Junior miner jumps as drilling gets under way

Stockhouse Canadian Small and Micro-cap Stock Report for Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 TORONTO (SHfn) – Highvista Gold Inc. (TSX: V.HVV, Stock Forum) rose 40% to 21 cents on Friday after the junior said it has begun a third drill program at its Republicana gold/silver discovery on the company’s 100% owned Canasta Dorado Project located in the Sonoram Gold Belt, in Sonora State, Mexico.

Located 40 kilometres south east of Fresnillo’s Noche Buena mine, the Republicana discovery was initially identified through a surface mapping and sampling program conducted during 2011. Anomalous gold and silver was identified over a surface area measuring approximately 2,000 metres by 1,000 metres.

Benton Resources Inc. (TSX: V.BEX, Stock Forum) tumbled 17% to 14.5 cents. The Thunder Bay, Ont., company said it has completed the disposition of 348,053 shares in Stillwater Mining Co. (NYSE: SWC, Stock Forum) for net cash proceeds of $5 million. Benton said it now has $10 million in cash along with $3 million in remaining equity positions and will continue to advance its Elizabeth Anne gold-silver project in San Bernadino County, California.

Canamex Resources Corp. (TSX: V.CSQ, Stock Forum) was down 14% to 9.5 cents. The company said it has retained Tydewell Consulting Inc. and NIR Consultants Corp. to provide investor relations services for a 3-month term initially, starting on February 13. Tydewell is on a monthly retainer of $4,000 and is entitled to buy up to 200,000 shares of Canamex at 27 cents each for up to five years. NIR is on a monthly retainer at $5,000 and can purchase $100,000 shares at 27 cents for five years.