Expands 2021 Drill Exploration Program
MONTREAL, Sept. 16, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (TSX: AYA)
("Aya" or the "Corporation") is pleased to report new assay results
from its 2021 drill exploration program at the Zgounder Silver Mine
in the Kingdom of Morocco. Results
from 54 holes continue to extend high-grade silver mineralisation
along strike to the east and at depth below the current
resource.
Key Highlights (all intersections are in core
lengths)
- Extension of the strike and ongoing definition of the new
Zgounder East Zone with ZG-21-36, which intersected 1,298
grams per tonne ("g/t") Ag over 9.5m,
including
-
- 10,753 g/t Ag over 0.5m
- 2,963 g/t Ag over 0.5m
- 2,794 g/t Ag over 0.5m
- Expansion of the eastern mineralized strike with
ZG-21-30bis, which returned 1,863 g/t Ag over 1m and 162 g/t Ag over 15.5m
- Extension of the mineralisation at depth to the granite contact
within the exploration target with ZG-SF-21-25, which
intersected 1,230 g/t Ag over 2.5m
- Extension of on-strike underground mineralization with
T28-21-1975-21E, which intersected 3,065 g/t Ag over
7.2m including
-
- 12,640 g/t Ag over 1.2m
- 4,000 g/t Ag over 1.2m
- And, with T28-21-1975-21Ebis, which intersected 4,801
g/t Ag over 3.6m including
-
- Continuation of high-grade mineralization below current mine
workings with T28-21-1975-26E, which intersected 1,300 g/t
Ag over 4.8m, including 4,873 g/t Ag
over 1.2m
- Expansion of the 2021 drill program at the Zgounder Silver Mine
from 35,000m to 42,000m
"Today's positive results continue to expand known mineralized
systems, such as hole ZG-21-36 which confirms the up-dip and
on-strike continuity east of the newly discovered eastern zone. The
latest results also advance the understanding and mineral potential
of the on-strike underground mineralization, particularly at depth
to the granite contact. These extensions of mineralized
intersections underscore the potential for expanding the
mineralized footprint. As a result, we have extended our Zgounder
drilling program by 20% to 42,000m
into year-end," said Benoit La
Salle, President & CEO.
Assay results were received for 14 surface diamond drill holes,
15 underground diamond drill holes (see Figure 1), and 25 T28
pneumatic percussion holes. For a full summary of today's results
from the 2021 drill program, refer to Appendix 1 for surface
results and Appendix 2 for underground results.
Table 1 – Significant Intercepts from Drilling at Zgounder
(core lengths)
Hole
No.
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Length1
(m)
|
Ag2
(g/t)
|
Surface
|
ZG-21-30bis
|
20.50
|
21.50
|
1.00
|
1,863
|
26.50
|
28.50
|
2.00
|
325
|
41.00
|
42.00
|
1.00
|
86
|
153.00
|
168.50
|
15.50
|
162
|
182.50
|
183.50
|
1.00
|
119
|
ZG-21-36
|
72.50
|
82.00
|
9.50
|
1,298
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
10,753
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
2,963
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
2,794
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,002
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
2,122
|
106.00
|
108.00
|
2.00
|
157
|
121.00
|
121.50
|
0.50
|
187
|
214.00
|
216.00
|
2.00
|
132
|
218.00
|
219.50
|
1.50
|
100
|
Underground
|
ZG-SF-21-21
|
0.00
|
1.50
|
1.50
|
1,437
|
5.50
|
6.00
|
0.50
|
249
|
ZG-SF-21-25
|
0.00
|
2.00
|
2.00
|
910
|
6.00
|
9.00
|
3.00
|
306
|
39.50
|
42.00
|
2.50
|
1,230
|
ZG-SF-21-29
|
2.50
|
3.00
|
0.50
|
2,320
|
7.00
|
7.50
|
0.50
|
224
|
10.50
|
12.50
|
2.00
|
248
|
T28-21-2030-19E
|
12.00
|
15.60
|
3.60
|
744
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
2,000
|
T28-21-1975-21E
|
0.00
|
7.20
|
7.20
|
3,065
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
4,000
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
12,640
|
T28-21-1975-21Ebis
|
2.40
|
6.00
|
3.60
|
4,801
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
12,638
|
T28-21-1975-26E
|
0.00
|
6.00
|
6.00
|
126
|
9.60
|
14.40
|
4.80
|
1,300
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
4,873
|
T28-21-1975-31Ebis
|
8.40
|
9.60
|
1.20
|
1,324
|
13.20
|
14.40
|
1.20
|
136
|
20.40
|
26.40
|
6.00
|
231
|
1 Holes were drilled at various
angles; true widths are not known at this time.
|
2 All
assay results are above the cut-off grade of 75 g/t
Ag.
|
2021 Exploration Program
The 2021 initial drilling program at the Zgounder Silver Mine
has been expanded from 35,000m to
42,000m into year-end with the aim of
testing new target areas including within the newly discovered
eastern zone. Some 39,000m of
combined surface and underground drilling have already been
completed to date.
