100m Step Out Hole Confirms Continuity Of Thick High-Grade Mineralisation
Alta Zinc Limited’s (ASX: AZI) drill holes POD05 to POD11 have returned multiple intersections of zinc, lead and silver mineralisation from the new drilling locations in the Ponente area of the Gorno Mine in Italy.
Managing Director, Geraint Harris, said the drilling has extended the thick and high-grade mineralisation 100m to the east of the initial drill pad A, also 80m to the north and 45m south of pad B.
Several of the drill holes started in mineralisation located in the sidewalls of the development drives and, where appropriate for reporting purposes, channel sampling of this mineralisation has been aggregated with the drill hole intercepts to give a resultant total thickness.
The mineralisation appears to be a shallow dipping lens of variable thickness with the recent drill intersections suggesting a true thickness between 4.5m and 10m.
“Drilling from the first four locations of the Ponente drill campaign has consistently intersected mineralisation defining what appears to be a continuous lens of mineralisation over a broad lateral footprint,” Mr Harris said.
“It is also pleasing that we have continued to hit considerable thicknesses of mineralisation at good grades after stepping-out 100m from the first drill pad, and I am confident that this new mineralisation will add to our mineral inventory at Gorno.
“Drilling continues to extend mineralisation to the east, south and north and we look forward to keeping the market informed of our exciting progress.”
Recent drilling has demonstrated mineralisation extends from the first drill pad (pad A) 100m to the south- east (drill holes POD08, D10 & D11) and also 80m the north-east (POD05 to POD07 inclusive), see Figure 1. Geological mapping suggests the mineralised lens is generally dipping to the SSE at approximately 5-10 degrees, with slight undulations caused by N-S oriented mineralised structures.
The Ponente mineralisation is interpreted to extend into the Malanotte area, approximately 1km north-east of the current Ponente drilling.
Malanotte was historically mined for oxide-ore leaving behind sulphide mineralisation which is clearly visible in the sidewalls. With no historical exploration outside of the limited mining footprint and the demonstrated presence of sulphide mineralisation Malanotte presents a highly prospective future target area.
