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Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) ("Southern Silver" and the "Company") reports that drilling has started on a 4,000-metre diamond drilling program on its wholly owned Oro property, located in southwestern New Mexico, USA.
The six-hole program will test several copper porphyry and skarn targets which form part of a large, well-zoned Laramide-age mineral system consisting of a ring of Carbonate Replacement Deposits (CRDs) around a core of an intensely sericite-pyrite altered lithocap overlying an unexposed porphyry center. Several sediment-host gold targets have been identified well outboard of the main porphyry center.
Drilling will first test three porphyry copper targets (targets A, B and E; see Figure 1) and then transition to three copper-skarn targets (targets F, H and D) in the southern part of the property and is anticipated to take approximately eight to twelve weeks to complete.
Figure 1: Selected Drill Targets (A-H) on the Oro Project
The Oro Project is a large district play that Southern has systematically consolidated, expanded and explored since initial acquisition in late 2005. Current drill targeting is based upon 3D modelling of data generated by geologic mapping, historic drill holes, geochemical zoning studies, alteration clay zoning studies, and geophysical surveys through this large zoned porphyry-system. The current program follows initial diamond drilling in 2010-11 which targeted several skarn and CRD targets and two phases of RC drilling which targeted the Stockpond gold target in 2016-17.
Figure 2: Interpretive Cross-section of Porphyry targets on the Oro Property
El Sol Claim
The company also reports that it has completed the final payment to Monarca Minerals Inc., acquiring a 100% interest in the El Sol mineral claim, Cerro Las Minitas Project, Durango, Mexico.
Acquisition cost was $US 300,000 payable in three equal instalments with a 2% NSR on production from the claim with a right in Southern Silver to purchase the royalty at any time for US$1,000,000.
The El Sol claim is largely gravel covered, 63ha in size and is located on the northwestern boundary of the Bocona block of claims and adjacent to the Area of the Cerro which hosts the six mineral deposits currently identified by Southern Silver on the Cerro Las Minitas claim package.
Previously reported highlights from the El Sol claim include (see NR-02-22; January 25, 2022) include:
- a 0.8 metre interval grading 1,760g/t Ag, 0.9g/t Au, 23.6% Pb and 1.2% Zn (2,622g/t AgEq) within a 3.5 metre interval averaging 549g/t Ag, 0.3g/t Au, 8.6% Pb and 3.6% Zn (982g/t AgEq) from drill hole 21SOL-003
Drill hole 21SOL-003 is one of five holes drilled in the Autumn of 2021 to test a series of targets defined by surface mapping, rock and soil sampling and proximity to artisanal workings. The highlight interval intersected down-dip of historic workings located on a northeast-southwest trending structure which has been traced on surface for up to 300 metres laterally before plunging under gravel cover. Three further holes (22Sol-006, to -008) were completed on the concession in January 2022. Assays from these holes are pending with results anticipated in the coming weeks.
Figure 3: Plan Map of the Area of the Cerro showing drilling on the El Sol concession
About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.
Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is an exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits. Our specific emphasis is the 100% owned Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico's Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, Los Gatos, San Martin, Naica and Pitarrilla. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts in developing the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, high-grade, silver-lead-zinc mine. The Company engages in the acquisition, exploration and development either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions.
Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and supervised directly or was part of the team that supervised the collection of the data from the El Sol Project that is reported in this disclosure and is responsible for the presentation of the technical information in this disclosure.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
"Lawrence Page"
Lawrence Page, Q.C.
President & Director, Southern Silver Exploration Corp.
For further information, please visit Southern Silver's website at southernsilverexploration.com or contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at ir@mnxltd.com.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Southern Silver Exploration Corp. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.
Southern Silver Exploration
Overview
Will silver offer you the same protection as gold? Some analysts say silver can protect you in times of global turmoil. It's widely considered a safe way to store value, similar to gold. In addition, silver typically has volatile prices, which can benefit investors.
