
About
Rio Silver Inc. (TSX-V: RYO | OTC: RYOOF) is a Canadian silver exploration and development company focused on advancing high-grade silver projects in Peru. The Company is building a focused, pure-play silver platform centered on disciplined execution, capital efficiency, and long-term shareholder value. Rio Silver controls two primary silver assets in Peru, Maria Norte and Santa Rita, both located in established mining districts with existing infrastructure, road access, and proximity to processing facilities.
Verified company data
- Shares outstanding
- 60452201
- Fully diluted shares
- 88299213
- Mineral resource
- The Company’s flagship, 100% owned Niñobamba Project, hosts 2 discreet precious metal targets at opposite ends of a 6.5 km prospective corridor in a prolific, precious metals hosting geological belt in central Peru. The Company has modelled 2 world class resource targets where previously the Company, Newmont Mining and others have spent upwards of US$10 million evaluating this mineralized trend. The silver-rich Niñobamba “Main Zone and South Zones” are drill ready and the Company’s geologists have targeted the near surface, silver and gold mineralization as a potential open pit. At the other end of this trend is the Jorimina Gold Zone that was the primary focus of the Newmont exploration programs.
- Projects
- ["## Maria Norte Project\n\nThe **Maria Norte Project** is Rio Silver’s flagship asset and the foundation of its pure-play silver strategy. Situated in Peru’s historic **Huachocolpa mining district**, Maria Norte lies within one of the most prolific silver belts in the world — a region that has produced high-grade silver for generations and continues to support active underground mining today.\n\nWhat makes Maria Norte particularly compelling is the combination of **high-grade silver mineralization** and **exceptional infrastructure advantages**. Historical work and surface sampling have identified multi-hundred-gram-per-tonne silver values alongside lead, zinc, and localized gold, typical of productive epithermal systems in the district. With year-round road access and operating processing facilities located just **11 kilometres from the project**, Maria Norte offers a rare opportunity to advance high-grade silver mineralization along a clear and capital-efficient development path.\n\n[Explore the Project](https://riosilverinc.com/maria-norte-project/)\n\n## Project Overview\n\nThe Maria Norte Project is Rio Silver Inc.’s flagship high-grade silver asset, located in the historic Huachocolpa District of Huancavelica, Peru. The district has supported decades of underground silver, lead, and gold production and remains an active mining area today.\n\nMaria Norte benefits from year-round road access and is located approximately **11 kilometres from operating processing plants**, providing a strong foundation for potential low-capital development pathways, subject to exploration success, permitting, and technical studies.\n\n###### Project Type\n\nHigh-grade silver polymetallic\n\n###### Primary Metals\n\nSilver, lead, with localized gold\n\n###### Infrastructure\n\nRoad access and nearby processing facilities\n\n###### Stage\n\nAdvanced exploration and early development\n\n## Geological Setting\n\nMaria Norte hosts a network of silver-rich polymetallic veins and breccia structures within volcanic and sedimentary host rocks. Mineralization is dominated by silver, with associated lead, copper, and localized gold credits.\n\nStructural trends at Maria Norte align with nearby producing operations in the Huachocolpa District, suggesting the project may form part of a broader mineralized corridor. Further exploration is required to confirm continuity and scale.\n\n## Exploration Highlights\n\n- Surface grab samples have returned silver values exceeding **500 g/t Ag**, with elevated lead and zinc.\n- A historical sample from the Castor vein reported **1,128 g/t Ag** with significant gold content.\n- Independent verification sampling completed in 2025 returned assays of **869 g/t Ag** and **991 g/t Ag**.\n\nThese results demonstrate the high-grade nature of the mineral system and support continued advancement.\n\n## Project Advancement Timeline\n\n###### Acquisition\n\nSecured in a proven mining district with existing infrastructure.\n\n###### Surface Sampling and Mapping\n\nHigh-grade silver values confirmed through surface work and historical data review.\n\n###### Underground Access Preparation\n\nPlanning for underground access to improve geological understanding at depth.\n\n###### Technical Studies\n\nMetallurgical testing, geological modeling, and evaluation work to support future decisions.\n\n###### Potential Development Pathways\n\nAssessment of toll milling or partnership-based processing options, subject to results and approvals.\n\n## High Grade Mineralization confirmed\n\n**High-Grade Silver Mineralization at Surface and Underground**\n\n- Historic underground workings confirm **multiple mineralized vein systems**.\n- Channel sampling and historic sampling identified **high-grade silver with lead and zinc credits**.