Two Large Silver Plays from the Silver Summit

We attended the recent Silver Summit Investor Conference in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  We looked forward to taking the pulse of silver enthusiasts following the spring-summer long retreat in the metal's price.  As luck would have it, with the volatility in the credit and metal markets, it turned out to be the most fortuitous time for holding the conference.  A true skeptic might suspect that the government had conspired with those organizing the conference in the timing of the event. 

Major themes at the Silver Summit included the suspicion over the integrity of major currencies, transparency of central bank actions, and reliability of reporting actual stores of precious metal inventories.  The conference was well attended.  While silver enthusiasts bought nearly all the physical silver for sale from vendors in the halls, we could not ascertain to what degree this enthusiasm extended to precious metal equities. 

We see the correction in mining stocks as having created a significant reentry point for equities.  We were particularly interested in Alexco Resource Corporation (AXU) and South America Silver Corp. (SOHAF.PK), both of which are located outside the Idaho's Silver Valley and the Sierra Madre in Mexico.  Alexco is in the Yukon Territory and South American Silver is in Bolivia.  Both are early in development relative to their potential to become world-class silver deposits, and both have an interesting base metal or industrial metal component with potential for significant near term catalysts.

Alexco Resource Corporation Nears Production Decision

The Keno Hill silver district may in time rival Idaho's Silver Valley.  The district is ten to fifteen miles wide and over 20 miles long.  Between 1921 and 1988, the Keno Hill district produced more than 217 million ounces of silver, with average grades of 40.5 opt silver, 5.6% lead and 3.1% zinc, ranking the district in the top 3% by grade of today's global silver producers.

Keno Hill Silver District Map

Source: Alexco

Alexco acquired the district out of bankruptcy, after the prior owner ceased operation during a period of low metal prices and increasing environmental regulations.  The district had only recently been consolidated and had not been subjected to modern or comprehensive exploration, development, or operating methods. 

Alexco was selected from among several bidders due to its ability as an environmental firm to permit, manage environmental risk, and close mines.  In addition, Alexco holds useful and valuable patents on proprietary processes that effectively manage groundwater contamination.  In return, Alexco has become the sole source provider for environmental remediation of the district, which should lead to a contract exceeding $50 million over five years, to begin in late 2009 or early 2010.

Alexco has the right to develop and mine the resources at Keno Hill and is indemnified against any liability from past mining activities.  It is in an unprecedented position to rapidly study, permit, and develop the district in cooperation with the local and federal government.  This opportunity becomes even more interesting when taking into account the exceptionally high grades of silver and base metals found within the district.

Alexco is still early in compiling and studying volumes of historic data and should soon release assays for their 2008 drilling season.  As an example of the exploration potential, it recently released drill results on the Lucky Queen target.  The Lucky Queen was one of the highest producing areas at Keno Hill, producing 11 million ounces of silver from 1927 to 1932, from 123,500 tons grading 88.7 oz/ton silver.

In particular, drill hole K08-161 intersected a 2.45 meter interval grading 2,249 g/t silver (65.5 opt), 8.3% lead, or 75.8 opt silver equivalent, which included a 0.35 meter interval grading 11,182 g/t silver (326 opt), including 30.1% lead and 1.7% zinc, or 363.9 opt silver equivalent.  This was an infill hole believed to be related to historic mining at the Lucky Queen, between step-out drilling completed in 2006 and 2007.  These two holes intersected grades of 17,380 g/t silver (507 opt) over 1.12 meters and 13,775 g/t silver (402 opt) over 0.30 meters, respectively.  Grades at these levels require follow-up.  They have potential for lower risk and highly profitable mining operations, with lesser capital requirements, similar to what is now being considered at its Bellekeno project.

Alexco has commenced its underground development program at Bellekeno which was in operation at the time the district ceased operation.  As the most advanced project within the district, it is the most suitable for immediate development.  Management has completed a preliminary economic assessment suggesting a modest but highly profitable operation and is pursuing options to fund the project without diluting the district-wide opportunity.  They believe that, based on past operations, recent drilling and metallurgical studies, the ore may be economically mined with great appeal to smelters. 

Bellekeno Portal, Keno Hill Silver District, Yukon Territory

Source: Alexco

Development at Bellekeno may lead to production in early 2010, which may be coincidental with commencement of the contract for clean-up of the district.  These activities may generate cash flow to accelerate further development while minimizing dilution.  Management anticipates making a construction decision at Bellekeno early in 2009.  In the meanwhile, investors may look forward to assays from the 2008 drill program, progress on the underground program at Bellekeno, and from their environmental business.

South American Silver Corp.'s World-Class Bolivian Asset

South American Silver's wholly owned Malku Khota project in Bolivia is shaping up to be a world-class asset.  Malku Khota has a strike length of about 15 km (5,475 hectares) where mineralization is contained within a sedimentary package, in a highly exposed ridgeline, suggesting a low strip ratio.  The project is at a high elevation, in a relatively uninhabited area, and within 20 to 25 km from a main highway and power.  There is dirt road access to the project from the cities of Oruro and Cochabamba. 

