VANCOUVER, BC, July 5, 2023
/PRNewswire/ - Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX: ASM) (NYSE
American: ASM) (FSE: GV6) ("Avino" or "the Company") releases the
results of three drill holes from below Level 17, the current
deepest workings at the Elena Tolosa ("ET") Area of the Avino
system. Previously, the Company reported the extension of the Avino
Vein to a further 500 metres downdip below the lowest current
production mining level. Drill Hole ET-23-09 shows 57 metres true
width of mineralization and is a step out 50 metres to the west of
Avino's most westerly drill hole at 200 metres downdip below Level
17. This continuing exploration program is testing the continuity
of the steeply dipping mineralization. Avino has enlisted
several world-renowned consulting geologists to contribute to the
geological theory to drive understanding of the mineralization
characteristics. The depth extent of at least 750 metres of known
mineralization is unusual in comparison with most Mexican
epithermal deposits.
Selected Intercept
Highlights:
- Hole ET 23-09: 296 AgEq g/t over 57 metres true width,
including 407 AgEq g/t over 37 metres true width and 2,866 AgEq g/t
over 3.43 metres true width (To view images of the corresponding
core, please click here)
- Hole ET 23-07: 230 AgEq g/t over 11 metres true
width
Details are shown in the table and images below.
"We stepped out, at depth and along strike, with Hole ET-23-09
and were handsomely rewarded with the best drill hole in the
Company's 55-year history," said David
Wolfin, President and CEO. "The exceptionally wide and very
high, silver, gold and copper grades are extremely encouraging for
our continued exploration of the Avino vein and associated
stockwork and breccia at depth and suggests a much more complex
mineralization system. We are still open along strike and at depth
and we will continue to try to understand the source of the
mineralization as we explore for the source intrusive, porphyry or
phreatomagmatic interface. The drill intercept widths are in line
with our understanding of the Avino vein and represent minable
areas to be contemplated for the future of the mine with grades
that are almost 5 times the current cutoff grade."
Avino is developing a geological model based on a "near
porphyry" environment because of the increasing copper grades. The
persistence of grade continuity from surface down a plunge distance
of over 1,100 metres (800 metres) with this copper increase
supports the possibility of a deeper mineralized system and may be
linked to a porphyry centre.
Geological modelling is ongoing to determine the potential
geometry and controls of the mineralization. Our drill program
continues for the rest of 2023 with 2,100 more metres planned for
the year to bring the total to 8,000 metres for the year.
Geological Description
The Property contains numerous low-sulphidation epithermal veins
(including the Avino vein), breccias, stockworks, and silicified
zones that grade into a possible "near porphyry" environment within
a large caldera setting. This caldera has been uplifted by regional
north-trending block faulting (a graben structure) exposing a
window of andesitic pyroclastic rocks of a lower volcanic sequence
within this caldera. The lower volcanic sequence is overlain by an
upper volcanic sequence consisting of rhyolite to trachyte lava
flows and extensive ignimbrites. The direction of the increasing
copper grade plunges steeply towards the east in the Avino vein.
The changing tenor of the mineralization could be reflecting a
transition from epithermal to porphyry-style mineralization.
Below Level 17
Three holes were drilled below Level 17 in this latest drill
campaign totalling 2,004 metres drilled. They were completed to
investigate the continuity of mineralization in the central part of
the ET Area of Avino system. All three holes
intercepted mineralization within the vein and stockwork that
have silver equivalent grades above the current cut off grade in
the latest mineral resource estimate. The results and are reported
below in Table 1.
Vein-type mineralization and stockwork containing silver, gold
and copper are found along the contacts between intrusive rocks and
an andesite. This provides opportunities within the ET Area for the
identification and delineation of additional mineral resources that
remain open on strike and dip (see Figure 1 for the
projections of the resource relative to the drilled holes). This
recent drilling confirms that mineralization persists to the west
along strike at depth and that there is the potential for high
grade silver within the increasing copper grades that have been
drilled at depth.
