Trenching Operations Begin at Gran Pilar Pilot Mine
Tocvan Ventures has officially begun trenching and sampling work at its Gran Pilar Project in Sonora. These activities will provide the materials needed for the planned development of the Pilot Mine facility.
The company sees this milestone as very important for moving from exploration to production in the near future. Management thinks that the project’s current progress will lead to growth in 2026.
Site Preparation Advances for Pilot Mine Facility
Work is being done to get ready for the 50,000-ton Pilot Mine processing facility at Gran Pilar. Crews are clearing and leveling the ground so that new infrastructure can be built.
Preparing heap leach pads and containment ponds for processing operations is part of construction. Heavy machinery is changing the shape of the land so that equipment can be placed more easily.
Channel Sampling and Infrastructure Access Development
Excavation work focuses on important mineralized areas around the project site. These cuts make it easier to do detailed channel sampling and make geological data more accurate.
They are also building access roads and flat surfaces to support the processing equipment. These steps make logistics and getting ready for pilot mining easier.
Recommended Article:
Community Approval Secures Social License to Operate
Tocvan Ventures said that they had officially gotten the go-ahead from the local community council. Mexican law says that this permission is needed to get an operational permit.
Company leaders stressed that getting the community involved was key to the project’s success. Strong partnerships build trust and help Gran Pilar stay stable in the long term.
Pilot Mine Metallurgical Results Show Strong Recoveries
The Pilot Mine can handle up to 50,000 tons of material. Studies in metallurgy found that 62% of the gold was recovered.
The calculated head grade for bulk samples was 1.9 grams per ton of gold. Additional agitation leach testing yielded recoveries ranging from 95% to 99%.
Exploration Continues Across the North Block
As development moves forward in the South Block, exploration drilling keeps going in the North Block. The first drilling programs are already in progress, and results should be available early next year.
Surface sampling found promising mineralization in areas that had never been tested before. A 2-meter chip sample showed a lot of gold and silver.
South Block Expansion Follows Strong Drill Results
After good results from earlier campaigns, expansion drilling is now happening in the South Block Main Zone. A notable intercept showed high-grade gold over a small area.
Historic data and new soil samples show that there is a good chance of expansion. Samples from the Placer Corridor showed gold values of more than 20 grams per ton.
