PRECIOUS METALS

Soma to access new mining area

Junior producer Soma Gold says it’s received the final permit needed to start constructing the Balvina Cordero access portal, which is expected to enable a production boost at its recently-acquired El Bagre operations in Colombia.

Staff reporter
 Soma Gold’s El Bagre plant in Colombia

Soma Gold’s El Bagre plant in Colombia

"This is an important step for our operations at the El Bagre mine, giving access to an additional 65,000 ounces of proven and probable reserves at a substantially higher grade than we are presently mining," president and CEO Javier Cordova said.

The portal was expected to cost US$750,000.

The company, previously Para Resources, had acquired El Bagre next to its El Limon mine earlier this year.

Cordova said the tonnage available at Cordero Balvina would "complement and eventually supplant" current tonnage being mined at El Bagre's Mangos and La Ye underground mines.

"Total production at El Bagre in 2021 from all portals is expected to be 140,000t at an average grade of 6g/t," he said.

In June, La Ye was targeted by armed robbers who stole 475oz of gold equivalent in doré, after taking advantage of a change in protocols during the transition.

Soma also said it had produced and sold 655.88oz Au-eq of doré last week at El Bagre for net proceeds of $1.28 million.

The company had produced and sold a total of 1,204.33oz Au-eq in doré in July for $2.2 million.

Cordova recently told Mining Journal the company was targeting 40,000oz of annual production in 2022.

Soma closed an oversubscribed placement in July which had raised C$4.44 million at 15c per unit.

Its shares (TSXV: SOMA) last traded at 67c, capitalising it about $40 million (US$30 million).

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2023: Social licence

Gain insights into social licence trends and best practices from interviews with 20+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.