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Glamis contemplates second Guatemala mine
By: Dorothy Kosich
Posted: '06-MAY-05 05:00' GMT © Mineweb 1997-2004
http://www.mineweb.net/sections/gold_silver/438126.htm
RENO--(Mineweb.com) Despite the opposition of some social and environmental NGOs to Guatemala's first modern gold mine, Glamis Gold says it is on track with the Marlin gold project, and is seriously considering making Cerro Blanco its second Guatemalan mine.
Nevertheless, Glamis's unsuccessful battle to acquire Goldcorp cost the Reno-based gold company dearly as net income dropped 76% for the first quarter of this year.
In a presentation to shareholders and analysts at Glamis's annual general meeting Thursday, Marlin Project Manager Tim Miller said the mine is right on schedule to begin production in the fourth quarter of this year. It is expected to produce 250,000 ounces of gold and 4 million ounces of silver annually.
The initial capex for the 5,000 tpd mine is $140 million to $150 million with an estimated total cash cost of less than $90 per ounce. Mine officials estimate that the operation will pump more than $60 million into the country before it ceases operations in 2014.
SOCIAL LICENSE TO OPERATE
Indigenous groups in the El Estor area, with the support of other local community groups and international non-governmental organizations, have mobilized opposition to the resumption of mining activity. Mayan Indian activists and the Catholic Church in Guatemala insist that the Marlin mine approval is illegal. Numerous protests have occasionally erupted into violence, resulting in at least one death. The El Estor Association for Integral Development (AEPDI), is an Oxfam partner which has been working in the Izabal region in northeastern Guatemala since 1999. The Guatemalan government has said it will impose a moratorium on new mining contracts. Glamis did not mention during the AGM if that moratorium would impact its plans for the Cerro Blanco project in eastern Guatemala.
In an interview with Bloomberg this week, analyst Tony Lesiak of UBS AG in Toronto said that a big part of Glamis's valuation is Marlin. Opponents of the Marlin mine argue that the country's past experience with international nickel mining, including Inco, was an ecological and political disaster. However, a number of government official contend that mining is an engine of development in a nation plagued by poverty and illiteracy.
In his presentation at the AGM, Miller argued that the "Marlin mine will be a jump-start for this part of western Guatemala, helping to break the cycle of poverty while protecting the environment and planting the seeds that will lead to better environmental stewardship and health."
"We making every attempt to engage in honest dialog" with local groups, Miller asserted, in an area that is nearly entirely populated by indigenous peoples. Glamis's subsidiary Montana Explorada de Guatemala published its environmental and social Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) this week. Montana and Glamis voluntarily released the document "in a further effort to provide factual information and transparency with its activities in Guatemala," said a news release.
"Glamis recognizes that project opponents point to what they believe was a flawed process of consultation," said the company. However, the AMR assets that Glamis held nearly 200 meetings attended by 11,000 local residents, hosted 200 visits to the project site by more than 3,000 people, and conducted 14 tours of the San Martin mine in Honduras attended by 126 Guatemalan officials and local leaders.
Glamis and the Sierra Madre Foundation have funded salaries for teachers at nine schools in the Marlin project area, made infrastructure improvements at eight schools, and provided construction materials for four more schools in 2004. The Sierra Madre Foundation and a local health NGO APROSAMI renovated twelve health care centers and community medical aid stations in villages near Marlin. Basic health services and training were provided to more than 10,000 people in 14 surrounding communities, according to the report.
Chlorination systems have been installed for municipal water supplies for two communities. Classes have been sponsored on pre-natal care, the prevention of childhood diseases and nutrition.
CERRO BLANCO
Glamis may finally be getting serious about the Cerro Blanco project after flip-flopping on whether to develop a mine since it was acquired by the company during a 1998 merger. Glamis President and CEO Kevin McArthur told analysts that a resource model designed this year estimated that the project may contain 900,000 ounces of gold.
If a mine is developed at Cerro Blanco, McArthur said the ore could be shipped to the Marlin operation. A feasibility study is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2006. Miller said environmental baseline studies and permitting have begun. Cerro Blanco, which was originally thought to be an open-pit operation, has been redesigned as an underground mine.
McArthur said Glamis "made an excellent start to 2005 with record gold production in the first quarter and a substantial decline in total cash costs despite continued increases in the cost of fuel and other mines. Much of our success is attributable to our new El Sauzal mine in Mexico, which has made a remarkable trouble-free transition from start-up to full production." El Sauzal began commercial production in December 2004. It is expected to produce 170,000 ounces of gold this year and will produce190,000 ounces of gold annually at a total cash cost of $110 per ounce during its 10-year mine life.
McArthur said Glamis will have no trouble meeting its projected production of 400,000 ounces of gold this year at an estimated total cash cost of $185 per ounce.
FINANCIALS
Glamis reported a net income of $2.2 million or 2-cents per share during the first quarter of 2005, down substantially from the net income of $9.1 million or 7-cents per share for the first quarter of 2004. Results for the prior quarter also included a $7 million tax gain from the sale of properties in Mexico.
Glamis said the decrease in net income for the first quarter of this year was primarily due to $4 million in expenses as a result of the company's "business development activities," which included a hostile takeover attempt of Goldcorp, which subsequently merged with Wheaton River. In an interview with Bloomberg, analyst Mark Smith of Dundee Securities in Toronto called loss "an unfortunate cost of a failed business strategy, but I don't think the street will focus on that."
Gold production during the first quarter of 2005 was a record 93,721 ounces or an 84% increase due to El Sauzal and expansion of the Marigold mine in Nevada.
Capital expenditures for this year are projected to be $99.1 million, but will drop substantially next year to $26.6 million. The company reported working capital of $27.9 million as of March 31, 2005, and long-term debt of $45 million. Glamis hopes to produce 700,000 ounces of gold annually by 2007.
In a research note published earlier this week, Canaccord Capital maintained its "buy" rating on Glamis while reducing its 12-month target price from $24.50 to $23.50. The EPS estimate for 2005 has been reduced from 29-cents to 27-cents.
Time to reach for the Skye again?
Goldex Resources Corporation: Press Release
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - Feb. 28, 2005) - Goldex
Resources (TSX VENTURE:GDX) is pleased to announce that Mr. Clancy Wendt
has been appointed as Director of the Company. Mr. Wendt has over thirty
years of experience in worldwide mineral exploration - including Mexico,
Argentina, Chile, Alaska, China, Honduras, Peru, and the United States.
He has managed and directed multimillion dollar exploration programs for
Westmont Mining, Phillips Petroleum, Duval, and Cerro Corporation. A
significant number of discoveries have been made under the guidance of
Mr. Wendt. Discoveries include gold, base metals and uranium.
Mr. Wendt is a Registered Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) and is
registered in the United States and Australia.
Mr. Wendt has a speaking and reading knowledge of Spanish which will be
very helpful with our Guatemalan El Pato Gold project.
He graduated with a B.S. Geology, San Diego State University, San Diego,
California and is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a Masters
in Geology.
Mr. Wendt will be instrumental in the Company's ongoing search for
advanced exploration projects in the America's as well as providing
valuable technical expertise in developing the El Pato Project.
"Donald Rippon"
President and Director
-30-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Goldex Resources Corporation
Jay Friesen
Corporate Communications
(604) 669-4300
(604) 681-5259 (FAX)
E-mail: jay@goldex.ca
www.goldex.ca
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the
contents hereof.
