American West Metals Limited (ASX: AW1) has drilled thick mineralised intercepts of zinc and copper in the third diamond drill hole completed at the West Desert Project in Utah, USA.
Drill hole WD22-02 was designed to test the extent of near surface ore lenses and was drilled to 233.8m – much shallower than the previous two drill holes.
The hole intersected two major mineralised intervals with a total of 102m of copper and zinc mineralisation visually identified in the drill core. The mineralisation is variably weathered and consists of oxide and transitional classified ores.
Managing Director, Dave O’Neill, said the drill hole confirms the continuity near surface of the deeper mineralised zones encountered within WD22-01 and WD22-01C and is supportive of the open pit potential at West Desert.
Historical metallurgical test work on the oxidised zinc and copper mineralisation has produced highly encouraging results and suggests the potential for the economic extraction of zinc, copper and indium.
“We are very pleased to report that the third diamond drill hole on this important drill section has been successfully completed,” Mr O’Neill said.
“The visual observations from WD22-02 show more than 102m of zinc and copper mineralisation commencing from 20m downhole.
“The drill hole confirms the upper extensions of very thick mineralisation encountered in the first two drill holes completed by American West. This near surface mineralisation is important to our development strategy and the potential for an open pit operation.
“The drilling results continue to confirm our assumptions on the continuity of mineralisation and highlight the quality and scale of the West Desert Deposit.”
WD22-02 is the third drill hole of American West’s initial drill program and was targeting near surface high-grade zinc and copper zones, and also acquiring material for metallurgical test work in the oxide and transitional zones.
The drill hole was drilled on the same section and above WD22-01 and WD22-01C, where the distance between historical drilling is greater than 90m.
This area of the orebody contains extensive shallow mineralisation which could support open pit development. The historical resource at West Desert is a large historical and foreign resource (Ni 43-101 compliant) of over 59Mt, including a higher-grade core of approximately 16Mt @ 6.3% Zn, 0.3% Cu and 33g/t In.
A Preliminary Economic Assessment dated 2 May 2014 prepared in compliance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 outlined the economic potential for the West Desert Deposit.
American West is assessing a number of different development options for West Desert including a proposal that is focused on mining the high-grade core through an open-pit operation that transitions to underground mining at depth.
For further information please visit: https://www.americanwestmetals.com
