Silver Viper Drills 13.3m (6.0m Estimated True Width) Averaging 6.42g/t Gold Equivalent From New Discovery at La Virginia Gold-Silver Project, Sonora, Mexico.

VANCOUVER, Jan. 17, 2019 /CNW/ - Silver Viper Minerals Corp. (the "Company" or "Silver Viper") (TSX-V: VIPR) is pleased to announce the second batch of analytical results from diamond drilling at La Virginia Gold-Silver Project, ("La Virginia"), Sierra Madre, eastern Sonora, Mexico. The program commenced in late September 2018, and by mid-December had completed 4,753m in 20 drill holes over five distinct prospect areas. 

The project was recently acquired by Silver Viper by way of option agreements with a local group of claim holders and with Pan American Silver Corporation (PAAS). Silver Viper awaits full results from the 2018 program and has resumed surface exploration activity on the property. The Company expects drilling to recommence in the first quarter.

Silver Viper's President and CEO Stephen Cope states, "It is exciting to make a brand-new discovery on a project. The grade, width and potential strike length of El Rubi make this a priority target moving forward. The discovery here validates the ongoing reconnaissance work being done by our team to identify new targets on the project. We look forward to continuing to unlock value in this project and hope this is the first of many new discoveries at La Virginia."

Results detailed below form the second batch released and represent samples originating from 11 drill holes totaling 2,868m testing four prospect areas: the northern end of Las Huatas, and three never-before drilled targets. A third and final batch of results representing the balance of the 2018 program will be announced once all assays are received and accepted. An updated drill collar plan is available on the Company's website, www.silverviperminerals.com.

Diamond Drilling Results LV18-194 through LV18-204

HOLE ID	From (m)	To (m)	Interval (m)	True Width^1 (est m)	Au (g/t)	Ag (g/t)	Au Equiv^2 (g/t)
Las Huatas North
LV18-194	250	251	1	0.7	1.08	23	1.41
LV18-194	296	299	3	2.1	1.09	124	2.86
LV18-195	107	109.1	2.1	1.47	1.00	27	1.39
LV18-196	230	231.5	1.5	1.05	0.53	24	0.88
Huarache
LV18-197	404	405	1	0.6	2.05	41	2.64
La Gloria
LV18-198	No Significant Results
LV18-199	No Significant Results
El Rubi
LV18-200	6	18	12	9	1.52	133	3.42
incl	9	11	2	1.5	5.51	537	13.18
LV18-200	219.5	221	1.5	1.125	0.73	81	1.88
LV18-200	251	253.5	2.5	1.875	2.27	134	4.18
LV18-201	27	40.3	13.3	6	3.16	228	6.42
incl	27	31	4	1.80	3.75	258	7.43
and	32	33	1	0.45	8.30	782	19.47
LV18-201	85	86	1	0.45	1.92	4	1.97
LV18-202	80	81	1	0.64	0.68	79	1.80
LV18-202	151	152.5	1.5	0.96	3.55	200	6.41
LV18-203	123	133	10	5	1.10	97	2.48
LV18-203	141	142	1	0.5	0.92	72	1.95
LV18-203	145	147	2	1	0.67	33	1.14
LV18-203	176	177	1	0.5	1.30	85	2.51
LV18-203	193	205	12	6	1.37	81	2.53
incl	200	201	1	0.5	13.20	780	24.34
LV18-204	92	95	3	2.1	4.38	235	7.74
incl	94	95	1	0.7	8.19	434	14.39
LV18-204	108	109	1	0.7	3.41	1	3.43
LV18-204	114	115	1	0.7	1.31	108	2.86

^1	Estimated true widths based on sectional interpretation
^2	Gold Equivalent calculated using an Au:Ag ratio of 70:1 That is, Au Equivalent = Au grade + (Ag grade/ 70)

El Rubi
A clear highlight revealed by the data above is the discovery at El Rubi, a newly identified mineralized zone comprising quartz veining, stockwork and breccia located approximately mid-way between La Gloria and the historical drill areas of Campo Santos and El Oriental. The 2018 drilling targeted and intersected a 100m long section of the mineralized trend, open in both directions and ready for follow up work. Silver Viper considers this target area to be the northern extension of the La Virginia mineral system, offset by faulting up to 400m eastward when compared to the main work zone. 

The El Rubi structure appears to be laterally extensive, reminiscent of and very likely related to mineralization emplaced at La Virginia. Alteration of host rock and sulphide content at El Rubi are observed to be slightly increased when compared to the intercepts from Las Huatas for example. The prospective structure is interpreted to continue for up to 2km northward, and appears to extend up to 1km southward, and is expected to connect with dyke/veining of a newly identified prospect, Macho Libre. Very preliminary work at Macho Libre includes contour soil sampling and a follow-up reconnaissance chip sample result of 3.62g/t Au from the 2018 routine fieldwork.