Index Inclusion
Effective as of market-close on September
17, 2021, Aya will be added to the VanEck Vectors Gold
Miners Index ETF (NYSE: GDX) and to the VanEck Vectors Junior Gold
Miners Index ETF (NYSE: GDXJ). In addition to its inclusion in the
GDX and GDXJ, the Corporation was added to the ETFMG Prime Junior
Silver Miners ETF (NYSE: SILJ) and the Global X Silver Miners ETF
(NYSE: SIL) over recent quarters.
Quality Assurance
For core drilling, all individual samples represent
approximately one meter in length of core, which is halved. Half of
the core is kept on site for reference, and its counterpart is sent
for preparation and assaying to African Laboratory for Mining and
Environment in Marrakech, Morocco.
All samples are analysed for silver, copper, iron, lead, and zinc
using Aqua regia and finished by atomic absorption spectroscopy
("AAS"). Samples grading above 200 g/t Ag are reanalysed
using fire assaying.
Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph.D. P. Geo,
Geological Consultant, is Aya Gold
& Silver's Qualified Person and has reviewed this press release
for accuracy and compliance with National Instrument 43-101.
About Aya Gold & Silver
Inc.
Aya Gold & Silver Inc. is a
rapidly growing, Canada-based
silver producer with operations in the Kingdom of Morocco.
The only TSX-listed pure silver mining company, Aya operates the
high-grade Zgounder Silver Mine and is exploring its properties
along the prospective South-Atlas Fault, several of which have
hosted past-producing mines and historical resources. Aya's
Moroccan mining assets are complemented by its Tijirit Gold Project
in Mauritania, which is being
advanced to feasibility.
Aya's management team has been focused on maximising shareholder
value by anchoring sustainability at the heart of its operations,
governance, and financial growth plans.
For additional information, please visit Aya's website at
www.ayagoldsilver.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements that constitute
forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable
securities laws ("forward-looking statements"), which reflects
management's expectations regarding Aya's future growth and
business prospects (including the timing and development of new
deposits and the success of exploration activities) and other
opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "continue",
"expand", "potential", "plans", "expects", "believe", "intend", and
similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or
results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", or are "likely"
to be taken, occur or be achieved, have been used to identify such
forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements in
this press release include, but are not limited to, statements and
information with respect to the exploration and development
potential of Zgounder, the conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources
into Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources and future
opportunities for enhancing development at Zgounder. Although the
forward-looking information contained in this press release reflect
management's current beliefs based upon information currently
available to management and based upon what management believes to
be reasonable assumptions, Aya cannot be certain that actual
results will be consistent with such forward-looking information.
Such forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions,
opinions and analysis made by management in light of its
experience, current conditions, and its expectations of future
developments that management believe to be reasonable and relevant
but that may prove to be incorrect. These assumptions include,
among other things, the ability to obtain any requisite
governmental approvals, the presence of artisanal miners, obtaining
regulatory permits for on site work, importing goods and machinery
and employment permits, the accuracy of Mineral Reserve and Mineral
Resource Estimates (including, but not limited to, ore tonnage and
ore grade estimates), the price of silver, the price of gold,
exchange rates, fuel and energy costs, future economic conditions,
anticipated future estimates of free cash flow, and courses of
action. Aya cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such
forward-looking statements.
The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking
statements include, among others: the inherent risks involved in
exploration and development of mineral properties, including
government approvals and permitting, changes in economic
conditions, changes in the worldwide price of silver gold and other
key inputs, changes in mine plans (including, but not limited to,
throughput and recoveries being affected by metallurgical
characteristics) and other factors, such as project execution
delays, many of which are beyond the control of Aya, as well as
other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in
Aya's 2020 Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2021, and in other filings of Aya with
securities and regulatory authorities which are available on SEDAR
at www.sedar.com. Aya does not undertake any obligation to update
forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these
plans, estimates, projections, beliefs, and opinions change.
Nothing in this document should be construed as either an offer to
sell or a solicitation to buy or sell Aya securities. All
references to Aya include its subsidiaries unless the context
requires otherwise.
Appendix 1 – Mineral Intercepts from Surface Drilling at
Zgounder (core lengths)
Hole
No.