Safe Passage... http://www.safepassage.org/us/SafePassage.html
Globe says Glamis clashes with villagers in Guatemala
2005-01-13 09:12 ET - In the News
The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Jan. 12, edition that villagers in Guatemala this week blocked a road leading to a gold mine being built by Glamis Gold. The Globe's Wendy Stueck writes that Ottawa-based Mining Watch Canada Wednesday said a clash between villagers and police called in to end the blockade resulted in two fatalities and called for Glamis's Marlin project to be halted due to widespread community opposition. "In the face of this tragedy, it is clear that Glamis must suspend operations at the Marlin site until a proper consultation process can be put in place to address communities' concerns," said Jamie Kneen, a spokesperson for Mining Watch. The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that at least one person was killed and 12 other peasants and police officers were injured in a clash that involved protesters firing handguns and erecting barriers of burning tires to block a truck carrying mining equipment. Glamis senior vice-president Charles Jeannes Wednesday said the company had received unconfirmed reports of one fatality, but that it was unclear from those reports exactly how or where the person was killed.
JNI- MD&A
http://www.sedar.com/csfsprod/data50/filings/00706772/00000001/C%3A%5Csedarpdf%5Cjagmda1110.pdf
Highlights:
Exploration
Since the start of the Sechol drilling program in March 2004, 567 HQ core holes with acceptable core recoveries,
totalling 7435 metres, have been completed. These include holes drilled on regular 100m x 100m grids on El Inico
(225 holes; 3305m), El Segundo (250 holes; 2618m) and Rio Negro (27 holes; 377m) together with 18 holes (252m)
for samples for bulk density determination and 47 holes (883m) on two close-spaced grids (25m x 25m) on El
Inicio for geostatistical variability data. Drilling is currently ongoing on the Rio Negro grid. A part of the El
Segundo area and the Pozo Azul area are subject to land access negotiations and will be drilled when these are
satisfactorily concluded. Resource estimation based on the results of the 100m x 100m drilling will be undertaken on
its completion.
A program to evaluate high priority nickel laterite targets in the other exploration licenses held by Jaguar is
advancing. Reconnaissance mapping and sampling have been completed in the San Lucas licenses located 20 km to
the north-west of Sechol and results are pending. A broad spaced reconnaissance drilling program will be designed
and implemented as warranted by results. Reconnaissance exploration will commence in November on the Marichaj
license located 15 km to the north of Sechol.
Technical Development
During the third quarter, laboratory work continued at the pilot plant on Jaguar’s ACLP technology. The Company
now has enhanced its understanding of how the ACLP operates and is continuing its development of the
metallurgical flowsheet using more representative ore samples from the El Inicio deposit.
In May and September, 2004 the Company filed patent applications with respect to its proprietary technology in all
significant countries for a process to recover nickel and cobalt from laterite and sulphide ores, respectively, claiming
priority from the previously filed provisional applications.
Financial
Interest revenue amounted to $400,000 (2003-$20,000) for the nine month period due to the financing activities and
cash balances of $24,100,000 (2003-$2,700,000) on deposit at September 30. Operating expenses (excluding the
non-cash items of stock compensation and amortization) for the nine months ended September 30 increased to
$1,600,000 (2003-$800,000) due to increased staff, travel, office and shareholder costs required to manage the
expanding activities. In August 2004, stock options were granted at an exercise price of $1.00 resulting in a noncash
stock compensation expense of $325,000 (2003-$728,000).
Exploration expenditures in Guatemala were concentrated on the above mentioned drilling program. During the
first nine months of 2004, these expenditures totaled $4,300,000 as compared to the $300,000 spent in 2003.
Furthermore, $1,000,000 has been spent on metallurgical process costs in pilot plant campaigns at PRO’s testing
facility. During the nine months ended September 30, 2004 over $900,000 was expended on capital assets and
patent rights, regarding the processing for recovery of value metals from sulphide-based ores, were acquired for
$270,000.
As of November 9, 2004, the Company had outstanding 107,736,432 common shares together with 5,945,000 stock
options and 21,400,000 warrants which, if exercised, would amount to a fully diluted position of 135,081,432
common shares.
FV Firestone to option Torlon from Redhawk
2004-11-19 13:51 ET - News Release
Ms. Lori Walton reports
FIRESTONE VENTURES SIGNS LETTER OF INTENT FOR ZINC PROJECT IN GUATEMALA
Firestone Ventures Inc. has signed a letter of intent to acquire an option on the Torlon zinc property in western Guatemala, Central America. Torlon is located near the town of Chiantla, 20 kilometres west-northwest of Huehuetenango, and is well situated in terms of access to Pacific-region zinc markets. The 16-hectare property is road accessible and has easy access to electrical power.
Redhawk Resources Inc. optioned the Torlon property from ZincOx Resources PLC in 2000 and conducted the first modern exploration of Torlon in 2000 and 2001, completing a detailed program of underground and surface sampling, mapping, surveying and geophysics. The presence of a large zinc oxide-style system was defined extending from surface to at least 50 metres below surface.
Zinc mineralization (smithsonite) on Torlon Hill extends over a 100-metre-by-700-metre area known as the "Santa Rosa corridor." In the central Santa Rosa corridor area, the corridor has a true width of 25 metres to 30 metres and is buttressed by two sheets of zinc mineralization (zones N-1 and N-2). Mineralization is hosted by a block of Permian dolostone breccia. Zone N-1 has an average grade of 20.3 per cent zinc over true widths of one metre to nine metres, including a high-grade zone called the "Bulge" that grades 28.4 per cent zinc over nine metres. Zone N-2 grades 11.2 per cent zinc over true widths of two metres to four metres. Additional lower grade zones and associated mineralized breccias provide excellent potential for expansion of the known area of zinc mineralization.
Zinc prices are rising due to an increasing supply gap. Sustained high rates of economic growth in China and other Asian countries together with a decline in zinc exports from China are fuelling demand for zinc.
"Zinc mineralization at our new Torlon project may be suitable for new processing technologies, where a high-purity zinc product can be produced on-site at low cost without having to ship zinc concentrate to a smelter," said Lori Walton, vice-president of exploration for Firestone.
Firestone is examining past exploration data supplied by the property owner in preparation for an upcoming drill program. Redhawk's assay and exploration results, as quoted in this press release, were completed before the institution of National Instrument 43-101 standards and have not been verified for reliability. However, examination of Redhawk's program shows it to be conducted under stringent standards. In 2001, an independent consultant, SRK Consulting, completed a technical review of Redhawk's work at Torlon and concluded that the work to date has been well directed and that Torlon has sufficient potential to justify a drill program.
Upon signing of a formal option agreement, Firestone will pay the owners of Torlon a total of $385,000 (U.S.) cash over four years. Additional terms will be released upon signing of the option agreement. Firestone has also applied for a 134-hectare mineral concession covering the surrounding area.
Primarily food I think, have to go see.
Don't know about the store? Food store or something else?
Thanks, going to have to try that out. Also, I hear there is a Central American store across from Alberta Cycle near 97st and 118ave.
Los Comidas. We ate there on Friday. The service was authentically developing world but the food was awesome.
A U T H E N T I C.
Not too expensive either.
Its on 97th just north of 108 Street.
No, I didn't know there was one. I tried to find either Guatemalan or Honduran in Vancouver a while ago and couldn't. Thai resturants on every street corner it seemed.
So whats the name of this place? Have you tried it?
RDU Radius to option out Banderas, Marimba to Glamis
2004-11-03 10:18 ET - News Release
Also GLG Glamis Gold Ltd
Mr. Ralph Rushton of Radius reports
RADIUS AND GLAMIS SIGN OPTION AGREEMENT FOR BANDERAS PROJECT, EASTERN GUATEMALA
Radius Gold Inc. has signed an agreement with Glamis Gold Ltd., giving Glamis an option to explore and develop the Banderas and Marimba epithermal gold systems in eastern Guatemala.
