11th Jun 2014 07:00
Herencia Resources plc
("Herencia" or "the Company")More high-grade drill results for Herencia
45 metres at 1.70% copper
Highlights
· More high-grade drill results (on top of the recent 91m at 1.42% copper from 19m announced last week), from the Picachos RC drill program, continues to confirm the broad zones of high grade copper mineralisation at shallow depths
· Laboratory assay results returned in recent days include:
Hole PP14022 45m at 1.70% copper from 95m including;
ü 34m at 2.09% copper from 102m
Hole PP14027 11m at 1.20% copper from 72m including;
ü 7m at 1.52% copper from 76m
· Most holes drilled to date are angled drill holes cutting mineralisation approximately perpendicular to the dip - resulting in most widths announced being close to 'true width'
· Potential for several near surface zones of copper mineralisation with high grades and significant widths that could potentially support open pit type mining operations
· Picachos Project located in close proximity to a number of operating copper processing plants that could potentially provide near-term toll treatment opportunities
· RC drilling program completed and drilling contractor demobilised. A total of 3,540m reverse circulation (RC) metres drilled, with all laboratory results expected by the end of June 2014.
Herencia Resources plc (AIM:HER), the Chile-focussed mineral exploration and development Company, is pleased to announce further high-grade copper assay results from drilling at its advanced Picachos Copper Project ("Picachos" or the "Project") in northern Chile, backing up those broad, high-grade assay results announced last week (RNS 4 June 2014) which included 91 metres at 1.42% copper from 19m in hole PP14019 (including 60m at 1.94%).
The most recent significant laboratory assay results include:
o Hole PP14022 45m at 1.70% copper from 95m including
§ 34m at 2.09% copper from 102m
o Hole PP14027 3m at 1.06% copper from 56m
11m at 1.20% copper from 72m including
§ 7m at 1.52% copper from 76m
As previously advised, the drill program was designed to test six key areas that could potentially host open pit style mineralisation. The above results come from the 40m Shaft zone adding to those high grade copper assay results recently achieved there (as announced in RNS of 4 June 2014).
The current drill program has now been completed and the drilling contractor demobilised with all remaining assay results expected to be received by the end of this month. In the meantime, the Company's geological team are focused on interpreting the results and preparing a 3D geological model.
Managing Director, Graeme Sloan, commented on the results above:
"On the back of 91m at 1.42% copper these new results, especially the outstanding 45m at 1.70% copper from the same area, are extremely pleasing and further supports or belief that we could well be on to a potential winner at Picachos.
The Picachos style of shallow, high-grade and wide mineralisation is not often seen in Chile. This style of mineralisation lends itself well to low-cost open pit mining methods (often aided by a low waste strip ratio). This scenario, together with the regional potential for toll treating copper ore (given the proximity to a number of existing copper processing plants), fits well with our plans to minimise capital requirements at Picachos.
By being inventive and opportunistic, and supported by these continued terrific results, it is my belief we could have something special at Picachos."
About the Picachos Project
The Picachos Project is located approximately 50km south east of the coastal city of La Serena, 8km west of both the existing Andacollo copper-gold project operated by Teck Resources and the mining town of Andacollo (population approximately 10,000 people), and 10km south of the privately owned Tambillos copper mine. The Project is very well positioned for infrastructure with existing high voltage power located approximately 3km east of the Project area and serviced by two all-weather access roads.
Small scale mining is currently being undertaken by private miners via small open pit and underground mining operations. Ore is being trucked to a Chilean government owned processing plant (ENAMI plant) where it is processed. This mining will continue up until such time as the Option to fully acquire Picachos is exercised (at Herencia's discretion) and is seen by the Company as an excellent mechanism to achieve geological and grade data across many zones of mineralisation.
A review of available data and Herencia's own geological programs has confirmed multiple zones of mineralisation with a combined strike length of over 8km contained within the Project area. In some areas the close relationship of these zones coupled with multiple occurrences of out-cropping wide zones of mineralisation, highlights the excellent potential for large scale open pit mining to take place at Picachos. Historic mining has focused mainly around the high grade structures, however in some areas the mantos have been mined up to 50m wide. Mineralisation generally commences from one to five metres below the surface and appears open at depth.
About Herencia
Herencia Resources plc, is an AIM quoted exploration and development company operating in Chile. In addition to the Picachos Copper Project, the Company has a Joint Venture with OZ Minerals at the Guamanga Project where drilling is scheduled to commence this quarter and it has completed a Feasibility Study in relation to its 70% owned Paguanta Project, a high grade silver-zinc-lead project located in northern Chile. The Company's corporate office is located in Perth and the main technical and management office is located in Santiago, Chile where it has been operating for over eight years.
