The Mojave-Sonora Megashear gold-silver belt (MSM) hosts several significant gold deposits and mines including La Herradura, a joint venture between Industrias Penoles (56%) and Newmont Gold Corp (44%) that is producing at a 180,000 ounce/annum rate at a total cost of US$254/ounce (Newmont). Pediment holds seven prospective gold projects in the MSM trend which are targeted for the exploration of bulk tonnage gold deposits similar to La Herradura: the Daniel, Manuel/Mel, Cochis, Glor, La Cien gold targets and the Texson silver-gold project and the Caborca copper-gold target.
The Mega-Shear trend (or Belt) is a fold --thrust belt deforming Mesozoic aged volcanic and sedimentary rocks and Precambrian gneiss and granite. Gold and/or silver mineralization is localized where metal bearing fluids channeled by low-angle shear zones intersect high-angle structures. Another significant gold mine already in this belt is the Mesquite and it has produced 3 million ounces from approximately 5 million ounces outlined and is currently operated by Western Goldfields Inc.
- LA HERRADURA (Newmont/Penoles)
Annual production of 180,000 oz at a total cost of US$254/oz
- NOCHE BUENA (Seabridge Gold)
877,000 oz gold measured, indicated & inferred
- EL CHANATE (Capital Gold)
Proven & probable reserve of 489,000 oz gold
- SAN FRANCISCO (Timmins Gold)
780,300 oz gold measured, indicated & inferred
Past production of 302,000 oz gold
- LA CHOYA (Hecla Mining)
300,000 oz gold produced; mined out Dec 1998
|