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Length1
(m)
|
Ag2
(g/t)
|
ZG-21-26
|
198.00
|
199.00
|
1.00
|
136
|
258.50
|
259.50
|
1.00
|
98
|
ZG-21-27
|
178.00
|
178.50
|
0.50
|
96
|
191.00
|
191.50
|
0.50
|
88
|
211.50
|
213.00
|
1.50
|
228
|
229.50
|
231.50
|
2.00
|
631
|
321.00
|
322.00
|
1.00
|
380
|
330.50
|
332.00
|
1.50
|
104
|
335.00
|
337.00
|
2.00
|
120
|
343.50
|
347.00
|
3.50
|
155
|
350.00
|
352.50
|
2.50
|
162
|
ZG-21-28
|
38.50
|
47.00
|
8.50
|
129
|
50.50
|
53.00
|
2.50
|
173
|
119.00
|
121.00
|
2.00
|
740
|
ZG-21-29
|
223.00
|
224.00
|
1.00
|
76
|
339.00
|
339.50
|
0.50
|
128
|
ZG-21-30bis
|
20.50
|
21.50
|
1.00
|
1,863
|
26.50
|
28.50
|
2.00
|
325
|
41.00
|
42.00
|
1.00
|
86
|
153.00
|
168.50
|
15.50
|
162
|
182.50
|
183.50
|
1.00
|
119
|
ZG-21-31
|
8.00
|
9.50
|
1.50
|
340
|
16.50
|
20.00
|
3.50
|
359
|
29.00
|
30.50
|
1.50
|
268
|
33.00
|
35.00
|
2.00
|
251
|
209.50
|
210.00
|
0.50
|
293
|
223.00
|
224.00
|
1.00
|
162
|
ZG-21-32
|
131.50
|
132.00
|
0.50
|
88
|
133.50
|
134.50
|
1.00
|
84
|
ZG-21-33
|
117.00
|
118.00
|
1.00
|
167
|
ZG-21-34
|
90.00
|
91.00
|
1.00
|
114
|
190.00
|
191.00
|
1.00
|
91
|
ZG-21-35
|
8.00
|
12.50
|
4.50
|
544
|
119.00
|
122.00
|
3.00
|
501
|
ZG-21-36
|
72.50
|
82.00
|
9.50
|
1,298
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
10,753
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
2,963
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
2,794
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
1,002
|
|
including
|
0.50
|
2,122
|
106.00
|
108.00
|
2.00
|
157
|
121.00
|
121.50
|
0.50
|
187
|
214.00
|
216.00
|
2.00
|
132
|
218.00
|
219.50
|
1.50
|
100
|
ZG-21-37
|
103.00
|
104.00
|
1.00
|
158
|
ZG-21-38
|
221.00
|
222.00
|
1.00
|
245
|
262.50
|
263.00
|
0.50
|
264
|
265.00
|
265.50
|
0.50
|
81
|
ZG-21-39
|
211.50
|
214.50
|
3.00
|
385
|
394.50
|
397.50
|
3.00
|
232
|
1 Holes were drilled at various
angles, true widths are not known at this time.
|
2 All
assay results are above the cut-off grade of 75 g/t
Ag.
|
Appendix 2 - Mineral Intercepts from Underground Drilling at
Zgounder (core lengths)
Hole
No.
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Length1
(m)
|
Ag2
(g/t)
|
ZG-SF-21-14
|
2.00
|
4.00
|
2.00
|
106
|
8.00
|
8.50
|
0.50
|
134
|
42.00
|
46.00
|
4.00
|
111
|
ZG-SF-21-16
|
13.50
|
14.00
|
0.50
|
1,100
|
22.00
|
24.00
|
2.00
|
120
|
31.00
|
32.00
|
1.00
|
460
|
ZG-SF-21-18
|
45.50
|
50.00
|
4.50
|
103
|
111.50
|
112.50
|
1.00
|
120
|
ZG-SF-21-19
|
0.00
|
1.00
|
1.00
|
210
|
4.00
|
10.00
|
6.00
|
304
|
85.00
|
88.00
|
3.00
|
90
|
ZG-SF-21-20
|
29.50
|
34.00
|
4.50
|
352
|
51.00
|
56.00
|
5.00
|
253
|
ZG-SF-21-21
|
0.00
|
1.50
|
1.50
|
1,437
|
5.50
|
6.00
|
0.50
|
249
|
ZG-SF-21-23
|
38.00
|
41.00
|
3.00
|
244
|
ZG-SF-21-24
|
3.00
|
5.00
|
2.00
|
411
|
32.00
|
38.00