The agreement gives Glamis the right to acquire a 51-per-cent interest in the properties by spending $4-million (U.S.) over a four-year period. To earn this interest, Glamis must:
-incur $250,000 (U.S.) in exploration or development expenditures on the property in the first 12 months following receipt of all governmental permits necessary to carry out the proposed exploration program; and
-spend not less than $4-million (U.S.) in exploration expenditures within four years from the effective date, including a minimum $250,000 (U.S.) during each of the second, third and fourth years.
Glamis may earn an additional 24-per-cent interest in the property, for a total of 75 per cent, by financing and completing a positive feasibility study for the development and construction of a mine at Banderas within five years from the effective date. After the feasibility study has been completed, each party shall finance its share of future expenditures, including the construction and development of a mine on the property, in proportion to its respective interest in the property, or have its interest in the property diluted on a straight-line basis. Glamis has also agreed to use reasonable efforts to assist Radius in arranging financing for its share of development and construction expenditures.
If Glamis fails to proceed with a feasibility study within five years from the effective date, Radius has an option to earn back to a 75-per-cent interest in the property by financing and completing a positive feasibility study for the development and construction of a mine at Banderas.
Glamis has also agreed to reduce by $500,000 a payment due on or before May 6, 2006, from Radius to Glamis, which relates to an agreement covering one of the mineral licences underlying Radius's Tambor project in Guatemala.
Simon Ridgway, the president of Radius Gold, said: "We're very pleased to have such a solid partner involved in Banderas. Glamis's technical people have invaluable experience of exploring and drilling similar systems in Guatemala at Marlin and Cerro Blanco, and there are obvious synergies between Banderas and their Cerro Blanco project."
Background
Banderas is a classic low-sulphidation epithermal gold-silver vein system located in eastern Guatemala about a three-hour drive from Guatemala City, close to the town of Chiquimula. Infrastructure is excellent and the project is just a 45-minute drive up into the hills surrounding Chiquimula.
A program of mapping and hand trenching was conducted on the property in 2002, with banded quartz veins returning values up to 28 grams per tonne Au and 553 grams per tonne Ag from trenching. A two-phase program of core drilling, totalling 2,545 metres, was completed in early 2004. Best results from core included 18 grams per tonne Au over 1.5 metres and 332 grams per tonne Ag over 1.6 metres. The project lies 40 kilometres to the north of Glamis's Cerro Blanco project.
Qualified person
Peter Thiersch, MSc, PGeo, is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 responsible for ensuring that the geological information in this release is an accurate summary of the information originally reported to Radius by PilaGold Inc. (now Radius Gold Inc.). Radius has not independently verified the assay or geological information.
AUQ Aurogin Resources' El Sastre amenable to heap leaching
2004-10-18 12:21 ET - News Release
Mr. John Paterson reports
AUROGIN RESOURCES LTD.: COLUMN TESTING PROGRAM COMPLETED CONFIRMS EXCELLENT HEAP LEACHING CHARACTERISTICS
Aurogin Resources Ltd. has received final results from the metallurgical testing program on the mineralized material from the company's El Sastre gold deposit in Guatemala. The testwork demonstrated that the material is amenable to heap leaching and that very high recoveries can be expected.
The testwork was performed by the Minerals Engineering Centre of Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S. Column, bottle roll and percolation testing was carried out on a bulk sample taken from the property in July and all gold recoveries were greater than 92 per cent. The column test was run on unagglomerated, minus-two-inch material and gave a recovery of 97 per cent in 15 days. The percolation through the column was good and there was very little turbidity in the pregnant solution. There was no evidence of settling (slumping) of the material in the column.
At the Rambler copper/gold project in Newfoundland, drilling is scheduled to commence this week with three new targets being tested.
The program was carried out under the supervision of John H. Paterson, PEng, president and qualified person for Aurogin.
Kaiser says ICN a buy on hopes for Manitoba, Rio Negro
2004-10-18 16:36 ET - In the News
John Kaiser, writing in an Oct. 14 Bottom Fish Tracker, says Icon Industries Ltd. at 48 cents is a top-priority bottom-fish buy in the 30- to 49-cent range on the basis of its status as an early life cycle junior which is about to drill for gold at Beresford Lake in Manitoba. Mr. Kaiser also likes the company for acquiring an advanced nickel laterite project in Guatemala, Rio Negro. Icon is headed by Barry Coughlan, who seems to know everybody worth knowing. His goal is to turn the Beresford Lake play into a major San Antonio-style gold discovery and nurse the Rio Negro project through the infill drilling and metallurgical stages of the exploration cycle. Icon is the successor to Ghana Goldfields following a brutal 1:17 rollback in November, 1999, so there is not much of a public float apart from small-scale positioning done during the past few years. Mr. Kaiser says Icon does not have much upside resistance in the short term and the company has in place a classic push-pull story mechanism: The Beresford Lake drill play will attract speculators who push the stock higher, which in turn will enable Icon to pull in the capital needed to shift the flagship focus to the Rio Negro nickel story.
IAU news release. Not Guatemala but pretty close:
Intrepid tells of need to expand San Cristobal program
2004-10-27 09:26 ET - News Release
Mr. Stephen Coates reports
INTREPID MINERALS CORPORATION: GOLD VALUES AT ORO NUEVO ENCOURAGE AN EXPANDED DRILL PROGRAM IN EL SALVADOR
Intrepid Minerals Corp. has released an update on the progress of drilling at San Cristobal in eastern El Salvador. Since drilling commenced at Intrepid's new discovery, Oro Nuevo, 13 holes have been completed, assayed and reported. The company only reports on the receipt of final assay certificates and these data were delayed due to laboratory overload. Drilling has confirmed a mineralized package of multiphase quartz stockworking and silicification at depth and indicates a need for an expanded exploration program beyond the original discovery area and additional targets found more recently.
Additionally, the company has decided to drill four vector holes at its Hormiguero target approximately 15 kilometres to the east.
Oro Nuevo target, San Cristobal project
Initial drilling at Oro Nuevo was focused on the zone of intense silicification, which produced encouraging trench values reported on earlier this year (see news issued in Stockwatch on March 11 and April 6, 2004, respectively). The trench results suggest the presence of an extensive gold-bearing stockwork proximal to a porphyry-sediment-volcaniclastic contact. Thirteen exploratory core holes totalling 1,000 metres were drilled to test the zone at depth along a strike length of 280 metres. These holes intersected a 20- to 40-metre-thick shallowly dipping package of mineralized dacite porphyry and volcaniclastics. Mineralization consists of breccias and multiphase silica stockworks carrying irregular sections of banded and vuggy quartz veins. Mineralization is characterized by anomalous but erratic gold values accompanied by elevated values of copper, arsenic, lead and zinc.
Best values intersected over this limited strike length include 5.2 metres of 5.48 grams per tonne gold in hole ON-01 and 1.69 grams per tonne gold over 30 metres in hole ON-10. Discrete banded quartz intervals within the package returned values as high as 12.16 grams per tonne gold over 1.6 metres in hole ON-01 and 9.2 grams per tonne gold and 62 grams per tonne silver over two metres in hole ON-10. All samples were prepared and processed in Guatemala by Inspectorate Assay Laboratories and assays were performed and results reported from Inspectorate Assay Laboratories in Nevada, using standard AA/fire assay finish and gravimetric check assays. William McGuinty, PGeo, is Intrepid's qualified person on this project.
The Oro Nuevo zone has been traced on surface over a length of 800 metres. Intrepid geologists believe the drilling program confirms that Oro Nuevo is a high level low to intermediate sulphidation system which requires systematic probing to determine the location of feeder structures to the gold-bearing stockwork. A new zone referred to as San Jacinto has been located two kilometres to the south. This zone has returned gold values in banded veins up to 40 grams per tonne gold in grab samples. The zone may be a continuation of the Oro Nuevo system into a package of andesitic rocks showing similar structural and mineralization characteristics.
