Almaden Minerals Ltd. (“Almaden” or “the Company”; TSX:
AMM; NYSE American: AAU) wishes to advise stakeholders
that it has recently learnt that Mexico’s Ministry of the Economy
(“Economia”) has made a submission to the second district court in
Puebla State (the “District Court”) to deny the two mineral title
applications which were first made by Almaden in 2002 and 2008, and
which in turn led to the grant of mineral titles in 2003 and 2009,
respectively. 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.
Almaden believes that this action by Economia is
inconsistent with the Mexican Mining Law, the SCJN decision, and
international law. The Company expects to submit arguments
challenging Economia’s submissions to the District Court within the
next few days. Further legal action is currently being studied.
By way of background, Almaden’s mineral claims
covering the Ixtaca project were used as the basis of a lawsuit by
a third party against the Mexican government (President, Congress,
Ministry of Economy, Directorate of Mines, Mining Registry Office)
asserting that the Mexican mining law is unconstitutional. In
February, 2022, the SCJN ruled that Mexico’s mineral title law is
constitutional, but that before issuing Almaden’s mineral titles in
2003 and 2009, Economia should have provided for a consultation
procedure with relevant indigenous communities.
In April, 2022, the SCJN provided additional
detail regarding the procedures required to be followed by the
Mexican government in the performance of indigenous consultation
prior to the grant of mineral claims. The SCJN also clarified that
the Company’s original claim applications were submitted pursuant
to the legal framework in force at the time and that Almaden’s
mineral rights at the Ixtaca project were safeguarded while the
mining authorities comply with the SCJN decision.
In July 2022, the Company announced that, as
required by the SCJN, Economia had notified Almaden that the
Company’s mineral titles relating to the Ixtaca project were
“ineffective”. The Company understood this to mean that the mineral
title reverted to application status, and that these applications
preserve the mineral rights for Almaden but do not allow the
Company to engage in exploration, until such time as Economia
completes its court-ordered indigenous consultation in the area
covered by the mineral title applications.
The Company has now received notice that
Economia has reviewed the original claim applications on file and
resolved, despite acting to the contrary in 2003 and 2009, that the
applications contain technical faults which preclude the grant of
the mineral claims. Economia is therefore seeking to deny the grant
of the mineral claims prior to engaging in the indigenous
consultation ordered by the SCJN. Economia’s resolution has not yet
been accepted by the District Court.
Almaden will continue to support the indigenous
consultation mandated by the SCJN and assert its rights as
appropriate.
Duane Poliquin, Chair of Almaden, stated, “It is
stunning that up to twenty years after initially granting the
claims on the basis of the original applications, Economia has now
changed its mind and decided that those same applications are
insufficient and do not support the award of the mineral titles.
The Government of Mexico has received over CAD$2.3 million in claim
taxes and overseen approximately CAD$60 million in investment since
the mineral titles were originally granted. This effort by Economia
is a stark warning to all those who value a predictable and stable
mineral tenure regime in Mexico.”
Duane Poliquin continued, “We can accept that
tenure systems evolve and that Mexico needed to redress the harms
it has caused to Mexican indigenous communities and peoples, by not
properly implementing ILO 169 and guaranteeing their human right to
free, prior, and informed consultation. However, this decision by
Economia attempts to pre-empt the indigenous consultation ordered
by the SCJN, which Almaden is confident will allow the principal
host communities to express their strong support for the
project.”
About Almaden
Almaden Minerals Ltd. owns 100% of the Ixtaca
project in Puebla State, Mexico, 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. The Ixtaca Gold-Silver Deposit was discovered by Almaden
in 2010.
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 decision of the District Court in respect of the
submissions of Economia that the court deny Almaden’s 2002 and 2008
mineral title applications, any further legal action by Almaden,
completion of indigenous consultation by Economia and community
support for the Ixtaca project.
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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