Yet, silver is more than a precious metal used to hedge against inflation and uncertainty. It also has industrial uses that create a steady demand. For example, in 2021, approximately 508.2 million ounces of silver were used in industrial fabrication, such as for producing solar panels and automotive electrical systems. In addition, investors have options; they can invest in silver bullion, commodities markets, or silver mining companies to capitalize on the precious metal. So how will you profit from silver?
Southern Silver Exploration (TSXV:SSV,OTCQX:SSVFF) is an exploration mining company focused on creating value for shareholders from its unique silver assets. The company’s projects are located throughout North America, strategically positioned in politically safe mining jurisdictions. Its flagship project, Cerro Las Minitas, is located in Durango, Mexico, and is one of the top high-grade, undeveloped, silver projects in the world. Mexico is known for containing high-grade silver deposits, and Southern Silver Exploration’s flagship project is an undeveloped asset with excellent upside potential.
Durango has attracted several mining companies due to its largely untapped potential. Fresnillo (OTCMKTS:FNLPF), SSR Mining (NASDAQ:SSRM), Coeur (NYSE:CDE) and Avino (TSX:ASM) are some of the mining companies with good assets in the area. These projects, along with the region's political stability and rich geological formations provide confidence in the area’s viability for further development.
The 100-percent-owned Cerro Las Minitas Project is a silver-lead-zinc property covering 340 square kilometers, with the potential to become one of the top high-grade silver mines in the world. The 2021 resource update, at a US$60 per ton NSR cut-off, features an indicated mineral resource equating to 137 million ounces of silver equivalent,or 2.3 billion pounds of zinc equivalent, consisting of 42.1 million ounces of silver, 28 thousand ounces of gold, 44 million pounds of copper, 358 million pounds of lead, and 895 million pounds of zinc.
An inferred mineral resource equates to 198 million ounces of silver equivalent or 3.3 billion pounds of zinc equivalent, consisting of 73.6 million ounces of silver, 78 thousand ounces of gold, 98 million pounds of copper, 500 million pounds of lead, and 1,009 million pounds of zinc.
These estimates place the asset in the world’s top five silver mines.
Southern Silver Exploration has created a mine life of over 15 years, which will create enduring value for a third-party that may acquire the mine in the future. In addition, to date, the company’s cost of exploration per ounce of silver is C$0.09, which is much lower than its competition. The company has two additional, 100-percent-owned assets, the Oro Copper-Gold Project and the Hermanas Silver Gold-Silver project. These assets expose shareholders to additional markets beyond silver. These two assets are located in New Mexico, USA.
An experienced management team is leading Southern Silver Exploration toward its goals. Lawrence Page, president and director, has decades of experience working with precious metals and other natural resource companies, and now leads Southern Silver Exploration. Robert W.J. Macdonald, vice president of exploration, has overseen silver and gold projects throughout North America. The management team includes additional specialists and experts who help advance Southern Silver Exploration’s goals.
Multiple members of the management team have experience leading projects within Mexico. These leaders have an established network of relationships with Mexican nationals who work with the company in all aspects of exploration and development. Southern Silver Exploration is proud of its positive relationship with the local government.
Company Highlights
- Southern Silver Exploration is a silver-focused exploration company with three, 100-percent-owned projects in North America, including an undeveloped asset that’s poised to become one of the world’s top silver mines.
- The company’s flagship project, Cerro Las Minitas in Durango, Mexico, has an indicated resource of 42.1 million ounces of silver and an inferred resource of 73.6 million ounces of silver, placing it firmly in the top five silver assets on the planet.
- Cerro Las Minitas is located in a safe jurisdiction that has attracted other mining companies hoping to discover prolific deposits.
- Two additional 100-percent-owned assets expose investors to copper and gold markets.
- Southern Silver Exploration is led by a team of experienced mining professionals, who bring their specific expertise and established relationships with local governments to help the company achieve its goals.
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Developing One of the World’s Largest High-Grade Undeveloped Silver Projects
What Was the Highest Price for Silver?
In this article
How is silver traded?
Before discovering what the highest silver price was, it’s worth looking at how the precious metal is traded. Knowing the mechanics can be useful in understanding why and how its price changes on a day-to-day basis and beyond.
