MONTREAL, Sept. 21, 2021 /CNW Telbec/
- Aya Gold & Silver
Inc. (TSX: AYA) ("Aya" or the "Corporation") is pleased to
announce high-grade Ag assay results from its 2021 drill
exploration program at the Zgounder Silver Mine in the Kingdom of
Morocco.
Key Highlights (all intersections are in core
lengths)
- Extension of on-strike underground mineralization below current
operations with ZG-SF-21-39, which intersected 1,299 grams
per tonne ("g/t") silver ("Ag") over 15.0 meters ("m")
including
-
- 13,138 g/t Ag over 0.5m
- 5,621 g/t Ag over 0.5m
- 5,168 g/t Ag over 0.5m
- Opening Zgounder East Zone at depth with ZG-21-40, which
returned 845 g/t Ag over 6.0m
including
-
- 3,825 g/t Ag over 0.5m
- 1,358 g/t Ag over 0.5m
and with ZG-21-41, which returned 448 g/t Ag over
10.5m including
- 16,396 g/t Ag over 0.5m
- 3,527 g/t Ag over 3.5m
Drilling continued to expand mineralization at depth, including
ZG-SF-21-39 which defined continuous high-grade mineralization
below the current mine workings and remains open in both
directions (see Figure 1). Holes ZG-21-41 and ZG-21-40 generated
448 g/t Ag over 10.5m and
845 g/t Ag over 6m,
respectively, confirming high-grade mineralisation and identifying
a new mineralized structure below 2,000m in the Zgounder East Zone. Step-out
drilling is planned shortly in this high-potential area, in
addition to the target zones below the mine to the granite
contact.
"Today's diamond drill exploration results continue to expand
Zgounder's mineral envelope at depth in two distinct areas, both of
which remain open for further growth. Notably, holes ZG-21-40 and
ZG-21-41 defined high-grade intervals below 2,000 meters, opening
up a previously undrilled area of Zgounder East and generating new
targets for exploration. Overall, results continue to underscore
Zgounder's near-mine expansion potential, providing additional
support for our resource target and upcoming feasibility study,"
said Benoit La Salle, President
& CEO.
Included in this release are results for 7 diamond drill holes
("DDH"), which include three DDH from surface and four underground
DDH.
For a full summary of today's results from the 2021 drill
program, refer to Appendix 1 for surface results and Appendix 2 for
underground results.
Table 1 – Significant Intercepts from Drilling at Zgounder
(core lengths)
Hole
No.
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Length1
(m)
|
Ag2
(g/t)
|
Surface
|
ZG-21-40
|
7.00
|
10.00
|
3.00
|
258
|
35.50
|
37.00
|
1.50
|
459
|
80.00
|
86.00
|
6.00
|
845
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,358
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
3,825
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,110
|
89.50
|
90.00
|
0.50
|
1,288
|
105.50
|
106.00
|
0.50
|
84
|
136.00
|
138.50
|
2.50
|
244
|
159.50
|
160.50
|
1.00
|
247
|
166.00
|
166.50
|
0.50
|
113
|
217.00
|
219.00
|
2.00
|
107
|
220.50
|
221.00
|
0.50
|
92
|
246.00
|
247.00
|
1.00
|
156
|
307.00
|
308.00
|
1.00
|
174
|
310.50
|
312.00
|
1.50
|
1,662
|
ZG-21-41
|
1.50
|
3.00
|
1.50
|
80
|
10.50
|
21.00
|
10.50
|
448
|
43.00
|
43.50
|
0.50
|
120
|
101.00
|
102.00
|
1.00
|
100
|
192.50
|
194.00
|
1.50
|
280
|
302.50
|
306.00
|
3.50
|
3,527
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
16,396
|
Underground
|
ZG-SF-21-35
|
58.50
|
67.00
|
8.50
|
425
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,024
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,594
|
ZG-SF-21-36
|
2.50
|
6.00
|
3.50
|
428
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,233
|
53.50
|
55.50
|
2.00
|
134
|
ZG-SF-21-39
|
6.50
|
21.50
|
15.00
|
1,299
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,750
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
2,901
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
13,138
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
5,168
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
5,621
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,450
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,581
|
|
23.50
|
25.50
|
2.00
|
108
|
1 Holes
were drilled at various angles; true widths are not known at this
time.
2 All assay results are above the cut-off grade of
75 g/t Ag.
|
Figure 1: Location of DDH Results at Zgounder from Surface and
Underground Drilling as per Appendixes 1 & 2
Quality Assurance
For core drilling, all individual samples represent
approximately one meter in length of core, which is halved. Half of
the core is kept on site for reference, and its counterpart is sent
for preparation and assaying to African Laboratory for Mining and
Environment in Marrakech, Morocco.
All samples are analysed for silver, copper, iron, lead, and zinc
using Aqua regia and finished by atomic absorption spectroscopy
("AAS"). Samples grading above 200 g/t Ag are reanalysed
using fire assaying.
Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph.D. P. Geo,
Geological Consultant, is Aya Gold
& Silver's Qualified Person and has reviewed this press release
for accuracy and compliance with National Instrument 43-101.
About Aya Gold & Silver
Inc.
Aya Gold & Silver Inc. is a
rapidly growing, Canada-based
silver producer with operations in the Kingdom of Morocco.
