Today, Tocvan Ventures Corp. delivered an update that is far more than just a routine progress report. It marks an operational milestone on the path from exploration to pilot production at the Gran Pilar Gold-Silver Project in Sonora, Mexico.
While many junior explorers in a strong gold market are still trying to secure financing, permits or drill rigs, Tocvan is already advancing on several fronts simultaneously:
The fully funded 20,000 m drill program has surpassed the 5,300 m mark, 21 drill holes totaling more than 4,400 m are awaiting results, historical underground workings were discovered in the South Block along the newly identified El Mezquite Trend, a long-term community agreement has been signed and equipment for the pilot facility has already been ordered.
In other words: Gran Pilar is increasingly evolving from a pure exploration story into a potential near-term pilot production opportunity, while retaining growing discovery upside.
“Drilling is progressing efficiently and we are very encouraged by the continued positive developments on the South Block. The identification of historic underground workings and associated mineralization along the El Mezquite trend highlights the scale and prospectivity of this new growth corridor. The signing of the long-term community agreement together with the already ordered processing plant are major milestones that solidify our community partnerships and position us for near-term pilot production. Replacing one RC rig with a core rig will provide us with even better geological information, we are working with local contractors to secure a third rig to maintain strong momentum.”
25% of the Drill Program Already Completed
Tocvan has announced that more than 5,300 m have now been drilled. This means roughly one quarter of the 20,000 m program has already been completed. What makes this especially exciting is that results are still pending for 21 drill holes totaling more than 4,400 m, including 3 drill holes from the newly discovered El Mezquite Trend, a target area clearly highlighted in the latest update as one of the new growth corridors.
This means: Tocvan is entering one of the densest newsflow periods in the company’s recent history.
El Mezquite: Historical Mine Shafts Point to Further Discovery Potential
A particularly important point in today’s announcement is the discovery of additional historical underground workings in the South Block along the El Mezquite Trend.
Historical mine workings are often a geological signpost in epithermal gold-silver systems: Earlier small-scale miners typically followed visible, high-grade structures at or near surface. As Tocvan is now mapping such old mine shafts along a new trend while also identifying indications of mineralization, this increases the likelihood that this corridor does indeed host mineralized structures.
The El Mezquite Trend is located ~1,600 m northeast of the Main Zone. As a result, Gran Pilar is increasingly emerging as a larger mineralized system.
Tocvan has already collected more than 400 rock and soil samples in the South Block. Results are pending.
From RC to Core Drilling: Tocvan Wants to See the Geology
Tocvan is currently replacing one reverse-circulation (RC) drill rig with a core drill rig. This decision is geologically important.
RC drilling is fast and cost-efficient. Core drilling, by contrast, provides better structural information, actual rock relationships, alteration patterns and details on veins, breccias and contacts. Especially in a new target area such as El Mezquite, this can be decisive for better understanding the geometry of the mineralization.
CEO Brodie Sutherland summarizes it in the announcement: The switch to core drilling is intended to provide better geological information, while Tocvan is simultaneously trying to secure a 3rd drill rig. Tocvan continues to work with local contractors to secure a 3rd drill rig over the coming month in order to maintain the accelerated pace of the program.
This is an encouraging sign: Tocvan appears to have identified multiple active targets while continuing to expand drilling capacity across the project.
Pilot Facility: Equipment Has Been Ordered
Even more important for shareholders: Tocvan has already ordered the equipment for the processing plant of the fully permitted 50,000 t pilot facility.
This brings the planned transition from exploration to pilot production another step closer. The fully permitted 50,000 t pilot facility is intended to support large-scale sample processing and pilot-scale operational testing while providing additional metallurgical and technical data for future development planning.
The pilot project is therefore not only symbolically important. It can help Tocvan advance the project operationally, further optimize metallurgy and evaluate operational and metallurgical parameters relevant to potential larger-scale development scenarios.