\n- **0.7 m chip sample:**\n\n**6.263 g/t Au, 991 g/t Ag, 2.35% Pb, 0.36% Zn**\n- **0.5 m chip sample:**\n\n**1.679 g/t Au, 869 g/t Ag, 17.31% Pb, 10.17% Zn**\n- Mineralization exposed at surface provides direct access for early testing.\n- Waste dumps and historical stopes indicate **prior extraction of high-grade material**.\n\n**_This is not conceptual geology. Real high-grade silver is already exposed on the property_**\n\n## Geological Model & Mining Potential\n\n**District-Scale Polymetallic Vein System**\n\n- Low-sulphidation polymetallic vein model typical of productive Peruvian districts.\n- Multiple known veins mapped across the property.\n- Mineralization remains **open along strike and at depth**.\n- Structural complexity suggests potential for **additional blind vein systems**.\n\n**Objective: Demonstrate continuity and scale across a multi-vein district system**\n\n**Favorable Geometry for Capital-Efficient Development**\n\n- Mineralization occurs in **well-defined, steeply dipping vein structures**.\n- Vein orientation suitable for **conventional underground mining methods**.\n- High-grade zones exposed at surface reduce early development risk.\n- Underground access potential supports staged, low-capex development.\n- Veining in this mineralogical district can be very deep seated – providing long-serving resource potential.\n\n**_The shape and structure of the mineralization supports simple, scalable underground mining_**\n\n## Staged Work Program\n\n## Phase I\n\n**Surface De-Risking**\n\n- Geological mapping, channel sampling & assays.\n- Road access & community programs.\n- Portal construction and initial 400m adit / tunnel construction @US$600 per metre.\n\n## Phase II\n\n**Initial Drill Program**\n\n- ~1500 metres of diamond drilling from underground drill stations.\n- All-in drilling cost: US$100 per metre.\n- Assays: Staffing, logistics, community work, NI 43101 compliant resource calculations, surface geophysics.\n\nPhase work is designed to advance from surface access → portal preparation → staged underground access, while processing strategy is advanced in parallel through metallurgical validation and toll-milling logistics planning.\n\n## Near-term Catalysts\n\n**2026 Value-Creation Milestones**\n\n- Surface geophysics and mapping across 3 concessions.\n- Channel sampling → aiding resource calculation and preparation of drill & underground ready targets.\n- Underground development, bulk sampling then 1500 m drill program building mineral resource calculations.\n- Community engagement / employment and benefits program cementing long-term relationships.\n- Advance toll-milling logistics and processing discussions supported by metallurgical results and engineering processing circuit recovery strategy.\n\n**_Multiple re-rating catalysts within the next 6–12 months_**\n\n## Development Potential\n\nPeru is one of the world’s leading silver-producing countries and hosts some of the largest known silver reserves globally. The country benefits from a skilled workforce, a deep mining culture, and well-developed infrastructure that supports exploration and mine development.\n\nRio Silver’s projects are located in Peru’s central Andean polymetallic belts, including the Huachocolpa District of Huancavelica. This region is known for high-grade silver-lead-zinc vein systems and decades of underground mining activity.\n\n## Why invest\n\n- High-grade silver system in a producing district.\n- Infrastructure-supported development potential.\n- Staged advancement aligned with capital discipline.\n- Cornerstone asset within Rio Silver’s portfolio.\n\n### What silver grades have been found at Maria Norte?\n\nThe Maria Norte Project has returned high-grade silver values up to 991 g/t Ag over 0.70 metres, alongside gold values up to 6.26 g/t Au, consistent with the productive epithermal systems of the Huachocolpa District.\n\n### How far is Maria Norte from processing facilities?\n\nThe Maria Norte Project is located approximately 11 kilometres from two operating processing facilities, with year-round road access. This proximity supports a potential low-capital development pathway through toll milling, subject to exploration success and permitting.\n\n### What were the metallurgical recovery results at Maria Norte?\n\nInitial metallurgical testing reported silver, gold and lead recoveries of 85%, 74% and 77% respectively, helping to de-risk the processing pathway for the project.\n\n### What stage is the Maria Norte Project at?\n\nMaria Norte is at the advanced exploration to early development stage. Current work focuses on underground access, technical evaluation, and defining a capital-efficient development pathway.\n\n---\n\n## Santa Rita Project\n\nThe **Santa Rita Project** expands Rio Silver’s regional footprint and provides significant **district-scale exploration potential**. The project is located within a proven polymetallic belt known for hosting large silver-lead-zinc systems and was acquired through a government auction, resulting in **100 percent ownership with no underlying royalties**.