VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Silvercorp Metals Inc. (“Silvercorp” or the “Company”) (TSX:SVM) (NYSE American:SVM) is pleased to report results of its exploration programs from July 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018 at the TLP and LME mines, Ying Mining District, Henan Province, China. Results over the same period for the SGX mine in the Ying Mining District were reported on June 8, 2018.
During the nine month period, the Company completed 27,687 meters (“m”) of underground diamond drilling with 6 underground rigs from current production levels and 9,832m of exploration tunneling between elevation Levels 500m and 1,070m. Results of underground drilling continuously extended the major mineralized vein structures along strike and downdip and exploration tunneling exposed high grade mineralization zones within major production vein structures.
Highlights of selected mineralization zones exposed in exploration drift tunnels:
- Drift Tunnel PD820-T16E-795-3SYM exposed mineralization of 40m long and 0.87m wide (true width) grading 941 grams per tonne (“g/t”) silver (“Ag”), 4.85% lead (“Pb”) and 0.64% zinc (“Zn”) within vein structure T16E on the 795m level at the TLP mine;
- Drift Tunnel PD820-T11-650-4SYM exposed mineralization of 55m long and 0.74m wide (true width) grading 518g/t Ag, 4.76% Pb and 0.35% Zn within vein structure T11 on the 650m level at the TLP mine; and
- Drift Tunnel PD900-LM5E1-500-51NSYM exposed mineralization of 55m long and 0.61m wide (true width) grading 913g/t Ag, 1.60% Pb and 0.59% Zn within vein structure LM5E1 on the 500m level at the LME mine.
The exploration tunneling, comprising drifting, crosscutting and raising, was driven along and across major mineralized vein structures to upgrade drill defined mineral resources and test for new parallel and splay structures.
The tunneling programs from July 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018 at TLP and LME mines are briefly summarized in the following table:
Major Target Veins | Target Levels (m) |
Total Tunneling (m) |
Channel Samples Collected |
Drift Tunneling Included (m) |
Total Mineralization* Exposed by Drift Tunneling | ||||
Length (m) |
Average True Width (m) |
Ag (g/t) |
Pb (%) | Zn (%) | |||||
TLP Mine | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||
T1, T2, T3, T5, T11, T14, T16, T21, T22, T27E, T33W2 |
510-1070 | 7,957 | 2,775 | 5,031 | 1,713 | 0.77 | 298 | 3.61 | 0.39 |
LME Mine | |||||||||
LM2, LM3, LM5, LM5E |
500-915 | 1,875 | 881 | 1,351 | 289 | 0.63 | 513 | 1.41 | 0.48 |
*Mineralization is defined by silver equivalent value (AgEq) greater than or equal to 120 g/t at TLP and 125 g/t at LME. (Formulae used for AgEq calculation: TLP=34.1401*Pb%+Ag g/t; LME=34.0436*Pb%+Ag g/t) | |||||||||
Highlights of selected intersections of drill holes:
- Hole ZKGA2202 intersected a 0.59m interval from 24.43m to 25.02m, 0.56m true width, of vein T14W grading 1022g/t Ag, 1.70% Pb and 0.95% Zn at the 821m elevation at the TLP mine;
- Hole ZKT2543 intersected a 0.41m interval from 217.91m to 218.32m, 0.41m true width, of vein T39 grading 402g/t Ag, 1.81% Pb and 0.39% Zn at the 749m elevation, and a 1.16m interval from 361.64m to 362.80m, 1.10m true width, of vein T16 at the 691m elevation at the TLP mine; and
- Hole ZKG0405 intersected a 0.68m interval from 343.32m to 344.00m, 0.60m true width, of vein LM3 grading 484g/t Ag, 6.38% Pb and 3.20% Zn at the 708m elevation at the LME mine.
The underground drilling program is mainly conducted from the current production levels to delineate the downdip and along-strike extensions of known mineralized vein structures in the production area and test for new veins in the previous less-explored areas.
The drilling programs from July 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018 at TLP and LME mines are briefly summarized in the following table:
Major Target Veins | Target Elevation (m) |
Meters Drilled |
Holes Completed |
Samples Collected |
Holes with Assay Received |
Holes Intercepted Vein Structures |
Holes Intercepted Mineralization |
T11, T14, T15, T16, T16W, T17, T17W, T22, T39 |
270-1,000 | 19,256 | 61 | 962 | 60* | 60 | 24 |
LM1, LM2, LM3, LM5, LM6, LM8, IM18 |
0-990 | 8,431 | 27 | 423 | 27** | 27 | 11 |
*Including 7 holes completed in the first half of 2017; 8 holes drilled in the first quarter of 2018 with assay pending | |||||||
**Including 3 holes completed in the first half of 2017; 3 holes drilled in the first quarter of 2018 with assay pending | |||||||
Tables 1 and 2 below list the assay results of some selected mineralized intersections in drill holes and mineralized zones exposed in drift tunnels in the exploration programs from July 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.
