VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jan. 21, 2014) - Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. (TSX:FVI)(NYSE:FSM)(BVLAC:FVI)(FRANKFURT:F4S) is pleased to announce results for step-out drilling of the Trinidad North discovery located contiguous with the San Jose Mine in Oaxaca, Mexico. Assay results are presented for eight drill holes completed in the fourth quarter of 2013 confirming the continuation of the high-grade Trinidad North zone over a further 200 meter strike extension beyond the limits of existing Inferred Resources. The mineralization remains open to the north and to depth as well as vertically above the 1200 meter level.
Highlights of Step-out Drilling
-- SJOM-331
-- 605 g/t Ag and 3.59 g/t Au (820 g/t Ag Eq) over estimated true width
of 10.3 m
-- SJOM-334
-- 233 g/t Ag and 2.31 g/t Au (371 g/t Ag Eq) over estimated true width
of 6.5 m
-- SJOM-335
-- 3,511 g/t Ag and 15.04 g/t Au (4,413 g/t Ag Eq) over estimated true
width of 3.7 m, and
-- 474 g/t Ag and 2.54 g/t Au ( 626 g/t Ag Eq) over estimated true
width of 9.1 m
-- SJOM-336
-- 124 g/t Ag and 0.97 g/t Au (182 g/t Ag Eq) over estimated true width
of 13.4 m, and
-- 368 g/t Ag and 1.80 g/t Au ( 476 g/t Ag Eq) over estimated true
width of 5.5 m
The Trinidad North discovery was announced in February of 2013 (see Fortuna news release of Feb. 4, 2013) and a maiden resource for the Trinidad North zone was announced in October of 2013. At a 70 g/t Ag Eq cutoff, Inferred Resources at Trinidad North are estimated at 1.9 Mt averaging 269 g/t Ag and 1.67 g/t Au, containing 16.3 Moz Ag and 100.8 koz Au. Resource estimates at higher cutoff grades were also presented and the reader is referred to the October 17, 2013 news release for additional information. Step-out drilling of the Trinidad North discovery was initiated in late September of 2013 and is being carried out from two underground drill stations located at the 1300 meter level. Through December 2013, eight step-out drill holes were completed in the Trinidad North Extension, a 200 meter strike extension beyond the existing resource boundary at Trinidad North.
Dr. Thomas I. Vehrs, Vice President of Exploration, commented: "High-grade silver-gold mineralization over wide vein widths is a hallmark of the Trinidad North system and the step-out drilling has confirmed the continuation of a robust mineralized system over a further 200 meter strike extension. Mineralization is present in two sub-parallel vein systems (Bonanza Vein and Trinidad Vein) and locally in the form of stockwork zones between the two structures. The high-grade silver-gold mineralization intercepted in the northernmost and deepest drill hole, SJOM-335, is a strong indicator of the robust nature of the mineralization and that the potential for further extension of the system to the north and to depth remains high. Stockwork and vein mineralization intercepted in drill hole SJOM-336 at an elevation of 1200 meters is also highly encouraging, indicating potential for expansion of the mineralized zone vertically above the 1200 meter level."
Assay Results for Principal Mineralized Intervals - Trinidad North Extension
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Est
True Ag Eq
From To Int Width Ag Au Pb Zn Cu (g/t)
Hole_Id (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (i)
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SJOM-
329(ii) 271.60 273.45 1.85 1.0 1,509 7.77 11,192 12,077 747 1,975
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305.50 314.50 9.00 5.3 904 8.60 723 1,279 91 1,420
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329.15 342.10 12.95 7.5 402 3.42 3,806 6,731 501 607
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SJOM-
330(ii) 346.85 347.70 0.85 0.4 500 3.46 1,440 6,130 60 708
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386.70 396.00 9.30 4.4 288 1.76 462 832 80 393
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402.80 411.50 8.70 4.1 347 2.48 2,516 4,454 269 496
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SJOM-331 242.50 255.35 12.85 10.3 605 3.59 441 855 75 820
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281.35 284.85 3.50 2.8 730 4.13 1,353 3,585 162 978
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SJOM-332 408.30 409.30 1.00 0.4 65 0.33 4,070 10,500 1,320 85
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444.80 447.05 2.25 1.1 219 1.04 726 1,535 166 282
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SJOM-333 339.65 344.00 4.35 2.8 342 1.67 712 1,328 106 442
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SJOM-334 268.40 277.95 9.55 6.5 233 2.31 49 74 25 371
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316.40 318.00 1.60 1.0 79 0.48 185 451 11 108
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SJOM-335 419.00 425.30 6.30 3.7 3,511 15.04 4,583 10,063 719 4,413
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Including 420.05 421.70 1.65 1.0 12,249 51.89 14,362 31,633 2,469 15,363
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439.20 454.70 15.50 9.1 474 2.54 1,286 2,771 124 626
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495.50 498.00 2.50 1.5 151 0.76 776 1,641 75 197
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SJOM-336 175.25 177.50 2.25 2.1 104 0.55 312 546 17 137
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181.70 187.10 5.40 4.6 101 0.58 44 83 9 136
