campaign. The drilling campaign will begin immediately following receipt of the drilling permit, which is expected prior to the end of March 2014. The drilling campaign will target the oxide copper ore mineralized section of the Las Cristinas Area as well as to test the underground sulphide copper ore.
Filing of an application to obtain a drilling permit.
The Company has already started to receive and compile some of the results from the sampling program. Results will be announced as soon as the geological interpretation of these results has been completed. The samples were delivered, in secure tagged bags, directly to the analytical facility for analysis, namely the laboratory of ALS Chemex de Mexico, located in Chihuahua City, Mexico.
The samples were weighed, identified and photographed prior to sample preparation. All samples are analyzed by ME-ICP61 for 31 elements, Au-ICP21 for gold, Ag-OG62 when Ag is greater than 100g/t, Cu-OG62 when copper is greater than 1% and by Cu-AA07n to obtained the oxide portion of copper.
In addition, the Company continues to carry on metallurgic tests to determine the recovery rates of copper and silver as well as providing indication of costs.
Lixiviation tests are also currently being conducted. Following the drilling campaign and subject to drilling results, the Company intends to build on site a heap leach pad planned for the summer of 2014 to test and fine tune the heap leach system.
Investors should note that a feasibility study has not been completed and there is no certainty that the proposed operation will be economically viable.
About the Las Cristinas Project
The Las Cristinas Project includes four (4) adjacent exploration concessions, which cover an area of 683 hectares in northeast Mexico in the east center part of the Chihuahua State. The permits for the concessions are granted under the authority and administrated by the "Secretaria de Economía, Dirección General de Minas, Subdirección de Minería".
The Las Cristinas Project is located in the Basin and Range Belt of north Mexico, at 150 km northeast of the town of Chihuahua. The Project is in the center of the Chorreras mineralized region, an area that contains numerous concentrations of iron, gold, silver, copper and zinc in epithermal/mesothermal vein deposits and in a skarn deposits.
The area is known by the presence of the copper hydrothermal veins in the Las Cristinas and El Caballo area. Within the Las Cristinas Project permit area, the copper system is seen spasmodically over 7 km.
The mineralization is characterized by copper carbonate (azurite, malachite, crisocole) with patches of iron sulphide (pyrite) and copper sulphide (chalcopyrite, bornite) in centimetric veins within a calcite/barite/hematite veins environment, oriented 130 degrees and dipping 80 degrees southwest, intruding the Jurassic calcareous siltstone.
The city of Chihuahua has a population of approximately 1M people. It is the regional center for all goods and services, including private and international airport, a railroad terminus, communications, hotels, medical facilities, parts and supplies and skilled workers.
The city is an important mining center and there are several mining offices. Within 30 kilometers of the project there are several small communities, these communities can provide workers and basic supplies and some lodging. The Las Cristinas Project is easily accessible from Chihuahua and takes roughly two hours by automobile.
The project is remote from any habitations. Mine can be operated all year long, there plenty of space for a mining operation and there is water and electricity in the vicinity. There is a train station in Estación Falomir 30km north of the Project.