\n\nSanta Rita is characterized by **carbonate-replacement and vein-style mineralization**, geological styles associated with some of Peru’s largest polymetallic deposits. Historical work has identified multiple mineralized zones at surface, and the project remains **largely untested by drilling**, offering substantial upside as modern exploration advances.\n\n[Explore the Project](https://riosilverinc.com/santa-rita-project/)\n\n## Project Overview\n\nThe Santa Rita Project is a silver-lead-zinc exploration asset located approximately **55 kilometres northwest of Maria Norte** in central Peru. The project expands Rio Silver’s regional footprint within a proven polymetallic belt known for high-grade silver mineralization.\n\nRio Silver acquired Santa Rita through a government auction, securing full ownership without underlying royalties or earn-in obligations. This structure provides full exposure to exploration upside.\n\n## Regional Context and Location\n\nSanta Rita is located approximately **14 kilometres southwest of the Bethania silver mine**, operated by Kuya Silver. The project lies within the same broader metallogenic belt that hosts several significant polymetallic deposits.\n\n## Geological Potential\n\n**Large Polymetallic System with District-Scale Indicators**\n\n- Carbonate-replacement (CRD) and vein-style mineralization.\n- More than **20 mapped steeply dipping east-west veins**.\n- Intersecting mantos typical of large Peruvian polymetallic systems.\n- Road access from two directions and proximity to regional processing facilities.\n\nRock-chip samples returning up to 2,668g/t Ag, 5 percent zinc, and 48.5 percent lead.\n\n**_Multiple veins + CRD system = strong indicators of district-scale upside_**\n\n###### Project Type\n\nSilver-lead-zinc exploration\n\n###### Deposit Style\n\nCarbonate-replacement and vein systems\n\n###### Ownership\n\n100 percent, no underlying royalties\n\n###### Stage\n\nEarly to mid-stage exploration\n\n## Geological Setting\n\nSanta Rita is characterized by carbonate-replacement deposit style mineralization hosted in limestone units of the Jumasha Formation. Mineralization includes silver-lead-zinc mantos, veins, and intrusive-related features.\n\nGeological characteristics observed at Santa Rita are consistent with other major polymetallic deposits in central Peru.\n\n## Historical Exploration Highlights\n\nHistorical work conducted between 2016 and 2020 reported strong surface mineralization, including:\n\n- Rock-chip samples returning up to **2,668 g/t Ag**, **5 percent zinc**, and **48.5 percent lead**.\n- Multiple vein and manto structures extending hundreds of metres.\n- High-grade silver and base metal values across multiple target zones.\n\nThese results are historical in nature and have not yet been independently verified by Rio Silver.\n\n## Project Advancement Timeline\n\n###### Acquisition\n\nSecured through a government auction with 100 percent ownership.\n\n###### Data Validation and Field Review\n\nVerification of historical work and resampling of surface exposures.\n\n###### Target Definition\n\nGeological modeling to prioritize high-potential zones.\n\n###### Exploration Programs\n\nEvaluation of trenching, geophysics, and drilling opportunities.\n\n###### Potential Resource Growth\n\nLonger-term exploration-driven upside contingent on success.\n\n## Near-term Catalysts\n\n**2026 Work Program**\n\n- Metallurgical testing underway on representative samples.\n- Geological mapping and field evaluations planned.\n- Target generation across **20+ vein structures**.\n- Follow-up sampling and drill planning.\n\n**_Second asset delivering parallel discovery upside_**\n\n## Exploration Upside\n\nSanta Rita remains largely untested by drilling. Limited historical drilling combined with strong surface mineralization suggests meaningful discovery potential.\n\nAdditional geological indicators, including skarn alteration and intrusive influence, support the potential for multiple mineralization styles at depth.\n\n## Why invest\n\n- Clean ownership with no royalties.\n- District-scale exploration opportunity.\n- High-grade historical results.\n- Strong diversification within Rio Silver’s portfolio."]
- Leadership
- Chris Verrico (President, CEO and Director, Over 20 years of experience in resource start-ups, previously served as CEO of Aguila American Gold Ltd and held various director roles.), Christopher Hopton (CFO and Director, 28 years of financial management experience, previously CFO at Central Resources Corp and Division Controller at Canadian Airlines.), Steve Brunelle (Executive Chairman), Richard Mazur (not discovered), Jim McCrea (not discovered), Jeffrey Reeder (not discovered)
Verified data last updated:
Recent filings
- MD&A · ryo_2026-08-31_12-22-36.pdf
- Interim financial statements/report · ryo_2026-08-31_12-22-05.pdf
- News release · ryo_2026-07-15_09-37-17.pdf
- News release · ryo_2026-06-12_21-59-06.pdf
- News release · ryo_2026-06-03_19-32-19.pdf
- News release · ryo_2026-06-01_22-51-45.pdf
- 52-109FV2 - Certification of interim filings - CEO (E) · ryo_2026-05-29_13-49-08.pdf
- MD&A · ryo_2026-05-29_13-45-03.pdf