First Analytical Results Of Deep Sulphide Core Drilling At Empire Mine Project
VANCOUVER - ExGen Resources Inc. reported that Phoenix Copper Ltd., the operator of the Empire Mine Project in Idaho, has reported the first analytical results from the 2021 Deep Sulphide core drilling program, under the oxide open pit. Assay results from the first Hole KXD21-02 intercepts high-grade mineralization across a suite of metals. Significant intercept of 8.38% copper in the underground sulphides. Copper, gold, silver and zinc mineralization intercepted in the oxide zone of the proposed open pit.
Open Pit Oxides: at 86.9 meters (‘m’) depth 0.8 m of 1.10 grammes per tonne (‘g/t’) gold, 80.70 g/t silver, 1.44% copper; at 98.1 m depth 0.5 m of 258 g/t silver, 1710 ppm (0.17%) tungsten; and at 142.6 m depth 5.0 m of 19.3 g/t silver, 0.77% copper, incl. 1.7 m of 1.1% copper, 1.08% zinc. Underground Sulphides (below 170 m): at 185.9 m depth 2.0 m of 0.38 g/t gold, 34.38 g/t silver, 2.28% copper; and at 187.5 m depth 0.5 m of 1.31 g/t gold, 120.0 g/t silver, 8.38% copper. Updated open pit resource to include oxide assays in due course. Anomalous molybdenum and tungsten mineralization also intercepted. Sulphide assay results provide verification of the 6% to 8% smelter grades reported from pre-WWII production. Samples from holes KXD21-03 through KXD21-05 have been shipped for assay to ALS Laboratories. A total of 967 m of the 2021 4,500-meter-deep sulphide program have been completed to date.
Core hole KXD21-02, the first core hole of the Deep Sulphide drilling program that reached its targeted depth, not only intercepted high-grade copper, silver, gold, lead and zinc in the sulphide zone, but also intersected good copper, gold, silver and zinc mineralization in the oxide zone from within the proposed copper oxide pit boundary, as it passed through the oxide zone into the sulphides. In addition, the drill hole intercepted anomalous molybdenum and tungsten mineralization.
KXD21-02 was collared in the near surface oxide deposit and drilled through roughly 170 m of oxide before reaching sulphide mineralization. Assays within the shallower oxide zone include 5.0 m of 19.3 g/t silver and 0.77% copper, including 1.7 m of 1.1% copper, 1.08% zinc, 2.0 m of 0.78 g/t gold, 64.09 g/t silver, and 0.98% copper that included 0.8 m of 1.10 g/t gold, 80.70 g/t silver, 1.44% copper, and 0.5 m of 258 g/t silver and 1710 ppm tungsten. The mineralized values in the oxide zone occur just inside the proposed oxide pit boundary and will be included in an updated oxide resource calculation in Q4 2021. Assays within the sulphide zone include 2.0 m of 0.38 g/t gold, 34.38 g/t silver, 2.28% copper, which includes 0.5 m assaying 1.31 g/t gold, 120.0 g/t silver, and 8.38% copper. Other notable intercepts include 0.2 m of 60.7 g/t silver with 3.61% zinc, and 0.2 meters of 68.40 g/t silver with 2.61% lead and 4.50% zinc. KXD21-02 was completed at a depth of 241 m in unmineralized rock. The true thickness of the intercept has not been defined by the single drillhole but will become more defined with additional drilling.
The mix of metals in the recent assays from KXD21-02 highlights the polymetallic nature of the Empire ore zones. The high-grade nature of the sulphide veins encountered in this drill hole are particularly important as they are verification of the 6% to 8% smelter grades reported from pre-WWII production. KXD21-02 is the first drill hole of this year’s planned 4,500 meter Deep Sulphide exploration program. Follow-on drilling will use the geological and assay date from this hole for targeting extensions to this known intercept, as well as targeting other similar zones.
In addition to the elevated copper, gold, silver, lead and zinc values in the KXD21-02 assays, tungsten is present in anomalous concentrations as high as 1710 ppm (0.17%) and molybdenum as high as 1365 ppm (0.14%).