Table 1: Selected drilling results from the drilling programs at the TLP and LME mines
Hole ID | From (m) |
To (m) | Elevation (m) |
Sample Length (m) |
True Width (m) |
Ag (g/t) | Pb (%) |
Zn (%) |
Vein | Remarks |
TLP MINE: | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
ZKT0622 | 2.17 | 2.55 | 955 | 0.38 | 0.25 | 165 | 1.00 | 0.47 | T16branch | Test |
ZKT0622 | 196.58 | 197.82 | 905 | 1.24 | 0.80 | 130 | 0.86 | 0.21 | T11E | Test |
ZKGA1412 | 120.00 | 120.47 | 839 | 0.47 | 0.42 | 403 | 0.23 | 0.22 | T16W | Test |
ZKT1022 | 78.07 | 78.39 | 988 | 0.32 | 0.20 | 1,368 | 5.58 | 0.76 | T16 | Stepout |
ZKT1023 | 148.48 | 149.06 | 898 | 0.58 | 0.58 | 100 | 1.03 | 0.32 | T11E | Test |
ZKG0426 | 74.73 | 75.06 | 636 | 0.33 | 0.30 | 254 | 0.97 | 0.09 | T17 | Test |
ZKT2914 | 167.37 | 168.33 | 773 | 0.96 | 0.95 | 132 | 1.34 | 0.49 | T39W | Test |
ZKG0626 | 242.32 | 242.73 | 429 | 0.41 | 0.38 | 14 | 3.72 | 1.30 | T15W | Test |
248.59 | 249.09 | 423 | 0.50 | 0.45 | 32 | 8.38 | 0.83 | T11 | Stepout | |
ZKT2915 | 203.89 | 204.50 | 713 | 0.61 | 0.58 | 70 | 20.80 | 0.43 | T39 | Test |
248.08 | 249.08 | 686 | 1.00 | 0.95 | 67 | 1.54 | 0.58 | T39E | Test | |
ZKG0224 | 212.42 | 213.00 | 512 | 0.58 | 0.43 | 20 | 4.01 | 0.68 | T11 | Stepout |
ZKT0623 | 51.63 | 52.28 | 954 | 0.65 | 0.59 | 156 | 2.14 | 1.05 | T5E | Test |
ZKT0824 | 29.72 | 30.07 | 969 | 0.35 | 0.35 | 210 | 3.89 | 0.12 | T5E2 | Test |
ZKT2916 | 570.50 | 571.39 | 412 | 0.89 | 0.79 | 196 | 4.64 | 0.02 | T15W | Test |
ZKT2543 | 217.91 | 218.32 | 749 | 0.41 | 0.41 | 402 | 1.81 | 0.39 | T39 | Test |
361.64 | 362.80 | 691 | 1.16 | 1.10 | 130 | 8.98 | 0.05 | T16 | Stepout | |
ZKG0225 | 238.81 | 239.23 | 451 | 0.42 | 0.30 | 42 | 4.36 | 0.59 | T11 | Stepout |
ZKT2544 | 306.48 | 307.37 | 648 | 0.89 | 0.81 | 176 | 4.57 | 0.32 | T16W | Test |
ZKTA2101 | 37.57 | 38.01 | 918 | 0.44 | 0.41 | 97 | 2.45 | 0.72 | T22E3 | Test |
ZKG0228 | 73.78 | 74.38 | 632 | 0.60 | 0.48 | 33 | 3.94 | 0.28 | T17 | Test |
ZKG0229 | 122.49 | 122.99 | 585 | 0.50 | 0.33 | 408 | 7.17 | 0.69 | T17W | Test |
ZKG0427 | 132.53 | 133.51 | 544 | 0.98 | 0.65 | 115 | 0.41 | 0.03 | T17 | Stepout |
ZKT3324 | 213.69 | 214.06 | 716 | 0.37 | 0.33 | 149 | 0.04 | 0.13 | T39 | Test |
ZKG0230 | 207.47 | 207.89 | 592 | 0.42 | 0.20 | 31 | 2.44 | 0.08 | T17W | Test |
ZKG0628 | 30.36 | 30.69 | 634 | 0.33 | 0.25 | 321 | 1.01 | 0.15 | T16Wbranch | Test |
111.51 | 112.05 | 581 | 0.54 | 0.41 | 135 | 6.54 | 0.17 | T17 | Stepout | |
ZKGA2202 | 24.43 | 25.02 | 821 | 0.59 | 0.56 | 1,022 | 1.70 | 0.95 | T14W | Test |
