Vancouver, British Columbia (April 11, 2024), TheNewswire, Goldgroup Mining Inc. (“Goldgroup” or the “Company”) (TSXV:GGA, OTC:GGAZF,) is pleased to provide an update to mining operations at its 100%-owned Cerro Prieto open-pit, heap leach gold mine located in Sonora, Mexico.

CERRO PRIETO MINE

The Cerro Prieto Mine is an open pit heap leach gold mine located in Sonora, Mexico.  Goldgroup commenced mining operations at Cerro Prieto in 2013 based upon a measured and indicated resource of 8,220,000 metric tonnes of 0.81 g/t Au, 17.22 g/t Ag, 0.21% Pb and 0.54% Zn, published in a 2013 technical report.  These resources have been fully exploited as of mid-2023 whereafter, the Company mined additional mineralization identified during subsequent exploration but not yet included in a published resource calculation (under NI 43-101).  From the start of mining operations in 2013 to-date, Cerro Prieto has produced 117,033 ounces of gold.  Ongoing mining operations continue to produce approximately 1,000 – 1,200 ounces of gold monthly.

Mining was focused within the El Centro, Union and South Pit zones (see Image 1) along a mineralized structurally controlled shear zone, the “Cerro Prieto Shear” over a strike length of approximately 1,600 meters. A fourth zone, Puma, offset from the Cerro Prieto Shear was discovered and drilled in 2019 to 2023 and mined since 2020 to 2023.  See Figure 1 for zone locations.

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The published and now exploited 2013 resources and new mineralized zones referred to below, were/are located within or near the Cerro Prieto Shear, a major north trending, near vertical shear zone up to 65 meters wide, that contains a series of major veins near the edges of the zone, secondary veins, stringers zones, breccia zones and silicification which, with the veins, forms a mineralized system from 15 to 65 meters thick.

 

 Figure 1.- Cerro Prieto Location of Mining and Exploration Zones

Cumbre – Esperanzas Zones 2023 Exploration Drilling

Highlights of some significant drill hole intersections,

• DDH CP362 

  • 19.70 meters @ 1.03 g/t Gold and, 

  • 5.5 meters @ 0.75 g/t Gold 

  • 20.98 meters @ 1.02 g/t  Gold 

• DDH CP374 

  • 13.20 meters @ 2.05 g/t Gold and, 

  • 4.50 meters @ 1.16 g/t Gold and, 

  • 1.55 meters @4.78 g/t Gold 

• DDH CP367 

  • 24.96 meters @ 0.69 g/t Gold and,  

  • 7.70 meters @1.35 g/t Gold and, 

  • 17.97 meters @ 1.13 g/t Gold and, 

  • 11.80 meters @ 0.61 g/t Gold 

 

Diamond Drilling sample fire assay analytical results for gold and silver for 23 holes drilled on the Cumbre and Esperanza are shown in Table I below.  Drill hole location and orientation are shown in Table 2 and Figure 2 below.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC)

An industry standard Quality Assurance/ Quality Control (QA/QC) program was followed by the Company for all drilling samples with 41 sample duplicates, standards and blanks inserted into the sample stream of 268 drill hole samples, all of which were analyzed by ALS Chemex , located in Hermosillo, Mexico, a certified independent laboratory.  

Table 1 – Assay Results Cumbre & Esperanza

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Table 1 – Assay Results Cumbre & Esperanza, cont.

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Table 2.- ESPERANZAS DRILL HOLE INFORMATION

   

The Company has internally modeled an open pit shell containing the identified mineralization and has chosen to advance these two zones into production. Mine ramp preparation and waste stripping was completed during January and February 2024 and production blasting and mining of mineralized material commenced at the end of February 2024.  See Image 2 below.

The Company cautions that it has chosen to advance the Cumbre and Esperanza zones into production without the benefit of completing a feasibility study demonstrating economic and technical viability or, an independent technical report confirming resources or reserves.  Accordingly, readers should be cautioned that Goldgroup’s production decision has

 

been made without a comprehensive feasibility study of established reserves or resources such that there is greater risk and increased uncertainty as to future economic results from the Cerro Prieto Mine and a higher technical risk of failure than would be the case if a feasibility study were completed and relied upon to make a production decision.