For further information, please contact:
Graeme Sloan, Herencia Resources plc +61 8 9481 4204
Katy Mitchell, WH Ireland Limited +44 161 832 2174
References in this announcement to exploration results and potential have been approved for release by Mr Graeme Sloan (BAppSc Mining Engineering WASM) and Mr Antonio Valverde (Bsc Geology Universidad Complutense de Madrid), who have more than 20 years relevant experience in the field of activity concerned. Mr Sloan is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Sloan and Mr Valverde have consented to the inclusion of the material in the form and context in which it appears.
Further background details on the Company can be found at www.herenciaresources.com
Appendix 1 - Significant Laboratory Assay Results from 2014 Picachos Drilling Program (received to date):
(All widths stated are down-hole intersections)
Hole ID | Easting | Northing | Dip/Az. (degrees) | From (m) | To (m) | Width Down-hole (m) | Copper Grade (%) | Zone |
PP14003 | 291780 | 6649882 | -60/255 | 67 | 77 | 10 | 0.50 | LEONCITO |
PP14004 | 291725 | 6649965 | -50/255 | 65 | 75 | 10 | 1.41 | LEONCITO |
PP14005 | 291803 | 6649686 | -60/240 | 63 | 65 | 2 | 1.00 | LEONCITO |
PP14006 | 291849 | 6649749 | -55/255 | 75 | 81 | 6 | 0.76 | LEONCITO |
PP14008 | 292877 | 6649592 | -70/260 | 68 | 71 | 3 | 1.40 | SANTA ROSA |
PP14009 | 292772 | 6648607 | -60/240 | 8 | 14 | 6 | 1.23 | 40m SHAFT |
PP14009 | 292772 | 6648607 | -60/240 | 20 | 23 | 3 | 1.29 | 40m SHAFT |
PP14009 | 292772 | 6648607 | -60/240 | 40 | 46 | 6 | 1.03 | 40m SHAFT |
PP14009 | 292772 | 6648607 | -60/240 | 60 | 64 | 4 | 1.20 | 40m SHAFT |
PP14011 | 292774 | 6648551 | -90/0 | 14 | 22 | 8 | 1.04 | 40m SHAFT |
Including | 18 | 20 | 2 | 2.64 | ||||
PP14011 | 292774 | 6648551 | -90/0 | 32 | 35 | 3 | 0.78 | 40m SHAFT |
PP14011 | 292774 | 6648551 | -90/0 | 47 | 51 | 4 | 1.06 | 40m SHAFT |
PP14011 | 292774 | 6648551 | -90/0 | 70 | 79 | 9 | 1.75 | 40m SHAFT |
PP14011 | 292774 | 6648551 | -90/0 | 111 | 136 | 25 | 1.24 | 40m SHAFT |
Including | 123 | 136 | 13 | 1.71 | ||||
PP14012 | 292892 | 6649658 | -50/240 | 29 | 31 | 2 | 1.88 | SANTA ROSA |
PP14012 | 292892 | 6649658 | -50/240 | 40 | 42 | 2 | 0.74 | SANTA ROSA |
PP14019 | 292707 | 6648743 | -50/240 | 19 | 110 | 91 | 1.42 | 40m SHAFT |
Including | 39 | 99 | 60 | 1.94 | ||||
Including | 76 | 96 | 20 | 3.10 | ||||
PP14022 | 292839 | 6648535 | -50/240 | 95 | 140 | 45 | 1.70 | 40m SHAFT |
Including | 102 | 136 | 34 | 2.09 | ||||
Including | 113 | 117 | 4 | 3.31 | ||||
PP14027 | 292695 | 6648748 | -50/255 | 56 | 63 | 7 | 0.82 | 40m SHAFT |
Including | 56 | 59 | 3 | 1.06 | ||||
PP14027 | 292695 | 6648748 | -50/255 | 72 | 83 | 11 | 1.20 | 40m SHAFT |
Including | 76 | 83 | 7 | 1.52 | ||||
· All samples assayed by Andes Analytical Assay Ltda. Chile
· Crushing all sample 80% < 2mm; split to 0.5 Kg; and powdered 95% < 105 µm
· Total Copper Cu-4A-HF AAS1E01 (4 acid near total digestion and atomic absorption, 0.01 - 40%)
· ICP AES HF22 method (22 elements)
· Hole ID co-ordinate grid is WGS84 UTM Zone 19S
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