"These results have confirmed that the Oro Nuevo system has robust dimension and is carrying multiple generations of gold-bearing silica. We continue to be very excited by this prospect," said Laurence Curtis, president and chief executive officer. "The geometry of the mineralized system has shown itself to be more complex than we could determine from surface and we will now use the results of this first round of drilling as vectors for potential feeder zones. We will be doing so over the next several months."
Hormiguero target, San Cristobal project
Four new diamond drill holes have been planned at Hormiguero, centred on hole EH-01. These holes will test the Guadalupe vein both in the lateral and vertical extent of the discovery zone announced in Stockwatch news issued on June 2, 2004. Discovery hole EH-01-04 intersected 12.55 metres of 5.67 grams per tonne gold, 400 grams per tonne silver and 5.64 per cent copper from 169.55 to 182.10 metres, including a section of 7.45 metres averaging 7.50 grams per tonne gold, 648 grams per tonne silver and 9.49 per cent copper from 174.65 to 182.10 metres. To date two holes have been completed. Hole EH-03-04 intersected 32 metres of silica-calcite veining and breccia 50 metres above the discovery hole. Hole EH-04-04 was collared 60 metres to the south at approximately the same elevation as the discovery hole and intersected 31 metres of silica and sulphide breccia, including banded quartz veins. Results from this program are pending.
Aldea Zapote project
The Cerro Colorado silver project in western El Salvador is being carried by SilverCrest Mines Inc. that recently reported drilling results on the Aldea Zapote property in Western El Salvador. Highlights of recent news include: a verification of high-grade silver caps on both the Cerro Colorado III and the San Casimiro deposits; potential for expansion of resources at Cerro Colorado III; and the identification of significant gold zones within the San Casimiro deposit.
Intrepid has a sliding royalty on production of silver from Aldea Zapote of 20 U.S. cents per ounce to 60 U.S. cents per ounce depending on commodity price. According to Silvercrest, SRK has confirmed 12 million ounces of silver in the indicated resource category and a further 2.28 million ounces in the inferred resource category in this deposit (based on a cut-off grade of 34 grams per tonne silver). See SilverCrest Mines' news issued in Stockwatch on Oct. 13, 2004, for complete details.
WARNING: The company relies upon litigation protection for "forward-looking" statements.
Goldex Trenching Encounters 1.2 Meters of 65 Grams
Au/mt Along 25 Meters of Strike
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - Oct. 27, 2004) - The
Goldex's 100% owned 126 km2 Cerro/El Pato property is located
approximately 110 km east of Guatemala City and is accessible by paved
highway. In addition, well-maintained secondary roads facilitate access
on the property. Power lines cross the property and there exists a
readily available supply of local labour.
The exploration program currently underway at El Pato consists of
trenching along the 2.5 kilometer long vein system to link gold
mineralized sections of vein and connect existing exposures of quartz
veining and mineralization.
Current trenching over 100 meters of strike on the new "Shak" vein,
trenching and sampling encountered 3 meters of 52.4 gpt Au, a 25 meter
length averaging 1.2 meters of 65.0 gpt Au, and 0.8 meter of 8.6 gpt Au
in three separate trenches. The new vein lies in the Footwall of the
main El Pato vein on Cerritos Hill and suggests previous drilling
stopped just short of "Shak" vein mineralization. The footwall vein has
the potential to significantly increase the number of ounces on the El
Pato property. More results will be released over the near term. The
Company is currently planning a diamond drill program to test the above
and additional targets.
Results also show other veins that carry grade elsewhere on the El Pato
project concessions. These include 8 assays with values from 3.0 - 10.2
gpt Au. Of particular interest are assays from the extension of Trench
T-42 that yielded 0.6 meter of 30.6 gpt Au.
Results are tabulated below:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
# Au Ag
Location Samples Type Spacing Density Width gpt gpt
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FA/ AA/
Grav AQR
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench 1A 3.0 meters of 52.4 grams Au/mt along 6.0 meter strike
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Chip-
3 channel Continuous Line 3.0 m 52.4
---------------------------------------------------------------------
60000 " " " 1.7 52.3 18.3
---------------------------------------------------------------------
60001 " " " 1.3 52.6 20.4
---------------------------------------------------------------------
60002 " " " 1.3 56.4 15.4
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench 1B 1.2 meters of 65 grams Au/mt along 25 meters of strike
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Chip- 5 m
5 channel Parallel centers 1.2 m 65.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------
60007 " " " 1.4 54.4 14.1
---------------------------------------------------------------------
60008 " " " 1.2 99.8 18.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------
60009 " " " 1.2 41.4 6.7
---------------------------------------------------------------------
60025 " " " 0.7 80.3 16.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench 1D 0.8 meters width of 8.6 grams Au/mt
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Chip- 2 m
2 channel Parallel centers 0.8 m 8.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------
60029 0.7 7.9 3.3
---------------------------------------------------------------------
60030 0.8 8.6 3.5
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench 42 0.6 meters width of 30.7 grams Au/mt
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Chip- 1 m
2 channel Parallel centers 0.6 m 30.7
---------------------------------------------------------------------
60010 0.5 45.9 32.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------
60011 0.7 19.9 12.7
---------------------------------------------------------------------
BBF Resources begins downhole tool rental business
2004-10-21 09:44 ET - News Release
Mr. Lindsey Mitchell reports
BBF RESOURCES INC. AND WESTERN ENERGY SERVICES CORP. ARRANGE $1.5 MILLION TO FUND A NEW STRATEGIC INITIATIVE
BBF Resources Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Western Energy Services Corp. (WESC), have implemented and financed a new strategic initiative into the downhole tool rental business in Mexico and Guatemala.
Lindsey Mitchell, president and chief executive officer, explains, "This new strategic initiative complements the companies' ongoing strategy of delivering and growing its well testing, hydro testing and coiled tubing services to the production and completion departments of shallow gas and coal bed methane producers in central Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Rocky Mountain region of the United States." Implementation of the new strategic initiative to supply downhole drilling performance tools is under way. WESC has commenced renting tools in Guatemala and Mexico.
James Farr, chief executive officer and director, and Luis Jauregui, Latin America country manager, have been instrumental in securing this opportunity for BBF and WESC. Both Mr. Farr and Mr. Jauregui have built extensive contacts, experience and credibility over their long careers in the international oil field tool rental business.
BBF has issued a secured demand promissory note to an arm's-length lender for $1.5-million, which bears interest at 12 per cent per year. BBF and the lender have agreed that this note be repaid from the proceeds of a proposed $2-million convertible debenture offering, to be closed within the next two weeks, and is subject to exchange approval. The debentures to be issued are to have an 18-month term, be convertible at 18 cents per share and bear interest at 1 per cent per month. The lender shall act as agent for this debenture offering and will receive a 3.5-per-cent loan structuring fee in respect thereof. This convertible facility will contain provisions that will allow BBF to force conversion, after six months, provided the common share price of BBF has achieved a 20-day volume-weighted average price on the TSX Venture Exchange equal to or greater than 36 cents per common share. Any common shares of BBF issued on conversion of the debentures will be subject to a four-month hold period running from the date of issuance of the debentures. Security for the promissory note, as well as the convertible debentures to be issued, comprises the equipment purchased with the proceeds including the above mentioned downhole drilling performance tools as well as the shares and assets of Coiled Tubing Services, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of WESC.
