Almaden Reports on Lower Court Decision Regarding Mexico’s Ministry of Economy Efforts to Deny Twenty Year-Old Ixtaca Mineral Title Applications
April 13 2023 - 5:10PM
Almaden Minerals Ltd. (“Almaden” or “the Company”; TSX:
AMM; NYSE American: AAU) wishes to advise stakeholders
that, further to our press release of February 22, 2023, the second
district court in Puebla State (the “District Court”) has ruled in
favour of the submission made by Mexico’s Ministry of Economy
(“Economia”) which seeks to deny the two mineral title applications
which were first made by Almaden in 2002 and 2008, and which in
turn initially led to the grant of mineral titles in 2003 and 2009,
respectively (the “Economia Submission”). These mineral titles
underpin the Ixtaca deposit which was discovered by Almaden in
2010. As previously reported, these mineral titles were reduced to
application status as a result of an early 2022 decision of
Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice (“SCJN”). The District Court is
implementing the SCJN decision.
The District Court ruling appears to rely
heavily on Economia’s determination regarding the Company’s 2002
and 2008 title applications, and in its decision has not provided
arguments to address the Company’s challenge of the Economia
Submission. Almaden will appeal this District Court decision and is
pursuing other legal means to challenge the Economia Submission.
Almaden has been advised that so long as these appeals are
continuing, Almaden’s mineral title applications from 2002 and 2008
remain in place thus preserving the preferential mineral
rights.
Duane Poliquin, Chair of Almaden, stated “We are
very alarmed by this arbitrary decision of Economia and will appeal
the District Court ruling. We continue to support the indigenous
consultation as outlined in the SCJN decision, which we believe
will allow the principal host communities to express their strong
support for the project”.
About Almaden
Almaden Minerals Ltd. discovered the Ixtaca
project in Puebla State, Mexico, in 2010. Almaden’s interest in the
Ixtaca project is subject to a 2.0% NSR royalty held by Almadex
Minerals Ltd. The Ixtaca deposit hosts a proven and probable
reserve containing 1.38 million ounces of gold and 85.1 million
ounces of silver (73.1 million tonnes grading 0.59 g/t Au and 36.3
g/t Ag). A report titled “Ixtaca Gold-Silver Project, Puebla State,
Mexico NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Feasibility Study”, which
was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, is available under the
Company’s profile on SEDAR and on the Company’s website.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
“J. Duane
Poliquin” J. Duane
PoliquinChairAlmaden Minerals Ltd.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain of the statements and information in
this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the
meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. All
statements, other than statements of historical fact, are
forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking
statements or information in this news release relate to, among
other things, the intention to appeal the decision of the District
Court, and other legal actions that may be taken in respect of the
Economia Submission.
These forward-looking statements and information
reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events
and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while
considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to
significant legal, regulatory, business, operational and economic
uncertainties and contingencies, and such uncertainty generally
increases with longer-term forecasts and outlook. These assumptions
include: stability and predictability in Mexico’s consultation
process with indigenous communities and judicial decisions thereon;
stability and predictability in Mexico’s mineral tenure, mining,
environmental and agrarian laws and regulations, as well as their
application and judicial decisions thereon; continued respect for
the rule of law in Mexico; prices for gold, silver and base metals
remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as
estimated; availability of funds; capital, decommissioning and
reclamation estimates; mineral reserve and resource estimates;
prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services
(including transportation); no labour-related disruptions; all
necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals being received
in a timely manner; the ability to secure and maintain title and
ownership to properties and the surface rights necessary for
operations; community support in the Ixtaca Project; and the
ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The
foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.
The Company cautions the reader that
forward-looking statements and information involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results and developments to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or
information contained in this news release. Such risks and other
factors include, among others, risks related to: Mexico’s
consultation process with indigenous communities and potential
litigation in respect thereof; political risk in Mexico; crime and
violence in Mexico; corruption; environmental risks, including
environmental matters under Mexican laws and regulations; impact of
environmental impact assessment requirements on the Company’s
planned exploration and development activities on the Ixtaca
Project; certainty of mineral title and the outcome of litigation;
community relations; governmental regulations and the ability to
obtain necessary licences and permits; risks related to mineral
properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements,
transfers or claims and other defects in title; changes in mining,
environmental or agrarian laws and regulations and changes in the
application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations
which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations;
as well as those factors discussed the section entitled "Risk
Factors" in Almaden's Annual Information Form and Almaden's latest
Form 20-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission in Washington, D.C. Although the Company has attempted
to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may
cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from
those described in forward-looking statements or information, there
may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to
be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance
that our forward-looking statements or information will prove to be
accurate. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements or information. Except as required by
law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly
any revisions to on forward-looking statements or information
contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances
after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events.
Contact Information:
Almaden Minerals Ltd.Tel. 604.689.7644Email:
info@almadenminerals.comhttp://www.almadenminerals.com/
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