SilverCrest Announces High-Grade Drill Results on Multiple Veins in the Babicanora Area

• 2.3m (ETW) Grading 87.05 gpt Au and 6,469.2 gpt Ag, or 14,034 gpt AgEq
• 3.7m (ETW) Grading 40.42 gpt Au and 6,089.4 gpt Ag, or 9,602 gpt AgEq

TSX: SIL | NYSE American: SILV

VANCOUVER, BC, April 15, 2021 /CNW/ - SilverCrest Metals Inc. ("SilverCrest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional in-fill and expansion drill results from the Babi Vista Vein Splay ("Splay"), Babi Vista Vein ("Babi Vista"), Granaditas 1 Vein, Granaditas 2 Vein, and adjacent hangingwall ("HW") and footwall ("FW") veins in the Babicanora Area of its Las Chispas Project ("Las Chispas" or the "Project") located in Sonora, Mexico (see following Tables and attached Figures).

Highlights

• In-fill and expansion drill results being reported in this news release represent an additional 78 holes, totaling approximately 29,308 metres completed since the latest news release for Babi Vista, Splay and Granaditas veins.
• Results are in areas with mineral resources (see Feasibility Studyⁱ announced on February 2, 2021) and in close proximity to planned underground development.
• Confirmed southeastern vein continuity and convergence of the Babi Vista, Splay and Granaditas veins. Mineral resources, together with exploration high-grade footprints, can now be traced for an estimated 1.3 kilometres of vein strike length.
• The latest 31 drill holes within the high-grade footprint of the Splay have an average estimated true width ("ETW") of 0.91 metres grading 16.12 grams per tonne ("gpt") gold ("Au") and 1,351.5 gpt silver ("Ag"), or 2,752 gpt silver equivalent ("AgEq", 86.9:1 Au:Ag ratio, see note below tables). This compares to the Splay's Inferred Mineral Resource that contains 13.9 million AgEq ounces within 211,363 tonnes grading 13.00 gpt Au and 909.4 gpt Ag, or 2,039 gpt AgEq with an ETW of 1.27 metres.
• The seven (7) mineralized drill holes in the Granaditas 1 Vein, included in this release, have an average ETW of 1.57 metres grading 19.24 gpt Au and 5,095.1 gpt Ag, or 6,767 gpt AgEq. This compares to the vein's Inferred Mineral Resource that contains 1.1 million AgEq ounces within 63,157 tonnes grading 3.20 gpt Au and 260.0 gpt Ag, or 538 gpt AgEq with an ETW of 0.61 metres.
• Significant drilling results:
• Splay - Hole BV21-252 intercepted an ETW of 2.27 metres grading 87.05 gpt Au and 6,469.2 gpt Ag, or 14,034 gpt AgEq;
• Granaditas 1 Vein – Hole BV20-221 intercepted an ETW of 3.65 metres grading 40.42 gpt Au and 6,089.4 gpt Ag or 9,602 gpt AgEq; and
• Granaditas 1 Vein - Hole GR21-28 intercepted an ETW of 0.40 metres grading 114.00 gpt Au and 78,872.0 gpt Ag, or 88,779 gpt AgEq.
• Approximately 90% of the planned 2021 in-fill drilling has been completed for the Splay.
• Discovery of two additional "blind" veins in the hangingwall and footwall of Babi Vista and Splay.
• Nine (9) drill rigs (6 surface core drills at Las Chispas and 3 at Picacho) are operating as part of the Company's 2021 exploration and optimization program.

The Company's current focus at Las Chispas is to in-fill (for resource conversion) and potentially expand the existing mineralized footprints in areas close to planned underground development. Currently, priority drilling is active at the Splay and Granaditas veins which host Inferred Mineral Resources that were not included in the Feasibility Study mine plan. The Feasibility Study outlines planned underground development which terminates within approximately 180 metres of high-grade drilling intercepts in the Splay, making this a priority target area for resource conversion to reserves. The results from the 2021 drill program will provide valuable information when evaluating potential opportunities to optimize the initial years of the proposed Las Chispas production profile. The in-fill drilling program at the Splay is estimated to be completed by the end of Q2 2021.

N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, and CEO, remarked, "We are very encouraged by the results from the Babi Vista and Granaditas areas, including the Babi Vista Vein Splay, which support our goal to target potential resource conversion proximal to planned and existing underground workings. Our systematic and aggressive approach to exploration continues to yield positive drill results in areas outside of the mine plan and further improves our knowledge of Las Chispas geology and mineralization. The primary aim of our 2021 program will be to grow the Mineral Resources and Reserves and complete optimization work to support further enhancements to the already robust economics of the Las Chispas Project. Additional Reserves increase the potential for optimization of the mine plan and allow us to further study the Project's production throughput and mine life expansion."

The following tables summarize all the significant drill intercepts (uncapped, undiluted) for this release:

Babi Vista Vein Splay

Babi Vista Footwall and Granaditas 1

Babi Vista and Granaditas 2 Vein

Babi Vista Hangingwall

Unnamed Veins

All assays were completed by ALS Chemex in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, and North Vancouver, BC, Canada.   