The only TSX-listed pure silver mining company, Aya operates the
high-grade Zgounder Silver Mine and is exploring its properties
along the prospective South-Atlas Fault, several of which have
hosted past-producing mines and historical resources. Aya's
Moroccan mining assets are complemented by its Tijirit Gold Project
in Mauritania, which is being
advanced to feasibility.
Aya's management team has been focused on maximising shareholder
value by anchoring sustainability at the heart of its operations,
governance, and financial growth plans.
For additional information, please visit Aya's website at
www.ayagoldsilver.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements that constitute
forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable
securities laws ("forward-looking statements"), which reflects
management's expectations regarding Aya's future growth and
business prospects (including the timing and development of new
deposits and the success of exploration activities) and other
opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "continue",
"expand", "potential", "plans", "expects", "believe", "intend", and
similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or
results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", or are "likely"
to be taken, occur or be achieved, have been used to identify such
forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements in
this press release include, but are not limited to, statements and
information with respect to the exploration and development
potential of Zgounder, the conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources
into Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources and future
opportunities for enhancing development at Zgounder. Although the
forward-looking information contained in this press release reflect
management's current beliefs based upon information currently
available to management and based upon what management believes to
be reasonable assumptions, Aya cannot be certain that actual
results will be consistent with such forward-looking information.
Such forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions,
opinions and analysis made by management in light of its
experience, current conditions, and its expectations of future
developments that management believe to be reasonable and relevant
but that may prove to be incorrect. These assumptions include,
among other things, the ability to obtain any requisite
governmental approvals, the presence of artisanal miners, obtaining
regulatory permits for on site work, importing goods and machinery
and employment permits, the accuracy of Mineral Reserve and Mineral
Resource Estimates (including, but not limited to, ore tonnage and
ore grade estimates), the price of silver, the price of gold,
exchange rates, fuel and energy costs, future economic conditions,
anticipated future estimates of free cash flow, and courses of
action. Aya cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such
forward-looking statements.
The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking
statements include, among others: the inherent risks involved in
exploration and development of mineral properties, including
government approvals and permitting, changes in economic
conditions, changes in the worldwide price of silver gold and other
key inputs, changes in mine plans (including, but not limited to,
throughput and recoveries being affected by metallurgical
characteristics) and other factors, such as project execution
delays, many of which are beyond the control of Aya, as well as
other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in
Aya's 2020 Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2021, and in other filings of Aya with
securities and regulatory authorities which are available on SEDAR
at www.sedar.com. Aya does not undertake any obligation to update
forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these
plans, estimates, projections, beliefs, and opinions change.
Nothing in this document should be construed as either an offer to
sell or a solicitation to buy or sell Aya securities. All
references to Aya include its subsidiaries unless the context
requires otherwise.
Appendix 1 – Mineral Intercepts from Surface Drilling at
Zgounder (core lengths)
Hole
No.
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Length1
(m)
|
Ag2
(g/t)
|
ZG-21-40
|
7.00
|
10.00
|
3.00
|
258
|
|
35.50
|
37.00
|
1.50
|
459
|
|
80.00
|
86.00
|
6.00
|
845
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,358
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
3,825
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,110
|
|
89.50
|
90.00
|
0.50
|
1,288
|
|
105.50
|
106.00
|
0.50
|
84
|
|
136.00
|
138.50
|
2.50
|
244
|
|
159.50
|
160.50
|
1.00
|
247
|
|
166.00
|
166.50
|
0.50
|
113
|
|
217.00
|
219.00
|
2.00
|
107
|
|
220.50
|
221.00
|
0.50
|
92
|
|
246.00
|
247.00
|
1.00
|
156
|
|
307.00
|
308.00
|
1.00
|
174
|
|
310.50
|
312.00
|
1.50
|
1,662
|
ZG-21-41
|
1.50
|
3.00
|
1.50
|
80
|
10.50
|
21.00
|
10.50
|
448
|
43.00
|
43.50
|
0.50
|
120
|
101.00
|
102.00
|
1.00
|
100
|
192.50
|
194.00
|
1.50
|
280
|
302.50
|
306.00
|
3.50
|
3,527
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
16,396
|
ZG-21-42
|
4.50
|
6.00
|
1.50
|
272
|
|
15.00
|
16.50
|
1.50
|
366
|
|
76.00
|
76.50
|
0.50
|
476
|
|
122.00
|
123.50
|
1.50
|
237
|
1 Holes
were drilled at various angles, true widths are not known at this
time.
2 All assay results are above the cut-off grade of
75 g/t Ag.
|
Appendix 2 - Mineral Intercepts from Underground Drilling at
Zgounder (core lengths)
Hole
No.
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Length1
(m)
|
Ag2
(g/t)
|
ZG-SF-21-35
|
58.50
|
67.00
|
8.50
|
425
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,024
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,594
|
ZG-SF-21-36
|
2.50
|
6.00
|
3.50
|
428
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,233
|
53.50
|
55.50
|
2.00
|
134
|
ZG-SF-21-37
|
22.00
|
23.00
|
1.00
|
84
|
27.50
|
32.00
|
4.50
|
194
|
36.00
|
46.50
|
10.50
|
195
|
ZG-SF-21-39
|
6.50
|
21.50
|
15.00
|
1,299
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,750
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
2,901
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
13,138
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
5,168
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
5,621
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,450
|
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,581
|
|
23.50
|
25.50
|
2.00
|
108
|
1 Holes
were drilled at various angles, true widths are not known at this
time.
2 All assay results are above the cut-off grade of
75 g/t Ag.
|
SOURCE Aya Gold & Silver
Inc