ICN Icon to acquire Corponiquel and its Rio Negro property
2004-10-05 15:02 ET - News Release
Icon Industries Ltd. has entered into a binding letter of intent to acquire, subject to certain conditions precedent, all of the common shares of Corponiquel Sociedad Anonima, a private company incorporated in Guatemala. Corponiquel's sole asset is 100-per-cent interest in the Rio Negro mineral property located in Guatemala. To acquire the shares of Corponiquel, Icon will: i) issue six million common shares to the vendors; ii) reimburse the vendors for the out-of-pocket expenses advanced by them in connection with the property, in an amount not to exceed $100,000 (U.S.); and iii) raise at least $3-million by way of an equity financing. The property is subject to a 2-1/2-per-cent net smelter return payable to the vendors. Icon has the right to buy down the net smelter return to 1 per cent for a payment of $1.5-million (U.S.).
The escrow shares will be subject to a Tier 2 surplus escrow agreement in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange policy and will be non-voting until after they are released from escrow. Under this policy, the escrow shares will be released from escrow, subject to certain conditions being met, over a six-year period, based on the passage of time. During the first 24-month period, releases will be made at the rate of 5 per cent at the end of each six-month period. Thereafter, releases will be made at the rate of 10 per cent at the end of each six-month period.
However, under a Tier 2 escrow agreement, if the property is considered lost or abandoned, or the operations or development on the property are discontinued at any time during the escrow period, then any shares remaining in the escrow will be cancelled in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange Policy. The letter of intent provides that Icon will retain a portion of its interest in the property based on the ratio of the number of escrow shares released to the vendors, divided by six million. The remaining portion of the property will be returned to the vendors at no cost to the vendors. Corponiquel is owned by two insiders of Icon and therefore this transaction will be a related party transaction. The entering into of this letter of intent has been approved by the non-interested directors of the company, with the directors who are related parties abstaining. Among other things, completion of the proposed transaction is subject to the following:
-completion of an equity financing of at least $3-million;
-filing of a 43-101 report on the property;
-filing of a title opinion on the property;
-filing of a disclosure document;
-inclusion in the disclosure document of a valuation certificate signed by two independent directors of the company;
-approval of the transaction by a majority of the non-interested shareholders of Icon; and
-regulatory approval.
Under the terms of the letter of intent, Icon has a one-year period to complete the acquisition. If the acquisition is not completed within this one-year period: i) the rights granted to Icon pursuant to the letter of intent will lapse; ii) the vendors will retain the ownership of all of the Corponiquel common shares; and iii) Icon, the vendors and Corponiquel will not have any right to claim any compensation from each other in connection with the transaction not closing. During the effect period of the letter of intent, Icon must keep the property in good standing. Because there are a number of conditions that have to be fulfilled, the closing of this transaction cannot be assured.
The Rio Negro property is a nickel laterite project located approximately 80 kilometres north of Guatemala City, the capital of Guatemala. The property consists of one exploration licence, covering approximately 54 square kilometres. Regionally, the project lies within a mineral belt that stretches from the Dominican Republic, through Cuba and into Guatemala. This belt includes: i) the producing nickel laterite mines of Falcondo in the Dominican Republic and Moa Bay, Punta Gorda, and others in Cuba; and ii) the past-producing Exmibal mine in Guatemala.
Mineralization on the property consists of limonitic and saprolitic nickel-bearing material within the weathered profile, which ranges from 10 to 100 metres in thickness, with an average of approximately 20 to 30 metres. Nickel values within the mineralized area range from 0.5 to 3 per cent, with an average of around 1.5 per cent nickel. Exploration completed on the property principally in the 1970s consisted of approximately 235 pits, which tested the weathered material down to bedrock. Several resource calculations have been performed on the property, the most recent of which was reported by Tombstone Explorations in 1997 as ranging from 40.2 million tonnes grading 1.24 per cent Nickel, using a cut-off grade of 1 per cent nickel, to 14.8 million tonnes grading 1.62 per cent nickel, using a cut-off grade of 1.5 per cent nickel. With regard to this historical estimate: i) the company has not done the work necessary to verify the classification of the historical estimate; ii) the company is not treating these historical numbers as a resource amount defined by National Instrument 43-101, verified by a qualified person; and iii) these historical estimates should not be relied upon, since they will require verification through more detailed sampling and modern analysis. The contents of this paragraph have been reviewed by David Rhys, PGeo, a professional geoscientist and qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.
Prostitutes score with football - BBC News
Some of Guatemala's prostitutes have formed a football team which, even if it does not always win, at least highlights poor working conditions.
A team of policewomen was the latest to beat the Stars of the Tracks with a 3-1 win - but the publicity is everything.
"People come up and congratulate us and tell us to keep up the good work," said team goal-scorer Valeria.
Though their work is legal, the women earn as little as $2.50 for sex and still encounter police harassment.
"It's good to feel the power of being united," said defender Beatriz.
"When we work, we are more isolated in our rooms."
If the team is still honing its footballing skills, it may also have some work to do on its image.
Stars of the Tracks was ejected from an elite amateur league last month because of allegations that their fans "used profanity", Reuters news agency reports.
Soccer team made up of prostitutes banned, team cries foul
Wednesday September 29 2004 15:00 IST - Reuters
GUATEMALA CITY: A Guatemala soccer team made up of prostitutes cried foul after being ejected from a tournament because of their profession.
"Just for being prostitutes, society marginalises us, and we want to exercise our rights as women and as mothers," said the team captain, Valeria, who did not give her last name.
Her team, the Stars of the Line, lost 5-2 to the Blue Devils, fielded by an exclusive girls' school in the Guatemalan capital, and were ejected from the tournament after Monday's game.
Officials cited the use of foul language from the team's fans as the reason.
The Stars of the Line take their team name from Guatemala City's red-light district, called the Train Line, because it faces the city's railway line.
The squad was drawn from the 200 women who work there.
"What we want is to play soccer with any other team," Valeria said.
"Being prostitutes does not mean that we are violent, because we are well disciplined," she said.
The officials heard things differently.
"One, two, three, whore," went the grandstand cheer, according to the judges' decision.
"We have a lot of children here, and it is not very nice to hear such language," said Eduardo Navas, manager of the Futeca stadium. Valeria said that foul language was not the issue.
"When they found out we were prostitutes, they tossed us out like cockroaches," she said.
"It is really discrimination."
The Stars began training daily with the backing of a group of Spanish journalists who were in Guatemala to make a documentary about prostitution.
Skye receives Exmibal's Guatemala resource estimate
2004-10-13 18:22 ET - News Release
Mr. Ian Austin reports
SKYE ANNOUNCES HISTORICAL MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE FOR NICKEL CONCESSIONS IN GUATEMALA
Skye Resources Inc. has received a technical report which provides a preliminary assessment of the historical mineral resource estimates for the nickel laterite deposits contained in the nickel concessions held by Exploraciones y Explotaciones Mineras Izabal SA (Exmibal) in eastern Guatemala. Skye entered into a definitive agreement with Inco Limited on Sept. 30, 2004, under which Skye would acquire Inco's 70-per-cent interest in Exmibal, subject to completion of a number of conditions (see Sept. 30, 2004, news in Stockwatch).