Drilling to date is an initial test only, representing 50m spaced sections designed to test a 100m portion along the trend. Mineralization was encountered in all holes, with a best intercept from hole LV18-201 of 13.3m core length (6m estimated true width) averaging 3.16g/t Au and 228g/t Ag for a gold equivalent value of 6.42 g/t gold. 

Intercepts in hole LV18-202 and LV18-203 indicate that mineralization extends northward despite little evidence on surface. Similarly, the intercept in LV18-204 indicates that the prospective trend is also open to the south. Silver Viper currently has a field crew collecting surface geochemical samples and prospecting on the southern extension of El Rubi.

La Gloria
LV18-198 and LV18-199 were designed as preliminary test holes at La Gloria, a 3km diameter, broadly circular, argillic (+/- phyllic) alteration zone centered on a flexure in the controlling structural trend. Alteration and weakly anomalous (low level Au, Ag, Mo) reconnaissance sampling results suggest the possibility of porphyry style mineralization, distinct and separate from the epithermal targets further south. 

Drilling completed represents a very early test of the sub-surface, localized silicification and pyritization of intermediate volcanics were encountered, especially in hole LV18-199. Hole LV18-198 targeted the projection of a silicified zone exploited by small-scale historical artisanal mining activity evidenced by two adits and a shaft.  LV18-199 targeted stratigraphy beneath an intensely silicified, argillic altered ridge oriented perpendicular to the main trend. Highly fractured and intensely altered intermediate volcanics were encountered in both holes and no significant results were returned. Silver Viper intends to advance La Gloria initially through surface prospecting and mapping, positive indications from which would warrant ground geophysics and culminate in further drill testing during 2019.

Las Huatas North
Drilling at Las Huatas North tested a lightly drilled portion of the mineral trend extending between the prospects Las Huatas and Con Virginia. Several thin intervals were encountered in these holes, the best intervals returned from LV18-194 with 3m core length (2.1m true width) averaging 2.86g/t gold equivalent.

Huarache
LV18-197 represents a single hole testing the northern projection of El Huarache, some 1.5km southeast of the main La Virginia showings. The prospect comprises a 400m wide zone hosting multiple dacite dykes and some quartz veining observed over a zone 500m long.  Limited work has been completed to date as the showings are in steep terrain difficult to access. The single hole was spotted at a relatively accessible drill site and was designed as an exploratory hole to confirm the presence of dykes and any associated mineralization. Results to date, while not high grade, do confirm mineralization of similar character to La Virginia within the system. Additional work is planned at Huarache for 2019.

About the Project
La Virginia, 220km east-northeast of the Sonoran capital city of Hermosillo, is a large exploration property primarily prospective for fault controlled, low-sulphidation epithermal precious metal mineralization. The property and historical exploration database were acquired by way of option agreements with two distinct parties. Gold and Silver mineralization at La Virginia occurs within breccias, veins and stockworks hosted primarily by andesitic volcanics, often in close spatial association to or cross-cutting pre-mineral dacite dykes and controlled by fractures and faults defining the regional structural trend. The property is currently 37,700ha in size and covers 40km of prospective mineral trend. During 2018, Silver Viper undertook reconnaissance prospecting along the entire trend and is working on claim reduction of the larger, mature claims. The property has strong evidence of intrusive/epithermal activity along the main structural trend. 

Analytical results herein represent samples of halved diamond drill core submitted by Silver Viper staff directly to Bureau Veritas, Hermosillo, Sonora. Samples were crushed, split and pulverized as per Bureau Veritas method PRP70-250, then analysed for gold by lead collection fire assay fusion on a 30g split with AAS finish, and for a multi-element suite including silver by multi-acid digest with ICP-ES/MS finish. Samples triggering precious metal overlimit thresholds of 10g/t Au or 200g/t Ag were retested by lead collection fire assay fusion with a gravimetric finish. Silver Viper monitors QA/QC using commercially sourced standards and locally sourced blank material inserted within the sample sequence at regular intervals.

Dale Brittliffe, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration is a 'Qualified Person' under National Instrument 43-101, and has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About the Company

Silver Viper Minerals Inc is a Canadian-based junior mineral exploration company focused on precious metals exploration in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. The Company currently operates the La Virginia Gold-Silver Project. Silver Viper is entitled to 100% ownership of the La Virginia concessions recently acquired from PAAS and has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Rubi-Esperanza group of claims internal to those concessions. The property was most recently operated by PAAS and is an early stage exploration property, targeting a series of laterally extensive intrusive dykes and breccia zones, hosting low-sulphidation epithermal gold-silver mineralization.  Silver Viper is under management provided by Belcarra Group Management Ltd. which is comprised of highly qualified mining professionals.

On behalf of the board of directors,

Steve Cope
President and CEO

Forward Looking Information

Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to exploration and development, the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing, the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations, fluctuations in the prices of commodities, operating hazards and risks, competition and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's financial statements available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

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SOURCE Silver Viper Minerals Corp.

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