Toronto - Andean Precious Metals Corporation (TSXV: APM) (OTCQB: ANPMF) ('Andean' or the 'Company'), a leading Latin American precious metals producer, is pleased to announce the launch of a 15,000 m, Phase Two drill program focused on the San Pablo porphyry target identified in the recently completed Titan geophysical survey.
'Andean came to market in March of 2021 as a Company with a strong foundation of production and cashflow and a focus on growth through project acquisition and development,' said Simon Griffiths, President and CEO. 'Bolivia is among the most geologically prospective, under-developed jurisdictions in the world, so progressing exploration work on our own portfolio of projects has been a key priority for Andean. Our Phase Two exploration program will test a porphyry target at our San Pablo Gold Project that was identified in our recently completed Titan Geophysical survey. We have budgeted 15,000 meters for this purpose.' Mr. Griffiths went on to say, 'I am encouraged by the scope of opportunity that exists for Andean to grow organically in Bolivia. Exploration is a key element of this growth, complementing our San Bartolome mine life Expansion Study and the continued extension of our government contracts.'
San Pablo Project
The 100% owned San Pablo Project in the Province of Antonio Quijarro, Department of Potosi comprises 650 hectares. San Pablo is located in the southern part of the prolific Bolivian tin-silver and polymetallic belt that hosts several of Bolivia's largest deposits including the former Kori Kollo gold mine (Newmont) which produced more than 4 million ounces1, and the Cerro Rico of Potosi which produced 1 to 2 billion ounces of silver and significant tin2, where the Company's San Bartolome mine is located.
Twelve diamond drill holes were completed at San Pablo in 2021 for a total of 3,580 m, as reported in the press release of November 30, 2021. The highlight was an intersection of 53.8 m grading 1.17 g/t Au from 211 m depth in hole SP21-01. All twelve holes encountered anomalous gold throughout their lengths.
Quantec Geoscience subsequently carried out a 9-line, 20.3 line-kilometers, Titan 24 deep induced polarisation survey ('DCIP') and magnetotelluric survey ('MT') at San Pablo that was completed in December. On many lines the DCIP shows a thick, very conductive layer close to the surface that limits the depth of penetration. The magnetotelluric survey, which is a passive method that uses the earth's natural electromagnetic field as the source field to image subsurface resistivity structure, achieved depths of investigation of about 1,200 m. The survey detected very low resistivity anomalies at depth that are interpreted to be altered porphyry intrusions. These will be tested in the forthcoming Phase Two drill program. The holes are being targeted on the basis of low resistivity, high chargeability which may be due to sulphides with associated gold, and geology.
The Phase Two diamond drill program consisting of 15,000 m will be started in mid-February by drill contractor Maldonado S.A. using two drill rigs. Construction of drill platforms and road access is already under way. The first part of the program will consist of 4 holes each of 750 to 800 m length for a total of 3,100 m designed to test the resistivity anomalies. The second part of the program of 11,900 m will be planned on the basis of these results.
'Gold mineralisation at San Pablo is hosted by diamictites (pebble sandstones of glacio-marine origin) of the Silurian Cancaniri Formation over a large area of at least 2.5 km elongated northwest by 1.5 km wide,' explained Dr. Stewart D. Redwood, Technical Advisor to the Company. 'The gold mineralisation is related to sulphides in narrow sheeted veins and veinlets, as well as wider discrete veins, and in sulphide-cemented breccias. Veining is related to pervasive silica-sericite alteration which overprints secondary biotite alteration that outcrops at lower elevations and is seen in drill core. The dominant sulphides are pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite and bismuth sulphides, which, together with the geochemical association of gold with arsenic, bismuth and antimony, are characteristic of reduced intrusion-related gold deposits,' continued Dr. Redwood. 'The Phase Two drill targets are interpreted porphyry intrusions that are believed to be the drivers of the gold system. This is supported by the presence of mineralised porphyry dykes and a barren, late stage, post-mineral porphyry intrusion. The low resistivity zones shown by the MT survey are interpreted to be altered intrusions and will be tested by Phase Two drilling.'
Rio Blanco Project
The 100% owned Rio Blanco Project comprises 13,462 hectares in the Province of Nor Chichas, Department of Potosi. Ongoing negotiations with the local community and poor road access in the rainy season have delayed exploration work at Rio Blanco. The Company is actively engaged with the local community and expects to re-start exploration work in H2 of 2022. In 2021, ten diamond drill holes were completed at Rio Blanco for a total of 2,154 m.
Rio Blanco is an orogenic gold deposit hosted in Ordovician shales and sandstones. The Phase One diamond drill program covers an initial 7 km of a 22 km long structural corridor along the axis of the northwest-trending Rio Blanco anticline. This structural system hosts gold mineralisation in quartz veins, stockworks, saddle reefs and lenticular bodies.
About Andean Precious Metals Corp.
Andean Precious Metals is a Canadian, growth-focused silver producer that owns and operates the San Bartolome project located in the department of Potosi, Bolivia. San Bartolome has been operating consistently since 2008, producing an average of over five million ounces of silver per year. The Company is also exploring its wholly-owned San Pablo and Rio Blanco gold projects and seeking other accretive opportunities in Bolivia and Latin America. Andean Precious Metals is committed to fostering safe, sustainable and responsible operations.
Contact:
Fraser Buchan
Tel: +1 647 480 1550
Email: ir@andeanpm.com
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains statements which constitute 'forward-looking statements' and 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, 'forward-looking statements'), including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Andean with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words 'may', 'would', 'could', 'should', 'will', 'intend', 'plan', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'estimate', 'expect' or similar expressions.
Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead reflect Andean's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although Andean believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of Andean. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements are the following: changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws and regulations both locally and in foreign jurisdictions; compliance with extensive government regulation; the risks and uncertainties associated with foreign markets. These forward-looking statements may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of Andean and general market conditions, including COVID-19.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although Andean has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended and such changes could be material. Andean does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update the forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.
ANDEAN PRECIOUS METALS CORP. 
