Igor Gonzales, President and CEO of Sierra Metals, commented: “The Company has started 2018 with solid production results coming from all three mines in the first quarter. Thanks in part to record production at both the Yauricocha and Bolivar mines where we are reaping the benefits of our operational improvement programs. The Company has initiated preliminary scoping / PEA studies to analyze future operational production increases at all three mines and continues development at our Mines with an objective of progressing the recent resource increases at the Cusi Mine, as well as the reserve and resource increases at the Yauricocha Mine into the mine plans. Similar plans will also be put in place with the results from the upcoming Bolivar reserve and resource update.

“We anticipated the first quarter to be our lowest production quarter of the year as we implemented our dual cut-off strategy at San Francisco. With the run of mine ore only placed under leach towards the end of January, we did not see ounces draining from the pad until March,” said Greg McCunn, Chief Executive Officer.

“Our mines are performing well due to the strength of our operating teams and consistent and disciplined capital programs that have improved these longlived mines,” said Phillips S. Baker, Jr., Hecla’s President and CEO. “Greens Creek continues growing throughput, primarily due to increased efficiency at shift change as we utilize new technologies like remote monitoring systems and automated use of the LHD. Casa Berardi is now fully an underground and open pit mine and continues to set throughput records. San Sebastian’s production is primarily from stockpiled open pit material as we transition to the underground. The cash position is the second highest in the past 6 years, and we expect to deploy it to acquire Klondex in the second quarter.”

MEXICAN GOLD CORP. (TSX-V:MEX) (OTCQB:MEXGF) (FRA:4QW1) is pleased to announce that, further to its announcement on March 26, 2018, it has completed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1,046,950 at a price of $0.30 per unit. Each Unit consisted of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.60 per common share for a period of thirty-six months from the closing date of the Private Placement, whereupon the Warrants will expire.

Leagold CEO Neil Woodyer commented: “We are pleased to have a strong start to 2018 at Los Filos and expect further production improvements throughout the year. On closing of the Brio Gold acquisition, the combined company is expected to produce gold at a rate of approximately 450,000 oz per year from four mines in Mexico and Brazil.”

“Great Panther’s first quarter production improved significantly compared to the first quarter last year when the Topia plant was suspended for planned upgrades”, stated James Bannantine, President & CEO. “To date in 2018, our Mexican operations are performing steadily, with production in line with annual guidance, and we are continuing to make progress on the technical evaluation of the Coricancha Mine in Peru.”

Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. (TSX-V: MLN) is pleased to announce that Guillermo Kaelin has been appointed as a member of the board of directors, subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.