Tocvan Ventures moves Gran Pilar pilot mine toward first gold‑silver pour in Q4 2026

Tocvan Ventures Corp. announced a six‑phase development plan to transition its Gran Pilar gold‑silver project in Sonora, Mexico from exploration to a fully permitted 50,000‑tonne heap‑leach pilot facility. The pilot mine, approved for a 10‑year term in August 2025, is supported by a six‑year community agreement signed in May 2026, providing long‑term operating stability.

Construction is underway: heavy equipment arrived on site in April 2026, site preparation and leveling are completed, and a 1.76‑hectare engineered leach pad with containment ponds is being built. Local crushing equipment has been contracted and processing plant components are being fabricated in Hermosillo. The pilot aims for about 70 % gold recovery and targets a first gold‑silver doré pour in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The pilot operation is intended to generate early cash flow, validate metallurgy at scale and supply detailed cost and metallurgical data to guide potential commercial‑scale development. CEO Brodie Sutherland said the project “is entering a pivotal phase” and that the data and cash flow from the pilot will directly shape the company's commercial strategy.