MxMining

Google Earth is or is fast becoming the most popular platform to present geographically referenced data. We use Google Earth and the related tools like the Google Earth API to present project location data right here on MxMining.

We'd like to make available for free to our users the Google Earth data set we use that shows where the protected areas of Mexico are according to INEGI.

MxMining makes this information, along with a lot of other information related to mining available as a Google Earth network link for a very reasonable fee.

If you haven't tried it, Google Earth is free and easy to use and is available at http://earth.google.com.

Even with seemingly unstable silver prices silver mining and silver exploration in Mexico continues to move with strength.

The spot price of silver has been bouncing around like a beach ball lately and silver seems to be underperforming when compared to gold - but there's still a lot of action in the Mexico silver industry.

MxMining has 37 producing Mexican Silver Mines available in the database and many more exploration projects that have silver as a target mineral. Silver is the most common target mineral in all the projects listed on MxMining with 207 projects targeting silver followed by 187 projects targeting gold.

One of the newest silver production startups in Mexico is the Dolores Project in the state of Chihuahua. The Dolores Project is run by Minefinders Corporation who announced the first gold and silver pour for the Dolores Project on Nov 17, 2008.

With everything that's been happening with the world economy, with metal prices and with all of the investment devaluation going on, we thought it was time to look at some of the less burdening things in Mexico mining.

Some of the English translations for a few of the mining and exploration projects in Mexico are actually quite funny, so we're going to take a look and translate 10 of the good project names for those of you that don't speak Spanish.

While a lot of projects are named after saints or women or have somewhat inspiring names the ones we're going to show you should remind you of the Mexican sense of humor.

1. Continuum Resources has the Nino Perdido Project which translates to "Lost Little Boy". Someone has to teach this kid how to use a GPS while he's out there exploring.
2. Property Mines SA de CV has the La Aventura Project which translates to "The Adventure" as is almost always the case with mining projects.

Like it or not there is still a lot of illicit product producing areas in Mexico and since miners are explorers too, we get into areas that aren't regularly traversed by the normal populous. While I've never personally had a problem in any area or with any people I believe it would be pretty easy to get into if your presence wasn't announced before hand.

The overwhelming aroma of a nearby plantation is more often than not a signal that you should be making some noise to announce your presence so as not startle anybody nearby. Fact is - you're in somebody else's territory and if you want their blessing and the ability to stay there in peace you're best advice is to ignore these going ons as much as possible. Announcement of your movements and plans well ahead of time is also appreciated by the local populous as they will usually move their business, at least temporarily, if they have enough notice.

I finally made it over to the 8th International Sonora Mining Seminar today and it was everything I expected. Lots of people pawning their goods and services - a great place to make contacts. If you missed it this year you're going to have to wait a couple more years for the next one that takes place in Sonora.

With all the people sometimes I just needed a break outside in the nice hot Sonora sun so I went in and out of the exposition part a few times during the day. One of the times I entered I noticed a display where school youngsters drew symbolic pictures of how they imagine mining and the environment working together. It was a contest in which I believe a few different Sonora primary schools took part in.

It seems that the Bank of Mexico is going to restrict the selling of the Mexican Libertad Silver Coin to even its' largest customer Banco Azteca.

For the rest of 2008 Banco Azteca will be limited to buying from the central bank just another 60,000 coins which is about equal to Banco Azteca's monthly sales for the month of August and September of this year. I guess that I can expect to go to Banco Azteca tomorrow morning and find absolutely nothing available to purchase as there will probably be a mad rush to get them before you can't.

Banco Azteca is one of the few banks in Mexico that actively markets the silver libertad coins and almost always has them in stock. Usually if they dont have them in stock at any particular branch they will have them within a few days.

While I don't want to be thrown into the tin-foil hat crowd I am starting to get the feeling that something is wrong with the spot price for silver.

According to the 1960 census, 23% of Mexico's cultivated land belonged to ejidos so if you're in the mining industry in Mexico it's likely that you'll run into this type of land ownership.

Wikipedia defines an Ejido as:

The ejido system is a process whereby the government promotes the use of communal land shared by the people of the community. This use of community land was a common practice during the time of Aztec rule in Mexico.

Sometimes in Mexico it is very hard to determine land ownership and even if you think you know whose land it is you'll probably want to check to know for sure if there are any disputes about the property boundaries.

When it comes to the ownership or any disputes about the boundaries of ejidos there are a couple of federal entities that can help you or the ejidatarios to deal with the issues involved. A lot of times if there are issues regarding the ownership of the land the problems can be rectified by providing