IMPACT Silver Corp. ("IMPACT" or "the Company") is pleased to provide a summary of its 2010 new mine development and exploration activities at the Royal Mines of Zacualpan Silver District ("Zacualpan") and the adjacent Mamatla Mineral District ("Mamatla") in central Mexico. The Zacualpan and Mamatla Districts consist of a large package of 100%-owned mineral concessions with wholly-owned operating mines, a 500-tpd (tonnes-per-day) processing plant and the new Capire Mine Development Project scheduled for production in late 2011. In 2010, the combined property area was expanded by 150 square kilometers to 623 square kilometers. The continued success of the exploration and development work contributed to the ongoing expansion of mining operations. Information on mine production will follow later with the release of final 2010 financial statements.
NEAR TERM PRODUCTION FROM A NEW MINING DISTRICT
The Capire Zone is located 16 kilometers southwest of IMPACT's active mining and processing operations at Zacualpan. The Capire Zone is currently in the final mine planning and permitting stage with a target to begin pilot plant operations at a rate of 200 tpd later in 2011. The orientation and shallow depth from surface of the mineralization will allow open pit mining of a portion of the zone. Capire will be the Company's fourth operating mine in the region and represents near-term production from a new mining district.
In November 2009, the Company announced the first NI43-101 compliant mineral resource estimates for the Capire Zone (formerly known as the Capire-Aurora 1 Zone) located in the Mamatla Mineral District. These measured and indicated mineral resource estimates totaled 7.2 million ounces Silver, 94.3 million lbs Zinc and 38.8 million lbs Lead (see IMPACT Silver news release dated
for details). Additional drilling in 2010 was designed to upgrade these mineral resources in preparation for mining (see IMPACT Silver news releases dated
and
for drill results). Updated mineral resource estimates are pending. The zone remains open for expansion.
In early 2010, the Company put its third new mine into production at Noche Buena. From the time first assays were received from the discovery drill hole (January 2009) to initial mining in March 2010, approximately 15 months had elapsed. This ability to fast -track new mines into production is a cornerstone of IMPACT's plans to rapidly grow silver production in the Zacualpan-Mamatla Districts.
Drilling has defined the upper levels of the Noche Buena Zone over a strike length of 400 meters; a depth of 100 meters; and an average width of three meters. The zone remains open for expansion. Exploration on this northerly trending, west dipping silver-gold breccia zone has consisted of holes drilled on a 50m x 50m pattern designed to systematically explore and build tonnage. Highlights from the drilling include 204g/t Silver across 8.6m, 589g/t Silver across 3.1m and 368g/t Silver across 4.0m (see IMPACT Silver news release dated
for a full summary of drill results). Other veins intersected in the drilling above and below the Noche Buena Vein returned high grade values including 499 g/t Silver across 3.8m and 1,078 g/t Silver across 3.3m, and have been incorporated into the mining plan. Current production is at 66 tpd, and ramping up each quarter. Further drilling and underground development is planned to expand the zone.
During 2010, exploration continued on multiple targets. During the year, surface exploration and resource drilling totaled 15,323 meters, up from 11,664 meters in 2009 and underground drilling totaled 2,197 meters, down from 3,783 meters. Field work included extensive mapping, trenching, sampling of old mines and soil sampling. Highlights of exploration work carried out during the year are described below.
Data Compilation
Since 2004, the Company has been reporting results from a large number of old mines and prospects in the Zacualpan and Mamatla Districts. Over 2,000 old mine workings and prospects in the Zacualpan and Mamatla Districts have now been compiled in the GIS database representing almost 500 years of mining history in the districts. In 2010, the GIS database reached a critical mass of information and is now the main engine for generating and prioritizing drill targets.