Diesel Tank Arrived
Parallel to the ongoing drilling and exploration program, Tocvan is also continuing to build out on-site infrastructure. On Friday, the company announced on X.com that a 15,000-gallon diesel tank had been delivered and positioned.
The tank is intended to support the growing fleet of heavy equipment, ongoing drill programs and mine and pilot mine work. The additional on-site fuel capacity is expected to reduce downtime, improve cost control and help ensure that equipment and drilling can continue running without interruption.
This step shows: Tocvan is preparing Gran Pilar not only geologically but also operationally for the next stage of development. On-site logistics are being expanded while drilling, surface work and pilot mine preparations continue to advance.
Long-Term Community Agreement: A Key Building Block For Production
In addition to exploration and drilling, Tocvan also reports a social and operational milestone: A long-term community agreement has been signed.
This agreement grants Tocvan surface access and permission to carry out exploration and pilot production in the project area for 6 years and beyond.
In Mexico, this is not just a formality. Community support, land access and a robust social license are central prerequisites for successful project development. Especially for a company that does not only want to drill, but also operate a pilot facility, such an agreement is a significant risk reducer.
Tocvan is therefore securing not only access, but also strengthening the project’s local foundation.
Bottom Line
Tocvan is entering a phase at Gran Pilar in which events are clearly intensifying. The company is drilling, mapping, collecting samples, building infrastructure and preparing pilot-scale operations in parallel. It is precisely this simultaneity that makes the current situation so exciting: This is no longer a story centered around a single drill result. Tocvan is now building simultaneous momentum across drilling, discovery, infrastructure and pilot-scale development.
The pending results from 21 drill holes totaling more than 4,400 m alone are expected to generate significant newsflow in the coming weeks. In addition, there are laboratory results from more than 400 rock and soil samples from the South Block, further information from the newly discovered El Mezquite Trend, the switch to core drilling for better geological data and possibly even the addition of a 3rd drill rig.
At the same time, Tocvan is making visible progress on the development side: The processing plant for the pilot mine has been ordered, on-site infrastructure is being expanded with the new diesel tank and the long-term community agreement creates an important foundation for the coming years. This increasingly reflects a broader operational advancement strategy rather than exploration activity alone.
Gran Pilar is therefore increasingly developing into a story with 2 powerful engines: Outstanding discovery potential on one side and pilot production preparation on the other. If Tocvan confirms in the next results what historical shafts, strongly altered breccias, geophysical trends and initial drilling already suggest, Gran Pilar could increasingly emerge as a broader and more advanced gold-silver system.
The message is clear: Tocvan is entering a period of accelerated operational and exploration newsflow. And each individual update could be another building block in advancing Gran Pilar from a promising gold-silver project toward a more mature exploration and pilot-development story in Mexico’s junior mining sector.
Company Details
Tocvan Ventures Corp.