The mineral resource estimates are based on historical exploration information from a total of more than 80,000 metres of drilling in over 6,800 boreholes or pits with more than 100,000 samples analyzed. The data were obtained from exploration programs carried out by Exmibal from 1960 to 1980. This technical report reclassifies mineral resources in addition to those reviewed and reclassified by AMEC E&C Services Ltd. in its technical report dated Dec. 2, 2003. The total of these estimates, which are reported as at Sept. 23, 2004, is as follows:
EXMIBAL'S GUATEMALA RESOURCE ESTIMATES
Resources Tonnes Nickel Cobalt
(thousands) (%) (%)
Saprolite
Measured 14,292 1.91 Not
determined
Indicated 48,995 1.82 Not
determined
------ ---- ----------
Measured and
Indicated 63,287 1.84 Not
determined
Inferred 57,458 1.66 Not
determined
Limonite
Inferred 24,465 1.31 0.103
RESOURCE ASSUMPTIONS
Saprolite Limonite
Minimum ore
thickness Two metres Two metres
Per cent Fe Less than Greater than
38 per cent or equal to
38 per cent
Specific
gravity 1.08 0.96
If they prove out thier processes and go ahead with this mine they will have a lot of work to do getting that place going after 20 years. Maybe time to dust off the resume? <g> In the meantime I'll keep brushing up on the Espanol.
Should pop tomorrow.
Skye Resources Inc. Enters into Agreement with Inco
limited for Guatemalan Nickel Concessions
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - Sept. 30, 2004) - Skye
Resources Inc. ("Skye") announced today that it has entered into a
definitive agreement with Inco Limited ("Inco") pursuant to which Skye
will, subject to completion of certain conditions, acquire Inco's 70%
interest in Exploraciones y Explotaciones Mineras Izabal S.A.
("Exmibal"), a Guatemalan company which holds certain rights to nickel
concessions in eastern Guatemala, and owns a pyrometallurgical nickel
processing plant and related facilities which have been closed for over
20 years. The Government of Guatemala owns 30% of Exmibal.
Upon an initial closing, Skye will acquire Inco's 70% interest in
Exmibal, and issue Inco such number of Skye common shares and warrants
which will result in Inco holding 13.93% of the issued and outstanding
Skye common shares and warrants. Skye will, during a 5-year option
period, evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of Exmibal
developing a nickel mining and processing project covering its nickel
concessions. If Skye exercises the option to proceed with such a
project, a subsequent closing will occur where Skye will pay Inco U.S.
$3.5 million and issue additional common shares as outlined below (the
"Additional Consideration") and Inco will transfer certain surface
rights it holds through affiliates in Guatemala to Skye. The Additional
Consideration would be payable once Skye has fulfilled a number of
conditions during the option period, including the preparation of a
feasibility study, and the completion of financings to raise an
aggregate of Cdn $20 million (less the proceeds from the exercise of
Skye's currently outstanding warrants). The number of shares to be
issued to Inco as Additional Consideration will be the number that would
have been required to increase Inco's shareholding in Skye to 17.5%
based upon Skye having completed such Cdn. $20 million in financings.
Inco will also have the right to receive certain payments based on the
tonnages of ore mined from the concessions and, if a ferro-nickel plant
is operated, will receive certain payments on any ferro-nickel produced
based on a net smelter return formula. Inco has agreed to market any
finished nickel products, and will have certain rights to refine any
intermediate nickel products of Exmibal. If certain conditions are not
met by Skye during the option period or Skye elects not to exercise its
option to proceed with a project, Inco will have the right to reacquire
its interest in Exmibal.
Since entering into a letter of intent with Inco in late 2003, Skye has
made significant progress in developing an atmospheric sulfuric acid
leach process to treat Exmibal's ore. A provisional U.S. patent has been
filed, and extensive laboratory testing has been undertaken at SGS
Lakefield Research. Under the definitive agreement with Inco, Skye has
granted Inco the right to use at its own facilities any process
developed by Skye for use at Exmibal. A scoping study to evaluate the
application of Skye's hydrometallurgical process at Exmibal and compare
it with pyrometallurgical alternatives is currently expected to be
completed in early 2005.
Certain of the nickel concessions held by Exmibal have an initial term
expiring in 2005. Exmibal has filed an application to renew these
concessions or receive updated concessions. Such renewal or receipt of
updated concessions on terms satisfactory to Inco and Skye is one of the
conditions to be met for an initial closing, which closing is currently
expected to be held in mid-December 2004.
This News Release may contain forward-looking statements including, but
not limited to, comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming
work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles,
potential mineral recovery processes, and other related matters.
Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and
therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The Exmibal project
is at an early stage and all estimates and projections are based on
limited, and possibly incomplete, data. More work is required before the
mineralization and the project's economic aspects can be confidently
modelled. Actual results may differ materially from those currently
anticipated. No representation or prediction is intended as to the
results of future work, nor can there be any promise that the estimates
and projections herein will be sustained in future work or that the
project will otherwise prove to be economic.
-30-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Skye Resources Inc.
Ian Austin
Chief Executive Officer
(604) 602-7534
(604) 682-3941 (FAX)
Website: www.skyeresources.com
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this release.
JNI was screaming yesterday. #msg-4127390
Guatemalan highlands. Beautiful.
It was... Took one of those to get here too:
Sounds like an interesting trip alright. Chicken bus?
The place we embarked from was little more than an army outpost in the jungle. There were a number of small pyramids there (unexcavated) and the Guatemalan army had set their machine guns up on top of them. The average age of the soldiers was about 17 I would guess. It made me nervous being surrounded by so many kids with guns. This was back in the days when the army would put up roadblocks and search all vehicles for boys to conscript (kidnap) into the army.
I am looking forward to a similar trip. Planning on taking the boat trip from Bethel to Frontera Corozal with stops at Yaxchlin and Bonampak enroute to Palenque.
I don't recall the starting point.. A long bumpy bus trip from Tikal. Piedras Negras rings a bell so that might have been it.
THE USUMACINTA RIVER
The Usumacinta is one of the largest rivers in Mexico. Also, it is one of the few rivers in North America that flow north. The river begins at the confluence of the Chixoy and Pasion rivers on the north eastern slopes of the Highlands of Guatemala. A few kilometers North West of this confluence the river is joined by the major drainage system of the Lacandon National Forest, the Lacantun River. On a nearby beach, as if to signal this important point, some ancient figures and symbols have been carved on the rocks.
North of the Lacantun, the Usumacinta cuts through the thick limestone bed and winds its way through one of North Americas most romantic wilderness. This mid-section of the river forms the political boundary between Mexico and the Peten of Guatemala for over 140 km. Here the river is supported with a number of enchanting arroyos and streams with equally enchanting names: the Yaxchilan, Busilja, Chancala, etc. Just before the Usumacinta passes out into the savannahs and plains of Chiapas and Tabasco the river cuts a magnificent canyon through the limestone. Throughout this canyon, travertine formations, created by dissolved limestone deposits, create a fantasy of geological shapes.
During the first millennium after Christ, the Maya traveled up and down this river in their dug out canoes. The number of archaeological sites on or near both river banks bears quiet testimony of the Mayas use and exploitation of the area. The beautiful carved monuments of Yaxchilan have supplied important hieroglyphic texts for archaeologists, artists, art historians and epigraphers. Thanks to the combined efforts of these investigators many of the carved figures at these sites now have names and personalities.
At Yaxchilan you will gain an historical understanding of the ruins and learn to read a number of Calendrical and Historical Mayan Hieroglyphs. During our descent of the Usumacinta we will also explore the otherwise inaccesible Classic Mayan site of Piedras Negras in Guatemala.
How far did you go on the river?
I once took a raft trip through the jungle province of Peten down the mighty Usumacinta River from Gautemala to Mexico. It was a one of the more interesting border crossings I've done.
Fun trip.