Drilling
In 2010, exploration drilling tested extensions of the San Ramon Mine and a 3.5-square kilometer area designated the GCC Sector (Golondrinas-Chontalpan-Cuchara Sector). The program was designed to enhance current production to the Guadalupe processing plant located three kilometers to the northwest. The GCC Sector encompasses many old mining camps and mapping areas including Santa Lucia, Chontalpan, Golondrinas, Principe, San Antonio, Ojo de Agua, Cuchara and Santa Efigenia. In 2010, the main drill targets were Santa Lucia, Chontalpan North and Golondrinas, as described below.
Santa Lucia Drilling
In 2010, IMPACT announced results from two additional drill holes at Santa Lucia as follow-up to the 2009 Phase One drill program. Highlights from the 2009 drilling include 278 g/t Silver across 6.3 meters (DH Z09-47), 1,905 g/t Silver across 0.6 meters (DH Z09-37) and 419 g/t Silver across 2.4 meters (DH Z09-53). Further drilling is planned for Santa Lucia. The 2010 drill results at Santa Lucia are as follows:
| DRILL HOLE | FROM (m) | TO (m) | INTERVAL (m) | SILVER (g/t) | GOLD (g/t) | LEAD (%) | ZINC (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SECTION 15+00 N | |||||||
| Z10-03 | 260.7 | 261.8 | 1.1 | 588.0 | 0.05 | 0.37 | 2.00 |
| and | |||||||
| Z10-03 | 266.1 | 267.1 | 1.7 | 394.2 | 0.07 | 1.05 | 1.57 |
| and | |||||||
| Z10-03 | 269.4 | 270.0 | 0.7 | 154.0 | 0.32 | 2.00 | 2.06 |
| SECTION 14+50 N | |||||||
| Z10-04 | 300.3 | 300.8 | 0.5 | 187.0 | 0.01 | 1.41 | 3.24 |
Chontalpan North Drilling
In 2010, IMPACT commenced drilling on the Chontalpan Project Area to test two targets on the north extension of the large old Chontalpan Mine. Historically, the silver-rich Chontalpan Vein has accounted for a significant portion of the Zacualpan District's past production dating back to the 1760s. Phase One drill results from the Chontalpan targets are as follows:
| DRILL HOLE |
DRILL SECTION |
VEIN NAME |
FROM (m) |
TO (m) |
INTERVAL (m) |
SILVER (g/t) |
GOLD (g/t) |
LEAD (%) |
ZINC (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHONTALPAN MINE - NORTHWEST ("CMN") DRILLING AREA | |||||||||
| Z10-05 | L 6+00 S | Chontalpan | 144.5 | 144.9 | 0.35 | 322.0 | 0.140 | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| and | |||||||||
| Z10-05 | L 6+00 S | Chontalpan | 156.00 | 158.00 | 2.00 | 331.5 | 0.151 | 0.56 | 1.36 |
| Z10-06 | L 6+00 S | Chontalpan | 165.9 | 167.75 | 1.85 | 109.8 | 0.073 | 0.12 | 0.36 |
| and | |||||||||
| Z10-06 | L 6+00 S | Poblana | 216.10 | 217.30 | 1.20 | 232.0 | 0.020 | 0.15 | 0.37 |
| Z10-07 | L 5+50 S | Chontalpan | 80.25 | 82.52 | 2.27 | 280.5 | 0.007 | 0.06 | 0.18 |
| including | |||||||||
| Z10-07 | L 5+50 S | Chontalpan | 80.87 | 81.2 | 0.33 | 1,900.0 | 0.050 | 0.40 | 1.15 |
| LOMA LARGA DRILLING AREA | |||||||||
| Z10-08 | L 0+50 S | Chontalpan | 87.45 | 89.15 | 1.70 | 167.1 | 0.047 | 0.14 | 0.54 |
| including | |||||||||
| Z10-08 | L 0+50 S | Chontalpan | 87.9 | 88.29 | 0.39 | 708.0 | 1.800 | 0.57 | 2.27 |
| and | |||||||||
| Z10-08 | L 0+50 S | Chontalpan Splay #1 | 96.35 | 96.9 | 0.55 | 139.0 | 0.490 | 0.57 | 1.08 |
| Z10-09 | L 0+50 S | Chontalpan | 97.18 | 97.95 | 0.77 | 260.4 | 0.299 | 0.75 | 2.86 |
| Z10-10 | L 0+00 S | Chontalpan | 55.70 | 60.40 | 4.70 | 239.6 | 0.016 | 0.24 | 0.69 |
| including | |||||||||
| Z10-10 | L 0+00 S | Chontalpan | 55.70 | 57.84 | 2.14 | 402.6 | 0.023 | 0.35 | 1.26 |
| and | |||||||||
| Z10-10 | L 0+00 S | Chontalpan Splay #2 | 65.27 | 65.46 | 0.19 | 310 | 0.13 | 3.52 | 11.60 |
Assays from an additional 11 drill holes at Chontalpan are pending.