Suite 1150 Iveagh House
707 – 7th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3H6
Phone: +1 403 668 7855
Email: bsutherland@tocvan.ca (Brodie Sutherland)
www.tocvan.com
ISIN: CA88900N1050
Shares Issued & Outstanding: 78,735,014
Canada Symbol (CSE): TOC
Current Price: 0.69 CAD (05/08/2026)
Market Capitalization: 54 Million CAD
Germany Symbol / WKN (Tradegate): TV3 / A2PE64
Current Price: 0.432 EUR (05/08/2026)
Market Capitalization: 34 Million EUR
Contact
Rockstone News & Research
Stephan Bogner (Dipl. Kfm., FH)
Müligässli 1, 8598 Bottighofen
Switzerland
Phone: +41-71-5896911
Email: info@rockstone-news.com
Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information: Rockstone and Tocvan Ventures Corp. (“Tocvan”; “the Company”) expressly point out that all forward-looking information contained in this report does not represent a guarantee of future results or performance. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. Readers are referred to Tocvan’s public filings, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, for a more detailed discussion of risk factors and their potential impact. All statements in this report, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements. This report includes expectations, interpretations, projections and assumptions based on information available at the time of writing, including public disclosures by the Company and statements by its management. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements, expectations and assumptions regarding: The significance and interpretation of ongoing drilling activities, completed drilling meters and pending assay results, including the expectation that these may contribute to refining, expanding or better understanding mineralized zones; the anticipated timing, frequency and impact of upcoming assay results and related news flow from 17 pending drill holes totaling more than 4,176 m; the potential for the ongoing 20,000 m drill program to support existing geological models, define additional mineralization or identify new target corridors; the significance of the newly identified El Mezquite Trend, including its location, scale, geological interpretation, magnetic expression, surface geochemistry, historical underground workings and potential relationship to broader mineralized systems at Gran Pilar; the possibility that multiple target areas within the South Block, Main Zone, North Alteration Zone and broader Gran Pilar project area may contribute to a larger or more advanced gold-silver mineralized system; the execution, pace and effectiveness of the fully funded 20,000 m drill program, including the impact of completed drilling, ongoing drilling, the switch from RC drilling to core drilling and the potential addition of a 3rd drill rig; the ability of core drilling to provide improved geological, structural and alteration data; the availability of drill rigs, contractors, equipment and services in Sonora; the interpretation of historical mine shafts, altered breccias, oxidation, veins, structures, magnetic trends and other visual or geological indicators as evidence of potential mineralization; the timing and outcome of laboratory results from more than 200 rock and soil samples collected in the South Block; the advancement of site activities including mapping, sampling, trenching, road work, material handling, fuel storage and infrastructure development; the significance of the 15,000-gallon diesel tank and other infrastructure additions for operational efficiency, cost control, equipment availability and continuity of fieldwork; the effect and durability of the long-term community agreement, including assumptions regarding surface access, exploration access, pilot production rights, community support and social license; the preparation, development, timing, construction and potential operation of the fully permitted 50,000 t pilot facility, including the ordering of processing equipment and assumptions regarding throughput, recoveries, performance, scalability, technical data, operating costs and potential cash flow; the ability to identify, extract, transport and process suitable material for pilot operations; metallurgical performance and its implications for processing, recovery rates and future development planning; the timing, scope and outcome of any maiden resource estimate, technical study, pilot operation, project development milestone or future operational update; the availability of sufficient funding to support ongoing and planned activities; and the expected timing of future operational milestones, assay results, sample results, infrastructure updates, community-related developments and corporate announcements. Statements regarding exploration potential, system scale, target quality, drilling activity, drill rig availability, operational progress, infrastructure buildout, community access, pilot mine preparation, pilot production potential, resource growth, project advancement or future development pathways are based on limited information, technical interpretation, management commentary and publicly available disclosures as of the date of publication. Such statements are inherently uncertain and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future performance, a mineral resource estimate, an economic study, a feasibility study, a production decision, a construction decision or an assurance that any specific technical, operational, financial or commercial outcome will be achieved. There are currently no mineral reserves defined for the project and, unless otherwise disclosed, no completed maiden resource estimate. There can be no assurance that ongoing or future exploration will result in the definition of a mineral resource, the successful operation of a pilot facility, the generation of cash flow or the advancement of the project to commercial production. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, assumptions and beliefs and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. These risks include, but are not limited to: The speculative nature of mineral exploration, development and pilot-scale operations; geological uncertainties related to grade, continuity, geometry, depth, orientation, structural controls and economic relevance of mineralization; the possibility that drilling results may not confirm current interpretations; the risk that pending assay results from drill holes, rock samples or soil samples may not align with expectations; the possibility that follow-up drilling may not expand, connect or validate mineralized zones; the risk that historical mine workings, visual mineralization, alteration, oxidation, brecciation, magnetic trends or surface geochemistry may not correspond to significant or continuous mineralization; variability in sampling, sample preparation, laboratory analysis, QA/QC, data quality and technical interpretation; operational risks associated with RC drilling, core drilling, trenching, mapping, sampling, road work, heavy equipment, fuel storage, site preparation and contractor performance; risks related to drill rig availability, contractor scheduling, equipment breakdowns, labor availability, fuel supply, access, infrastructure, logistics and site conditions; delays or disruptions related to weather, permitting, regulatory requirements, community matters, land access or other external factors; uncertainties related to the design, procurement, delivery, installation, construction, timing, cost and performance of the pilot facility and related processing equipment; the risk that pilot-scale results may not translate to larger-scale operations or may not demonstrate expected recoveries, costs, throughput, metallurgical performance or economic viability; metallurgical risks including variability in recoveries, reagent consumption, material characteristics, ore sorting, crushing, leaching behavior and processing suitability; environmental, safety and regulatory risks associated with mining, pilot operations, cyanide leaching, water use, waste management, fuel storage, monitoring systems and site disturbance; reliance on third-party contractors, laboratories, suppliers, consultants, engineering groups and service providers; social, legal, community and land-access risks, including the possibility that community agreements may be challenged, modified, delayed, terminated or prove insufficient for future activities; regulatory, permitting and political risks, particularly in Mexico; financing and liquidity risks, including the potential need for additional capital despite current funding levels; fluctuations in gold and silver prices, exchange rates, inflation, interest rates, operating costs, capital costs and broader economic conditions; market volatility affecting junior mining equities; and geopolitical, legal, tax, industry and macroeconomic risks beyond the Company’s control. The Company has indicated that certain areas of the project remain at an early stage of exploration and that conceptual targets are inherently uncertain. There has been insufficient drilling in parts of the project to define a mineral resource and there is no certainty that further exploration will lead to such a result. Any technical, operational or market-related terminology used in this report, including references to “news storm,” “high gear,” “growth corridor,” “discovery upside,” “pilot production,” “operational milestone,” “infrastructure taking shape,” “development story” or similar expressions, reflects the interpretation of the author and should not be considered as confirmation of economic viability, development certainty, commercial production potential or future share-price performance. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant risks and uncertainties and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results, developments and future events may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither Rockstone, the author nor Tocvan Ventures Corp. undertakes any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.
Disclosure of Interests and Legal Notice: Nothing in this report should be construed as an invitation to buy or sell securities. Rockstone, its owners, and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in securities, you should always consult your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment decision based solely on online or printed reports, including reports from Rockstone – particularly when it comes to small, thinly traded companies. The author of this report, Stephan Bogner, received compensation from Tocvan Ventures Corp. in the amount of 19,000 CAD for a period of 3 months. In addition, he holds securities of Tocvan and will therefore also benefit from increased trading volume and share price appreciation. This represents a significant conflict of interest that may affect the objectivity of this reporting. The author may buy or sell securities of Tocvan at any time without notice, which may give rise to additional conflicts of interest. This report should be understood as a promotional publication and does not replace individual investment advice. All information is current as of the date of publication and is subject to change without notice. Liability for financial losses resulting from investments made on the basis of this report is excluded. The views of Rockstone and the author regarding the companies presented in this report reflect solely their own assessments and are based on information from public sources deemed reliable. Rockstone and the author have not conducted independent due diligence. Neither Rockstone nor the author guarantees the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the content, nor its suitability for any particular purpose. There is likewise no guarantee that the companies mentioned will perform as expected, or that comparisons with other companies will prove valid. Please read the full disclaimer carefully. If you do not agree with it, do not use this website or report. By using the website or this report, you agree to the disclaimer, regardless of whether you have read it in full. The information provided is of a general and educational nature. Data, tables, figures, and images, unless otherwise indicated or linked, originate from Tradingview.com, Stockwatch.com, Tocvan Ventures Corp., and publicly available sources.
