Whim Creek drilling continues to encourage Venturex Resources
THE DRILL SERGEANT: Venturex Resources has received assays from an initial exploration drilling program completed last quarter at the company’s Whim Creek project in the western Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The drilling was concentrated on the Mons Cupri South West prospect, located approximately one kilometre south west of the existing Mons Cupri copper-zinc deposit.
Plan of Mons Cupri South West exploration area. Source: Company announcement
The company conducted a a total of 11 RC/diamond holes for 4,201.4 metres, which tested conceptual geological/geophysical anomalies within the target Mons Cupri horizon.
Results include an intersection of 23 metres (from 170.4 metres) of strong chlorite-sericite-pyrite alteration, Venturex said was typical of the nearby Mons Cupri feeder system.
This intersection included 1 metre at 1.09 per cent zinc, 0.38 per cent lead and 3.0 grams per tonne silver from 194.0 metres.
A further hole intersected a broad zone of strong chlorite-sericite alteration from 271.0 metres with the following results:
– 43.4m at 0.40 per cent zinc, 0.10 per cent lead and 3.0g/t silver from 271.0 metres, including 8.9m at 0.93 per cent zinc, 0.29 per cent lead and 3.8g/t silver.
The southernmost drill hole conducted throughout the program also intersected a broad alteration zone containing:
– 2.5m at 0.07 per cent copper, 2.18 per cent zinc, 0.01 per cent lead in a stratigraphic position equivalent to the Mons Cupri deposit which included a high grade zone with preserved massive sulphide fragments grading;
– 0.6m at 0.28 per cent copper, 7.26 per cent zinc, 0.01 per cent lead, 5g/t silver and 0.07g/t gold.
In a further development, an RC pre-collar intersected:
– 2.0m at 0.71 per cent copper, 0.73 per cent zinc, 0.99 per cent lead, 60.0g/t silver from 39m.
Venturex said this is believed to be the first mineralised intersection of the Whim Creek horizon within the Mons Cupri exploration area, which has opened up a second target for future exploration.
“The intersection of highly anomalous base metal values within the new alteration system in Mons Cupri South West area is extremely encouraging,” Venturex Resources managing director Michael Mulroney said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.
“The extent and orientation of the new system suggests that we may be seeing another mineralised zone within the Mons Cupri sub-basin.
“The shallow intersection of significant sulphide mineralisation equivalent to the Whim Creek deposit has highlighted the broader potential of the Whim Creek district to host clusters of ore deposits on several stratigraphic levels”