The Idaho-based company expects to crank out 325,000 oz. silver and 9,000 oz. gold from bulk samples this year. Hecla inherited the 220-sq.-mile property in June 1999, when it purchased all the assets of Monarch Resources.
It drilled 23 holes into the San Sebastian target, which resulted in the discovery of three veins, known as Professor, Santa Cecilia and Ballena.
At the Ballena vein, trenching has returned up to 10 oz. silver and 0.61 oz. gold per ton over 13 ft. One hole drilled at the Professor vein encountered 26 ft. grading 27 oz. silver and 0.68 oz. gold. Another intercept, on the Middle vein, hit 26 oz. silver and 0.41 oz. gold over 7 ft.
The Francine vein has a known resource of 697,000 tons grading 14 oz. silver and 0.21 oz. gold.
“This property has more potential to become a big silver producer than anything we’ve seen in a long time,” says Hecla Chairman Arthur Brown. “Our recent work confirms and expands the known exploration target area, and we continue to see high-grade intercepts.”
A second phase of drilling, spanning 15,000 ft., is slated for July.
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