Aurogin Resources Ltd.: Final Assay Results In From El
Sastre
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Sept. 21, 2004) -
Program Confirms Significant Depth Extent to Deposit
Aurogin Resources ("Aurogin" AUQ -- TSX Venture) has received
final assay results from the summer field program at the
company's El Sastre Gold deposit in Guatemala. The program was
successful in determining significant depth extent of the flat
lying, high grade mineralization identified in surface trenches
by the previous operators. The deposit is being modeled using the
exploration results generated by the previous operators and the
results from the Aurogin exploration efforts. The previous
operators Radius Gold Inc. and Goldfields Mining provided
approximately 1,000 assay points mainly from trenches and channel
and chip samples. Aurogin's results consist of 350 samples in the
form of composites from 38 short air track drillholes as well as
backhoe trenches (up to 13m deep), channel samples (up to 6m in
length) and chip samples.
The data will be used for the development of a pit design, mine
plan and economic model. A Mineral Exploitation Application has
been submitted to the Ministry of Energy and Mines and approval
is pending acceptance of the EIS (Environmental Impact Study).
New results from vertical channel samples starting from surface
include 13 g/t over 6.8 meters, 15 g/t over 5.0 meters, 10 g/t
over 4.2 meters and 20 g/t gold over 1.6 meters.-
Column testing carried out on the bulk sample which was taken in
July shows that the majority of leachable gold can be extracted
within a period of one month. The column tests simulate run of
mine heap leach conditions with no agglomeration, which indicates
that the gold can be extracted with low capital and operating
costs. Bottle roll tests carried out in February this year
returned gold recoveries ranging from 95.0% to 99.3% in 24 hours.
Final column test results are expected by the end of September.
"These results provide confidence that the El Sastre deposit can
be developed into a high profit margin, small tonnage open pit,
gold mining operation", said Aurogin President John Paterson, "We
are very encouraged by both the grade and metallurgical test
results and are excited about the prospects for corporate growth
through the development of a heap leach gold mine at El Sastre in
the year ahead."
- The program was carried out under the supervision of John H.
Paterson, P.Eng. President and qualified person for Aurogin.
Aurogin is actively exploring in Canada and Guatemala. Further
information can be found on the company's web site at:
www.auroginresources.com
Issued: 22,309,055 common shares
-30-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Aurogin Resources Ltd
John H. Paterson, P.Eng.
(416) 214-4809
jpaterson@bellnet.ca
www.auroginresources.com
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for this News release.
Prospecting south of Lago Izabal for Aurogin Resources...
"UN will continue to work with Guatemala to build just, peaceful society" UN Secretary-General says at exhibit opening
Following is the text of remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the opening of the exhibit “Guatemala: Images of Peace” at Headquarters on 14 September:
It is a great pleasure to join you for the opening of this exhibit.
And I want to say a special thank you to Ambassador Rosenthal. Gert, you’re very much part of the UN family, through your work not only as Guatemala’s Permanent Representative and as President of ECOSOC, but before that, as the Executive Secretary of ECLAC. We’ll miss you when you leave New York later this year.
For 36 years, until 1996, too many pictures we saw from the beautiful land of Guatemala were images of conflict.
Today, eight years after the signing of the ceasefire, and 10 years after the deployment of the United Nations Verification Mission, MINUGUA, we are able to look with pride and gratification at the images in this exhibit -– images of peace.
The journey to peace over the last eight years began with the courage of Guatemalans themselves -– the courage to sign a pioneering set of peace agreements, designed not just to secure a ceasefire, but to eradicate the root causes of the conflict.
And the journey has been made by Guatemalans themselves -– with the United Nations being proud to lend a helping hand.
We can follow the story of the last eight years through these powerful photographs.
We see combatants demobilizing, refugees returning and resettling, the bitter legacy of history being addressed, the opening up of peaceful political activity, and progress being made in housing, health, education, agriculture, and labour conditions.
We see dedicated UN staff working with the people of Guatemala.
Guatemala has now consolidated its democratic framework. The country is able to address the many issues that still must be resolved through national mechanisms. The peace process has matured, and the time has come for MINUGUA to depart.
But while MINUGUA may be leaving, the United Nations system is not. We will continue to work with the Government and people of Guatemala, as they struggle to deal with the legacy of a violent past and build a just and peaceful society with equal access to opportunity for all of its citizens.
The journey that began eight years ago must continue, for the sake of the people of Guatemala. The accords signed in 1996 will continue to shape national debate, and provide sound, creative solutions to the country’s most pressing problems. They remain a comprehensive national agenda to guide policies for democratization and development.
But all can take pride at what has been achieved so far. As we look at the smiling faces of the children on display in this exhibit, we can see that there is hope in Guatemala.
Ruiz and Guatemala breeze through Group Two
13 September 2004
by FIFAworldcup.com
With seven points from their first three semi-final round qualifiers in the North and Central American and Caribbean Zone, once lowly Guatemala may well be on their way to a first-ever appearance at a FIFA World Cup finals.
The team’s sudden burst of success could potentially be chalked up to the able and decisive managerial influence of former Honduran international Ramon ‘el Primitivo’ Maradiaga. His ruddy appearance betrays a delicate and elegant understanding of how to make the once-humble bunch believe.
But effective and inspired coaching aside, all of Guatemala is shouting one name a little louder than the rest. Carlos Ruiz has burst onto the international scene with the same bustling, nagging goal scoring panache that saw him earn Major League Soccer’s top scoring honours in his first two seasons (2002, 2003) with the Los Angeles Galaxy. ‘El Pescadito’ (the little fish) as he is known, is again on top of MLS scoring charts in 2004, and the 24-year-old’s four goals for his country so far in the campaign have him looking like the most troublesome striker in all of CONCACAF.
Praising Primitivo
The striker is quick to point out that things in Guatemala have changed over the years. With a new coach, a raft of foreign-based talent and a new belief, the team are coming together.
“(Maradiaga) is a highly respected coach in Central America,” Ruiz told FIFAworldcup.com about the impressive Honduran boss. “He knows what it takes to get to the World Cup finals and he's doing his best to communicate that to us. He's already been to the finals with Honduras, he's the best coach Guatemala could possibly have at the moment.”
“And we’ve never had so many internationals playing their club football outside the country,” he added.”
Currently at the top of a difficult Group Two, a pair of points ahead of more-pedigreed Honduras, Guatemala have been playing some fine football indeed.
Their first semi-final round match on 18 August was expected to be a baptism of fire up in the cool climes of Vancouver, British Columbia. But a fabulous double from Ruiz, put paid to Frank Yallop’s Team Canada to see the unfancied Central Americans up and on their way.
On 5 September the side returned home to take on Costa Rica. Though the Ticos must have still been in a state of shock following the 2-5 loss they suffered to Honduras at home in their first match, they put up a formidable fight. In the end though, their efforts were in vain as a brace from Juan Carlos Plata saw Guatemala claim a 2-1 win.
Presidential recognition
Following their second victory on the trot, the team met up with Guatemalan president Oscar Berger for a little ceremony and handshaking. And perhaps all the fanfare got them a little complacent, as they conspired to blow a 2-0 lead in their next match and draw disappointingly 2-2 in Honduras.
Still though, the team are in fine fettle at the top of the group. And of all three CONCACAF group leaders, Guatemala have the most points to show for their three matches. The mighty United States could only manage five, while Group 3 toppers Trinidad & Tobago amassed just six.
“I hope I can take Guatemala to the their first World Cup," said head coach Maradiaga, who played for Honduras at Spain 82 – the country’s only appearance at a FIFA World Cup Finals.
Top goal getter and hit man supreme Carlos Ruiz seems to believe Maradiaga might just be able to pull it off.
“It's a huge opportunity for us to make it to the finals,” he said. “I believe we have a good number of options and our players know what it's like on the international stage, so we're in with a good chance, perhaps the best we've ever had.”
Nice location near El Estor on Lago de Izabal...