Table 1 – Summary Drill Results
1.
|
AgEq in drill
results below assumes $22.00 oz/ Ag and $1,850/ oz Au and $4.00/
lb. Cu, and 100% metallurgical recovery.
|
2.
|
STW = Stockwork
Veins
|
Sampling and Assay
Methods
Following detailed geological and geotechnical logging, selected
drill core areas were cut in half. One half of the core was
submitted to the SGS Laboratory facility in Durango, Mexico, and the other half was
retained on-site for verification and reference. Gold is assayed by
fire assay with an AA finish. Any samples exceeding 3.0 gold
grams/tonne are re-assayed and followed by a gravimetric finish.
Multi-element analyses are also completed for each sample by SGS
ICP14B methods. Any copper values exceeding 10,000 ppm (1%) are
assayed using ICP 90Q. Silver is fire assayed with a gravimetric
finish for samples assaying over 100 grams/tonne. Avino uses a
series of standard reference materials, blank reference materials,
and duplicates as part of their QA/QC program during assaying.
Qualified Person(s)
Avino's projects in Durango,
Mexico are under the geoscientific oversight of Michael F. O'Brien, P.Geo., Senior Principal
Consultant, Red Pennant Communications, and under the supervision
of Peter Latta, P.Eng, Avino's VP,
Technical Services, who are both qualified persons within the
context of NI 43-101. Both have reviewed and approved the technical
data in this news release.
About Avino
Avino is a silver producer from its wholly owned Avino Mine near
Durango, Mexico. The Company's
silver and gold production remains unhedged. The Company's mission
and strategy is to create shareholder value through its focus on
profitable organic growth at the historic Avino Property and the
strategic acquisition of the La Preciosa property. Avino currently
controls mineral resources, as per NI 43-101, that total 368
million silver equivalent ounces, within our district-scale land
package. We are committed to managing all business activities in a
safe, environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner, while
contributing to the well-being of the communities in which we
operate.
We encourage you to connect with us on Twitter at @Avino and on
LinkedIn at Avino Silver & Gold Mines. To view the Avino Mine
VRIFY tour, please click here.
Note: All Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. drill
results are detailed in separate news releases and these releases
are available on our website at www.avino.com and on our SEDAR
profile at www.sedar.com.
On Behalf of the Board
"David Wolfin"
________________________________
David Wolfin
President & CEO
Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and
"forward-looking statements" (together, the "forward looking
statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and
the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including the amended mineral resource estimate for the Company's
Avino Property located near Durango in west-central Mexico (the "Avino Property") with an
effective date of January 13, 2021,
and as amended on December 21, 2021,
and the Company's updated mineral resource estimate for La Preciosa
with an effective date of October 27,
2021, prepared for the Company, and references to Measured,
Indicated, Inferred Resources referred to in this press release.
These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this
news release and the dates of technical reports, as applicable.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the
future circumstances, outcomes or results anticipated in or implied
by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans,
intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking
statements are based will occur. While we have based these
forward-looking statements on our expectations about future events
as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements
are not a guarantee that such future events will occur and are
subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors
which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
factors and assumptions include, among others, the effects of
general economic conditions, the price of gold, silver and copper,
changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government
authorities, uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and
negotiations and misjudgments in the course of preparing
forward-looking information. In addition, there are known and
unknown risk factors which could cause our actual results,
performance or achievements to differ materially from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include risks
associated with project development; the need for additional
financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral
processing; the COVID-19 pandemic; volatility in the global
financial markets; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters;
uncertainties and risks related to carrying on business in foreign
countries; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance
on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among
certain of our officers, directors or promoters with certain other
projects; the absence of dividends; currency fluctuations;
competition; dilution; the volatility of the our common share price
and volume; tax consequences to U.S. investors; and other risks and
uncertainties. Although we have attempted to identify important
factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to
differ materially from those described in forward-looking
statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events
or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There
can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to
be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. We are under no obligation to update or alter any
forward-looking statements except as required under applicable
securities laws. For more detailed information regarding the
Company including its risk factors, investors are directed to the
Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F and other periodic reports
that it files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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SOURCE Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.