Vizsla Silver Corp. has officially announced an update on the ongoing development of its Copala test mine at its 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project.
To better understand the significance of such a development, we must take into account how this particular mine test program has a major role to play in de-risking the Panuco Project, as the company transitions from exploration to development. We get to say so because Copala portal, established as a part of this program, is slated to serve as the primary access to underground mining operations following a construction decision.
Having said so, the portal could very well become the main access for future mining.
“We’re now testing underground at Panuco and executing the test mine development according to plan, at the historic Copala district,” said Simon Cmrlec, Chief Operating Officer at Vizsla Silver Corp. “Our crews are performing well, advancing safely, installing all required ventilation and ground support, and we are meeting planned development rates. Our team is currently focused on optimizing advance rates and testing contractor capabilities.”
Talk about the given progress update, we begin from the fact that Vizsla Silver has now advanced approximately 125 metres along the Copala decline. The decline is advancing in favorable ground conditions at a 15% grade with dimensions of 5.5 metres wide by 5.5 metres tall. More on the same would reveal how this very decline is currently progressing at a rate of 4 metres per day, with drilling and mucking currently being optimized to achieve two blasts per day and advance rates of around 8 metres per day.
Moving forward, a 10,000-tonne bulk sample will be taken from the 460 level which is approximately 70 metres vertically below the surface.Â
Next up, we must dig into how, upon reaching the ore zone, Vizsla Silver will extract a 10,000-tonne bulk sample and stockpile it on surface without impacting the environment by utilizing previously disturbed areas.Â
The resulting material is expected to be used for paste fill and cemented rockfill (CRF) testing to support backfill planning, rock competency and structural consistency analysis to optimize mine design and cost models related to support requirements, as well as grade reconciliation with the block model.Â
Turning our attention towards some of the technical features and future opportunities associated with Copala Test Mine, it is situated approximately 300 metres north of the proposed processing facility, with waste stockpiles and ore staging areas located inside 200 metres of the portal. All current activities are understood to be using existing roads and are confined to previously disturbed areas from historic mining.
Thanks to the underground access, the test mine also has the means to enable low-cost drilling from underground stations, supporting the conversion of existing resources to higher-confidence categories. In fact, several high-priority targets have already been outlined and their testing is set to begin as the decline advances.
The mine also boasts parallel structures on the surface to effectively highlight near-mine exploration upside.
As for the Panuco Project, it is essentially an emerging high-grade discovery, which features 7,189.5-hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits. The stated district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene, whereas on the other hand, host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation.
“This portal will ultimately become the main access for future mining. Every meter brings us closer to the 10,000-tonne bulk sample location and positions us for efficient resource conversion/expansion drilling from underground, and for the ultimate mine development and ramp-up. We are on track to complete the fully funded test mine program by year-end,” said Cmrlec.