Skye SKR exclusivity period for Inco concessions extended
2004-06-29 19:01 ET - News Release
Also News Release (C-N) Inco Ltd
Mr. Ian Austin of Skye Resources reports
SKYE AND INCO AGREE TO EXTEND EXCLUSIVITY PERIOD FOR FINALIZATION OF DEFINITIVE AGREEMENTS FOR GUATEMALAN CONCESSIONS
Further to Inco Ltd.'s news release of March 30, 2004, has agreed to extend the exclusivity period it granted to Skye to enter into definitive agreements covering the acquisition by Skye of Inco's rights to certain Guatemalan nickel concessions and related assets. The exclusivity period, which was to have expired on June 30, 2004, has now been extended to Sept. 30, 2004.
The concessions are held by Exploraciones y Explotaciones Mineras Izabal, S.A. (Exmibal), a 70-per-cent-owned subsidiary of Inco in which the government of Guatemala has a 30-per-cent interest as a shareholder. Inco and Skye have been negotiating the definitive agreements covering Skye's acquisition of Inco's 70-per-cent shareholding in Exmibal. However, Inco and Skye do not expect to execute these agreements until discussions with the government of Guatemala concerning certain issues it had raised with respect to the development of the concessions are concluded to the satisfaction of the government of Guatemala, Inco and Skye. Accordingly, Inco has agreed to extend the exclusivity period while these discussions continue.
Inco and Skye have presented to the government of Guatemala a program to accelerate the resumption of production from the concessions. This program incorporates Skye's development plans for the concessions and Skye's commitments to the government in respect of its 30-per-cent shareholding in Exmibal. The government of Guatemala, Inco and Skye are all seeking ways to ensure that the development of the concessions meets the requirements of the government of Guatemala, satisfies the needs of surrounding communities and achieves high environmental standards.
Skye has continued to make good progress in developing the hydrometallurgical process which would treat both the saprolite and the limonite ores from the concessions. Phase 2 of its test program, which will commence shortly and last for about three months, will seek to optimize the design of the process and develop data for the design of a continuous pilot plant.
Tiomin acquires option on Guatemalan titanium deposit
2004-08-10 10:07 ET - News Release
Mr. Jean-Charles Potvin reports
TIOMIN ACQUIRES OPTION ON TITANIUM DEPOSIT IN GUATEMALA
Tiomin Resources Inc. has signed an option agreement with Motagua Resources S.A. to earn up to 80-per-cent interest in a titanium-bearing hardrock deposit located in western Guatemala. Both ilmenite and rutile have been found in a dike-related formation varying in width up to 12 metres. The 400-hectare property covers approximately six kilometres of this dike formation.
The mineralogical characteristics of the deposit were analyzed from two samples. The mineralogy of these samples was performed by SGS Lakefield Research Limited while assaying was performed by SGS Mineral Services of Toronto.
Sample A Sample B
Mineral assemblage
Ilmenite 62.1% 70.4%
Rutile 9.3% 20.0%
Assays
TiO2 51.4% 56.1%
Fe2O3 47.5% 41.3%
Jaguar JNI provides more assays from Sechol project
2004-08-19 16:14 ET - News Release
Mr. John Yates reports
SECHOL PROJECT DRILLING UPDATE
Jaguar Nickel Inc. has released assay data for an additional 39 holes in its continuing drilling program on the Sechol nickel-cobalt laterite project in Guatemala.
Well-mineralized nickel laterite continues to be intersected in the El Inicio area. Nickel assays from the mineralized zones are in line with or exceed expectations based on previous work. Of the 39 holes reported, 27 have intercepts of nickel-bearing laterite exceeding a 1-per-cent nickel cut-off. Of these, two holes have intercepts exceeding 2 per cent nickel, that is, holes 008A and 175 with intercepts of 2.02 per cent nickel over 21.3 metres and 2.20 per cent nickel over 9.5 metres, respectively. Another 14 holes have intercepts exceeding 1.50 per cent nickel. The results from the holes suffixed with A or B represent the successful redrilling of earlier holes which had unacceptable core recovery.
TABLE OF INTERCEPTS IS GREATER THAN OR
EQUAL TO 1.00 PER CENT NICKEL CUT-OFF
Hole No. From To Ni Co
(m) (m) (%) (%)
JNI-04-007A 1.00 15.60 1.63 0.08
JNI-04-008A 2.00 23.30 2.02 0.08
JNI-04-010A 1.35 14.70 1.96 0.05
JNI-04-015A 0.00 7.70 1.88 0.05
JNI-04-018A 0.65 6.84 1.21 0.12
JNI-04-023B 0.00 5.40 1.67 0.04
JNI-04-024A 0.50 14.30 1.33 0.08
JNI-04-025A 2.00 5.35 1.53 0.08
JNI-04-039A 3.10 14.55 1.83 0.05
JNI-04-151 2.15 13.60 1.46 0.10
JNI-04-152 1.00 12.60 1.42 0.07
JNI-04-154 1.10 3.20 1.52 0.02
JNI-04-157A 13.90 16.20 1.18 0.05
JNI-04-159 1.00 6.80 1.23 0.06
JNI-04-161 3.50 6.30 1.30 0.21
JNI-04-162 2.80 8.90 1.34 0.12
JNI-04-163 6.70 11.30 1.16 0.07
JNI-04-164 3.10 6.10 1.86 0.08
JNI-04-168B 4.10 6.70 1.21 0.05
JNI-04-169 2.90 17.60 1.85 0.05
JNI-04-170 0.60 17.90 1.98 0.06
JNI-04-171 0.00 7.20 1.78 0.09
JNI-04-173 0.00 9.20 1.97 0.03
JNI-04-174 2.50 4.50 1.12 0.22
JNI-04-175 0.00 9.50 2.20 0.04
Incl. 11.50 15.50 1.76 0.02
JNI-04-179 1.00 6.20 1.26 0.14
JNI-04-180 1.50 4.10 1.04 0.13
Sample preparation was undertaken by BSI Inspectorate laboratory in Guatemala city and assay by SGS Lakefield Research Analytical Services laboratory in Canada.
The compositing of the nickel and cobalt grades in the individual holes was done using a nickel cut-off of 1.00 per cent, a minimum intercept length of two metres and a maximum length of internal waste of two metres. The compositing was done across geological boundaries. It has not yet been determined what cut-off grade should be used in an economic model.
Core recovery in the mineralized zone in two additional holes for which results are available (156A and 160) fell below an acceptable standard, are not reported and are scheduled for redrilling.
Since the start of the drilling program in March, 2004, 252 HQ core holes with acceptable core recoveries, totalling 3,676 metres, have been completed on the El Inico and the El Segundo grids. Drilling is on a regular 100-metre-by-100-metre grid and is continuing with approximately 212 more holes planned in this phase of this program. Additional drilling will be planned and executed as warranted by results. Four drill rigs are now actively drilling on this program.
The data were validated and the intersections calculated by the designated qualified person for the project as defined in National Instrument 43-101, H. Andrew Daniels, PGeo, of GeoVector Management Inc. of Nepean, Ont.
Aurogin AUQ to acquire half of El Sastre gold project
2004-08-25 12:59 ET - News Release
An anonymous director reports
AUROGIN CLOSES GUATEMALA OPTION DEAL
Aurogin Resources Ltd. has closed the transaction whereby it has the option to earn a 50-per-cent interest in Rocas el Tambor, Sociedad Anonima, a Guatemalan company that owns the El Sastre gold project. Aurogin can earn its interest by spending $1-million (U.S.), making payments of $190,000 (U.S.) and issuing 650,000 common shares to the vendors, all payable in stages by December, 2006. Initially, 200,000 shares are being issued which are subject to a hold period until Dec. 21, 2004. There were no bonuses, finders' fees or commissions in connection with this transaction.
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