Sarape gold project optioned to Hochschild
Mining for a net smelter return royalty, cash, and
exploration expenses
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 27, 2020 /CNW/ - (TSXV: OGN) Orogen
Royalties Inc. ("Orogen" or the "Company") is pleased to announce
it has optioned the Sarape gold property in Sonora, Mexico to Minera Hochschild Mexico,
S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of Hochschild Mining PLC ("Hochschild").
Hochschild can earn a 100% interest in the Sarape project by making
cash payments of US$5.35 million and
completing expenditures of US$5.0
million over a five-year period. Upon exercise of the
option, Hochschild will grant to Orogen a 3% net smelter return
royalty ("NSR") of which 1% can be purchased for US$2.0 million.
"This transaction with Hochschild demonstrates Orogen's ability
to develop a quality portfolio of organically created royalty
assets in a cost-effective manner," commented Orogen CEO
Paddy Nicol. "Hochschild has
considerable experience in the Americas and we welcome their
expertise in advancing exploration on Orogen's Sarape gold
project. The Sarape project is a low sulphidation epithermal
gold target located in the same valley as Premier Gold's Mercedes
mine, SilverCrest's Las Chispas project and First Majestic's
Santa Elena and Ermitaño
mines."
Under the terms of the agreement Hochschild can earn a 100%
interest in the Sarape project over a five-year period subject to
the following terms:
Cash and Work expenditures
|
Cash Payments
($US)
|
Cumulative
Exploration
Expenditures ($US)
|
On signing
|
$50,000
|
-
|
12 months from
signing
|
$50,000
|
-
|
18 months from
signing
|
-
|
$500,000
|
24 months from
signing
|
$50,000
|
-
|
36 months from
signing
|
$100,000
|
$2,000,000
|
48 months from
signing
|
$100,000
|
$3,000,000
|
60 months from
signing
|
$5,000,000
|
$5,000,000
|
Once Hochschild has earned a 100% interest in the Sarape
project, it will grant to Orogen a 3% NSR of which 1% can be
purchased for US$2.0
million. Hochschild will also make annual advance cash
payments of US$50,000 to be set off
against the 1% royalty buy-back. Orogen will be the operator
for the first three years of the agreement.
About the Sarape project
Sarape is a gold-silver epithermal vein prospect located in the
Rio Sonora valley of northern Mexico, an emerging gold-silver mining
district that includes First Majestic Silver's Santa Elena mine and Ermitaño gold-silver
development project, Premier Gold Mines' Mercedes mine and
SilverCrest Metals' Las Chispas project. Orogen (Evrim)
staked Sarape in 2017 following First Majestic's initial discovery
of bonanza gold-silver grades at Ermitaño. The 53 square kilometre
Sarape property covers two prominent quartz-carbonate veins with
high-level epithermal geochemistry and vein textures: the
six-kilometre long Sarape vein and the 2.6 kilometre-long Chiltepin
vein. Initial mapping and sampling identified tan-green quartz
with elevated gold-silver values on the eastern limits of the
exposed veins suggesting proximity to a boiling zone with bonanza
gold-silver values at depth.
A previous exploration partner optioned Sarape from Orogen
(Evrim) in 2018 and completed eight drill holes testing a
380-metre-long section of the Sarape vein and an additional drill
hole on the eastern extremity of the Chiltepin vein. The
Sarape drill holes intersected vein textures, gold-silver values,
pathfinder elements and vein widths up 23 metres indicative of a
boiling horizon in a dilation zone between 100 and 350 metres below
surface. Only three holes are interpreted to have tested this
target level over a strike length of 150 metres. The single hole on
the Chiltepin vein failed to intersect the vein at depth. The
balance of the six-kilometre Sarape vein, including areas of
anomalous pathfinder geochemistry and vein splays and flexures,
remains untested as does the entire 2.6 kilometre-long Chiltepin
vein. Recent work has also identified a fault scarp with veining in
the projected intersection of the Sarape and Chiltepin veins 1.5
kilometres east of the exposed veins.
Qualified Person Statement
Orogen's disclosure of technical and scientific information in
this news release has been reviewed by Dave
Groves, Vice President, Exploration for Orogen. Mr. Groves
is a Certified Professional Geologist (#11456) with the American
Institute of Professional Geologists and a Qualified Person under
the definition of National Instrument 43-101.
About Orogen Royalties
Orogen Royalties Inc. is focused on precious and base metals
project generation and royalty creation in western North
America. Orogen's royalty portfolio includes the Ermitaño West
gold deposit in Sonora, Mexico (2%
NSR) being developed by First Majestic Silver Corp. and the Silicon
gold project (1% NSR) in Nevada,
USA, being advanced by AngloGold Ashanti, NA. The Company is
well financed with several additional projects under active joint
ventures and alliances.
On Behalf of the Board
OROGEN ROYALTIES
INC.
Paddy Nicol
President & CEO
Orogen Royalties Inc.
1201 - 510 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6B 1L8
info@orogenroyalties.com
Forward Looking Information
This news release includes
certain statements that may be deemed "forward looking statements".
All statements in this presentation, other than statements of
historical facts, that address events or developments that Orogen
Royalties Inc. (the "Company") expect to occur, are forward looking
statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not
historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by
the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends",
"estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or
that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or
"should" occur.
Forward looking information relates to statements concerning the
Company's future outlook and anticipated events or results, as well
as the Company's management expectations with respect to the
proposed business combination (the "Transaction"). This document
also contains forward-looking statements regarding the anticipated
completion of the Transaction and timing thereof. Forward-looking
statements in this document are based on certain key expectations
and assumptions made by the Company, including expectations and
assumptions concerning the receipt, in a timely manner, of
regulatory and stock exchange approvals in respect of the
Transaction.
Although the Company believe the expectations expressed in such
forward looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions,
such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual
results may differ materially from those in the forward looking
statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ
materially from those in forward looking statements include market
prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued
availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market
or business conditions. Furthermore, the extent to which COVID-19
may impact the Company's business will depend on future
developments such as the geographic spread of the disease, the
duration of the outbreak, travel restrictions, physical distancing,
business closures or business disruptions, and the effectiveness of
actions taken in Canada and other
countries to contain and treat the disease. Although it is not
possible to reliably estimate the length or severity of these
developments and their financial impact as of the date of approval
of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements,
continuation of the prevailing conditions could have a significant
adverse impact on the Company's financial position and results of
operations for future periods.
Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not
guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments
may differ materially from those projected in the forward looking
statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs,
estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the
statements are made. Except as required by securities laws, the
Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward looking
statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or
opinions, or other factors, should change.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Orogen Royalties Inc.