Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSXV: BAY) to explore the near-surface copper potential of the recent discovery in drill hole ST22-10 at the Storm Copper Project on Somerset Island, Nunavut, Canada.
The interpretation of the geochemical and geological data from ST22-10 indicates that the hole has intersected the margins of a mineralized system. This interpretation is supported by a series of large, coincident electromagnetic (EM), induced polarization (IP) and gravity anomalies.
The near-surface copper occurrences at Storm are located above, or proximal to the large geophysical anomalies. This observation highlights the potential association between the two types of mineralization.
New high-resolution geophysical surveys will involve a closely spaced ground gravity survey and moving loop EM surveys. The surveys will cover known prospects to better define the existing Falcon airborne gravity and EM targets, and extend into new, previously untested areas with the aim of expanding the prospective footprint of copper mineralization.
New areas for exploration include the Blizzard, Tornado and Tempest Prospects. The Tempest Prospect is located approximately 40km south of the Storm deposits, and it contains a large (>250m long) copper gossan exposed at surface with assays up to 32% Cu in selective rock grab samples.
Its location and distance from Storm highlight the extensive nature of the prospective copper mineralization within the Project area.
Diamond drilling will be used to test the high-priority exploration targets, and is expected to commence after the completion of the resource drilling.
This will be the second drilling programme for American West Metals Limited, who are the project operator, since entering an option agreement with Aston Bay in March 2021.
“We are excited to have our exploration partners American West Metals embark on this significant exploration program this season,” CEO, Thomas Ullrich, said.
“The initial phase of drilling will utilize an RC drill rig to assist in defining maiden resources within the 4100N, 2750N and 2200N Zones, where near-surface high-grade copper mineralization has been demonstrated in historic core drilling. The RC rig will allow for rapid and cost-effective drilling, and we are pleased to see this type of drilling used for the first time at Storm. We believe the drilling will confirm a significant copper resource with the potential to support a low-cost, ore sorting operation at Storm.
“The surface geophysical work will be used to refine drill targeting for both the resource definition and core diamond drilling for discovery in new areas. We are very excited to follow up on the breakthrough 2022 discovery of sedimentary copper mineralization, where we may have intersected the margin of a potentially large stratiform sedimentary hosted copper system, just one of several similar targets indicated by the historical geophysics.”
The 2023 exploration programme will initially aim to drill out maiden copper resources at the 4100N, 2750N and 2200N Zones, and test key exploration targets. Surface electromagnetics will be used to highlight enriched zones of mineralization and to refine targets ahead of the resource drilling.
Exploration will also commence to follow up a major stratiform sedimentary copper system within the Storm Project area that was identified over the course of the 2022 field season. This program will consist of ground gravity, electromagnetic geophysics, and diamond drilling.
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