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Metallurgy

Metallurgical testing as presented in the 2013 published technical report, section 6.2 Metallurgy, showed varying recoveries up to 77% from samples of four zones within Centro, Union and South pits of the now fully exploited 2013 published resource.  

Historic gold recoveries obtained since 2015 are displayed in graph form below.  Starting in 2021 the mine experienced ongoing difficulties in maintaining consistent crushing operations resulting in Run Of Mine (“ROM”) mineralization being deposited to leach pads.  ROM deposition increased in 2022 to as high as 47% of total mineralization deposited to the leach pads.  This ROM deposition to leach pad resulted in an expected, significant decrease in gold recoveries as demonstrated below.

The Company has recently brought back into full service its 2,500 tonnes /day crushing circuit using a primary jaw crusher with secondary and tertiary cone crushers crushing to final size of 5/8in which the Company anticipates will allow improved recoveries to the traditional 60% range.

Planned Production Expansion

The Company is seeking to arrange funding to purchase a second full crushing circuit and expand irrigation of leaching pads to double mine production to the 4,500 – 5,000 tonnes per day and if successful, expects to double is current gold production from that stated above.

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 Craig Gibson, Ph.D., CPG is the qualified person under NI 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

Technical Report Update In Progress

Goldgroup has retained an independent Qualified Person that is preparing an updated comprehensive technical report for the Cerro Prieto Mine. Completion and publication of this report is expected near end of June 2024.

 

About Goldgroup

Goldgroup is a Canadian-based mining Company that owns and operates the Cerro Prieto heap-leach gold mine located in the State of Sonora, Mexico and is led by a team of successful and seasoned individuals with extensive expertise in mine development, corporate finance, and exploration in Mexico.

 

For further information on Goldgroup, please visit www.goldgroupmining.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Ralph Shearing, CEO

 

Investor Relations
Toll Free: 1-877-655-ozAu (6928)

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to future financial or operating performance, may be considered “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law) and “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Actual results could differ materially from the conclusions, forecasts and projections contained in such forward-looking information.

These forward-looking statements reflect Goldgroup’s current internal projections, expectations or beliefs and are based on information currently available to Goldgroup. In some cases forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “projects”, “potential”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “budget” or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology.

Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors including, without limitation: receipt of all required stock exchange and regulatory approvals, the continued listing and trading of the Company’s common shares; uncertainties related to actual capital costs operating costs and expenditures; production schedules and economic returns from Goldgroup’s projects; uncertainties associated with development activities; uncertain timing for receipt of an updated technical report; uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources and precious metal recoveries; uncertainties related to current global economic conditions; fluctuations in precious and base metal prices; uncertainties related to the availability of future financing; potential difficulties with joint venture partners; risks that Goldgroup’s title to its property could be challenged; political and country risk; risks associated with Goldgroup being subject to government regulation; risks associated with surface rights; environmental risks; Goldgroup’s need to attract and retain qualified personnel; risks associated with potential conflicts of interest; Goldgroup’s lack of experience in overseeing the construction of a mining project; risks related to the integration of businesses and assets acquired by Goldgroup; uncertainties related to the competitiveness of the mining industry; risk associated with theft; risk of water shortages and risks associated with competition for water; uninsured risks and inadequate insurance coverage; risks associated with potential legal proceedings; risks associated with community relations; outside contractor risks; risks related to archaeological sites; foreign currency risks; risks associated with security and human rights; and risks related to the need for reclamation activities on Goldgroup’s properties, as well as the risk factors disclosed in Goldgroup’s Annual Information Form and MD&A and other public disclosure by Goldgroup. Any and all of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements.

Although Goldgroup believes that the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking information. Goldgroup expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as may be required by, and in accordance with, applicable securities laws.