Put simply, silver bullion is traded in dollars and cents per ounce, with market activity taking place worldwide at all hours, resulting in a live silver price. Key commodities markets like New York, London and Hong Kong are just a few locations where investors trade the metal. London is seen as the center of physical silver trade, while the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, called the NYMEX, is where most paper trading is done.
There are two popular ways to invest in silver. The first is through purchasing silver bullion products such as bullion bars, bullion coins and silver rounds. Physical silver is sold on the spot market, meaning that in order to invest in silver this way, buyers pay a specific price for the metal — the silver price per ounce — and then have it delivered immediately.
The second is accomplished through paper trading, which is done via the silver futures market, with participants entering into futures contracts for the delivery of silver at an agreed-upon price and time. In such contracts, two positions can be taken: a long position to accept delivery of the metal or a short position to provide delivery.
Paper trading might sound like a strange way to get silver exposure, but it can provide investors with flexibility that they wouldn’t get from buying and selling bullion. The most obvious advantage is perhaps the fact that trading in the paper market means silver investors can benefit long term from holding silver without needing to store it. Furthermore, futures trading can offer more financial leverage in that it requires less capital than trading in the physical market.
Market participants can also invest in silver through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Investing in a silver ETF is similar to trading a stock on an exchange, and there are several silver ETFs to choose from. Some ETFs focus on physical silver bullion, while others focus on silver futures contracts. Still others focus on the silver stocks or follow the live silver price.
What is silver's all-time high price?
The silver all-time high was US$49.95 per ounce, a level it reached on January 17, 1980.
However, the price didn’t exactly reach that level by honest means. As Britannica explains, two wealthy traders called the Hunt brothers attempted to corner the market by buying not only physical silver, but also silver futures — they took delivery of those silver futures contracts instead of taking legal tender in the form cash settlements.
Their exploits ultimately ended in disaster: On March 27, 1980, they missed a margin call and the silver market price plunged to US$10.80. This day is infamously known as Silver Thursday.
That record silver price wouldn’t be tested again until April 2011, when it reached US$47.94. This was more than triple the 2009 average silver price of US$14.67, with the price uptick coming on the back of very strong investment demand.
Silver's recent price history
After its 2011 peak, silver's price pulled back over the following years before settling between US$15 and US$20 for much of the second half of last decade. An upward trend in the silver price started in mid-2020, when it was spurred on by the economic uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The price of silver breached the key US$26 level in early August 2020, and soon after tested US$30. However, it failed to make substantial progress past that.
Silver price chart, September 2, 2005, to September 2, 2025.
Chart via SilverPrice.org.
In the spring of 2023, the silver price surged by 30 percent, briefly rising above US$26 in early May; however, the precious metal cratered back down to US$20.90 in early October. Later that month, silver advanced toward the US$23 level on the back of safe-haven demand due to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.
Following remarks from US Federal Rerserve Chair Jerome Powell, speculation about interest rate reductions sent the price of silver to US$25.48 on November 30, its highest point for the fourth quarter.
After starting 2024 on a low note, the white metal saw gains in March on rising Fed rate cut expectations. The resulting upward momentum led silver to reach a Q1 high of US$25.62 on March 20 before breaking through the US$30 mark on May 17. The silver price reached a then 12 year high of US$32.33 on May 20. In Q3, the metal's price slid down below the US$27 mark to as low as US$26.64 by August 7 alongside its industrial cousin copper.
Heading into Q4 2024, silver reversed course to the upside, tracking the record breaking moves in the gold price. Silver once again breached the US$30 level on September 13 and continued higher. On October 21, the silver price moved as high as US$34.20 during the trading day, up more than 48 percent since the start of the year and its highest level in 12 years. However, silver spent the rest of the year in decline, bottoming out at US$28.94 on December 30.
Silver price in 2025
The silver price experienced a momentum shift at the start of 2025, breaking through the US$30 barrier as early as January 5, and reached US$31.31 by January 29. The metal continued to post gains through much of February and March, climbing to US$32.94 on February 20 and then peaking at its quarterly high of US$34.21 on March 28.
