Pullinger said the first drilling at Miguel Auza since 2010 confirmed "pervasive epithermal mineralisation" at multiple targets that were open along strike and at depth.
"The goal of initial drilling at Miguel Auza is to test structures at depth and along strike for their potential to host economic mineralization," he said.
"We have seen grade and width improve at depth at Lechuzas and high-level epithermal textures and anomalous precious metals at Lechuzas, El Cobre and Abejas.
"Our expanded drill program will focus further understanding the greater system around Miguel Auza."
Drilling around the old underground mine, shut for 10 years, and Excellon-owned mill, picked up anomalous mineralisation in the first seven diamond holes drilled on the Lechuzas vein-set. Results included 201 grams per tonne silver, 4.3% lead, 5.4% zinc and 0.3gpt gold (683gpt silver-equivalent) over 2.4m within a broader interval of 56gpt Ag, 1.2% Pb, 1.4% Zn and 0.1gpt Au (183gpt Ag-eq) over 16.7m, from about 250m vertical depth.
Excellon has increased the Miguel Auza drill program to 6,000m to follow up at Lechuzas and continue work at El Cobre and Abejas. It also plans to drill at Loma de las Minas and Lomo de Los Gatos.
Pullinger said the company had also started a fluid inclusion study to better define temperature regimes associated with these structures for more accurate drill targeting.
He said mineralisation at Miguel Auza was hosted in epithermal quartz veins typical of the Fresnillo silver belt. Hecla Mining Company's San Sebastián mine is 42km to the north-west, along strike from Miguel Auza.
Mining was historically undertaken on the Calvario Vein at Miguel Auza and via multiple shafts along the structures being tested as part of the current drilling program.
Excellon currently uses the Miguel Auza flotation plant to process ore from Platosa in neighbouring Durango state. The company says "ample capacity remains available to process increased Platosa mine production and potential new discoveries at either Platosa or Miguel Auza, along with ore from San Sebastián expected to enter bulk sample testing pursuant to a toll milling arrangement later this year".
Excellon shares (TSX: EXN) are trading at less than half the levels of January this year at their 88c Tuesday close, capitalising the company at C$87 million.