Limosna Ridgeline, Malku Khota, Bolivia

click to enlarge

Source: South American Silver

The Limosna, Wara Wara and Sucre targets at Malku Khota have multi kilometer strike lengths within sandstone ridges hosting silver and indium mineralization.  Indium trades at about $700 per kg and is in demand for flat panel screens and other applications.  A NI 43-101 compliant resource estimates an Indicated resource of 144.6 million oz. silver and 845,000 kg indium, or an Inferred resource of 177.8 million oz. silver and 968,000 kg indium.  This resource is based on 25,000 meters of drilling in 75 drill holes completed through August of 2008.  These targets are a relatively small portion of the entire land package which is highly prospective for additional metals which include gallium, lead, zinc, antimony, and gold. 

Management of South American Silver was upfront regarding the political situation in Bolivia, but considers that a compromise between the lowland departments and current President Evo Morales is likely.  The long-standing issue requires addressing a redistribution of wealth between wealthy lowland ranchers and indigenous peoples.  President Morales is resisting foreign influence which may be helpful for reaching a long-term solution.  A compromise may include higher taxes, including the mining industry, commensurate with levels typical with other nations. 

The administration of Evo Morales appears to appreciate the importance of outside investment in the mining industry.  Companies investing in Bolivia, providing some level of confidence in the nation's stability, include Apex Silver Mines (SIL), Sumitomo Corporation (SSUMY.PK), Coeur d'Alene Mines (CDE), Pan American Silver (PAAS), Jindal Steel of India, and Petrobas of Brazil.  We suspect that South American Silver's progress will be of great interest to larger mining companies for acquisition to maintain their development pipelines.

Disclosure: The author is long AXU and SGLDF.PK.  An affiliate of the author's employer provides corporate advisory services to AXU.

Comments

[sieraromero:]

Has anyone recently within the last few weeks tried to buy silver to take physical posession from main street dealers. I find that if you can find it,then you have to pay several dollars above the listed spot price. Why doesn't the press report on this? Tell me that there is no manipulation going on in all of the markets at this time. The powers that be are just trying to keep it together for a little longer, so they can exit their positions in a somewhat orderly manner before the ---- hits the fan! GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!

2008 Oct 03 11:57 AM

[directcommu...:]

you can use bulliondirect.com or buy the paper version slv.

2008 Oct 03 12:03 PM

[sandspider:]

Folks, look up APMEX.com or for larger quantities try Tulving.com
As soon as they get silver in, it goes quickly but keep checking as they get new in every several days. Nothing takes the place of physical metal. Gold and silver. Gold and silver. Leveraged fiat currancy is a curse, and can be bested. Hang the traitors and those that destroy our Republic.

2008 Oct 03 03:10 PM

[chux08:]

Alexco just inked a major deal with Silver Wheaton who's buying 25% of the silver produced from the Bellekeno mine. It was just announced today. Alexco gets enough financing to bring it into production (or damn close barring any political upheavals) without any shareholder dilution and Silver Wheaton gets what they usually do...silver at VERY attractive prices over a long term mine life. It was a great move for both companies. You can do a Google news search and read further details.

2008 Oct 04 01:35 AM

[whidbey:]

chux08, you devil I did it and I am trusting you. Are you rich or poor?

2008 Oct 04 05:24 PM

[chux08:]

Hey, those are two outstanding companies that are available at an attractive entry point, which coincidentally is near their 52 week lows and through no fault of their own. Alexco's Keno Hill project will be the first mine put back into production by Alexco with the help of that $50M from SLW. It was a great deal for both companies, which I've also read about in other publications. I have yet to hear a negative word about this deal from anyone who has an opinion, from what I can find. I have also heard that SLW has the cash with which to pursue other deals as well and there could be more in the works now that financing through conventional banks is so costly IF one could even get it. I know of three separate newsletters that absolutely LOVE and recommend Silver Wheaton to their subscribers and I'm predicting you'll like em too the next time silver heads north, which most likely won't be far off now...
Double that for Alexco! Check out their website and remember they have a friend and relationship with Nova Gold (which is good) that helps with the geo duties. They also have an environmental business and are expecting to ink a MAJOR cleanup deal with the Canadian government involving the very properties they're involved with in mining the silver with their mining company. Minimal downside risk and LOTS of UPSIDE possibilities. Again, these are two HIGH QUALITY companies that have LOTS of future growth potential. I doubt you'll see em so cheap after the price of metal starts going up, like this ever again!!

Am I rich or poor?? Well, I'm not poor but I'm not rich either. I'm in the (so far) comfortable middle and lookin to rise...like you and most other folks. I do own a couple of thousand shares of SLW and a similar amount in AXU as I like quality companies too. These ARE keepers... :-)

2008 Oct 06 12:07 AM

[User 343566:]

Boy do these Alexco guys have it backwards in the hills around Keno

Mar 10 01:51 AM

[goldminerpulse:]

Alexco Resource's Bellekeno in the Keno Hill silver district is one of the 10 largest undeveloped silver deposits. Alexco doesn't look to have any permitting problems and has extremely high grades, one of the highest in the industry. So, I'm not surprised to see Alexco highly valued. I've put together some charts comparing Alexco (AXR on the charts since I use the Canadian symbol and not AXU) on the basis of ore value per tonne versus market capitalization per ounce of silver equivalent. The chart also includes 23 other silver miners. AXU/AUX stands out it in a class of its own. Here is the supporting chart
www.goldminerpulse.com...
and I've also put together some notes on issues at some of the other large undeveloped silver deposits for comparison here
www.goldminerpulse.com...

Check out the issues Aquiline (Navidad in Argentina), and the Montana copper-silver deposits are having and then compare to Alexco's situation. Alexco is in a great position IMO.

Aug 24 10:20 PM