Rio Silver Inc., a Canadian mineral exploration company, has announced significant progress at its Maria Norte gold-silver-lead-zinc project located in central Peru. The company's recent technical work, conducted under the stringent National Instrument 43-101 standards, has not only confirmed the presence of high-grade silver mineralization but also charted a clear path for near-term development in one of Peru's most prolific silver districts.
Verification Sampling Confirms Exceptional Grades
The cornerstone of the update is a series of verification samples collected during an independent site visit in June 2025. The sampling, overseen by qualified professional geologist James A. McCrea, P.Geo., targeted exposed surface veins and historic waste material at the Maria Norte site.
The results were striking, showcasing the project's high-grade potential. A 0.7-metre chip sample from a surface vein outcrop returned an impressive 991 grams per tonne (g/t) of silver, alongside 6.263 g/t of gold. Another chip sample, spanning 0.5 metres, yielded 869 g/t silver. Even a simple grab sample from a historic waste dump contained 396 g/t silver, indicating the widespread presence of valuable mineralization.
Project Characteristics and Strategic Advantages
The latest findings reinforce Maria Norte's profile as a promising low-sulphidation epithermal vein system, a geological setting famous for high-grade silver deposits. Beyond the compelling drill results, Rio Silver highlighted several key advantages that bolster the project's viability for development.
The company reports favorable metallurgical characteristics and the benefit of existing infrastructure in the well-established Huachocolpa mining district. Furthermore, Rio Silver emphasized its strong community engagement efforts, a critical component for successful mining operations in Peru. These factors collectively reduce technical risk and provide a solid foundation for advancing the project.
Pathway to Near-Term Development
With the NI 43-101 verification work now complete, Rio Silver has moved to define a clear and actionable development pathway for Maria Norte. The confirmation of high-grade silver at surface, consistent with historical data from previous operators, provides the technical confidence needed to plan the next phases of work.
The company's strategy is focused on leveraging the confirmed geology, positive community relations, and local infrastructure to efficiently advance Maria Norte. This update positions the Vancouver-based company to potentially unlock significant value from its Peruvian asset in the foreseeable future.
All samples from the verification program were securely transported and analyzed by Certimin S.A., an ISO 9001–certified laboratory in Lima. The independent author concluded that the methods and results are representative of the surface mineralization observed, validating the project's exploration data.