Golondrinas Drilling
In 2010, IMPACT commenced drilling on the Golondrinas Project Area to test numerous closely-spaced vein systems. Sample results from old mine workings on these veins included 4,800 g/t Silver across 1.25m. In 2010, the first phase drill program at Golondrinas produced many significant results:
| DRILL HOLE |
DRILL SECTION |
FROM (m) |
TO (m) |
INTERVAL (m) |
SILVER (g/t) |
GOLD (g/t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z10-11 | L 07 + 50 N | 101.25 | 102.08 | 0.83 | 78.2 | 0.047 |
| Z10-14 | L 08 + 00 N | 127.97 | 129.47 | 1.5 | 759.2 | 0.061 |
| Including | L 08 + 00 N | 127.97 | 129 | 1.03 | 1,045.00 | 0.08 |
| Z10-15 | L 08 + 50 N | 61 | 65.45 | 4.45 | 289.5 | 0.075 |
| Including | L 08 + 50 N | 63.5 | 64.25 | 0.75 | 848 | 0.35 |
| Z10-17 | L 08 + 50 N | 172.6 | 173.3 | 0.7 | 312 | 0.01 |
| And | L 08 + 50 N | 179.95 | 181 | 1.05 | 271 | 0.01 |
| Z10-20 | L 09 + 50 N | 48.4 | 56.55 | 8.15 | 172.4 | 0.02 |
| Including | L 09 + 50 N | 52.27 | 56.55 | 4.28 | 224.9 | 0.025 |
| Z10-22 | L 10 + 00 N | 107.67 | 108.13 | 0.46 | 2120 | 0.03 |
| And | L 10 + 00 N | 111.3 | 112.35 | 1.05 | 114 | 0.05 |
| And | L 10 + 00 N | 143.64 | 144.32 | 0.68 | 657 | 0.06 |
| Z10-24 | 10+50N | 18.22 | 19.35 | 1.13 | 213 | 0.02 |
| And | 10+50N | 161.00 | 163.80 | 2.80 | 277 | 0.03 |
| Including | 10+50N | 161.00 | 162.15 | 1.15 | 613 | 0.07 |
| Z10-25 | 11+00N | 89.70 | 90.70 | 1.00 | 263 | 0.08 |
| And | 11+00N | 160.00 | 160.60 | 0.60 | 230 | 0.04 |
| And | 11+00N | 167.85 | 168.10 | 0.25 | 691 | 0.08 |
| And | 11+00N | 173.00 | 179.00 | 6.00 | 113 | 0.01 |
| Including | 11+00N | 173.00 | 175.90 | 2.90 | 174 | 0.01 |
| Z10-27 | 12+00N | 152.05 | 155.20 | 3.15 | 277 | 0.00 |
| Including | 12+00N | 152.05 | 152.30 | 0.25 | 3,010 | 0.02 |
| Z10-28 | 12+00N | 171.77 | 175.26 | 3.49 | 104 | |