LME MINE | ||||||||||
ZKL5423 | 296.00 | 296.34 | 226 | 0.34 | 0.24 | 24 | 1.55 | 2.74 | LM6E | Test |
497.66 | 498.30 | 39 | 0.64 | 0.44 | 192 | 1.35 | 1.45 | LM5E2 | Test | |
ZKG0405 | 343.32 | 344.00 | 708 | 0.68 | 0.60 | 484 | 6.38 | 3.20 | LM3 | Test |
ZKG1431 | 328.63 | 330.09 | 635 | 1.46 | 0.54 | 76 | 2.34 | 0.30 | LM1 | Test |
360.50 | 361.01 | 617 | 0.51 | 0.27 | 1,655 | 6.32 | 2.66 | LM18 | Test | |
ZKL6803 | 250.15 | 250.56 | 447 | 0.41 | 0.35 | 52 | 1.64 | 0.61 | LM5 | Stepout |
274.20 | 275.14 | 428 | 0.94 | 0.79 | 186 | 0.70 | 0.29 | LM5E | Stepout | |
ZKL7202 | 218.32 | 218.71 | 494 | 0.39 | 0.33 | 277 | 1.52 | 0.73 | LM5 | Stepout |
248.46 | 248.95 | 472 | 0.49 | 0.42 | 99 | 1.03 | 0.12 | LM5E | Stepout | |
ZKL7203 | 48.97 | 50.13 | 614 | 1.16 | 1.88 | 133 | 1.39 | 0.09 | LM6W | Test |
250.79 | 251.73 | 443 | 0.94 | 0.73 | 88 | 0.44 | 0.24 | LM5 | Stepout | |
274.78 | 275.40 | 422 | 0.62 | 0.48 | 69 | 1.49 | 0.30 | LM5E | Stepout | |
ZKL1201 | 73.05 | 73.57 | 637 | 0.52 | 0.52 | 471 | 0.14 | 0.04 | LM2_2 | Test |
110.12 | 110.50 | 627 | 0.38 | 0.38 | 17 | 2.22 | 2.68 | LM2branch | Test | |
ZKL6804 | 420.80 | 421.18 | 275 | 0.38 | 0.29 | 80 | 5.76 | 1.82 | LM5E2 | Test |
ZKL1202 | 88.30 | 88.75 | 612 | 0.45 | 0.44 | 686 | 1.06 | 0.09 | LM2_2 | Test |
178.40 | 178.80 | 566 | 0.40 | 0.39 | 51 | 12.94 | 0.69 | LM2 | Test | |
ZKL5951 | 190.03 | 193.84 | 691 | 3.81 | 3.40 | 69 | 3.85 | 0.18 | LM3 | Test |
*Test: intersections in open areas without known mineralization for new resource delineation | ||||||||||
**Stepout: intersections adjacent to existing resource blocks for resource expansion | ||||||||||
Table 2: Selected mineralized zones exposed by drift tunneling at the TLP and LME mines
Tunnel ID | Target Vein |
Level (m) |
Length (m) |
True Width (m) |
Ag (g/t) | Pb (%) | Zn (%) |
TLP MINE | |||||||
PD1070-T2-1070-4SYM | T2 | 1070 | 40 | 1.17 | 151 | 1.97 | 0.10 |
PD930-T2W1-930-S1-Extension | T2 | 930 | 42 | 1.02 | 372 | 2.23 | 0.29 |
PD730-T2-610-31NYM | T2 | 610 | 154 | 0.64 | 130 | 3.91 | 0.17 |
PD800-T3-800-35SNYM | T3 | 800 | 30 | 1.12 | 181 | 2.34 | 0.14 |
PD800-T3-800-35NYM | T3 | 800 | 30 | 0.53 | 112 | 3.62 | 0.32 |
PD730-T3-665-21SYM | T3 | 665 | 45 | 0.67 | 14 | 4.63 | 0.16 |
PD1070-T5-1070-5NYM | T5 | 1070 | 35 | 0.72 | 128 | 5.28 | 0.12 |
PD820-T11-650-4NYM | T11 | 650 | 85 | 1.06 | 199 | 5.36 | 0.66 |
PD820-T11-650-4SYM | T11 | 650 | 55 | 0.74 | 518 | 4.76 | 0.35 |
PD820-T14-755-2NYM | T14 | 755 | 45 | 0.59 | 105 | 3.00 | 0.23 |
PD820-T14-755-1NYM | T14 | 755 | 65 | 0.96 | 357 | 3.85 |