Silver price chart, September 2, 2024, to September 2, 2025.
Chart via Silverprice.org.
Following US President Donald Trump's tariff announcements on April 2, silver slumped to below US$30. While the Trump administration’s tariff policies have been largely beneficial for safe-haven assets like precious metals, there were concerns that the threat of tariffs could weaken industrial demand, which could cool price gains in the silver market.
Yet those concerns were pushed to the back burner as recent economic and geopolitical events have raised analysts’ expectations of a September rate cut by the Fed. The benchmark rate has not changed since November 2024.
On June 5, the silver price rose to a 13 year high of US$36.05 in early morning trading, before retreating toward the US$35.50 mark. By June 16, the white metal had broken through the US$37 mark for the first time since May 2011.
In July, increasing geopolitical strife in the Middle East and Russia-Ukraine coupled with a positive outlook for China’s solar power industry proved price positive for both silver’s precious metals and industrial angles.
The silver price overtook the US$39 level to reach US$39.24 on July 22.
These same forces, coupled with the nearly unanimous rate cut expectations, launched the price of silver to over US$40 on August 31 for the first time since 2011, and by September 3 it had climbed as high as US$41.45.
Silver supply and demand dynamics
Market watchers are curious as to whether the silver price will continue its upward trajectory in 2025. Only time will tell, and it will depend on the white metal's ability to remain above the critical US$30 level.
Like other metals, the silver spot price is most heavily influenced by supply and demand dynamics. However, as the information above illustrates, the silver price can be highly volatile. That's partially due to the fact that the metal is subject to both investment and industrial metal demand within global markets.
In other words, it’s bought by investors who want it as a store of wealth, as well as by manufacturers looking to use it for different applications that are incredibly varied. For example, silver has diverse technological applications and is used in devices like batteries and catalysts, but it’s also used in medicine and in the automotive industry.
In terms of supply, the world’s three top producers of the metal are Mexico, China and Peru. Even in those countries silver is usually a by-product — for instance, a mine producing primarily gold or lead might also have silver output.
The Silver Institute's latest World Silver Survey, put together by Metals Focus, outlines a 0.9 percent increase in global mine production to 819.7 million ounces in 2024. This was in partly the result of a return to operations at Newmont's (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) Peñasquito mine in Mexico following a suspension of activity brought about by strike action among workers and improved recoveries out of Fresnillo (LSE:FRES,OTC Pink:FNLPF) and MAG Silver's (TSX:MAG,NYSEAMERICAN:MAG) Juanicipio. Silver output also increased in Australia, Bolivia and the US.
The firm is forecasting a 1.9 percent rise in global silver mine production to 823 million ounces in 2025. Much of that growth is expected to come out of Mexico, and it is also projecting output will rise in Chile and Russia.
Lower production from Australia and Peru will offset some of these gains.
Looking at demand, Metals Focus sees growth in 2025 flatlining as industrial fabrication takes a hit from the global tariff war. This could be tempered by an anticipated rebound in demand from physical investment in silver bars and coins.
The silver market is expected to experience a substantial deficit of 117.6 million ounces in 2025, amounting to the sixth straight year of supply shortage for the metal.
Is the silver price manipulated?
As a final note on silver, it’s important for investors to be aware that manipulation of prices is a major issue in the space.
For instance, in 2015, 10 banks were hit in a US probe on precious metals manipulation. Evidence provided by Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) showed “smoking gun” proof that UBS Group (NYSE:UBS), HSBC Holdings (NYSE:HSBC), the The Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX:BNS) and other firms were involved in rigging silver rates from 2007 to 2013. In May 2023, a silver manipulation lawsuit filed in 2014 against HSBC and the Bank of Nova Scotia was dismissed by a US court.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) has been long at the center of silver manipulation claims as well. For years the firm has been in and out of court for the accusations. In 2020, JPMorgan agreed to pay US$920 million to resolve federal agency probes regarding the manipulation of multiple markets, including precious metals.