|
6.00
|
187
|
43.00
|
46.50
|
3.50
|
123
|
49.00
|
53.00
|
4.00
|
243
|
61.50
|
62.00
|
0.50
|
131
|
66.00
|
67.50
|
1.50
|
196
|
ZG-SF-21-25
|
0.00
|
2.00
|
2.00
|
910
|
6.00
|
9.00
|
3.00
|
306
|
39.50
|
42.00
|
2.50
|
1,230
|
ZG-SF-21-28
|
15.00
|
16.00
|
1.00
|
1,366
|
65.50
|
67.00
|
1.50
|
128
|
69.50
|
73.50
|
4.00
|
631
|
ZG-SF-21-29
|
2.50
|
3.00
|
0.50
|
2,320
|
7.00
|
7.50
|
0.50
|
224
|
10.50
|
12.50
|
2.00
|
248
|
ZG-SF-21-30
|
16.50
|
17.50
|
1.00
|
100
|
23.50
|
25.00
|
1.50
|
363
|
32.50
|
35.50
|
3.00
|
194
|
37.00
|
37.50
|
0.50
|
154
|
ZG-SF-21-32
|
1.50
|
2.00
|
0.50
|
140
|
4.00
|
5.50
|
1.50
|
77
|
ZG-SF-21-34
|
7.00
|
8.50
|
1.50
|
93
|
11.50
|
12.00
|
0.50
|
172
|
47.00
|
48.00
|
1.00
|
94
|
56.00
|
59.00
|
3.00
|
247
|
60.50
|
62.00
|
1.50
|
81
|
94.00
|
95.50
|
1.50
|
192
|
ZG-SF-21-36
|
2.50
|
6.00
|
3.50
|
428
|
53.50
|
55.50
|
2.00
|
134
|
T28 Underground
Drilling Program
|
T28-21-2000-02Ebis
|
0.00
|
2.40
|
2.40
|
536
|
T28-21-2000-06E
|
15.60
|
22.80
|
7.20
|
92
|
24.00
|
26.40
|
2.40
|
78
|
T28-21-2000-09Ebis
|
8.40
|
9.60
|
1.20
|
293
|
12.00
|
13.20
|
1.20
|
251
|
T28-21-2000-10E
|
19.20
|
22.80
|
3.60
|
309
|
T28-21-2030-11Ebis
|
21.60
|
22.80
|
1.20
|
136
|
T28-21-2030-18E
|
21.60
|
22.80
|
1.20
|
148
|
T28-21-2030-18Ebis
|
10.80
|
12.00
|
1.20
|
104
|
T28-21-2030-19E
|
12.00
|
15.60
|
3.60
|
744
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
2,000
|
T28-21-2030-17E
|
18.00
|
20.40
|
2.40
|
88
|
T28-21-1975-21E
|
0.00
|
7.20
|
7.20
|
3,065
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
4,000
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
12,640
|
T28-21-1975-21Ebis
|
2.40
|
6.00
|
3.60
|
4,801
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
12,638
|
T28-21-1975-23Ebis
|
4.80
|
6.00
|
1.20
|
76
|
T28-21-1975-24E
|
6.00
|
7.20
|
1.20
|
132
|
T28-21-1975-24Ebis
|
1.20
|
2.40
|
1.20
|
116
|
6.00
|
7.20
|
1.20
|
232
|
T28-21-1975-25E
|
0.00
|
1.20
|
1.20
|
76
|
|
10.80
|
12.00
|
1.20
|
77
|
T28-21-1975-25Ebis
|
14.40
|
19.20
|
4.80
|
327
|
T28-21-1975-26E
|
0.00
|
6.00
|
6.00
|
126
|
9.60
|
14.40
|
4.80
|
1,300
|
|
including
|
1.20
|
4,873
|
T28-21-1975-26Ebis
|
0.00
|
6.00
|
6.00
|
158
|
7.20
|
8.40
|
1.20
|
106
|
12.00
|
13.20
|
1.20
|
81
|
T28-21-1975-27E
|
4.80
|
6.00
|
1.20
|
98
|
T28-21-1975-27Ebis
|
4.80
|
15.60
|
10.80
|
108
|
T28-21-1975-29E
|
8.40
|
16.80
|
8.40
|
325
|
T28-21-1975-31E
|
7.20
|
9.60
|
2.40
|
583
|
T28-21-1975-31Ebis
|
8.40
|
9.60
|
1.20
|
1,324
|
13.20
|
14.40
|
1.20
|
136
|
20.40
|
26.40
|
6.00
|
231
|
T28-21-1975-35E
|
2.40
|
3.60
|
1.20
|
304
|
T28-21-1975-38E
|
9.60
|
10.80
|
1.20
|
80
|
1 Holes were drilled at various
angles, true widths are not known at this time.
|
2 All
assay results are above the cut-off grade of 75 g/t
Ag.
|
SOURCE Aya Gold & Silver
Inc