Tocvan Ventures receives permit OK for pilot mine plant

Executive Summary

• Tocvan Ventures Corp. has secured full permit approval for a 50,000-tonne pilot mine facility at its flagship Gran Pilar gold-silver project in Sonora, Mexico.
• This approval complements previously granted permits for drilling and trenching, positioning the company to advance exploration and development toward production.
• The pilot facility aims to process 50,000 tonnes of material with a target of 1.2 g/t gold and 70% recovery, while recent metallurgical studies demonstrate strong gold and silver recovery rates.

Key Details

• Permit Approval: Full permit approval received for a 10-year pilot mine facility.
• Facility Specifications:
  • Capacity: 50,000 tonnes.
  • Infrastructure: 4.5-hectare layout including a heap-leach pad and hydrometallurgical processing facility.
  • Scope: Fully permitted for pilot mine development and exploration across 100%-controlled Gran Pilar ground.
• Operational Goals for Pilot:
  • Target throughput: 50,000 tonnes.
  • Target grade: 1.2 grams per tonne gold.
  • Target recovery: 70%.
• Complementary Permits:
  • 45 drill pads approved.
  • 67 trenches approved.
  • Total drilling capacity: Over 30,000 metres.
  • Area: 21-square-kilometre expansion area.
• Recent Drilling Highlights (2025):
  • Hole JES-25-114: 6.1 m of 5.4 g/t Au and 39 g/t Ag within 41.2 m of 1.0 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag.
  • Near-surface intercept: 3.1 m of 19.4 g/t Au within 106.6 m of 0.6 g/t Au.
• Metallurgical Results:
  • Bulk Sample: 62% gold recovery over a 46-day leaching period. Head grade: 1.9 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag. Extracted grade: 1.2 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag.
  • Fine Fraction (Agitated Leach): 80% gold recovery and 94% silver recovery after 24-hour retention time.
  • Gravity Recovery: 95% to 99% gold recovery and 73% to 97% silver recovery across five composite samples, including 99% gold and 73% silver from drill core at 120-metre depth.
• Historical Drilling Highlights:
  • 2024 RC: 42.7 m of 1.0 g/t Au (incl. 3.1 m of 10.9 g/t Au); 56.4 m of 1.0 g/t Au (incl. 3.1 m of 14.7 g/t Au); 16.8 m of 0.8 g/t Au and 19 g/t Ag.
  • 2022 Diamond: 116.9 m of 1.2 g/t Au (incl. 10.2 m of 12 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag); 108.9 m of 0.8 g/t Au (incl. 9.4 m of 7.6 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag); 63.4 m of 0.6 g/t Au (incl. 29.9 m of 0.9 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag).
  • 2021 RC: 39.7 m of 1.0 g/t Au (incl. 1.5 m of 14.6 g/t Au); 47.7 m of 0.7 g/t Au (incl. 3 m of 5.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag).
  • 2020 RC: 94.6 m of 1.6 g/t Au (incl. 9.2 m of 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag); 41.2 m of 1.1 g/t Au (incl. 3.1 m of 6.0 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag); 24.4 m of 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag (incl. 1.5 m of 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag).
  • Historic Core/RC: 15,000 m drilled; highlights include 61.0 m of 0.8 g/t Au, 21.0 m of 38.3 g/t Au, 13.0 m of 9.6 g/t Au, and 9.0 m of 10.2 g/t Au.

Notable Quotes

• "We are thrilled to receive this permit approval for the pilot mine facility, a critical component in our strategy to fast-track Gran Pilar toward production... This approval, alongside our extensive drilling and trenching permits, positions us to aggressively advance exploration and development while leveraging record-high gold prices to maximize shareholder value." — Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO