Junior roundup: Golden Minerals, Silvermex, Almaden, Andina Minerals, Golden Goliath, Panoro, Ecometals

The latest drill results from Colorado-based Golden Minerals' (TSX: AUM) El Quevar project in Argentina's Salta province show 121 of 171 holes assayed so far intersected silver grades greater than 100g/t, the company said in a statement. Highlights include 11m of 470g/t, 3m of 1,152g/t, 12m of 2,916g/t, 4m of 5,604g/t and 1m of 9,649g/t. Additional drilling to test structures at greater depth is planned for early 2010. The company has also drilled 10 holes at its Panuco silver-gold target in Mexico's Zacatecas state, with six holes returning mineralization. *** Vancouverite Silvermex Resources (TSX-V: SMR) reported historic underground channel samples at the Plomosas-La Cruz project in Mexico's Sinaloa state show 2.0m grading 41g/t gold, 123g/t silver, 0.58% copper, 3.11% lead and 2.72% zinc. The previously unreported results of sampling carried out by the property's former owner also include 0.75m of 36.4g/t gold, 1,536g/t silver, 0.52% copper, 17.9% lead and 11.3% zinc, as well as 2.0m of 18g/t gold, 379g/t silver, 0.26% copper, 0.82% lead and 5.52% zinc. The samples are from three different underground walls. *** Vancouver's Almaden Minerals (TSX: AMM, Amex: AAU) has closed a private placement of 3.06mn units worth Cdn$2.6mn (US$2.44mn) to provide funds for early stage exploration on its projects in Mexico, the US and Canada, as well as possible future acquisitions. *** Torontonian Andina Minerals (TSX-V: ADM) reported the results of surface exploration at the Ojo de Agua East gold target at its Volcán gold project in Chile. Trenching highlights include 90m grading 0.22g/t gold, 35m of 0.34g/t gold, 15m of 1.60g/t gold and 25m of 1.35g/t gold. Drilling has begun on the target, with first results expected in February. *** Vancouver's Golden Goliath Resources (TSX-V: GNG) reported six recent chip samples at the Filo de Oro target of its Las Bolas property in Mexico averaged 7.9g/t gold and 919g/t silver. The company has also identified a 12th vein at Las Bolas with a sample grading 9.1g/t gold and 920g/t silver. *** Fellow Vancouverite Panoro Minerals (TSX-V, Lima: PML) has signed community agreements with two indigenous groups at its Cotabambas copper-gold project in Peru, the company said in a statement. Panoro aims to carry out infill and step out drilling in 2010 at Cotabambas, subject to financing. In addition, the Peruvian energy and mines ministry ( MEM) has approved the EIA for Panoro's Kusiorcco copper property, where a phase 1 drill program is planned for 2010. Panoro added that it is reviewing financing options, including JVs, to fund its 2010 exploration goals. *** Toronto's Ecometals (TSX-V: EC) reported it has received a three-year exploration license for its 8,630ha Pedra Branca gold property in Brazil's Amapá state.