The drill results in the news release include holes: BV20-223 to BV-20-226, BV20-228, BV-20-230, BV20-233, BV20-236, BV20-239, BV20-246, BV20-247, BV20-249, BV21-253 to BV21-255, BV21-260, BV21-263, BV21-265, BV21-271, BV21-272, BV21-275, BV21-278, BV21-280, BV21-282, BV21-285, BV21-286A and BV21-288 intersected veining in the Babicanora Area but were below the Company's cutoff grade of 150 gpt AgEq over a minimum width of 0.50 metres (ETW). 

Results being reported in this news release are up to and including holes BV21-289 and GR21-29 representing an additional 78 holes, totaling approximately 29,308 metres completed since the latest news release for the Babi Vista, Splay and Granaditas veins dated November 16, 2020. These results include 51 holes which have intersected mineralization above a cutoff grade of 150 gpt AgEq over a minimum width of 0.50 metres (see attached Figures).  This cut-off grade is consistent with what was used in the Feasibility Study Mineral Resource Estimation. A variable cut-off grade strategy was used to determine Mineral Reserves in the Feasibility Study.

The Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate for the Splay is based on drilling results of 28 holes (totaling 10,216 metres) up to and including hole BV20-217 and totals 211,363 tonnes grading 13.00 gpt Au and 909.4 gpt Ag, or 2,039 gpt AgEq (totaling 13.9 million AgEq ounces) with an average ETW of 1.27 metres. Results from 31 drillhole intercepts at the Splay included in this release have a weighted average of 0.91 metres ETW grading 16.12 gpt Au and 1,351.5 gpt Ag, or 2,752 AgEq. These results include 16 drillhole intercepts greater than 1,000 gpt AgEq that surround the previous high-grade holes BV20-201 and BV20-203 (see news release dated November 16, 2020) and have an average ETW of 1.18 metres grading 28.20 gpt Au and 2,310.7 gpt Ag, or 4,761 gpt AgEq.

In-fill drilling has confirmed the presence of additional high-grade mineralization in the Granaditas veins with hole GR21-28 intercepting 0.40 metres ETW of 114.00 gpt Au and 78,872.0 gpt Ag, or 88,779 gpt AgEq.  Intercepts for seven (7) of seventeen (17) in-fill holes reported in this news release for Granaditas have intercepted mineralization with a weighted average intercept of 1.57 metres (ETW), grading 19.24 gpt Au and 5,095.1 gpt Ag, or 6,767 gpt AgEq.  When hole GR21-28 is excluded, the weighted average is 1.76 metres (ETW), grading 15.65 gpt Au and 2,302.6 gpt Ag, or 3,663 gpt AgEq.  The Granaditas veins currently hosts a combined Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.1 million AgEq ounces with 63,157 tonnes grading 3.20 gpt Au and 260.0 gpt Ag, or 538 gpt AgEq and an ETW of 0.61 metres, based on drilling results up to and including hole GR18-23. While drilling has not substantially expanded the Granaditas Resource footprint (see attached Figures), the intersection of exceptionally high-grade in GR21-28 is important geologically for understanding the Babicanora Area as it suggests that mineralization is not cut-off by the Granaditas Fault, a concept which can be further tested in adjacent veins. As drilling continues in the area, the in-fill drilling program intends to reduce the drill spacing to approximately 30 metres at Granaditas 1 Vein, from approximately 45 metres previously.

Results have confirmed southeastern convergence of the Babi Vista, Babi Vista Splay and Granaditas veins. High-grade precious metal mineralization including Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources can now be traced along a continuous 1.3 kilometre vein strike length from Babi Vista to Granaditas. 

Two new veins are reported in this release in the footwall and hangingwall to the Babi Vista and Splay veins.  The Unnamed 1 Vein is located less than 50 metres to the west of the Splay, beyond the extent of previous drilling. The Unnamed 2 Vein is located approximately 15 metres to the east of Babi Vista.  These veins remain exploration targets and will continue to be tested as part of the ongoing drilling program.

The Company currently has six (6) surface core drills operating at Las Chispas. These drill rigs are completing additional in-fill and expansion holes for the Babi Vista Vein Splay, Granaditas veins, Babi Vista HW and FW veins, unnamed veins and El Muerto Zone. The Company also has three (3) drill rigs currently active at its El Picacho property near Las Chispas.

The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, and CEO for SilverCrest, who has reviewed and approved its contents.

ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC.
SilverCrest is a Canadian-based precious metals exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions, and targeting production in Mexico's historic precious metal districts. The Company's ongoing initiative is to increase its asset base by expanding current Resources and Reserves, acquiring and developing high-margin precious metal projects, and ultimately operating multiple silver-gold mines in the Americas. SilverCrest's principal focus is currently its Las Chispas Project or "Project", which is located approximately 180 kilometres northeast of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The Company has recently filed a Feasibility Study on the Project and is proceeding with mine construction. Production startup is targeted for mid-2022. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the strategic plans, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration programs at the Las Chispas Project and the startup of production at the Las Chispas Mine by mid-2022. Such forward looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the reliability of mineralization estimates, the conditions in general economic and financial markets; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of expenditures related to rehabilitation and drilling programs; and effects of regulation by governmental agencies. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors including: uncertainty as to the impact and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic; the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng
Chief Executive Officer
SilverCrest Metals Inc.

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SOURCE SilverCrest Metals Inc.

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