FenixOro Gold Corp.  announced the formal commencement of its Phase 1 exploration program at the Abriaqui project in Antioquia state. Abriaqui is the closest gold exploration project to the Continental Gold/Zijin Mining Buritica deposit, located 15 km to the west along the Middle Cauca gold belt. The drilling will test areas of "Buritica-style" closely spaced, high grade veins with each inclined drill hole targeting multiple veins and interstitial areas of lower grade quartz-sulfide stockwork. Pre-drill field work began earlier in 2020 but was temporarily placed on hold when the Colombian federal government mandated a national lockdown due to COVID-19 in early April. Strict controls on travel and social distancing have been mandated until at least the end of May 2020. Mining production activity has been declared an essential industry in Colombia and is not subject to lockdown restrictions. Additionally, individual municipalities have the autonomy to determine essential industries and business locally. The current work program has commenced with soil sampling which is expected to define areas of non-outcropping vein and replacement potential in areas of heavy vegetation and soil cover. The ALS assay laboratory has re-opened and sampling results will be reported in due course. FenixOro has also begun a cooperative program with local authorities that provides donations of face masks, hand sanitizer and canned food supplies for the community. The Colombian Federal government for the time being continues to work remotely from home and the process of acquiring drilling permits is continuing. Initial drill targets have been selected and the Company believes it is in the final stages of approval for the last component permit that will allow it to begin drilling. The planned program of ground magnetics will be completed once travel restrictions are lifted in June.