In 2014, the London Silver Market Fixing stopped administering the London silver fix, which had been used for over a century to fix the price of silver. It was replaced by the LBMA Silver Price, which is run by ICE Benchmark Administration, in a bid to increase market transparency.
Market watchers like Ed Steer have said that the days of silver manipulation are numbered, and that the market will see a significant shift when the time finally comes.
Investor takeaway
While silver has neared US$50 multiple times, including its all-time high, it’s anyone’s guess whether it will reach those heights once again. Many commentators say prospects are bright for silver, and investors will no doubt be watching to see how the metal fares.
This is an updated version of an article first published by the Investing News Network in 2015.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, currently hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Silver Price Surges Above US$40 for First Time Since 2011
Silver price chart, June 1 to September 2, 2025.
Chart via the Investing News Network.
Alongside silver's move, the gold price reached a fresh all-time high on Tuesday as expectations rose that the Fed will cut interest rates when it meets next from September 16 to 17.
Although inflation has been moving further from the Fed’s 2 percent target, there has been greater uncertainty in the labor force. July’s nonfarm payroll report indicated slowing growth in the jobs market and featured a downward revision of 258,000 fewer jobs in May and June combined. The next report, due on Friday (September 5), has analysts predicting further weakness in the US jobs market, with expectations of 73,000 jobs being added to the economy.
A weak jobs market has been fueled by uncertainty within the economy since the start of the year amid an ever-changing tariff policy under President Donald Trump. On August 29, a federal appeals court struck down the majority of Trump’s tariffs in a seven-to-four ruling, deeming the levies to be unconstitutional.
The tariffs will remain in place until October 14, giving the White House time to mount an appeal of the decision with the Supreme Court of the US. The order adds another level of uncertainty to an already chaotic market, pushing 10 and 30 year bond yields up and driving a selloff in equity markets. Investors are spooked that the ruling may require the government to repay tariffs that have already been collected, adding to the ballooning US federal debt.
The silver price is also benefiting from the high gold price, as some investors look for safe-haven assets at lower entry points. Additionally, silver has increasing industrial applications, which have driven a structural supply deficit in the market, providing underlying fundamental support for investors.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Cobre Limited: Unlocking Copper and Critical Minerals for a Low-carbon Future
Cobre (ASX:CBE) is advancing copper-silver exploration in Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt, one of the world’s most prospective yet underexplored sediment-hosted copper provinces. Holding a 5,348 sq km land position, its near-term focus is the Ngami Copper Project (NCP), where a maiden JORC resource at the Comet deposit establishes an initial copper-silver resource with strong in-situ copper recovery (ISCR) development potential.
Cobre’s growth strategy balances district-scale discovery with development-ready assets. Backed by up to AU$40 million (US$25 million) in BHP funding, the company is accelerating exploration at Kitlanya while directing its own capital toward advancing the Ngami Copper Project through technical, environmental and permitting milestones.
Cobre’s project location in the Kalahari Copper BeltIn parallel, Cobre maintains strategic exposure to high-purity quartz and volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) opportunities in Western Australia. This diversified, capital-light approach is designed to drive shareholder value through discovery, de-risking and development optionality.
Company Highlights
- Dominant land position – ~5,348 sq km across Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB), the second largest tenement package in the districtInvestor
- Maiden JORC Mineral Resource – Comet deposit (Ngami copper project): 11.5 Mt @ 0.52 percent copper and 11.6 grams per ton (g/t) silver (60.3 kt copper; 4.3 Moz silver), incl. 1.1 Mt indicated @ 0.59 percent copper and 12.8 g/t silver
- BHP partnership – Eight-year earn-in across Kitlanya East & West, allowing BHP to earn 75 percent by providing up to US$25 million for exploration expenditure, while Cobre retains exposure
- BHP Xplor cohort – Selected in 2024, securing US$500,000 non-dilutive funding and technical support
- Multi-jurisdiction exploration portfolio – Botswana (copper-silver), Western Australia (VMS, high-purity quartz)
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