Samples were selected based on the lithology, alteration, and mineralization characteristics; sample size generally ranges from 0.25 – 2m in width. Altered and mineralized intervals were sent for assay. One blank, one standard, and one duplicate were included within every 20 samples. Standard materials are certified reference materials (CRMs) from OREAS and CDN Resource Laboratories Ltd (CDN); the suite of standards contains a range of Ag, Au, Cu, Pb, and Zn values. Blanks, standards, and duplicates have been used to confirm the validity of the analytical results.
Samples were analyzed by ALS Limited. Sample preparation was performed at their Zacatecas, Mexico, prep facility, and analyses were performed at the Vancouver, Canada, analytical facility. All elements except Au and Hg were analyzed by a multi-element geochemistry method utilizing a four-acid digestion followed by ICP-MS detection [ME-MS61m]; mercury was analyzed after a separate aqua regia digest by ICP-MS. Overlimit assays for Ag, Pb, and Zn were conducted using the OG62 method (multi-acid digest with ICP-AES/AAS finish). Gold was measured by fire-assay with an ICP-AES finish [50g sample, Au-ICP22].
Reported Ag values were assayed using AAS21E (3 acid digest with AAS finish), and overlimit Ag samples (>300 ppm) were analyzed by fire-assay with a gravimetric finish [30g sample, AAS21E]. Method ICP90Q (sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-OES finish) was used for overlimit samples of other elements (e.g. Pb, Zn, Cu). Gold was measured by fire assay with an AAS finish [30g sample, FAA313].