Best Junior Silver Stocks of 2018 on the TSXV

While precious metals made a name for themselves as a safe-haven in previous quarters, Q2 has seen investors pulling away from them and favoring the strong US dollar. Even though silver managed to hit a high of US$17.22 per ounce on April 19, it closed down 1.96 percent in Q2.

Many analysts and insiders believe that despite silver’s decline, the grey metal could still outperform gold. Here’s a look at the best junior silver stocks making the most gains year-to-date.

The list below was generated on July 5, 2018 using the Globe and Mail’s market data filter, and it shows the TSXV-listed silver companies that have seen the biggest share price gains year-to-date. Only companies with market caps above US$10 million as of that date are included.

1. Minaurum Gold (TSXV:MGG)

Current price: C$0.60; year-to-date gain: 130.77 percent

Minaurum focuses on the exploration and development of high-grade gold and silver projects in the Southern Sonora State, Oaxaca-Chiapas Region and Guerrero Gold Belt.

The company had been credited with the discovery of over 200 million ounces of silver and 8 million ounces of gold in Mexico.

On May 8, the company announced that it has successfully raised US$4,792,500 in its first tranche of a total US$6-million non-brokered private placement. A total of 10,650,000 units were issued at a price of US$0.45 per unit with proceeds going to fund the company’s ongoing exploration program at the Alamos Silver project in Sonora State, Mexico.

At the beginning of June, Minaurum reported that it discovered three new veins (Pulpito, Cotera and Ana) within its Alamos Silver Project in Mexico.

“We are excited to find three new veins carrying high silver grades in our newly acquired claims and continue to seek others throughout our project. While we wait for permits for an aggressively expanded drill program, we look forward to updating the market with our ongoing exploration results,” stated Darrell Rader, president and CEO of Minaurum.

2. SilverCrest Metals (TSXV:SIL,OTCOX:SVCMF)

Current price: C$2.79; year-to-date gain: 51.63 percent

SilverCrest Metals is a metals exploration company located in Vancouver, BC, that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions and targeting production in Mexico’s historic precious metal districts.

The company is the first to drill test the historic, high-grade Las Chispas silver-gold project, which used to be a precious metals producer.

On April 17, SilverCrest announced drill results from the Luigi Vein on the Las Chispas property. There are 23 known epithermal veins on the property and the company tested ten them, all of which have drill-intersected high-grade mineralization.

“With the addition of the Luigi Vein, we continue to grow our portfolio of high-grade mineralized veins and are beginning to understand the “nature of multiples” when it comes to projecting high-grade previous drill-intercepts in adjacent veins on to new discoveries. This is the tenth high-grade vein we have delineated in the district, which is immediately adjacent to the Las Chispas Vein and accessible by underground workings,” said N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng and CEO.

“The Luigi Vein is named after Luigi Pedrazzini, son of Giovanni Pedrazzini the founder of Minas Pedrazzini Gold and Silver Mining Company which operated at the Property from the late 1800s to 1930. We plan to further drill test the Luigi Vein during H1 2018 and include the results in the proposed updated resources in Q3 2018,” he added.

By June 12, the company reported additional drill results of both silver and gold.

“The most significant result for this release was returned from Hole GR18-04, which intersected 1.8 metres grading 12.14 grams per tonne gold and 1,440.3 grams per tonne silver,” the company said in a press release.

3. Maya Gold & Silver (TSXV:MYA)

Current price: C$2.37; year-to-date gain: 33.15 percent

Maya Gold & Silver is a Canada-based international mining and mineral exploration company focused on Morocco’s emerging mining sector.

Currently, the company operates advanced projects with near-term revenue potential and a pipeline of exploration projects and is known for its Flagship project Zgounder silver mine.

In mid-April, Maya announced that it had raised C$28 million through the issuance of 8,605,152 common shares, at a price of C$3.30 per common share.

The net proceeds of the private placement will be used to continue the development and expansion of the Zgounder silver mine.

“We are extremely pleased with the high level of investor interest and confidence in our team’s ability to show strong results and advance Maya’s portfolio. With this financing now in place, we look forward to creating long-term shareholder value by continuing the development at our Zgounder Silver property,” said Noureddine Mokaddem, president and CEO of Maya Gold & Silver.

Most recently, on June 25, the company reported that it had received the first results from its diamond drilling program at its Boumadine property. The drilling consisted of testing the known mineralization and confirming historical results.

“These positive assay results are very important for the first time since acquisition, they show particularly rich mineralization at Boumadine. The continuity and quality of the mineralization is demonstrated in the Central zone,” said Mokaddem.

“With this confirmed high-grade mineralization we continue to increase our near-surface high-grade footprint in the district. As well, the depth potential of Boumadine has never been significantly tested in the past and represents a great opportunity for Maya,” he added.

What do you think were the best junior silver stocks of 2018? Let us know in the comments below.

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The data for this article was retrieved on July 5, 2018 using The Globe and Mail’s market data filter. Only TSXV-listed silver companies with market capitalizations greater than $10 million are included.

Securities Disclosure: I, Nicole Rashotte, currently hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.