Kootenay Silver Inc. (TSX-V:KTN) has released a new mineral resource estimate for its La Cigarra project that showed a substantial improvement in silver grade at the Mexican property.
The latest assessment indicates an 18% increase in the combined Measured + Indicated (M+I) grade, from 86 g/t to 102 g/t, and a modest rise in total contained silver compared to the 2015 estimate.
The Indicated category saw an increase in overall grade by 27%, underscoring the project's enhanced prospects.
La Cigarra plays a key role in Kootenay's portfolio of advanced silver exploration projects.
“The updated resource estimate for La Cigarra is part of our strategy to prepare our three resource projects La Cigarra, Promontorio and La Negra for advancement in a bullish silver market while we remain focused on moving our high-grade silver project, Columba towards an MRE,” Kootenay CEO James McDonald said in a statement.
La Cigarra now hosts 15.73 million tonnes M+I grading 102 g/t silver, 0.07 g/t gold, 0.16% lead, and 0.21% zinc.
The Measured category includes 51.57 million ounces of silver, 33,900 ounces of gold, 54.8 million pounds of lead, and 73.5 million pounds of zinc, for a total of 60.56 million ounces of silver equivalent (AgEq).
In the Inferred category, resources are estimated at 3.37 million tonnes grading 102 g/t silver, with 11 million ounces of silver, 600,000 ounces of gold, 14.8 million pounds of lead, and 13.8 million pounds of zinc, equating to 12.85 million ounces of AgEq.
La Cigarra, located within a well-established Mexican mineral district, holds substantial growth potential beyond the current mineral resource, as mineralization remains open along strike directions and down-dip.
“The La Cigarra updated resource estimate is a meaningful improvement in silver grade compared to the previous calculation, largely due to detailed work by our team which has significantly advanced understanding of the key mineral domains and structural geometry of the deposit,” McDonald added.
Kootenay Silver is focused on mineral projects in the Sierra Madre Region and boasts one of the largest junior portfolios of silver assets in the country. With a focus on expanding current silver resources, making new discoveries, and economically developing priority silver projects in Sonora and Chihuahua, the company aims to provide shareholders with substantial leverage to silver prices.