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191.30 207.20 15.90 13.4 124 0.97 209 438 17 182
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214.55 220.40 5.85 5.5 368 1.80 1,061 2,023 88 476
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(i)Interval averages calculated at cutoff of 70 g/t Ag Eq with Ag Eq values
estimated at Au:Ag ratio of 60 based on assumed metal prices of US$1200/oz
for gold and US$20/oz for silver and metallurgical recoveries of 89% for
both gold and silver
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(ii)Previously reported, see Fortuna Silver Mines news release of Nov. 25,
2013
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Trinidad North Exploration and Resource Delineation
Exploration drilling at Trinidad North continues with two drill rigs from existing underground drilling stations with the objectives of extending the mineralization in open directions and the delineation of new mineral resources for incorporation into the resource update scheduled for the second half of 2014. An extension of the crosscut at the 1300 meter level is planned for completion by June of 2014 to facilitate the exploration of a further 300 meter extension of the mineralized system for a total of 500 meters from the northern limit of existing Inferred Resources.
Longitudinal sections for the Bonanza and Trinidad veins showing the location of the step-out drill hole results relative to the Trinidad North maiden resource area are available at the following link: http://www.fortunasilver.com/i/pdf/map/TrinidadNorthExtensionLongitudinalSections_JAN2014.pdf.
San Jose Mine, Mexico
The expansion of the San Jose processing plant capacity to 1,800 tpd was successfully completed in September of 2013. Expansion of the processing plant capacity to 2,000 tpd by the start of the second quarter of 2014 is currently in-process. Production guidance for 2014 is for the processing of 683,000 tonnes of ore averaging 203 g/t Ag and 1.56 g/t Au, resulting in the estimated production of 4.0 million ounces of silver and 30.4 thousand ounces of gold.
Quality Assurance & Quality Control
Following detailed geological and geotechnical logging, drill core samples are split on-site by diamond sawing. One-half of the core is submitted to the ALS Chemex Laboratory in Guadalajara, Mexico. The remaining half core is retained on-site for verification and reference purposes. Following preparation, the samples are assayed for gold and silver by standard fire assay methods and for silver and base metals by ICP and atomic absorption methods utilizing aqua regia digestion. The QA-QC program includes the blind insertion of certified reference standards and assay blanks at a frequency of approximately 1 per 15 normal samples as well as the inclusion of duplicate samples for verification of sampling and assay precision levels.
Qualified Person
Thomas I. Vehrs, Ph.D., Vice President of Exploration, is the Qualified Person for Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Dr. Vehrs is a Founding Registered Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME Registered Member Number 3323430RM) and is responsible for ensuring that the information contained in this news release is an accurate summary of the original reports and data provided to or developed by Fortuna Silver Mines.
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.
Fortuna is a growth-oriented, silver-, gold- and base metal-producer focused on mining opportunities in Latin America. Our primary assets are the Caylloma silver mine in southern Peru and the San Jose silver-gold mine in Mexico. The Company is selectively pursuing additional acquisition opportunities. For more information, please visit our website at www.fortunasilver.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Jorge Ganoza, President, CEO and Director
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.
Trading symbols: (NYSE:FSM)(TSX:FVI)(BVLAC:FVI)(FRANKFURT:F4S)
Forward looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and that are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words such as "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "targets", "intends", "advance", "projects", "calculates" and similar expressions are forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements are based on an assumed set of economic conditions and courses of actions, including estimates of future production levels, expectations regarding mine production costs, expected trends in mineral prices and statements that describe Fortuna's future plans, objectives or goals. There is a significant risk that actual results will vary, perhaps materially, from results projected depending on such factors as changes in general economic conditions and financial markets, changes in prices for silver and other metals, technological and operational hazards in Fortuna's mining and mine development activities, risks inherent in mineral exploration, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral reserves, mineral resources, and metal recoveries, the timing and availability of financing, governmental and other approvals, political unrest or instability in countries where Fortuna is active, labor relations and other risk factors.
Although Fortuna has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.